Chapter 237

Words : 1211 Updated : Oct 15th, 2025

The sound of Wei Yang's wailing was a bit noisy, so Ji Nian moved to another spot to take the call. "What's wrong with him?" Gu Xiuyuan wasn't sure how to describe it. Ji Nian glanced at the sky outside. "Send me the address. I'll head over right now." After hanging up, Ji Nian walked back, passing by Ji Tingzhou and saying, "Dad, I'm going out for a bit. I'll be back before dinner." It was rare for Ji Nian to go out after school, so Ji Tingzhou paused his disciplinary actions against Wei Yang. "Take him with you." He nudged Wei Yang's backside with the tip of his shoe. Wei Yang, having been kicked, obediently raised his hand. "Alright, Wei Yang, let's go." Ji Nian didn't refuse. The idea of rejecting a bodyguard for the sake of personal freedom didn't exist for her. Survival was more important, after all. "Zhiliao, when Shen Qingtang comes out later, let her know I went to see Gu Xiuyuan for something. I'll be back before dinner." "Oh, and pack some of that tea Grandpa Shen liked last time for him to take home." Hearing Ji Nian's words, Zhiliao smiled and nodded, assuring her she could leave without worry. As Ji Nian walked off with Wei Yang, who was still rubbing his backside, Ji Tingzhou leaned against the doorframe, watching her hurried figure. Passing by, Ji Nian patted her father's arm and straightened her posture. "Be good and wait for me at home. Don't cause trouble. I'll bring you something tasty when I get back." Hearing her tone, as if she were talking to a child, Ji Tingzhou scoffed. "No pig intestines." Ji Nian gave a thumbs-up. ... Half an hour earlier. Hainuo Experimental High School. "You're pushing it, Yang Qicheng. Weren’t you the one who said you’d take the blame if something happened? Well, something did happen, and now we’re saying you egged us on to bully Yang Xinyu." A group of boys who had planned to go to the shooting range after school had just stepped out when they spotted several students standing at the gate, dressed in uniforms completely different from their own black-and-white sporty ones. Each one was strikingly attractive, standing so properly they became the center of attention. At first, the boys had been laughing, joking about why students from another school were here—after all, their school didn’t have any pretty girls. But their amusement vanished in an instant. Because these outsiders were here to meddle. And the one leading them was Gu Xiuyuan, heir to the Gu family. Yang Qicheng, an illegitimate child, didn’t exactly run in the same circles as these young masters. The worst part? They were here to stand up for Yang Xinyu. "How was I supposed to know that loser knew Gu Xiuyuan?!" Yang Qicheng grew irritated at the others' complaints. "I just said it offhand—it was your idea in the first place!" He pointed accusingly at one of his classmates, who immediately backed away, waving his hands. "Yeah, I suggested it, but you threw the first punch!" As the group teetered on the edge of an argument, another suddenly spoke up. "Hey, Yang Qicheng, why don’t you just call your dad?" Yang Qicheng didn’t even think before snapping, "No way!" His dad wouldn’t care if he’d beaten up Yang Xinyu, but if he found out Gu Xiuyuan was involved? He’d skin him alive. The thought of losing his allowance was worse than death to Yang Qicheng. Just as panic set in, an idea struck him. "Hold on." With a smirk, Yang Qicheng strode over to where Gu Xiuyuan and his group stood waiting, talking among themselves. As he got closer, he could see Yang Xinyu hidden at the back, shielded by the others. When their eyes met, Yang Xinyu looked away. Putting on his best remorseful act, Yang Qicheng called out, "Gu... Gu Xiuyuan." "This was my fault. I had a fight with my brother at home, so I played a little prank on him." "How about this—let me apologize to him alone, okay?" The Vice President frowned. "You call that a little prank?" "His back is covered in bruises. Want me to hit you and see if it feels like a 'little prank'?" Scolded, Yang Qicheng didn’t lose his temper, nodding meekly. "Right, right. My mistake." "Poor choice of words." Seeing his cooperative attitude, the Vice President backed off. Gu Xiuyuan turned to Yang Xinyu. "He wants to apologize to you privately. Do you want to hear him out?" Yang Xinyu hesitated, meeting Yang Qicheng’s seemingly sincere gaze. Was ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍Yang Qicheng really going to apologize? Truthfully, he had no fondness for this suddenly-appeared younger brother and didn’t want to speak to him alone. But the student council seniors had gone out of their way to help him, and he was both grateful and anxious to resolve things quickly without burdening them further. "...Okay." With a nod, Yang Xinyu agreed. The group stepped away from the school gate, giving them space. Yang Qicheng approached, his tone sickeningly sweet. "Big bro~" Yang Xinyu’s expression hardened. "I’m not your brother." The moment Yang Qicheng got close, his demeanor twisted, his voice dripping with venom. "Oh, I know. A worthless thing like you isn’t fit to be my brother." Before Yang Xinyu could react, Yang Qicheng threw an arm around his shoulders, pulling him close to whisper in his ear, "Keep your mouth shut. If you dare let Dad know you’ve latched onto the Gu family, I’ll make sure he digs up your mom’s grave. An 80,000-yuan burial plot? She doesn’t deserve it." Yang Xinyu’s pupils constricted in horror. "You—how could you—?" Still a boy in his early teens, sheltered and protected by his mother, he couldn’t comprehend how someone could spew such chilling words. "Evil" didn’t even begin to describe it. His body turned ice-cold, hands trembling uncontrollably. His heart felt crushed by an invisible grip, the pain so intense he could barely breathe. A deafening buzz filled his ears. Distant voices called his name, but they sounded muffled, as if underwater. "What’s wrong with him?!" "What did you do to him?!" The student council members who had accompanied Yang Xinyu glared at Yang Qicheng. Watching Yang Xinyu curl into a ball, Yang Qicheng feigned innocence. "What the hell? He’s faking it!" All he’d done was talk—how could words trigger such a reaction? "Hey, don’t grab me! I just apologized, and then he collapsed. Not my fault!" He tried to bolt, but someone seized him. The commotion drew the attention of Hainuo’s security guards, who hurried over to investigate. Spotting them, Yang Qicheng shouted, "Uncle! These outsiders are bullying us!" Chaos erupted. Ignoring the scene, Gu Xiuyuan calmly dialed for an ambulance. Then, under the guards’ suspicious stares, he stepped forward to explain. Despite his youth, his words were measured and mature, clarifying the situation in a few sentences. Recognizing the prestigious uniforms, the guards backed off, only advising them to move further from the gate to avoid causing a scene. When Ji Nian arrived, she went straight to the hospital using the address provided by Gu Xiuyuan.

Chapter 237

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