Campus Drama

The city, still reeling from the previous day's chaos, was slowly returning to a semblance of normalcy. Debris was being cleared, power was being restored, and news reports continued to dissect the events.

Amidst this backdrop, a teenage girl named Xia Mei, known for her sharp tongue and even sharper elbows, hailed Su Luqi's taxi. Xia Mei, a scholarship student living off the generosity of a wealthy family, was on her way to her first day of college. She was a bully, accustomed to getting her way, and she was looking forward to establishing her dominance in this new environment.

"Faster!" she snapped at Su Luqi, her eyes glued to her phone. "I don't want to be late."

Su Luqi, unfazed, adjusted the taxi's speed. "As you wish," she said, her voice neutral.

Inside, Xia Mei was thinking about her next target. She was unaware that the son of her sponsoring family would be attending the same college, and that he would soon become the focus of her bullying.

Meanwhile, in a quiet suburban home, a young man named Li Wei opened his eyes. He stretched, yawned, and began his daily routine. He was a kind, innocent soul, completely oblivious to the challenges that awaited him at college.

He joined his family at the breakfast table, where his father, a jovial man, was placing vegetables on his mother's plate. His eldest sister, Li Jing, a sharp-witted businesswoman in a sleek CEO suit, playfully tugged on his arm.

"First day of college, little brother," she said, her eyes twinkling. "Are you excited?"

"A little nervous," Li Wei admitted, his cheeks flushing.

"Don't worry," his father said, patting his shoulder. "Just be yourself. And if anyone bullies you, tell your sister. She'll handle them."

Li Jing grinned. "That's right," she said, her voice laced with playful menace. "No one messes with my little brother."

They got into the family's luxurious car, his father driving, Li Jing in her CEO suit, and Li Wei in his simple student attire.

At the college gates, Li Wei stepped out of the car, feeling a mixture of excitement and apprehension. He saw two groups of students nearby. One group had an independent looking girl and a handsome boy, who seemed to like each other. The other group had a girl who seemed to stare at the handsome boy, but she also took notice of Li Wei, much like his sister would. Her friends were talking about something, but she was focused on him.

As Li Wei walked away, he bumped into an old classmate, Zhang Hao. Zhang Hao, however, didn't recognize him. Li Wei, feeling slightly awkward, continued towards his hostel.

Just as he reached the entrance, Xia Mei, having arrived in Su Luqi's taxi, approached him.

"Well, well, well," she said, her voice laced with a sneer. "Look what we have here. A fresh face."

Li Wei, taken aback, looked at her, his eyes wide with confusion.

"Someone's about to get a… college education," the AI whispered, its voice laced with amusement. "Or perhaps just a… crash course in social hierarchy?"

The college, still recovering from the citywide chaos, was now about to become a battleground for social dynamics, with Li Wei caught in the crossfire.

***

Xia Mei, with a predatory grin, stepped closer to Li Wei. "So, newbie," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "what's your name?"

Li Wei, his eyes wide, stammered, "Li… Li Wei."

"Li Wei," Xia Mei repeated, her voice mocking. "That's a… cute name. Are you going to cry for your mommy, Li Wei?"

She poked him in the chest, her eyes gleaming with malice. Li Wei, startled, stumbled backward, nearly tripping over his own feet.

"I… I don't want any trouble," he said, his voice trembling.

"Trouble?" Xia Mei scoffed. "You haven't seen trouble yet."

She raised her hand, as if to slap him, but just as she was about to strike, she lost her footing. Her heel caught on a loose paving stone, and she went sprawling, landing in a muddy puddle with a loud "splat!"

A ripple of laughter went through the small crowd that had gathered. Li Wei, his eyes wide with surprise, stared at Xia Mei, who was now covered in mud, her face contorted with rage.

"You!" she shrieked, pointing at Li Wei. "You did this!"

"I… I didn't do anything," Li Wei said, his voice laced with confusion.

Xia Mei, her face flushed with anger, struggled to her feet. "I'm going to make you pay for this!" she snarled, her eyes blazing.

Just then, a sleek taxi pulled up to the curb. It was Su Luqi's taxi. She watched the scene unfold, her expression neutral, her eyes observing every detail. From her vantage point, she saw Xia Mei's clumsy movement, the loose paving stone, and Li Wei's genuine surprise.

Su Luqi remained silent, her eyes fixed on the scene. She noticed the way Li Wei stood, his posture defensive, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and confusion. She also observed Xia Mei's rage, her determination to blame Li Wei for her own clumsiness.

"Interesting," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Xia Mei, still fuming, turned to her friends, who were now trying to stifle their laughter. "Get him!" she hissed, her voice dripping with venom.

Her friends, eager to please her, stepped forward, their expressions menacing. Li Wei, realizing he was outnumbered, took a step back, his eyes darting around for an escape route.

Xia Mei, covered in mud and fuming with rage, glared at Li Wei. "You're going to pay for this," she hissed, her voice dripping with venom.

Li Wei, his eyes wide with fear, took a step back. "I… I didn't do anything!" he stammered.

Just as Xia Mei's friends were about to descend upon him, something unexpected happened. Xia Mei, her eyes fixed on Li Wei, noticed something… different. He was flustered, yes, but there was also a certain… innocence about him. His eyes, wide with fear, were surprisingly expressive. And despite the mud, he seemed to have an almost ethereal quality about him.

Xia Mei, to her own surprise, found herself strangely captivated. This wasn't just about asserting dominance anymore. This was… interesting.

She smirked, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You know," she said, her voice softening, "you're… actually quite cute."

Li Wei, completely thrown off guard, stammered, "C… cute?"

Xia Mei leaned closer, her eyes scanning him. "Yes, cute," she repeated, a playful smile playing on her lips. "Very cute."

Li Wei, his face flushed, could only stare at her in bewilderment. Xia Mei, enjoying his confusion, turned to her friends, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Alright, let's go," she said, her voice casual. "This is going to be… fun."

She winked at Li Wei, leaving him standing there, completely bewildered.

Su Luqi, observing from her taxi, watched the scene unfold with a detached amusement. "Someone's had a… change of heart," she murmured, her voice laced with a hint of irony. "Or perhaps just a… change of target."

The college drama, it seemed, was just beginning.

To be continued...