Lin Shu's eyes widened in shock. He was frightened and fl.u.s.tered.
The more someone wants to hide, the more obvious it becomes. At this time, many students came to watch; they all heard Ji Yunshu's announcement.
Lin Shu killed Guo He? Like an epidemic, it immediately spread around. Students from outside started a lively discussion. All kinds of speculations started flying through the air.
The harsh discussions were heard by Lin Shu. His hands clenched, while his forehead and back broke out in cold sweat. His heart shuddered nervously for a long time before he pointed at Ji Yunshu. "This is only your blind conjecture."
"Conjecture?" How novel! She was in no hurry to nitpick at his words, rather she calmly refuted, "Alright, then explain to me. Why is your and Guo He's blood on the wine bottle? How would a bead from your Eastern Chestnut bracelet be in the wine bottle?"
"I…" He stuttered.
Teacher Yu became more certain he was the killer seeing that he was at a loss for words. "Did you kill someone? Did you kill him?" He said these words while s.h.i.+vering in deep anguish.
Lin Shu seemed to suffocate at that instant before breathing out. He shook his head and denied, "No, Teacher. I didn't kill Guo He. They're all framing me."
"Teacher Ji has said that the evidence is conclusive. When she asked you, you couldn't refute her. How can I believe you?"
He grabbed onto the edge of Teacher Yu's clothes. "Teacher, you must believe me. I had no grudge with Guo He. Why would I want to kill him? Normally, he and I are on friendly terms and I'm also saddened by his death!"
"Then you better explain the situation clearly and prove your innocence. How did your Eastern Chestnut bead get into the wine bottle? Why did it have your and his blood on it?" Teacher Yu felt breathless and pressed a hand onto his heaving chest. He had spoken so forcefully that he overexerted himself and staggered. Luckily Mo Ruo was behind and caught him before he could fall.
"Teacher Yu, be careful." He steadied his steps.
Lin Shu's words were stuck in his throat for a long time.
At least, he slapped his thigh and replied. "Yes, the Eastern Chestnut bead belongs to this student. I also admit the blood on the wine bottle is mine, but I'm not the killer. One day, I went to the back of the mountain. Some branches cut my hand and broke the thread of the Eastern Chestnut bracelet. Blood from that scratch then dripped onto the wine bottle lying on the ground. The Eastern Chestnut bracelet was left behind by my father before he died, so I got angry and flung it on the wine bottle when the thread broke. In a fit of rage, I threw the bottle and it fell into the well. This is really the truth, Teacher. You must believe your student."
To Lin Shu, Teacher Yu was his last straw. Only by grabbing onto him, would he not fall. He was trembling from head to toe; the cold sweat on him had turned into hot perspiration blanketing his forehead.
Teacher Yu understood his temperament well. Lin Shu was quite similar to Guo He; their nature was simple and upright, yet quite mischievous. But the shady business of murder and arson was beyond him. Teacher Yu sighed. "I know your character, but your words are only so….."
"Student is innocent."
"..."
"Teacher…"
Teacher Yu shook his head. He did not know what to say at that moment.
On the other hand, Jing Ring's expression was cold. He uttered, "Lin Shu, the evidence is conclusive. Even if you flatly deny it, it is of no use."
Lin Shu's eyes were red. He roared in retort, "I have already explained clearly, I didn't kill that person. Don't try to accuse me of murder from just this useless evidence. I already told the truth; it's absolutely not false. You didn't personally witness it, but want to use an Eastern Chestnut bead and a broken wine bottle to a.s.sert that I killed Guo He. This is simply an enormous joke. I didn't kill anyone, I won't admit it even if you beat me to death."
Very agitated! In short, he wasn't going to carry the blame. But in the midst of the agitation, there was also nervousness.
He is extremely agitated, he does not seem to be the killer. But why is he nervous? He seems to have a guilty conscience. Two opposing emotions mixed together makes it hard for one to read.
Jing Rong and Ji Yuns.h.i.+ glanced at one another. It was self-evident.
Ji Yunshu began, "Lin Shu, this matter is ironclad. You're distorting facts, twisting words, and forcing logic. Must Guo He's ghost appear before you confess?"
"Let me repeat, I didn't kill anyone." He gnashed his teeth. "Don't return kindness with animosity. Just because of the matter last night at the school, you're using public office to avenge private wrongs and insist that I killed the person."
At that moment, Ji Yuns.h.i.+'s expression sank. She solemnly stated, "This is a serious matter that concerns human life, and yet you're talking about the use of public office to avenge private wrongs. If you did not kill anyone, I will not frame you. However, if you did kill someone, even if you get away I will make sure you're subject to punishment. Presently, we have sufficient evidence. Although you have denied it, it does not mean everything you said is true."
"Then, is everything that you say true? Did you witness it? In short, I didn't kill the person; I didn't kill anyone."
Fu Yunsheng, who had been standing to the side, voiced his support, "Yes, it can't be Lin Shu. Although he has a temper, he is not a murderer."
All of a sudden, Lin Shu recalled something. His eyes suddenly brightened and he blurted out in a hurry, "Didn't you say Guo He died last year on the 13th of June? On that day, I wasn't at the academy."
What?
"On that day, my mother had a serious illness. I went home to stay by my mother's side. Everyone in the neighbourhood can bear witness. The Academy students can also bear witness for me," he finally stood up straight and confidently disputed.
Teacher Yu also confirmed it. "Yes, on the 13th of that month, he did go home. He returned three days later."
It's not him? Is it really like what he said, that it was simply his hand got scratched by the branches and the blood dripped into the wine bottle? If so, why was he anxious? But on the 13th, he wasn't at the Academy! This… Ji Yuns.h.i.+'s mind once again fell into a dense fog!
Jing Rong asked Teacher Yu, "Teacher, are you sure that you didn't remember wrongly?"
"Probably not. When students leave the Academy, they'll be recorded. We can check the records to know for sure." As a result, Teacher Yu ordered a young child to rummage through the entire record books from last year and found the time when Lin Shu returned home to see his mother. It was clearly written...
It was exactly June 13, in the morning!
Return date, June 16, in the morning!
Lin Shu held the book to his chest. He started at Ji Yunshu, criticizing violently, "Did you all see? Right now, it can be proved that I didn't kill the person, right? You are using public office to avenge private wrongs, relying on teacher's trust in you to wrongly accuse me. Suppose if you're a government official, wouldn't I die from persecution?"
What arrogance! No! Ji Yunshu felt something was still not right!