Jiang Qiche lowered his eyes, his icy gaze falling on his sister's fingers.
He hated physical contact.
In the past, if anyone had dared touch his hand like this, an uncontrollable wave of revulsion would have surged through him.
Disgusting.
Even now, he still felt disgusted.
He wanted to fling Jiang Jinran's fingers away, dark, sinister feelings surging fiercely through his heart...
But looking into the girl's bright, clear eyes, he barely managed to hold back.
Jiang Qiche's face betrayed nothing, though a fierce struggle had already played out inside him. He pressed his lips together and said to Jiang Jinran-
"Let's talk in the garden over there."
Zhao Yunye: Oh ho, was he going to talk to a girl alone?!
Everyone else on the court: Was this really Jiang Qiche?! This wasn't normal. This was so not normal!
The girls at the sidelines widened their eyes in disbelief, one after another, overwhelmed by a massive emotional shock-
"What's going on? Has our noble crown prince descended to the mortal world?"
"Jiang Qiche wants a private little chat with this girl? Has he gone mad?"
"Impossible. I don't believe it... I don't believe it..."
"Why didn't my dream guy teach that girl a harsh lesson? Why is he treating her so differently instead..."
"I'm so mad, I could die. That girl must have pulled some trick..."
"I object! I don't agree to you two doing this!"
Jiang Jinran followed Jiang Qiche to the garden nearby.
"So your teacher punished you by making you pick up litter on the sports field?" Jiang Qiche's handsome brows creased slightly as he listened to his sister's account.
Along the way, Jiang Jinran had already explained most of what had happened.
She had racked her brains to find a way to talk to this brother of hers, not because she was bored and wanted a family reunion at school, but because-
She wanted to use Jiang Qiche's help to get justice for herself!
With such a mighty thigh right in front of her, she might as well cling to it.
Otherwise, this would be far too stifling!
"I understand." Jiang Qiche gave her a slight nod. There was little expression on the handsome boy's face, as though a thin layer of freezing ice covered it, aloof and cold.
Other than "I understand," the boy said nothing more.
Jiang Jinran couldn't help feeling uneasy. She couldn't see through Jiang Qiche's thoughts.
He wasn't... unwilling to help me, was he?
You won't help me? Oh, so you won't. Fine, forget it. Okay, I didn't really want your help that much anyway. I can do it myself. You're honestly pretty mediocre. Hahaha, how hilarious. You're such a poser.
The corner of Jiang Qiche's mouth twitched.
Jiang Jinran had no idea that Jiang Qiche had heard every word of the unhinged tirade galloping through her mind like wild horses. She pressed her lips together and was just about to say goodbye and get lost when the boy before her suddenly spoke-
"Don't stay on the sports field. Go straight back to your classroom."
"Back to my classroom?" Jiang Jinran's eyes widened. "But Ms. Xu..."
"Just go back. Leave the rest to me," Jiang Qiche said with firm finality. His clear, cool voice seemed to carry a heavy weight, inexplicably reassuring.
Jiang Jinran didn't dither. She listened to her brother and swaggered back to her classroom.
Though she had no idea how exactly Jiang Qiche intended to help her.
But who cared? If the sky fell, Jiang Qiche would hold it up. She had every reason to stand tall!
Meanwhile.
Xu Yuan was sitting in the office, her head lowered as she marked assignments.
The other teachers all happened to have classes, so she was the only person in the entire office.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.
The knock wasn't forceful, and seemed almost casual.
Xu Yuan answered automatically, "Come in."
Equally casual footsteps sounded behind her. Then Xu Yuan heard someone address her in a cold, indifferent voice-
"Ms. Xu."
Xu Yuan instinctively stopped working and looked up-
An extraordinarily handsome, unruly white-haired boy stood straight before her.
His chin was slightly raised, his lips curved in the faintest of cold smiles. "I just wanted to ask you what Jiang Jinran did wrong for you to punish her."
Jiang Jinran?
Xu Yuan frowned. Who was this boy? What was his relationship with Jiang Jinran, and why had he come to question her?
She stood up, somewhat angry, her expression stern. "Naturally, I had my reasons for punishing Jiang Jinran. Obviously, it was because she did something wrong! And what class are you in?"
Xu Yuan didn't know Jiang Qiche. In fact, she wasn't very familiar with the entire high school division.
She carefully searched her memories and confirmed that Jiang Qiche wasn't among the aristocratic children she remembered. Reassured, she grew even harsher and more cutting. "Do you think it's appropriate to speak to me like that?"
Shadows roiled in Jiang Qiche's eyes, an icy expression spreading from their depths.
Communicating with idiots was truly exhausting.
He stepped back, casting a casual glance toward the doorway, his unruly arrogance on full display. "As it happens, I can't be bothered to talk to you either. Speak to him yourself."
Him? Who?
At that moment, Xu Yuan was completely lost in a fog.
She opened her mouth, about to give Jiang Qiche a scolding, when hurried footsteps suddenly came from the doorway.
Then Xu Yuan saw the principal enter her office, panting for breath.
The principal didn't spare Xu Yuan a glance, looking straight at Jiang Qiche instead.
He prayed frantically in his heart that this mighty lord wouldn't be too angry, or he would be finished!
He had always known that Jiang Qiche and Jiang Jinran attended Imperial Star, and had lived in constant trepidation because of it.
Jiang Qiche was ostentatious in everything he did, and everyone knew his identity, so hardly anyone dared offend him. But Jiang Jinran was different-
The girl kept far too low a profile, unwilling to reveal her identity and refusing special treatment.
Now someone truly had been foolish enough to bully her, and had even brought Jiang Qiche into it.
The principal fretted and prayed at the same time. This was undoubtedly an enormous crisis for him.
If he really offended the Jiang Family, then...
The principal shuddered, his face growing a few shades paler.
He didn't dare imagine it. He truly didn't.
"Xu Yuan, what is wrong with you?!" He walked up to Xu Yuan, his words filled with anger and exasperated disappointment.
The principal's accusation stunned Xu Yuan into standing frozen on the spot.
She had absolutely no idea what she had done wrong.
"Principal... please hear me out..." Xu Yuan bit her lip, speaking with some difficulty.
"It's too late for anything you have to say." The principal shook his head at her in disappointment. "Xu Yuan, prepare to be reassigned."
Reassigned?
Xu Yuan took a step back, utterly distraught, and crashed into the desk behind her. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
When Jiang Jinran returned to the classroom, the entire class inevitably stared at her, then began whispering among themselves.
"Why is she back again?"
"I heard Ms. Xu punished her by making her pick up litter on the sports field... Did she run back before finishing..."
"Ms. Xu will deal with her later. What a loser. What's the point of running back without getting anything done?!"