The next day, Ji Zhaoxi arrived at school early again.
However, right after entering the school gates, she was dragged back out.
She was cornered in an alley, just as Mother Ji had warned.
A boy looked down at her from his taller vantage point, his expression hostile.
"Are you the one who's always bullying Jiang Shiyi?"
As soon as he spoke, Ji Zhaoxi knew who the person in front of her was.
Jiang Shiyi's younger brother, Jiang Zhen.
Jiang Zhen had a massive sister complex and had loved clinging to Jiang Shiyi since they were kids.
One of the reasons Jiang Shiyi had such a good temper but never got bullied was because of this violent brother of hers.
Looking at the fierce and vicious boy in front of her, Ji Zhaoxi's first instinct was to run.
"Bang—"
A fist slammed heavily against the wall, and the wind from the impact ruffled Ji Zhaoxi's bangs.
Jiang Zhen glared at her coldly. "Trying to run?"
Ji Zhaoxi leaned stiffly against the wall. She tried to reason with Jiang Zhen, but the moment she saw his expression, she chickened out.
Feeling as though all hope was lost, Ji Zhaoxi lowered her head and stared at the leaves on the ground.
Jiang Zhen frowned as he sized up Ji Zhaoxi. She looked quiet and gentle, even a bit cowardly—the very picture of an honest, well-behaved girl.
He never expected that even this kind of seemingly harmless person would dare to bully Jiang Shiyi.
He couldn't even imagine what kind of living hell Jiang Shiyi was going through right now!
Seeing that Jiang Zhen was about to get agitated again, Ji Zhaoxi quickly forced a smile.
"I won't dare do it again."
Jiang Zhen scoffed coldly and took a step back from her. "You might not know who I am, but let me tell you, I don't care about gender when I beat people up."
Ji Zhaoxi nodded repeatedly and praised him earnestly, "Very impressive."
Looking into her sincere eyes, Jiang Zhen choked on his words.
He hated this kind of spineless bootlicker the most. Absolutely no backbone.
Seeing that Jiang Zhen had nothing left to say, Ji Zhaoxi hitched up her backpack and scurried away without a trace.
As soon as Ji Zhaoxi left, the expression on Jiang Zhen's face instantly twisted in pain. He shook his hand vigorously.
He had punched the wall way too hard just now! It hurt so much!
The moment she returned to the classroom, the well-behaved Ji Zhaoxi went looking for Jiang Shiyi aggressively.
When she walked past Xie Sili, he was just raising his hand, ready to receive a letter, but Ji Zhaoxi walked right past him.
Xie Sili: ?
"Jiang Shiyi!" Ji Zhaoxi was so angry her hands were trembling.
She was going to take all this anger out on Jiang Shiyi!
The surrounding gazes instantly focused on her. Ji Zhaoxi immediately lost her nerve, reverting to her usual gloomy and cowardly self.
"Classmate Jiang Shiyi, could you come out for a moment?" she asked in a small voice.
Jiang Shiyi gave her a surprised look and followed her out.
In a quiet corner of the campus.
"How could you be so awful? Acting like you like me in front of others, but secretly sending your brother to teach me a lesson behind my back," Ji Zhaoxi glared at her angrily.
Mindful of the passing students, she lowered her voice. Her tone carried a trace of jealousy, looking exactly like someone who was envious of Jiang Shiyi but had no choice but to compromise.
"Everyone likes you, your grades are so good, and you have so much. And I just... I just said a few things about you, so why did you have someone come warn me!"
Jiang Shiyi furrowed her brows tightly, her expression extremely serious.
Ji Zhaoxi began to blow things out of proportion: "You just look down on me, don't you? You despise me..."
"Zhaoxi, I didn't know about this," Jiang Shiyi interrupted her, looking at her earnestly. "I had no idea my brother went to find you."
"I never told him anything about what's going on between us. He must have heard some rumors from somewhere."
Jiang Shiyi sighed and firmly grasped her hands. "I will drag him here to apologize to you. Even if I have to break his legs, I will make him apologize."
Ji Zhaoxi stared at her, dumbfounded.
How could she be going even further than a vicious female supporting character like herself, directly stealing her spotlight? How could this be allowed?
"No way! If anyone is going to break his legs, it has to be me!"
Jiang Shiyi nodded. "Of course. I'll bring the tools for you when the time comes. What kind of tools are you good at using? An iron rod, or something else?"
Ji Zhaoxi fell completely silent.
She looked into Jiang Shiyi's eyes. They were filled with absolute sincerity, without the slightest hint of a joke.
What was wrong with Jiang Shiyi?
Ji Zhaoxi's lips twitched. "Um... actually, there's no need to break his legs. It's not that serious. Just having him apologize to me is fine."
Jiang Shiyi nodded emphatically. "Don't worry, Zhaoxi. I will definitely give you a proper explanation."
Ji Zhaoxi silently followed Jiang Shiyi back to the classroom. The other students in the class looked at them with probing eyes.
Meanwhile, Xie Sili waited the entire day but never received his love letter and cake.
At the Jiang residence.
"What happened?" Jiang Shiyi frowned as she looked at Jiang Zhen limping.
Jiang Zhen plopped down heavily onto the sofa, cursing under his breath. "I accidentally tripped while coming downstairs just now. Sis, you have to be super careful."
He had already applied some medicine, but it was still swollen.
Jiang Shiyi glanced at his foot and, seeing that it wasn't anything major, felt relieved.
"Tomorrow, you're coming with me to apologize to Zhaoxi."
Jiang Zhen was so angry he jumped right up. His foot gave a jolt of pain, and he collapsed back onto the sofa in agony. "On what grounds?! She bullies you, and I have to apologize to her?!"
"That little snitch! Did she go and tattle on me to you? How does she have the nerve?! She bullies you and then complains to you about it!"
The mere thought of Ji Zhaoxi's meek, submissive, and supposedly honest appearance that morning made his hands shake with rage.
"Looking all innocent and honest, but doing things that completely contradict her face."
"Jiang Zhen." Jiang Shiyi's tone carried a hint of warning.
"Where did you hear all this nonsense? My relationship with her... is a bit complicated. You are coming with me to apologize tomorrow."
Jiang Zhen looked at her in disbelief. "Sis, are you crazy?"
"Wasn't she the one who secretly hid your homework so the teacher would scold you?"
"Wasn't she the one talking bad about you behind your back, saying you're two-faced?"
"And wasn't she the one who wrote a letter cursing you out?!"
Jiang Zhen really thought Jiang Shiyi had lost her mind.
Whenever these things were brought up, Jiang Shiyi felt helpless. She understood a lot of it, but she just didn't know how to explain it to others.
"Jiang Zhen, you've really misunderstood. Zhaoxi doesn't hate me. She... probably likes me," Jiang Shiyi hesitantly revealed the truth.
The living room fell dead silent.
Jiang Zhen looked at Jiang Shiyi as if she were a psychopath.
Jiang Shiyi also felt a bit of a headache coming on, but thinking about all those things Ji Zhaoxi had done, a faint smile couldn't help but surface on her face.
Ji Zhaoxi often stared at her. No matter what she was doing, she would always end up making eye contact with her. And whenever that happened, Ji Zhaoxi would blush and lower her head.
Moreover, she often got jealous over her. Every time there were a lot of people crowding around her, Ji Zhaoxi would get upset and deliberately say certain things just to catch her attention.
Jiang Shiyi saw it all very clearly.
Growing up, she had never lacked friends. Her status and her personality destined her to attract many people.
But someone like Ji Zhaoxi was actually a first for her.
She clumsily tried to attract her attention, yet whenever she approached, she couldn't help but shrink back.
Actually, there had been several times when Jiang Shiyi wanted to take the initiative to befriend Ji Zhaoxi, but she was afraid of scaring her off.
She was like a little turtle; the moment there was the slightest rustle in the grass outside, she would retreat right back into her shell.
Jiang Zhen watched Jiang Shiyi, who was chuckling one second and looking distressed the next.
He mentally debated whether he should find a spiritual master to examine her.
What if they are possessed by a ghost?
