Chapter 27.1

Just as Ying Nian was about to take a step, a group of people came from the staircase. It was a bunch of girls, led by one with long hair draped over her shoulders, ignoring the school rule about tying hair up. She approached Cheng Shaoxuan first and headed straight to him, “Cheng Shaoxuan, are you okay?”

Cheng Shaoxuan looked up, slightly surprised. “Li Yunyun? Was that water just now from you, damn it…”

With a soft “tap,” a small stone was kicked in front of them.

Cheng Shaoxuan’s temper and whatever Li Yunyun was about to say were completely interrupted by Ying Nian.

The moment Li Yunyun appeared, Ding Yi had already turned pale with fear.

Ying Nian asked, “So you’re Li Yunyun?”

Li Yunyun flipped her hair and glanced sideways, her voice tinged with disdain as she asked, “Who are you?”

“Me?” Ying Nian smirked provocatively, “I’m your dad!”

“…Say that again, you little—?!” Li Yunyun glared, and the other girls gathered behind her.

Not many, just about five or six of them.

“Are you the one who’s been giving Ding Yi trouble?” Ying Nian asked again.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Li Yunyun sneered, her gaze shifting to Ding Yi with a subtle, mocking look that made Ding Yi tremble with fear.

Noticing her fear, Ying Nian reached back, pulling Ding Yi behind her protectively.

Ying Nian continued, “Was it also you who poured the water from upstairs?”

“Which eye of yours saw that?” one of the girls behind Li Yunyun stepped forward, snapping back.

The others chimed in one after another:

“Which eye saw it?”

“You actually saw it, huh?”

Cheng Shaoxuan seized the chance to vent his anger, “What the hell is wrong with you all? Li Yunyun! I heard you’ve been going around bullying the second-year students? Are you that bored with nothing better to do?”

Li Yunyun, suddenly embarrassed by his outburst, retorted, “Who’s bullying the second-year students? I was just talking to her, nothing more!”

Cheng Shaoxuan knew these people all too well. Looking at his own sorry state, first drenched with water and now covered in dirt from the ground, he figured there was no way to clean up without changing clothes. He snapped at Li Yunyun, “You’re freaking insane! I don’t even know her, what the hell is your problem?”

Li Yunyun’s face alternated between red and white. “If you don’t know her, what are you doing here?”

“What I’m doing here is none of your damn business!”

“You—”

“Are you two done talking?” Ying Nian interrupted, clearly uninterested in Cheng Shaoxuan and focusing solely on Li Yunyun. “Senior, if you’re so bored, maybe you should spend more time reading and doing some exercises. Don’t go messing with us second-year students for no reason. Please, remember that.”

Having hit a wall with Cheng Shaoxuan, Li Yunyun immediately vented her anger on Ying Nian. “What the hell are you showing off here for?! Who do you think you are? I can mess with whoever I want, whichever grade I choose. What’s it to you?”

She shot a warning glance at the timid Ding Yi and sneered, “Impressive, huh? Didn’t take you long to find yourself a protector, did it?”

“That’s none of your business.” Ying Nian shielded Ding Yi even more firmly. Her gaze briefly swept upward, noticing the dark round holes on the opposite wall; identical devices were installed at every corner of each floor and in more places that weren’t immediately obvious.

Ying Nian said, “I’ve said what I needed to say; it’s up to you whether you listen or not.”

She threw a mocking smile at Li Yunyun, then without further delay, she pulled Ding Yi along and turned to leave.

Cheng Shaoxuan didn’t stay much longer either. Frustrated with his dirty clothes, he directed his anger at Li Yunyun, cursed her a couple of times, and then walked away.

Li Yunyun stood there, gritting her teeth in anger. One of the girls in her group leaned over and said, “Sister Yun, that girl with Ding Yi seems to be Ying Nian from the second year.”

“So what? You think I’m scared of her?!”

“She’s not easy to mess with… Her family’s rich, and she even went head-to-head with a teacher before, made quite a scene…”

“Get lost, get lost! What’s the point of saying all this crap?” Li Yunyun snapped. “Isn’t she just good at studying and sucking up to teachers? What’s so great about that?”

The girl didn’t dare to make another sound.

But in her mind, she couldn’t help but think—was she even listening to what I was saying?

Ying Nian was quick and capable; she had previously managed the kendo club in middle school quite well. Although now she only held the title of president and rarely participated in any club activities, she would still have to retire from the club according to the rules when she entered her senior year. Nonetheless, the awards she won in past competitions were genuine… Moreover, she seemed to have learned more than just one skill, and people in the second year said that most boys couldn’t beat her.

Act recklessly in anger, and you’ll definitely get what’s coming to you!

…

In just a few days, the whole school knew about the situation between Ying Nian and Ding Yi. Rumors were spreading privately that Ding Yi was being troubled by a senior year girl, and Ying Nian had stepped in to protect her. For the past few days, the two of them were inseparable after school, eating together in the cafeteria at noon, going to a snack shop outside the school in the afternoon, and after evening self-study, Ying Nian would even accompany her on the bus to make sure she got home.

She was practically a knight in shining armor.

After four days of this, Li Yunyun couldn’t hold back any longer, and the conflict finally came to a head.

Li Yunyun had made it known early on—not explicitly targeting Ying Nian, but clearly expressing her displeasure with Ding Yi, and she planned to deal with her on Thursday night. This was essentially a warning to Ying Nian, but unfortunately, Ying Nian was the type who never caved to threats and wouldn’t back down once she decided to do something.

On Thursday night, after the evening classes ended, Ying Nian went to pick up Ding Yi from her class so they could leave the school together. Since they came out late, most of the first and second-year students had already left, and there weren’t many people around.

Third-year students had an extra class and were supposed to be in their classrooms, but Ying Nian and Ding Yi were blocked by Li Yunyun and her group.

“How about we have a chat in the alley up ahead?” Li Yunyun had called in a group of local thugs—all men, who followed behind her with a menacing demeanor that made it clear they were trouble.

The remaining students who hadn’t left yet stood in a circle at a distance, just watching, too scared to step forward.

“You think we’ll just go because you said so?” Ying Nian tightened her grip on Ding Yi’s hand and pulled her closer to her side.

Ding Yi’s palms were cold with fear; the shadow Li Yunyun had cast over her was significant, not to mention this intimidating scene.

“Still trying to act tough in a situation like this? I told you to mind your own business, but you just wouldn’t listen. Don’t blame me for what happens today,” Li Yunyun sneered, rolling her eyes.

Even with so many people blocking their way, Ying Nian showed no sign of backing down.

Seeing Ying Nian’s indifference and Ding Yi cowering beside her, Li Yunyun’s anger flared up. She raised her foot and aimed a kick at Ding Yi.

“I’m gonna teach you a damn lesson to—”

Before she could finish, Ying Nian yanked Ding Yi aside, lifted her own foot, and kicked Li Yunyun squarely in the stomach.

Li Yunyun let out a scream as she stumbled backward, only managing to stay upright with the help of the girls behind her.

There was no denying it—Ying Nian had longer legs, was faster, and had better technique.

When it came to kicking people, Ying Nian was far more skilled.

“Fuck you!”

Li Yunyun’s face flushed red with anger. She raised her hand to slap Ying Nian, but Ying Nian caught her wrist. Li Yunyun’s other hand swung swiftly towards Ying Nian, but Ying Nian dodged it, prompting Li Yunyun to switch tactics and try to grab Ying Nian’s hair.

Ying Nian tilted her head to avoid the grab, but as she did, Li Yunyun’s flashy ring scratched her, leaving a thin, long red mark under her eye.

Beads of blood surfaced, strikingly bright.

“Ying Nian—!” Ding Yi’s voice rose sharply with concern.

Ying Nian forcefully pushed Li Yunyun away. Just as she was wincing in pain and saw Li Yunyun regain her balance, ready to continue her relentless attack, Ying Nian quickly pulled Ding Yi into her arms. Fortunately, Ying Nian was taller, and Ding Yi was thin and petite, small enough to be held with one arm by Ying Nian.

Ying Nian lifted her leg and kicked hard, and this time, before Li Yunyun could even get close, she was firmly kicked to the ground.

“What are you looking at?! She’s hitting me! Why aren’t you fighting back? Slap her hard—!”

Li Yunyun shoved away the girls who were trying to help her, yelling furiously.

The group of girls, along with the thugs Li Yunyun had called, rolled up their sleeves, ready to brawl, rushing over in a chaotic swarm.

“Nobody move! Don’t you dare lay a hand! Whoever tries—”

Jiang Jiashu rushed over with his group, squeezing in front of Ying Nian. “Is everything… Damn! What happened to your face?!”

“It’s nothing…”

Ying Nian had only managed two words before Jiang Jiashu turned to look at the other group, his gaze landing on Li Yunyun, who was being supported by others. “Was it her who hit you?” Without waiting for Ying Nian to respond, Jiang Jiashu stepped forward and kicked Li Yunyun, sending her and three or four other girls tumbling to the ground.

“Fuck you! How dare you hit my sister!”

Chaos erupted instantly. Li Yunyun’s thug friends started cursing and prepared to fight, but the boys Jiang Jiashu brought blocked them one-on-one, creating a tense standoff.

“You really want to go against my crew today?” Li Yunyun taunted. “You brought a bunch of students—what the hell are they gonna do?”

Jiang Jiashu was about to react but was held back by Ying Nian.

Ying Nian gently shook her head and asked in a low voice, “Are they here?”

Jiang Jiashu took a deep breath, calming himself, and replied in a serious tone, “They’re here.”

Just as Li Yunyun was about to tell her group to bring out the iron rods they had, the sound of police sirens grew louder, approaching from a distance.

The scene instantly descended into chaos.

“Shit! The cops are here?”

“The cops are here! Run!”

“They called the cops! Go, go, go…”

The thugs scattered in panic, running in all directions. Jiang Jiashu’s friends initially blocked their way and then took advantage of the chaos to kick them, making sure those thugs paid for it.

Li Yunyun and the girls behind her were visibly flustered, especially when the thugs disappeared without a trace. Their faces showed they were struggling to keep their composure. Of course, they wanted to run, but now they were outnumbered. Ying Nian had Jiang Jiashu block them, so there was no way she’d let them get away.

“We’re students, here to study,” Ying Nian said calmly. “Who wants to fight or brawl with you? You might think you’re some kind of gangster, but we sure don’t.”

Seeing the growing panic and evasiveness in Li Yunyun’s eyes, Ying Nian raised her eyebrow and, in sync with the wailing sirens, delivered her ultimatum:

“Li Yunyun, senior in the third year, you’ve been bullying and assaulting fellow students on campus. Ding Yi, the student you’ve been bullying, has already submitted a medical injury report to the police station.”