Director Hughes marched the two into the principal's office in a fit of rage, intending to have Principal Thomas Ziegler address the issue.
At that moment, Thomas was leisurely sipping tea in his chair. Noticing Director Hughes' arrival, he greeted him, "Why are you here, Director Hughes? Just in time for a cup of tea."
Saying so, he pushed a cup of tea over.
Director Hughes took the cup, downed it in one gulp, and calmed himself before speaking, "Principal, we have two students fighting in public. This is completely undisciplined."
Just then, Thomas saw a male student holding his stomach slowly walk in, followed by a laid-back female student.
"Pfft—"
Upon seeing the girl's face, Thomas spat out his tea, which splattered onto the table.
"Principal, are you alright?" Director Hughes asked.
"Just choked a bit, nothing serious," he replied, though his ardor for the tea had cooled.
Thomas wiped off the spilled water from the table, dabbed the cold sweat from his forehead, and forced a laugh, "Why were you fighting?"
"I don't even know. Claire just kicked me out of nowhere, maybe she doesn't like me," John stated, his eyes shifting slightly, sounding a bit aggrieved.
He had prepared his words on the way there.
How dare Claire kick him and humiliate him like that. He was determined to get her expelled.
"What do you say?" Thomas asked, directing the question at her, signaling for an explanation.
Claire raised an eyebrow, her eyes suddenly cold, and with a wild and arrogant tone, she said, "To clarify, it wasn't a fight. I was just beating him single-handedly."
Before Thomas could respond, Director Hughes couldn't sit still, "Look at this, does this look like student behavior? Principal, how can a student like her stay in our school? I suggest expulsion."
"Director Hughes, calm down for a bit. There must be more to this. We can't just expel people carelessly; it wouldn't look good," Thomas retorted with a big smile, though inwardly he was lamenting.
My little ancestor, are things not chaotic enough for you?
"So why did you beat him up?"
Ignoring Thomas's gaze, Claire smirked, "Probably because he's too ugly for me."
Thomas and Director Hughes both visibly twitched and looked at John, realizing the comment wasn't far off — he wasn't exactly handsome.
Feeling their gaze, John's face reddened with rage, eyes full of hatred toward Claire.
At that moment, the office door swung open.
Grace Carter, hair disheveled and sweating profusely, appeared before them.
"Miss Carter, what's going on?" Thomas asked in surprise.
Grace took a deep breath, pulled Claire behind her, then spoke, "Principal, I've understood the whole backstory. You can't entirely blame Claire for this."
"Miss Grace," Claire was taken aback, clearly not expecting Grace to stand up for her.
Before she could say more, Grace interjected, "Don't say a word; as your teacher, I won't let you be expelled."
As a competent teacher, she believed in not giving up on any student; it was a principle she firmly adhered to.
Claire smiled at hearing this. Indeed, a kind-hearted teacher.
"Miss Carter, Claire herself admitted to beating up another student, and yet you're defending her. Don't forget the one who got beat up is also your student," Director Hughes remarked, scrutinizing her with a warning tone.
Gathering her courage, Grace retorted bluntly, "As the director mentioned, both are my students. So as their teacher, I won't favor any side, but this incident started because John first provoked her, leading to what followed."
John, who had thought everything through, didn't expect Grace to say that and immediately transferred some resentment towards her.
"Teacher, how can you lie?"
Grace's expression didn't change, calmly looking at him, "Whether or not I'm lying, you know it well. The students in the class have already told me the whole story."
The implication was clear — who the liar was, he knew in his heart, and she was already aware of the cause and effect.
"Ha, since both parties are at fault, expulsion is off the table, but they can't go unpunished," said Thomas with a friendly smile, finally speaking up, "So, you both have to write a reflection and read it to the whole school tomorrow."
Director Hughes and John looked at him in shock. Was that all? Did he suffer those injuries for nothing?
"Principal, isn't that too lenient?" Director Hughes pressed on, unwilling to give up.
What kind of punishment was writing a reflection? Those who disrespect teachers should be expelled.
"Alright, it's decided. You may go," Thomas waved them off, signaling for them to leave.
Grace escorted Claire and John to the classroom door, advising them, "Listen well in class, and don't let this happen again."
Claire returned to her seat nonchalantly, drew a piece of paper from the table, and started writing.
John couldn't help but glance over, noticing the scrawled handwriting, but upon seeing the content, the smile froze on his face.
He couldn't help but speak, "Claire, what are you writing?"
Without pausing her hand, Claire glanced at him with a playful smile, "Haven't you seen? It's a reflection."
John kept silent.
He asked because he saw it. This isn't a reflection; it's undoubtedly a warning letter.
Sebastian, sitting in the front row, overheard the conversation, turned his head in curiosity, and then looked at Claire with admiration.
As expected of Claire, even her reflection was unique.
"Olivia, did you hear? Claire got caught by the director for fighting," Rae Zander exclaimed gleefully.
Olivia Song was slightly taken aback, a hint of worry in her eyes, "How could that happen? Will Claire be punished?"
Rae replied, "Surely, I bet she'll be expelled."
Olivia lowered her head, a gentle smile curling up on her lips.
Expelled? That would be just perfect.
A person like her doesn't deserve to be in the same school as me, she can only be suppressed under me, never to rise.
....
The school field was packed with people, all chattering away.
"Weren't we supposed to start the meeting? Why hasn't it begun?"
"Should be soon."
"They're here."
Everyone looked toward the stage as the principal, director, and several leaders took their seats.
Director Hughes stood up, scanned the crowd, and spoke sternly, "Regarding the public fight between John Sinclair and Claire Green of Class Six, Grade Three, considering the circumstances, the school has decided on the following punishment: both students will publicly reflect to the entire school. If it happens again, they will be expelled."
As soon as he finished, a buzz spread through the crowd.
"What kind of punishment is this?"
"Yeah, if they're not being expelled, shouldn't they at least be reprimanded?"
Olivia Song clenched her hands tightly upon hearing this, coldness flashing in her eyes.
How could it not be expulsion?
"Quiet," Director Hughes tapped the table, his voice ringing out through the microphone across the field.
"Now, let's invite the two students to come up and reflect."
John stood on the stage in his school uniform, looking out over the dense crowd, legs trembling, he began his reflection haltingly, filled with apologies — he shouldn't have mocked his classmate, shouldn't have picked a fight, and finally asked everyone to supervise him.
Upon seeing Director Hughes nod, he quickly scurried off.
Then, all eyes were on a slender figure stepping onto the stage, eliciting gasps.
Claire placed her hands casually on the railing, her eyes cold as ice.
Her lips curled slightly, her cool voice carrying a hint of nonchalance.
She exuded an aura of dominance.
"I am Claire Green of Class Six, Grade Three. Yesterday, with the intention of getting along well with my classmates, I couldn't help but show John Sinclair some love and care, but unexpectedly, he couldn't handle it. For this, I apologize for not controlling my strength, and I reflect on myself, promising to be more careful next time."
"For causing such a stir at school, I am very sorry. However, I believe this won't be the last time. So I urge the school leadership to pay more attention to their people and not to approach me recklessly," Claire paused, lazily scanning the audience.
Then she slightly smiled, "Additionally, those needing care can always come over. That concludes my reflection. Thank you."
Returning the microphone to Director Hughes, Claire swiftly left the stage, leaving the audience in astonishment.
This was no reflection at all.
On stage, Thomas pressed his temples with a wry smile, thinking, can you not cause trouble for once?