In stories, heroic rescues often occur after the hostage has already suffered some harm.
This harm, while not life-threatening physically, causes irreversible psychological trauma that will accompany them throughout their life.
He Ying had always been unable to understand one thing: why in novels, whenever it involves a life-saving favor, it inevitably leads to the notion of “bound by marriage.”
Until she personally experienced a world and understood the feeling of being pulled out of the abyss by someone when surrounded by despair.
The special emotion of “this person is indispensable” that arises at that time is less about love and more about the subconscious search for a safe environment after physical and psychological trauma.
Being bound by marriage is the simplest way to seek that safety.
Similarly, He Ying could now wait until Xia Shuyue truly suffers trauma before appearing like a deity descending from heaven, but she won’t do that.
This isn’t entirely out of sympathy for Xia Shuyue, but more because this is the essential difference between her and F4 that He Ying wants to establish.
She wants to show Xia Shuyue through actions that F4 can only stand up for her after she’s bullied, reducing her pressure.
But she, He Ying, can eliminate these things from the root.
Her side is safer than F4’s side.
However, she can’t help Xia Shuyue too blatantly now. Given Xia Shuyue’s relationship with Shangguan Mingyu, which is known throughout the school, and her recent behavior, no one would think He Ying genuinely wants to protect Xia Shuyue.
The most likely scenario is that people would speculate she wants to personally deal with Xia Shuyue, and Xia Shuyue herself would fall into panic, which contradicts what she intends to do.
She now needs to save Xia Shuyue, but she can’t make it seem like she wants to save Xia Shuyue.
As the cannon fodder was uttering harsh words and preparing to attack Xia Shuyue, He Ying had already openly emerged from the corner.
The people on both sides responsible for restraining Xia Shuyue immediately noticed He Ying’s presence and instinctively released their grip on Xia Shuyue, their hands nervously fidgeting.
The female student who was facing away from He Ying and ready to act thought a teacher had arrived and was about to put on a smiling face and pretend to be close with Xia Shuyue to cover up. But when she turned around, she saw He Ying.
Her smile instantly vanished, and her body unconsciously began to make small movements—a sign of nervousness.
He Ying wore neat school attire, her high ponytail tied behind her head, swaying rhythmically with her forward steps. She slightly lowered her gaze, observing everything before her, watching Xia Shuyue slowly rise from the ground after being released, her eyes gradually turning cold and dangerous.
“Miss, why are you here? This place is dirty…” This voice was the sharp, scolding female voice from earlier, also the one preparing to attack Xia Shuyue.
Now facing He Ying, she completely lost the extremely arrogant attitude she had toward Xia Shuyue, instead adopting a demeanor so humble it was almost groveling, flattering to the point that it made He Ying uncomfortable.
But this is the reality of this school.
The only ones who can treat students fairly are the school’s principal and teachers; everywhere else, hierarchy prevails.
He Ying had already recognized who this female student was.
Her name is Liu Ruyan, and both her parents work under He Family’s group company, holding positions that are not low.
Precisely because both her parents were subordinates of the He family, Chi Jingsheng and Shangguan Mingyu had always believed that He Ying was the one instructing these people to cause trouble for Xia Shuyue.
After all, Liu Ruyan herself appeared very obedient and pitiful, hardly seeming like someone capable of bullying others on her own.
Unfortunately, appearances can be deceiving.
“Liu Ruyan, have you signed any form of contract with the He family?”
Liu Ruyan was just thinking about how to phrase things to show that she was acting entirely for He Ying’s benefit and to win her favor when she suddenly heard He Ying ask an unrelated question.
Uncertain of He Ying’s intentions, she could only answer truthfully: “No… why do you ask, Miss?”
“Don’t call me Miss at school. Use my name.”
He Ying’s tone wasn’t particularly friendly, and Liu Ruyan noticed that she seemed to be in a bad mood, quickly correcting herself: “He… Ying, what’s wrong?”
He Ying didn’t speak immediately, instead shifting her gaze to Xia Shuyue.
Xia Shuyue had already stood up and was lightly brushing the dirt off her school uniform.
Upon closer observation, one could see her hands trembling slightly as she brushed off the dirt.
It was unclear whether she was still shaken by what had just happened or afraid of violating school rules.
Hongru Academy had strict requirements for students’ attire. Not only were they required to wear the designated school uniform every day, but there were also standards for its cleanliness and condition.
During school hours, uniforms were not allowed to be damaged or stained. If any damage or stains occurred, students had to immediately go to the changing room to put on a clean uniform before returning to class.
This rule was written into the school regulations and was known as “Proper Attire.”
Proper Attire: Clothing must be neat, dignified, and appropriate.
Hongru Academy’s educational philosophy held that students’ proper attire on campus was an important way to demonstrate self-cultivation and respect for others.
Attending class in a dirty or messy uniform was considered disrespectful to teachers and to oneself.
In Xia Shuyue’s current situation, if He Ying hadn’t appeared, Liu Ruyan and the others would never have allowed her to change clothes and would likely have forcibly taken her back to the classroom.
By then, Xia Shuyue would have been labeled as someone who violated school rules. Even if the teacher didn’t pursue the matter due to special circumstances, she would still face reprimand.
“Liu Ruyan,” He Ying spoke calmly. “You haven’t signed any contract with the He family, and you have no relationship with me whatsoever. How dare you use my name to do these things that cross the line?”
He Ying’s words were merciless, leaving Liu Ruyan awkwardly frozen in place and causing the others who had been helping to show expressions of surprise.
After all, in her private conversations with them, Liu Ruyan had always claimed to have a particularly close relationship with the He family’s young miss, saying that she simply didn’t want to be too conspicuous at school and had asked the young miss to pretend not to know her well.
If not for He Ying, given Liu Ruyan’s family background, she truly wouldn’t have been able to become the leader of their group.
Seeing the lie she had maintained for so long effortlessly exposed by He Ying, Liu Ruyan felt panic, but even more, she felt resentment.
She knew that without He Ying as her backing, she was nothing. Yet she couldn’t accept that the stable social standing she had worked so hard to build at school was slipping away from her.
“Young Miss, that’s not what I meant. I’m just indignant on your behalf. How dare someone like Xia Shuyue compete with you… After all, everyone knows Shangguan Mingyu is your childhood friend…”
Liu Ruyan deliberately brought up Shangguan Mingyu, hoping to provoke He Ying into redirecting all her displeasure toward Xia Shuyue, thereby extricating herself from the situation.
Liu Ruyan desperately wished for Xia Shuyue to suffer misfortune, because she, too, harbored feelings for Shangguan Mingyu.
If she lost to He Ying, she could accept it.
In this school, no student could surpass He Ying—at least not yet. But why did it have to be Xia Shuyue?
How could she possibly be inferior to a poor Special Admission Student?
Why would Shangguan Mingyu choose Xia Shuyue over her?
Liu Ruyan had assumed He Ying shared her sentiments, but He Ying remained unmoved, even gazing at her with something akin to pity.
At that moment, Liu Ruyan finally realized she and He Ying were not the same.
She heard He Ying say, “Imposing your pain onto others to divert your own resentment from failure is an act of extreme cowardice, pettiness, and degradation.”
“Do not use my name for anything again.”
“You do not want to know the consequences.”