Chapter 4 Whose Fault

After taking a few steps, he realized that Su Xiaoyue had not followed him. He immediately turned his head and called out in a low voice, "Ms. Su, what are you dazed for, come along."

Su Xiaoyue pursed her lips and then took a step to follow the director to the office.

In the director's office, Fan Shaoming was sitting on a black sofa. In front of him on the coffee table was a cup of freshly brewed coffee, steaming at the moment with the rich pure aroma of coffee wafting through the office.

He sat there indifferently, not drinking the cup of coffee. Hearing footsteps, he instinctively looked up toward the office door, seeing the director coming in with the young teacher he had seen earlier. However, behind the two, there was no sign of his cherished son Fan Mingyu's handsome and adorable figure, and his handsome face immediately darkened.

"Where is Mingyu?" Fan Shaoming coldly swept his gaze toward Su Xiaoyue. The sharp and cold oppressive gaze made the director standing next to Su Xiaoyue tremble with fear, sweating profusely, afraid that Fan Shaoming would throw a tantrum when he learned that Fan Mingyu had run away.

Fan Shaoming, although very affectionate toward Fan Mingyu, spoiling him to the skies, giving him whatever he wanted, was also very concerned about Fan Mingyu's academic performance. He almost visited the school everyday to inquire about his son's studies and his behavior at school.

To please him, the school always praised that Fan Mingyu was very sensible at school, but now Fan Mingyu had skipped school during class time, he was bound to be angry.

Receiving Fan Shaoming's sharp, cold stare, Su Xiaoyue bravely met Fan Shaoming's gaze and calmly responded, "Mr. Fan, Mingyu has skipped school."

"What did you say?" Fan Shaoming suddenly stood up, imposingly approached Su Xiaoyue, his height of 187 centimeters overshadowing the mere 160 centimeters of Su Xiaoyue's, and with his head lowered, his gaze turned even colder, staring down at Su Xiaoyue.

"How can you even be a teacher, letting my son skip school!" Fan Shaoming's cold accusation pierced sharply into Su Xiaoyue's ears.

"Director Wang, are the teachers in your preschool department always this irresponsible? I entrusted Mingyu to your school because I trusted you. I donate so much money to your school for education each year, and this is how you repay me?" Fan Shaoming's accusations continued, his glare almost turning Su Xiaoyue into a hornet's nest.

Director Wang was sweating coldly, annoyed internally that Su Xiaoyue hadn't lied first. Hearing Fan Shaoming mention his name, embarrassment colored his face as he tried to smile, "Mr. Fan, I'm sorry, it's our fault. We will immediately go find Mingyu, please don't be angry, alright?" After speaking, he glared at Su Xiaoyue and commanded sternly, "Ms. Su, what are you still standing here for, go find Mingyu quickly? How can you be a teacher, letting students run out during class time, really, our school's reputation is completely ruined because of you."

Su Xiaoyue remained still, looking at Fan Shaoming as she politely asked, "Mr. Fan, have you finished speaking?"

Her glasses were broken, so she couldn't clearly see Fan Shaoming's expression at that moment, which made her slightly less afraid of him. She admitted her own fault in Mingyu's truancy; she had failed to keep an eye on Fan Mingyu, allowing him to escape. However, Fan Shaoming was also to blame. It was his indulgence that had allowed the young boy to become willfully unruly. The school was also responsible. The school board, in trying to please Fan Shaoming, the biggest sponsor, had concealed the true situation of Fan Mingyu in the school, thus becoming accomplices in enabling Fan Mingyu's behavior.

Su Xiaoyue had recently taken over Fan Mingyu's class, but she was very clear about Fan Mingyu's past, which she had previously felt awkward managing from outside her purview. Now that Fan Mingyu was her student, she was determined to fulfill her responsibilities as a teacher and educate every student properly.

Fan Shaoming's eyes darkened slightly, and his heavy brows knitted together briefly before returning to normal. He looked down at Su Xiaoyue from his superior position and coldly retorted, "What does it matter if I have finished speaking, or not?"

Every time he came to the school, the reception he received was respectful and courteous, treating him as though he were the God of Wealth—which, in a sense, for this school, he truly was. It was the first time a teacher had dared to question him like this. Su Xiaoyue, unafraid, looked up at him without fear of his status.

Fan Shaoming knew Su Xiaoyue was his son's new homeroom teacher, although he had not had a direct encounter with her yet. When he came to see his son, he always contacted Director Wang, one of the school's directors.

"My son has skipped school, and you're not looking for him?" Fan Shaoming added.

"Mingyu left in your family's car; a driver was present. If Mr. Fan wants to know where Mingyu went, you can call your family's driver. Also, Mingyu running out during class is not a one-time occurrence but a frequent behavior. He's too reckless and lacks any sense of discipline, treating the school like a marketplace coming and going as he pleases. He doesn't concentrate in class and likes to fiddle around, either disturbing other children, not paying attention himself, or preventing others from paying attention. Even I, as the homeroom teacher, get tormented by him. He shows no respect for teachers, often bullies other children. I admit, I'm also responsible for failing to keep an eye on him, but Mr. Fan, you are equally to blame for your excessive indulgence. And of course, the school bears even greater responsibility. Mingyu is a very bright child, and if we don't cooperate and discipline him properly, he'll turn even more uncontrollable, and someday it could harm him."

"Su Xiaoyue!"

Having heard Su Xiaoyue's words, Director Wang's face turned white. He exclaimed softly, quickly pulled Su Xiaoyue out of the office again, and began scolding, "Do you want to kill me? Do you want to ruin our school's reputation? What you speak of as the school's responsibility, is your incompetence as a teacher, failing to educate properly, and when the parents blame you, you push all the errors onto the school."

"Director," Su Xiaoyue said sternly, "what I said is the truth. These are words all of us teachers who have taught Mingyu want to say. If it wasn't for you and other directors flattering Mr. Fan, turning a blind eye to Fan Mingyu's actions, would Mingyu be this audacious? Regardless of whose children they are, once in school, they are students and must follow the school's rules and regulations. Director, please excuse my boldness, but I want to ask you this— which kindergarten allows its students to run out at will during school hours? Mingyu is only a five-year-old child."

"You, you... Mr. Fan is our school's largest sponsor. Although all our school's students are well-connected, only Mr. Fan has been generous with both funds and support."