The boys all lowered their heads, none daring to speak.
The nearby teacher watched this interaction, utterly bewildered. Why was an adult suddenly threatening children?
The families behind these children were not people that a mere working individual could afford to offend. Fearing trouble, the supervising teacher immediately said with a smile to Ye Ziyu, "Miss Ye, is there some misunderstanding? They are just children; speaking to them like that will frighten them."
Frighten?
Ye Ziyu let out a cold snort.
If they had arrived a moment later, Xingxing would likely have been calling for help in the artificial lake.
"Then you ask!" Ye Ziyu stepped aside, leaving the task of understanding the situation to the supervising teacher.
These were children from wealthy families. Upsetting one might lead to them complaining back home, and then his job would be on the line.
However, if Ye Ziyu were to question them, her words were merciless and could more easily cause them harm.
After much thought, the supervising teacher decided to conduct the inquiry himself.
"Kangkang, tell teacher, why are you all here, and why were you holding branches?" the supervising teacher asked gently.
The boy called Kangkang, who was holding the branches, looked back at his companions before brazenly replying, "To make a fire."
Instantly, Ye Ziyu's temper flared.
Such young children, not learning to be good, and feeling a bit emboldened, were spouting nonsense?
Ye Ziyu stared fiercely at Kangkang, "Tell the truth!"
Upon hearing this, Kangkang fearfully burrowed into the supervising teacher's embrace.
"Miss Ye, they are only seven or eight years old. Your demeanor will scare them," the supervising teacher's tone became displeased.
Although she was from the Ye family and Xingxing's parent, she could not treat other children so arrogantly when their parents were not present.
The supervising teacher patted Kangkang's head. Considering that he did not want the situation to escalate too badly, he then asked Xingxing, "Tell teacher, what were you all doing just now?"
Xingxing glanced at Ye Ziyu.
Perhaps feeling supported, or perhaps because he refused to lie, Xingxing recounted the entire process.
Seeing that the matter was exposed, Kangkang pushed away the supervising teacher and, in his embarrassment and anger, pointed at Xingxing's nose, "A child without parents, a little trash! What good is being smart if you're still abandoned by your biological parents."
The supervising teacher was stunned. Were these the words a seven-year-old child was actually saying? These harsh words were like village women brawling.
Hearing this, Xingxing was not saddened. He knew his parents had been unjustly killed, which forced them to abandon him. If they were still alive, they would have loved him dearly and not let him become an orphan.
"Shut up!" Ye Ziyu raised her arm, her wavering limb almost smacking Kangkang on the mouth.
They were classmates, attending classes and playing together, and just because he got first place, they used such vicious language to attack him?
Ye Ziyu looked at the supervising teacher, "How do you plan to handle this matter?"
The supervising teacher was also in a difficult position. If it were children from ordinary families, it would be a minor squabble, and an apology would suffice. But why did it have to be these young masters from wealthy families?
"Miss Ye, as you can see, they haven't harmed Xingxing, and they are just children. They used this method because they didn't know how to express their jealousy."
"Is this considered bullying?"
The supervising teacher's heart trembled, and he became flustered.
If it were classified as bullying, the matter would blow up. Not only his job but the entire math Olympiad class would be implicated.
"Miss Ye, your words are rather extreme. They might have had the intention, but they haven't acted on it. If you must call it bullying, then it is attempted bullying," the supervising teacher said with a smile.