Chapter 10: the hero.

They went back home. Her father was unusually sitting on the sofa, 'isn't it too late to read a newspaper,' she could guess what was this about just from the change on his face once he saw her.

Surprisingly, her brother, Chinji, was there as well, he put his phone away, crossed his arms, and relaxed on the sofa with a smile on his face. Her brother's presence was more worrying for her, though. As the prime suspect, his change, his interest, was the worst news for her.

Her father's shout brought her attention back, "I heard you're behaving like a hooligan in school," he stood up with a cold face, "didn't I tell you to behave yourself, It's been just one day, just one day, and I already received a call from your school."

She was really stressed right now, and since her rebirth for many reasons, and argued a bit too much today. She really doesn't have any energy to spare for her father, so she looked at Meili, she already explained everything to her.

Meili didn't disappoint her, she placated him in her stead, "hold on Shuji, it's not what you think, she was really sick, that's why she couldn't follow her classes, we even went to see a doctor."

Lanru chimed in, "here's my medication."

He didn't find anything more to say, he wasn't that unreasonable, so he took an open package beside him, and brought it before them, "and what do you need this camera for, huh, what are you planning to do?"

She really needed that camera as soon as possible so stopped herself from getting angry, "Is there something wrong with buying a camera?"

Indeed there was nothing wrong, he just saw it in a negative light before because of the call from school, and the order details were about a necklace, not a camera, yeah that's it, he couldn't have just waited that long for nothing, "why did you hide the order details, it says a necklace, not a camera."

"Father, you can ask the vendor about that," she didn't try to make excuses for the vendor or herself, that would only make her suspicious, and she already prepared for this with the vendor. They are used to dealing with stuff like this, they would say it was just a mistake.

Left speechless, he threw the package on the sofa and left. She didn't care as long as the camera was safe. Lanru could see a smile fade stealthy from Nuan's face, 'she must feel glad that I don't have a good relationship with my father,' she shook her head.

"Lanru, don't mind him, he's just stressed because of work, he has some issues in the company," looking at Maili's worried face, acting like a mother, she felt really blessed. It was enough that she had her here, she really couldn't hold herself this time, she walked toward her, and hugged her, "I'm sorry auntie, by any chance, are you perhapse...." Lanru histated for a while attracting everyone attention before she said, "...My father," with a width smile, but her eyes were moist.

"Hahaha," Chinji's laughs roared, but Lanru didn't feel good hearing it.

Meili on the other hand was caught off guard like everyone else by Lanru's hug attack, she was dazed for a while, but she laughed when she heard what Lanru said, "silly girl," and Lanru felt patting on her back.

Lanru didn't actually mind her father, she didn't have a strong emotional bond with him now, so it was easy for her to ignore his temper. She already knows he's dealing with the major shareholders' complaints because of the effects of the scandal. She can be the big guy and deescalate things for now. She let go of Meili, "I'll leave now, good night auntie, good night aunt Nuan," she ignored her brother, and he didn't seem to mind.

"Wait, the maids would serve dinner now," Meili tried to stop her.

"I don't have an appetite, I'll just sleep."

Meili didn't insist, so she took the package and left for her room. It was about 8 PM, a maid brought her a few refreshments, and a relaxing tee like usual. She tried the camera and was satisfied with its performance.

She turned to her other plans, she was looking for a way to keep an eye on her brother when her hand held her forehead, and as if she jinxed herself with the doctor visit, her head throbbed and dizziness assaulted her, 'damn, it started again, maybe I really shouldn't have come to this house, just what the hell could it be,' her head hurt again as she started thinking about the cause.

This time she really needed to deal with it properly. Back then, she gave up on her studies to some extent, and only at university did she compensate for it, focusing her entire time on studying. That useless doctor said it shouldn't continue for long, but she was totally wrong, the medicine she prescribed didn't help at all, and she didn't schedule another appointment either. On the other hand, she wasn't able to keep complaining about it in this new household, with the many problems that kept popping around her. She could only bear it until she got used to it in a way, she found some ways to handle it, things like tea, coffee, and sweats helped a bit.

The next day Lanru got into the freshman building on her way to the second floor. In the landing between the stairs, 3 girls were leaning against the wall. Once Lanru saw them her brows furrowed.

'Damn, that guy acts fast.'

She took her phone and opened WeChat, and started recording. These girls were the snakes that the guy, Guang, used to bully her most of the time. It wasn't easy for a boy to target a girl, so he let handle things for him.

The one in the middle, Lanfen, saw her first, she was the head of the three, red highlights spread from her long hair, one side of it was breaded making it look like she shaved the side of her head.

She looked at the others and pointed at Lanru. The other girls both have different highlights colors. The one on the left, Lim, had her curly hair bounce with yellow ends, while the other one, Nuo, had her short hair mixed with green. They straightened themself and walked toward her blocking the way. She smirked at them and showed them her phone, "see this, leave me alone, or I will send this to the principal," she was just bluffing, she doesn't have his number, but it was enough to scare them.

They were stunned for a moment, 'how the hell did she know to act this fast.'

To make sure they wouldn't act impulsively, Lanru added, "If my finger left.." but someone bumped on her shoulder, and her phone dropped. She looked at the person, and it was none other than Guang.

"Sorry miss," he smiled evilly before he went back. Lanru ignored him, she knew he was the one behind this, she yelled, "Oh no, it must have been sent to the principal."

Lim snatched the phone before her and checked it out, the video was sent to her mother, she glared at Lanru, "how dare you try to scare us."

"Does it make any difference, my mom would call right now, if she can't reach me she would call the principal."

They hesitated for a bit, Lim looked at Linfen when the latter received a message, reading it a smirk appeared on her face, she said, "do you think we are afraid of the principal, let's go," they surrounded her and started dragging her to the toilet. Nuo didn't seem enthusiastic about this, but she joined her friends.

Lanru really had a headache from these intense few days, she hoped to avoid dealing with them now, but it can't be helped, she didn't resist, her mind preparing for the game.

Just as they neared the girls' toilet, a guy left the boy's side. Like last time, as if a knight in shining armor, he appeared in the nick of time. She really wanted to avoid seeing him for a while, she feared she was gonna start biting him like a mad dog. She was boiling inside but remained calmer than she expected, only her eyes were cold dead looking at him. If Guang destroyed her school life, this guy, Shifan, destroyed her social life entirely when he leaked the footage he took behind her back.

The guy didn't notice his life was in danger, he was frowning at the other girls, "what are you doing?"

Lanfen yelled at him, "none of your business."

He looked between her and them, "Leave her alone or I will call the teachers."

"Tsk," Lanfen, and the other girls glared at her, "be careful next time," and they left.

'That's it,' she followed them with her eyes until they disappeared, 'really,' something was off, these thugs normally don't give up easily like this, and they seemed dull, like some bad actors, and Shifan appeared again like he has some heroic sixth sense...

'Like hell, so the bastard used them to play the hero, just how did I miss this?'

Shifan succeeded in the past, he caught her attention. She turned to him gradually, after being bullied, whenever she felt alone, or sad. She found shelter under his cool shadow, thinking she was safe. Unknown to her, though, she was under darkness, like a mindless prey guided by fear directly toward the hunters.