Chapter 3

My daughter's question made my heart tighten.

Before I could respond, there was a loud bang at the door.

When I opened it, I saw Ms. Watson and Director Lee from the math Olympiad program.

Director Lee was holding a cardboard box with a smile on her face that did not reach her eyes.

Meanwhile, Ms. Watson leaned against the doorframe, contemptuously looking us up and down.

"Ms. Sanders, I'm here to deliver your daughter's stuff."

Director Lee forcefully shoved the box into my arms, causing me to stumble back. The books inside the box spilled out.

At the top of the spilled books was a painting by my daughter, one that had won an award, now marred by a clear, muddy shoe print.

"Can't leave anything behind. Our school believes in finishing what you started," she said, her mouth twisted with heavy mockery.

"Furthermore, we wanted to 'communicate' with you in person."

She casually adjusted her scarf.

"We're sorry your daughter has been expelled, but you need to reflect on yourself for faking injuries and threatening the school. Now you've even lost your job… People like you who break the rules will be outcasts everywhere."

Ms. Watson snorted, stepped forward, and leaned down, towering over my daughter.

My daughter flinched, burying herself in my arms.

"Bad upbringing leads to bad kids!"

Ms. Watson whispered into my daughter's ear, her voice soft yet filled with malice.

"Of course a morally corrupt mother wouldn't raise a good kid. You little liar."

"Shut your mouth!"

My face went red, and my fingers gripped the doorframe so tightly they hurt.

"My daughter should have gotten full marks for that test! You're the ones twisting the truth!"

"Full marks?"

Ms. Watson laughed even louder. She stood up straight and raised her voice on purpose.

"Oh, that piece of paper where she cheated? I tore it up in front of the whole class and threw it in the trash! I tore it to educate her! Our school nurtures elites, not social trash that comes from families like yours!"

"You're lying!"

I yelled back, but my voice was shaking.

Behind me, my daughter clutched my clothes tightly, her tiny body trembling with fear and shame.

"Lying?"

Director Lee sneered and gestured at my small, shabby apartment.

"Ms. Sanders, don't push your luck. I'm here today to give you a piece of advice. Don’t let us see you near the school again, or..."

She paused and shifted her gaze to my daughter, her smile turning icy.

"We can’t guarantee that your daughter won’t accidentally fall down the stairs and get hurt."

I trembled all over, my chest rising and falling fast.

Their voices were so loud that the neighbor's door cracked open in curiosity.

Ms. Watson saw it, and instead of quieting down, she yelled even louder.

"Look, everyone! This is the mother who incited her daughter to hurt herself for compensation! Everyone, please be careful!"

The neighbor's door slammed shut with a loud bang.

Ms. Watson brushed her hands in satisfaction. "Alright, we've delivered the message. You'd better watch out!"

They turned and left, leaving the door wide open and a pile of mess on the floor.

Tina let out a suppressed whimper behind me.

"Mom... I’m sorry... it's all my fault..."

I closed the door, shutting out the entire world.

I crouched down and held her tightly in my arms.

"It’s not your fault. Sweety, it’s never your fault."

My voice was soft but steady.

The next day, I went to handle my resignation. Holding Tina's hand, I left the apartment.

As soon as I opened the door, the hallway fell silent.

When Mrs. Winehouse, who was waiting for the elevator, saw me, she immediately recoiled, taking a big step back.

"What rotten luck to live in the same building as someone like you! I can't believe you taught your kid to hurt herself to scam the school! Serves you right!"

The elevator doors opened, and she rushed in, yelling, "Hurry, close the doors! Don’t let the crazy woman in! It's bad luck!"

The elevator doors slowly closed in front of me, reflecting my expressionless face.

We took the stairs down.

In the community, our neighbors who usually nodded and smiled were now giving us a wide berth.

Several old ladies who were chatting together stopped talking as soon as they saw us.

One of them spat a big glob of phlegm on the ground.

I continued walking with a blank expression, holding my daughter's hand even tighter.

Tina buried her head low, her shoulders hunched, like she wanted to disappear.

I stopped and looked up at the sun.

Then, I looked down at my daughter's hollow eyes.

Amidst the overwhelming malice, I gently smiled.

I took out my phone and made a call.

The call only rang once before it was picked up.

A man's voice came through, tinged with excitement and nervousness.

"Mandy?"

I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, my eyes were cold.

I didn’t answer his question. My voice flat, I said, "Rick, our daughter is being bullied."

After I hung up, Karen, the woman who spat on the ground earlier, came over holding some garbage.

"Oh, you still haven't left?"

She scrutinized me with a nasty look. "Don’t you feel ashamed? How dare you show yourself around here?"

I held my daughter tight. Her face was buried in my chest, and her little body was shaking badly.

My silence emboldened Karen. She raised her voice to ensure the whole community could hear.

"Everyone, come take a look! This is the woman who incited her daughter to harm herself for money! She lost her job and her daughter was expelled, yet she's still hanging around! No wonder her man left her. A woman like her brings nothing but bad luck!"

She grew more animated, now stepping forward to point at my daughter.

"And this little liar! Raised without a father, she's already lying and cheating at such a young age! She's only gonna get worse when she grows up! I think she should be sent to juvenile prison!"

"Shut your mouth!" My blood boiled, and I yelled.

"I'll say what I want!" She put her hands on her hips. "If you don't want people to talk about it, don't do it, crazy woman! And that little..."

A deep, cold voice interrupted from behind her.

"What did you just say?"