Fang Jinxiu sized up Lin Ruyuan and felt she hadn’t changed much since going abroad, but somehow something seemed different.
Ruyuan, feeling hungry, stepped around Fang Jinxiu to get food. As she passed by, Fang Jinxiu suddenly went weak in the knees—
“Ah!” Fang Jinxiu fell to the ground, looking up at Lin Ruyuan with a glare full of accusation. “Lin, why did you push me?”
Was she trying to frame her?
Lin Ruyuan raised an eyebrow. “So this is the kind of petty trick you learned abroad over the past two years?”
Fang Jinxiu’s eyes reddened. “You not only broke off the engagement with my cousin for another man, now you’re bullying me at school too?”
Her face was filled with feigned grievance.
Her words were clearly meant to tarnish Lin Ruyuan’s reputation. Perhaps the school would be pressured to expel Ruyuan—she had no one to protect her and could be bullied at will.
Hatred flickered in Fang Jinxiu’s eyes. “Lin, do you even have any conscience toward my cousin?”
She thought that by saying this, public opinion would completely side with her, and everyone would take her side.
Yet, the bystanders began to speak up. “Wait, isn’t Lin breaking off the engagement because the guy already had children with another woman?”
“Yeah! How is it suddenly Lin’s fault now?”
“….”
Fang Jinxiu clearly hadn’t expected things to turn this way. She froze slightly in surprise.
“What are you all standing around here for instead of eating?” A deep voice cut through the cafeteria’s murmurs.
Students scattered upon seeing the principal and school leaders entering, no one daring to continue watching.
Fang Jinxiu remained seated on the floor, and when her eyes met a certain figure, they lit up.
“What’s going on with this student still sitting on the floor? Did you fall earlier by accident? Two students, please take her to the infirmary!”
The principal frowned, thinking that the grade head should’ve been paying attention. How could this happen during the military district’s inspection?
“No need to trouble other students,” Fang Jinxiu waved them off, her gaze fixed unblinking on the man, hand extended in feigned vulnerability. “Brother Jianchuan, I might have accidentally been pushed by Lin Ruyuan earlier, hurt my waist. Could you take me to the infirmary? I can’t stand on my own.”
Everyone present understood what she was implying.
Especially the principal and other school leaders—they all drew in a sharp breath.
Who was this girl that she was so close to Military District Commander Qin?
The principal, slightly mollified by her attitude, said, “A waist injury is serious. If the school infirmary can’t handle it, we’ll go to the hospital.”
Then he turned to Lin Ruyuan with a stern expression. “What’s this student’s name? Which department? There’s plenty of space in the cafeteria. Why push someone?”
Lin Ruyuan’s voice was calm. “Principal, I didn’t push her. She’s trying to frame me—she fell on purpose.”
The principal didn’t know the full story, but given the current situation, he had to side with Fang Jinxiu. After all, she was connected to Military District Commander Qin.
The principal’s face darkened. “Stop arguing. There’s no way she fell by herself—it’s obvious you pushed her! Apologize immediately and stop wasting time.”
Lin Ruyuan: “…” She hadn’t even spoken yet when Fang Jinxiu interjected.
“It’s not really Lin’s fault,” Fang Jinxiu said, forcing a few tears, rubbing her eyes. “She broke off the engagement because she liked another man and hated our Fang family. It’s only natural she’s targeting me. Brother Jianchuan, luckily you came by today, or I wouldn’t know how badly I was being bullied.”
Qin Jianchuan snorted. “Right, if I hadn’t come today, I wouldn’t even know how badly you were being bullied.”
Hearing this, Fang Jinxiu’s heart leapt. She knew Brother Jianchuan cared about her.
The principal, sweating on his forehead, already considered expelling Lin Ruyuan.
“Principal, I think this is just a misunderstanding, a conflict between two students. There’s no need to blow it out of proportion,” said Professor Zhang from the Agriculture Department, defending his student.
“Yes, Lin was my Finance Department student. She wouldn’t do something like this. It’s clearly a misunderstanding,” another professor added.
Both professors pleaded on Lin’s behalf, leaving the principal momentarily unsure how to handle the situation.
“Forget it. I’m not petty. As long as Lin apologizes to me, it’s over,” Fang Jinxiu said magnanimously.
The principal finally relaxed. “Did you hear? Apologize and this matter will be done.”
Lin Ruyuan glared at Fang Jinxiu. Apologize? Not happening.
Her palms itched.
She realized how easily some people provoke a slap!
Lin Ruyuan obliged Fang Jinxiu. If she was accusing Ruyuan of bullying, she might as well play along.
Smack, smack! Two slaps. Last time it was Bai Jingzhu; this time it was Fang Jinxiu.
Fang Jinxiu clutched her face, furious, but struggled to stand, pointing at Lin Ruyuan. “You little brat! How dare you hit me! And in front of school leaders! You’re too arrogant! You’re not even respecting the principal!”
The principal’s heart skipped a beat. This was serious.
These two slaps were no different from slapping Commander Qin’s face!
The principal, furious, shouted, “You! Whoever you are, your classes are suspended immediately! Go home and reflect properly!”
Being suspended was almost as bad as being expelled.
Those two slaps had consequences.
If Lin Ruyuan were expelled, all her efforts over the years would be wasted, and she’d forever carry this stain.
Without the Fang family, Lin Ruyuan was nothing.
“Does it hurt?” Qin Jianchuan suddenly asked.
Fang Jinxiu pouted pitifully. “Yes, those two slaps really hurt! Brother Jianchuan, you must get me revenge.”
The next moment, Qin Jianchuan walked up to Lin Ruyuan in front of everyone, holding her hands with concern. “They’re red…”
What?
Fang Jinxiu froze, embarrassed.
The same went for students and school leaders, especially the principal.
“If you ever want to hit someone, just tell me. Don’t do it yourself. Look at how red your hands are.” Qin Jianchuan gently held her palms to his lips, blowing on them, then glared at Fang Jinxiu. “How is your face so thick? How can you be so shameless?”
Lin Ruyuan felt a bit embarrassed by his attention.
“Ahem…”
“Brother Jianchuan, she’s bullying me! Why are you helping her?” Fang Jinxiu couldn’t understand.
Qin Jianchuan asked sternly, “Who saw Ruyuan bullying you? I clearly saw you bullying her! You said you hurt your waist and couldn’t stand, but now look at you standing just fine.”
Lin Ruyuan was exposed in front of everyone, her face slightly flustered.
“Did your brother have someone outside? Or does Ruyuan? You should know! You’re spouting nonsense—this is supposed to be Beijing University education?”
Qin Jianchuan scolded sharply.
“No,” the principal hurriedly explained, flustered by how quickly the situation had flipped.
So Lin, the student close to Commander Qin, had been on the wrong side all along!