Everyone said her situation was difficult. He couldn't add to her troubles. He wanted to stay.
The youth casually wiped the trickle of blood from his ear with his fingertip, lowered his eyes, and continued to endure this unwarranted disaster.
Several times, punches landed forcefully on his shoulder, and a grating sound came from his bones.
Butler Ge stood on the stone path. When he saw the young man's face clearly, he furrowed his eyebrows. Impossible. The records state Pei Zhen studied at top fighting clubs for a long time and won several international awards. How could he be bullied by this group of little devils without any ability to fight back? And this bullying is because of Miss... he can tolerate even that?
He quickly took two steps forward, his throat issuing a mature, deep voice.
"Whose children are you? What are you doing? Bullying a classmate?"
The group of young masters pressed their lips together and hesitated for a moment. Then, gathering all their strength, they punched the youth in the abdomen before picking up their school bags and running off.
Before leaving, they still had the nerve to utter a threat.
"Trash! Remember what I said today!"
Winter nights fell quickly. The last rays of sunlight had scattered, making the entire forest incredibly dark. The distant, cold-toned lights only made the chilly night seem even more desolate.
Silence fell all around.
Pei Zhen bent over to pick up his new school bag from the ground. He carefully wiped away the dirt, as if cherishing it, then slowly slung it over his shoulder and walked toward Butler Ge.
"You're here."
Butler Ge observed the youth. He took out a stack of neat white handkerchiefs from his inner coat pocket and pressed one against the young man's bleeding ear.
After a long pause, he said, "Master Pei, Miss is waiting for you in the car. I will inform her immediately, and we will go to the hospital."
"Thank you." Pei Zhen took the handkerchief. With one hand, he patted the mud off his elegant, close-fitting navy uniform. Only after he had cleaned it off did he take the handkerchief from his ear. "There's no need to tell Aunt, and no need for the hospital. I'm fine. I'll figure out a way to deal with this."
There was no change in his expression, as if the recent event had never happened. His calm eyes showed no sign of grievance, just a hint of indistinct worry.
Only after he passed the school infirmary, took a flesh-colored bandage, and, like a beauty-conscious young girl, perfectly applied it while looking in a mirror—repeatedly checking to ensure it was inconspicuous—did his brows finally relax and smooth out.
Butler Ge paused, finally understanding the young man's intentions. He doesn't want Miss to know about this.
Pei Zhen, carrying his school bag, stumbled for a moment before steadying his breathing. He pretended to walk with an easy gait towards the school entrance; though his abdomen throbbed with a dull pain, it didn't slow his pace one bit.
Only when he saw the lone luxury car parked outside the school gate did his eyes light up slightly, the cold hardness in them becoming clear and pure.
He then walked over. "Aunt, sorry for making you wait."
Xu Si lowered the car window, her gaze meeting his directly. Their eyes connected in the dense night, holding for a quiet moment before subtly parting.
"Not long. Get in."
Meanwhile, a tranquil breeze swept through the street. The clustered clouds were gray, indicating rain was likely the next day.
Butler Ge sighed and drove the car away from the school grounds, remaining silent in Pei Zhen's presence. But I know that when we get back, I still need to tell Miss what just happened. I'm clear about who my employer is.
Xu Si left the window open a crack, just a knuckle's width. As the vehicle moved, a needle-like chill seeped in from outside.
The wind brushed through her long hair, as smooth as black silk. Her upturned, captivating peach-blossom eyes glanced towards the young man's ear, perhaps intentionally, perhaps not. Xu Si picked up a bottle of room-temperature soda, handed it to him, and said warmly, "Azhen, I heard from your teacher that your grades are good and you get along well with your classmates. I'm very pleased. As a reward, Butler Ge will take us to the mall later. I want to buy you some suitable clothes, shoes, and a watch. Do you have a particular style you like?"
Pei Zhen's eyes flickered, and he smiled. "I can wear any style."
"Then let's go and have a look. We'll buy whatever you like."
"Okay, thank you, Aunt," Pei Zhen nodded.
Suddenly, Xu Si looked into his eyes. "So, are you going to tell me what happened to your ear?"
The car suddenly descended a slope, jolting a few times. Pei Zhen's thick eyelashes were pitch-black. He remained silent for a long time, unwilling to lie to her.
Xu Si tapped the bag in her hand. "Fine. Then Butler Ge will tell me."
"Yes, Miss."
Fireworks burst from a nearby building. Xu Si remained silent, listening as Butler Ge recounted what those scoundrels had said. When she heard the part about Pei Zhen being beaten, she had a good idea which family was causing the trouble.
Her heart felt strangely tight.
Her fingertips resumed their light tapping on the luxury brand bag resting on her lap.
The sound echoed too crisply in the car. A cold smile touched her lips. "Dare to mess with me, Xu Si? They've got some nerve."
Xu Si turned her head. "You've studied fighting. You're capable. Why didn't you fight back? Regardless, I don't want you to be bullied by others. Do you hear me?"
The hour was still early, the air cold and dry. Her weighty tone, unmistakably laden with unconcealed concern, reached his ears.
Pei Zhen nodded. "I heard you."
Xu Si reached out a warm hand, her voice softening. "Does it hurt? I'll have someone get medicine for you when we get back."
The young man sat upright, a faint smile playing on his lips in the dim, flickering shadows of the night. His eyes were as clear as frost, his voice as easygoing as ever. "Thank you, Aunt. It doesn't hurt."
「At the Mall.」
Xu Si bought Pei Zhen many clothes. She had said "a few items," but in reality, there were enough that he likely wouldn't wear the same outfit twice in a whole season.
Pei Zhen had a good physique; he could pull off any style. But subconsciously, Xu Si still preferred to buy him clothes in darker colors.
For watches, she always picked the models that suited him best, never asking the price, only choosing the finest.
Since it wasn't too late, she went to a salon to get her hair dyed and textured.
The hairstylist, scissors in hand, complimented her and, while doing so, also praised Pei Zhen, who was waiting. "Beautiful people should be with beautiful people. You both have such good looks; it's a pleasure for the eyes."
Xu Si glanced at his gray eyes and asked with a smile, "The school doesn't care about hair color. Do you want to dye your hair to match your eyes? I think it would look very good."
She didn't say that in a place like school, those who appeared a bit rebellious and unconventional were less likely to be casually bullied.
"Okay," Pei Zhen agreed quickly, standing up.
Another hairstylist, quick-wittedly, got up to mix the dyeing cream and apply it to his hair.
That year on Hong Kong Island, countless White Magnolias bloomed. At that very moment, the color of the young man's hair changed. No matter how his status changed in the future, that hair color never did.
Pei Zhen had school the next day, so Xu Si didn't linger long at the mall. As the night fog grew thicker, they headed back to the Xu Mansion.
「Late that night, after everyone else had gone to sleep」
Xu Si, wrapped in a blanket, slowly walked into the study and used the landline to contact Anshi. She inquired about a man who had been beaten last month for his insolence, asking about his relatives.
She singled out a student of the right age attending Imperial Noble Private Academy and inquired, "The Chen Family? The one in the textile industry?"
Anshi quickly confirmed, "Yes."
Xu Si chuckled. "Find their address and give them a call. If their young master is home, I might pay them a visit sometime."
This is just a warning. I'm no longer a student at Imperial Noble, and my mindset is much more composed now. It wouldn't be good to storm into the school and beat those people up. But if any more injuries appear on Pei Zhen... I'll use an adult's approach, go directly to their parents, and inform them that the Xu Family of Hong Kong Island is far from finished.
「The next day, however」
Pei Zhen was again cornered by that group of rich kids in a dimly lit alley. About a dozen of them shoved the young man into it, hurling threats and curses.
The scoundrels had even brought a chair, apparently preparing for a protracted fight.
"What are you doing?"
A passerby, seeing the commotion, wanted to call the police but was intimidated away by a few of the Devil Kings.
Chen Shihua rolled up his sleeves and had just started cursing, "You little orphan! Haven't seen you for a day, and you've already fucking dyed your hair—"
when the baseball bat he was holding to show off was snatched away and slammed back against his own forehead.
「Half an hour later」
A gust of wind whipped up the fallen leaves scattered along both sides of the alley.
Pei Zhen was leaning back in the chair, casually holding the baseball bat in one hand. He nonchalantly wiped the blood from his other hand and gestured towards Chen Shihua.
"Come."