"Tang Yuan! Big brother's here!" As soon as he entered Tang Yuan's room, Gu Zhijing hugged the cat and smothered it with kisses, his voice turning into a high-pitched squeal.
"Don't get too excited, you'll scare Tang Yuan," Nian Suian reminded him.
"How could I? Tang Yuan loves his big brother the most, right? After all, I'm the one who rescued him~"
"Meow~"
"See, he said he likes me best."
While playing with the cat using a teaser toy, Nian Suian asked the two, "How come you both came up together today?"
Gu Zhijing put the cat down, letting it play with the toy, "I went to your room earlier looking for you, but didn't find you. I ran into my dad instead, and since I had something to discuss, I asked him to come up with me."
"What did you want to see me about?"
"I wanted to borrow some more of your skincare products, you know, for maintenance," Gu Zhijing said while touching his face.
Nian Suian burst out laughing, "Hahaha, I'll pick out a new set for you later. What works for me might not suit you."
"Great!"
Not satisfied with just touching his own face, Gu Zhijing reached out to touch his father's as well.
Of course, Gu Junxing dodged him.
"Dad, I think you should get some skincare products too. You know, whitening, anti-wrinkle, the works. Your skin's getting rough with age."
"Gu Zhijing! I may not know if my skin is rough, but I do know you're itching for a spanking."
"What are you talking about!" Gu Zhijing protested, "I'm just being honest. The other day I was video chatting with mom, and she looks so much younger than you now. You can't even tell they're the same age. Plus, mom's got a new boyfriend, a 23-year-old mixed-race hunk who's 6'2". Little Mother-Sister is so young and beautiful, isn't it embarrassing if you don't take care of yourself?"
Gu Zhijing kept his guard up while speaking, fearing his father might hit him.
However, Gu Junxing didn't react much. It was Nian Suian who exclaimed, "Wow, your mom is so cool, Zhijing. I'm so envious. I've never had it that good in my life."
"..."
Gu Junxing... Gu Junxing's face darkened.
"Weren't you going to tell us about Wang Jiayao? Hurry up, it's getting late."
"Oh right, right, I almost forgot."
"What happened with them? Did the school resolve it?"
Gu Zhijing nodded, then shook his head, unsure if it could be considered resolved.
"They both came back before school ended this afternoon, but Li Yaxin didn't say anything."
When Li Yaxin returned to class, her classmates were indeed curious. Some even asked a few questions, but Li Yaxin didn't say anything. She rarely spoke anyway, so the classmates didn't find it too strange and gave up after a few attempts.
"But Wang Jiayao was saying stuff like Li Yaxin wouldn't admit they were dating, and that she called someone to beat him up... It spread throughout the whole evening study session."
There were actually even nastier rumors, but Gu Zhijing didn't mention them.
Both Nian Suian and Gu Junxing frowned upon hearing this.
Nian Suian told Gu Zhijing, "These are all one-sided claims from Wang Jiayao. Nobody knows the truth except the two of them."
"I definitely know that." That evening, many students from other classes had come to ask Gu Zhijing why he fought with Wang Jiayao, and if it was because of Li Yaxin.
Even though Hao Leyun was also present at the time, everyone seemed to have suddenly forgotten about her.
But he only had one response, "I hit him because I felt like it."
At this point, Gu Zhijing felt a bit wronged, "I usually study hard and follow school rules. Now it sounds like I'm some kind of school bully." Though if he really were a school bully, it would be nice. If he weren't afraid of another parent-teacher meeting, he'd want to give Wang Jiayao another beating.
"The teachers probably won't let rumors spread unchecked," Gu Junxing said to his son. "You can't do much more for now, so start with yourself. Don't spread these stories."
By the time Tang Yuan was tired of playing, it was getting late, and the three of them headed back to their own rooms.
However, after finishing his nightly routine, Mr. Gu spent an extra two minutes in front of the mirror that evening.
— At School —
Gu Zhijing was buying things at the school store when yet another person came up to him gossiping. Gu Zhijing was fed up and couldn't take it anymore.
"Aren't you tired of this? If I hear any more of this nonsense, don't blame me for getting nasty." Gu Zhijing put on a fierce expression and glared at everyone around him.
Good, the world was much quieter now.
Doubt the school bully, understand the school bully, become the school bully!
People didn't dare to gossip in front of Gu Zhijing anymore, but they had no intention of leaving Li Yaxin alone.
At school, students didn't have many forms of entertainment, so even small incidents could become common knowledge in no time. This was especially true for anything related to relationships between boys and girls.
Hao Leyun went to help the math teacher make copies during lunch, so she didn't go to the cafeteria with her friends. When she returned to the classroom after finishing, she found Li Yaxin huddled alone in her seat, munching on a piece of bread. Thinking of the rumors spreading around the school, she guessed what was going on.
Although she really disliked how Li Yaxin had just cried in the office without speaking up for her to Gu Zhijing, Wang Jiayao's behavior was clearly much worse. Besides, as her mother said, Li Yaxin might have her reasons.
As the class monitor, Hao Leyun felt it was her responsibility to help her classmates.
So she walked over to Li Yaxin, intending to invite her to eat in the cafeteria together.
"Li Yaxin, didn't you go to the cafeteria?"
Li Yaxin shook her head without saying a word.
Hao Leyun reached out and took away her bread, "You can't skip meals. Come to the cafeteria with me."
Seeing Hao Leyun's insistent manner, Li Yaxin felt a bit lost.
"I... I don't want to go."
"Why don't you want to go? What are you afraid of? Afraid of what people might say?"
"..."
Hao Leyun said deliberately, "Could it be that what Wang Jiayao said was true?"
Li Yaxin's face turned red instantly, "Of course not!"
"Then what are you afraid of?" Hao Leyun walked to Li Yaxin's side, grabbed her hand, and pulled her up. "If anyone says anything, just speak up and deny it. If you didn't do it, you didn't do it. What's there to be afraid of? I haven't eaten either, let's go together."
On the way from the classroom building to the cafeteria, they encountered many classmates returning from lunch. No matter who it was, Li Yaxin didn't dare to look up.
Seeing her like this, Hao Leyun didn't say anything, but silently vowed to help her hold her head high.
At the cafeteria counter, Hao Leyun ordered food for herself. Li Yaxin had no appetite, but couldn't refuse Hao Leyun's insistence, so she randomly picked a couple of dishes.
After getting their food, Hao Leyun deliberately led Li Yaxin to sit at the table with her friends.
Li Yaxin was usually almost invisible in class, and nobody really interacted with her. Although they were surprised to see Hao Leyun bring her along for lunch, Hao Leyun was their good friend, so they all greeted Li Yaxin.
"Why are you only eating vegetables?" Hao Leyun noticed Li Yaxin had only taken some shredded potatoes and cabbage. Without hesitation, she moved her own pork chop to Li Yaxin's plate. "Eat! Listen, you're too skinny. Eat more meat. I'll teach you a few moves later. Whether it's Wang Jiayao or whoever, you'll be able to take them on one by one or even two at a time!"