But why didn't she feel relieved?
Chen Er walked into the sparsely populated grove. The school bell rang, and students in twos and threes walked towards the teaching building in groups.
Chen Er leaned against the trunk of a tree. It was dead quiet all around, and occasionally a gentle breeze rustled the leaves.
It was right here that she had met Ji Pei being bullied.
At that time, Ji Pei was surrounded by a clique led by Zhang Lu. They shouted loudly and kicked and punched the weak boy lying on the ground who was unable to fight back.
Later, perhaps they thought it wasn't satisfying enough, and someone proposed to take a picture of Ji Pei kneeling and begging for mercy as a memento to be circulated.
"Kneel! Why don't you kneel!" Zhang Lu grabbed Ji Pei's short hair and spat.
Ji Pei felt the tearing pain in his scalp. He gritted his teeth and refused to yield to Zhang Lu.
Just then.
Sheng Qingqiu appeared behind Zhang Lu. She was wearing a plaid miniskirt that barely reached the top of her thighs, showing her fair and jade - like legs. It seemed as if a gust of wind could make all the beauty overflow in an instant.
"Zhang Lu." Sheng Qingqiu grabbed Zhang Lu's left hand that was holding Ji Pei's hair and gently stroked it, causing the young boy to be distracted.
"Qingqiu, why are you here? Cleaning up this little trash might sully your eyes!" Zhang Lu's breathing quickened, and his words were full of flattery.
Sheng Qingqiu just smiled. She walked up to Ji Pei and lifted his chin with her index finger.
Ji Pei turned his head away in disgust, not willing to comply with Sheng Qingqiu's wishes.
Seeing the beauty in front of him, Zhang Lu naturally mustered all his strength and seized every good opportunity to show off.
He stepped forward quickly, forcefully pulling Ji Pei's hair backwards to force him to look up and face Sheng Qingqiu.
Sheng Qingqiu looked at Ji Pei's embarrassed appearance and laughed heartily. Her newly - done manicure slid across Ji Pei's face. As if she didn't feel the boy's hatred for her, she leaned close to Ji Pei's ear.
"Ji Pei, if you beg me now, I might be in a good mood and let you off." There was a hint of obsession in Sheng Qingqiu's eyes, and she still coaxed Ji Pei relentlessly.
Zhang Lu, standing on the side, listened to Sheng Qingqiu's words. The bitterness and sourness in his heart almost drowned him.
Zhang Lu wasn't stupid. He clearly knew that Sheng Qingqiu was just using him.
But it was the first time Sheng Qingqiu had spoken to him in such a gentle tone, and it was also the first time he had been so close to Sheng Qingqiu.
Even though the person Sheng Qingqiu had in mind wasn't him, Zhang Lu was still willing.
A mocking smile curled up on Ji Pei's lips, and his words showed no mercy at all. "I think you're dirty. Get out of my sight!"
Sheng Qingqiu's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot. Although Ji Pei's voice wasn't very loud, in Sheng Qingqiu's eyes, this was undoubtedly a blatant humiliation.
Frustration, unwillingness, and resentment welled up in Sheng Qingqiu's eyes, finally turning into a chilling coldness all directed at Ji Pei.
"In that case, Zhang Lu, teach him a good lesson. I don't mind if the private photos of the top - student god spread widely. I heard that boy's urine can ward off evil spirits. Go find some. I think Ji Pei must be possessed."
Zhang Lu was stunned at first, then he reacted and nodded obsequiously. "No problem, Qingqiu. Just wait and see!"
Soon, Ji Pei's clothes were torn to shreds by Zhang Lu's people, adding a touch of sadistic beauty.
Ji Pei was once again trapped in the nightmare of that night when Ji Ying had lain on top of him.
He kept backing away, trying to escape the current situation.
Seeing Ji Pei in a complete mess, Sheng Qingqiu felt even more delighted.
After a while, Zhang Lu covered his nose. The mineral water bottle was filled with a turbid yellow liquid that gave off a strong fishy smell.
Zhang Lu approached Ji Pei step by step with ill intent.
Ji Pei's hands and feet were firmly held down and he couldn't move.
Ji Pei struggled desperately in despair, trying to break free from the restraints on all sides.
Just as the liquid in Zhang Lu's hand was about to touch Ji Pei's lips, a clear female voice sounded.
"Hey, it's not very manly of you to gang up on one person like this!"
Sheng Qingqiu was dissatisfied that her good deed had been interrupted. She looked in the direction of the voice.
A short - haired girl was chewing on a foxtail grass and leaning casually against a tree trunk, watching this farce.
"Chen Er, don't meddle in other people's business." Zhang Lu recognized the girl as the well - known Chen Er. He knew that her influence in school was far greater than his.
For self - protection, Zhang Lu didn't want to offend Chen Er.
It's said that it's better to offend a gentleman than a villain.
And Chen Er in front of him was even more difficult to deal with than a local bully.
Chen Er fiddled with the stray hairs on her forehead. There was a thoughtful expression on her small face.
She seemed to be weighing whether to leave or stay.
By chance, she caught sight of Ji Pei lying on the ground. A flicker of desire and struggle flashed across her eyes.
Interesting.
Chen Er showed her small white teeth and smiled playfully. She stroked her chin and said arrogantly, "I'll save this guy. I accidentally recorded your act of violence just now. What if it's accidentally posted..."
Sheng Qingqiu's face changed. She pulled on Zhang Lu's sleeve, indicating that he should let Ji Pei go for now and deal with him another day.
Zhang Lu also understood the stakes. He said in a conciliatory tone, "Master Chen, fine. Since you've spoken, we'll give you face and let this kid go for now."
Chen Er nodded in satisfaction. Then, as if she had just remembered something, she added infuriatingly, "By the way, the teaching director has got wind of this and will come to investigate soon. If you want to live in peace in the future, I advise you to behave yourselves."
Zhang Lu just wanted to teach Ji Pei a simple lesson. He didn't want to get himself involved.
He nodded repeatedly and pulled Sheng Qingqiu away. The group disappeared.
Only Ji Pei and Chen Er were left in the grove.
Ji Pei's body curled up in pain because of the beating just now.
"Are you okay?" A flicker of worry flashed across Chen Er's eyes, but it quickly disappeared, and she returned to her usual fearless and indifferent self.
Ji Pei shook his head and reached out his hand. His voice was intermittent. "Where's the photo? Give it to me."
Chen Er squatted down and got closer to Ji Pei, trying to make out the syllables in Ji Pei's words.
"Photo? What photo? I was just lying to them. You actually believed me?" Chen Er finally understood what Ji Pei was saying. She gave a coquettish smile, naughty and mischievous.
Ji Pei also let out a soft laugh, but this laugh accidentally pulled the wound on his lip, and he let out a soft hiss.
The girl in front of him was like an angel who had accidentally fallen into the mortal world, barging into Ji Pei's life.