Given Su Zhiyi’s fainting spell from low blood sugar that morning, Gu Xizhou had packed her a huge amount of food. When Su Zhiyi saw the container packed to the brim, her whole being froze in shock.
Her eyes widened, like a bewildered rabbit. She was utterly astonished: “Why is there so much? I can’t finish all this.”
Gu Xizhou opened her own lunch box, picked up a slice of meat, and said flatly: “Eat slowly. You’ll finish it eventually.”
No, Su Zhiyi didn’t think she could.
Her face pale, she looked over at Gu Xizhou and asked tentatively: “How about… you help me eat some of it?”
Gu Xizhou poked at her own equally stuffed lunch box and replied unhurriedly: “Eat as much as you can first. We’ll talk about it if you can’t finish.”
Her attitude was very firm, showing absolutely no room for compromise.
Su Zhiyi saw through this point and admitted defeat: “Fine, fine. Since Gu Xizhou got it for me, I’ll do my best to finish it.”
Not wanting to waste a classmate’s kind gesture, Su Zhiyi ate more than she had ever eaten in her life. Even so, there was still a fair amount left. Out of consideration not to waste food, Gu Xizhou ended up eating the untouched portions left by Su Zhiyi.
Not long ago, the Su Group’s stock had taken a dip. This time, Su Tianyu had no intention of cleaning up Su Nanfeng’s mess. The conflict between the two students was thus quietly resolved within the military base.
But Ding Yi didn’t escape unscathed. After all, she was the one who had kicked Su Nanfeng. When her family elders found out, they called and gave Ding Yi a thorough scolding.
And repeatedly warned her not to cause any more trouble.
Su Nanfeng’s family had money, and their stock price still fell. Ding Yi’s family company was preparing for an IPO, which meant everyone in the family had to be on their best behavior.
There’s a saying: “The barefoot man fears no man who wears shoes.” In an era where money and power can’t smooth over everything, the more powerful and influential a person is, the more they need to pay attention to their public image.
Misdeeds were an unspoken rule within their circles, but when things were brought into the open, it became ugly.
In business, everyone values “decency.”
Even though Su Nanfeng didn’t hold it against her, Ding Yi was still filled with lingering fear. With this new concern weighing on her, even though Su Nanfeng told Ding Yi to watch Gu Xizhou, Ding Yi found it difficult to muster the effort.
The most direct manifestation was that evening. Su Nanfeng wasn’t around, and Ding Yi and her crew made little fatty Wang Yiren do their laundry. When Gu Xizhou saw this after coming out of the shower, she was instantly furious: “0820, help me fight a battle!”
0820 instantly understood her intention. Even as she grumbled, she said: “You can’t always rely on me for fights. Go train your body yourself, will you!”
Nevertheless, she still agreed to Gu Xizhou’s request.
After quickly switching control of the body, 0820 rolled her short sleeves up to her shoulders, revealing her slender arms. She strode aggressively up to Ding Yi and the others, face cold: “Do your own things yourself. Stop making other classmates do it!”
“If you make Wang Yiren wash your clothes again tonight, I’ll beat you until you go crying to the instructor!”
Right. After being bullied by Su Nanfeng for so many years, she was damn well practiced at being a thug.
Ding Yi’s face went white. Remembering how she’d failed to gain any advantage over this person for two days straight, she felt a twinge of fear.
But years of bullying others had ingrained a habit of talking tough: “I asked her to wash them, not you. Why are you sticking your neck out?”
0820 snorted coldly, her voice dripping with sarcasm: “I just like sticking my neck out.”
If she hadn’t liked sticking her neck out for others, she wouldn’t have been targeted by Su Nanfeng throughout middle school, suffering endless torment.
0820 brandished her fist, very serious and earnest: “Are you going to take your clothes back or not? If not, I’ll beat you up!”
Maybe the effect of the beatings in the previous two days was too good, or perhaps Ding Yi’s little clique was just too hated. Some other students, who normally adhered to “minding their own business,” seeing Gu Xizhou confronting Ding Yi and the others, one or two quietly walked over, holding their washbasins, to stand beside Gu Xizhou.
A tall shadow loomed over 0820. 0820 turned her head to see a tall female alpha standing beside her, her hair in a ponytail, wearing glasses, with a very sharp jawline.
She vaguely remembered this person. She seemed to be the one standing behind Su Zhiyi, named Yan Qing.
Yan Qing was very pretty in a refined way, looking like the top student teachers and parents would love.
Right now, she wore a dark blue silk pajama set, standing beside Gu Xizhou. She raised a hand to adjust her glasses and spoke in a soft, gentle voice: “Classmate, everyone washes their own things. It’s not appropriate to make someone else do your chores, is it?”
Yan Qing had come up from the No.1 Middle School Affiliated School. She was quite popular in her old school, and quite a few students from other classes recognized her.
With her as the center, a small crowd began to gather, standing behind Gu Xizhou.
Gu Xizhou looked left and right, feeling like a small dog surrounded by a pack of hungry wolves… a corgi with short legs.
Compared to the bamboo-pole-like alphas, she was simply too short.
0820 silently consoled her: “You’re still young. Your mother is 1.8 meters tall. You can still grow taller before 25.”
Gu Xizhou felt indignant in her heart: I’ll definitely grow taller if I eat more!
Still, 0820 was somewhat surprised. Among the students, there were actually kids unafraid of trouble, willing to step forward.
She expressed her admiration: “Your batch of classmates is actually quite good, you know.”
How come she hadn’t noticed this person named Yan Qing in class back when she was in high school?
Forget it. Back when she was in high school, every day was spent running errands for Su Nanfeng, feeding her, keeping her entertained. Apart from getting beaten up, before long, she had to play some idiotic love game.
Disgusting!
Thinking of this, 0820 felt it was a pity Su Nanfeng wasn’t present. Otherwise, she could have found an excuse to beat her up again. Judging by Su Zhiyi’s attitude, if she beat up Su Nanfeng, Su Zhiyi would be glad to see it.
The students gradually formed a wall of people, instinctively shielding Gu Xizhou in the center.
Ding Yi knew she wouldn’t come out on top. She reluctantly stepped back, took back her clothes, and said sullenly: “Fine, I’ll wash them myself then.”
The other followers also took their clothes back, leaving Wang Yiren standing there, at a loss, looking at Gu Xizhou.
At that moment, 0820 switched back with Gu Xizhou. Gu Xizhou walked up to Wang Yiren and heavily patted her on the shoulder.
Wang Yiren’s chubby, pale body trembled. She looked a little scared: “Don’t hit me…”
Gu Xizhou’s hand paused. She quickly retracted it, a little apologetic: “I wasn’t going to do anything to you. I don’t hit people.”
Wang Yiren was terrified. Deep down, she thought: Who else could it be but you, that fierce wolf who beat up Su Nanfeng yesterday?
She had even thrown water on Gu Xizhou before. Knowing Gu Xizhou’s ruthlessness, she might come looking for payback. Thinking of this, Wang Yiren began trembling.
Gu Xizhou also noticed her unease. 0820 promptly reminded her: “A kid like her… very timid, very afraid of causing trouble…”
Although both were bullied, she and Gu Xizhou were different. Gu Xizhou might have been weak, but deep inside, there was always a fierce, ruthless streak.
She could endure. She could scheme. She could bide her time… waiting over ten years, finally making Su Nanfeng taste everything she herself had suffered.
But a kid like Wang Yiren lacked that ferocity. They were used to being bullied. Endure a little, survive it, wait until graduation, and it would be over.
Forbearance—was a common virtue among children in this country.
0820 felt a bit emotional: “So used to obedience, they feel lost when faced with freedom.”
But it was okay. Everything could change, slowly.
Gu Xizhou understood her meaning. She thought for a moment and said to Wang Yiren: “Being friends means helping each other. If you’re not friends, then doing labor deserves compensation.”
“Your time and effort are precious. If possible, I hope you can value that.”
And value yourself too. Stop yielding to these bullies. Guard your own dignity.
Seeing that Gu Xizhou wasn’t angry at her, Wang Yiren stood frozen, completely bewildered.
Gu Xizhou softened her voice, speaking gently to her: “If you ever have any trouble, you can come to me too.”
“I’ve been through what you’re going through. I understand your helplessness. I won’t be angry at you, understand?”
Gu Xizhou’s looks weren’t bad. Her skin was very fair, and her features, inherited from her mother, were strikingly handsome and delicate. When she leaned in close and spoke earnestly, her gentle voice could make a person blush.
Wang Yiren’s face instantly heated up. Her eyes brimming with tears, she looked at Gu Xizhou, unsure how to respond.
Gu Xizhou smiled, giving her an encouraging gesture: “Show some spirit!”
After saying this, she stopped paying attention to Wang Yiren. She turned her head to look at Yan Qing and thanked her sincerely: “Thank you, Yan Qing.”
To have someone besides Su Zhiyi stand by her side… it felt really good. So this is what it felt like to be helped. What a wonderful thing.
Yan Qing looked down at the slender little alpha beside her, pushed her glasses up, and said plainly: “We’re classmates. It was the right thing to do.”
Otherwise, watching Gu Xizhou fight back like a lone wolf—her simple sense of justice wouldn’t allow it.
Yan Qing raised her head to look at Wang Yiren, and also said to her: “If you run into trouble, you can tell us too.”
“Don’t be afraid of their numbers. We’ve got numbers too.”
So many ordinary students banding together—what, could they really lose to these bullies? This was a society governed by law. What did having money matter?
Most families whose children got into No. 1 High School weren’t ordinary. Who didn’t have at least some money?
The act of righteous bravery that evening left Gu Xizhou in high spirits. Back in the dormitory, she started chatting with Yan Qing and the others.
It was only now that Little Gu Xizhou learned quite a few classmates had come up from the affiliated school.
Alphas were curious about her fighting skills, asking which club she trained at. Yan Qing especially—her family ran a fighting club. Though she didn’t practice fighting herself, she had some knowledge.
Gu Xizhou inwardly thought: all those skills came from a cheat, not from her own learning. She could only make up an excuse: “Ah… I learned by watching videos.”
“I’m small, so I’m an easy target. I wanted to learn how to protect myself.”
Yan Qing exclaimed in admiration: “Then you’ve got real talent! Why don’t you come train at my family’s club? I can get my dad to give you a discount card.”
Gu Xizhou had already planned to start systematic training after the military training ended. This was even better than she’d hoped for: “Really? Is that okay?”
Yan Qing nodded: “Sure. If you come, I’ll get you a 20% off deal!”
“Thanks!”
Making a new friend made Gu Xizhou incredibly excited. She was still chatting animatedly with Yan Qing right up until lights out.
Before sleeping, Gu Xizhou lay in bed, hands folded over her chest, staring at the ceiling. She felt a little emotional: “It’s really nice to have friends.”
Because of Su Nanfeng’s evil, Little Gu Xizhou had no friends in middle school. She was isolated, bullied.
But now, everything was changing.
0820 smiled: “Having friends is indeed good. But isn’t having power an even better thing?”
“How did it feel to stand up for justice? Only by having your own power can you protect yourself and help others, right?”
Gu Xizhou nodded. She was beginning to vaguely grasp 0820’s point. She agreed: “Yes, having power is good.”
0820 encouraged her: “Then work hard to become stronger, Gu Xizhou.”
“Become stronger, more powerful. Protect yourself. Protect the people you cherish. Help those who need help.”
Only then could she properly protect Su Zhiyi.
