Not accepting an apology? Sending him to the hospital or the police station?

She really doesn’t care about their friendship as classmates and intends to have him publicly criticized and expelled?

As Xia Fu’s words fell, Jiang Rong and Bao Zhiwei both froze for a moment. The latter almost crushed the pen in his hand, unable to maintain the pose of “seriously repenting.” He had just slapped her, so what was the big deal?

But as Xia Fu’s attitude became firm, Jiang Rong suddenly remembered her identity as a “victim” and began to listen to her demands. The woman softened her voice, even sounding a bit cautious.

“Xia Fu, the teacher knows you’re feeling wronged, but do you really want to do this? Such a punishment will stay on his record. If you do this, Bao Zhiwei will have trouble in the future. Since you are classmates, why not give him a chance? Let’s at least hear his apology first?”

Although Xia Fu said she wouldn’t accept the “apology,” the reality was that since being caught by the security guard, Bao Zhiwei hadn’t shown a single ounce of sincere remorse. When Jiang Rong had asked him, he had only managed to muster a stiff-faced, half-hearted “I’m sorry, Sister Jiang, I hit her,” before sulking in the corner, busily writing his reflection. The “almost two-hundred-pound boy” hid behind his “young mother” in her thirties, waiting for her to fight for a lighter punishment for him.

Only now, realizing that Jiang Rong’s protective stance was not absolute, did Bao Zhiwei panic. Sweat poured down his face, turning it a deep shade of purple with anxiety. He tried his best to show his regret, his small features twisted together by fat as he kept repeating “I’m sorry,” like a malfunctioning tape recorder.

“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry! I shouldn’t have hit you, I couldn’t control myself! I really am a bad person, please forgive me! Give me another chance, I promise to change! I’ll be your servant, how about that?”

“Please, please, Xia Fu, I’m really sorry! Just forgive me this time!”

His belated apology did nothing to quell Xia Fu’s anger; instead, it only fueled it further.

First, she shot a rhetorical question at Jiang Rong.

“Did I cause trouble for Bao Zhiwei? Did I force him to hit someone?”

Then she fixed her gaze firmly on the man whose words tumbled out, questioning him.

“Why? I said no, I said I didn’t like it! I was so scared, crying and begging you to stop, but you just wouldn’t… you don’t feel sorry at all…”

“Only when I mentioned the police station did you suddenly feel regret. Who are you apologizing to? Am I still the committee member? Do you really think you’re in the wrong, or are you just scared?”

The girl’s small body trembled uncontrollably. She had to take deep breaths to stop the tears that threatened to fall.

Tears swayed in her eyes, distorting the images around her; Bao Zhiwei’s face twisted in anger as he raised his hand one moment and bent his knees in submission the next.

This inconceivable contrast made Xia Fu feel a mix of anger and amusement.

Back at the girls’ dorm, Xia Fu clung tightly to her laptop bag, that dirty backpack seeming like her last mental support.

The stone pillars in the corridor felt as rough as sandpaper. As Xia Fu hurriedly got up from the ground, her fingers scraped against the surface, leaving long, bloody wounds that looked frightening in the light.

Now, because she was clutching the bag too tightly, tiny droplets of blood began to seep out again, the bright red spreading in her ocean-like blue eyes, just like the irrational annoyance that continued to swell within her, like dark clouds obscuring the blue sky, brewing a storm.

Among her peers who mingled in Fang Jingcheng’s social circle, who wasn’t living a life of luxury, basking in the limelight? He had never seen such a pitiful little thing like Xia Fu.

Her personality was just too soft…

It was a rare opportunity for her to unleash some frustration on these guys. After all, he also had to manage his temper and play the role of the good student in the “talented class.”

Fang Jingcheng had originally planned that way, but the farce before him quickly drained his patience.

Enough already.

Like a rattlesnake shaking its tail before an attack, Fang Jingcheng’s long fingers suddenly struck the armrest of the chair, producing a sharp “crack” sound. The rhythmic noise instantly drew everyone’s attention, and the young man, who had been sitting idly by, finally spoke up.

“Teacher Jiang, it’s not wrong for the counselor to care about students’ futures and give him chances.”

“But to get into F University, who isn’t talented, full of endless possibilities? Are we really supposed to bear the risk of being photographed and beaten just for Bao Zhiwei? Do we really have to go to school in fear?”

His smile was captivating, the way he focused on something with his lips slightly upturned reminded one of a delicate silver wind chime hanging in a springtime porch, its thin silver pieces decorated with gorgeous enamel patterns, gently swaying in the wind and reflecting beautiful light.

But Bao Zhiwei knew what was hidden behind that smile; after all, Fang Jingcheng had the same innocent expression when he had just beaten him up. It was as if someone had pressed the pause button on him, leaving him speechless.

Fang Jingcheng spoke slowly, his words unreserved.

“Or does Teacher Jiang have a scale in her heart to compare the futures of students? I’m a new student in the talented class, selected from only fifty-some people in the first year, and I still got beaten by Bao Zhiwei. For my better future development, wouldn’t it be better to let Bao Zhiwei go?”

Under his gaze, Jiang Rong could almost feel the chill of a blade against her skin.

This little brat! His previous teasing had been so misleading that she hadn’t realized Fang Jingcheng was a threat at all.

Jiang Rong only regretted not noticing this sooner and wished she could send this little ancestor away.

But she wasn’t the only one under scrutiny. After speaking, Fang Jingcheng turned back, especially sincerely seeking the committee member’s opinion.

“This is too much, it’s simply a disgrace to be a teacher! Secretary, don’t you think what I said is right?”

What was he doing? He risked being scolded to call the vice secretary here, and it wasn’t just to let the secretary enjoy watching this group of kids making a fuss.

The man couldn’t help but sigh internally.

Fang Jingcheng’s family circumstances were special; he had been called here tonight entirely out of necessity, so it was natural for him to feel a bit resentful, thinking he couldn’t lose face as a teacher and should handle the incident according to the rules, which was why he had been quietly observing until now.

But what was the outcome? With a wounded girl fighting against injustice, what did the adults in the school even do? He had no right to mention a teacher’s face.

The little girl had already been brave enough; it was time for him to step up and clear the way.

The vice secretary took a step forward, blocking the unfriendly gazes of the two men with his body, and said in a low voice to protect Xia Fu behind him.

“Enough, Xiao Jiang. I’ve understood the situation clearly. Bao Zhiwei, despite the counselor’s warning, still remained unrepentant, lurking near the girls’ dormitory to harm others. The circumstances are quite serious. Rather than just verbal criticism, perhaps a public punishment would be more effective.”

Public punishment?! What about my end-of-term evaluation?

Jiang Rong stared at the man in shock, opening her mouth to say something more.

But the secretary simply looked at her calmly and asked one word at a time.

“The situation has developed to this point. Besides Bao Zhiwei’s bad character, isn’t there also the fact that you, as a counselor, didn’t take action early on and instead may have enabled him? Teacher Jiang, what do you think?”

This question struck Jiang Rong like a hammer, her gaze flickering, her tone stammering, “No, I just…”

Watching Jiang Rong begin to retreat, Bao Zhiwei felt like he had fallen into an ice pit. His face turned pale as he anticipated the answer.

Fang Jingcheng was right; Jiang Rong had always had a scale in her heart, constantly comparing the values of those around her.

Compared to the weak and easily manipulated Xia Fu, it was clear that the proactive, mature Bao Zhiwei held more value. It was precisely because he had accurately sensed Jiang Rong’s favoritism that he dared to bully Xia Fu without restraint.

But once the comparison shifted to her against Bao Zhiwei, Jiang Rong wouldn’t hesitate to kick him away.

“…You’re right. I acted immaturely and let my emotions cloud my judgment.”

“I’ve already warned him severely before! But he still refused to change; he should be punished by the school!”

The woman’s righteous demeanor made Bao Zhiwei clench his teeth. He had relied on Jiang Rong just moments ago, but now he felt nothing but resentment toward her for abandoning him at a critical moment.

Jiang Sister?!

This heartless woman clearly wanted to throw him under the bus and push away all responsibility!

“This is all your fault! You told me Xia Fu was just shy! I was only a little misguided in my approach! You encouraged me not to give up, and that’s why I kept trying with her!”

The lapdog who used to wag its tail at her now bit Jiang Rong on the heel.