Chapter 55: The Little Follower at the Aristocratic School (Part 4)

Shen Ke’s face changed the moment she could no longer see Si Qing’s cold expression. The obedient and pitiful look vanished instantly. She kicked the wall hard twice and cursed lowly, “Sickly Weed, so annoying!”

She spread open her hand and looked at the mottled marks on her palm. Shen Ke’s eyes reddened again. It really hurt.

Why did that person push her? They were all so hateful!

Shen Ke stood by the wall, feeling both aggrieved and furious. Nothing good had happened to her in the past two days.

Shen Ke went to the infirmary to see the doctor and get some anti-inflammatory ointment. The cool, stinging sensation spread across her palm as the clear, cold ointment was applied.

The doctor wore glasses and had a proper, refined appearance. She was a very young woman.

Shen Ke sat on the stool with her hands spread out, legs together, head tilted up. Her big eyes were round and wide, looking obedient like a little child. “Doctor Zhao, apply a bit more. I want it to heal faster.”

“This abrasion hurts so much. I can’t even hold things properly anymore.”

Zhao Wanjue closed the ointment tube, somewhat helpless. “Little classmate, wounds don’t heal faster just because you apply more medicine. It takes time.”

Shen Ke frowned, stood up, and lay down on the sickbed.

Zhao Wanjue asked gently, “Little classmate, is there anywhere else you’re uncomfortable?”

Shen Ke glanced at Zhao Wanjue. Seeing the doctor’s soft features, she said aggrievedly, “My hand hurts.”

“No one is comforting me.”

Shen Ke was cute, with black, long, straight hair and neat bangs, fair skin, and red lips—the kind of child adults loved most.

With her big eyes open wide and staring straight at someone, it would melt their heart into a puddle.

Zhao Wanjue’s fingers twitched slightly. At that moment, she really wanted to pat the child’s head.

She had some impression of this child. Usually, whenever this kid came to the infirmary, she brought others along and acted arrogant like a little peacock. This time, she came alone and didn’t seem energetic at all.

But she wasn’t close to this little classmate, so she couldn’t just comfort her rashly.

Just then, someone else arrived at the infirmary.

Zhao Wanjue walked over.

On the sickbed, Shen Ke bit her lip lightly. She’d acted so spoiled, but Doctor Zhao still didn’t comfort her.

Shen Ke angrily got up from the bed. Her little leather shoes stomped hard on the floor—tap-tap-tap—each one heavier than the last, as if telling everyone she was furious.

As she left, she glanced at the newcomer. To her surprise, it was Wang Manyu. Shen Ke’s expression turned as if she’d swallowed a fly.

She hurried away from there.

Wang Manyu had also seen Shen Ke but hadn’t even greeted her when she was pierced by Shen Ke’s disgusted glare.

“This classmate, where are you hurt?”

Wang Manyu’s face flushed red. She mumbled softly, “Down there… it’s torn.” After leaving the public bathhouse last night, she was taken to the dorm again.

Noah Academy’s classes were starkly divided. The dorm she went to belonged to the owners of purple gem brooches.

Those people played even wilder than she’d imagined.

There were special admission students like her, as well as yellow brooch students. Gathered together, it was less like a dorm and more like an entertainment venue for those students with deep backgrounds.

She and the other three special admission students knelt on all fours like dogs, utterly without dignity, stuffed with beads.

But after one night, she caught the eye of a purple gem brooch holder. Now, she wore that person’s brooch.

Wang Manyu was delighted, but her body hurt terribly, so she had no choice but to come to the infirmary.

Zhao Wanjue’s expression didn’t change at all. This school wasn’t that friendly. Every day, many students came to her with injuries from bullying and harassment.

Most were from civilian or petty bourgeois backgrounds, boys and girls alike.

But the school turned a blind eye to these vile acts. Even if someone died, the powerful would cover it up.

Graduating from this school opened many doors. Befriending those powerful kids here could even let one leap across classes in the future.

Qi Yuan realized she was being targeted.

A bucket of cold water would crash down on her head at the classroom door. When she went to the bathroom, someone would maliciously block the door to keep her in.

People would bump into her while getting food.

Her books were slashed, her textbooks vanished, and her classmates kept their distance.

Malicious laughter echoed around her from time to time.

On the third day, Qi Yuan found her textbook in the trash again. The edges were stained with water and filth. She pursed her lips tightly.

She didn’t interact much with others. The only person she could think of offending was Shen Ke.

She gripped the textbook tightly. Qi Yuan’s clear gaze dimmed, and a strange frustration filled her heart.

She should have been angry—angry at this undeserved disaster. But she wasn’t. She just felt stifled and disappointed.

She might have had some expectations for Shen Ke, thinking she was just bad-tempered. But reality made it hard for her to accept.

Qi Yuan lifted her head. Her deep black eyes swept over everyone in the classroom one by one.

White brooch students lowered their heads one after another. Those with other colored brooches laughed mockingly—the piercing jeers flooding into her ears from all sides, making her head throb.

Qi Yuan knew this bullying would only escalate. If she fought back, they’d get even more excited.

Qi Yuan relaxed her pursed lips, her gaze returning to calm. Anyway, she really couldn’t fight back.

Qi Yuan wiped the dirt off her book with her hand and returned to her seat.

At three in the afternoon, school ended.

On her way to the library, Qi Yuan was stopped.

She recognized these four—they were the lackeys who followed Shen Ke before.

Qi Yuan said lowly, “What do you want?”

“If you don’t want to be ‘invited’ away, come with us.”

Qi Yuan slowly clenched her fist and chose to follow them. Maybe she could see Shen Ke. She wanted to ask why Shen Ke was targeting her.

Qi Yuan was brought to the storage room of the indoor gymnasium.

The door locked with a heavy click. Only three people entered the warehouse; one stayed outside to keep watch.

Being dragged to a place like this—what might happen was obvious.

The leader, that girl, shouted, “Fuck, it’s because of her. Sisters, let’s beat her up.”

“Keke sis will be here soon. She’ll be happy. She might even praise us for doing well.”

The other two, hearing this, grabbed baseball bats and approached Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan’s face darkened. She kept retreating, her chest feeling as heavy as if weighed down by a stone, making it hard to breathe.

So it really was Shen Ke.

Qi Yuan’s eyes flashed with ferocity. As the three charged, she quickly grabbed a badminton racket and dodged the attacks. If she got hit, she wouldn’t come off well.

At that moment, Shen Ke was heading to the warehouse.

Three days ago, Si Qing had taken her out for dinner in the evening, then video-called Si Minglan.

Just one glance, and the call ended. Si Qing got up and told her she could leave.

Only then did Shen Ke realize Si Qing had used her for a show.

Not only had she been scared, but she’d also been pushed to the ground that day. Then she’d sat with Si Qing in the cool night breeze. The next morning, she caught a cold.

She’d gotten a sick leave slip, but no one came to see her. Someone like Si Qing definitely knew.

Shen Ke was angry and aggrieved, but also stubborn. For the past two days, she’d stayed in her dorm and hadn’t sought anyone out.

Until that afternoon, when her cold improved a bit, she received a call from an unknown number.

Shen Ke thought maybe someone was calling to check on her.

But it turned out to be one of her former lackeys saying they had a surprise for her.

Shen Ke felt stifled. No one cared about her, so why hadn’t they shown up in two days?

Shen Ke calculated it over. This seemed like a good chance to get her lackeys back. It was inconvenient without people doing things for her.

Even walking alone felt like she had no presence. She couldn’t lower herself to recruit new ones, but whenever those people saw her, they bowed their heads and avoided talking to her.

Now was perfect. Thinking this, Shen Ke dragged her still-dizzy head along. She didn’t notice that the top two buttons of her usually primly buttoned shirt were undone, exposing a bit of collarbone. Her black knee socks were uneven—one high, one low—her hair disheveled, cheeks faintly flushed.

Her upturned eye corners carried a hint of pink. A light glance could almost make legs go weak on the spot.

Along the way, quite a few people froze in place because of Shen Ke like this, standing dumbly.

[(Throwaway Post) As a purple chest pin student—not super rich, but pretty well-off—can I buy a kiss from SK for a million?! Today, I’m really moved! OP has seen plenty of bodies, but today just a glimpse of collarbone drove me wild. I really want it!!!]

1L: Dream on!

2L: Dream on!

…

106L: Dream on!

107L: What are you all talking about?

But after she posted one line, the thread went dead silent. No one spoke.

Lu Yanbai accidentally clicked into a throwaway post. That “million for a kiss” line made her think it was insane.

“Vice President, someone reported a fight in the southeast district warehouse.”

Lu Yanbai exited the post and turned off her phone. She lightly hooked her red lips and smiled at the girl before her. “Someone reported it? Then, as the student in charge of discipline, I can’t ignore it.”

Lu Yanbai stood up. Her shirt tucked into her pleated skirt, long legs and slim waist, black slightly wavy long hair reaching her waist. Her unfamiliar face was seductive like a fox.

By then, Shen Ke had arrived at the warehouse.

Looking at the person before her, Shen Ke asked, “Huang Miao, why are you alone? Where are the others?”

Huang Miao’s gaze fell on Shen Ke’s open collar. Her face flushed completely. She turned her head away and stammered, “K-Keke sis, they’re inside.”

“Go on in.”

Huang Miao unlocked the door. A faint bloody smell wafted out.

Shen Ke frowned and walked in. Huang Miao stood at the door. “Keke sis, go ahead. I’ll watch outside.”

The warehouse door closed slowly. The space was lit bright white, so it didn’t feel eerie.

“Bang!” came a thud.

Shen Ke froze for a moment and looked toward the sound.

She saw Qi Yuan, face covered in blood, pinned harshly to the ground by three people.

Qi Yuan seemed to spot her. Her pitch-black eyes overflowed with rage.

Shen Ke walked closer, seeing Qi Yuan’s state more clearly. Her heart tightened involuntarily. In a trembling voice, she asked, “What… what are you doing?”

The three turned their heads in unison. Seeing Shen Ke with her flushed cheeks, their grip on Qi Yuan loosened. “Keke sis, you’re here. We—”

They didn’t finish. The next second, Qi Yuan broke free, stood up, and rushed to Shen Ke.

Her eyes pitch-black and lifeless, paired with the blood on her face, made her look like a man-eating demon.

Shen Ke fearfully stepped back a few paces, bluffing bravely, “W-What are you doing!”

“Stay away from me, or I’ll hit you!”

“Fuck! What are you doing? Stay away from Keke sis!”

Qi Yuan pursed her lips tightly and gripped Shen Ke’s wrist hard. “Why are you targeting me?”

Shen Ke’s wrist hurt from the grip. She didn’t understand what Qi Yuan meant, but this special admission student’s appearance was terrifying right now.

Shen Ke struggled hard, her eyes welling with tears. She yelled in fear, “What are you talking about!”

“Li Xiaoxiao, hurry up—get her off me!”

“No matter what it takes! Get her off me!”

At this spoiled display, Qi Yuan frowned. Suddenly, she took a hit from behind.

The pain made Qi Yuan grunt. The resolve in her eyes turned to anger. She yanked Shen Ke’s arm and threw her over her shoulder onto the ground.

But she eased the force in midair. Shen Ke’s body looked too fragile—she was afraid of really hurting her if she used full strength.

She just wanted to scare Shen Ke.

The sudden change caught everyone off guard.

Qi Yuan pressed down on Shen Ke’s stomach, her expression fierce. “Tell me, why are you targeting me?”

“We have no grudge between us.”

The air fell into brief silence.

Until a puzzled voice came. “Keke sis, you’re targeting this dark-skinned girl?”

“If we’d known you didn’t like her, we would’ve gone even harder.”

“Fuck, Li Xiaoxiao, are you a stupid bastard? Hurry and save Keke sis!”

Qi Yuan’s mind exploded with a boom. Time seemed to freeze. She lowered her head and met Shen Ke’s stunned gaze.

Shen Ke pursed her red lips, and a thin crying sound leaked out.

Instantly, everyone present stopped what they were doing.

Shen Ke’s crying grew louder and louder, extremely aggrieved. It was her first time being thrown over the shoulder.

Qi Yuan’s anger deflated like a punctured balloon. Her chest full of fury dissipated into thin air with her breaths.

She had been too subjective and blamed the wrong person.

Qi Yuan tasted such intense regret for the first time.

Shen Ke cried until her entire face flushed red, her eyelashes clumped together from the tears.

Qi Yuan’s expression was utterly at a loss. She hurriedly pulled Shen Ke into her arms, imitating how the adults in her village coaxed children. She gently stroked Shen Ke’s back and softly coaxed, “Don’t cry. I didn’t mean to. You can hit me back, okay?”

She was clumsy with words and had never coaxed anyone before. Her actions and speech were extremely awkward.

Li Xiaoxiao and the others couldn’t continue now that they saw the situation. With Shen Ke being held like that, they simply stared at Qi Yuan with jealous eyes.

They wanted to hold Sister Keke in their arms too.

Qi Yuan’s embrace was warm, carrying a bloody scent mixed with a hint of sunshine.

Shen Ke did not resist the hug. She buried her face in Qi Yuan’s chest, her crying nonstop. It made everyone’s hearts tighten.

Suddenly, the heavy warehouse door swung open. Several figures stood at the entrance.

Leigh leaned against the doorframe with her arms crossed, a faint smile on her face. “Wow, who’s crying so miserably?”

She had originally been playing badminton here but unexpectedly spotted Lu Yanbai—that fox-eyed one—bringing people along.

Leigh had followed purely to watch the excitement. Compared to schemers like Lu Yanbai and Fu Yunmiao, she preferred hanging out with Si Qing, who was the same inside and out.

But excitement was excitement. Of course she would come take a look.

Lu Yanbai led the way and spotted Qi Yuan and the others at a glance.

Everyone looked bruised and swollen, with blood even congealed on one cheek.

Lu Yanbai chuckled. “School rule number twenty-one: Students are prohibited from private fights.”

Qi Yuan stood up while holding Shen Ke, carrying her like a child and letting Shen Ke hang off her body.

Shen Ke sobbed hiccupping, her cries coming in fits and starts. “I-I didn’t.”

Leigh’s smile at the door faded slightly. She straightened up, walked inside, and stood beside Lu Yanbai.

“Hey, isn’t this Qingqing’s little follower?”

Lu Yanbai lowered her gaze, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “Little follower? You mean the one who always sticks to Si Qing?”

“Then we should call Si Qing over.”

“Si Qing must value her a lot to let her stick around that long.”