Conflicts among students might still be mediated, but damage to property was a sure thing. A perfectly good laptop shattered like that—no one could say something like “just fix it.”

Bao Zhiwei was already teetering on the edge of expulsion, and the fact that he “deliberately damaged someone else’s property” would be the last straw to break him.

Eight thousand yuan? How could that poor girl Xia Fu have used something so expensive?

Bao Zhiwei trembled as he opened his lips, trying to struggle: “Th-this was smashed by her on purpose… I…” But before he could finish speaking, Fang Jingcheng interrupted him with a smile.

“If that were really the case, could you still stand here talking? Or is your head harder than your mouth?”

The young man cleverly omitted the part where Xia Fu was involved, turned his head to look at the secretary, and silently urged the man to pass the final judgment with his cold blue eyes.

The secretary grabbed Bao Zhiwei by the shoulder and sighed:

“That’s enough. If there’s a problem, let’s go to the police station together and talk about it. Professionals will understand this better.”

The nearest branch was four kilometers away. A few months ago, Bao Zhiwei had gone there to transfer the school’s collective household registration, and now he was about to return to his original hometown because of his actions.

On the way, Bao Zhiwei, the secretary, and Jiang Rong sat in one car, while Fang Jingcheng drove his own car to take Xia Fu there. The Maybach was parked near the teaching building—the journey only took a few minutes—but Xia Fu still walked very reluctantly.

She used the young man’s outstretched arm as a crutch, slowly moving her swollen ankle, stepping shakily because she was afraid of stepping on Fang Jingcheng. Each time she borrowed support lightly.

Too skinny.

Like a vine tangled around a tree branch, the leaves swayed in the night breeze.

Fang Jingcheng lowered his eyes to gaze at Xia Fu’s hair, feeling the warmth of her palm clinging to his arm. He guessed that even if he went to a pet café and casually picked up a plush toy to put on his shoulder, it would have more presence than Xia Fu.

After getting into the car, Fang Jingcheng opened Xia Fu’s backpack, and before adjusting the navigation, he took out the previously bought Lipton tea and handed it to the girl in the front seat.

“I bought some drinks. You can use this to soothe your throat.”

When she spoke earlier, her voice was hoarse. The trip over was so silent—probably her throat was still uncomfortable.

“Thank you.”

Xia Fu obediently thanked and took the beautifully packaged bottle of tea. But when Fang Jingcheng had set up the navigation assistant and was adjusting the rearview mirror, he found that she was still holding the bottle, staring blankly.

She carefully rubbed the introduction on the packaging with her damaged fingers, like she was studying an engrossing literary report.

Fang Jingcheng thought for a moment and reached out his hand to her:

“I almost forgot your hands are not very convenient. Let me, I’ll open it for you.”

“No need.” Xia Fu gently shook her head, worried that Fang Jingcheng might misunderstand that she didn’t like his gift. She hurriedly added, “This is the one you treated me to this afternoon, right? It’s really tasty. I want to keep it until tomorrow. Thinking about waking up and having a good drink makes me happy.”

The light brown tea swirled in the bottle like a crystal-clear tea-colored gem. Fang Jingcheng forgot to take the receipt when handing over the tea, so Xia Fu saw the price—another thing she couldn’t afford, just like Fang Jingcheng who should have nothing to do with her.

With an uncertain future, she tried to stockpile things she liked as much as possible to encourage herself.

Moreover, the police station was not the school, and she could easily expose her smashing Bao Zhiwei’s property. As a law-abiding citizen, Xia Fu was full of reverence for the place where cases were adjudicated. Drinking tea too relaxed might mess things up.

“I saw in TV shows, when recording a statement, they also have a cup. I can drink some more water. When it comes time for the statement, is there anything I need to pay attention to? Should I just honestly confess? I should be considered self-defense.”

She was too honest… and maybe a bit insecure?

“If you like, there’s more tomorrow.”

Fang Jingcheng made a promise without hesitation and explained:

“Don’t worry. Just say the computer was smashed. Although the student fight side advocates for criticism and education, trying to mediate and get a lighter punishment, the case was handled quickly.”

“When the time comes, we can go to the hospital to bandage up and then rest.”

The soft tissue swelling would at most be considered minor injury during the injury assessment. It was a conflict between students, and after mediation, detention for less than five days would be imposed. However, intentional property damage amounting to five thousand yuan could be punished with detention of more than five days and less than ten days.

Fang Jingcheng didn’t need to deliberately hide anything. The female police officer in charge of reception, seeing Xia Fu’s swollen cheeks, focused on the heavier punishment charges.

He would honestly stay in the detention center for a week.

Not having to recount the details of being beaten would undoubtedly reduce Xia Fu’s psychological pressure.

No matter if Bao Zhiwei could return to school later or not, in any case, after a week her legs would be fine again, and he would have no chance to hurt her again.

And Fang Jingcheng did not give Xia Fu the opportunity to continue overthinking. After the car stopped, Xia Fu was completely captivated by the building in front of her.

The deep green branches of the phoenix tree covered the dark blue night sky, a few rays of moonlight streamed through the gaps in the tree curtain like thin, silky threads, gliding over the red brick Western-style building of the private hospital, finally landing on the light gray stone pavement. The whole scene was peaceful like a countryside oil painting.

Although they were about the same age and studying at the same school, they really were not people from the same world.

Even the hospital Fang Jingcheng went to was very high-end. If it weren’t for the sign at the door saying “xx Private Hospital,” Xia Fu would have thought it was a club for wealthy people to vacation and relax.

Unlike the municipal hospital’s always bustling emergency department, there were no other patients at this hour. The large VIP waiting room only had her and Fang Jingcheng.

Below, on the comfortable velvet sofa, in front of her was an elegant round wooden table, the fragrant rose tea in a bone china cup filling the air. In such an atmosphere, Xia Fu’s tense body gradually relaxed.

The attending doctor was a woman in her early thirties. She carefully examined Xia Fu’s body, her movements very gentle. Depending on the different types of wounds, she provided very detailed treatment plans.

“Don’t let the wounds get wet for now. After scabbing, apply the ointment once a day. Be careful not to expose them to too much sun, and there won’t be scars.”

“There’s some plasters for your ankle here. Remember to keep them in a cool place.”

“And take these facial masks for each night. They will not only reduce swelling but also make your complexion much fairer.”

Xia Fu silently looked over the prescription in her hand, the list was as long as half her arm, with medicine names that included imported brands. Thinking about the final amount to be paid, Xia Fu felt like most of her problems were already half solved.

“Isn’t it going to be expensive? Facial masks aren’t really essential…”

“Sorry for the trouble.”

The young man smiled as he handed his bank card to the nurse, casually replying:

“How could it not be? A girl’s face is precious. Anyway, I’ll ask Bao Zhiwei to cover the medical expenses in the end.”

Speaking of Bao Zhiwei, Xia Fu didn’t care about the money anymore.

What’s wrong with buying facial masks? She should ask for a few more for Xiao Wei to use…

The private hospital was very efficient. After paying, the nurse brought the items over with a cart in no time. Several kraft paper bags were sorted with medications inside. The nurse put the notes indicating daily usage into the bags and counted the medications according to the list.

But among the pile of medications, there was nothing belonging to Fang Jingcheng.

In the department, men and women were separated. When Xia Fu was seeing the doctor, Fang Jingcheng was not there. When she came out, the young man was still lazily lounging on the sofa, yawning.

She had thought Fang Jingcheng only took a punch, and the doctor handled it quickly, so he had returned to the lounge to wait for her. Now she thought he might not have even gone to see the doctor.

Fang Jingcheng, because he was the one who got into trouble, had to care about his injuries no matter what.

Xia Fu bent down to rummage through the kraft bag, asking: “Where’s your prescription? Isn’t your stomach okay? I’ve been given several boxes of plasters for bruises, do you want to take a look?”

The young man sat opposite her, pouting and refusing like a child avoiding a shot.

“I don’t want to see the doctor. It’s just a minor injury, no need to make a fuss.”

Seeing Xia Fu’s troubled expression seemed amusing to Fang Jingcheng. He rested his hand on his thigh, supporting his chin with one hand, squinting his eyes as he smiled:

“If you’re not feeling assured, do you want to come and have a look?”