Chapter 5: The School Bully 5

As soon as Yun Huazé sat down, Xi Ning abruptly stood up.

“I’m done eating. You all enjoy the meal,” she said, picking up her plate with her uninjured hand and walking away.

There was still some food left, but it would only go to waste. She placed the plate at the recycling station, grabbed an apple from there, and left promptly.

She had no intention of giving that black lotus a chance to whine and explain herself, making herself out to be the victim. The more she explained, the more pitiful she seemed.

If others were watching, all the better—let the rumors spread. Say the spoiled rich girl now hides at the sight of a helpless orphan. Even if people said she looked down on the poor, it was still better than saying she bullied them.

Afraid to return to class and possibly encounter that tearful mess, Xi Ning found a quiet spot in a secluded garden and counted the time.

According to the plot, the protagonist would be expelled a month later. It was truly pitiful—just three months away from graduating, yet expelled. So first and foremost, she must not be expelled; otherwise, she’d have to study another year abroad in senior high to earn a foreign diploma.

Her meal unfinished, her stomach still growling, Xi Ning thought how tragic it was for this rich girl to fall so low.

She wiped her hand, having deliberately chosen a large apple this time, and began to bite into it.

Someone approached, and Xi Ning was taken aback—it was Leng Heming. Why was Leng Heming here?

Seeing her sitting alone on the stone bench, biting into the apple and looking somewhat solitary and forlorn, he hesitated before walking over.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, standing nearby. Though his face was as cold as frost, he was undeniably handsome, his aloof expression lending him an air of mystery and restraint. Truly a world obsessed with appearances—if one were ugly, try pulling off that sour face.

Ignoring him, Xi Ning took another bite of her apple, then looked at Leng Heming. “Are you eating this apple? If not, give it to me.”

Leng Heming stared coldly at her. “You still need apples?”

“I have some at home, but not now. I’m still hungry. Do you have any or not?” No matter how handsome, he wasn’t better than a simple pancake sandwich. Seeing his hands empty, Xi Ning sighed and took another bite of her nearly finished apple. “If not, never mind.”

A flicker of resentment passed through Leng Heming’s eyes. “You’d rather starve than eat with the poor?”

His words nearly made Xi Ning choke on her own blood.

---

No matter how unwilling, she wouldn’t risk her own stomach. Leng Heming must have lost his mind.

She turned away, refusing to look at him.

“I knew you’d be here,” came Wang Zilong’s voice.

Xi Ning glanced sideways as Wang Zilong strode over eagerly. Big and broad-shouldered, yet with a baby face so improbably handsome it defied reason. His smile vanished the moment he saw her here.

Despite that, he approached, noticing her arm in a triangular bandage. The whole school knew she’d been taken to the hospital yesterday.

Clearing his throat awkwardly, he asked, “Are you okay?”

As if he had ever been sick in his life. And just by looking at her, how could she be well? Xi Ning nibbled cautiously on the last bit of fruit flesh on the core, ignoring him.

Their families were intertwined in business and lived in the same upscale community. They’d known each other since childhood and would continue to meet often. Without An Xiyan around, Wang Zilong still had some sense.

He admitted some fault, feeling a bit apologetic. “You said you fell on your own… thanks.”

If their parents pressed the matter, it would be troublesome—likely forcing apologies. He still cared about his reputation.

Just as her mood was lifting, Wang Zilong said, “If you hadn’t bullied An Xiyan, I wouldn’t have been so angry or acted like this.”

Xi Ning nearly spat out her blood again. She thought Wang Zilong had some sense, but now he needed a lobotomy.

Her lips trembling with anger, she forced herself to stay calm. The protagonist’s outbursts were always misinterpreted as guilt, malice, or hysteria.

Though the protagonist and Wang Zilong had a close relationship, after just a month of meeting An Xiyan, he seemed to have forgotten their decade-long friendship. The heroine’s aura was undeniably overwhelming.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Xi Ning asked, “By the way, where’s your apple?”

Apple? Wang Zilong was momentarily confused. The fruit was placed at the recycling station to encourage students to take a piece after returning their trays, but most didn’t bother.

At home, their apples were peeled and sliced by servants, served with small forks or toothpicks.

Seeing Xi Ning’s apple reduced to a nearly bare core, Wang Zilong smiled wryly. “You love apples that much? I’ll bring you a whole box next time.”

---

“No need!” Xi Ning tossed the core into the flowerbed and clapped her hands. “Just bring me fruit at lunch from now on.”

Wang Zilong frowned slightly. “I’m just saying, do you really dislike An Xiyan that much? You’d rather skip lunch!”

Her chest tightened; enough of the blood spitting—no one would pity this proud, malicious rich girl no matter how much she bled.

Xi Ning gave Wang Zilong a cold look and suddenly had an idea. “Hey, if you really want to apologize, could you give me a ride to and from school?”

Wang Zilong frowned more deeply. “What’s wrong? Did you get into trouble?”

Children from wealthy families did sometimes get kidnapped, or rivals in business would stop at nothing to secure a big contract.

Xi Ning was straightforward: “Just keep An Xiyan away from me. At least five meters. I’ll request a class transfer afterward.”

Wang Zilong’s frown deepened. “You hate her that much? She’s already pitiful enough, and you’re still going after her?”

Xi Ning ignored him and turned to the cold, icy prince beside her. “Leng Heming, I remember your home isn’t far from mine. Why don’t you come along?”

Leng Heming responded with a grunt, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Xi Ning stood up, a sly smile playing on her lips as she looked at Wang Zilong with a hint of devilish temptation. “She’ll definitely come close, making me bully her all the time. Didn’t you want a chance to get along with the little white flower?”

A flicker of something unusual passed through Leng Heming’s eyes. A calm person could glean much from others’ words.

Though Wang Zilong didn’t understand what was going on, hearing about a chance to get close to the innocent girl caught his attention. Yet he said, “Li Qingyu, who do you think you are? Don’t use your spiteful intentions to read others.”

Xi Ning laughed. “Starting tomorrow, if she doesn’t come, I’ll admit defeat. Even if it’s just to protect An Xiyan!” With that, she walked off proudly, leaving the two school heartthrobs behind.