Yu Zheng: “Sis, let’s handle this like civilized people. I just negotiated with Old Shao, and Qizhi has finally agreed to compensate our students. They weren’t planning to arrange anything for tonight, but as extra compensation, they’re giving us access to the astronomy observation room this evening.”
Yu Xiaxing was puzzled…
Wasn’t Fifth Brother supposed to fall out with them outright?
How had he managed to negotiate successfully without throwing a punch this time?
Yu Xiaxing fanned the flames. “Bro, the classes have been arranged… but what’s the deal with food and lodging? Why does Mingde get a buffet while we get boxed meals? Listen to me—go tell them to eat dirt!”
Yu Zheng: “Silly girl, if we’d actually resorted to violence, your renewal mission would definitely have gone down the drain. This is the first time you’ve asked your brother for help. How could I ruin things for you?”
Yu Xiaxing: “…”
No way! So he only started fights when it was his own business, but when it came to hers, he actually held back?
Then why had she brought him along?
Yu Xiaxing: “No! They’re looking down on us like this, and I’d rather give up on the renewal than swallow this humiliation! You two come take a look at the lounge right now. It isn’t just Qizhi—the school next door has been insulting us too!”
Lu Yanzhao: “That’s right. The other school is being incredibly arrogant. I spoke to them very politely just now, but they kept trying to smooth things over.”
He even sent the recording of the conversation to the group chat.
Lu Yanzhao: “We have to fight back to protect our interests. And with this recording, we can prove that we tried to communicate first and only retaliated because we had no other choice. We’ll be standing on the moral high ground.”
Yu Xiaxing: “Fight! Fight! Fight! Kill! Kill! Kill!!!”
Yu Zheng: “You two are way too hot-blooded! [Strong][Strong][Strong] What else can I say? I’m in!”
Yu Xiaxing: “Wait for my instructions!”
Yu Xiaxing began eating while sending the devious ideas she had just come up with to the group chat.
…
Not far away, Little Jiang sat in a corner, still silently shedding tears. She couldn’t eat a single bite.
Suddenly, a girl from another class sat down beside her. She voluntarily exposed her own wounds in order to comfort her.
“Don’t be upset. I’ve been tricked too, actually.”
“One day, I was out shopping when a man suddenly stopped me with a microphone. He said he was filming makeover videos for ordinary people and asked if I was interested.”
“At the time, those makeover videos were really popular. They’d transform an ordinary person’s image until they looked as beautiful as a celebrity.”
“I wasn’t confident about my looks either, and I really wanted to know whether I could become pretty. I was already imagining how I’d show off my makeover in my social media posts.”
“Besides, he said the place was a hair salon right on the street. I figured the windows and doors were transparent, so they definitely couldn’t do anything to me. So I went.”
“But all they did was cut my hair. Afterward, they demanded 1,600 yuan as the makeover fee, saying that their executive master stylist had done the transformation and that was the price.”
“I argued with them, but they said they had never promised anywhere that the makeover would be free. Since I had received the service, I had to pay. Otherwise, they’d go to my school and make trouble, saying I’d gotten a haircut without paying.”
“I was too scared, so I paid in the end. I didn’t even dare tell my family because I was afraid my parents would scold me.”
“Then today, I read the school’s anti-fraud guide and learned that taking advantage of people’s shame is also one of the scammers’ favorite ways to manipulate them.”
“They specifically target girls like us who look honest and harmless, because we’re too embarrassed and timid to make a big fuss.”
“You even dared to tell your mother and go to the police together. You were really brave! I admire you so much!”
Jiang Tinglan looked at her gratefully. “Thank you for comforting me. I thought you would all make fun of me too.”
“How could we?” the girl said. “The handbook the school gave us says that scammers nowadays are experts at manipulating people. They know exactly how to stab at our pain points. How wary are we supposed to be before it’s enough?”
Another student overheard them mentioning “Board Director Yu” and came over as well.
He said aggrievedly, “It’s a shame Board Director Yu didn’t come today. If she were here, she definitely wouldn’t stand by and watch us get bullied like this.”
Jiang Tinglan nodded. “Exactly. Board Director Yu would definitely find a way to stand up for us!”
Although none of them had ever met Yu Xiaxing, they had already conjured up an image of her in their minds: a fierce older sister in a suit, afraid of nothing and willing to charge straight into any fight!
—
Half an hour later.
Outside the cafeteria.
Several Mingde students had finished eating and were chatting at the entrance, all of them looking relaxed and exhilarated.
Zhao Chengyu had just finished his meal as well. He was holding a bottle of sparkling water and telling his classmates about the morning’s experiment.
“Honestly, that procedure was definitely easy for us. But if the students from Shengde tried it, they probably wouldn’t even be able to tell the reagents apart.”
The students beside him laughed. “Hahaha, I was worried they wouldn’t even understand you if you talked to them.”
Zhao Chengyu wore an especially smug smile.
Just then, a tall, slender figure holding a black umbrella slowly approached from the other end of the corridor.
The Mingde students didn’t notice him at first.
Not until he walked straight up to Zhao Chengyu and stopped in front of him.
The black umbrella tilted slightly, revealing a handsome, cool-looking face beneath it.
The man was dressed in a crisp suit, his manner composed and elegant. He looked just like the wealthy young lady’s butler from an anime.
Zhao Chengyu looked up at the unfamiliar man in confusion.
This was Lu Yanzhao. Since his earlier conversation with the teacher had taken place outside the lounge, none of the students from the other school had seen or recognized him.
Lu Yanzhao raised the black umbrella over Zhao Chengyu’s head and said respectfully, “Young Master. The press conference has been moved up. The old master sent me to bring you home.”
Zhao Chengyu: “…”
The other students: “…”
After several seconds of silence, the students’ eyes lit up.
“Holy crap?”
“What’s going on?”
“Zhao Chengyu, I had no idea you were a rich young master! Wait, your family has a press conference too?”
Zhao Chengyu quickly caught on. This was that popular short-video prank from the internet—someone in a sharp suit would suddenly call you “Young Master” in front of a crowd and come to take you home, all for the sake of showing off in public.
Sometimes, when he was walking down the street, he imagined this exact scene himself.
Being taken home by a wealthy family out of nowhere, leaving his ordinary life behind forever!
A surge of uncontrollable excitement welled up inside Zhao Chengyu.
Of course, he knew this was just for a comedic short video.
But that didn’t make it any less satisfying!
Especially with so many classmates watching!
And the man in front of him had such an elegant air. He looked exactly like a real wealthy family’s butler!
Zhao Chengyu immediately stood up and pretended to calmly straighten the collar of his school uniform.
“That soon? Is the old master getting impatient?”
Lu Yanzhao gave a slight nod. “Yes. The car is waiting.”
Zhao Chengyu suppressed the corners of his mouth, then turned around and waved at his classmates.
“Sorry, guys. I’m done pretending—I’m coming clean. I’m a wealthy young master. I’m going home!”
