"Don't be mad, Yiling. If I stepped on your shoes, how about I make it up to you?" Ji Ming's gaze was brazen as he leered at Jian Yiling, a suggestive smile spreading across his face.
Jian Yiling paused for a moment, then raised her foot and stomped down hard on his toes.
The action was decisive, ruthless, and without mercy.
"Ouch!" Ji Ming yelped, drawing the attention of those nearby.
Qiu Yizhen seized the opportunity to pull Mo Shiyun over, both eager to join the crowd observing the commotion. They strategically chose a spot that wasn't too close to the action.
Everyone watched as Ji Ming's expression twisted, unsure if he was in pain or merely annoyed. Meanwhile, Jian Yiling remained composed, her gaze steady and unyielding.
As Ji Ming recovered from the shock, he glared at Jian Yiling in anger.
Jian Yiling took a couple of steps back, reaching for an unopened bottle of champagne from a nearby table, gripping it tightly.
At that moment, Jian Yujie rushed in, positioning himself between Jian Yiling and Ji Ming.
"What's going on, Ji Ming?!" Jian Yujie's voice was sharp, his eyes narrowed at Ji Ming.
Jian Yujie and Ji Ming were familiar with each other; both attended the prestigious Hengyuan No. 1 High School. While the two best high schools in Hengyuan City were Shenghua Private High School and Hengyuan No. 1, Jian Yujie had opted for the latter as it was closer to where he lived with his parents.
Ji Ming shrugged nonchalantly. "I didn't do anything. We're in public, after all. I just wanted to say hi to your sister, and she reacted like that! Look at my shoe! She stomped it down so hard, it's all dented now!"
The crease on Ji Ming's AJ sneakers was a direct result of Jian Yiling's earlier retaliation.
Jian Yujie turned to look at Jian Yiling, who was still clutching the champagne bottle.
"What are you doing with that bottle, Yiling?"
"Just having a little fun," she replied coolly.
"Come on, give it to me. You shouldn't be holding something so dangerous. I'm here, so Ji Ming won't dare bully you!" Jian Yujie said, quickly snatching the bottle from her grasp.
"She started it!" Jian Yiling protested.
Jian Yujie's eyes landed on the grayish-black footprint on Jian Yiling's white sneakers.
"Yiling, did he really step on you first?" he asked, looking for confirmation.
Jian Yiling nodded slightly, and Jian Yujie turned back to Ji Ming, ready to defend his sister. "Ji Ming, are you even a man? How dare you complain about my sister stepping on you when you clearly stepped on her first! Do the math—she weighs less than you do! That means she's the one who got hurt. You better apologize to her right now!"
"Jian Yujie, you have no idea how much force your sister just used when she stomped on me! Have you even considered how much she weighs? You know how Jian Yunao ended up in the hospital, right?" Ji Ming shot back, clearly enjoying the confrontation.
"What nonsense are you spouting, Ji Ming? Yunao fell down the stairs by himself; it has nothing to do with my sister!" Jian Yujie retorted, his expression fierce.
"Because she pushed him!" Ji Ming's words dropped like a bomb, shocking the crowd around them.
Gasps of surprise spread through the gathered onlookers, intrigued by what they had just heard.
Jian Yujie's face flushed with fury. "Stop lying! Did you eat breakfast in the bathroom this morning?!"
"Why don't you ask your cousin, Jian Yunao? He'll confirm it for you!" Ji Ming fired back.
"Why bother asking him? Yiling is right here; you can just ask her directly!" Jian Yujie challenged.
"Do you really think she'd admit to it herself?" Ji Ming sneered.
"Even if I don't know what Yunao would say, why should I automatically believe him just because he's injured? Who says the injured party is always telling the truth?"
As the argument escalated, onlookers exchanged glances, caught between the unfolding drama and their own curiosity. The atmosphere grew thicker with tension, and everyone wondered how this confrontation would resolve itself.