Chapter 113: The Power of This Lady!

“Last time you investigated Sheng Chao, how did it go?” Luo Hua leaned in and whispered, “Sheng Chao is from a branch of the Sheng family. In recent years, the Shengs have had quite a few collaborations with the Wangs. Sheng Chao likes to party and has a lot of questionable friends. He hasn’t known Shi Qingqing for very long—just met because she found and returned his lost wallet.”

The volume was low enough that those ahead wouldn’t hear.

Zhan Su listened, his gaze fixed on the paused video frame showing Sheng Chao’s gentle, caring smile toward Shi Qingqing. A cold, elegant curve flickered at the corner of his lips.

He closed the video and returned to his previous work.

***

On the tree-lined path of Qingming’s ordinary campus, Yang Yini sat on a wooden bench, tears streaming down her face. Beside her stood a tall figure, comforting her—it was Sheng Chao.

“Alright, stop crying now, be good,” he coaxed.

“Senior Sheng, you were the one who encouraged me to confront her, so why are you defending her? Why treat me so harshly?” Yang Yini sobbed.

Sheng Chao wore a world-weary smile. “I didn’t exactly encourage you. You were complaining to me about her, and I just said, if you’re angry, go yell at her a bit...”

Yang Yini paused, wiping her tears. “That’s the same thing, isn’t it?”

***

“Yelling is one thing, but hitting is not allowed. The school forbids fighting. If you get punished for it, is it worth it? For someone like her, getting a major demerit is too costly. Of course I had to stop you. I’m doing this for your own good.”

Yang Yini’s tears turned to laughter. “Really?”

“Of course. When have I ever lied to you?”

“Fine, but why did you say she’s your friend and that I shouldn’t bully her anymore?”

Sheng Chao lifted her chin gently and said with deep sincerity, “That was just empty words. You really believe that? Someone like her, how could she be my friend? You’re the one who’s truly my friend...”

Yang Yini was overwhelmed with joy and surprise. All her grievances vanished in that moment.

***

That day, a wave of calligraphy practice swept through the entire Qingming campus.

During breaks, when everyone usually went out to relax, now they sat at their desks like monks in meditation, diligently practicing their handwriting.

Even the number of people playing on their phones or sending red envelopes dropped significantly.

Shi Qingqing spent the whole day clutching her phone, darting to every classroom door on the ordinary campus, but never managed to snag a hundred red envelopes.

The amounts were small; by day’s end, her personal account had only a few extra yuan.

She had started with over eighty; by the end of the day, just past ninety.

***

Her phone was almost out of battery, down to 10%.

As the school bell rang, Shi Qingqing dawdled, caught in a fierce internal debate: to go or not to go?

In the end, for the sake of her red envelope phone, she decided to go.

Damn it, a maid was a maid—even if it meant being one forever, she’d go all out.

To save time, she slipped out through the school’s side gate...

Just as she stepped outside, she saw Yang Yini.

Yang Yini, flanked by a group of followers, waited triumphantly.

“Shi Qingqing, trying to sneak out the side door, huh? Haha, caught you!”

No wonder Shi Qingqing had felt eyes secretly on her back—it was Yang Yini’s people.

“I’m leaving school properly, what’s sneaking out supposed to mean?”

“Fighting in school gets you a major demerit. Now that you’re off campus, let’s see where you think you can run! If you dare mess with this lady, I’ll make sure you know exactly how fierce I am!”