Chapter 114 - 12: Eliminate All Roots

Half a month later, under the care of Hang Yishao, Deng Jiani’s injuries had significantly improved, and she was now able to walk. Their relationship had grown closer following the ordeal. Hang Yishao would accompany her before and after classes, watching out for her. Subconsciously, he had convinced himself that it was because of him that Su Ziceng had lost his temper at Deng Jiani, suspecting that the teacher named Pello must have done something while feeding the horses. After the editorial class, as the students headed to their next course location, Hang Yishao was helping Deng Jiani down the stairs when Fei Qing came running over. His expression was odd as he hesitantly said, "Yishao, someone at the school gate is looking for Jiani." "Can’t you see her leg is injured?" Hang Yishao gave a look, annoyed at Fei Qing’s insensitivity. "The security won’t let them in, saying it’s led by a group of thugs from outside the school," Deng Jiani stumbled, the scars barely faded suddenly took on a wine-red hue from the shock. "Thugs?" Hang Yishao thought he had misheard. "The one leading them even said that Jiani is his..." Fei Qing gestured with his hands. Although he was slick of tongue, he had not sunk to the level of spouting obscenities. "Jiani, what’s going on?" Hang Yishao let go of her hand, his face darkening. Stuttering, Deng Jiani said, "I don’t know anyone from outside the school, Yishao, you know, I’ve always only had you as a boyfriend. Have you forgotten that night?" She grew more agitated as she explained, her words becoming muddled. Regarding that night, Hang Yishao only had a vague memory; he had drunk a bit much and had ended up in bed with Deng Jiani. When he woke up, he only saw a puddle of blood on the bedsheet and had assumed that Deng Jiani was still a virgin. "It was Su Ziceng, Su Ziceng who slandered me," Deng Jiani insisted, "Don’t believe me, go ask Chang Chi." Her eyes, brimming with tears, were filled with both agitation and panic. She clutched Hang Yishao’s hand, pleading incessantly. Fei Qing, uncertain about this new revelation, didn’t know how to respond when Chang Chi came out. She looked at Deng Jiani with schadenfreude and said, "That’s right, Su Ziceng asked me to disturb Jiani’s horse that day." After hearing this, Deng Jiani breathed a sigh of relief, gratefully nodding at Chang Chi. Although she didn’t know why Chang Chi had helped her, Hang Yishao had become her lifeline, and she had to grasp it tightly. As if afraid Hang Yishao wouldn’t believe her, Chang Chi continued, "You know Ziceng’s disposition well enough, eye for an eye, a grudge for a grudge. However..." Chang Chi paused, delighted to see that she had drawn Hang Yishao’s attention. "Just now outside the school gate, I heard that thug from the Sixth District boasting that the University Department Flower Deng Jiani had dumped him after crossing the bridge, saying she helped him deal with someone and then vanished, repeatedly stood him up, and took the money he gave to support some pretty boy," Chang Chi’s few words had more impact than many, and upon hearing this, Hang Yishao incredulously released Deng Jiani’s hand and looked at her in disbelief. Deng Jiani clenched her teeth, her mind in turmoil. The things Chang Chi had said stripped her bare, leaving her exposed before everyone’s gaze. She wanted to run away, but her legs were still not fully mobile, so she could only hobble forward as the sounds of whispered gossip and scornful glances all turned her way. "She had someone teach Su Ziceng a lesson, no wonder she was so angry that day. How is her injury?" Hang Yishao asked Chang Chi again. "She’s fine, just some cuts and bruises. She’s not someone who can be easily bullied," Chang Chi said lightly. "Let her know for me that I’ll visit her this weekend." Hang Yishao’s conscience felt uncomfortable, partly blaming Su Ziceng for not clarifying the situation with him. "This weekend?" Upon hearing this, Chang Chi forced a smile, "You’re most welcome." That very afternoon, Chang Chi relayed all of the morning’s events at the school to Chang Mei. "What’s wrong with you? Such a big incident happened to Ziceng and you didn’t know," Su Qingzhang was livid upon receiving the news, furious that someone dared to mess with his daughter in Mo City, a clear sign of disrespect for him. After receiving the news, Chang Mei was also startled, and after sending people to investigate, she found out that the reality was much more severe than what she had reported to Su Qingzhang, "I’ve already sent people to deal with that gang, but," Chang Mei hesitated. "But what? If those rascals’ legs aren’t broken, then write my name, Su Qingzhang, backwards!" Su Qingzhang pounded his cane heavily, veins bulging on his forehead as his rage boiled over. "It’s not necessary anymore, that gang, after leaving Daoquan University today, had an accident." Chang Mei recalled the news she had just received with revulsion, "They say... the vehicle was smashed down a cliff, not even a tire was left behind." Su Qingzhang was stunned; he only wanted to discipline the gang, wondering who had taken such drastic action. "Also, Qing Chang, I’ve already asked Ziceng. Her injuries have healed, and I want to ask her to help me go through some old accounts at the company this weekend. I heard she took some finance courses this semester," Chang Mei observed Su Qing Zhang’s expression. "You should just ask her yourself. She’s grown up; I can’t control her anymore." Su Qing Zhang sat down, and Chang Mei hurriedly served him the tea she had prepared, "But just don’t let her put too much effort into it. I just want her to live a happy and peaceful life for the rest of her days, that would do right by Xiao Chu." As Chang Mei was pouring the water into the cup, her hand trembled upon hearing his words, splashing hot water onto the back of her hand. Doing right by Qiao Chu, is there really anyone in this mansion who truly does right by Qiao Chu? "Boom boom" echoed the sound of boxing in the vast gymnasium, with two men on the boxing ring, both shirtless, one wearing red and the other blue gloves. The hour hand pointed to about three in the afternoon. The two men moved rapidly around the ring, their backs drenched in sweat. The man with the red gloves seized an opening, launching a fierce ’dragon emerging from the sea’ punch, his fists raining down like meteor showers on the man with the blue gloves. His fists were fast and precise, and his technique was full of posturing. Between hooks and punches there was the sound of wind; skimming past the cheek, it immediately brought up a bruise. The man with the blue gloves did not get flustered by the fierce offensive; he swiftly stepped backward, bent his legs and knees, suddenly powered up his elbows, and simultaneously evaded the attack. With coordinated movement of hands and feet, he adjusted his stance, unexpectedly revealing himself as a Muay Thai expert, who had been dodging all along. His raining punches and kicks targeted the softer parts of the red boxer like the waist and joint areas. The red boxer initially managed to block the strikes, but as he felt the blue boxer’s punches and kicks becoming more ferocious, he quickly retreated to one side, took off his gloves and headgear, and said with hands raised: "Stop, stop." The red boxer, now soaked in sweat, had a long scar more evident at the corner of his mouth. Shang Yin threw his gloves on the ground and sprawled on the boxing platform with spread arms: "To think, Shang Yin was someone not afraid of a fight, but against you, you little devil, I’ve lost my temper." Shang Yin panted after two hours of fighting, yet this kid still seemed full of energy. What was more irritating was that every time after fighting, he felt more exhausted than having an exaggerated encounter with three or four women, yet this kid was still... The blue gloves were also tossed aside as Pello looked down at Shang Yin, joking, "You’re really getting old, just after a short while you’ve turned into a soft-shelled shrimp. Best reduce your time with women, otherwise, you’ll end up dying on a woman’s belly someday." "Tsk tsk, damn dog can’t spit out ivory. I was born out of a woman’s belly; there’s no way I’ll die on one," Shang Yin calmed himself down, got up, and looked at Pello, whose hair was still neat and in place, seriously doubting it was him who had just been fighting fiercely. "Is everything taken care of?" Seeing Shang Yin looking unconvinced, Pello shook his head. He was well aware of Shang Yin’s temper. Who could be certain about the future? "Went down directly, didn’t even leave any dregs. You can trust me with the tasks, but I’m curious, you’ve also started using underhanded tactics," said Shang Yin, who had arranged for people to handle the trouble outside the university after learning about it. "It’s just to prevent those people from bothering the students from Kelly Women’s College again," said the man as he hopped off the boxing platform and grabbed a towel to wipe his face. "I say, you’re really taking Kelly Women’s College to heart. Is it because it’s owned by the Wen family, or are you trying to curry favor with that two-faced woman, Wen Maixue?" said Shang Yin as he turned on the sauna in the gym to take a shower and relax. Pello walked straight into the misty sauna room without outright denying it. "Wen Maixue said the ’Green Love’ you gave her is an engagement gift. Is that true?" Shang Yin also started gossiping. Overall, he knew limited information about his mysteriously acting good friend, but he thought Shang Yin and Wen Maixue were a well-matched pair in looks and seemed suitable for each other. "That’s the plan for now," the usually decisive Pello said with uncertainty in his voice, "The Wen family is a crucial step for us to take over Mo City." "But there’s no need to sacrifice your own lifelong happiness, to shackle your freedom to a woman," Shang Yin was secretly glad that he only needed to provide manpower and didn’t have to sell himself directly. "Wen Maixue did me a favor. And her behaving differently in public and private, you caused that," Pello vanished into the steam. "You can’t absolve yourself from your part in getting to this day. Even a dog will jump over a wall when cornered. My life doesn’t have the privileges like yours. When I was poor and struggling, I saw no one feeling sorry for me," Shang Yin splashed water around, threw the towel out, and followed into the sauna room. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for monthly and recommendation tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)