During the break between classes, the door to the Grade 11 teachers’ office was half-closed. Ye Qingyang knocked, pushed it open, and walked in, only to see his homeroom teacher talking with Ye Hong.
He walked over. Just as he reached Cheng Yan, he heard Ye Hong say, “Teacher, there’s no need to keep talking. I’ve already made up my mind. That’s it.”
Cheng Yan sighed helplessly. Spotting Ye Qingyang, she quickly said, “Withdrawing from school is a major decision. Since Ye Qingyang is here now, why don’t we hear what the child thinks?”
“What’s there to hear?” Ye Hong didn’t even look at Ye Qingyang. “Children don’t understand anything. Of course the guardian makes the decisions. His parents are gone—I’m his guardian, so naturally I have the final say.”
Hearing this, Ye Qingyang scoffed inwardly. What, still dreaming? Still fantasizing about being his guardian?
Ignoring her, he turned to Cheng Yan. “Teacher, you wanted to see me?”
Cheng Yan nodded. “Your aunt suddenly came to school and said she wants to withdraw you.”
Ye Qingyang had already guessed as much, so he wasn’t surprised—just amused.
Beside him, Lu Jingcheng exclaimed, “Withdraw?! On what grounds?!”
Cheng Yan glanced at him. “Why are you here? I only called Ye Qingyang, not you.”
Lu Jingcheng replied confidently, “I’m his friend. Besides, just because you didn’t call me doesn’t mean I can’t come if I have something to talk to you about.”
Worried about Ye Qingyang’s feelings, Cheng Yan gently urged, “If you have something to say, come back this afternoon. I need to deal with Ye Qingyang’s situation right now. I can’t attend to you—go back first.”
“Then I’ll wait for him. When he’s done, we’ll go back together.”
Cheng Yan: …
Ye Qingyang had no choice but to say, “It’s fine, Teacher Cheng. Him staying won’t affect me.”
Cheng Yan looked at him with pity, feeling he was far too considerate.
She turned to Ye Hong and tried to reason, “Ye Qingyang’s grades have improved quickly recently, and all his teachers like him. Besides, his tuition is completely waived by the school. Under these circumstances, I don’t think there’s any need for him to withdraw.”
“Yes, tuition is waived—but what about living expenses? And the school always has random fees popping up. Those all cost money. My husband and I are just two people raising three children—we really can’t afford it. So let’s just forget it.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Lu Jingcheng shot back mercilessly. “Aren’t your two kids already adults with jobs—and even families? What, giant babies who still need you to raise them?”
Furious, Ye Hong glared at him. “This is our family’s business. Who do you think you are to speak?”
“Who’s ‘your family’?” Lu Jingcheng retorted. “Wake up. You’re his aunt, not his mother. Two separate households—never the same family. Take a look in the mirror. Do you really think you qualify?”
Ye Hong snapped, “Get out! Ye Qingyang, this is the kind of friend you make? Hanging around with people like this at school—no wonder you’ve gone astray, lying all the time and even cheating your family out of money!”
Ye Qingyang opened his mouth to respond, but Lu Jingcheng pushed him behind himself.
“Are you sick? I already told you—you’re not family. You don’t get it? Cheating money? Didn’t you just say you’re too poor to support him? Where would the money even come from? You’re the one crying thief while being the thief!”
Ye Hong trembled with anger.
Cheng Yan stepped in, “Lu Jingcheng, go outside. You’re only making things worse.”
“Teacher Cheng, you can’t reason with some people,” he said, dragging Ye Hong toward the door. “The best approach is to ignore them.”
She struggled, trying to hit him, but he restrained her easily.
At the office entrance, he shoved her out and dusted off his hands. “Get lost. This isn’t a place for you. Either leave on your own or I’ll call security to throw you out.”
“You—you…” Ye Hong pointed at him furiously. “No upbringing at all! What kind of parents raised you? Are you insane?”
“Say that again,” Lu Jingcheng’s voice turned sharp.
She spat and turned to Ye Qingyang. “Look at you, mixing with people like this—no wonder you turned out this way.”
Seeing the surrounding students gathering, she suddenly began shouting, “A nephew bullying his aunt! Stealing money and framing his elders! How shameless can you be? Your parents died early, otherwise they—”
Before she could finish, Lu Jingcheng punched her and kicked her to the ground.
Gasps erupted around them.
Cheng Yan rushed forward, but it was Ye Qingyang who pulled Lu Jingcheng back.
Staring at Ye Hong, Lu Jingcheng said coldly, “Ye Qingyang is kind. Don’t think everyone is. If I see you again, I’ll hit you again.”
“Wow, he’s so handsome,” a girl whispered.
“Yeah, but doesn’t he never hit girls?”
“Then she must have really crossed the line.”
Meanwhile, Ye Hong lay on the ground, trembling with both fear and fury. “You dared hit me? Fine—I’m calling the police!”
“Do it!” Lu Jingcheng said without hesitation.
“Call them,” Ye Qingyang suddenly cut in. “Only then can we properly settle everything from all these years.”
He even suggested calling Officer Yang, who had previously told him to reach out if anything happened.
Ye Hong fell silent instantly.
Walking up to her, Ye Qingyang said coolly, “On what basis are you withdrawing me? Our legal guardianship ended when I turned eighteen. At most, we’re just relatives now. What right do you have?”
“I’m not going back,” he added calmly. “I still have classes.”
Later, when she tried to attack again, Ye Qingyang stepped in first—kicking her down and slapping her twice.
Even Cheng Yan was shocked. “That’s enough.”
“It’s a family matter when it’s about me,” Ye Qingyang said evenly. “But she involved someone else. If Lu Jingcheng got hurt today, who would feel the worst?”
Cheng Yan froze.
The answer was obvious: Ye Qingyang.
…
On the way back to class, Lu Jingcheng sneaked a glance at him. “Don’t do that again.”
“Do what?”
“Pushing me out of danger. I can handle myself. I don’t need your protection.”
“Don’t you?”
“No.”
“But I want to protect you. Is that not allowed?”
Lu Jingcheng flushed instantly. “No.”
“Then don’t protect me either.”
“…You’re being unreasonable.”
Behind them, Bai Le stopped walking. “I’m going to get diabetes from the sweetness.”
…
That night, Lu Jingcheng told his father everything and had the matter handled quietly.
The next day, both Ye Hong and Wang Yue were fired.
Only then did they realize—they had kicked a hornet’s nest.
And for the first time, Wang Yue truly understood:
Ye Qingyang was no longer someone they could bully at will.