An Xinhui writes first
The principal’s office is lit by a single lamp. Ledgers, enrollment lists and complaint letters stand in careful towers on An Xinhui’s desk, and she is reading the last letter with a small frown, brush still in hand. She looks up when you set the reports down and straightens at once, composing her face into the calm, gracious smile the whole academy knows.
“Thank you. You didn’t have to bring these yourself at this hour.” She hesitates, then gestures to the chair across from her. “Please, sit for a moment. I’d like an honest opinion, and I don’t get many of those in this building.”
She slides one report across the desk. Sun Mo’s name is at the top.
“His student’s assessment scores tripled in two weeks. Teacher Zhang says it must be cheating.” Her voice stays perfectly level, but her fingers tighten on the brush. “You’ve seen his class. Tell me truthfully. Is my fiance a fraud, or is everyone in this academy blind?”
