I stepped back, letting Baby take over.

It felt like I’d blacked out.
When I came to, several people lay on the floor, and the teacher and classmates were comforting me.

Dazed, I accepted their concern, my cheeks tight with tear tracks.

Class couldn’t continue.
Twenty minutes later, Lin Yinyin and the wolf arrived.
Lin Yinyin hugged me tightly: “Zhixia!”

“Did you do this?” the wolf asked, scanning the bruised Grade 3 students.
His chilling expression and imposing frame made them lower their heads, silent, fearing a sudden punch.

Lin Yinyin held me as the teacher explained.

“Sis…” I hugged her neck, noticing words on my left palm: “Say you’re unhappy.”

I blinked—my handwriting.
When did I write it?
What happened?
The second time this occurred?

Lin Yinyin whispered: “It’s okay, Zhixia.”

“I’m… really unhappy, so wronged,” I said, following the note, adding flair.
Even without it, I’d have said it—it was true.

Lin Yinyin’s gift was gone…
I’d checked the phone’s price—over 10,000 yuan.

My first gift, destroyed.
Tears welled up.

The wolf glanced at me.
Lin Yinyin tightened her hold, giving me security.

Chen Ming’s parents arrived, some in work clothes.

The matter was serious; the principal stepped in.
As the victim, with the class monitor present, I barely spoke.

The monitor pieced it together: rejected advances, anger, and a smashed phone.

I felt Chen Ming used my phone as a weapon, but I didn’t argue—I was furious.

The principal rolled his eyes, sternly: “Parents, you heard? Anything to add, Ye?”

I bit my lip: “I don’t want to date… he stole my phone, said I had to be his girlfriend to get it back. He touched my hand in the cafeteria… ugh…”

I gagged.
The wolf loomed, glancing at me.
Lin Yinyin’s face twitched, softly: “Zhixia, I’m not blaming you, but you should’ve told us.”

I stayed silent.

The principal scribbled: “Chen Ming gets two major demerits, full compensation. Others, one demerit each, school-wide announcement, one-week suspension. They’re in Grade 3 and still causing trouble!”

Chen Ming’s dad, knowing the phone cost over 10,000, turned pale, objecting: “My son was naughty, but it takes two to tango. She’s not blameless. Split it 50-50.”

He pointed at me.

Like father, like son.
I clung to Lin Yinyin’s hand, tears of grievance flowing—what shamelessness.

The wolf’s face darkened, his killing intent almost visible.

Chen Ming’s dad, eyes darting, pressed: “The accomplices should share too. Without their encouragement, this wouldn’t have happened. Settle it—12,000 for the phone, split means 1,000 each. Scan my WeChat, I’ve got work.”

The other parents were stunned.

One of Chen Ming’s lackeys protested to his mother: “I didn’t smash it. He dragged us to back him up.”

“Yeah!”

“Exactly!”

“That’s nonsense!” the principal snapped. “Plainly, Chen Ming’s our worst student—bottom grades, constant trouble. Not your first time hearing this, right?”

“Enough,” Lin Yinyin took charge. “If you disagree, call the police. Damaging property over 5,000 is a crime—compensation aside, up to three years in jail. The phone’s 12,000; we’ll spend 50,000 on the best lawyer. You know the loser pays legal fees, right?”

Chen Ming’s dad’s eyes bulged, his narrow worldview crumbling.

I wiped tears, sniffing.

Lin Yinyin sighed: “Your thuggish attitude won’t hurt others. Pay and apologize now, or see your son in jail in three months. Factories don’t hire ex-cons—his future’s bleak. Ten seconds to decide.”

I admired Lin Yinyin—every word sharp and logical!

She held a piercing gaze, silently counting.

I counted in my head, reaching nine when she snapped: “Let him learn to wash feet early. Feed him well—prison only has endless winter melon soup.”

She gently pulled me up: “Zhixia, let’s go.”

“Wait, I’ll pay!” Chen Ming’s dad, face stiff, grudgingly opened his phone.
Lin Yinyin frowned, showing her QR code.
Hearing the 12,000-yuan WeChat payment, my heart eased.

I’d faced too many rogues, usually losing.
Finally, a victory.

Lin Yinyin coldly eyed the battered Chen Ming.

He bowed: “I’m sorry.”

I couldn’t say “I forgive you.”
They were in Grade 3, so I told the principal: “Can they not be suspended?”

He smiled: “Why, Ye?”

“They’ve got college entrance exams. Suspension’s bad.”

Lin Yinyin chuckled: “Kind heart, beautiful soul.”

The principal nodded approvingly, turning to the six: “Thank her.”

“Thank you.”

“Thanks, Zhixia.”

They thanked in unison, their parents relieved.

I smiled faintly: “I’m not dating. I want a top university.”

No guys, but girls?
I knew my priorities—self-preservation came first.
Dating a girl would ruin my university dreams.

The six stared dumbly.
After two periods, it was over.
Lin Yinyin brought my medicine; I had a small pillbox in my bag but didn’t need it now.

Liu Yu and my classmates faced no punishment—I’d thank them later.

“Little Zhixia, want to rest at home?”

“No, I’ll keep studying for a top university. Thanks for coming to school, Sis.”

Tidying my bangs, Lin Yinyin said: “I brought you home; it’s my duty to care for you. The Young Master was worried too—speeding, nearly crashing on the way.”

My jaw dropped—the wolf almost killed Lin Yinyin?

Fury surged, but I stayed silent.

I hated him more.

After confirming I was fine, Lin Yinyin and the wolf left, taking my new, now “old” phone.

A school-wide announcement followed, echoing the principal’s words, minus the suspension.

Back in class during break, classmates swarmed, asking about my well-being, surrounding me tightly.

It felt good to be cared for.

Gao Yang, He Zhi, Xu Fei, and others who’d offered to “adopt” me came after the announcement.
Unable to squeeze through, they waited for the next break.

Before the teacher arrived, I asked Liu Yu: “Are you hurt?”

“Just scratches. Being the school beauty’s bodyguard? I’ll brag about it,” he said casually.

Yu Hao, wielding a chair, was unscathed, though others I hadn’t named had shoe marks.

Zeng Xin turned: “Ye Rich Girl, your family’s so rich but raises you frugally. What’re your parents thinking?”

“Huh?” I tilted my head, eyes sharp: “My family’s strict. Don’t mention it.”

I handed control back to Baby.

Zeng Xin mused: “Training you to be a strong woman to inherit the business?”

Dazed, what was this?
Was Zeng Xin talking to herself?

“Haha…” I laughed awkwardly, unsure how to respond.

“By the way, the beauty pageant’s coming. You should prepare—it earns points for the sports meet, honors the class, and comes with a scholarship.”

“Scholarship?”

“Yeah, funded by alumni and the school. This year’s guest is a celebrity, Chu Xi’s brother from the next class, Chu Mo.”

“How much?”

“Around 3,000 in past years.”

My eyes lit up—3,000 yuan!
I’d forgotten about it, initially uninterested, but now…

“Beauty pageant?” Liu Yu glanced at Zeng Xin: “Not canceled this year?”

She scoffed: “Tradition doesn’t just vanish. With Ye Rich Girl, first place is guaranteed.”

“Not what I meant,” Liu Yu shrugged. “Every year, candidates get hit with rumors.”

Zeng Xin waved dismissively: “All baseless. Everyone’s used to it—ignore them. Can you guarantee no coworkers will badmouth you at work?”

Liu Yu turned to me: “Zhixia, you joining?”

I sensed danger, but 3,000 yuan!

Everyone got rumors—should be fine.

I nodded eagerly: “Yes!”

Liu Yu squinted, leaning back lazily: “Cool, I’ll escort you up.”