Chapter 8: Get rid of Lu Shiyan?

“Move where?” Zhang Pingtian’s face was full of impatience. “This is a school! What can’t be said openly and honestly? One after another telling me to step aside! Say it if you want to, if not, forget it.”

Gu Jinshu listened to the teacher’s words, the corners of her lips suppressing a smile.

“Hehe, Old Zhang, taking on a new student is such a big deal, we should celebrate properly. How about the state-run restaurant tonight?”

The principal gave an awkward smile. It wasn’t sincere; his face was stiff, a smile without warmth, looking downright strange.

“I don’t have the time to go out for a meal, no need.” Zhang Pingtian refused without giving any face, waving his hand. “I think you’d better deal with your trouble first.”

The principal couldn’t smile at all now — indeed, there was still a big problem waiting to be dealt with.

Zhang Pingtian didn’t have classes in the afternoon. He had come back to school at noon today after hearing from his wife about Gu Jinshu’s situation. By chance, he found that she had forgotten her book. He came to return it, but unexpectedly caught sight of his good student being bullied. This was unacceptable! The whole school needed to know — from now on, Gu Jinshu was under his protection, and no one could bully her.

After brushing off the principal, Zhang Pingtian told Gu Jinshu to bring her luggage and go home with him since he was free that afternoon.

The principal watched Zhang Pingtian and Gu Jinshu leave, only reining in his forced smile once the two were completely out of sight.

Li Qing was still smiling obsequiously. “Principal—”

The principal gave him a fierce glare. “Director Li! An incident this serious happens at school, and you bear the primary responsibility. You should have stopped it before it even started. Your salary will be docked for half a month as a warning!”

Li Qing: “…” This was really unjust, o(╥﹏╥)o.

That very day, three big pieces of news broke at Jing University:

First — “Lin Jinxiu Suspended from Classes”
Second — “Gu Jinshu Personally Selected as a Student by Professor Zhang Pingtian”
Third — “Professor Zhang Pingtian Breaks Precedent by Taking Gu Jinshu to Live at His Home” — a privilege none of his previous students had ever enjoyed.

…

In a two-story standalone garden villa in the center of Kyoto City, Lin Jinxiu returned from school fuming. Before her father Lin Zhentian came home, she ignored anyone who spoke to her, storing up her anger to vent later.

“What’s wrong? Who made my precious daughter so upset?” Mother Lin asked gently, sitting close beside her on the sofa. “Tell Mom about it.”

“Mom! I’m annoyed right now, don’t bother me.” Lin Jinxiu huffed, clenching her jaw. “I’ve never been bullied in my life, but today, I want Dad to give me a good helping of justice!”

Mother Lin opened her mouth to say something, but Lin Zhentian came home. She stood up to greet him, taking the coat from his arm.

“Hurry and see what’s wrong with our precious daughter! She’s been waiting for you to come back.”

Lin Zhentian’s expression was extremely impatient. “What am I coming back for?”

“Dad! I was suspended by the principal with a warning!!” Lin Jinxiu pouted unhappily, completely oblivious to the change in her father’s expression as she continued talking.

“I hate Gu Jinshu! I just wanted to teach her a lesson during lunch break when no one was in the classroom. Who knew she’d suddenly become so fierce! Even though there were five of us against her, we still couldn’t win!”

“Dad, our principal and that so-called Professor Zhang didn’t give you any face at all — they went right ahead and punished me in front of so many classmates! Don’t you think that’s too much?!”

“And what exactly do you want me to do?” Lin Zhentian’s tone grew darker.

Lin Jinxiu snorted. “Dad, I want that Gu Jinshu to at least kneel down and apologize to me, the principal to be dismissed, and that Professor Zhang to be fired!”

“Oh.” Lin Zhentian’s voice carried no discernible emotion. “So, you make a mistake, and I’m supposed to make them apologize to you?”

“Dad!” Lin Jinxiu clung to his arm coquettishly. “I’m only thinking of your face here!”

“I think you’re trying to knock the hat right off my head!” Lin Zhentian pulled his arm away coldly.

“Dad! You’re a bureau director — your daughter gets bullied at school, and you pretend you don’t know? It’s not just my face that’s been disgraced, it’s yours! How will you be able to stand in Jing City after this?!”

“You said that at school too?” Lin Zhentian’s voice rose sharply in accusation.

For a moment, Lin Jinxiu didn’t know what to say — something felt off.

“You little bastard!”

Slap—

Without hesitation, Lin Zhentian swung his hand and struck her hard across the face.

Lin Jinxiu was stunned. She froze in place, her ear on the struck side buzzing.

“Old Lin, what are you doing? Can’t you talk things out without hitting her?” Mother Lin’s eyes were full of heartache for her daughter. “Let Auntie get some ice to put on it, otherwise it’ll swell!”

“Don’t go!” Lin Zhentian barked sharply, cutting them both off.

“Neither of you move! I’ll make it clear right now — I’m warning you both, you’d better not go around talking nonsense outside.”

“When did I ever get promoted from deputy director? And with the current political climate so strict, everyone’s keeping a low profile, yet here you are making a spectacle of yourself!”

Lin Zhentian clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking. “Get upstairs and stay there. You’ll go back to school when your suspension is over!”

Lin Jinxiu had never been hit in her life. Now she was in a daze, following the housekeeper back to her room.

Mother Lin noticed something was wrong with him and quietly asked, “Why are you so angry the moment you get home? Did something happen at the bureau?”

“Mm.” Lin Zhentian gave a slight nod, sitting down as Mother Lin pulled him by the arm.

“A snot-nosed brat from the military district actually dared to order me around! No sense of rules at all.” Lin Zhentian cursed, finally venting some of his frustration.

“I’ve been busier these past few days than in all my years at the bureau — my dignity’s already in tatters!”

“That little bastard is clearly targeting me. It wasn’t enough to have someone arrested, now they have to question people one by one, digging deeper and deeper.”

Mother Lin didn’t understand. “If he’s just some young punk, why not use your connections to get rid of him?”

“If only it were that simple,” Lin Zhentian said helplessly. “His position is division commander in the military district, and his grandfather is a retired senior officer from the same district. His family background is tougher than mine! Getting rid of him? That’s pure fantasy! Might as well dream about it.”

“But this kid does have some real ability — he’s no mere product of family connections. He earned his position as division commander on his own merits!”

“Ah?” Mother Lin hadn’t expected his background to be so impressive. Truly, even if she disliked him, there was nothing they could do.

“Who is he?”

“Lu Shiyan.”