Chapter 9

When I returned to school, I scoped things out for an afternoon. Neither Qu Fang nor Cui Miao was there. Slowly, I pulled out a prepped electric bike battery. I’d scavenged it from a scrap yard; the old man there had patted his chest and guaranteed that this thing would spontaneously combust as soon as it was plugged in. It was absolutely dangerous, and he hadn’t even repaired it yet.

Thrilled, I quickly broke the latch on the dorm door, knocked over the desks and chairs, tore down the bed curtains, readied a wet towel, and waited quietly.

When the crackling sound started, I knew I was about to succeed.

Soon, flames shot up. There were very few people in the dorm building at this time. I waited for the fire to grow before screaming and running. Enduring the smoke, I coughed hard. Just to make it realistic, I even smeared some ash on my face. Only when the fire had burned nearly half the dorm did I run to the door, pulling it desperately, then pushing open the window and screaming:

“Help! Fire! Help me!!”

Students began gathering downstairs in twos and threes, and someone outside the door was trying to help open it. Feigning shivering terror, I cried louder, inhaling deep gulps of the thick smoke.

It was a Pyrrhic victory, losing eight hundred to kill a thousand, but if it meant killing an extra two hundred, I’d gladly take the hit.

Soon, my consciousness began to blur. In for a penny, in for a pound—just as I was about to yank the lock off to open the door, I was knocked out by the door collapsing inward. Before I completely lost consciousness, I saw Lin Ruijie rushing in.

When I woke up, it was already the next day. Unsurprisingly, my dad didn’t show up. Only my mom was there, her eyes swollen.

And, of course, Lin Ruijie, standing off to the side with a grim expression.

Hearing I was awake, the school leaders rushed over, accompanied by Qu Fang and Cui Miao.

As soon as I saw Qu Fang enter, I burst into tears, which even startled my mom.

“Why did you bring your e-bike battery into the dorm to charge?! Are you happy now? If my face is ruined, I’ll never let you off!”

Qu Fang looked stunned. “What e-bike? My battery is in my e-bike!”

“No it wasn’t! I walked past yesterday and saw the battery slot wide open and empty! Qu Fang, you’re way too careless!”

“That’s impossible! I only charge it when no one is around, when someone is there…”

Realizing she had slipped up, I coughed a few times and resumed crying.

My mom said directly to the school leaders, “You know who her father is, right? I am ten thousand percent against our Beibei living with this kind of girl. Expel her immediately.”

Panic set in for Qu Fang when she heard ‘expel’. “It really wasn’t me! Zhao Beibei, you’re slandering me! I’m calling the police!”

“Perfect, call the police! I also want to know why you’re trying to kill me! Counselor, this kind of person doesn’t deserve the postgraduate recommendation!”