Chapter 274: Chapter 274: The Chill in His Eyes Chapter 274: Chapter 274: The Chill in His Eyes Lu Yichen helped to carry the meals out while asking, “What time is your train? I’ll take you there.”
Luo Qiao replied casually, “There’s no need to bother, the train station isn’t far from here, and you know I can handle myself with my martial arts skills.”
Lu Yichen glanced at Luo Qiao and didn’t say anything more, but said, “Later, I’ll clean the ribs. When you leave, I’ll stew them so they’ll be ready by the time you return. I’ll marinate the meat now; it should still be good when you get back in a few days.”
After the meal, Lu Yichen told Luo Qiao and Stone to rest while he cleaned and washed the dishes in the kitchen. He boiled the ribs to remove the blood and set them aside for stewing later when Luo Qiao would leave.
That way, when they came back, a little more cooking would be needed, and the flavor would have set in nicely.
As it was almost time, Lu Yichen called Luo Qiao to get ready.
Luo Qiao put the meat on to stew, placed a section of chopped tree root into the stove, tidied up the area outside the stove, and then locked the door before leaving assuredly.
Just as she arrived in the classroom, she heard people mentioning her name. After entering, she noticed that everyone was giving her strange looks.
It was her deskmate Xiao Ya who told her that someone had been spreading rumors that she was an orphan and questioned how an orphan could afford school. They even said that they saw her with a man acpanied by a child.
Luo Qiao scoffed upon hearing this, “This person really has some skill, going as far as to investigate my background. Did they find out that they’re probably going to be embarrassed soon?”
Xiao Ya had not expected Luo Qiao to react like this and hurriedly said, “What are you doing still looking so nonchalant? Think about how to deal with this situation.”
Luo Qiao responded, “I still have to attend class, right? It’s almost time.”
As footsteps approached, the homeroom teacher walked in, “Good morning, students. Class rep, please distribute the position notebooks.”
The homeroom teacher was a man named Teacher Ge. Looking up, he noticed some of the students whispering to each other and called a student to ask, “What are you all talking about?”
The student looked at Luo Qiao before saying, “It’s nothing much, just that someone claimed Luo Qiao’s school fees are dirty money. They said she’s an orphan but has the money to attend school and that she was seen getting close to a man with a child.”
The teacher’s brow creased instantly, and he looked at the speaking student, asking, “Who did you hear this from? You really are causing trouble.”
Yan Jiajia spoke up, “If she did it, she shouldn’t be afraid of people talking. Teacher, you can’t protect her just because she does well in school.”
Students who had attended junior high school with Yan Jiajia started to back her up, “That’s right, Teacher Ge, we do not want to take classes with such a person in the same classroom.”
Luo Qiao stood up, “So, you’re saying that you’re the ones spreading these rumors?”
Jin Ye, the girl who had spoken up earlier and was known for her impatience, said, “Don’t wrong us. Besides, there’s no smoke without fire. If you hadn’t done it, rumors wouldn’t have started. You have no right to blame those who spread gossip.”
Luo Qiao laughed, “You really are amusing. Do you have any proof that I’m using someone else’s money for school?”
Jin Ye replied, “Jiajia said it, you’re an orphan, where would you get the money for school?”
Luo Qiao answered, “You ask a good question, but let me remind you that without investigation, you have no right to speak. Don’t be used as a tool without even being aware of it.”
Luo Qiao turned to Teacher Ge at the lectern, “Teacher, it would be better for you to answer this question.”
Teacher Ge said, “Luo Qiao is this year’s Ji City middle school examination top scholar. The reason it wasn’t widely publicized is at the request of Luo Qiao herself. Our Ji City No.1 Middle School has exempted her from tuition and miscellaneous fees.
Furthermore, I’d like to add that before school started, Luo Qiao received awards from the city, county, and town. As for the amount, I won’t disclose it here. Therefore, I must investigate who’s spreading these rumors.”
Jin Ye was taken aback. The class knew that Luo Qiao was the top scholar, but she didn’t know about the award money. Luo Qiao’s earlier words suddenly took on a new meaning. She turned her head to look at Yan Jiajia.
Luo Qiao didn’t say anything further; she didn’t want to disrupt the class because of her own issues. Thus, she said, “Teacher Ge, let’s start the class now. We can investigate this matter slowly afterward.”
No one noticed the coldness in Luo Qiao’s downcast eyes.
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