Qiu Yugang and the others had never dreamed that barely two or three minutes after leaving the teachers' office, they would end up in the principal's office.
Principal Huang Ke sternly reprimanded Qiu Yugang and the others. "There are only six months left until the college entrance exam, yet instead of studying hard, you're bullying a classmate! You're treating your futures like a joke!"
"Our school absolutely will not tolerate this!"
Principal Huang roared at Gao Qiliang, whom the dean of students had summoned by phone. "Look at these fine students you've taught! Bullying a classmate in their classroom in broad daylight!"
Gao Qiliang rubbed his gleaming forehead and apologized repeatedly.
"Principal Huang, I've already called all three families. I originally told them to come this afternoon, but forget that. I'll have them come right away."
Huang Ke said sternly, "Deal with this seriously once they arrive!"
Half an hour later, all three families' parents had arrived at the school.
As a party involved in the incident, Lu Chi naturally had his parents called in too.
Lu Jiyang gloated from the sidelines.
Hahaha!
You country bumpkin, you got into a conflict with your classmates on your very first day, and even got into a fight. What do you think Mom and Dad will think of you?
Would they dare entrust the Lu family fortune to a brainless idiot like you?
The parents of all three students, including Qiu Yugang, had arrived.
The parents who could send their children to this elite school were either rich or powerful, and all three families had initially been quite overbearing.
Qiu Yugang's father, Qiu Mingjun, said loudly to Principal Huang, "Principal Huang, all he did was hit a classmate. What's the big deal? Don't tell me you'd actually dare expel my son?"
Huang Ke glanced at the director of the education bureau, who was still sitting in the office, then said coldly to Qiu Mingjun:
"What kind of thing is that for a parent to say? First, your son already violated school rules by bringing cigarettes to school. Second, your son openly assaulted a classmate in the classroom, compounding his offense.
"If you refuse to cooperate with the school's handling of this matter, we'll have no choice but to call the police and let the authorities deal with it."
Qiu Mingjun said snidely, "If you dare punish my son in any way, I'll make sure you lose your position as principal. Do you believe me?"
The other two families' parents were equally belligerent. They believed a mere principal would never dare touch their sons; their families had connections everywhere.
Just then, Lu Yuanqing and Pan Feng arrived.
When Lu Yuanqing heard that Lu Chi had been beaten by classmates at school, his heart ached, and his fury soared thirty feet high.
He rushed to the school with Pan Feng.
The first thing he did upon entering the principal's office was take hold of Lu Chi and look him over from head to toe.
Concern filled his eyes, and his words warmed the heart. "Son, are you hurt anywhere?"
Pan Feng even called the school doctor over to give Lu Chi a full examination.
The three previously overbearing parents instantly lost all their swagger upon seeing Lu Yuanqing, the richest man in Jing City.
They approached with their tails between their legs, desperately apologizing to Lu Yuanqing and Pan Feng.
They also ordered their sons to apologize to Lu Chi.
"You little brat! You even dared provoke the Lu family's son? Are you trying to make it impossible for your old man to survive in Jing City?"
"Hurry up and apologize to Young Master Lu!"
"Young Master Lu, please, spare our Zhang family!"
With Lu Yuanqing's arrival, "Young Master Lu" had changed from Lu Jiyang to Lu Chi.
The three who had secretly insulted Lu Chi earlier all apologized earnestly to him in the office.
For the first time, Lu Chi experienced just how badass it was to have a badass dad.
Having the richest parents sure was nice!
"Young Master Lu, please forgive me! I'll never dare do it again!" Qiu Yugang and the other two cried like beggars before Lu Chi.
"Whether you're forgiven is up to my son. If my son says no, then kindly pack your things and get out immediately!"
Lu Chi had never really had any grudge or grievance against them.
His purpose in dealing with them was to drag out the mastermind, Lu Jiyang, and take him down a peg.
"From the moment I entered the classroom, I heard you whispering among yourselves, hurling all kinds of insults and personal attacks at me! Even after I sat down, you kept mocking and insulting me under your breath.
"I don't even know you, yet you started targeting me right away. If you don't tell me who instructed you to do this today, you can forget about continuing to study at this school."
Lu Chi spoke coldly to Qiu Yugang and the other two.
Lu Yuanqing also said sternly, "Exactly! My son only transferred to this school today, yet you insulted him for no reason. Who gave you permission to do that? If you won't tell the truth, we'll have no choice but to call the police."
Lu Yuanqing turned to the three students' parents. "Furthermore, your three families can forget about getting by in Jing City. The Lu family will cut off all business dealings with your families and blacklist all three of you nationwide!"
With one arm around Lu Chi, Pan Feng stroked his head and spoke icily to the three boys' mothers:
"What sort of trash did you give birth to, daring to bully my son? You can forget about joining Jing City's mahjong circles from now on, too."
The three women immediately shrieked in fright and hurriedly begged for mercy.
"Please don't, Mrs. Lu! I couldn't bear a life without mahjong!"
"Yes, Mrs. Lu, mahjong is my life! If I can't play mahjong, I won't be able to live!"
"You little brat, hurry up and tell them who instructed you to do this!"
Looking utterly miserable, Qiu Yugang glanced at Lu Jiyang, who was hiding by the door and eavesdropping.
His eyes were filled with helplessness.
He hoped Lu Jiyang would hurry over and help.
Hadn't Lu Jiyang said that Lu Chi was just a country bumpkin who couldn't be shown in public, that even people and dogs shunned him after he returned to the Lu family, and that everyone looked down on him and no one loved him?
He had also said that the Lu parents hated him. Did this look like hatred? No, they treasured him more than a treasure!
"It... it was Young Master Lu who told us to do it."
Qiu Yugang was terrified of Lu Jiyang, but if he didn't tell the truth now, not only would he be unable to attend school, his father would also be unable to stay in business.
"Bullshit!" Pan Feng said angrily. "Listen to what you're saying! Would my son tell you to go after himself?"
Qiu Yugang stammered, "N-no, not this Young Master Lu. The other Young Master Lu, Young Master Lu Jiyang..."
As soon as Qiu Yugang said this, He Xing and Zhang Da hurriedly added:
"Yes, Young Master Lu Jiyang told us to go after Young Master Lu Chi. He said Young Master Lu Chi had just returned to the Lu family, that he was a country bumpkin everyone hated, and told us to make things difficult for him."
"This..."
Pan Feng turned back in disbelief and glanced at Lu Jiyang, who was standing on tiptoe outside the office to look inside.
Lu Jiyang hurried into the office and said with an aggrieved expression, "Mom, no! I don't know these three classmates at all. Maybe they bullied Brother Lu Chi themselves and were afraid you'd blame them, so they dragged me in to take the fall.
"Mom, you have to believe me. I really didn't do this. Why would I have them bully my own brother? Wouldn't that be a joke?"
To clear himself of suspicion completely, Lu Jiyang scolded Qiu Yugang and the other two:
"How can you falsely accuse someone like this? You're clearly the ones who normally run roughshod over everyone at school, wanting to bully anyone you see. You never expected to end up bullying my brother.
"And now you're actually pinning this on me. That's far too underhanded!"
Before Lu Jiyang could finish, Lu Chi drawled:
"Dad, little brother Jiyang brought his phone to school too. It's hidden in the lining of his underwear. Have him take it out,
"and check his WeChat history with Qiu Yugang. Wouldn't that prove little brother Jiyang's innocence? I believe in Jiyang too. We can't let other people slander him like this!"