In the dean's office at County No. 1 High School, Li Ru, Li Tai, Gu Mengqi, and the others stood to one side after their examinations.
The homeroom teachers for Senior Year Class One and the second-year class sat beside the dean, while Gu Mengqi's homeroom teacher had not even shown up, saying only that they simply could not control those students.
Gu Mengqi and the others belonged to Senior Year Class Six. The entire class consisted of delinquent students, and apart from generating revenue for the school, their presence served no purpose.
Teacher Yang looked at Li Ru's still-red, swollen face, her eyes filled with heartache. She was very fond of this hardworking girl.
Even if her grades could not put her in contention for the province's top scorer, she would have liked the girl just as much. It was as though she saw her younger self in her: the same rural background, the same diligence. Only this girl had more academic talent than she did, and worked even harder.
Just as everyone waited for both sides' parents, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Director Huang said mildly.
The person who opened the door and entered was a yellow-haired man in his twenties, wearing a black tank top, his exposed arms covered in all kinds of tattoos.
No one recognized him and assumed he was Gu Mengqi's older brother, but his appearance did not match their image of Gu Tianlong.
He lacked the imposing air of a boss, and his frivolous gait made him seem like a petty street thug.
Sure enough, Gu Mengqi's words confirmed their thoughts.
"Yellow Hair, where did my brother go? Why did he only send you?" Gu Mengqi asked unhappily.
"Young miss, a big fish recently came to the county. Brother Tianlong is discussing how to swallow this big fish and can't get away for now, so he sent me to handle things first."
"A big fish? I don't care! I want my brother here! Someone bullied me, and my brother won't help me. I'm telling my dad!" Gu Mengqi, who had been so arrogant and overbearing not long ago, now spoke in a spoiled, simpering voice. Anyone who did not know better really would have thought she was the one being bullied.
"Young miss, just tell me what happened. I guarantee I'll take care of everything properly," Yellow Hair said, bowing his head ingratiatingly. This young miss was the big boss's precious darling. Pleasing her would certainly bring him benefits.
"Fine. This little vixen had someone hurt my classmates and threaten me. You deal with it." As she spoke, she pointed at Li Ru and Li Tai.
What did it mean for the guilty party to accuse first? Gu Mengqi demonstrated it to perfection.
"Oh? Someone actually dared bully our God-Slaying Gang?"
"Young miss, don't worry. We're the ones who bully others. Nobody gets to bully our God-Slaying Gang." As he spoke, he walked toward Li Ru and the others.
When he got close enough to see Li Ru's features clearly, Yellow Hair's eyes suddenly lit up, his vicious expression giving way to a lecherous grin.
This schoolgirl really is pretty, he thought. Even with the swelling on one side of her face yet to subside, her delicate features and clear eyes stirred wicked thoughts in Yellow Hair.
Petty thugs like them never lacked women around them, even schoolgirls. After all, there were plenty of schoolgirls who idolized thugs. But how could those women, with their air of the flesh trade, compare to the pure beauty before him?
Brother Tianlong also had a taste for pure beauties like this. Once Brother Tianlong tired of playing with her, he could get a sip of the soup too. At that thought, Yellow Hair grinned at Li Ru. "Pretty girl, you frightened our young miss and even beat up her friends. Normally, you'd have to pay at least eighty or a hundred thousand in compensation. But Brother Tianlong is the most reasonable man. Before I came, he told me the young miss was partly at fault too, so we can let bygones be bygones."
"But there's one condition. You just have to agree to have a meal with Brother Tianlong. Would you do him that honor?"
Hearing such shameless words, everyone understood perfectly well. Gu Tianlong was ruthless and vicious, and exceptionally lustful. Several female students at the school had already suffered at his hands. But he had both money and men. Even if they hated him enough to grind their teeth, they could do nothing about him.
Li Ru had always been a rather introverted girl. At school, she devoted herself to studying and rarely went out to have fun. When had she ever dealt with thugs and hoodlums like this? But she was no fool. She did not believe a single word Yellow Hair said, nor did anyone else present.
Looking at Yellow Hair's still-beaming face, Li Ru found him sinister and frightening. Without realizing it, she took several steps back and hid behind Li Tai. At that moment, this older cousin, who was only a few months older than her, was all she had to rely on.
Seeing his younger cousin hide behind him in fear, the boy of only eighteen resolutely stepped forward. "Forget it. My sister isn't going anywhere with you."
"Oh, you're spitting in my face when I'm offering you respect? Do you know who calls the shots in Chuning County?" Faced with Li Tai's blunt rejection, Yellow Hair's expression turned vicious again as he threatened him.
"I don't know who calls the shots in Chuning County, but I do know you don't call the shots at Chuning County No. 1 High School." Just as Yellow Hair finished his threat, a middle-aged man in his fifties pushed the door open and entered.
"Principal Fang!" Director Huang and Teacher Yang called out in delighted surprise.
Fang You, principal of Chuning County No. 1 High School, had taught for thirty years, his students spread far and wide like peach and plum blossoms. Not just in the county, but even in the city, most people had to show him some respect. After all, no one knew whether one of his former students might be some high-ranking official.
Yellow Hair's expression turned ugly. Gu Tianlong had specifically warned him not to offend Fang You too badly, so he could only put on an apologetic smile. "Principal Fang, I'm an uncultured man. I'm not good with words. Naturally, you call the shots at No. 1 High School."
Fang You snorted coldly. "Tell Gu Tianlong this is County No. 1 High School. It's not his place to run wild here."
"Yes, yes, yes. Principal Fang, you're right."
Fang You ignored Yellow Hair's nodding and bowing.
"Director Huang, tell me exactly what happened."
"Yes, Principal." Director Huang then gave Principal Fang a full account of the incident and showed him the cafeteria surveillance footage.
After watching the footage, Principal Fang glanced at Gu Mengqi and frowned. This was not the first time she had caused trouble at school, but her father had close ties to a certain official in the education bureau, making her genuinely difficult to deal with.
He then looked at Li Ru and Li Tai standing to one side. Both students showed great academic promise, especially Li Ru. Unfortunately, she had now offended Gu Mengqi. Given her rural family background, she probably had no way to resolve this.
"Have Li Ru and Li Tai's parents not arrived yet?" Fang You turned to ask Director Huang.
"Not yet, Principal."
Director Huang had barely finished speaking when Li Rui and the other three knocked and entered. Eighth Aunt, worried about her son, led the way. As soon as she came in, she went straight to Li Tai and asked anxiously, "Son, are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere?"
As she spoke, she checked Li Tai all over. Seeing so many people present, Li Tai hurriedly stopped her in embarrassment. "Mom, I'm fine."
Hearing her son's answer, Eighth Aunt finally relaxed. Only then did she turn and walk over to Teacher Yang to ask about the situation.