After Nangong Mian had fallen asleep, Huang Quan made her way to the dean’s residence.
“Girl, you’re here,” the dean greeted her as she entered, offering a pot of freshly brewed tea. Huang Quan followed the dean to a seat, enjoying the aroma of the steaming tea and glancing at the pastries on the table. She raised an eyebrow and looked at the dean. “You knew I was coming?”
“Yes,” the dean replied, sighing. “You told me about your brother’s situation, so I figured you might come.”
“I knew you’d come to me,” the dean continued, handing a piece of paper to Huang Quan. “This list contains the names of the students who went on the recent training mission, the accompanying teachers, and the guardian elders. Your brother’s name is on the list.”
Huang Quan had come to ask about the students who had participated in the training, but before she could speak, the dean had already prepared the list.
After glancing at the list, Huang Quan didn’t immediately respond. Instead, she asked, “Dean, what are your conditions?”
The dean, recognizing her intelligence, decided not to beat around the bush. “I won’t sugarcoat it,” he said. “If you get involved in the investigation and find the person responsible, will you hand them over to the college for prosecution? Of course, if you choose not to investigate, we will conduct our own investigation.”
“I understand,” Huang Quan replied slowly, considering the terms. “So your condition is that, whether I find the culprit or you do, the individual will be handed over to the college for handling, correct?”
The dean nodded, confirming her understanding. “Exactly.”
Huang Quan pressed further, asking, “Will the college impose the death penalty on the perpetrator?”
With a chuckle, she continued, “No, you won’t. At most, the college may impose a punishment. What I want, however, is for that person to die. Your disciplinary measures are not what I’m seeking. I don’t agree with this condition.”
Huang Quan then stood up, preparing to leave, and said, “I can find out the truth without the list; it’s just a matter of time.”
The dean, also standing, spoke with a sense of helplessness, “Girl, I believe you can uncover the truth, but have you considered that death is not the only solution?”
“It’s not that I want to kill him,” Huang Quan turned around and said with a faint smile. “The other party made the first move.”
The dean responded, “He made the first move, so we will impose punishment, and the penalty will never be lenient. I can guarantee that.”
Huang Quan remained silent, listening to the dean’s concerns.
The dean continued, “They are all students, and when something like this happens between students, it should be handled by the college. Girl, if you choose to kill the person directly, it will complicate matters for the college if such incidents occur again in the future.”
The dean worried that if students and teachers witnessed Huang Quan’s way of dealing with the situation, they might adopt similar methods in the future. Such actions could undermine the college’s rules and discipline, leading to chaos.
Huang Quan understood the dean’s perspective. She was accustomed to handling problems on her own and protecting one person. She hadn’t considered the broader consequences of her actions.
The dean’s words made her reflect on the potential impact this situation could have on the college, its students, and its future.
“Okay,” Huang Quan finally agreed. She looked at the dean and said, “I won’t investigate this matter. Please don’t inform me of the results when they come out. Just inform my brother. If you tell me who did it, I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself and may resort to violence.”
Huang Quan’s decision to step back from the investigation showed her willingness to consider the larger implications of her actions and respect the college’s rules and discipline.
