What is power ?

" It's frustrating isn't it?" As Qi Qing walked past the dark corridor, someone spoke softly to her. Qi Qing paused in her steps and then turned to look at the dark corner where someone was standing as soon as her gaze fell on the person standing behind her, Qi Qing's eyes widened. " It's you…" 

Xua Ying Yue stepped out of her dark corner and looked at Qi Qing with a cold face. Her arms were crossed and her long hair was tied in a ponytail, she gracefully arched a brow and replied, "It's me." 

" What are you doing here?" Qi Qing frowned and asked as she looked at Xua Ying Yue warily. Was this woman here to cause trouble for her again? She raised her head and then turned to look around the deserted corridor before turning to look at Xua Ying Yue in alarm. She took a step away from her and said, " You better not think of harming me, this is the college premises, if you make a move against me then you will not be able to get away so easily without facing any consequences." 

" Who said that I am here to find trouble for you?" Xua Ying Yue tilted her head to the side and stated calmly. " I am here to help you out." 

" Help me out? Are you kidding me? How are you going to help me out ?" Qi Qing looked at Xua Ying Yue as if she had heard the biggest joke. She looked at Xua Ying Yue and remarked coldly, " You are the reason I am in this trouble, if not for you I would have never gotten into such a mess." 

" Well, if we are talking about actions and consequences. Then it would be your fault for throwing my bag into a dirty water vat, you cannot expect retaliation as you do not have any power against me," Xua Ying Yue smiled, a cold glint flashed in her eyes and she took a step forward to look at Qi Qing, she was a tad bit taller than the latter and thus she could look down on Qi Qing with a smile on her face. " You don't know what power is right? It's the ultimate authority where you can do anything against anyone and yet you will not be punished. You will get away scot-free without worrying about the consequences and this is what you do not have against me." 

 " You…" Qi Qing felt humiliated when she heard Xua Ying Yue's words. Was she trying to embarrass her? If not why was she telling her that she had no power against her?

" But you do have power against Fan Jiayi," Xua Ying Yue took another step against Qi Qing which caused the latter to take a step back as she looked up at Xua Ying Yue who was smiling down at her. " You have the power to ruin her if you want… I guess?" 

Qi Qing was of course not stupid, she understood what Xua Ying Yue was trying to tell her. She stared at Xua Ying Yue and scoffed, her lips curling in a disbelieving expression as she said, " You are trying to make me go against her." 

" No," Xua Ying Yue blinked her eyes as she replied in a blank voice, " I am not asking you to go against anyone, I am just telling you that you have the power. It's up to you whether you decide to make a move or not." 

After she was done speaking, Xua Ying Yue shot Qi Qing a smile before patting her on the shoulder and walking away.

Qi Qing watched her leave before rolling her eyes as she let out a snort. 

Xua Ying Yue of course heard her snort but she did not care as she walked out of the corridor.

….

After dealing with Qi Qing, Xua Ying Yue returned home, she ran into Old Master Gu who was looking after the pot of begonia. When he saw her return, he immediately smiled and looked at Xua Ying Yue before saying, " You girl, you are back from college? Come here take a look at these begonias they are getting better under your care." 

From his powerful voice alone, Xua Ying Yue could see that he was overjoyed with the recovery of the begonia bush. She curled her lips and then looked at Old Master Gu before saying, " You only need to keep an eye on the begonias, Master Gu. Just make sure that you do not water them too much or else they will end up getting withered again if their roots were to rot." 

Old Master Gu acknowledged her words as he walked to the porch where he could look at Xua Ying Yue much more closely and then said, " Yes I remember. By the way, how is your sister doing? And that old hag? Is she doing okay these days? Though the weather is getting warmer, there is no need for her to wear less layers." 

Xua Ying Yue chuckled softly and then said, " If you are worried about Aunt Tian then you can tell her yourself Old Master Gu." 

When Old Master Gu heard her words, he waved his hand and then said in an offended tone," What are you talking about? When did I say that I was concerned about her? You are just being long-winded." 

He then turned his attention back to Xua Ying Yue before saying, " Anyway, why don't you hop in? I just got a box of fresh cherries from my daughter who lives in S city, the weather is already warm there and she bought some for me thinking that I might like them. Come in and have a taste of those cherries." 

Xua Ying Yue wanted to refuse him but the old man did not give her a chance. He beckoned her inside while saying, " Come accompany this old man, that stupid grandson of mine does everything other than spending time with his old man."