chapter 57
Gu Qingning raised an eyebrow, her expression calm and composed.
“Teacher’s here, teacher’s here.”
Someone in the crowd shouted.
Immediately, the crowd scattered. Getting caught by the teacher was never a good thing—they were just here for the spectacle, not planning to write any self-criticism reports.
Zheng Bin, injured, couldn’t run fast. After a few steps, he was caught by the head of discipline.
Seeing the blood at the corner of his mouth, the head of discipline’s expression darkened. His gaze swept across the room, voice booming, “Who else was involved in this? Step forward!”
The cafeteria fell silent; no one dared to speak.
Gu Qingning stepped forward. The head of discipline frowned, suspicion flickering in his eyes. “Gu, were you involved in this too?”
Gu Qingning nodded lightly, calm as ever.
The confirmation made the head of discipline’s temples throb painfully.
He lifted his gaze to the others and said with authority, without raising his voice, “Who else was involved, stand up honestly. Once the surveillance footage is checked, the consequences will be on you.”
Zheng Bin weakly said, “Director, it was just the two of us.”
Hearing this, the head of discipline looked at him, voice full of doubt, “Just the two of you?”
Zheng Bin nodded.
The head of discipline glanced at Gu Qingning. Seeing her completely uninjured, he was even more puzzled.
However, he didn’t scold them in front of everyone. With a stern face, he said, “Both of you, come with me to the office.”
Rubbing his aching stomach, Zheng Bin secretly glanced at the girl not far away and gritted his teeth.
Seeing such a frail figure, she really hit hard.
Gu Qingning said nothing. As she picked up her tray, the boy snatched it from her.
Chu Xu said, half laughing, half crying, “You still have time to tidy up your tray? Haven’t you seen the director’s face—it’s darker than ink! Go quickly, I’ll tidy up your tray.”
Gu Qingning retracted her hand. “Thanks.”
Chu Xu paused for a few seconds, then smiled upon realizing, finding this new classmate quite amusing.
Gu Wanwan watched Gu Qingning walk away, a hint of schadenfreude in her eyes.
Fighting and causing trouble would inevitably involve parents. When her second brother found out, he would surely think she was immature and only causing trouble. She wanted to see how she would compete with her now.
…
Before long, the news of Gu Qingning fighting spread like wildfire.
Even the principal found out and immediately asked the director to bring both students to his office.
The atmosphere was tense and heavy.
Principal Zhang looked at the calm, composed girl in front of him, feeling a headache coming on.
He cleared his throat, softening his tone slightly, “Gu, ask your parents to come to the school as well.”
Gu Qingning’s lips moved slightly. Before she could respond, her phone buzzed in her pocket.
She took it out and glanced at the contact name:
—Black-bellied Wolf.
“Sorry, I need to take this call.”
With that, she walked to the corridor outside.
The midday sun was harsh and hot. Gu Qingning found a shaded corner.
When she answered, a low, magnetic male voice came through, “Little one, have you eaten lunch yet?”
Leaning against the wall, a trace of irritation in her eyes softened slightly. “You didn’t call just to ask me that, did you?”
“You little lion seems to be in a bad mood.” The moment she spoke, Fu Juncheng could immediately sense her emotions.
Gu Qingning found this a little miraculous.
“Tell me, who made you angry?” His voice was gentle, with three parts casualness and seven parts indulgence.
“Brother Juncheng, help you shake things up.”
Gu Qingning squinted slightly, a faint smile forming in her eyes. “All grown up and still calling yourself a ‘brother’? Have you no shame?”
All grown up?
Fu Juncheng’s smile froze, and above his head, a faint mushroom cloud seemed to form.
After a brief silence, he abruptly shifted his tone, “Are you at school now?”
Sensing his looming anger, Gu Qingning pressed her lips together. “No.”
She answered without thinking, but Fu Juncheng wasn’t fooled.
“Wait.”
Gu Qingning internally groaned. He really wasn’t easy to fool. She answered honestly, “Don’t come over. I’m a bit busy here.”
Fu Juncheng sat back on the sofa, eyes deepening. “Something happened?”
Gu Qingning hummed softly, nonchalantly, “I got into a fight, got caught by the teacher.”
Without asking why, Fu Juncheng asked solemnly, “Were you hurt?”
“No.” Gu Qingning let out a quiet laugh. “Why don’t you ask why I fought?”
Relieved, Fu Juncheng’s expression softened, voice low, “As long as you’re not hurt, nothing else matters.”
His little lion was well-behaved—she only fought back because someone provoked her first.
Gu Qingning licked her lips, a warm glow in her eyes.
She heard hurried footsteps approaching.
“Ning’er.”
The anxious voice grew louder as it came closer.
Fu Juncheng recognized Gu Zhao’s voice, a shadow crossing his gaze.
Gu Qingning straightened slowly as the approaching figure drew near. “I’ll hang up first.”
She ended the call. Two figures rushed to her side, flanking her on either side.
“Ning’er, are you hurt anywhere?”
“Little one, who bullied you? Tell Second Brother, and he’ll go beat them up.”
Trailing behind, Xu An sighed in exasperation. These two brothers were way too obsessed with their sister.
Looking at their worried eyes, Gu Qingning’s cold voice softened slightly, “I’m fine.”
She turned to Xu An and politely greeted, “Teacher Xu.”
Xu An ran a hand through his messy short hair. A faintly flirtatious gesture peeked through, his voice serious, “Gu, in the future, speak up if there’s an issue. Fighting is never good.”
Hearing this, the overprotective Gu Che scoffed, mocking, “Fighting isn’t good? Better than standing there and taking a beating.”
Xu An twitched his mouth, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. “She’s a student. Fighting has a bad influence.”
“When you were a student, I didn’t see you fight any less.” Gu Che shot back.
Xu An: “…”
Damn Gu Che, exposing his past under the sun.
Suppressing his urge to curse, Xu An said firmly, “Gu is a girl. Fighting will only put her at a disadvantage.”
Gu Che smirked behind his mask, mischievous and roguish, “So what if she’s a girl? If our little one can’t handle it, there’s me, her brother.”
Xu An was so frustrated he felt like spitting blood. “…”
With this wild approach, how did he become an international superstar?
He raged, “Gu Che, can you act reasonable?”
Gu Che sneered, “If I were reasonable, I wouldn’t be standing here calmly talking to you right now.”
Their eyes met.
The tension was palpable.
Gu Zhao reached out to pull Xu An aside, apologizing with a smile, “Second Brother is just worried Ning’er might get hurt. Please understand.”
Xu An snorted coldly, not bothering to argue with this sister-obsessed guy.
“Let’s go, office first.”
