Without seeing it with her own eyes, there was no evidence to prove that Xingxing had been pushed into the lake by Kangkang.
The teacher, at her wit's end, had to call the four children over.
Kangkang's mother, seeing her son standing there dejectedly, doted on him and stepped forward to caress his cheek. "Kangkang, my dear son, tell Mommy, did you push the other child into the lake?"
Facing the anxious inquiry and the scrutinizing gazes around them, Kangkang hunched his neck and timidly shook his head.
He was afraid of being caught by the police, and even more afraid of his father finding out and hitting him.
Upon Kangkang's denial, Kangkang's mother immediately became belligerent. She dared not openly confront Ye Ziyu, so she turned her target to the teacher next to her. "Teacher Qin, I, as his mother, know best what kind of child my Kangkang is. You say he pushed another child into the lake; this is tantamount to murder. Kangkang cannot bear such a charge."
Teacher Qin was like an ant on a hot pan, flustered and anxious, unsure how to respond. She turned to Ye Ziyu, her deep desire evident in her eyes.
Kangkang's mother noticed the direction of Teacher Qin's gaze and turned to Ye Ziyu politely. "Miss Ye, I know Xingxing is also a treasure of the Ye family. You must be worried and anxious about him falling into the lake. However, without evidence, you cannot casually find a scapegoat to comfort your child. Look at my Kangkang; he usually speaks so openly, but now he's so scared he doesn't dare to lift his head because of this unconfirmed incident."
Hearing Kangkang's mother's indignant account of Kangkang's fear, Ye Ziyu smiled.
Her smile startled and frightened everyone present. No one could predict what she intended to do, not even Xingxing.
"Since you've noticed his fear, why not consider the possibility that he tried to harm someone and got caught?" Ye Ziyu said.
With witnesses right there, a simple question to the children nearby, or a more in-depth inquiry into Kangkang, would have revealed the truth.
Some people insisted on playing ignorant, and the end result would only be a more awkward situation.
Kangkang's mother looked at the two mothers behind her. None of them dared to provoke the Ye family and guiltily turned their faces away, avoiding Kangkang's mother's gaze.
The children were further shielded by their respective parents. Kangkang's mother, having lost her earlier bravado, looked at Kangkang before her, lost and unsure.
"Kangkang, tell Mommy, did you do anything to harm Xingxing?" Kangkang's mother grabbed Kangkang's arm and asked sternly.
Her stern tone did not sit well with her. If this matter ultimately had nothing to do with her son, she would definitely not let the Ye family and the math Olympiad teachers off the hook.
Everyone held their breath, awaiting Kangkang's reply.
At that moment, Ye Ziyu stepped forward. She looked down at the trembling Kangkang. "It's not scary for children to make mistakes, but it is scary not to take responsibility for the consequences. Always trying to present a perfect image to your parents is a typical way of digging your own grave."
"Miss Ye, are you threatening my child?" Kangkang's mother asked indignantly.
It was clear that Kangkang's expression had changed after hearing Ye Ziyu's words. He looked up at his hypocritical mother, closed his eyes, and roared loudly, "I pushed him! I was just jealous that Xingxing always got first place! Because of him, I got beaten every time I went home, and you always said I wasn't as good as a child who had no one. I hate you!"
While everyone was still astonished by Kangkang's words, he pushed everyone aside and ran out.
The teachers, afraid something might happen to him, quickly followed.
Kangkang's mother seemed to have lost her soul, her gaze becoming hollow. "He hates me…"