Chapter 15: The School Bully

Hanazawa Yun smiled, her alluring eyes narrowing into an upward slant, and even the beauty mark by her temple seemed to emit a soft pink glow. "Not welcoming me?"

"I do welcome you, but who knows if I might end up bullying someone again," Xi Ning replied casually. In truth, she needed to continue applying the eye drops—she absolutely couldn’t stop the treatment.

"Oh? Who would you bully this time?" Hanazawa Yun pressed, fishing for information.

She chuckled softly. "Of course, it would be someone who admires you."

Hanazawa Yun smiled but didn’t pursue the subject further, instead shifting topics. "My family’s beauty salon is opening a branch tomorrow, much closer to you. Please do come support us."

Xi Ning was well aware that unsolicited kindness often concealed ulterior motives.

Hanazawa Yun handed out a stack of cards—VIP cards with a fifty percent discount. Xi Ning tucked one into her school uniform pocket. "My mom always gets her hair done at your salon. I’ll give this card to her when I get home; she’ll be thrilled. Wishing your grand opening great success and abundant profits."

Hearing this, Hanazawa Yun’s honeyed words flowed even more smoothly, praising Ms. Li’s beauty and grace and promising to personally thank her for years of patronage whenever they met.

At the heart of it all, the unspoken truth was that Ms. Li’s beauty was all thanks to the care from Hanazawa’s family salon.

Prince Long always ate quickly, finishing before waiting for the others. Hanazawa Yun, however, had business to attend to with the new branch opening, needing to promote it extensively. After finishing her meal, she carried her tray toward the collection point.

Suddenly, a girl also carrying a half-eaten tray rushed straight at Hanazawa Yun, accidentally spilling the contents all over her.

"I’m so sorry, truly sorry!" the girl hurriedly apologized.

Xi Ning recognized her immediately—one of the four girls from the restroom incident. No mistake about it; she had awakened remarkably quickly.

It was well known that when An Xiyan bumped into Hanazawa Yun with her tray, she was just as quick to apologize, even tearfully offering to pay for the cleaning.

That’s how Hanazawa Yun frequently used the pretext of An Xiyan’s school uniform cleaning fee to get closer to her.

Seeing the uniform—a white shirt beneath a deep blue jacket—smeared and ruined, Hanazawa Yun maintained her grace, flashing a charming smile. "It’s okay, just be more careful next time."

"I really am sorry," the girl said, her eyes shining with hope and yearning. "How about you take it off in the restroom? I’ll help you wash it."

"No need, it won’t dry in time to wear," Hanazawa Yun forced a smile, a little strained.

"The home economics club has an iron; it’ll dry quickly."

Well, she knew her way around, aware that the home economics club had an iron. It was An Xiyan who had previously taken Hanazawa Yun there and cleaned her dirty uniform. Even after it was cleaned, Hanazawa Yun insisted the uniform needed professional dry cleaning and demanded two hundred yuan for the fee.

Two hundred yuan, not two thousand. A week’s worth of part-time work at a fast-food joint would cover that easily. One could imagine An Xiyan’s expression—either tearfully bullied or tearfully proud in her humble spirit—pledging, "I will definitely pay you back!"

Yet, the debt remained unpaid, stretching all the way to graduation amid their back-and-forth.

Hearing about the iron, Hanazawa Yun still smiled coquettishly. "You sure know a lot. No, I’ll handle it myself. Just be careful next time." With that, she turned and walked away.

Though she hadn’t managed to get the school heartthrob to the home economics club or have him change out of his uniform or spend time alone with her, the fact that she could get close enough to exchange a few words made this otherwise plain-looking girl, well outside Hanazawa Yun’s usual interest, deliriously happy.

Haha, this was going to be entertaining!

Xi Ning put down her tray without finishing and hurried after Hanazawa Yun, hoping for another chance to administer some eye drops.

Hanazawa Yun was striding briskly, clearly boiling with frustration. What kind of mess was this, covered head to toe in sauce and oil?

Suddenly, she stopped and turned to Xi Ning, who was chasing after her. "Why are you following me?"

At that moment, Prince Long and Leng Heming caught up as well. Xi Ning calmly explained, "Prince Long and Leng Heming are about your size; you could probably wear their clothes. After you wash, we can find a way to iron the uniforms dry. The more people, the faster it’ll go."

Prince Long nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that sounds right."

Leng Heming glanced at Prince Long but said nothing.

This route led to the home economics club. Hearing this, Hanazawa Yun smiled slightly. "Thanks, then."

The four continued forward, but as they neared the building, something caught their attention… An Xiyan and He Yuxuan were together. An Xiyan’s cheeks were flushed, her large eyes bright yet shyly lowered. She folded a clean handkerchief neatly and handed it to He Yuxuan.

The handkerchief—yes, on Friday afternoon when the "Black Lotus" had cried, He Yuxuan had given her a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

Xi Ning felt a surge of admiration, truly impressed! The Black Lotus was cunning, seizing every opportunity to create conditions.

After expressing his thanks, He Yuxuan watched An Xiyan run away bashfully. Only when her slender figure disappeared from sight did he lower his eyes to the handkerchief. He brought it to his nose and inhaled deeply—so fragrant, as if softened with fabric conditioner and then carefully ironed flat. Though a common brand, the care was evident.

As he looked up toward where An Xiyan had vanished, a hand suddenly snatched the handkerchief from him.

"Let me borrow this!" Xi Ning grabbed it and began wiping the stains on Hanazawa Yun’s uniform.

"You!" He Yuxuan stared in shock as the handkerchief became smeared with soy sauce and cooking oil after several wipes.

Hanazawa Yun smiled, even if a bitter smile, it was like spring in full bloom, petals drifting down unnoticed.

After soiling the handkerchief, Xi Ning handed it back to Hanazawa Yun, then turned to the stunned and concerned He Yuxuan, earnestly thanking him: "Thank you, Chairman He. After I wash it, I’ll have Hanazawa Yun return it to you."

Once washed, the handkerchief would lose its original scent—or rather, be completely altered. But He Yuxuan was a good man, and said only, "It’s all right, it’s just a handkerchief."

“Just a handkerchief,” yet judging by your expression, you’ll be sniffing it all night, maybe even sleeping with it over your face. It would be something to see—the school heartthrob chairman sleeping with a white handkerchief on his face; eerie or not?

Still, Xi Ning remained polite. "Thank you again, Chairman He, for your help. I’ll make sure Hanazawa Yun returns it. If it can’t be cleaned, I’ll buy a new one and have him bring it over."

She repeated three times that Hanazawa Yun would deliver it, a subtle warning to these guys that An Xiyan’s gesture of personally sending the handkerchief was anything but innocent. The handkerchief even carried the scent of an ancient sachet.

Seeing her sincere demeanor, and the visible stains on Hanazawa Yun’s clothes, He Yuxuan smiled and left.

Xi Ning turned back, raising an eyebrow. "To the home economics club!"