The moment Jiang Qingli’s voice rang out, the three people in the room froze.

The two bullies had never expected to see Jiang Qingli here.

After a few seconds of standoff, the lackey hurried forward, rubbing his hands together fawningly. "Miss Jiang, what are you doing here? Did you walk into the wrong restroom?"

Jiang Qingli didn’t even spare him a glance. She took a step forward and stared coldly at Ling Sheng. "Itching for another beating? Haven’t you had enough disciplinary action?"

As she drew near, her aura was so intense that every hair on Ling Sheng’s body was about to stand on end.

After that incident in Ye Linyuan’s class, he had been harshly criticized by the dean’s office and received a major demerit.

Ling Qing had told him that day to stay away from Jiang Qingli.

He and Jiang Qingli hadn’t crossed paths recently.

He thought the matter was over and done with, but who would’ve thought he’d run into Jiang Qingli while teaching some lowlife from the Lower District a lesson!

’Isn’t she the chairman of the Melt Star Association? What is she doing here?!’

’I’m just teaching a lowlife a lesson, what the hell does it have to do with her? She’s not the school administration, so why is she sticking her nose in everything?’

’Besides! This is the men’s restroom!’

’Does she have any shame at all?!’

Ling Sheng’s chest heaved with anger, but he could only lower his head and answer grudgingly, "No."

"This is all just a misunderstanding." The lackey, seeing Jiang Qingli’s attitude, explained frantically, "We were just sparring a bit with this student. You know how it is between males, we’re all buddies!"

As he spoke, he shot Ling Sheng a look.

With a dark expression, Ling Sheng sneered, "Yeah, all buddies."

He said that, but he wasn’t satisfied. Before pulling his foot back, he ground his sole down hard one more time.

Unexpectedly, the boy who hadn’t made a sound despite being cornered, cursed at for over half an hour, and beaten up, suddenly let out a low hiss of pain.

Ling Sheng cursed inwardly, ’This lowlife is so damn dramatic,’ and quickly pulled his foot back.

Jiang Qingli couldn’t be bothered with him and rushed to check on Gu Nian.

The boy was wearing a short-sleeved white shirt. It had been splashed with water and was clinging to his skin, making the bruises on his snow-white complexion stand out.

His messy hair covered his face, and the purple bruises on it were jarring, yet they only added to the boy’s pitiful and vulnerable appearance.

Jiang Qingli reached out to help him up, but he avoided her touch, slowly pushing himself up against the wall.

Just looking at his injuries made her ache. "Let’s go to the infirmary first."

Just as they were about to leave, Ling Sheng, who was standing to the side, suddenly spoke up. "Chairman Jiang, are you alone?"

Hearing this, Jiang Qingli frowned.

Seeing her reaction, Ling Sheng felt he had guessed correctly, and his arrogance immediately returned.

He was already holding in a bellyful of anger, and now seeing Jiang Qingli alone, a vicious thought couldn’t help but rise.

’She’s alone, and a female at that. She can’t beat the two of us males. I’ll just drag her in here and give her a good scare. We’ll see if she still dares to throw her weight around!’

The wicked thought had just surfaced when a cold, deep voice sounded. "Chairman Jiang was planning to give you some face, but if you insist on having other witnesses, that can be arranged."

’This voice... this tone...’

The door was pushed all the way open, revealing a tall, black-haired young man standing in the doorway, his presence overwhelmingly oppressive.

Ling Sheng met Yuan Shiyao’s sharp, jade-green eyes and nearly cursed out loud.

’Shit, how could I be so unlucky!’

’Running into Jiang Qingli was bad enough, but how did Yuan Shiyao end up here too!’

’Don’t tell me these two are in cahoots?!’

The lackey had already switched sides completely, looking at Yuan Shiyao pleadingly. "Secretary Yuan, this... this was really an accident. We were just sparring with Gu Nian!"

As he spoke, he looked at Gu Nian. "Isn’t that right, Gu?"

Before Gu Nian could speak, Jiang Qingli had already stepped in front of him, blocking the lackey’s warning gaze.

Jiang Qingli said to Yuan Shiyao in a low voice, "I’ll take him to the infirmary first. I’m leaving this to you."

Meeting the girl’s trusting gaze, Yuan Shiyao felt as if his heart had been set on fire.

’Forget just dealing with these two.’

’Even if she asked him to dispose of himself, he wouldn’t hesitate.’

Yuan Shiyao suppressed his emotions and nodded. "Okay, I’ll come find you later."

Ling Sheng stared resentfully at the two departing figures.

Suddenly, before turning away, Gu Nian glanced back in their direction.

Their eyes met, and Ling Sheng clearly saw the mocking expression in the boy’s eyes.

It felt like his head had been struck by a heavy hammer. The fire in Ling Sheng’s heart instantly flared up, and he pointed at Gu Nian, yelling, "FUCK! THAT LOWLIFE DID IT ON PURPOSE!!!"

But no one paid him any mind.

Even his lackey gave him a strange look, as if he’d only said such a thing because he’d gone mad with anger.

Yuan Shiyao glanced at Gu Nian, raised an eyebrow slightly, and his tone was as cold as ever. "Assault, bullying, and discrimination against a fellow student. Come with me to the Disciplinary Office."

’The Disciplinary Office?!’

’Are they crazy?!’

Ling Sheng started to struggle. "He’s just a lowlife from the Lower District! Are you student council members blind?! He framed me on purpose! He wanted me to hit him!"

The lackey tugged at his sleeve and apologized to Yuan Shiyao. "I’m sorry, he’s just too angry..."

"Wait."

Jiang Qingli suddenly spoke.

Ling Sheng’s head snapped up.

’Could it be? Does Jiang Qingli believe me?!’

Before any hope could sprout, he heard her say, "Before you go, remember to lick the water on the floor clean."

-

「Five minutes later, in the school infirmary.」

Jiang Qingli sat across from Gu Nian. She took out the medicines, examining each one carefully. After taking a photo and asking Baili Jing about them on her terminal, she finally told Gu Nian to hold out his hand.

Gu Nian hid his hands behind his back and said in a low voice, "Sister... they’re dirty."

The boy’s eyelashes were lowered, and he trembled anxiously.

"They’re not dirty."

Jiang Qingli pulled his hand over and gently applied the ointment.

Watching the girl’s gentle movements and focused expression, an uncontrollable, bittersweet softness welled up in Gu Nian’s chest.

Once again, Gu Nian remembered that night twelve years ago.

Fists and feet accompanied by curses.

Countless malicious blows rained down.

He was curled up in a corner, waiting for death.

But before the blows could land, a childish voice shouted, stopping them:

"Hey! All of you, stop!"

He looked up through a daze of tears and saw a small figure walk up to him.

The girl had her hair in pretty braids, wore a princess dress with puffy sleeves, and held a pink lollipop in her hand. She looked like an innocent and harmless princess from a castle.

But when she chased those people away and pulled him up from the ground, the palm of her hand was so warm.

The past flashed before his eyes, scene by scene. Even though those moments were long gone, they had never faded.

Gu Nian’s eyes stung. He buried his face in the palm of her hand and called out to her softly, "Sister..."

She felt a slight dampness in her palm.

Jiang Qingli thought of the scene she had just witnessed, and her heart softened completely. She raised her hand to stroke his hair and said softly, "It’s okay now. It’s all in the past."

"Thank you, Sister."

Gu Nian looked up, the corners of his eyes flushed red.

He held Jiang Qingli’s hand reverently, his gaze like that of a worshipper looking up at a goddess:

"Sister, you saved me again. I really don’t know how I can ever repay you."

"I have nothing, so all I can do is offer my—"

Before he could finish, there was a sudden knock on the door.

The handsome White Fox Actor strode into the room, his eyes full of worry. "Sorry, baby, I’m late. Are you guys okay?"

Gu Nian: "..."

Gu Nian opened his mouth, but before he could make a sound, he saw Yuan Shimo walk in and sit down across from them.

Yuan Shimo pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and said softly, "It’s been taken care of, Qingli."

He said that, but his gaze fell on their clasped hands.

Before he could say anything, Baili Jing had already separated their hands.

"Let me do it." He picked up a roll of bandages from the side, looking very serious and responsible. "My bandaging skills are pretty good."

Since Baili Jing had helped treat Gu Nian’s "fever" before, Jiang Qingli trusted him. "Okay, thank you for the help!"

Baili Jing’s eyes crinkled as he smiled at his Xiao Qing Mei. "It’s my honor to ease my baby’s worries."

Gu Nian: "..."

The boy pressed his lips together in dissatisfaction.

And yet, Baili Jing, as if he knew nothing, smiled and asked:

"By the way, what was Xiao Gu about to say?"