"I'm sorry, Qingyu, Mom really wanted to attend your parent-teacher conference," Aunt Liu said with a wry smile. "But I had an appointment with a client's wife from the Xia Corporation. She really values punctuality, and it was inconvenient to cancel. Her family is also a very important supplier to the Xia Corporation, so I..."
"It's okay, Mom," Xia Qingyu interrupted.
"But..." Aunt Liu was about to mention that Xia Qingtian would be going, but was interrupted again by Xia Qingyu before she could finish.
"Mom, you don't need to worry about the parent-teacher conference," Xia Qingyu said, standing up. "I have morning duty today, so I'm leaving now. We can chat tonight."
"Eh? So soon?" Seeing Xia Qingyu rushing out, Aunt Liu had no choice but to swallow her unspoken words and murmur to herself, "Never mind, I'll just consider it a surprise for her~"
Meanwhile, Xia Qingyu hurried out of the house and directly got into the car that would take her to school, her eyes feeling a slight sting.
Originally, she didn't want her mother to attend the parent-teacher conference.
She was worried that those mean-spirited classmates might say something hurtful and upset her mother.
Even though people said her mother used some unspeakable means to marry into a wealthy family with her as a burden,
Xia Qingyu knew that her mother was the kindest and most gentle person.
What those people said was just malicious slander born from jealousy.
She had tried to refute them and fight back before, but it only resulted in more malicious insults and bullying.
At that time, Xia Qingyu realized that she just had to endure it.
Once those people got bored, they would naturally lose interest and disperse.
Although in her heart, she felt somewhat sorry for the next person to suffer a new round of violence and criticism,
The truly wrong ones should be the perpetrators, not her.
She couldn't even protect herself, how could she concern herself with others?
She thought she had gotten through it this time. Li Xiaozhong's family background suddenly became a variable. She had met Li Xiaozhong's parents; they looked so refined and cultured.
She never imagined that they were the researchers she had been following in the new energy field.
It could only be a coincidence.
A new wave of school bullying descended once more, strange rumors resurfaced, her homework was suddenly torn up, curse words appeared on her book pages, trash was poured into her desk, and as she went downstairs, someone suddenly pushed her.
If it weren't for her experience of being bullied multiple times and knowing to be more vigilant, she might have tumbled down the stairs after school yesterday.
Thinking of this, Xia Qingyu felt a shiver run down her spine.
【I wonder when this kind of day will end...
Will only death bring an end to it all...】
If it were in the past, Xia Qingyu's mind would be filled with such thoughts.
But now it was different. She had her own goals and plans.
She wanted to earn a lot of money. She wanted to give her sister the happiest, most carefree life. She wanted to give her sister all the best things.
School life was no longer the entirety of her life. She had more important and meaningful things to do.
Those people were difficult, superficial, and ignorant; they couldn't hinder her progress in making money.
With Li Xiaozhong's involvement, her money-making speed had increased.
Although she had to share profits with Li Xiaozhong, overall, she was earning more than when she was working alone.
This partner was not chosen wrongly.
Thinking of this, Xia Qingyu felt much better.
Living was better; living meant hope, and it meant earning more money to support her sister.
Upon arriving at school, Xia Qingyu found that her seat, as expected, had trash dumped on it again. She looked around, only to meet the gazes of over a dozen people filled with suppressed laughter, as if they were saying: You deserve it.
Deserve it?
At this moment, a hand reached out from the side and pushed the trash on her desk to the ground. The person said impatiently, "What's wrong with you guys! Don't you know to throw trash in the bin? Is this kind of trickery meaningful!"
Xia Qingyu looked up and saw Shi Xingwu, who had previously mistaken "The Moon and Sixpence" for "The Moon and Shit", frowning and protesting.
"Shi Xingwu, you're just showing off because Xia Qingyu is pretty, aren't you? Haven't you realized that Xia Qingyu's eyes are already filled with Li Xiaozhong, and there's no room for you?"
"Exactly! You're putting on a heroic act of saving the beauty, what's the point?"
"A fish in the sea thinks too much of itself. How amusing!"
Seeing Shi Xingwu standing up for Xia Qingyu, someone immediately started making sarcastic remarks, mocking him.
"Are you all so bored that you're talking like you're not jealous of Xia Qingyu!" Shi Xingwu, his face red, put his hands on his hips and retorted.
At this moment, Li Xiaozhong silently brought cleaning tools and swept up the trash next to the desk.
With Li Xiaozhong taking action, those who were making sarcastic remarks wisely shut up, but their gazes towards Xia Qingyu became even more menacing.
Xia Qingyu took a rag to wipe down the desk and chairs, and then thanked Shi Xingwu and Li Xiaozhong.
"It's nothing. If anyone bullies you again, come find me!" Shi Xingwu took the opportunity to show off his biceps. "I'm a sports specialist, admitted on recommendation. I won't lose a fight."
"You talk too much." Li Xiaozhong pushed Shi Xingwu with a speechless expression, signaling him to stop talking nonsense.
Shi Xingwu could only shrug, and the two returned to their seats.
Looking at Xia Qingyu's retreating back, Shi Xingwu slumped onto the desk, feeling dejected. He reached out and nudged Li Xiaozhong, "You're smarter than me, can't you think of a way?"
Li Xiaozhong didn't respond. He merely glanced at Xia Qingyu.
He had already told Xia Qingtian about Xia Qingyu's situation. If there was a way, it should be Xia Qingtian's business, not his.
Seeing Li Xiaozhong ignoring him, Shi Xingwu cupped his face in his hands, groaning and clenching his teeth in distress.
After lunch, they cleaned the classroom in preparation for the parent-teacher conference to be held that day.
As the time for dismissal drew closer, Xia Qingyu let out a long sigh. Just as she was spacing out, a basin of dirty water was thrown at her.
By the time Xia Qingyu reacted, it was too late. Her school uniform pants were completely soaked from her thighs down.
"Oh my, I didn't see anyone here~ Are you okay~" A sarcastic voice rang out, and then seven girls, known as the "Heiress Sisters" in the class, walked over. "What? Do you want Shi Xingwu to stick up for you again?"
"The fish in the sea isn't just that傻大个 Shi Xingwu. As long as you stand there and whine a few times, some guy will naturally come to play the hero and save the beauty!"
"Xia Qingyu, we underestimated you. We didn't expect you to be so cunning. You already knew Li Xiaozhong's parents were Dr. and Mrs. Li, right?"