Shen Qing slapped Jiang She, and everyone present was stunned.

Normally, the police should have intervened to stop the parent, but because this was Shen Qing, no one dared to speak up.

Even the vocational school bully shrank back, startled.

Jiang She’s head jerked to the side from the force of the slap. His long lashes instinctively fluttered, casting a shadow over his eyes.

He didn’t make a sound. After the slap, he raised his hand as if to touch his burning, stinging skin, but halfway through, he lowered it again.

When he opened his eyes, his gaze had become much more distant and indifferent.

Even when looking at Shen Qing, his eyes seemed to look through her, as if seeing something far beyond her.

Yang Liu mumbled, “Jiang She’s mom, you’re too impulsive.”

She was also upset that Jiang She had brought people into the trouble, but to be fair, Jiang She was loyal, unable to stand by while an Omega from the same school was insulted, which was why he acted out.

This situation certainly needed guidance and education, but it should never have been handled this way.

Shen Qing coldly replied, “Teacher Yang, right? You don’t need to worry. I will educate my son myself.”

Yang Liu was left speechless by her response.

Shen Qing tucked her hands into the pockets of her coat, standing straight, and said in a low voice, “I remember I told you last time not to play these childish tricks.”

Jiang She shrugged nonchalantly, a lazy smile on his face. “Whatever.”

He didn’t even have the will to explain.

He had already anticipated that Shen Qing would come and reprimand him, and he had considered all the consequences. There was nothing to be afraid of.

It wasn’t like he hadn’t been through this before.

Shen Qing took a deep breath, and the muscles on her face trembled slightly.

If it weren’t for all the people around, she would have really slapped Jiang She again.

Adolescent rebellion should have its limits. Jiang She repeatedly caused trouble for her, challenging her authority and making her lose face in front of her subordinates.

She truly wondered if this was her biological son, or if he had been reincarnated to get revenge on her.

Shen Qing: “Who are you showing this attitude to? You beat someone to this state, and you still think you’re right!”

She pointed to the disheveled vocational school bully, who meekly lowered his head.

He had originally thought Jiang She was a tough opponent, but in front of Jiang She’s mother’s imposing presence, he didn’t even dare to make a sound.

Chu Tao suddenly spoke: “Auntie, you’ve misunderstood Jiang She. It was me who did it. It has nothing to do with Jiang She.”

He insisted on stepping forward, pushing aside the vocational school bully, and standing next to Jiang She.

Shen Qing gave Chu Tao a careful look.

The boy was very delicate and obedient-looking, with soft and gentle eyes, fair skin, and a determined, sincere expression. His voice was calm and polite, and from his words, it was clear that he respected her.

He didn’t look like someone who could beat someone up like this.

Shen Qing turned her gaze away and coldly said, “I know what kind of person my son is, you don’t need to take the blame for him.”

No matter what, Jiang She had good connections.

Shen Qing knew that he had a group of brothers who would cover for each other in front of their parents.

Chu Tao’s face turned bright red: “It really was me.”

Jiang She lightly squeezed Chu Tao’s hand and casually said, “Hey, it’s fine, I don’t need you to protect me.”

Chu Tao looked up and saw the mark on Jiang She’s face from the slap, a bruise that ran close to his eye, nearly hitting it.

Jiang She’s fingers were dry and warm, but they didn’t bring him any comfort.

Chu Tao’s eyes silently reddened.

Yang Liu quickly explained: “This is our class president. He’s usually in the top 50 in the grade and has a good relationship with Jiang She.”

“Oh.” When Shen Qing heard that he was good at his studies and was the class president, her gaze softened slightly toward Chu Tao.

Chu Tao bit his lip hard, and the dry, fragile skin cracked, a few streaks of blood seeping through.

He licked it—it tasted salty, like rust.

“I’m the class president, I’m in the top 50, but whether I beat someone or not has nothing to do with it.” He said, then stiffened his neck and suddenly yanked at his school uniform collar.

“This is from when I was fighting earlier.”

The collar of the school uniform was loose and large. When he pulled it, it exposed most of his shoulder.

His veins throbbed rapidly, causing his delicate, pale neck to twitch, and the deep blue veins under his skin became visible in the bright light.

His shoulders weren’t wide, but the lines were firm and smooth, and his slender collarbone stood out, stretching from his neck down to his shoulder blade.

There was a bruise on his shoulder, a dark red spot under his skin that looked shocking, but the bruise didn’t spread, and the edges were even with the blood seeping out, showing it was a fresh wound.

“Here too.” Chu Tao nonchalantly lifted his shirt again, revealing his ribs. The side of his ribs also had marks from the fight with the vocational school bully. They were now numb and didn’t hurt much anymore.

“What are you doing!” Jiang She growled at him, swatting his hand away, pulling his shirt down, and straightening his collar, clearly angered.

Chu Tao let him fixed his clothes for him, but stubbornly looked at Shen Qing. “So it wasn’t Jiang She, it was me.”

Lifting his shirt and showing his wounds in front of so many people was an embarrassment that made him wish he could disappear into the ground.

His face turned bright red, from his neck to his ears.

Yang Liu sucked in a sharp breath, staring at Chu Tao in a daze.

Shen Qing was also stunned.

For Jiang She to not be involved in a fight was simply unbelievable.

Shen Qing stiffly said, “Even if it wasn’t him, it still has something to do with him!”

She subconsciously rubbed her fingers, realizing that in her earlier fury, she had slapped him a bit too hard.

The atmosphere became awkward. Yang Liu stammered for a while, unsure of what to say.

In the end, it was the police officer who stepped forward to diffuse the situation.

“Director Shen, since the children have already realized their mistakes and written their apologies, let’s call it quits and go home for dinner.”

Since Shen Qing had come to take her son, the officer didn’t dare to keep her.

However, Shen Qing had originally thought that Jiang She was the one who had caused the trouble. That’s why she had driven all the way here, even giving her own son a slap to show her attitude. Now, she found herself in a bit of a dilemma.

Fortunately, someone gave her an out, so she took it.

Shen Qing coldly said to Jiang She, “I will inform your father about this.” Then, she turned to Yang Liu and said, “Teacher Yang, Jiang She is young and doesn’t understand. I’m sorry for troubling you.”

With that, Shen Qing turned and walked out, as quickly and smoothly as when she had entered, without a second glance.

Chu Tao, still stubborn, called out, “Director Shen, you’ve misunderstood Jiang She.”

Shen Qing’s pace faltered for a moment, but she didn’t turn her head. She simply pressed the car door open.

The government vehicle beeped, and Shen Qing got into the car, started the engine, and quickly drove away from the police station yard.

Chu Tao’s eyes trembled, his throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, making it hard to breathe.

Yang Liu walked over and softly said, “Jiang She, the teacher was wrong about you. I’m sorry.”

Yang Liu’s voice was unexpectedly gentle, with a hint of Omega’s softness.

Her guilt was overwhelming. She hadn’t taught at Huainan No.1 High for long. Before becoming a teacher, she had been a student at a normal university.

She had always aspired to be a teacher who could change her students’ lives, a teacher who was worthy of her conscience.

So even though she was assigned to the notoriously difficult third class, she hadn’t lost faith in the job.

She never imagined that one day, she would make the same mistakes as the teachers she despised.

She had assumed, based on first impressions, that since Chu Tao was good at his studies, he couldn’t possibly be the one breaking the rules.

This was her prejudice, just like how she never bothered to learn the names of her students, she had never really understood them either.

Jiang She didn’t expect to hear Yang Liu’s apology. His expression flickered for a moment, and then he teased, “Alright, teacher, you’re even scarier like this.”

Chu Tao, on the other hand, looked indifferent.

Compared to Yang Liu, he would have preferred to hear Shen Qing apologize to Jiang She.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

The people closest to him often left the most unrestrained wounds.

Yang Liu sighed. “Let’s all go home; it’s getting late.”

The big shot from the vocational school was the first to leave. He wouldn’t dare cause any more trouble for the No.1 High School in the next six months.

Once Chu Tao stepped outside, he squatted on a stone bench outside the police station. Jiang She paused for a moment, then casually squatted beside him.

The night was thick, with the twinkling stars scattered like chocolate chips on a giant cookie.

The white fence, separated by the wind, formed a small, secluded, warm refuge.

Jiang She took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.

The flame from the lighter burned brightly, casting a soft orange glow in the small space.

The sweet, fruity scent of the smoke drifted out, and Jiang She held the cigarette with one hand while using the other to touch Chu Tao’s shoulder.

His fingers slipped under Chu Tao’s collar and brushed against his skin.

Chu Tao’s body stiffened, but he didn’t pull away.

Jiang She calmly slid his hand in, pressing gently on Chu Tao’s shoulder.

The bruise had started to harden, and it needed to be massaged out. Chu Tao had taken quite a hit.

“Ugh.” Chu Tao let out a soft gasp.

Jiang She relaxed his grip but didn’t pull his hand out, instead giving it a gentle rub.

Chu Tao’s bones weren’t large, and his shoulders were delicate, making the touch feel unexpectedly good.

Jiang She asked, “Does it hurt?”

Chu Tao looked up at him. In the darkness, Jiang She’s red marks were hard to see, but Chu Tao could tell it must hurt.

So he asked, “Does it hurt for you?”

Jiang She snorted lightly and withdrew his hand from Chu Tao’s shirt, pulling him closer by the shoulder, whispering, “Little troublemaker.”

He had said the same thing the last time they were at the police station.

Chu Tao lowered his gaze, his long eyelashes drooping. He reached down and plucked a blade of grass.

“Is the cigarette good?”

Jiang She raised an eyebrow but didn’t answer.

Chu Tao looked up, grabbed Jiang She’s hand, leaned forward, and held the cigarette that Jiang She had smoked. He whispered, “Let me try.”

He took a drag, and the smoke filled his lungs, leaving his mouth with a rich fruity flavor.

He coughed violently, his face turning red, his eyes watering.

But beyond the smoke, he could still taste Jiang She’s scent.