The next day, Wu Xiaojie's parents went to the school, asking the teacher to mediate and seek justice, as their daughter had endured so much injustice, and they were determined to get an explanation.
However, the explanation they received from the teacher was that Wu Xiaojie was usually very quiet in class, not sociable, and had trouble getting along with her classmates. There was no evidence of her being bullied by her peers. The homeroom teacher even suggested that Wu's Father and Wu's Mother should go home and educate Wu Xiaojie to be more sociable and get along harmoniously with her classmates.
“It’s normal for students to have minor frictions and small conflicts. Parents don’t need to overreact to the playful squabbles of children,” the homeroom teacher said.
Wu's Father felt a pain in his chest from anger.
The homeroom teacher looked at Wu Xiaojie, who was looking down, and said, "Xiaojie, you should also focus more on your studies. Your midterm exam results dropped a few places, and there's only a week left before the final exams. You need to make the most of your time to review."
"My daughter tried to commit suicide yesterday because she was bullied by her classmates. How can you call that a simple minor conflict?" Wu's father challenged the teacher.
The homeroom teacher looked astonished and replied, "This is a problem with you as parents. If your child exhibits such behavior, it clearly indicates a psychological issue. I suggest you take her to see a psychologist as soon as possible."
"My daughter is not sick. She's being bullied by those students," Wu's Father retorted angrily.
The homeroom teacher explained, "Mr. Wu, I keep an eye on Wu Xiaojie's interactions with her classmates. If she were truly being bullied, I would take action against the troublemakers. But without any evidence, I can't punish students based solely on your word."
Wu's father was about to say something more, but Wu Xiaojie tugged at his clothes hem, stopping him.
The homeroom teacher said, "I have a class soon, so let Xiaojie return to her lessons. I'll also remind the class to get along harmoniously."
Wu's Father and Wu's Mother left angrily, feeling frustrated but realizing the teacher was deflecting their concerns. As the teacher had said, they had no evidence. The students were cunning, often taking Wu Xiaojie to places like the stairwell corner or the girls' bathroom, where there were no surveillance cameras.
Without evidence, there was no way to accuse those students.
Wu Xiaojie returned to the classroom, her seat being second to last and by the window.
Compared to her previous sadness and gloom, she was still immersed in the joy and excitement of yesterday's encounter with her idol. She had been saved by her idol, Su Ci, and even had dinner with her.
As she faced the others' whispers, Wu Xiaojie quietly returned to her seat.
Su Ci had encouraged her yesterday, and she didn't want to disappoint her. She should live well.
Because her chair would often be sabotaged with chewed gum or her water bottle moved when she left her seat, Wu Xiaojie rarely drank water, reducing the need to go to the restroom.
The morning passed peacefully for her.
In the afternoon, as the school day was nearing its end, the teacher reminded the class to get along harmoniously and even instructed the students to be more accommodating and take care of Wu Xiaojie.
As soon as the teacher left, the students in the class began to make fun.
After the teacher left, the girls in front of and behind Wu Xiaojie mocked her for supposedly tattling to the teacher.
Wu Xiaojie kept her head lowered and habitually remained silent, not responding.
After school, it was Wu Xiaojie's turn to clean the classroom. As usual, the others quickly swept a few times and then left, leaving all the work to her.
Meanwhile, the usual group of girls who bullied Wu Xiaojie didn't leave. One of them grabbed Wu Xiaojie by the collar and said, "Come with us to the bathroom to talk."
“Let go of me, I need to finish cleaning,” Wu Xiaojie said, her face turning pale as she gripped the broom.
"You can finish cleaning after we talk," the girl kicked the broom out of Wu Xiaojie's hand. "Come on, do we need to invite you?"
Another girl picked up a book and slapped it against Wu Xiaojie's head. "Did you tattle to the teacher?"
Wu Xiaojie remained silent.
“She must have tattled, or why would the teacher remind us to be friends with her?” the short-haired girl sneered. “Does she even deserve to be our friend? Dream on.”
"Hurry up, come with us to the girls' bathroom. Don't forget we still have your photos of you without clothes," another girl kicked Wu Xiaojie.
Wu Xiaojie kept her head down and tried to send a message to Su Ci, but the next moment, her phone was snatched away by one of the girls.
"Did you think about asking for help?" the girl looked at the contact name on the phone and scoffed, "Idol? More like vomit target. Whoever becomes your idol is really unlucky, probably cursed by your bad luck."
Wu Xiaojie looked up, glaring at the girl with hatred. "Don't you dare insult my idol."
The girl, angered by the glare, raised her hand to slap Wu Xiaojie, but was stopped by the others. "There's a surveillance camera in the classroom; we can't lay a hand on her."
The girl suppressed her anger. The other two girls grabbed Wu Xiaojie by the arms, one on each side, and forcibly dragged her out, "If you don't behave, we'll upload your photos online and let everyone see your lewdness."
A black car was parked outside the school gate.
The window rolled down, revealing the snow-white, exquisitely beautiful profile of a girl.
Su Ci had sent a message to Wu Xiaojie but hadn't received a reply.
She sat quietly in the car as the night began to fall.
After waiting for a while, Su Ci called Wu Xiaojie, but there was no answer.
Her eyes darkened, and Su Ci pushed open the car door.
It was dismissal time, and many students were leaving the school. Seeing Su Ci get out of the car, everyone was amazed by her appearance.
She wasn't wearing a school uniform, and her tender face looked like that of a student from another high school who had come to their school.
Su Ci was followed by two bodyguards, which attracted even more attention.
The guards at the school gate stopped Su Ci, as outsiders needed to register to enter.
In the girls' bathroom.
Wu Xiaojie was pushed inside. Since it was dismissal time, most students had left, and there was no one around the bathroom.
The short-haired girl handed Wu Xiaojie a cigarette. "Smoke it."
Wu Xiaojie frowned. "I don't know how."
“Don't act innocent. If you don't smoke it, we'll smoke you,” the girl lit the cigarette and handed it to Wu Xiaojie. “Take it.”
Wu Xiaojie didn't move. She knew smoking was a bad habit, and she didn't want to learn it.
The girl slapped Wu Xiaojie across the face. "Take it, are you deaf?"
Wu Xiaojie still didn't move; she wouldn't smoke.
The short-haired girl pressed the lit cigarette against Wu Xiaojie's arm.
Wu Xiaojie cried out in pain.
The short-haired girl threw away the extinguished cigarette and signaled the other two girls to teach Wu Xiaojie a lesson. Usually, they would slap her and pull her hair, but they were careful not to use excessive force.
The girls locked the bathroom door.
Wu Xiaojie bit her lip and backed away.
However, when she tried to resist and fight back, her strength was no match for the three of them combined.
Wu Xiaojie was pinned to the ground by two girls, while the short-haired girl stepped on her back. She arrogantly looked down at Wu Xiaojie, who was crying softly. "That's what you get for tattling to the teacher."
The girl picked up her phone and started taking photos of Wu Xiaojie.
Seeing Wu Xiaojie's despair, she laughed even more triumphantly.
Just as the girls were laughing loudly and bullying Wu Xiaojie, the bathroom door was suddenly kicked open. The laughing girls froze, stunned to see someone standing at the door.
Wu Xiaojie, lying on the ground and crying softly, slowly raised her head upon hearing the door open.
A girl walked in against the light, making her eyes widen in disbelief.
It was Su Ci!
Wu Xiaojie felt like she had seen a ray of light. She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, laughing and crying at the same time.
Her idol had come to save her.
"Hey, who are you?" the short-haired girl on Wu Xiaojie's back regained her composure and arrogantly questioned Su Ci.
The girl in front of them was strikingly beautiful, and she didn't look like she was from their school, or the short-haired girl would have recognized her.
For the first time, Su Ci felt such intense anger. Seeing Wu Xiaojie being stepped on the ground, a surge of fury rose in her chest.
Her exquisitely beautiful face turned cold, her gaze like icicles piercing the short-haired girl. "You deserve to die."
The short-haired girl felt a shiver run down her spine and couldn't bring herself to meet the gaze of the beautiful girl in front of her.
Su Ci coldly ordered, "You all come in."
In the girls' astonishment, three tall and muscular men in black clothes rushed in.
"Arrest them," Su Ci said emotionlessly.
"What are you doing?" The short-haired girl hadn't yet realized what was happening when, in a flash, she was pinned down by a man in black, her hands restrained. "Why are you arresting me?"
Su Ci walked up to Wu Xiaojie, bent down, and extended her hand. "Can you stand up?"
Wu Xiaojie's face was smeared with tears, her hair disheveled from being pulled. She looked at the hand extended toward her—beautiful, delicate, as immaculate as its owner.
Wu Xiaojie hesitated but eventually reached out, and in the next moment, Su Ci grasped her hand.
Su Ci pulled Wu Xiaojie to her feet and examined her injuries. "I'm sorry, I came too late." She should have rushed over the moment Wu Xiaojie didn't reply to her messages.
Wu Xiaojie shook her head, filled with gratitude and warmth, her once-frozen body now feeling warm.
In her moment of darkness, her idol had appeared.
Su Ci had pulled her out of the abyss.
Wu Xiaojie sobbed softly, feeling both wronged and happy.
Su Ci thought she was in pain and quickly pulled out a tissue. "I'll take you to the hospital soon."
Wu Xiaojie stared at Su Ci, who was gently wiping her tears, and was struck dumb by her idol's tenderness.
Her idol was so gentle.
Su Ci was truly wonderful.
After wiping Wu Xiaojie's tears, Su Ci turned her attention to the three girls who had been captured.
Her gaze was icy. "Do you enjoy bullying people?"
The short-haired girl was brazen. "Who are you? Let me go right now! My uncle is the school director. If you dare do anything to me, I won't let you off!"
"A school director? Is that enough to make you so arrogant?" Su Ci lifted her chin, exuding an even more commanding presence than the short-haired girl. "Hold them under the water."
"Yes, Miss." The bodyguards turned on the faucet and forced the girls' heads under the stream of cold water.
In this freezing weather, even touching cold water stings, let alone having it poured directly over one's head.
"Ah!"
"Let me go!"
"Help, help me!"
The girls struggled in vain.
Su Ci watched coldly. "When you were bullying others, did you ever think you'd be on the receiving end? Remember this feeling well."
She had never experienced campus violence herself, but she detested such behavior.
Especially seeing how Wu Xiaojie had been desperate and helpless, trampled on the ground with no dignity left, it had filled her with rage.
No wonder Wu Xiaojie had chosen to do something so foolish yesterday. Clearly, she had been pushed to her limits time and time again, with no hope in sight.
Thinking of the malicious bullying that had nearly cost someone their life, Su Ci's anger refused to subside.
"Do you have anything to say?" Su Ci asked.
The bodyguards stopped.
The short-haired girl spat out the water and snarled, "I'll tear your face apart!"
Su Ci's eyes remained cold. "Continue."
The bodyguards forced the girls' heads back under the faucet.
Wu Xiaojie's body had warmed up, and she watched Su Ci, who stood before her like a radiant beacon. Her heart felt as though it had been scalded by hot water, growing warmer by the moment.
Her idol was protecting her, standing up for her, and avenging her.
Wu Xiaojie couldn't help but sob softly again.
This time, she was crying out of gratitude.
Her idol was just so wonderful. She would be a fan of Su Ci for life.
Seeing that the three girls had been thoroughly humbled and no longer dared to mouth off, Su Ci ordered the bodyguards to stop.
Su Ci's voice was melodious but cold. "Take them to the police station. I'll take Wu Xiaojie to get her injuries checked. You're all over eighteen, right? You're adults now, and what you did to Wu Xiaojie constitutes intentional assault. You'll have to face criminal charges."
At this, the three girls were truly frightened.
Hearing they were going to be sent to the police station, the freezing and trembling girls begged tearfully, "I'm sorry, please don't call the police, we were wrong."
"I don't want to go to jail, I don't want to go to jail!" One of the girls, with long hair, started crying uncontrollably.
The short-haired girl was also terrified. She had only bullied Wu Xiaojie for fun; she never imagined such consequences. "Don't call the police, please, I'm sorry, I was wrong, don't call the police..."
The three girls were in a state of panic, their words incoherent.
Su Ci was not one to be easily swayed, especially given how these three had nearly driven Wu Xiaojie to death.
If she hadn't intervened in time, Wu Xiaojie would have been dead, and these three wouldn't have realized how cruel they had been.
Su Ci spoke: "Take them to the police station."
"Yes, Miss."
The three girls were dragged out, screaming in terror, one of them nearly fainting.
Su Ci accompanied Wu Xiaojie to the hospital.
Wu Xiaojie's face was swollen on one side, her arms bore burn marks from cigarette butts, and her body had bruises in other places.
After the medical report was completed, Su Ci had it sent to the police station. As for how the case would be judged based on the injuries, Su Ci would not interfere.
At the school, Su Ci also hired a lawyer to handle the matter. Upon learning about Wu Xiaojie's experience with campus violence, the school quickly convened a meeting, and as a result, both the grade director and the homeroom teacher were fired.
Wu's Father and Wu's Mother were so grateful they wanted to kneel before Su Ci, but she stopped them.
That night, Su Ci met with Lu Zhe.
"I suddenly realized I can do good deeds," Su Ci leaned against Lu Zhe's chest and sighed.
Lu Zhe corrected her. "You've always been doing good deeds."
She had saved many lives.
Su Ci shook her head. "It's different." Before, she had saved people for Lu Zhe, for the sake of earning gold.
She had never considered herself a kind person. She knew her heart was cold, and if not for Lu Zhe, she might not have saved those people.
After all, in her previous life, when she died, those around her had been indifferent, no one had come to her rescue.
Now, she realized her thinking had changed.
She found it incredible and oddly moving that her small efforts could save a life, could change someone's fate.
For the first time, she felt that her actions of saving people had real meaning.
Her heart had warmed.
Su Ci looked up, her hands cupping Lu Zhe's cheeks. "I want to save more people."
"Mmm," Lu Zhe gazed at her intently. "I'll be with you."
Whatever she wanted to do, he would be by her side.
Su Ci's eyes curved into a smile, and she joyously kissed Lu Zhe.
She hoped to save more lives, she hoped Lu Zhe would recover soon, and she hoped that by doing good deeds and accumulating virtue, their future child wouldn't inherit the disease of gradual freezing.
