"Hoo…" Walking down the corridor, I clenched my fists to give myself a psychological boost, mentally rehearsing the scene I was about to face.
I walked until I reached the office. Staring at the red-painted iron door, I took a deep breath, knocked, announced myself, and walked in.
Mistress Extinction was currently hunched over, writing something. My phone was placed beside her. Sensing my arrival, she spoke without lifting her head: "I don't want to waste any more words on you. Call your mother now; I'll talk to her."
My heart trembled slightly. Mistress Extinction's long-accumulated authority was overwhelming, and I had been scolded by her so many times that my fear of her was significant. I took a deep breath and reached for my phone. My palm was slick with nervous sweat, making the phone feel slippery.
I entered the password to unlock the screen but didn't press the dial button.
I mentally cheered myself on, gritting my teeth and clenching my toes. Then, I tapped the photo album icon. The icon expanded, and the album opened.
I accessed the private space, entered the password, and instantly, the photos I had waited so long for and gone to so much trouble to capture were displayed.
I clicked on a photo, holding the phone in my hand, looking at the old witch's fair profile, which was lightly made up. I hesitated for a moment.
Bai Manwen was swiftly marking test papers with checks and question marks. Correct answers got a check; incorrect ones got a question mark. She didn't use an 'X' due to an unwritten school rule—the 'X' was supposedly too discouraging, so it was replaced with a question mark.
"Does it take this long to make a phone call?" Bai Manwen finished marking a paper, raised her head, and looked at me through her black-rimmed glasses, her gaze sharp and penetrating. It instantly made my heart flutter.
"Dawdling, huh? Heh, you're scared to call? Let me do it." Bai Manwen reached out to take my phone.
I instinctively backed up, holding the phone away.
Mistress Extinction's expression immediately chilled, and an aura of fear radiated from her. Her full lips slowly uttered two words: "Give it to me!"
I almost retreated out of terror, but I forcefully suppressed the fear.
"Teacher Bai, I previously took a few... photos."
"?"
Although Mistress Extinction didn't speak, I could feel her expression register mockery and amusement. What was the point of me saying that? Was I so scared I was just rambling?
"They're about Director Mu," I gritted my teeth, continuing.
"Director Mu? Which Director Mu?" Bai Manwen glanced at me with scorn. "Don't tell me you mean Mu Feipeng?"
"Yes," I nodded.
At this point, Mistress Extinction lost her patience. She frowned, warning coldly, "Call your mother now, or you won't be staying in my class anymore."
"Teacher Bai, please look at the photos first."
I took a deep breath and held the phone up to her face.
Bai Manwen glanced at it with obvious impatience, then froze. She snatched my phone and looked closely again.
"Is this Mu Feipeng?" Her voice rose several degrees, filled with disbelief.
"It is," my voice was shaking. This was my first time experiencing anything like this.
"Impossible!" Her voice suddenly became louder, filled with fury. She turned and stared intensely at me. "Where did you take this?"
Her sharp gaze made me feel uneasy, but this was the moment I absolutely could not back down. I spoke clearly: "Outside Rose Bar."
"You're lying!" Bai Manwen's voice became abruptly louder, carrying endless rage. She was no longer composed; her high chest rose and fell dramatically.
"There are a few more photos, and even a video. There can be no mistake."
Seeing the loss of composure on Bai Manwen's face, I felt a surge of excitement. If she hadn't suddenly taken my phone today, I wouldn't have resorted to this measure, and I wouldn't have known how to use the photos and video at all.
Hearing my words, Bai Manwen turned back, swiping through the phone, examining several photos carefully. She took a few deep breaths and continued looking. Next came the video. As the video played, I could feel her emotions becoming increasingly unstable. Her hands were shaking; she was like a live volcano. When she reached the climactic part, where I had taken the close-up of the two of them, she finally snapped.
"I knew it... I knew it! That bitch, that hussy, would never give up." Mistress Extinction was speaking through clenched teeth, making a grinding sound. Her words carried suppressed rage and madness that made me, standing nearby, tremble with apprehension.
From her words, I gathered that she seemed to recognize the woman in the video and had even had some previous contact or knowledge of her.
She tapped the screen and looked again.
"Unlock the private album."
Bai Manwen's voice was calm now, but I could clearly feel that she was highly unstable. I didn't dare provoke her, fearing I would become her outlet, so I obediently entered the password.
She forwarded the video and photos to herself, then deleted the originals from my phone right in front of me. She then stood up abruptly. The chair behind her violently slid backward, scraping against the floor with a harsh sound. Mistress Extinction was no longer the composed person I knew.
Bai Manwen didn't return my phone. She walked toward the door, holding my phone.
"Teacher, my phone..."
I called out, but she simply turned back and glared at me. I dared not speak another word. I felt a trace of murderous intent in her eyes, as if she would kill me if I said anything more.
I didn't dare say another word, and she turned and left.
"Crap, something's going to happen."
I immediately felt that a major disaster was imminent. In this state, I would believe Mistress Extinction was capable of murder.
I quickly followed her out the door. I saw her heading down the stairs, and my mind started racing. I felt like I had grasped another critical piece of information.
I ran back towards the classroom as fast as I could. My large body running created a lot of noise and force, causing many people along the way to quickly scatter. Some who couldn't avoid me were bumped and immediately started cursing, but I ignored them. I had a more important task to do.
I reached the classroom door and rushed in. Luckily, Liu Xiaoyu was still dawdling as usual, playing on his phone. Only a few students were left; he usually went home later.
"Xiaoyu, lend me your phone, quickly!"
I couldn't explain anything. I just snatched the phone from Liu Xiaoyu's hand and bolted out.
"Hey! Lin Nan! What are you doing?" Liu Xiaoyu chased after me.
"No time to explain! Sorry!" I yelled back apologetically.
"No, wait! I mean, you don't know my password. It'll lock, and you won't be able to use it!"
Xiaoyu's words made me stop. My eyes were still searching for Mistress Extinction's figure as I asked, "What's the password?"
"It's 196163!"
"Got it! Thank you, Xiaoyu!" I sprinted away, unlocking the phone immediately so I wouldn't forget the password later.
I pounded down the stairs, taking three steps at a time, making a huge, booming noise that drew the attention of many people who wondered what was wrong with the chubby guy.
I finally reached the ground floor, looking around frantically. The place was full of students leaving school. I searched for a long time, turning many corners, until I finally spotted Mistress Extinction's distinctive back at the end of the street. My heart leaped with joy, and I quickly chased after her.
But I didn't catch up directly; I followed at a distance. Yes, I was going to follow her.
Honestly, my physique was not suited for stalking. Not only was I easy to spot, but running for so long left me completely breathless and panting as I trailed her.
Fortunately, Mistress Extinction was completely focused ahead. She was clearly consumed by boundless rage, having lost the ability to think, and was only concerned with walking forward. Her high heels clicked rapidly, completely oblivious to anyone following her.
I struggled to keep up. As she walked, the students on the road gradually lessened. I followed her until she arrived at a residential area. This neighborhood was close to the school, and I recognized it as where the teachers lived.
The neighborhood entrance wasn't easy to access; it had a security gate. Luckily, I saw the guard wasn't there, so I quickly bypassed the fence and climbed over.
My heart was pounding wildly. I didn't know if this decision was right, but since I had made the choice, I wouldn't back down.
Soon, I saw Mistress Extinction stop at a doorway. She knocked, and a woman stepped out.
It must be the woman Mu Feipeng was embracing that day.
She looked somewhat familiar, I guessed.
I hid from a distance. The complex was relatively empty at this time because most teachers were still in meetings after class.
Soon, the two women got into an extremely fierce argument. It escalated quickly into a physical altercation.
I watched them fight, pulling each other's hair, and found it fascinating. I quietly moved closer, holding up the phone.
Liu Xiaoyu's phone camera was excellent; the image was perfectly clear. I filmed them fighting with great interest.
But as I watched, I realized something was wrong. A chilling fear began to creep in. Mistress Extinction seemed completely out of control, using extreme force. She quickly pinned the other woman to the ground, slapped her hard several times, and still not satisfied, she fiercely kicked the woman on the floor.
"Holy shit, is this woman crazy? She's wearing high heels!" I immediately felt a bad premonition. Sure enough, after a few savage kicks, the woman's lips seemed to bleed. She struggled to sit up but quickly slumped back down.
"She's killed her!" I froze instantly, trembling with fear. Any normal person would be terrified by this scene.
Mistress Extinction clearly snapped out of her frenzy, too. Looking at the scene, which was obviously a first for her, she collapsed to the ground in fright. But she quickly scrambled up, looking around frantically. Seeing this, I quickly hid behind a tree.
I watched her try to drag the woman's limp body away, but she was too panicked and had no strength. After trying for a long time without moving the body, she abandoned the woman, turned, and just ran away!
"What the heck! What should I do?" Seeing Mistress Extinction run, I looked back at the figure lying on the ground, hesitating whether to call the police or an ambulance. The woman might still be alive.
But soon, a patrolling security guard appeared. He saw the woman and rushed over, shouting loudly.
His voice startled me, and I quickly took my phone and quietly left the area.
On the way back, I was extremely anxious. This was a colossal secret. If I exposed this video now, Mistress Extinction would be finished—not only would her career end, but she would definitely go to jail. But now, I worried about the other woman's condition. If I hadn't told Mistress Extinction, this wouldn't have happened. A heavy sense of guilt weighed on my mind.
I walked slowly down the street, my mind filled with worry and guilt.
"Why is this my business? I didn't do it. Why am I always so quick to sympathize and be soft-hearted? Did anyone ever show me any mercy?" Thinking about Mistress Extinction's attitude and the humiliation I endured, the look in my eyes slowly turned cold again.
I looked at the video on the phone, sitting on a bench on the street, and thought for a long time.
The evening sun was hazy, shining on my shoulders, and I felt myself gradually changing. I was no longer the person I was before. I faced the sunlight, but my mind was contemplating the darkness.
"Maybe I am just a selfish person."
Eventually, I made up my mind. I would keep this video, use it to its full potential, and leverage it to secure my true interests.