Chapter 56: If You Slip Up…

“Have you ever seen such a pitiful Hongmen Banquet?” Cheng Yuan shot Bei Xiaolin a sideways glance. “No wine, no feast—how is this even worthy of the name?”

“You’re right,” Bei Xiaolin nodded, then suddenly frowned. “Hold on… Meng Yue is on the student council. Why would they throw a party so suddenly? Something’s off. Yuan Yuan, stay close to me. We can’t get separated.”

Clutching Cheng Yuan’s arm tightly, she added in a low voice, “No matter what happens, don’t leave my side. Promise me.”

Cheng Yuan smiled to herself. If Meng Yue’s the one pulling the strings, she’ll definitely try to split us up.

Night fell, and the whole school buzzed with energy. Every classroom had turned into its own lively party. Normally, Cheng Yuan would’ve been thrilled, but after everything she’d experienced, she felt detached—like she no longer belonged to this world of youthful innocence.

Not even halfway through the party, students started hopping between classrooms. Despite her earlier insistence, Bei Xiaolin ended up breaking her promise. Someone accidentally spilled juice on her, the cold liquid soaking down her collar and clinging to her skin. It was clearly unintentional, but in the middle of winter, it was miserable.

The teacher let Bei Xiaolin leave early to change. Flustered, she grabbed Cheng Yuan’s hand, clearly reluctant to go alone.

Cheng Yuan gave her a reassuring squeeze. “Xiaolin, go home quickly. I’ll have Yu Qing go with you.”

“No!” Bei Xiaolin tugged her aside and whispered fiercely, “Let Yu Qing stay here. He should be near you in case Meng Yue does something.”

“Relax. Nothing’s going to happen tonight. Have you forgotten what I’m capable of?” Cheng Yuan replied calmly. “Hurry before you catch a cold. The mock exams are coming up. If you don’t score over 300, I’m not going with you to the art school entrance exams. And Xia Wanwan…”

“Okay, okay, I’m going!” Bei Xiaolin cut her off, still shivering. “Just—please, be careful.”

After repeating her warnings again and again, she finally left.

Still uneasy, Cheng Yuan called over Yu Qing. “Escort her home,” she said. “I’ll be fine here.”

“I’ll walk her back and come right back for you,” Yu Qing promised, then dashed off to catch up.

Cheng Yuan watched them go, not turning away until they were out of sight. Only then did she feel a sliver of peace. If Meng Yue really dares to try something tonight, I’ll give her a surprise she’ll never forget.

That letter should be getting a reply soon too.

Back in the classroom, the warm lights and happy chatter created a momentary sense of disorientation. Eighteen… what a youthful, vibrant age.

Just as she drifted into thought, a classmate rushed in. “Cheng Yuan! Something happened to Bei Xiaolin! She told me to come get you—hurry!”

“What? What happened?” Cheng Yuan’s heart skipped a beat.

“I don’t know—she just said to find you.” The classmate didn’t linger, only mentioned a shortcut home before hurrying off. It was a path Cheng Yuan rarely took.

She narrowed her eyes and immediately bolted for the shortcut. Her gaze flicked sharply between trees, fully alert. If this is Meng Yue’s trap, her thugs should be showing up any second now…

“Xiaolin!” Cheng Yuan called out. “Xiaolin, where are you?”

A voice answered—one she didn’t recognize.

“There’s no Xiaolin here. Just some big brothers.”

Three yellow-haired guys emerged from different directions, dressed in leather jackets despite the cold, striking what they must’ve thought were menacing poses. But as soon as their eyes landed on Cheng Yuan, they froze.

Damn—this girl’s actually gorgeous.

“You three want to be my big brothers?” Cheng Yuan arched an eyebrow.

“Yeah,” one of them grinned. “Call us ‘Big Brother.’ We’ll take real good care of you.”

“Then come here,” she said, curling a finger.

One Yellow Hair stepped forward confidently—but the moment he was within a meter, Cheng Yuan shot out her leg and kicked him hard in the crotch.

The guy let out a strangled yelp, clutching himself as he dropped to the ground in agony. “You bitch!” he croaked. “Get her!”

The other two rushed in, thinking they could overpower her.

Big mistake.

A few seconds later, all three were groaning in a heap, one on top of another like a pile of tangled laundry.

Cheng Yuan stepped on the top one and sneered, “If you don’t have the skills, maybe don’t go around trying to bully people. Who even let you into First High?”

“What the hell’s it to you?” the one on the bottom wheezed.

From the shadows, Li Liang watched in horror. He instinctively crossed his legs. Thank god I never pissed off Auntie Cheng… otherwise I’d be limping with less than three legs.

“Li Liang, get out here now!” Cheng Yuan swept her gaze across the woods behind her.

He stumbled out, terrified. “Sister Cheng! I swear it wasn’t me—I didn’t plan this!”

He had only introduced Meng Yue to a few guys who claimed to be tough. How was he supposed to know she’d really hire them?

But now, those same guys were crumpled on the ground like trash. Not so tough after all.

“Go tell Meng Yue the plan worked,” Cheng Yuan said, pressing a hand to her knee and glaring at him. “Tell her to come take pictures. And if you screw this up…”

“No way! Absolutely not!” Li Liang turned and fled without another word, daring not to linger for even a moment.

Cheng Yuan turned back to the three Yellow Hairs. “I know who sent you. Tell me—what did she want you to do?”

One of them tried to play dumb, but Cheng Yuan pressed down harder with her foot. The man at the bottom howled, then burst out, “She wanted us to take your virginity!”

Cheng Yuan didn’t flinch. “And you went along with it? Aren’t you afraid I’ll report you for attempted rape?”

“She said her family’s rich, that she’d protect us!” one of them said desperately. “We were going to run afterward—no one would’ve caught us!”

“Shut it!” another snapped, realizing too late that it was all coming out.

“Oh, and she paid you too, right?” Cheng Yuan smiled coldly and stepped back. “Well then… whatever she hired you to do to me, go do it to her.”

“What?! No way!” one of them shouted, turning pale. “If we touch her, we’re dead.”