In the principal's office,
"Qiao Ying, you have good grades. I know the principal favors you." The department chair had an unhappy expression on his face, holding an acupuncture kit in his hand: "But you were in the wrong here. How can you still act so self-righteously and make a scene all the way to the principal to plead your case?"
I originally thought that with Qiao Ying's good grades and her being a math genius, she would be an obedient and sensible student.
I didn't expect her to be arrogant and willful, relying on her skills and the principal's favoritism, not taking me, the department chair, seriously at all.
"Principal, she was drinking alcohol in the dorm and had such dangerous objects on her. If she got drunk, it would be dangerous for all of us!" Li Shiyin followed along, fanning the flames.
She wished for the incident to escalate, hopefully with everyone knowing Qiao Ying is an alcoholic who carries weapons on her, who knows what crazy things she might do if she got drunk, maybe stab people with needles.
Zhang Chengyong looked at the so-called dangerous objects in the department chair's hands, speechless: "Department Chair Huang, our Peking University does have a medical college after all. Is this thing really a weapon... Haven't you at least seen pigs run, even if you've never eaten pork?"
That thing had just been stuck on his head a few days ago.
Li Shiyin spoke first: "Qiao Ying isn't from the medical college. As a computer science student, it's not appropriate for her to have this kind of thing on her, don't you agree?"
Zhang Chengyong: What's inappropriate about it?
Just as Zhang Chengyong was about to say more, Qiao Ying stopped him with her eyes.
Seeing that Principal Zhang had nothing more to defend her with, Li Shiyin became even more unscrupulous, exaggerating more and more, turning a minor incident into something extremely awful, making it seem as if Qiao Ying had stabbed someone with needles while drunk.
Zhang Chengyong tried to speak up several times but was stopped by Qiao Ying's looks each time.
Zhang Chengyong was confused, blinking his eyes at Qiao Ying repeatedly in inquiry.
This wasn't like Qiao Ying's personality at all. If she didn't want to speak up for herself that was one thing, but why wouldn't she let him speak either? Don't tell him she had an ace up her sleeve...
Li Shiyin had already talked herself hoarse, "This is not a minor issue. The nature of this is far more egregious than you think it is. You cannot show favoritism to her just because she has good grades."
Zhang Chengyong: "So how do you want to handle this?"
Looking at Qiao Ying, Li Shiyin said arrogantly: "Issue a school-wide criticism, demerit, even expulsion."
"Make her apologize to the three of us too."
As soon as Qin Hanyue pushed the door open, he heard Li Shiyin's preposterous words.
He walked in with big strides, voice cold and low: "What does she need to apologize to you for?"
Behind him was a train of people.
Turning to look, Li Shiyin and the others froze.
So handsome!
Li Shiyin's family owned three or four companies with sizable assets and did quite well for themselves business-wise.
Among Beijing's wealthy circles they could be considered upper class.
The social circles they engaged in couldn't compare to the likes of Huo Zhendong or Su Qingyu, but they also counted among high society.
Having followed her father around, Li Shiyin had seen her share of good-looking and refined young masters from wealthy and powerful families.
In Li Shiyin's eyes, they were already the cream of the crop.
Yet compared to the man before her eyes now, they were nothing.
Li Shiyin stared at Qin Hanyue, heart thumping loudly.
Just as she was indulging in her infatuation, a loud smack landed on her face.
With a shriek, Li Shiyin clutched her stinging cheek and stared dumbfounded at the person who had appeared next to her out of nowhere.
It took her a moment to react: "Dad?"
"Dad, what are you doing here? Why did you hit me?"
"Didn't I tell you not to cause trouble here? Yet what did you do! It hasn't even been a few days!" Li's father was furious to the point of fainting.
"Of all people you could have provoked, you provoked the Qin family! Do you think your life is too long?!" Li's father was scared to death.
"Qin family? What Qin family?" Bewildered, Li Shiyin looked at the tall man walking towards Qiao Ying.
How was this possible?!
Qiao Ying was a country bumpkin. How could she possibly know anyone from the Qin family, much less the person in charge at Qin Group and Qin Group's Chairman?
"Which Qin family do you mean?" Li's father asked through gritted teeth. "Which other Qin family is there in Beijing?!"
At some point, Qiao Ying had sat down on the sofa
and was using Principal Zhang's tea set to make tea.
Qin Hanyue sat down across from her: "I'm honored you would think to call me for something so minor." He reached out naturally to take the teapot from Qiao Ying's hand and poured her a cup, serving it to her first.
Qiao Ying took it. Just as she was about to drink it, she remembered Principal Zhang at the desk. Looking over at him, she held up her tea cup, silently asking if he wanted some.
Zhang Chengyong waved his hand - he would have some later.
To think this girl had called in Qin Hanyue!
When had these two gotten so close?
Qiao Ying took a sip before responding to Qin Hanyue: "That needle you gifted me, that luggage you bought for me - it was only fitting to call you."
Most importantly, they feared Qin Hanyue.
Businessmen especially feared the Qins like they feared the god of death, the likes of Li Shiyin's family even more so.
Not only was it questionable whether it was appropriate to lay hands on her here, if they accidentally went too far...
Qin Hanyue could teach their whole families a lasting lesson!
Li Shiyin was bewildered. "The Qin family Dad mentioned?"
She couldn't believe it as she looked at Qiao Ying chatting casually with Qin Hanyue over tea.
How was this possible?!
Qiao Ying, a country bumpkin. How could she possibly know anyone from the Qin family, much less someone on the level of the Qin Group's Chairman, the decision maker of the Qin clan.
"Chairman Qin, I did not teach my daughter well, inadvertently offending you... You are a generous man..."
Li's father dragged Li Shiyin over in front of the two people on the sofa, explaining while wiping sweat, legs shaking so hard they threatened to give out any moment. After stuttering his way through his words, he turned to his daughter, "Quick, apologize to Chairman Qin."
Li Shiyin was dumbfounded. "I..."
Li's father bellowed, "What do you mean 'I'? Apologize to Chairman Qin!"
Li Shiyin: "Chairman Qin, I'm sorry."
Qin Hanyue glanced coolly at Li's father. "Wrong. She should be apologizing to Miss Qiao."
Li's father looked at Qiao Ying. Without another thought, he bent at the waist. "Miss Qiao, I'm sorry, truly very sorry."
After a good long while of apologies, he made his daughter apologize too.
Looking at Qin Hanyue, the sheer terror sunk in for Li Shiyin. She swallowed before stuttering out her apology to Qiao Ying, "...Qiao Ying, I'm s-sorry, I'm sorry."
Afraid that was not sincere enough, Li's father pushed his daughter's head down forcefully, bending at the waist as he said "I'm sorry" to Qiao Ying over a dozen times.
Upon learning Qin Hanyue's identity, Li Shiyin was so frightened she was about to cry, voice tinged with sobs.
For a time, only father and daughter's apologies could be heard.
In the quiet that followed,
Qin Hanyue said to Qiao Ying: "Not bad tea."
Qiao Ying: "Not too bad."
The two continued their tea and chat, paying no mind to those around them.
The Li father and daughter stood rigidly to the side, tense as prisoners awaiting sentencing, fearing a sentence of death or severe punishment.
When Qin Hanyue deemed enough time had passed,
he unhurriedly asked Qiao Ying: "You mentioned earlier that needle I gifted you to save lives was labeled a weapon?"
Department Chair Huang nearly threw down the acupuncture kit in his hands, cold sweat beading on his forehead as he hurried to cradle it in both hands.
It sank in for Li Shiyin - the item belonging to Qiao Ying was actually a gift from Qin Hanyue?
Qiao Ying added: "And also my wine. My last bottle. Not that expensive either, just 23 million."
Li Shiyin wanted to exclaim: "You're robbing people in broad daylight!"
But she didn't dare.
"I'll repay it, I'll repay everything!" Li's father said quickly.
Qiao Ying said lightly: "Repay what? Repay the wine? That's a collectible."
Money couldn't buy it even if one had money.
Li's father was about to kneel: "You say...how to repay..."
Qiao Ying: "Ten times over. Not a cent less."
Li's father's eyes bulged wide, pupils constricting.
He wanted to pop a lifesaving pill.
Li Shiyin didn't dare make a peep.
Wiping sweat, Li's father said: "Ten times over. I'll repay it."
Qiao Ying: "You're lucky the wine I drank was the cheapest bottle. Just 2.3 million."
Then she asked Qin Hanyue: "How much did that luggage set you back?"
It felt like Li's father's heart stopped beating for a moment as he swallowed nervously.
Qin Hanyue looked at Li's father who seemed to be having trouble breathing, showing a rare bit of kindness: "Don't remember, old Mr. Li can just repay as he deems fit."
Kind?
To Li's father, it sounded more like "I dare you to shortchange me."
Wasn't Qin Hanyue just putting him on the spot? Even if Li father repaid with every asset from his companies, that would probably barely count as pocket change to Qin Hanyue right?
Li Shiyin didn't dare make a single sound.
In addition, the way he called "Old Chief" made him really nervous and insecure!
