Chapter 128: The Female Principal

The second poem Su Tong presented to Principal Song was titled "What Can I Do."

In his previous life, this poem originated from an internet novel, serving as an author's continuation of an original line. It was woven so perfectly that modern readers mistakenly believed the entire piece was a work of antiquity. Because it was so hauntingly beautiful, people preferred to believe it was a legacy from the ancients.

The original ancient work actually consisted of only one line; the subsequent three were added by later generations. Due to the exquisite nature of this addition, it was hailed by Chinese literary enthusiasts as one of the ten most beautiful ancient poems. When it first appeared, it swept through the Chinese literary world in a matter of days. In an era without the internet, relying solely on telephones and letters, this was an incredible miracle.

Su Tong took it and changed the title. After all, if others could add to it, couldn't he give it a new name? Besides, the new title was short, refined, and arguably better than the original.

"Consider yourself lucky for getting away so fast," Principal Song murmured. She truly loved the poem, but since Su Tong had explicitly stated it was written for her, the implications felt a bit off.

Men are inherently more base, while women are more sensitive. Principal Song felt this poem surpassed "Nian Nu Jiao: Reflections on the Past at Red Cliff." Loving someone, she realized, isn't about how great they are, but how great they make you feel. Right now, she found the poem’s sorrowful beauty to be absolute. The helplessness and bitterness of two people in love who cannot be together was enough to draw tears. It spoke to the tragedy of meeting someone you wish to care for and protect for a lifetime at an age when you are powerless to do so.

Tragedy is more moving than perfection; seeing something beautiful shattered leaves a deeper impression than witnessing the birth of a flawless work of art.

Did this count as flirting with a female principal? Certainly, which was why Su Tong had run faster than anyone.

Principal Song smiled bitterly. Su Tong really was incorrigible. If she had known, she wouldn't have let him… no, if given the choice again, she would still want him to write it. Remembering the night before, she couldn't help but chuckle. The writers who had received poems from Su Tong must have been wishing for a hole to crawl into.

Just as she was admiring the poem, her phone buzzed. A group of people were tagging her.

"Old Song, it's been almost an hour. The kid must be done by now, right?"
"Little Song, post the poem so we can all see it."
"Sister Song, we've been waiting a long time."
"Good things should be shared. Cultural heritage belongs to the world."

The old folks were impatient. Principal Song was torn; these two poems could not be uploaded. Especially the second one—not even under threat of death. She intended to ignore them, but she had underestimated their anticipation for *Nian Nu Jiao*. Someone grew so impatient they called her directly to ask for the poems.

"The poem… it's already written," she said. She wanted to lie, but fearing Su Tong might update his Weibo and post them, she told the truth. A sudden panic gripped her. If he posted them now, with all the big names in the group knowing he had just written them for her, she would never be able to wash the suspicion off, even if she jumped into the Yellow River.

"I'm busy with something urgent, let's talk later," she said, hanging up before they could respond. She immediately dialed Su Tong. To her fury, he didn't answer after three tries.

"Do not post the poems you wrote earlier online," she texted him.

"Why? But I already uploaded them," Su Tong replied quickly, leaving her stunned.

Her heart sank. She had let her vanity get the better of her, and now her reputation was at stake. She sat slumped in her chair, feeling weak. With trembling fingers, she logged onto Weibo, went to the *Nian Nu Jiao* page, and stared at the screen.

Then, a text from Su Tong arrived: "Oh, Principal Song, I just realized there might be a network or phone issue. The post failed to upload. I'm going to try again—this lousy network and phone!"

True enough, the poems were not on the page.

"Do not post them!" she raged. She called him again, but he didn't answer. She fired off another text: "Get back here immediately!"

Su Tong didn't know Principal Song had been chatting with the literary elite, but he knew the second poem was too suggestive. There was no way he was going back.

"Principal Song, I really have an emergency. I'll come pay my respects another day. Bye!"

"You…" Principal Song was furious yet helpless. The boy was truly too mischievous. At the same time, she realized he had no intention of posting them.

Meanwhile, in the group chat:
"Where did Sister Song go? Don't tell me she's hoarding a good poem."
"Little Song, come out, or I'm calling you again!"
"Haha, Old Song, did he write that for you because you offended him the other night?"
"Possible. That kid is a wild horse."
"Poor Old Song. Is he getting revenge for you stopping his 'campaign' the other night?"

Sighing, Principal Song realized she had dug her own grave. She had to respond: "The *Nian Nu Jiao* is finished. Both poems are incredibly beautiful. Personally, I find the second one even better than *Nian Nu Jiao: Reflections on the Past at Red Cliff* or *Climbing the Yellow Crane Tower*."

She didn't intend to share them, but she couldn't help but praise them.

"What? Better than those classics? Little Song, that's not kind. How can you hide such masterpieces? Show us!"

The threats poured in. For these people, their passion wasn't beauty or money, but great literature. Principal Song realized she had lost control of the situation.

"It really isn't possible today. Let me think about it. We'll talk later." She stood her ground, refusing to compromise.

This only incited further anger.

"If you won't give them to us, fine. We'll go find him ourselves."