Shen Zui and Fan Jun were quietly organizing the items they had collected over the past few days when a heavy knock suddenly echoed through the room. Shen Lang lifted his head, frowning slightly, but soon returned to sorting his things. Fan Jun cast a sympathetic glance at his friend, wanting to say something, yet unsure of the right words. Finally, he spoke softly, "Shen Lang, maybe we should help Xiao Zheng and Second Sister."
"Shen Lang, open this door!" Shen Nan's voice rang out forcefully from the doorway. "If you don't come out, I swear I'll come in and turn your room upside down!" For Shen Nan, such a threat was her last resort—something she wouldn't say unless the situation was serious.
Hearing his sister's near-roaring voice from outside, Fan Jun saw Shen Lang slowly lift his head, glance at him, and then straighten up, walking calmly to the door to open it. "Come in, then. I already heard about you and Brother this afternoon—I'm not deaf, you know. Is all this yelling really necessary?"
Standing in the doorway, Shen Nan hesitated briefly before stepping into the room and sinking onto his bed. She seemed frustrated, unable to find an outlet for her emotions, though she would never admit it, even to herself. Shen Lang, despite everything, was the only person at home she could confide in.
"Alright, Shen Lang, I'm heading out," Fan Jun said, grabbing his packed bag. "There are some things waiting for me at home."
After a moment's hesitation, Shen Lang nodded. "My bike's downstairs. You can ride it back. Just remember to meet me here in the morning."
Taking the keys from Shen Lang, Fan Jun offered Shen Nan some final words of comfort. "Second Sister, it'll all be alright. Don't dwell on it too much—this too shall pass."
After Fan Jun left, Shen Lang leaned back in his chair, his gaze indifferent as he looked at his sister. "I heard you and Brother were called out today. Feeling wronged? Maybe you two think the whole matter had nothing to do with you, right?"
Shen Nan, her face full of resentment, met her brother's gaze. "It's not about right or wrong—there were reasons for what happened. But I feel the Student Council's critique of us was unjust. Are we just supposed to stand there and let others bully us? I don't understand; it's like they're biased, looking at us differently from everyone else."
A dry laugh escaped Shen Lang, just as another knock sounded, and Shen Zheng pushed the door open, entering with a defeated expression and slumping into Fan Jun's recently vacated chair.
"Little brother," he began, his tone weary, "why is it that the Student Council teachers have to single us out like that, leaving us no chance to defend ourselves? Even if we were wrong, shouldn't we have the opportunity to correct ourselves? There's no need to shame us in front of the whole school. It's too much, don't you think?"
Shen Lang glanced at his older brother, tapping his fingers lightly on the edge of his desk to get both of their attention before speaking calmly. "You're both looking at this too narrowly, not understanding the bigger picture or connections here. Alright, let me give you a hint. Think carefully about this."
"First, who do you think told the Student Council teachers? Why didn't they go to your class advisors instead? Consider this carefully. Second, why did they escalate the matter to the Student Council instead of letting your class advisors handle it? And why was it immediately exposed, not even giving your advisors a chance to intervene? Ask yourselves why."
Shen Lang paused, considering whether to continue. "I'll leave the third question for later—figure out the first two on your own. I'm going to cook. Take some time to think, and consider the matter from different perspectives."
By dinnertime, Shen Zheng and Shen Nan were still puzzled, no closer to understanding the situation. As they looked at their brother, who sat across from them calmly, Shen Zheng opened his mouth to speak but was waved off by Shen Lang, who insisted they finish eating first.
After dinner, Shen Zheng pressed, "Alright, little brother, now that we've eaten, are you going to tell us what's going on?"
Shen Lang sat on the floor of his room, smiling at his sister. "Fine, I'll guide you through it, but only because it's pointless if I just spell it out for you. Think carefully: who would report this to the Student Council and not to your advisors?"
He continued, "If they had informed your class advisors, at worst, you'd be pulled aside for a private talk, maybe made to write a couple of reflective essays. Even if the Student Council later learned of it, there wouldn't be much they could do since you'd already been reprimanded by your advisors. In a sense, one punishment rules out another."
Shen Zheng, who had been slumped in his chair, gradually straightened as realization dawned. "You're suggesting that the one who reported us knew the implications well and deliberately backed us into a corner. Who would do something like that? If you're right, then the pool of suspects is pretty small."
Shen Nan clenched her fist and struck the bed angrily. "I think I get it. Whoever reported us must be someone dissatisfied with the positions Brother and I hold. The only ones who'd be bothered by us are those in the Student Council—or those waiting in line for our roles. And this person must have close ties or family connections that can sway the Council teachers. So, what about the second question? Why did the Council teachers rush to expose us?"
Shen Zui nodded approvingly. "You're mostly on track, but don't be too quick to make assumptions. The Council's decision to publicize this, disregarding your advisors, has multiple reasons. Partly, it's what you said—but there's also a subjective element. Think about your standing in school, and remember you have a newly-appointed Council leader 'parachuted' into your midst."
Shen Zheng exhaled, his face clouded. "I think I understand now. Both of us were chosen to lead—after a year in our roles, we've built strong relationships and trust. That puts us in a prime position for the Council roles. But then, they brought in someone new, yet we still have influence, especially in Ouyang Lan's eyes. So, I guess someone sees her as more important than us and wants us to step back, to make room for her. If we don't handle this right, the person who reported us will have an opening."
Shen Nan nodded thoughtfully. "In some people's eyes, Ouyang Lan holds more importance than we do. Maybe we're just placeholders until they can phase us out. And if we mishandle this, that person will gain an advantage."
Shen Lang leaned back, his expression composed. "I know this might seem complex and unfair. And I'm sorry you're being exposed to these undercurrents so early. But now, here's my third question for you—answer honestly."
"What is it?"
"Why are you in the Student Council? Is it truly to serve the students and fight for their interests? If that's your reason, I'm sorry to say I haven't really seen it in action. Or are you in it to develop your skills? Only you can answer that. My role here is just to provide perspective, to help you analyze, but the final decision rests with you."
The next morning at breakfast, when his eldest son and daughter declared their intention to resign from the Student Council, Shen Zui was so shocked that he dropped his chopsticks. He sat there, stunned, as they recounted their discussion with Shen Lang. In his children's surprised gaze, Shen Zui gave himself a slap across the face, as if to make sure he wasn't dreaming but fully awake in reality.