Ch 221: Doubt often precedes praise.

Since Tang Yue’s television interview, a considerable stir has been caused, but most of the reactions haven’t been positive.

As Tang Yue’s interview video circulated online, her past performance and school records were all dug up.

People discovered that she had leaped from a middling elementary school student to a child prodigy who passed the high school math preliminary contest.

More and more doubts flooded in. Even Jiang Runqiu hadn’t expected this outcome. Initially, he only thought Tang Yue’s interview would bring fame to the Experimental Primary School, but now, while the fame has arrived, positive attention is scarce.

“That’s too exaggerated! Could the cheating be any more obvious?”

“A middling elementary school student suddenly becomes one of the top few in the high school preliminary contest. Whose princess is this, coming here to gild herself?”

“They’re not even pretending anymore. Their family must have a ton of influence, right?”

“This is a national math competition; the invigilation is very strict! What are you all saying nonsense for?! Have you considered how much harm these words will do to such a young child?!”

Although some people defended Tang Yue, netizens preferred the darker truths, seemingly believing that others’ excellence stemmed from social injustice.

After looking at Tang Yue’s past grades, Jiang Runqiu’s forehead began to sweat. He had been intoxicated by the good news before, but now he realized the situation.

If Tang Yue’s results were obtained through cheating, the interview wouldn’t only fail to become a school advertisement; the school would also bear the infamy of having educated a student with poor moral character.

“Take down Tang Yue’s interview promotional video first. We’ll talk after the provincial competition!”

Jiang Runqiu dared not take risks. Without absolute certainty, if the impact of certain matters could be lessened, it should be.

He searched “Jianghua City Experimental Primary School” on the video platform; all that popped up were news articles about Tang Yue. His facial expression was somewhat strained as he continuously scrolled up, encountering a different report.

“Hello everyone, I am Liu Juan, the homeroom teacher of Tang Yue, the child prodigy who’s been making headlines recently. In school, Tang Yue’s grades were ordinary. This child is very thoughtful, but she didn’t apply it to her studies.”

“Her ability to stand out in the high school preliminary contest was likely due to some means. As her homeroom teacher, I am very heartbroken. I have always taught my students to be honest and trustworthy. I hope Tang Yue can stop before it’s too late and not cause any negative impact on the school.”

Jiang Runqiu watched this video, his teeth itching with anger. Things hadn’t been confirmed yet, but Liu Juan had essentially confirmed Tang Yue’s cheating, which was tantamount to defaming the school?

The comments below were one-sided, blaming the elementary school student for having ulterior motives and demanding a quick apology. Many “schoolmates” and “classmates” also came forward to testify that Tang Yue couldn’t have achieved those results.

It seemed that many people couldn’t bear to see those around them become excellent, preferring that everyone sink together into the mire.

“Get Liu Juan to come here!”

Jiang Runqiu’s voice was loud, and his assistant hurried out.

Liu Juan’s expression was arrogant, as if she hadn’t done anything wrong.

“What is it, Principal?”

“What did you say in the interview?! Who told you to say that?!”

“Do you really believe Tang Yue could excel in the high school competition? Let alone Jianghua City, how many are there nationwide? I’m not clear about her grades? If I didn’t say that, the school would take the blame if it was discovered that she cheated!”

Liu Juan was assertive; Jiang Runqiu was speechless for a while.

He also thought Liu Juan’s words made sense and softened his tone somewhat, “What if Tang Yue didn’t cheat? Aren’t you smearing the school prematurely?”

“Principal, do you believe it? Didn’t you see her grades? Her math scores were better than other subjects, but those scores aren’t enough to impact the high school group, are they?”

The table was covered with Tang Yue’s information and past report cards; Jiang Runqiu was speechless. He was convinced by Liu Juan.

And Liu Juan was just a teacher; if Tang Yue really achieved her results through her own ability, let Liu Juan bear the responsibility for all the doubts about Tang Yue.

It was her own doing. Through his investigation, this Liu Juan had received many gifts from parents, and the children who didn’t give gifts were treated differently.

But is there a possibility of a reversal? An elementary school student excelling in a high school math competition?

Jiang Runqiu sighed. He was too eager for advancement in terms of evaluation and had placed his hopes on such a slim possibility.

“You can go. Don’t participate in any more interviews. Say less about this kind of thing; it’s not a good thing for you or the school.”

Liu Juan nodded, like a warrior who had won a battle.

“You can cheat in the city’s preliminary rounds, but once you go to the provincial competition, in an unfamiliar examination hall filled with cameras, let’s see what you do.”

A sneer curled Liu Juan’s lips. “Little brat, I’ll deal with you once you’re exposed and you’re still in my class.”

Chen Yuru was anxious watching the online comments. She anxiously asked Tang Yue, “Yueyue, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Mom.”

Tang Yue didn’t look up, but continued calculating at her desk. She had Chen Yuru ask for a week off before the provincial competition, so she could work hard to review her high school knowledge.

The preliminary round was just a trial run; the provincial competition was the real deal.

After calculating the last question, she checked her answer, then a smile appeared on her face as she stretched.

Tang Yue suddenly thought of something, “Mom, I’ll go to the bookstore to get a couple of real test papers.”

“Yueyue, Mom will go with you.”

In the last two days, Chen Yuru had been approached by reporters on her way to and from work, constantly asking if her daughter had cheated. Chen Yuru didn’t want to say much, only answering that she hadn’t cheated; she believed in her daughter.

If Tang Yue went out alone, there would probably be even more reporters surrounding her. Could her daughter handle it?

“It’s okay, Mom, I know the way. Just make me some delicious food at home; I’m hungry from all this brainwork.”

Tang Yue simply put on a coat, put on her shoes, and left without giving Chen Yuru a chance to help her.

“Yueyue, be careful!”

“Don’t worry, Mom, I’m all grown up.”

As soon as Tang Yue left the building, she was surrounded by a crowd. Those reporters had actually been waiting in the cars on the street.

“Tang Yue, how do you explain the online accusations that you cheated?”

“How did you pass the preliminary round with your previous mediocre grades?”

“Tang Yue, what do you say about your homeroom teacher saying you have bad intentions?”

“Did your family really have connections to get the answers?”

People didn’t seem to care about a child’s feelings. As long as the news was eye-catching, they would say the most hurtful things to a child.

But luckily, Tang Yue wasn’t just a child.

She simply walked towards the bookstore, her expression calm. She even walked to a place with better lighting, stopped generously, and smiled at the camera.

“Thank you all for your attention. I will prove myself in the provincial competition. I agree to release the monitoring of my entire exam process for everyone to supervise.”

“I’m also actively preparing for the competition. I’m going to buy some exercise materials now. Please wait and see my results. Please don’t disturb me and my family too much during this time. Thank you.”

She finished with a smile and a bow to the crowd, then quickly left the crowd and continued towards the bookstore.

The reporters looked at each other. They thought that Tang Yue wouldn’t be able to withstand the pressure of these intense questions and would admit to cheating, but they hadn’t expected her to be so calm and composed.

Was this really the behavior of an elementary school student? Her confident tone had already made some people believe her.