Chapter 3 Lily's words made my heart clench . Before I could answer , someone was pounding on the door . I opened it to find Linda and Director Anderson from the Advanced Mathematics Competition program . Anderson held a cardboard box , her smile cold and artificial . Linda leaned against the doorframe , her eyes contemptuously sweeping over us . " Ms. Manning , we're here to bring your daughter her things . " Anderson forcefully shoved the box into my arms . I stumbled backward as books tumbled out . On top was a drawing my daughter had made that had even won an award - now with a clear , muddy footprint stamped across it . " Can't leave things behind . Our school always believes in seeing things through to the end , " she said , her mouth twisted with heavy sarcasm . " Also , we wanted to ' communicate ' with you face to face . " She slowly adjusted her scarf . " We're sorry the child was expelled . But you need to reflect on yourself . Fabricating injuries , threatening the school - now you've even lost your job . People like you who don't follow rules are pariahs wherever you go . Linda snickered and stepped forward , bending down condescendingly in front of my daughter . Lily shrank back in terror , hiding desperately in my arms . " Like mother , like daughter ! " Linda said into Lily's ear , her voice quiet but full of malice . " Morally corrupt herself , what kind of good child could she possibly raise ? Little liar . " " Shut up ! " My face flushed red instantly , my fingers gripping the doorframe so tightly they went white . " My daughter's paper was perfect ! You're the ones twisting the truth !! " Perfect ? " Linda laughed even louder , straightening up and deliberately raising her voice . " Oh , that piece of cheating trash ? I tore it up in front of the whole class with my own hands and threw it in the garbage ! I tore it up to educate her for you ! Our school cultivates elites , not social dregs from families like yours ! " " You're lying ! " I shouted back , though my voice was shaking . Chapter 3 Download 2.46 % Lily clung to my clothes behind me , her small body trembling violently from fear and humiliation . " Lying ? " Anderson sneered , pointing at my small , shabby apartment . " Ms. Manning , don't be shameless . We came today to give you some advice . Don't appear near the school again , or else ... " She paused , her gaze shifting to my daughter , her smile turning sinister . " We can't guarantee your daughter won't ' accidentally ' tumble down the stairs and get her face smashed . " I trembled all over , my chest heaving violently . Their voices were too loud - a neighbor's door cracked open . Linda noticed and , instead of restraining herself , shouted even more triumphantly in that direction , " Everyone look ! This is the parent who coached her child to self - harm for money ! Everyone better watch out for her !" The neighbor's door slammed shut with a bang . Linda clapped her hands in satisfaction . " Alright , message delivered . You'd better behave yourself ! " They turned and left , leaving the open door and chaos scattered on the floor . Lily let out a suppressed whimper behind me , " Mommy ... 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 . Baby , it never was . " My voice was soft and steady . The next day , going to process my resignation , I held my daughter's hand . As soon as we opened the door , the entire hallway fell silent . Mrs. Thompson , who was waiting for the elevator , saw me and immediately showed disgust on her face , stepping back a large step . "What rotten luck , living in the same building as people like this ! Coaching a child to self - harm to extort the school - serves her right ! " The elevator doors opened , and she rushed in , shouting to those inside , " Quick , quick , close the doors ! Don't let the crazy woman in ! Bad luck ! " The elevator doors slowly closed in front of me , reflecting my expressionless face . Chapter 3 Wanna watch the rest of " Office Girl " ? Download Drama Pops and watch the re ... Download 2.46 % We took the stairs down . In the residential complex , neighbors who used to nod and smile in passing now made wide detours around us . Several elderly women chatting together saw us and immediately stopped talking . One of them spat a thick glob of phlegm on the ground . I walked expressionlessly , gripping Lily's hand tighter . " Her head hung low , shoulders hunched , as if she wanted to disappear entirely . I stopped walking and looked up at the sun . I looked down at my daughter's hollow eyes . In this overwhelming malice , I smiled softly . I took out my phone and dialed a number . Chapter 3