Like ants on a hot pan, they circled around Lou Buqi, repeating the same five words over and over:
"Shiziye, look at this… Shiziye, look at this…"
It was tormenting him!
Everyone was agitated, buzzing with excitement, except for the person at the center of it all—Lou Yi, who stood quietly in the corner, fists clenched, not uttering a word, his eyes fixed intently on the farce unfolding before him.
Ju Yue walked over to him and reached out to pat his head.
Lou Yi didn’t pull away.
The child, who had been expressionless just moments before, felt his eyes redden the instant Ju Yue’s hand touched his head.
He opened his palm, revealing a single red pomegranate resting quietly in its center.
The pomegranate had been distributed to every student by the academy.
This was one of the aspects of First Academy that parents praised highly.
During daily breaks, fruits were provided for the students to snack on, allowing them to relax and recharge.
Today, it was pomegranates, and Lou Yi couldn’t help but recall how Ju Yue had once told him the most satisfying way to eat one.
"Peel all the seeds out, squeeze them into juice, and drink it all in one go—nothing beats that!"
Pomegranates typically ripen in September or October, but it was only April now. Finding pomegranates in this season was rare, so Lou Yi had thought of saving his to bring back for Ju Yue to enjoy.
And that decision had led to trouble.
Because Lou Yi was naturally reserved, he rarely competed with others for anything.
So his classmates had grown accustomed to taking his things.
For instance, the fruits handed out during breaks would often be snatched away and shared by others as soon as they reached his hands.
He didn’t mind, but others grew increasingly bold, even feeling entitled to his belongings.
Especially Zhang Jinfu.
Every time, he would seize Lou Yi’s share to "offer" to Bai Hennan.
Having grown used to this, Zhang Jinfu was displeased when he failed to get his hands on the pomegranate this time.
He spoke sarcastically, questioning why Lou Yi, as the son of a prince and already so wealthy, would hoard resources meant for the less fortunate, and so on.
He incited the other classmates to turn against Lou Yi, pressuring him to hand over the pomegranate.
Eventually, the pomegranate was no longer just a fruit—it had become a matter of pride.
Zhang Jinfu, unwilling to lose face in front of his peers, insisted on having that pomegranate, while Lou Yi refused to give it up no matter what.
During their scuffle, Zhang Jinfu fell to the ground and injured his arm.
Once an injury was involved, the situation escalated instantly, and they were summoned to the headmaster’s office to resolve the matter.
However, neither the teacher nor the headmaster stood up for Lou Yi’s side of the story. Instead, they both leaned toward Zhang Jinfu.
Lou Yi had entered the academy at six and had studied at First Academy for three years. He had always been quiet, reserved, and patient. Over time, this gave others the impression that he was easy to deal with.
The Zhang family clearly had a reputation for being troublemakers, and to avoid further conflict, the academy tried to mediate, urging Lou Yi to apologize and compensate the Zhang family for medical expenses.
After all, they said, Prince Su’s Manor wouldn’t miss such a small sum.
Lou Yi felt deeply wronged.
He hadn’t bullied his classmate—on the contrary, he was the one being bullied. Why didn’t anyone believe him?!
His background was indeed higher than that of his classmates and teachers, but did that automatically mean he had poor character? Did it prove he had bullied others?
It wasn’t fair!
He couldn’t understand it!
Listening to everyone slander him, Lou Yi, who was already socially anxious, found himself even more unable to speak.
He retreated to the corner, bristling like a hedgehog, wary of everyone around him.
And then his brother and sister-in-law arrived.
Lou Yi didn’t think their presence would make any difference.
His brother had a domineering temperament and was quick to threaten beheading.
But this was an academy, not a place where brute force could solve problems!
Even though he knew his brother and sister-in-law couldn't solve the problem, when Ju Yue reached out and placed her warm, soft hand on his head, Lou Yi still couldn't help but break down.
He spread open the pomegranate to show Ju Yue and spoke his first words since the incident happened:
"This pomegranate is mine! He tried to take it from me, I refused, and he slipped and fell on his own!"
"I didn't push him, and I didn't bully him either! He's framing me!"
The child's milky-white skin, reddened eyes and nose tip, and the stubborn yet helpless look of holding back tears instantly reminded Ju Yue of herself.
She had once been just like Lou Yi—ostracized and isolated by classmates because of her privileged background and gentle nature.
Almost exactly the same as Lou Yi's experience.
Once, on her birthday, her aunt brought her a crystal bracelet from overseas.
Ju Yue loved it and wore it to school.
School rules didn't allow jewelry, so she took it off and kept it in her backpack.
But during a quick trip to the restroom, someone rummaged through her bag and smashed it.
By the time she returned, the beautiful bracelet was beyond recognition, reduced to a pile of shards.
She was furious, but it was useless. No one told her who had broken it—she couldn't even find the culprit!
Even the teacher didn't take her side, instead blaming her for bringing the bracelet to school.
In the end, they shamelessly accused her of wearing a fake bracelet!
They used every trick in the book to suppress her, all just to shirk responsibility.
Who cared about right or wrong in the situation itself?!
After that incident, Ju Yue's parents transferred her to another school.
But even at the new school, she faced the same problem.
It was then that Ju Yue realized that being ostracized and targeted was partly due to external factors, but more so because of herself.
If she didn't change her soft nature, she would never escape the same fate, no matter where she went.
Ju Yue tried to change.
Changing oneself and growing stronger is an incredibly long and difficult process.
Fortunately, Ju Yue succeeded.
Those who tried to step on her to feel important ended up being stepped on by her instead!
Thinking of her past experiences, Ju Yue's eyes grew slightly moist.
She placed the pomegranate back into Lou Yi's palm and smiled, saying, "Keep it! Don't worry, everything will be fine soon."
She couldn't seek justice for her younger self, but she could clear Lou Yi's name now.
Seeing Lou Yi talking to Ju Yue, Zhang Jinfu pursed his lips, completely unconcerned.
Go ahead and complain!
What could this woman possibly do to him?!
Lou Yi said he was the one who tried to take the pomegranate first—who saw it?!
He said they had been taking his things and bullying him all along—who saw that?
They had only ostracized and isolated Lou Yi, leaving no actual physical marks on him.
Meanwhile, the wound on his own hand was right there, plain for everyone to see!
If he insisted Lou Yi pushed him, what could anyone do?!
That kid wasn't likable anyway—none of the classmates liked him, and none would help him!
Just wait and see! The Lou family would have to accept their bad luck and pay up!
And they'd have to pay him a lot, a whole lot of money!
Zhang Jinfu could hardly keep from laughing out loud.