002: Just You Wait, I’ll Deal With You Later
Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked toward the source of the voice.
A young man was hurrying toward them. His black hair was neatly styled, and he wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. His shirt was meticulously buttoned all the way to the top, giving him a scholarly air—he looked every bit the refined and fastidious teacher.
Wen Yan’s pupils constricted slightly.
It was Professor Fu Qinghe!
Pei Jinye wanted to take his group and run, but it was already too late. Fu Qinghe walked up to them with long strides, his gaze sweeping over the scene as his brow furrowed instantly. “What is going on here?”
Pei Jinye let out a soft grin, tilting his chin toward Wen Yan with an air of indifference. “Just playing around with a classmate.”
“Playing around?” Fu Qinghe looked at Wen Yan. Her hair was a mess, and there were several distinct red marks on her face, clearly the result of being struck.
“Are you all bullying her?”
The scene suddenly went silent.
Pei Jinye slowly looked up, his lips curling into a smirk as he simply admitted it. “Yeah. She upset me, so I’m teaching her a lesson. What of it?”
Fu Qinghe’s expression darkened, and he said sharply, “You’re a group of boys. If there’s a conflict, you can talk it out. What kind of achievement is it to lay hands on a girl? And with so many of you surrounding one person—don’t you find it embarrassing? Apologize to her, now!”
Pei Jinye kept his hands in his pockets, his left foot crossed casually in front of his right. He tilted his head and stared at Fu Qinghe with an expression that screamed, “What are you going to do about it?”
Apologize? Not in this lifetime. It was always others who knelt and begged him; there was no room for him to bow his head and admit fault.
“You won’t apologize?” Fu Qinghe pulled out his phone. “Then I’ll have to call the police and let them handle it.”
Pei Jinye still didn’t react, but the lackeys behind him panicked first. They hurriedly grabbed Pei Jinye’s sleeve and whispered, “Brother Ye, let’s just forget it. If the cops come, we’ll have to take a trip to the station. It’ll be a huge hassle.”
Pei Jinye shot the lackey a fierce glare and shook off his hand to leave, but Fu Qinghe stepped sideways to block him. “Apologize.”
Pei Jinye took a deep breath and suddenly turned around, walking back to Wen Yan in a few steps. Being tall, he looked down at her with a contemptuous smile and squeezed out three words: “I am sorry.”
Then, he suddenly leaned down, looming over her to whisper in a voice only the two of them could hear: “Just you wait. I’ll deal with you later.”
His breath was hot as it brushed against the tip of her ear, itching like a scraping feather.
Wen Yan’s entire body went stiff, her heart thumping fast and heavy. She knew he wasn’t joking; she would definitely face an even more agonizing retaliation tomorrow.
She truly couldn’t afford this “apology,” but by the time she looked up again, Pei Jinye had already led his group away.
“Student, are you all right?” Fu Qinghe stepped forward and handed her a tissue.
“I’m fine.” Wen Yan shook her head gently. “Thank you for helping me, Professor.”
“Don’t mention it.” Fu Qinghe gave a slight smile, his gaze softening as he looked at her. “Where do you live? I’ll drive you back.”
Wen Yan shook her head. “No need, Professor. My house is nearby. I can just walk back myself.”
She insisted on going back alone, but Fu Qinghe, worried about her safety on the way home, insisted on giving her a ride. Wen Yan felt it would be rude to refuse his kindness again, so she followed him to the car.
The car drove smoothly out of the brightly lit campus and onto the main road, the scenery outside gradually changing. Finally, the car turned into a somewhat aged street and stopped in front of an ordinary apartment building.
“Professor, I’m here.” Wen Yan unbuckled her seatbelt and got out, waving goodbye to Fu Qinghe through the window.
Fu Qinghe rolled down the window and handed her a business card. “This is my card. It has my contact information. If they bully you again, you can call me. I will step in to resolve it.”
“Thank you, Professor.” Wen Yan took the card and bowed slightly to Fu Qinghe.
He returned the smile and handed her a small tin of medicinal balm for bruises. “There’s no need to be so formal. Remember to apply this when you get back. Get some rest.”
Wen Yan watched Fu Qinghe drive away, then looked down at the card in her hand.
In all her time at this school, he was the first person willing to stand up for her.
She had called the police before and had gone to the counselor, but it had been useless.
The police had come to the school and told the administration to handle their internal management issues, but the school had blamed everything on her.
In the office, the counselor had spat a tea leaf back into his cup and sneered with cold words, “Some people just stir up trouble because they think they have good grades. Besides, it takes two to tango. Why do they only bully you and not anyone else?”
Wen Yan had walked out of that office disheartened. The hot summer wind had hit her face, but she felt only cold—a chill seeping out from her bones that made her tremble uncontrollably.
She had thought that in this school, no one would ever reach out a hand to her again.
Until that tall figure had walked through the corridor, shielding her from those malicious glares.
Fu Qinghe’s appearance was like a sudden beam of warm light, shining into her heart that had been utterly disappointed by the world.
Wen Yan tucked the card away and turned to the small shop downstairs to buy a bottle of cheap foundation and a set of clean clothes.
Once home, Wen Yan took off her torn clothes and threw them into the trash. She took a hot shower, changed into the new clothes, and applied the balm. Then, sitting at her dressing table, she applied a thick layer of foundation to her face to hide the startling bruises.
After finishing all this, Wen Yan went into the kitchen and began preparing dinner.
Her brother wasn’t off work yet; she needed to prepare dinner for three.
Ever since the accident with their father, a massive amount of surgical fees had fallen onto her brother’s shoulders. He had been forced to sell the luxury villa they had bought when they first arrived in America to raise money for the surgery.
But they couldn’t be without a place to live, so he had taken some of the money to rent this apartment.
Medical costs in America were ridiculously high; even the money from selling the house wasn’t enough! Her brother had no choice but to work as an ordinary clerk in an office building, earning a meager salary.
There was also Wen Yan’s expensive tuition, which he was trying to save up for bit by bit.
Wen Yan had suggested dropping out several times, but her brother had sternly refused. He insisted she complete her studies, saying he would find a way to handle the money.
He had said: She would always be his most beloved sister.
But Wen Yan knew they were not biological siblings.
Wen Qingyang had been adopted by their father from an orphanage.
At that time, their mother had suffered a difficult labor and the baby had died in the womb. To prevent her from being too heartbroken to recover, their father had adopted a child from the orphanage. Later, their mother had become pregnant again and successfully gave birth to her.
Although they shared no blood relation, her brother had said he would love and protect her forever.
Because of that protection, she had not told him about being bullied. She would never allow her brother to be hurt like their father had been.
Pulling her thoughts back, Wen Yan began to cook porridge, boiled two soft-boiled eggs, and blanched a small handful of greens. She packed the porridge, eggs, and greens into a thermos and tightened the lid.
Next, she took some pre-made frozen dumplings from the fridge and pan-fried them until both sides were golden brown.
Just as she brought the dumplings out, the sound of the door creaking open came from the entrance, followed by Wen Qingyang’s voice: “I’m back.”
“Brother’s back! Wash your hands and let’s eat,” Wen Yan called toward the door. “We’re having dumplings today.”
Wen Qingyang gave a grunt of affirmation and placed a cup of milk tea in front of Wen Yan. “I passed by that new shop on my way home and got you a hot one.”
“Thanks, Bro.”
Taking a sip of the milk tea, Wen Yan felt much of the unease in her heart dissipate.
The siblings sat down and began to eat dinner. Wen Qingyang suddenly asked, “How have things been at school lately? Are you settling in okay?”
“Everything is fine. Don’t worry, Bro.”
“Mhm, that’s good.” Wen Qingyang nodded, his expression becoming a bit more serious. “Just focus on your studies at school. And remember, absolutely do not start dating anyone.”
“Don’t worry, Bro. I won’t date anyone.”
Wen Qingyang finally smiled and placed a dumpling in her bowl. “Here, eat more. You’re still at the age where you’re growing.”
“Mhm. You eat too, Bro.”
After dinner, Wen Qingyang cleared the dishes while Wen Yan put the thermos into her canvas bag and headed for the door. “Bro, I’m going to the hospital.”
Wen Qingyang turned around. “How about I go instead? You should rest.”
“It’s fine, I’ll go. You’ve worked all day, you must be tired. Take a shower and get some rest early.” Wen Yan pulled open the door. “I’ll be back as soon as I drop this off. It won’t take long.”
After leaving the hospital, Wen Yan walked home along the street.
The warm yellow light of the streetlamps shone on her face, and the night breeze blew through her black hair, brushing against her cheeks with a cool touch.
She walked very fast, as if afraid something foul might suddenly appear.
Suddenly, a playful whistle came from ahead and to the side.
Wen Yan’s heart leaped, and her scalp instantly went numb. She looked up—
She saw Pei Jinye leaning lazily against a lamppost not far away. He was wearing a loose white tank top and had a cigarette in his mouth, the smoke swirling around his face. The dim yellow light from the streetlamp hit him from above, making him look like a predator lurking in the night, ready to pounce and maim at any moment.
Wen Yan gripped the straps of her canvas bag and tried to walk around him, but he stuck out a foot and tripped her hard.
Wen Yan fell heavily to the ground. Her hands instinctively reached out to brace herself, but her palms were caught by small pebbles, sending a sharp jolt of pain through her.
As she tried to push herself up, a massive force suddenly pressed down on her back—
Pei Jinye had raised his foot and stepped heavily on her back. The force was so great that Wen Yan, who had just managed to lift herself a little, was crushed back into the ground.
But she didn’t beg for mercy. She tried again, only to be stepped on ruthlessly once more.
Over and over again, he left several footprints on her back.
Pei Jinye was waiting. Waiting for her to cry, waiting for her to beg for mercy.
But the girl on the ground only kept her body tensed, her fingers clutching the ground tightly. Aside from slight trembling and heavy breathing, she didn’t make a single sound of the kind he was hoping for.
“Quite the tough one, aren’t you?”
He let out a cold sneer, having completely lost his patience. He released his foot, squatted down, and grabbed Wen Yan’s chin, jerking it up to force her dusty, beautiful little face to look at him.
“Wen Yan, beg me for mercy now, and I’ll consider letting you go home.”