You are all bad women! Don't come over!

Shen Mochen calmly surveyed the crowd, thinking it was impossible for the whole class to suddenly unite and frame him. It must be characters like Gao Le who had cooked the books and then swayed the average students. Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire

Under these circumstances, even if he tried to explain, it was useless; his classmates had already made up their minds. Even if just to stand by their high-minded accusations, they would continue to believe it.

"I did not steal any class funds," Shen Mochen said slowly.

"Right, no one said you stole anything, don't be hasty, but why don't you think carefully about whether there was any money you spent but just forgot?" Gao Le feigned concern.

"Not stolen, just embezzled, that's all!" Fang Botao mocked.

"I didn't!"

"Then where's the money?" Wang Xiaosong shouted.

"I don't know, I didn't take it," Shen Mochen wanted to insist on his innocence again.

"Oh... what's going on here?"

Suddenly, a puzzled voice came from outside the classroom. Zhao Yuji stood at the door, curiously observing the situation in Class A.

Gao Le walked over. "Brother Zhao, it's nothing, just that our class has a mole."

Zhao Yuji walked into Class A, smiling and then looking at Shen Mochen, who was surrounded in the middle, like he was under public trial. "What's the matter, why is everyone so serious?"

"It's shameful to even speak of it. Today, when checking the accounts, we found that our class funds were missing!"

"Have you found out how much is missing?"

"Somebody embezzled it!"

A burst of derisive laughter rose from the crowd, and then the students of Class A clamored to explain the whole story to Zhao Yuji.

"So that's it..." Zhao Yuji glanced at Shen Mochen and asked, "A lot missing?"

"Not much, just over twenty thousand yuan."

Zhao Yuji chuckled. "Just over twenty thousand yuan? That doesn't sound like a big deal. I'll cover for your class, consider the money lost and found by me. Tomorrow is the school anniversary, and I see your class hasn't finished decorating, no need to waste too much time on this."

Gao Le glared fiercely at Shen Mochen. "No, no, no, Brother Zhao, it's not about the money. You're kind-hearted, but if we don't investigate this matter, similar incidents could happen again in the future. And though the amount isn't much, the behavior is despicable!"

Wang Xiaosong sneered at Shen Mochen. "Yes, and to us, it's just a small amount of money, but for someone else, that might not be the case!"

Zhao Yuji sighed. "I don't think it's necessarily something Shen Mochen did. Although the accounts don't add up, there could be a missed entry somewhere. It can be checked later!"

"Zhao, no need to speak well of him. We all know you want to save face for someone, but if he's shameless, he must be made to realize his own mistakes!"

"Shen Mochen, don't you feel ashamed? We're all human beings, so why such a big difference in how we behave?"

"Look at Zhao Yuji, and then look at yourself; you're just stubborn to the end!"

"How have the classmates treated you? Have they discriminated against you because you're from the north? But how have you acted? I've finally come to believe some people are just naturally bad!"

Because of Zhao Yuji, everyone looked down on Shen Mochen even more, pointing fingers and even attacking his background.

Shen Mochen took a deep breath, and his tone turned cold. "I said I didn't steal the money. If you don't believe me, then just call the police."

"Heh, are you looking to get yourself killed?"

"Do you think we wouldn't dare call the police for the reputation of the school and the class?"

"Don't be hasty, let's wait for Teacher Xun to come, then we'll definitely call the police... who will go call Teacher Xun!"

"Face given and not taken, I wanted to give you a chance to reform, yet you don't cherish it!"

"Zhao Yuji was even willing to speak up for you; are you doing right by him?"

Everyone was even more infuriated upon hearing Shen Mochen's denial, and the scolding grew several decibels louder.

Shen Mochen, what's wrong with you? Weren't you supposed to go find Catherine? How come you came back alone? Liu Bo stood wavering at the very edge of the crowd, inwardly anxious but too afraid to speak up.

And as things had progressed to this step, watching the accusations from the crowd, he began to waver himself: Could Shen Mochen really have stolen the class funds?

Before Shen Mochen transferred to First Middle School, Liu Bo's memories of him were confined to a brief childhood period; their reunion had led to a lukewarm friendship that lasted only a few months. Even Liu Bo's knowledge of Shen Mochen's experiences over the years came from what he had been told by Shen Mochen himself.

Liu Bo was genuinely confused and, based on his sketchy memories of the slums, where stealing chickens and dogs along with violating laws seemed to be the norm, embezzling class funds didn't seem to be an incomprehensible act.

He sighed inwardly, growing more doubtful, yet still he did not speak up. Regardless of everything else, Catherine was his girlfriend, and as long as she arrived, she could probably calm things down.

"If you won't call the police, I will." Shen Mochen glared coldly at the accusing crowd. Although he was mentally prepared, his heart still raced with anger.

He had never been wronged like this before; due to well-known reasons, he had always fared well in his previous school.

"Chief Wu... Oh, you've already arrived at the school gate? That's great, could you please come here now? Our class has suffered a theft."

Shen Mochen spoke calmly on the phone, but the crowd could hear the suppressed fury in his voice.

"Who? Which Chief Wu? Starting to put on an act now, huh?"

"What Chief Wu are you talking about? You're not referring to the one from Cangkou District, are you? Haha, are you close with him? Why would he make a special trip just for you? Besides, we're not even in Cangkou District!"

"How could it be that Chief Wu? I guess he's heard of some such person somewhere and started spouting nonsense with his eyes closed!"

"If you can get Chief Wu here with a single phone call, I'll eat this table today!"

The crowd jeered at him again, their looks towards Shen Mochen shifting from pure anger to a mix of pity and scorn.

"Just wait and you'll see."

Shen Mochen casually pulled over a chair and sat down, now immovable as a mountain, no matter how the outsiders mocked or ridiculed him.

Zhao Yuji watched Shen Mochen and frowned slightly. He stood fairly close to Shen Mochen and overheard the voice on the other end of the phone. It indeed sounded like Wu Liangde, whom he had previously met at a banquet and whose voice he recognized.

So, Shen Mochen knew Wu Liangde. Could Wu Liangde be his powerful backer?

"Classmates, quiet down, quiet down. Let's welcome Chief Wu from Cangkou District!"

Soon after, the homeroom teacher entered the classroom with a beaming smile, accompanied by the senior grade director, and behind them was the Chief of Police of Yu Huai City's Cangkou District, Wu Liangde.

Wu Liangde smiled as he walked into the classroom, followed by two assistant officers, carrying a banner and an award plaque in their hands.

"Is Shen Mochen here?"

Wu Liangde looked around with a smile, then suddenly sensed something amiss. What was with these students, why were they all staring at him so dumbfounded, silent as the grave?

It was as if they had seen a ghost.

Although many in First Middle School were of high social status, not even their fathers would have had such disdain... No, wait, that didn't look like disdain.

Was his timing off? Wu Liangde blinked.

"What's going on here?" Teacher Xun too looked at her students, who were as stunned as statues; this was not their usual behavior.

"Chief Wu, what brings you here?"

Finally, someone who knew Wu Liangde approached him tentatively and asked.

Wu Liangde replied with a smile, "Oh, it's like this. Last week, Shen Mochen demonstrated heroic behavior by helping out a fellow student and single-handedly took down four hooligans! He has also made outstanding contributions to the public security of Yu Huai. I've come here today specifically to honor him for his deeds!"

In that moment, some faces turned unsightly on the spot.