Chapter 9

Thank you, Canhun Shangxue, for the generous tip.

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After the school leadership explained the police's purpose to the cheerleading team, they waited for the brave cheerleader who had rescued the injured in yesterday's accident to step forward. In the school leadership's view, this was a matter of great honor, and the cheerleader who had done this should immediately step forward to claim such an honor.

However, after a few minutes, the cheerleaders, who were lined up, were all chatting, and not a single one stepped forward to claim the act of bravery.

"This..." The school leadership did not expect no one to step forward and turned to look at the police.

"Let me take a look." The firefighter who was at the scene yesterday saw the school leadership's predicament and spoke up. He took two steps forward and carefully examined the faces of the cheerleaders lined up, searching for the brave girl who had saved someone yesterday.

The firefighter looked from right to left, his gaze passing over the youthful and vibrant faces, and soon landed on Claire's face. The firefighter's gaze lingered on Claire, his brows slightly furrowed, feeling that the girl who had saved someone yesterday seemed to be Claire. He carefully recalled and compared, but did not rashly identify her, as it would be awkward if he were wrong.

Claire also noticed the firefighter's gaze fixed on her and was immediately startled. She came to her senses and looked at the firefighter with almost pleading eyes, hoping he would not reveal her.

"It seems to be that one..." However, the firefighter, lost in his recollection, did not notice Claire's gaze. The more he recalled, the more he felt that the girl in front of him was the one who had saved someone in the fire yesterday. He slowly raised his head and opened his mouth to identify Claire.

The firefighter's actions also caught the attention of the other cheerleaders, especially the tall girl standing next to Claire.

This girl was the vice-captain of the cheerleading team and was originally Claire's best friend, with whom she shared everything. However, after Claire, whom she had brought into the cheerleading team, surpassed her to become the captain, their relationship changed. A feeling of jealousy spread in the girl's heart. Although she appeared to be Claire's best friend, she clearly targeted Claire in every way.

Seeing the firefighter's actions and gaze, it was clear he was about to point to Claire. Since Claire became the cheerleading captain, she had felt inferior to Claire in every way. If Claire were to become a hero...

Thinking this, the girl felt a surge of impulse from within, and her body subconsciously raised her hand, saying, "It was me."

"Huh!?" The firefighter was about to point to Claire, thinking she was the hero who had saved someone in the fire yesterday, but before he could speak or raise his hand, he saw the tall girl standing next to Claire step forward. The words he was about to say were swallowed back.

After impulsively saying "It was me," the girl came to her senses and felt terrible because she knew it wasn't her. However, seeing everyone's gaze focused on her, if she were to deny it now, she would lose face. She was in a difficult situation.

"It wasn't her, it was me. I saved that person yesterday." Feeling everyone's gaze, the girl hardened her heart and admitted it. If she was going to admit it, she might as well go all the way. She stepped forward and admitted it, her voice trembling and lacking confidence at first, but becoming firm and resolute, as if it were really her.

"Yesterday, after cheerleading practice, I took a shortcut home... and then I saw the train accident. I just wanted to help," the girl continued to lie.

"Was it you? Why didn't you admit it earlier?" The firefighter, now focusing on this girl, asked in confusion. Moreover, the firefighter, who had a vague impression, now felt that this girl might be the hero who had saved someone yesterday, and no longer paid attention to Claire.

"Why didn't you mention it before?" The school leadership also asked.

"I just... didn't want to draw attention to myself, but I absolutely didn't do it for attention," the girl replied with a modest smile, as if it were really her.

"Phew!" Seeing the firefighter's gaze shift away, Claire let out a deep breath. The heavy burden in her heart was finally lifted, and a feeling of relief and weakness washed over her, making her body sway slightly. She smiled in relief.

However, although Claire was now safe, she felt a strange, indescribable feeling when she looked at the girl in the center of everyone's attention, her former best friend who now targeted her in every way. She had saved the person in the fire yesterday, but because of this "friend's" lie, her secret would not be discovered. This conflicting feeling troubled Claire, making her look at the girl with a strange expression.

"How is he?" Instead of joining the others around the lying girl, Claire walked up to the police and asked.

"Who?" The police were taken aback and didn't understand Claire's question.

"The one who was rescued," Claire answered, looking back at the lying girl surrounded by the cheerleaders.

"Oh, he was severely burned, and the smoke damaged his lungs, but he is alive, which is very fortunate," the police said, understanding who Claire was referring to.

Hearing the police's response, Claire smiled happily. She had really saved that person.

"Hehe, looks like I don't need to step in. I should thank this girl," Wang Peng, standing in the crowd, watched the firefighter about to identify Claire, narrowed his eyes, and slightly raised his arm, intending to influence the firefighter's judgment. However, he lowered his hand when the vice-captain of the cheerleading team stepped forward to admit it.

"By the way, what's her name? It's something like Ji, hmm... never mind, I can't remember," Wang Peng glanced at Claire, then turned and walked to the classroom with a box, muttering to himself.

"Ring! Ring!" Happy and restful times always pass quickly, especially for students. Soon, the lunch break was over, and with the sound of the bell, students returned to their respective classes.

"Hey, Claire, are you okay? You look a bit pale," Wang Peng, who had been sitting at his desk, said to Claire, who had returned and sat in front of him.

"Hehe, I'm fine, thanks," Claire smiled, still not fully recovered from the shock and pressure of the firefighter's identification.

"That's good. I didn't expect that girl to be a hero. She really dared to rush into the fire to save someone. I saw someone in our school's cheerleading uniform at the accident scene; it must have been her," Wang Peng nodded and chatted casually with Claire.

"Um... yeah, I didn't expect it either. Hehe," Claire replied with a forced laugh.

"Alright, everyone, stop talking. Class is starting," the teacher entering the classroom interrupted Wang Peng and Claire's conversation.

"Still easy to see through, but the disguise has improved a lot," Wang Peng, listening to the teacher's lecture, propped his chin on his hand and thought, looking at Claire's back.

After that, daily school life seemed to return to normal. Wang Peng's and Claire's lives returned to a peaceful state.

However, the only change was the girl who lied and claimed to be the hero. Her recent days were very glamorous and full of glory.

Because the scene of the accident was very chaotic, and no one noticed Claire's actions, only the two firefighters, who did not remember who had saved the person, the girl's lie was not exposed. Everyone believed that she was the hero who had saved someone in the fire.

This girl not only received various awards and honors but also the gratitude and rewards from the person she claimed to have saved. She attended various events, gave speeches, and even appeared on local TV for a special interview, enjoying great glory.

The school also placed the girl's photo and commendation in the memorial cabinet, where only students who had made significant contributions to the school, such as winning first place in competitions, were honored, for the younger students to learn and admire.

This girl became a celebrity in the school, always surrounded by a group of so-called "best friends," giving off a sense of a second-generation official from ancient China, leading a group of lackeys around the streets.

The true hero, Claire, did not fare well. Although she was not identified and breathed a sigh of relief, she felt very uncomfortable when she saw the lying girl being praised and honored everywhere in the news and at school. This honor should have been hers.

Moreover, the lying girl, being the vice-captain of the cheerleading team, had often competed with Claire and targeted her in every way. Now that the lying girl had gained power, she became even more arrogant and malicious, often mocking Claire when she saw her with her group of "best friends."

Wang Peng saw all of this but said nothing and did nothing. He neither comforted Claire nor revealed the truth to the lying girl. He just watched as a bystander.

A few days later, the school decided to hold a celebration for the girl who claimed to be the hero in the fire. Due to her active role, the school's reputation had significantly improved, and the school leadership was overjoyed.

It took two or three days to prepare for the celebration, which was held in the school's large square, where all students could participate, either by attending or not, as they wished.

However, the lying girl's character was quite poor. As a cheerleader, she was part of the school's elite and often bullied others, and her friends were also so-called elites.

Although many people attended the celebration that evening, compared to the total number of students in the school, it was a mere fraction. Many did not come because the main character was the lying girl.

However, Claire was invited to the celebration, and Wang Peng also attended uninvited.