"We are indeed students of this school," Xiang Ri replied nonchalantly.
Ma Rong's joy deepened as he let out a disdainful snort. "How dare you act so arrogantly? Don't you realize this is class time? And yet, here you are idling about. Is that your girlfriend behind you? Skipping classes at such a young age to flirt—do you think this is how you honor your parents' hard-earned money?" His voice brimmed with righteous indignation, accompanied by a spray of spit.
"Whether I attend class or not is none of your business," Xiang Ri retorted with a hint of amusement. If he hadn't overheard the man's vile words earlier, he might have mistaken him for a passionate but misguided teacher.
"What did you say?!" Ma Rong bristled, his temper flaring. Never before had a student dared speak to him in such a manner. "How dare you talk to a teacher like this? Do you even understand the concept of respect for your elders? What department and class are you in? I'll be having a word with your counselor!"
"Enough of your nonsense!" Xiang Ri interrupted him brusquely. It was clear this scumbag only responded to force. Without hesitation, he grabbed the man's filthy hand, still clutching the female teacher's delicate wrist. "Let go of Ms. Song's hand, you scum!"
"Aaagh!" Ma Rong let out an earth-shattering scream. His arm throbbed with such unbearable pain that he was convinced the bones had shattered into countless fragments. He immediately released the snow-white hand he had been gripping.
Xiang Ri gently pulled the female teacher behind him, but a fleeting glance at her wrist revealed purple bruises. His heart clenched, and his gaze turned icier as he looked at the scoundrel.
Just as he was about to step forward, he felt a tug on his sleeve. Turning back, he saw Ms. Song shaking her head, clearly signaling him not to act impulsively.
"Get lost, you garbage! Don't let me see you again!" Xiang Ri barked, his voice thunderous and commanding. The force of his shout sent a shiver down Ma Rong's spine.
"This is outrageous!" Ma Rong stammered as he backed away, his initial desire to retaliate quelled by the memory of his nearly crushed arm. The young man before him, though injured and slim, radiated a dangerous aura. "You dared hit me—a teacher! I'll have you expelled!"
"If you don't leave now, I'll kill you," Xiang Ri said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion.
Ma Rong trembled violently. The razor-sharp glint in Xiang Ri's eyes was enough to freeze his blood. He didn't doubt for a second that if he lingered, his life would be in genuine danger. Without another word, he fled in utter disgrace.
"Hey, don't you think you went a bit overboard scaring him like that?" Ren Jun stepped forward and gave Xiang Ri a light pat on the shoulder. Having stood behind him earlier, she hadn't witnessed the murderous gleam in his eyes and remained unperturbed.
"Too scary? Wasn't it effective?" Xiang Ri turned to her, his sharp gaze now replaced with a roguish grin. "Looks like I scared him off, didn't I?"
"Fine, you win," Ren Jun huffed. "Forget I said anything! But seriously, be careful. That guy holds grudges and might really come up with a reason to get you expelled."
"He wouldn't dare," Xiang Ri said coolly. "If he does, I'll twist his head off and use it as a soccer ball."
Thinking he was joking, Ren Jun playfully rolled her eyes and pulled Ms. Song to her side. "Ms. Song, look at him—completely unreliable!" she said, her tone carrying a playful hint of coquettishness, leaving Xiang Ri momentarily taken aback.
Ms. Song affectionately patted Ren Jun's head before turning to Xiang Ri. "Thank you for earlier."
"It was nothing. Anyone who saw that scumbag would've felt compelled to step in," Xiang Ri replied modestly. Yet, under her gentle gaze, a wave of distant memories seemed to resurface. Snapping back to reality, he awkwardly added, "Sorry about... last time, for making you get a nosebleed."
"You still remember that? I'd nearly forgotten," Ms. Song said with a faint smile. She had already recognized him as the student who once caused her an embarrassing nosebleed in front of many students and teachers. "By the way, why aren't you two in class? Could it be that...?" Her gaze turned teasingly suggestive as she glanced between them.
Ren Jun, catching the implication, blushed furiously. Forgetting to ask about the "nosebleed incident," she hastily explained, "It's not what you think, Ms. Song! I was just recruiting him for the basketball team. We just happened to walk here together, that's all!"
"I understand. Don't worry, I won't say a word. The two of you aren't in a romantic relationship," Song Qiuheng said, though her eyes betrayed an ever-deepening hint of playful suspicion.
Ren Jun wished she could slap herself. The more she tried to explain, the worse it got. Judging by Ms. Song's expression, it was clear she didn't believe the excuse about recruiting some random guy for the basketball team.
Who could blame her? The guy's current state wasn't exactly convincing. His height was unremarkable, he had a disability, and she certainly couldn't reveal that he was a basketball prodigy. To Ms. Song, her explanation likely seemed like the lamest excuse ever.
Heavens, what a misunderstanding! Ren Jun was dying of regret. A glance at the guy beside her showed his face still calm and indifferent, as though he could remain unfazed even if the sky fell. Frustrated, she turned her anger toward him. "Why don't you explain yourself, you jerk?" Unfortunately, her tone sounded so much like a petulant girlfriend's that it only deepened the misunderstanding.
As expected, Song Qiuheng became even more certain of the "truth," assuming that this shy young girl was simply too embarrassed to admit they were a couple.
Seeing the amused look on Ms. Song's face, Ren Jun gave up. Clearly, trying to explain would only make things worse. Some situations were better left unresolved.
"Alright, I'll leave you two to chat. I have something to attend to," Song Qiuheng said, remembering her younger brother in the hospital. She wanted to visit him during her free time that morning.
"Wait, Ms. Song!" Xiang Ri, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small notebook. Awkwardly using his left hand, he scribbled a number, tore off the page, and handed it to her. "I overheard what Ma Rong said earlier. I know your brother is ill, and you're short on money. If you don't mind, may I help you?"
"There's no need," Song Qiuheng replied without even glancing at the check in his hand. It wasn't out of pride but a firm belief in self-reliance. "Don't worry, my salary is sufficient. Thank you, though."
"In that case, if you need anything, feel free to contact me." Xiang Ri jotted down his phone number and handed it to her. He knew her personality too well—there was no way she'd accept anyone's help outright. Even so, he clung to a faint hope, though her polite refusal left him slightly disappointed. Resolving himself, he decided to secretly find her brother's hospital and offer assistance behind the scenes.
"Thank you," Song Qiuheng said politely as she accepted the number. She gave Xiang Ri a careful look before turning and walking away. *If only he were still here...* A soft sigh escaped her lips.
Xiang Ri stood in a daze, watching her retreating figure. Did he just hear her sigh?
"Wow, I didn't expect you to be so rich!" Ren Jun's eyes sparkled as she fixated on the check in his hand. "Is this one of those legendary checks? I've never even seen one. Let me touch it!" She quickly snatched it from him.
"Oh my god! A million yuan? Seriously? You're loaded! I've never seen so much money in my life. I could die happy now. Tell me, who exactly are you? Someone this young and this wealthy—let me guess, a rich family's young master? No wonder you're not afraid of Ma Rong. You probably just need to lift a finger, and he'd be out of here in seconds."
Watching her excitement spiral out of control, Xiang Ri could only smile bitterly.
"What's that look for? Are you mocking me?" Ren Jun snapped. "I can't compare to you, born with a silver spoon in your mouth. For us poor people, seeing this kind of money is life-changing. You might think it's just numbers, but to us, it means food on the table and money for medical bills."
Her words left Xiang Ri with a headache. "Can you stop already? If you like it so much, I'll just give you the million."
"No way!" Ren Jun, who had been acting like a greedy money-grubber, immediately pushed the check back toward him. "Sure, I love money, but I'd never take someone else's. I only value what I earn myself!"
"Fine, consider it a loan," Xiang Ri suggested.
"Not a chance! Who knows when I could pay it back?"
"How about I donate it to the basketball team then?"
"What did you just say? You're donating this million to the school's basketball team?"
"Yes."
"Seriously?"
"Take it before I change my mind," Xiang Ri replied, extending his hand.
Ren Jun's reflexes were faster as she quickly pulled the check away. "Alright, I'll accept it! You don't understand how stingy this school is. They don't even hire a proper basketball coach—they just use a P.E. teacher as a stand-in. That's why we end up dead last every year. Half the team is pieced together at the last minute. But now, we can finally hire a real coach and improve everyone's meals. Hah, let's see who dares call the basketball club the poorest anymore. A million! We're rich, absolutely rich!"
Watching her eyes practically glowing with excitement, Xiang Ri was utterly speechless.