"Shuyu has a mild temperament and no interest in material things, but I’m different." Meng Shuyan’s tone darkened, his words laced with threat. "If I find out you dare cause trouble for Shuyu or steal her things, even being our grandparents’ biological granddaughter won’t do you any good. Do you hear me?"
He crossed his arms and took a step forward, trying to use his height advantage to make her back down. Shi Changying simply raised an eyebrow.
THUD!
With a heavy crash, Meng Shuyan fell to the floor. The pain came too suddenly, spreading from his spine to his limbs and bones, eventually engulfing his entire body. He didn’t even know where to place his hands, looking completely bewildered.
All the surrounding noise ceased instantly.
"You’re in my way."
The four words dropped lightly from her lips.
Shi Changying stood with one hand in her pocket, her posture even more arrogant than her words. Yet, this arrogance didn’t seem out of place on her at all; it was as if she was born to be this way.
"A Yan!" The boy with him froze for a moment before rushing forward. "Are you okay?"
This shout snapped Meng Shuyan back to his senses, and at the same time, he felt an even more intense wave of pain. He drew in a sharp breath and stood up with the boy’s support. When he looked up again, his gaze had turned vicious. "Shi Changying, do you have a death wish?!"
Shi Changying cracked her wrists and took a step forward, but a lollipop was suddenly popped into her mouth. She licked it instinctively. Peach flavored. It was rather tasty. A cool breeze brushed against her as Shaoyuan appeared behind her at some unknown point, surprisingly having the leisure to feed her candy.
"Young Master!" Song Qingmu immediately tattled. "They were the ones who started trouble with Senior Sister first. She was just fighting back."
Hearing this, Shaoyuan unhurriedly lifted his eyes, still looking down from a commanding height. He didn’t say a single word, yet the students from other classes seemed to have touched upon some forbidden taboo. They instantly scattered like frightened birds, and the corridor became spacious once more.
Only then did Shaoyuan turn around. Seeing Shi Changying captivated by the lollipop once again, he raised an eyebrow. "I heard the cafeteria is serving braised pork today. If you’re late, it might get snatched up by others."
Given the choice between braised pork and a fight, Shi Changying chose the former without a second thought. The students of Class 17, Grade 12 also left alongside her.
Only Meng Shuyan and his friend remained. His tone sank. "Surely the Student Council President isn’t planning to meddle in the Xu family’s private matters?"
Shaoyuan seemed to have heard something utterly hilarious. And indeed, he chuckled, the corners of his lips curving upward. "Are you questioning me?"
When he said those four words, he didn’t even turn his head, yet the air suddenly stagnated, becoming suffocatingly heavy.
Meng Shuyan’s expression changed drastically. "That’s not what I meant..."
"I neither like nor wish to see anyone interrupting my classmates’ meals." Shaoyuan finally looked at him and smiled. "There won’t be a next time, am I right?"
Although it was phrased as a question, it clearly permitted no defiance. His inherent aura of superiority was something he was born with, making it impossible for anyone to even muster the will to rebel.
Meng Shuyan tightly clenched his hands at his sides. "Let’s go," he said, unwilling to accept defeat.
***
In the cafeteria, Shi Changying’s plate was piled high with braised pork. She squinted her eyes, eating with immense satisfaction.
Lu Mi asked with concern, "Yingying, did you offend Meng Shuyan? He’s from the Jianghuai Meng family. They’re not to be trifled with."
"I saw it clearly. He was definitely the one who started picking a fight!" Song Qingmu scoffed coldly. "Senior Sister, don’t be afraid. Our Young Master is the Student Council President. Meng Shuyan definitely wouldn’t dare try anything reckless."
Shi Changying finally looked up. "Student Council President?"
"It’s the highest position in our school," Lu Mi explained. "Whoever dares to break the rules will face disciplinary action from the Student Council."
Shi Changying’s interest was piqued. "The highest position? Who bestowed this title upon him?"
Lu Mi stammered for a moment, "He was elected by the entire student body through voting."
Shi Changying asked, "Is there no official higher-ranking than the Student Council President?"
"Higher-ranking?" Song Qingmu scratched his head. "The principal? But even the principal seems to show our Young Master a great deal of deference."
Shi Changying continued eating her braised pork, already beginning to calculate how to usurp the principal’s throne.
After lunch, when they returned to the classroom, Lu Mi patted her chest and said proudly, "People call me the First High School treasure box. Yingying, if you ever run into trouble, just come to me. I can definitely think of a solution."
Shi Changying recalled Ming Chengli’s earlier instruction: "Daughter, since you’ve decided to study hard, you must get along with your classmates. If you want to be the Emperor, Dad will support you all the way, but your classmates are your friends, so you can’t go bullying them."
Thus, Empress Taichu decided to learn how modern people communicated. She couldn’t bring shame to the Xuan Dynasty people.
After hearing her request, Lu Mi immediately pulled out a book and said mysteriously, "Yingying, your timing couldn’t be better. I just bought a copy of *The Art of High-EQ Communication* a while ago. It will absolutely help you!"
Shi Changying flipped open the book. Afraid she might not understand, Lu Mi leaned in to explain. "If you want to thank someone, just say, ’I haven’t spoiled you for nothing.’ This is way classier than a simple ’thank you’!"
Shi Changying looked thoughtful. She wondered, "Do people four hundred years in the future all converse like this? Fascinating."
She then asked, "Then how do you praise someone for being good-looking?"
Lu Mi waved her hand grandly. "Send them to my imperial harem!"
Shi Changying raised an eyebrow. "’My imperial harem’?"
"Doesn’t everyone have a bit of royal blood in their ancestry?" Lu Mi said righteously. "We are all Emperors!"
Shi Changying replied, "That makes a lot of sense, but among the more than four hundred Emperors in history, none were surnamed Lu."
Lu Mi was speechless.
She grumbled resentfully, "It’s all my ancestors’ fault for not trying hard enough!"
Nevertheless, Lu Mi felt a great sense of accomplishment today. Helping out a new classmate made it a highly fulfilling day.
Before classes started in the afternoon, Shaoyuan, in his capacity as class monitor, went to the storeroom and brought back a set of textbooks for Shi Changying.
Shi Changying never said "thank you," but she needed an occasion to practice the modern, high-EQ phrases she had just learned.
Therefore, she said, "I haven’t spoiled you for nothing."
Shaoyuan’s hand paused. He slowly narrowed his eyes, a clear signal of impending danger.
Lu Mi suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. Wrapping her school jacket tighter around herself, she muttered, "The temperature dropped so fast. I’ll need to wear extra clothes tomorrow."
Shaoyuan leaned down slightly, planting both hands on the desk. In a voice meant only for the two of them, he asked, "I’m quite curious. How exactly does this young lady plan to ’spoil’ me?"
Shi Changying found the perfect use for the second high-EQ phrase she had learned. Looking at him lazily, she replied, "Send you to my imperial harem."
Shaoyuan froze. Obscure emotions swirled in his eyes, but they quickly dissolved into a pool of calm, ink-dark depths, as if nothing had ever disturbed them.
He took his seat, leaned back against his chair, and closed his eyes again.
***
For the entire afternoon, Meng Shuyan was in no mood to listen to the lectures.
He endured it until school ended. Skipping the evening self-study session entirely, he rushed back to the Xu family’s home.
"Young Master Shuyan, why have you returned so suddenly? You didn’t even notify us." Housekeeper Xu hurriedly came forward to welcome him. "The Old Master and Old Madam have gone to the hospital to see Miss Zhao Yu."
"There’s no need to disturb Grandma and Grandpa." Meng Shuyan tilted his chin up. "I saw their biological granddaughter at school today. I’d like to find out a little more about her. Since we’ll be attending the First High School together from now on, it’ll make it easier for me to look after her."
"You are truly kind-hearted, Young Master Shuyan. It’s just that this Miss Changying..." Housekeeper Xu sighed and recounted everything he knew. Finally, he added, "Miss Changying hasn’t had a mother’s upbringing, and her father is constantly traveling away from home for his archaeological work. If she ever offends you in any way, please be forgiving of her."
"No mother?" Meng Shuyan asked in surprise. "Then doesn’t that just make her a little bastard?"