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As they held more money than usual, Sun Zhiming and Han Zhengdong were puzzled. “Xuan’er, this is too much…”
Despite the increased amount, neither of them was greedy and expressed their confusion.
“Brother Sun, Brother Han, the extra amount is for you as a bonus. You’ve been working hard during this period and it’s also nearing the holidays, so consider it an extra reward for your hard work. Don’t feel it’s too much. I’ll prepare bigger red envelopes for you during the Chinese New Year,” Wang Xuan explained.
Receiving the additional money made Sun Zhiming and Han Zhengdong very happy. It was a sign of recognition for their efforts from the younger siblings, who, despite being younger, were truly capable and admirable. Witnessing how they expanded the business in the capital showed the challenges and efforts involved.
After chatting for a while in the evening, everyone retired to bed.
Upon returning to the dormitory, Wang Qian and Li Tiange noticed a strange atmosphere. The usual liveliness was missing, and everyone seemed unusually quiet.
“Qianqian, where were you yesterday? We didn’t see you come back,” Hu Lianduo, visibly upset since yesterday, couldn’t help but inquire upon seeing Wang Qian and Li Tiange together.
“Sister Hu, I had stomach issues yesterday, unbearable pain. Sister Tiange accompanied me to the hospital. We stayed there for a while getting IV treatment. It got late, so we went to my relative’s house. How was your fun yesterday?” Wang Qian explained, masking the fact that they already had a house in the capital, understanding her friend’s concerns.
Li Tiange, noticing Wang Qian’s discretion, refrained from mentioning their property, instead listening to the roommates’ feedback on the previous day’s dance party.
“Ah, forget it, it was dull. I didn’t stay long and came back,” Zhu Shan half-heartedly responded. After her return, some roommates had also come back, but one person remained in the classroom. Zhu Shan presumed they had a similar experience but stayed silent, feeling it was embarrassing.
Wang Qian glanced at the empty beds of the two missing roommates, assuming they hadn’t returned yet.
The other roommates were discontent with the individuals brought by Wei Yuanfang and Dong Xuan but hesitated to admit being teased. They silently bore the humiliation, harboring resentment towards those involved.
Unknown to everyone, the individuals brought in by Dong Xuan and Wei Yuanfang were actually part of their own circle. However, these men were not of good character, known for causing trouble. Their main intention in bringing them was to target Wang Qian and Li Tiange. They viewed the two as naive and from rural backgrounds, assuming they wouldn’t speak up even if mistreated. However, Wang Qian and Li Tiange had foiled their plans by leaving early, thwarting their scheme.
“Wang Qian, are you feeling better now? Do you need a few more days of rest?” Zhu Shan and the others genuinely cared for Wang Qian, showing more concern for her than the troublemakers.
Seeing the lack of substantial information shared by the others, Li Tiange refrained from probing further with Wang Qian. If they chose not to disclose, she was fine with it, as long as they hadn’t suffered any losses.
Although Mingyuan didn’t initially show his reaction, in the following days, he had Cong Tao look into the backgrounds of Wei Yuanfang and Dong Xuan. With his elder brother and Zuo He still absent, and their uncle unavailable, Mingyuan knew they had to take matters into their own hands.
Yang Nuo agreed that they needed to investigate thoroughly before taking any action, especially considering potential future interactions with their sister-in-law.
Cong Tao discreetly handled the investigation through his contacts in the capital. When Mingyuan and the others saw the list of findings, they couldn’t help but shake their heads.
“Who do they think they are? A section chief at the tax bureau and a deputy director at the industry and commerce bureau acting so boldly. They don’t hold a candle to Uncle Yang’s seniority,” Mingyuan remarked.
Mingyuan didn’t look down on these two individuals; after all, Yang Mingxuan was a bureau director, while the other two were just deputy officials.
After reviewing their situation, Yang Nuo pondered, “Mingyuan, despite their lower ranks, they have their connections. We shouldn’t underestimate them. Let’s carefully consider our next steps. We can’t afford to stir up trouble without a solid plan.”
It wasn’t just Yang Nuo being cautious; in the capital, familial ties and connections were intricate. Furthermore, the Wei family had some influence in the compound. Hence, caution was necessary.
Mingyuan nodded in understanding, carefully storing the paper. He planned to devise a strategy before taking action, as he had no intention of letting them off lightly.
However, he wasn’t hasty; if they couldn’t handle things smoothly, it would only complicate matters and potentially put his sister in a difficult position.
As Mingyuan pondered a plan, Zuo He and the others returned. Upon hearing Yang Nuo’s concerns, Zuo He’s expression darkened immediately. Zuo Hao nudged his younger brother, and spoke firmly, “Let Mingyuan handle this with someone else. Otherwise, they’ll think our family is an easy target.”
Zuo Hao was determined to protect his new sister-in-law. His usually handsome face now wore a somewhat eerie smile.
“Don’t worry, we trust Wang Qian. Remember when she fearlessly wielded a kitchen knife as a child? Do you think these two can bully her? I believe she can handle things at school for now. However, when it’s time to go home for the holidays, we should pick her up. If I’m busy, Mingyuan, you can go with Yang Nuo, Cong Tao, and the others to escort her. I’ll handle the rest. You’re not very familiar with the ways of the capital,” Zuo He assured.
Zuo He had long held a disdain for the two lecherous individuals. If not for Wang Qian’s situation, he would have dealt with them firmly much earlier.
Observing the uneasy atmosphere in the dormitory, Li Tiange suggested to Wang Qian that she alone should inquire about it. Given her younger age, the others might not be willing to confide in her.
Curious by nature, Li Tiange wanted to know what had transpired after their departure. She approached Zhu Shan, “Zhu Shan, I’m going out for a bit. The room feels stifling. Let’s get some fresh air outside.”
Feeling equally frustrated, Zhu Shan accepted Li Tiange’s invitation. They dressed and headed out, leaving Wang Qian behind in the dormitory, engrossed in her book. The room fell into a heavy silence.
As dinner approached, Li Tiange discreetly recounted the previous day’s talk with Zhu Shan as they waited.
“Really? They were that audacious?” Wang Qian expressed surprise at the revelation.
Wang Qian found it hard to believe how bold those individuals had been. They were supposedly educated university students, yet they resorted to such despicable actions. She felt a sense of dread, contemplating what might have happened had she and Li Tiange been present. Reputation was at stake, and the potential repercussions among their peers troubled her. Understanding why Zhu Shan had chosen to remain silent, Wang Qian realized the cunning nature of those two individuals.
“Sister Tiange, from now on, let’s stay on campus whenever possible. They won’t dare to act here. And if we go out, we should always stick together. I can’t imagine what they might do otherwise,” Wang Qian suggested cautiously.
“If she dares…” Li Tiange’s voice was filled with determination.
Upon hearing Zhu Shan’s ordeal in the afternoon, Li Tiange felt compassionate. However, knowing those individuals were targeting her and Wang Qian fueled her frustration. Without concrete evidence against them, she couldn’t act, but concerns about the future lingered.
“Wang Qian, should we let them continue their arrogance?” Li Tiange expressed her frustration.
“Don’t worry, our chance to deal with them will come. As long as soon as we found evidence,” Wang Qian reassured, determined to wait for the right opportunity to confront them.
Upon their return in the evening, the dormitory atmosphere became even more tense. Everyone ignored Wei Yuanfang and Dong Xuan, except for one person—Tian Chang, whose unexpected alliance with the two individuals added another layer of complexity to the situation.
With lingering suspicions in their minds, no one dared to inquire about where the two troublemakers had been. Life returned to a semblance of normalcy, yet the dormitory atmosphere remained heavy and oppressive.
The two troublemakers, now keeping a low profile, focused on their studies rather than causing any more disturbances.
“Sigh, I can’t wait for the break. Staying here is suffocating,” Li Tiange lamented upon returning from the library with Wang Qian, feeling the oppressive atmosphere in the dorm.
The final exams finally arrived, much to the anticipation of Wang Qian and Li Tiange. After three days of intense tests, Wang Qian breathed a sigh of relief. Although studying had been exhausting, she felt fulfilled. Her goal for this round of exams was to achieve a scholarship, enabling her to buy some things for her family. While she didn’t rely on this income, it would be a validation of her academic efforts.
After a period of behaving themselves, Dong Xuan and Wei Yuanfang started acting up again once the exams were over.
Zhu Shan and the others usually kept their distance from Dong Xuan and Wei Yuanfang, exchanging minimal conversation when necessary. They knew the underlying tensions but refrained from openly addressing the issues.
“Ladies, the holidays are approaching. Our friends who we invited last time feel apologetic about something, although we’re unsure about the details. They sincerely want to apologize to all of you. Tonight, they are hosting a dinner at a nearby restaurant as a gesture of goodwill. Let’s consider it a reconciliatory meal. We’re all dormitory sisters, and if they have wronged you, we won’t let them off easily. Feel free to order whatever you like tonight; I’ll be there to support you. Let’s see if they dare to offend you again.”