Chapter 4

Su Ye was surprised. A girl talking to him like that in class. 

He sat down with his group of friends at their normal spot.

"Who's that girl? The short one who talked to me in class today?" Su Ye asked. Su Ye didn't attend assembly so he didn't know who Jiang Yue was.

"Oh! That's Jiang Yue. A scholarship student." One of his friends answered.

"A scholarship student! A scholarship student!" Su Ye repeated.

A scholarship student talked to me like that and you didn't deem it fit to tell me?

His eyes were blazing red as he was mad. 

He was surprised that a scholarship girl talked to him, Su Ye like that in front of everyone.

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As they walked home together, Jiang Yue turned to Kang Jian with a scowl on her face. "Hey, thanks for not standing up for me back there."

Kang Jian looked at her in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"When Bao Zhan and her cohorts were bullying me, you just stood there and did nothing!" Jiang Yue's voice rose in anger.

Kang Jian sighed. "Jiang Yue, I was trying to protect you. Those people can make us disappear in a twinkle of an eye and no one would question them."

"I don't care. You're my best friend, you were supposed to have my own interest at hand." Jiang Yue's eyes flashed with hurt and anger.

Kang Jian stopped in his tracks, looking guilty. "I'm sorry, Jiang Yue. Next time, I'll let you be so they can beat you up."

Jiang Yue hit his arm and he ran away from her.

"You're so annoying. I hate you. Don't come to my house tonight and I won't let you copy my assignment. Betrayal!" Jiang Yue folded her arms and walked ahead of him.

Kang Jian ran to her, his eyes apologetic. "I'm sorry, Jiang Yue. My behavior was unacceptable, and I promise to do better next time. Next time, we'll beat them up."

Kang Jian tickled Jiang Yue until she laughed.

"Fine, I forgive you but next time, let me stand up for myself. Don't let anyone bully us just because they are from wealthy families." Jiang Yue said and he nodded.

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Jiang Yue pushed open the door to her home, her eyes cast downward as she trudged into the living room. Her mom Lin He, who was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen, noticed her daughter's gloomy expression and immediately stopped what she was doing.

"Jiang Yue, sweetie, what's wrong?" Lin He asked concern etched on her face. "You look like you've lost your last friend. How was your first day of school?"

Jiang Yue flopped down onto the couch, letting out a deep sigh. "It was okay, mom. Just some drama with some girls in my class."

Her mom walked over to sit beside her, putting a gentle hand on her knee. "What kind of drama? Tell me all about it."

Jiang Yue hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But her mom's warm and encouraging gaze coaxed her into opening up. "They were just making fun of me because I'm a scholarship student, and they think I don't belong here. I also got punished on my first day in school."

Her mom's expression turned stern. "That's not right. You deserve just as much to be there as anyone else. And as for you being punished, that, you deserve."

Jiang Yue nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. "I thought so too, mom. But I don't want to worry about it right now. I just want to focus on my studies and prove them all wrong and if they pass their boundaries, you know what I can do Mom." She clenched her fist.

Lin He smiled, hugging her tightly. "That's my girl! You go show them what you're made of, Jiang Yue. And remember, no matter what happens, your family is always here to support you." Lin He stood up.

"I didn't ask you to go about school fighting and hitting people Jiang Yue. Just make sure to stand up for yourself without including violence." Lin He added as she knew what her daughter was capable of doing.

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The next morning, Jiang Yue and Kang Jian walked into school together, their eyes scanning the hallway for any signs of trouble. Jiang Yue's heart was racing with anticipation and her mind prepared for whatever Bao Zhan and her friends might throw her way.

As they turned a corner, they spotted Bao Zhan and her crew lounging by their lockers, their eyes fixed on Jiang Yue with a mixture of sneers and curiosity.

"Well, well, well, look what we have here," Bao Zhan sneered, her voice dripping with malice. "The little scholarship student thinks she's tough now."

Jiang Yue stood tall, her eyes locked onto Bao Zhan's. "Good morning, Bao Zhan." Jiang Yue flashed a fake smile at her.

Bao Zhan snorted, her friends snickering in unison. "Awwnnnn! Little kitten acting touch and nice now."

Jiang Yue smirked as she walked past them but Bao Zhan grabbed her hair from behind.

"Stop!" Kang Jian intervened but Bao Zhan's cohorts wouldn't let him near Jiang Yue.

Jiang Yue pushed Bao Zhan and she fell to the ground.

Jiang Yue's eyes flashed with determination. "I'm trying my best not to hit you, Bao Zhan leave me alone." Jiang Yue yelled at Bao Zhan as her chest rose and fell.

At that moment, Su Yue, the school's resident heartthrob, most handsome and richest student made his entrance with a confident smile and a swag that commanded attention. His piercing eyes scanned the hallway, his gaze lingering on Jiang Yue and Bao Zhan before settling on the crowd.

With a flick of his hair, he strode into the midst of the gathering, his presence electrifying the air. The students parted further, creating a clear path for him, their whispers and gasps following in his walk.

"Well, well, well," Su Yue said, his voice was low and smooth, "Are you practicing Yoga here?" Su Ye mocked Bao Zhan who was still on the floor.

Bao Zhan stood up immediately and stood beside him.

"We need to get rid of her. She doesn't belong here." Bao Zhan pointed at Jiang Yue who scoffed.

Kang Jian moved to where Jiang Yue was. He tried helping her to pack her hair but she pushed him away softly.

The hallway was silent, the only sound of the soft rustling of clothes as students leaned in, eager to witness the unfolding drama. Su Yue's entrance had turned the tables, and now all eyes were on him, waiting to see what he would do next.

Su Ye walked up to Jiang Yue. He used his hand to trace an X sign on her shoulder and everyone present in the hallway gasped.

"You're so done." Bao Zhan smirked.

"I don't care what you do Bao Zhan but please stay out of my way. Leave me and Kang Jian alone and stop picking on us. If you're bored, learn how to iron your clothes." Jiang Yue pointed at a side of her clothes that was crumbled.

Bao Zhan gasped and Jiang Yue and Kang Jian walked away from them.

Jiang Yue ran to the toilet with Kang Jian behind her.

"What's wrong?" Kang Jian asked.

"What? Can't I go to the toilet anymore?" She eyes as she jammed the door behind her.

One of the scholarship students entered.

"Why did you do that? You could have just taken all of that." Li Zing asked.

"What? So you want me to bow and watch that good-for-nothing girl bully me?" Jiang Yue blurted.

"Yes. That was the best thing to do." Li Zing interjected.

"Do you know what that X sign means? Don't you know there's a hierarchy in this school? Even if you're from a rich family, you could still get bullied if your parents don't own lots of buildings and properties. Su Ye calls the shot here." Li Zing lamented.

"These kids don't care if you get injured or die, all they want is to have fun and they'll get that from your misery." 

"And so? Do I look like I care? I can fight for myself and I won't allow some silly rich kids to bully me. If it gets worse, I'll report to the disciplinary committee or the anti-bullying committee. " Jiang Yue said after brushing and tying her hair.

"You'll find out the hard way. Just be careful." Li Zing warned before she left the toilet.