Chapter 68: Chapter 68: After the Rain Clears UpChapter 68: The Storm Passes, the Sky Clears

    The blogger who posted this headline article shared information about their high school records to prove their identity but hid any private details.

    In the article, they wrote: "Lin Qin back then was just a regular student at our school. We were in the same year. When he first entered high school, he was a popular figure on campus. I even helped a junior girl from our middle school deliver a love letter to him. What can I say? Lin Qin was as good-looking back then as he is now. Even as a straight guy, I thought he was handsome.

    Perhaps it was his looks that brought him trouble. During sophomore year, a senior from a wealthy and powerful family transferred to our school. A lot of people saw the senior stop Lin Qin during that time—it looked like he was confessing to him. But Lin Qin turned him down.

    The senior seemed to have real influence. After being rejected, he spread rumors at school that Lin Qin was gay. Society back then wasn’t as open-minded as it is now. Lin Qin was immediately ostracized by his classmates. Their homeroom teacher even called him to discuss it. After learning the truth—that it was a false rumor—the teacher stood up for Lin Qin..."

    A large portion of the article was dedicated to recounting Lin Qin’s experiences during high school.

    Later, the blogger wrote: "At that time, no one dared stand up for Lin Qin or comfort him, fearing they’d be ostracized or bullied like him. Many people felt sorry for him. He hadn’t done anything, yet he became the target of bullying from almost the entire school, including the faculty.

    When Lin Qin’s background was unearthed not long ago, I was shocked. If Lin Qin really had such a background, how could he have been bullied like that?

    Recently, I started watching the show *We Are Together* because of my partner’s influence. Seeing Lin Qin’s behavior on the show filled me with guilt. I remember when we started high school, Lin Qin was incredibly optimistic—always smiling, handling situations with grace, full of confidence.

    But on *We Are Together*, the Lin Qin I saw seemed wary of interacting with the world, always cautiously observing others’ reactions.

    This probably isn’t an act—it’s the result of the bullying he endured in high school. During senior year, Lin Qin reportedly took three months off for health reasons and only returned to school to fill in his college applications.

    From afar, I saw him standing alone in a corner. His eyes were lifeless. When someone looked at him, he’d nervously shrink into himself.

    Back then, though I didn’t take part in the bullying, my indifferent silence was its own form of cold violence.

    Lin Qin, I’m sorry. I can only hope you emerge from the darkness." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Many people were teary-eyed and felt a deep ache in their hearts after reading this headline article. Regardless of whether the story was true, if anyone were to endure such an ordeal, it would be heartbreaking.

    After recovering from the emotional weight of the story, many began questioning the authenticity of the article.

    As the article mentioned, Lin Qin wasn’t just any regular student—he also had connections. If his background couldn’t compete with the influential senior, couldn’t it at least secure a transfer to another school for him?

    But according to the article, Lin Qin didn’t transfer schools. He stayed at that school until graduation.

    This didn’t seem consistent with the background Lin Qin has revealed publicly.

    Skeptics surfaced, but so did people who backed up the blogger’s claims. Among them were Lin Qin’s former high school and college classmates.

    High school classmates confirmed the blogger’s story, even recounting their own firsthand experiences. They described how Lin Qin was beaten by the senior outside the principal’s office, while the principal turned a blind eye.

    University classmates corroborated that Lin Qin indeed had severe social anxiety. On campus, he was always alone. If someone greeted him, his face would instantly pale, and he would struggle to say a single word for a long time.

    Even though Lin Qin was good-looking and academically outstanding in his department, he remained inconspicuous. Outside of class, he was rarely seen.

    As more and more people came forward to share their accounts, those who doubted the story grew increasingly unsure about its authenticity.

    Most people, however, exercised restraint and refrained from messaging Lin Qin or his studio’s social media accounts to inquire about the matter. They feared that if it were true, bringing it up would only reopen old wounds, causing Lin Qin further pain.

    Though few sought direct confirmation, the story sparked widespread discussion online. The discourse quickly shifted from Lin Qin’s personal experience to the broader issue of campus bullying, shedding light on this cruel phenomenon.

    Campus bullying remains a pervasive issue. In recent years, the government has actively worked to address it, and schools have paid closer attention. Yet incidents still occur far too often, leaving people grieving and frustrated.

    The topic of campus bullying trended widely, and Lin Qin’s story climbed the hot search rankings. Soon, people unearthed information about the principal at the time—now a leader at the district’s education bureau.

    As netizens revisited the original expose and its comments, their disdain for the principal grew. They were enraged, some wishing they could punch him in the face. If the revelations were true, his behavior was utterly deplorable.

    What does it mean to set an example as an educator? What does it mean to teach and nurture? To sit idly by while a student is assaulted in front of your office—without even attempting to intervene?

    The district education bureau, unable to withstand the public outcry, issued a statement saying they would investigate the matter. If the allegations proved true, the negligent principal would face consequences.

    After just two days, the education bureau released another statement. The principal was punished: stripped of Party membership, his teaching license revoked, banned for life from working in education.

    This decision shocked the entire internet once again.

    Why was he punished? Because he was indeed guilty! This confirmed that Lin Qin had truly endured severe bullying during high school!

    Lin Qin’s fans, who once laughed at his awkwardness on camera and affectionately called him "adorable," now felt only heartache.

    They couldn’t even imagine how Lin Qin survived that dark period. For most people, it would’ve been impossible to endure.

    At this moment, Lin Qin’s studio shared the district education bureau’s statement, accompanied by an image of a rainbow.

    Lin Qin Studio: "The storm has passed, and the skies have cleared. All is well." [Image]