Richie shielded Anya, keeping her apart from Damian, the second son.
Richie spoke coldly but calmly. "Everyone worked their hardest to get into Eden Academy. We're all here to learn. So what if you're powerful? So what if you're a commoner?
"As long as we study hard, any of us can become an Imperial Scholar. The requirements are the same for everyone. Everyone gets a fair chance.
"Even if you're the son of the National Unity Party's chairman, I'll still look down on you if you're not as good as Anya."
Richie finished speaking calmly. The children present probably had never encountered anything like this before.
Especially Damian. When had anyone ever humiliated him like this?
Anger, embarrassment, mortification... A whole range of emotions played across Damian's flushed face.
After Anya had just dismissed him, Richie had looked down on him too. Damian was so furious that he had even started sweating.
For a six-year-old child, it was hard not to act impulsively in a situation like this, even for Damian.
Damian shoved Richie aside and shouted furiously at Anya, "Don't get full of yourself, uggo! Uggo, uggo-"
After yelling at Anya without a shred of dignity, Damian panted heavily and glared viciously at Richie.
Richie jolted in fright.
Everyone there was stunned, staring at Damian without knowing what to do.
Sian Evan watched Richie's reaction with interest, a smile curling his lips as he silently enjoyed the show.
But what Richie appreciated most was the sight of Damian losing control of his temper. It was practically a world-famous masterpiece.
Before Richie could react, Corn Head suddenly remarked, "Young Master Damian, isn't your vocabulary a little limited?"
Richie struggled to hold back his laughter, his little face turning red from the effort. A roast from Damian's own side was the deadliest of all.
Damian pointed at Richie and added, "And you! You're so annoying! Annoying, annoying!"
Everyone was shocked by Damian's loss of composure, and Henry noticed the commotion too.
"You lot, how many times must I tell you?" The elegant old man did not turn around. Henry merely tilted his head slightly and glanced out of the corner of his eye at the little group of Richie, Damian, Anya, and the others.
For these children, the oppressive authority radiating from Henry was utterly terrifying.
Everyone hurried to stand at attention, then heard Henry continue sternly, "Do you want to be punished on your very first day of school?"
Damian bared his teeth, seething inwardly. Damn it! You made a fool of me on the very first day of school. I'll get you for this!!
Anya still wore her sinister smile. Mama lied. Smiling doesn't work at all.
Henry led the entire class off to look around elsewhere. Anya and Becky walked at the back of the line, following Richie and Evan.
Richie kept watching Anya. After being humiliated earlier, Damian would never let it go. He would definitely bully Anya again.
Richie was absolutely furious. She was his little sister, someone he treasured so much. He had even gone along with his dimwit dad specifically to steal a work of art for Anya.
Richie would never admit that he had originally just wanted some excitement, with stealing a pretty work of art for Anya as a bonus.
Just when everyone was getting along peacefully and thought nothing would happen, a ball of paper struck Anya's little pink-haired head.
Anya turned around, rubbing her head in confusion.
Looking back, she saw Damian whistling a wolf whistle, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he swaggered along like a thug.
Becky and Anya had already begun to become close friends. Becky warned Damian, the second son, "Are you ever going to stop? I'm telling on you!"
"What proof do you have that I threw it?" Damian asked with a perfectly straight face.
His two little lackeys behind him, Corn Head and Chestnut Head, chimed in, "Yeah, yeah."
Damian shoved at Becky, and she hurriedly dodged.
Anya watched the scene before her in bewilderment.
Damian was a little taller than Anya. Looking down at her, he pointed at her little pink-haired head. "Hey, you smirking uggo. From now on, I'm going to bully you good and hard. I'll put you through hell until you can't smile anymore."
Damian spoke viciously, his eyes filled with cruel mockery.
"Even if we make you cry, your shrink of a dad will fix you up, won't he?" Chestnut Head bared his hamster-like teeth in a nasty grin.
Corn Head chimed in, "Seriously? That's amazing! Hahaha."
Anya raised her little face slightly, unable to hide the contempt in her eyes as a tiny flame flared within them.
Anya turned to look and saw that Henry had already walked far ahead. Richie had come up beside her.
Damian was still taunting her. "Hey, where are you looking? Scared?"
Without a word, Anya wound up for a punch.
Anya finished winding up and was just about to unleash a heavy finishing punch, only to turn back and discover that the second son was no longer in front of her.
Looking more closely, she saw Damian clutching his left cheek, huddled in the corner like an abandoned puppy, his eyes brimming with tears.
Under Anya's gaze, Richie coolly blew on his fist. "Little sis, leave the punching to your big brother!"
Before you continue