Chapter 14: The Campus Bully

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Seeing the four girls approaching with hostile expressions, Xin Ning sighed—such a clichéd scenario. Should she have looked nervous and fearful, even backing away with trembling words, “W-what do you want?” But Xin Ning didn’t want to waste her breath. Rolling her eyes, she blurted out, “After high school, I’m going abroad.”

The four girls were stunned—why wasn’t she playing by the usual script? What did that even mean?

Well, for high schoolers, that might be a bit hard to grasp, especially since they weren’t very sharp—otherwise, how would the scheming girl have taken advantage of them?

Xin Ning straightforwardly explained, “Instead of coming to bother me and watching others cozy up to the people they like, why don’t you use the less than four months left before graduation to confess your feelings? Otherwise, after graduation, it’ll be much harder to see them again. You’re young now—don’t let your youth be filled with regrets.”

They were momentarily stunned. The leader eyed her suspiciously. “What’s your game? Why are you so eager to tell us to confess?”

Xin Ning sneered coldly. “Then don’t confess. I’m not going to cling onto anyone like they do. The moment someone gets close, they shed tears—playing the victim like it’s a game. Think carefully—how do they make the people they like notice them? Even if you’re short, ugly, and poor, you’re still better off than them, right?”

When the heroine wasn’t around, her aura was much weaker; she was like medicine that needed to be spread everywhere.

The four girls’ eyes suddenly lit up. Yeah, why couldn’t they confess?

Xin Ning glanced left and right. “Have you thought it through? Class is about to start—either move aside or keep making trouble for your rival along with me!”

The leader bit her lip. “Just don’t bully An Xiyan anymore, or we won’t let you off.” But they did step aside.

Hearing that made Xin Ning’s knuckles almost callous. After lightly picking her ear, she swaggered away.

Back in the classroom, she found An Xiyan staring intently at her, those large black-and-white eyes filled with a misty hope. But An Xiyan leaned back against the wall with a teasing look. Being at the very last row, leaning against the wall behind her, she didn’t fear the chair tipping too far back—it looked very comfortable.

At this moment, the two were separated by seven or eight desks, at least five meters apart. No one would think Xin Ning could still bully An Xiyan from there.

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Seeing that she didn’t come to pick a fight, and the class bell had rung, An Xiyan grudgingly turned away.

After class, the head teacher summoned Xin Ning to the office.

Previously, the plot usually went that after the bathroom incident, the instigator would get scolded and then run to An Xiyan for justice, only to be called to the office for a reprimand. So why was Xin Ning called without being scolded? Well, that was the plot—things followed their order.

Entering the office, Xin Ning asked directly, “Teacher, why did you call me?”

Indeed, what could it be? What was going through their mind? Yet the head teacher was polite and invited her to sit down.

Sitting face to face, the head teacher adjusted their glasses, still trying to remember why they called her. Upon seeing the triangular bandage on her arm, they asked, “Hmm, how’s your injury?”

Xin Ning immediately covered her bandaged arm lightly, looking worried. “It was careless of me—I fell and it got that bad. The doctor said a month’s recovery, and it’s only been a week. I still can’t put any strength on it, and sometimes it aches.”

With this explanation, nobody would believe she was bullying classmates!

Since the head teacher had little contact with the protagonist, the aura’s influence was minimal. Hearing this, they seemed to recall their initial thought: “I think I heard some students say you don’t get along well with a classmate.”

“Rumors—pure rumors!” Xin Ning immediately refuted, quite skilled at lying with wide-open eyes. “Our class is the most supportive of the weak. After I got hurt, no one touched my arm—everyone actively avoided it. Including An Xiyan in our class; she’s an orphan, her parents have both passed away. It’s so sad—really pitiful. She’s well cared for by all of us.”

“I see,” the head teacher adjusted their glasses again, thoughtful. “I also heard that during the last class break, there was a dispute in the girls’ bathroom with you…”

“Who? Who?” Xin Ning blinked innocently. “The person who said that is just making things up. There was no dispute—someone kindly asked if I needed help. Our school spirit has always been excellent—respecting elders, caring for the young, sympathizing and helping the weak. That’s thanks to the school’s education and the teachers’ efforts. Whoever said that either saw wrongly or had ulterior motives! Teacher, don’t take it seriously, and don’t get upset.”

She turned the tables and comforted the teacher. Previously, at this moment, the instigator would have been so wronged that she would cry and run out of the office.

Hoping for peace, the head teacher smiled, “Maybe it was a misunderstanding. Hearing that you’re well cared for, I’m relieved. Nothing else—go ahead.”

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“Yes, teacher!” Xin Ning replied politely, nodding earnestly. She stood, tidied the chair, and then quietly closed the office door behind her.

It was time for lunch. Xin Ning headed over to the hallway outside Wang Zilong’s classroom to wait.

Finally, Wang Zilong had started to take issue with the scheming girl—she couldn’t let a few tears blind him. Although the emotional manipulation was frequent, it needed to be rationed; overuse would lead to tolerance. So she had to guard him day and night, even during lunch, to save this big, foolish guy.

Watching An Xiyan bite her lip from a distance was immensely satisfying. Come on, have the guts—admit you like Wang Zilong and give up the other three school heartthrobs.

For the greedy schemer, the more cards in hand, the better. She couldn’t afford to lose three just for one. Little did she know, in the end, she wouldn’t get any of them.

Before, the four school heartthrobs would frequently drop by An Xiyan’s classroom, deliberately getting close. Now? The classroom doorway was deserted, not a heartthrob in sight. If it weren’t concrete, grass would be growing there.

Wang Zilong still glanced back at An Xiyan twice; the heroine’s aura lingered. But he was tired of it all. Every time they met, it was a never-ending cycle of “You’re being unreasonable,” “No, you’re the one being unreasonable.” Anyone would get annoyed.

That’s how it was—no one was irreplaceable. No amount of goodwill could endure the heroine’s antics. The naive youth, once faced with the harshness of society, would quickly lose its innocence. Only memories remained beautiful.

Because Li Qingyu’s hand was still inconvenient, Wang Zilong helped carry her tray and ate with her at the same table.

Soon, Leng Heming arrived. Though cold and aloof, Leng Heming maintained a decent relationship with classmate Wang Zilong—after all, Wang’s family invested a substantial amount in Leng Heming’s father’s financial firm.

After a while, Hua Zeyun also came over, occupying all four seats at the table.

Xin Ning smiled wryly. “Lord Hua, why don’t you sit with us? Don’t you think I’m still too lively for you?”