Fuchun Gardens, Baoli City.
Fuchun Gardens was not a garden, but a high-end residential district in Baoli City. It featured uniform rows of upscale villas, and the cars coming and going were almost exclusively luxury name brands. The residents were naturally not ordinary folks; they were almost all prominent figures in Baoli City, individuals of significant standing.
In the living room of Villa No. 18, Fuchun Gardens, Ning Weiwei was sobbing uncontrollably in front of a middle-aged woman, having become a pitiful figure awash in tears. The left side of her face was swollen, bearing a distinct handprint.
"ViVi, don't cry. Your father will be home soon," the middle-aged woman said softly, gently patting Ning Weiwei's back to comfort her.
The woman was Ning Weiwei's mother, Mrs. Zhong. At that moment, she half-held her daughter, feeling both heartache and anger. The heartache, of course, was for her daughter—she had only gone to school during the day and had returned beaten like this. If her cheek swelled any more, she'd likely look like she had a pig's face. The anger was directed at the person who had struck her daughter. In Baoli City, the Ning family was a colossal clan that could make the city tremble with a single stomp. That someone dared to hit her precious daughter was simply an affront, a blatant disregard for the Ning family's standing.
One continued to comfort, the other continued to weep.
Not long after, a middle-aged man in his forties walked slowly into the living room. Seeing the mother and daughter, he frowned slightly, a look of puzzlement on his face. "What's going on? Why is ViVi crying so bitterly?"
Preoccupied with comforting her daughter, Mrs. Zhong hadn't noticed the man's entrance. Hearing his voice, she looked up, her face brightening. "Husband, you're finally back. ViVi was bullied at school."
The man was none other than Ning Zhongtian, the current public-facing head of the Ning family.
Hearing this, Ning Zhongtian was momentarily taken aback. That someone had struck his daughter was hard for him to believe. In Baoli City, the Ning family stood at the pinnacle of the four great clans. Who would dare provoke them? Usually, he only heard about his daughter bullying others; how could someone dare bully hisdaughter? However, seeing his daughter's heavily swollen cheek and the clear palm print, he finally believed Mrs. Zhong's words. His daughter had indeed been bullied. His expression immediately darkened. "How is ViVi's face?" he asked with concern.
"Dad..." At her father's question, Ning Weiwei's tears flowed even more freely. Girls cherish their beauty, especially their faces. Now, half her face was swollen almost like a pig's head. How could she face anyone? Having it mentioned again naturally plunged her into renewed despair.
"Alright, ViVi, be a good girl, don't cry," Mrs. Zhong quickly offered more comfort. Once Ning Weiwei's sobs subsided slightly, she looked up at Ning Zhongtian and said softly, "Doctor He has already seen her. It's nothing serious, just some superficial tissue damage. The swelling should go down in a couple of days."
"I see." Ning Zhongtian gave a slight nod, somewhat relieved. Then, his tone shifted, carrying a hint of anger. "Who? Who dared bully ViVi? You said she was beaten at school? At Qin Yuan Academy?"
Mrs. Zhong gave a soft affirmation and continued, "I don't know the specifics, only the gist. She was slapped."
Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Ning Zhongtian's eyes. Rage ignited within him. In Baoli City, the Ning family wasthe law. That someone dared to slap his daughter's face was a direct slap to the Ning family's honor—something he absolutely could not tolerate. However, as the public head of the contemporary Ning family, though furious inside, he maintained a calm exterior. In an even tone, he said, "ViVi, tell your father exactly what happened."
Ning Weiwei managed to stifle her sobs and began, "Dad, it was like this..."
She spoke for a full five minutes before stopping. She didn't hide anything, knowing this matter wasn't known only to her. Given her father's character, he would undoubtedly investigate the incident thoroughly before taking any action. Hiding anything would only work against her.
Ning Zhongtian listened carefully to his daughter's account, his brow slightly furrowed. After a few seconds of silence, he asked thoughtfully, "So, you struck her first?"
Ning Weiwei said nothing, just nodded honestly.
From his daughter's narration, he understood the sequence of events. His daughter, over that Ouyang family boy, had slapped someone first, only to be slapped back. In terms of who was in the wrong, his daughter bore more blame. Moreover, many students from the academy had witnessed it. If he were to openly seek trouble with the person who hit his daughter now, it would inevitably invite criticism. After all, the Ning family had a reputation to uphold; face was still important.
"It seems some discreet measures are necessary."
After some consideration, Ning Zhongtian settled on his final course of action.
Seeing her father remain silent, Ning Weiwei grew anxious and called out, "Dad..."
Before she could say more, Ning Zhongtian raised a hand to stop her. "Alright, ViVi, Dad understands. Rest well at home these next few days. As for the person who hit you, I'll have someone handle it. He will pay the price."
...
The news that the Ning family's young lady had been slapped soon spread like wildfire through Qin Yuan Academy, causing quite a stir. Usually, people only heard about Ning Weiwei bullying others. This time, the tables were turned—she had been bullied. Rumor had it her face was swollen like a pig's head. How could the students not be shocked? For a time, this incident became a hot topic of conversation over meals and during breaks.
"That person is too harsh. She's still a girl, after all. To slap her face into a pig's head... I heard Ning Weiwei doesn't even dare show her face now."
"Harsh? Served her right! Haven't you seen how arrogant she usually is? Flaunting her status as the Ning family's precious daughter to bully this one and that one. Without her family backing her, what is she? Well struck! Bravo!"
"Hey, keep your voice down! If those words reach Ning Weiwei's ears, you'll be in trouble. But I admire that guy. Do you think he genuinely didn't know who Ning Weiwei was, or he simply didn't care about her status? Rumor has it he only recently entered Qin Yuan, and he's just an auditing student. Maybe he has some powerful background himself?"
...
Similar conversations could be heard in many corners of Qin Yuan Academy, varying only in tone and perspective. Some gloated and enjoyed the spectacle, some secretly praised and admired, others scorned and cursed...
However, Bai Hao, the person at the center of it all, had no mind to listen to gossip. He was unaware of the sensational news his single slap had generated. He continued his routine, shuttling between two points, going about his work and studies as if nothing had happened.
"It's the third day today. They probably won't come looking for trouble, right?"
As dusk approached, Bai Hao hurriedly left the academy gates after his afternoon classes, silently calculating the situation with Ning Weiwei in his mind. After learning about the Ning family from Ye Xiangyi, he had researched them online. What he found made his heart sink further. The Ning family's influence was even greater than he had imagined. He really had stirred up a hornet's nest this time. However, he wasn't so afraid that he dared not go out. This was a society governed by law. Matters should follow procedures. It was just a slap, after all. Surely they wouldn't literally skin him alive.
As the sun set in the west, Qin Yuan Academy took on an added charm. The flowers blooming vibrantly beside the paths, nestled amidst the lush greenery, seemed gilded by the twilight's afterglow, exceptionally beautiful.
Yet, Bai Hao had no mind to appreciate the scenery. He simply walked briskly with his head down.
Suddenly, a figure blocked his path—a youth of about seventeen or eighteen. Dressed in Qin Yuan Academy's black and white uniform, his face wore a brilliant smile, his eyes shining as he stared directly at Bai Hao. Behind him stood a tall man, nearly two meters tall, also in uniform. He was robust, with faintly visible muscles in his arms. However, judging by his posture, he seemed more like the youth's attendant.
Bai Hao slowed his pace, looking the two over. He instantly sensed a hint of danger. It didn't come from the smiling youth, but from the nearly two-meter-tall man.
"Has the Ning family finally come?" Bai Hao's brow furrowed slightly. His hands clenched into fists, instantly adopting a defensive stance. Yet, the smile on the youth's face didn't seem malicious.
"Classmate, can I help you?" Bai Hao asked politely, taking the initiative.
The youth chuckled gleefully, his face full of excitement. "Hehe, big brother, you're the one who slapped that Ning chick to the ground, right?"
Bai Hao's expression changed slightly. After a few seconds of silence, he said slowly, "What do you want?"
Taking this as confirmation, the youth seemed to have definitively identified Bai Hao as the person he was looking for. His face lit up with excitement. "It really is you! I've been looking for you for two days. Hehe, big brother, let me be your小弟 (sidekick)! I totally admire you!"
"Sidekick?" Bai Hao was momentarily stunned, but a sliver of vigilance immediately arose in his mind. What was this guy playing at? Unless he was mistaken, the man behind him was an expert. From his sharp, piercing gaze, Bai Hao could faintly sense a thread of danger.
"What's wrong, big brother? Don't want to take me on? I'm not some useless guy. I can eat, drink, sleep, and fight. If you're willing to have me, I'll listen to you in everything." The youth straightened his posture, patting his chest.
Seeing this, Bai Hao's mouth twitched slightly. He declined, "I'm sorry, I don't take on sidekicks. Please move aside."
"Ah..." Upon hearing this, a flicker of disappointment appeared in the youth's eyes, though the brilliant smile remained on his face. He persisted, "Big brother, think about it. I'll obey your commands completely. You point east, I won't go west. You point... big brother..."
Before the youth could finish, Bai Hao simply walked around him and continued forward. However, after just two steps, a thick, long arm blocked his path.
The one stopping Bai Hao was the tall man with the somewhat expressionless face standing behind the youth. His eyes were like electricity, fixed intently on Bai Hao, a chill seeming to emanate from his pupils.
Bai Hao's steps faltered. He took a step back, a cold expression immediately appearing on his face.
The youth quickly stepped forward to intervene. "A-Kuan, mind your manners. Sorry, big brother, please go ahead."
Hearing this, the tall man immediately withdrew his arm.
Seeing this, Bai Hao's expression relaxed slightly.
The youth looked disappointed. "Sigh, big brother, if you're not willing, forget it. But you should be careful recently. The Ning family probably won't let this go easily."
"Mhm, I know. Thanks," Bai Hao said flatly and then walked away briskly.
The youth watched Bai Hao's retreating figure, sighed softly, and shook his head.
"Young Master, what act are you putting on this time?" The man called A-Kuan beside him looked puzzled. His young master was not the type to be someone's sidekick. On S2, he was notoriously known as the frivolous, unscrupulous, infamous... Second Young Master of the Hua family. Having been on S3 for less than three months, how could he "willingly degrade himself" to become another's sidekick ? Did the young master have some new mischievous whim?