Grandma Zhu came down after washing up. She sat at the dining table and took a bite of the corn pancakes.
Her old, cloudy eyes instantly lit up.
"My goodness. I didn't believe Nanny Zhou's cooking skills could get any better, but it seems that I was wrong!"
Nanny Zhou rubbed her hands against her apron and flushed with embarrassment. "Actually, Old Madam, it was Miss Ming Jing who prepared today's breakfast."
"Ming Jing?" Grandma Zhu echoed in surprise. "Where is that child?"
"Well, she made herself a sandwich and went to school. Miss Ming Jing leaves early every day and practically never eats breakfast at home."
The old woman sighed. "It must not be easy for that child."
Belatedly realizing how quiet the dining table was, Grandma Zhu asked, "Where are Lin Qing and Xiangxiang?"
Since Miss Xiangxiang had specifically instructed not to tell the Old Madam about Young Master Shaodan's hospitalization, Nanny Zhou quickly spun an excuse and changed the topic.
...
Zhu Shaodan had three broken ribs, fractures on his legs, and a host of other injuries on his head. He lay on the hospital bed all bandaged up like a mummy.
When Lin Qing and Zhu Xiangxiang arrived, Uncle Wen was standing at the doorway of his ward, negotiating with the police.
The butler was scowling. In fact, this wasn't the first time that the young master had caused trouble, but this was worse than any other issue they had to handle in the past. The longer he discussed with the authorities, the more apparent it became that they wouldn't be able to settle this using their usual methods.
The reason for this was simple—this time, the person Zhu Shaodan had offended was no ordinary person.
The other party had only incurred a flesh wound, which was considerably less severe than the young master's overall injuries. However, because of this other party's powerful background, he insisted on pursuing a criminal case. Once the court proceedings started, there would be no escape for the young master. Even if he somehow escaped his sentence, he would still have a criminal record on his file, and it would stay there for the rest of his life.
Uncle Wen was at his wits' end, he could almost feel all of his hair turn white on the spot.
Lin Qing and Zhu Xiangxiang walked past him to check Zhu Shaodan's condition first. The boy was unconscious and never woke up when they fussed around him.
Later, after hearing the butler's report, Lin Qing shook her head in dismissal. "Is there anything that my Zhu family can't fix in Jiang City?" she huffed.
They had yielded power and influence in the city for many years, and both she and her husband were well-connected. Other than a handful of old, aristocratic families, only the Zhu family stood above its peers. Lin Qing couldn't even believe that someone would dare to raise their hand against her child. If she found out who that person was, she just might skin them alive.
Uncle Wen's phone beeped with a notification. When he opened it, his expression turned for the worse. He leaned close and whispered something in his mistress' ear.
Lin Qing's disdain changed into somberness, then finally, desperation. "Impossible! This is absolutely impossible…"
The butler sighed wearily. "Madam, I'm afraid this is going to be tricky."
The color drained from Lin Qing's face. She kept mumbling in a daze. "No… How could this be…"
"Mom?" Zhu Xiangxiang peeked out of the hospital room. "What happened?"
Lin Qing grabbed the girl's hand and held on for dear life. "Your brother! He hit… Oh my God, he hit…"
A name was cautiously whispered into the air, and Zhu Xiangxiang's face immediately became grave.
Before they could even fully comprehend the situation, a group of bodyguards dressed in all black stormed into the corridor and flanked the door of the ward.
Then, a man in a sharp suit strode over. He had the bearing of a gentleman, but his face was serious and intimidating. Zhu Xiangxiang recognized him immediately.
This was the most renowned lawyer in the country, Li Qingzhou. He specialized in criminal disputes, and not once had he lost a case.
If this man made a move against Shaodan, the boy would only sink further in danger.
Li Qingzhuo stopped in front of the door and spoke, his tone curt and businesslike. "I apologize to everyone. Since the patient is involved in a criminal case, this ward will now be taken over by the person he has offended. Those of you who are not involved in the incident, please leave as soon as possible."
"What do we do now?" Lin Qing turned to Xiangxiang. "What are we going to do about your brother. He won't go to jail, will he?"
Zhu Xiangxiang remained calm and tried to analyze the circumstances. "There has been no lawyer who has successfully beaten Li Qingzhuo in court. We can't win by facing him. We must think of another way."
"Tell me!" Lin Qing cried out thoughtlessly. "Anything to save your brother, anything at all!"
"I heard that Madam Jiang has a good relationship with that person," Zhu Xiangxiang said in a calculating voice. "Why don't we ask her for help to plead with the other party and make them withdraw the lawsuit? Let's go for a private settlement instead of dragging this to court."
"But I'm not at all friendly with Madam Jiang! She is very cold and unapproachable. Ordinary people aren't even able to see her face."
"In that case, we must create an opportunity and pander to her tastes."
...
"Sister Zhen, why do you care so much about that transfer student called Ming Jing?" Zhang Jingwen had long been puzzled by this. Her senior hadn't even defended her, and now they were stalking and peeping on the transfer student.
Zhao Zhen picked at the garlic soy ribs in her bowl and glanced at Ming Jing, who was sitting a few tables away, eating quietly by herself. "You just never stop talking, huh?" she said tartly.
Zhang Jingwen curled her lips and secretly stuck out her tongue.
Then Zhao Zhen realized something. "Zhu Xiangxiang didn't come to school today?"
Across from her, Sun Qingqing perked up and said, "She took a leave of absence, saying that she had stuff to deal with at home."
Zhao Zhen sneered. "Too bad. She's going to miss a pretty good show."
"Ah, ah, ah!" Tao Xiangxiang squealed with excitement, grabbing Ming Jing's arm and shaking it violently. "It's Jiang Jinchen! I wonder what brings him to the cafeteria today?"
She wasn't the only one who was frenzied by the boy's presence. The entire cafeteria was now in an uproar.
And who might Jiang Jinchen be? He was just the campus heartthrob of Saint D High School. Tall and handsome, and hailing from an impressive family background. He was also the captain of the school's basketball team. He caused a stir wherever he went.
Two other boys were walking on either side of Jiang Jinchen. One had a round face and big eyes, whose name was Situ Lin. The other one was sporting a dirty smirk, and was called Gao Chang. The three of them were best friends.
"Miss Zhao," Gao Cheng drawled as they approached. "We haven't seen each other for only a few days, and you've already become more radiant than I remember. Where do you go to take care of your appearance? Won't you take me with you next time?" He winked at Zhao Zhen, almost causing her to throw up her dinner from the previous night.
"Scram," Zhao Zhen snarled, holding up a chopstick in front of her and breaking it in half. The students around them shrank back into their seats.
But Gao Chang only clicked his tongue and shook his head. "You tigress, you. I pity the man who will be unlucky enough to marry you one day."
'This bastard's mouth is so cheap,' Zhao Zhen thought furiously. 'I just want to take a pair of scissors and cut out his tongue once and for all.'
But outwardly, she just rolled her eyes and flashed a flirtatious smile at him. "It's true my family is in need of a son-in-law. I don't think you're all that bad, actually."
Gao Chang made a show of shivering from head to toe. "I'm afraid I will have to decline the pleasure."
These two were each other's nemesis. They had been fighting since they were children, and everyone who knew them had eventually gotten used to their nonstop bickering.
But all of this meant nothing to Ming Jing, who only looked up once before resuming eating.
"Hey, have you heard about the kid from the Zhu family? They say he offended a big shot. He's going to have a hard time in the future."
The boys had picked the table behind the one Tao Xingxing and Ming Jing shared, and they began discussing Zhu Shaodan as they finished their lunch.
"Serves him right. That punk is too arrogant. He picks fights with everyone, no matter where he goes. Now that he has finally met his match, the Zhu family won't be able to back him up anymore."
The exchange was purely between Situ Lin and Gao Chang. Jiang Jinchen was only sitting back and listening quietly.
"It was just a while ago when the news of the family's true daughter broke out. The media feasted on the issue, too, but we've never really seen this rightful daughter, have we? The Zhu family is really very secretive. As for the fake daughter, well…"
Gao Chang looked pointedly at Jiang Jinchen and chuckled. "Fortunately, our old pal Chen here never made a move. Otherwise, he might have just dug his own grave."
Tao Xingxing blinked at Ming Jing, barely able to contain her excitement. "I didn't know the male gods also liked to gossip. What's more, I never expected that the great Senior Jiang actually liked Zhu Xiangxiang. Isn't this explosive news?"
Driven by excitement, her voice got unexpectedly louder as she spoke, drawing the attention of Gao Chang.
He swiveled on his seat and narrowed his eyes at Tao Xingxing. "What are you mumbling about, little girl? Don't you know it's bad to talk about someone behind their back?"
Then he turned to her companion, and his gaze fell on a pair of eyes as deep as an abyss. 'Sh*t!' Gao Chang was so startled, he almost fell back on the table. One look at Ming Jing, and he felt his soul flee his body in fear.