At this moment, in the classroom of Grade 10, Class 2, at the Affiliated High School of Beihai Normal University.
"Ding Lu, stop right there!" Hao Meng sharply called out to the student adorned with silver earrings as he walked past her.
"What is it, Sister Meng?" Ding Lu halted, his tone tinged with caution. He had always been deferential to this young lady, not merely because of her beauty but because he vaguely knew her family was immensely wealthy—far beyond what his modest household could afford to offend.
"Let me ask you, why did you help Zeng Nan sweep the floor but not me? Are you trying to court her or something?" Hao Meng demanded loudly, drawing the attention of several other boys and girls in the classroom.
The boy with the earrings blushed, then quickly waved his hands in protest. "No, it's nothing like that! I only helped her because she seemed a bit unwell."
"Is that so?" Hao Meng eyed him slyly. "But wasn't Liang Chao already helping her? Why would you still need to step in? Isn't that redundant?"
"The more people helping, the faster the task gets done. That way, everyone can go home sooner," Ding Lu muttered under his breath.
"You're lying!" Hao Meng pointed at him directly, her imagination running wild. "I know what's going on. You must like Zeng Nan but don't dare confess to her, so you're using this as an excuse to impress her, aren't you?"
"No, not at all!" Ding Lu, feeling wronged, pointed toward the student with green-dyed hair in the classroom. "Look at Liang Chao. He's also helping Zeng Nan sweep. Why don't you say he likes her too?"
"Haha, I was just about to say that!" Hao Meng grinned maliciously, glancing at the green-haired boy glaring at the earringed one with evident hostility. "In fact, I think both of you like Zeng Nan, and this is your way of showing it. I even bet she's agreed to date whoever helps her the most, hasn't she?"
"Shut up, Hao Meng!" A sweet-looking girl in the classroom finally lost her temper, glaring at the loudmouthed girl. "If helping someone sweep means liking them, then do Lin Zihao and Guan Guang taking out the trash for you mean they like you too? And that you've agreed to be their girlfriend?" She gestured to the two boys cleaning the trash in the corner of the room.
"I'm different!" Hao Meng retorted smugly, her expression unruffled as though she had anticipated this line of argument. "Those two are my subordinates. It's only natural for them to do things for me. Unlike you, Ding Lu and Liang Chao have no connection to you whatsoever. If they're helping you out, it's because you've promised them something, hasn't it?"
"Hah! That's not necessarily true." Zeng Nan scoffed dismissively. "Do you think you're the only one with subordinates? From this moment onward, I hereby declare that Liang Chao and Ding Lu are my subordinates."
"What a joke! What makes you think you're worthy of being their leader? Liang Chao and Ding Lu aren't that foolish!" Hao Meng sneered, only to see the two boys bowing to Zeng Nan repeatedly. "Thank you, Boss! Thank you, Boss!"
"See that?" Zeng Nan's smile grew even more radiant. "That's called true capability, unlike you, who only rely on family wealth. Without it, with that face of yours, who would ever willingly follow you?"
"What did you just say?!" Hao Meng clenched her fists, her face flushed with anger. "Ugly? I'm a thousand times better-looking than you! Liang Chao and Ding Lu must have been coerced by you. I bet you promised to be their girlfriend in exchange, didn't you?"
"You're truly dense, Hao Meng. How could I, as one person, coerce them both? They joined me willingly. Don't believe me? Go ahead and ask them."
Momentarily speechless, Hao Meng redirected her fury toward the two boys. "Liang Chao, Ding Lu, tell me! Did you willingly become Zeng Nan's subordinates?" Her eyes brimmed with barely concealed threats, practically leaping out of their sockets.
In the past, the green-haired boy and the earringed boy would have immediately denied it. But now, knowing Zeng Nan had a powerful older brother, they nodded without hesitation. "We're willing!"
"Damn it!" Hao Meng, who had expected them to cave under her intimidation, felt utterly humiliated. Unable to swallow her pride, she screamed, "Lin Zihao, Guan Guang, come over here!"
"What is it, Boss?" The two students sorting through the trash immediately rushed over upon hearing the shrill cry.
"Liang Chao and Ding Lu are bullying me. What do you plan to do about it?" Hao Meng pointed accusingly at the green-haired boy and the one with earrings.
"What?" Lin Zihao's eyes widened in fury as he fixed a menacing glare on the pair. "You two must be itching for trouble again. Should I call someone to loosen those stiff bones of yours?"
The green-haired boy and the one with earrings shuddered, a wave of fear surging through them. It wasn't Lin Zihao's own strength that terrified them but his connections to the underworld. They still vividly remembered how, after a minor offense, he had sent people to ambush them at the school gate, leaving them badly beaten. If not for the timely intervention of the school security, they might have ended up bedridden for weeks.
"Apologize to Sister Hao immediately, or the consequences will be dire!" Lin Zihao's tone was brimming with arrogance as he took in their timid demeanor.
"No need to apologize!" Hao Meng waved her hand dismissively. "As long as they renounce Zeng Nan as their boss, that will suffice."
"Well, hurry up and say it!" Lin Zihao barked.
One would expect the green-haired boy and the one with earrings to quickly sever ties with their newly appointed "Boss," but their resolve on this matter was unyielding. Sharing a glance, they spoke in unison, "We can apologize, but betraying Boss Zeng? That's absolutely impossible!" Then, they looked at Zeng Nan with a hint of pity.
Zeng Nan pursed her lips, fully aware of why these two were so adamantly loyal to her—it wasn't out of genuine respect but sheer fear of her intimidating older brother. Without him, they would have switched allegiances in a heartbeat. The pitiful looks they cast her way were clearly pleas for rescue, hoping she would shoulder the fallout if trouble arose.
"Well, well, such bravery!" Lin Zihao sneered, giving them a mocking thumbs-up. "Seems you've forgotten the lesson you learned last time. What now? Need me to jog your memory? You know, Brother Rooster still fondly reminisces about the taste of your flesh, always lamenting how unsatisfying that beating was."
"Lin Zihao, stop hiding behind others! If you've got the guts, why don't you fight Liang Chao yourself?" Zeng Nan interjected sharply, unable to stand it any longer.
"This is none of your business, Zeng Nan!" Lin Zihao's face darkened. While his words were fierce, the sight of the green-haired boy's developing muscles made him hesitant—he couldn't risk the humiliation of losing.
"How is it not my business? Liang Chao is one of my subordinates now. Don't I have the right to intervene?"
"Ha! As if you could even manage that!" Hao Meng interjected with a snide remark.
"Exactly. You're far from being fit to play the boss. Watch out, or you'll get yourself beaten instead," Lin Zihao added with open mockery.
"I warn you, Lin Zihao, if Zeng Nan loses so much as a single hair, you'll regret it!" the green-haired boy growled, his tone menacing.
"Oh, really? I'd love to see how you plan to make me regret it." Lin Zihao sneered, pulling out his phone. "Liang Chao, Ding Lu, think carefully. Once I make this call, you might be able to take sick leave tomorrow—permanently."
"We've already made up our minds. Go ahead and call. But let me remind you, don't regret it later!" The green-haired boy shot a pleading look at Zeng Nan, clearly hoping she would call her powerful brother for backup.
Unfortunately for him, Zeng Nan ignored his gaze, her eyes fixed on the window as if lost in thought.
The green-haired boy consoled himself inwardly. If she's so calm, it must mean there's no real danger. Maybe she'll make the call at the last moment. Little did he know, Zeng Nan's calm wasn't due to confidence but because she didn't even know her brother's phone number.
"Well then, you said it!" Lin Zihao's face twisted into a sinister grin as he dialed. "Hello, Brother Rooster? It's me, Xiao Hao. Remember those students you weren't satisfied beating last time? Well, they're acting up again. I'm counting on you to fix them. Yes, I'm at school right now. What? You're nearby? Perfect! I'll wait for you in class. See you soon." He hung up with a triumphant smile.
"Did you really call someone from outside the school?" Hao Meng asked, frowning.
"Relax, Boss. It's nothing serious. We're just students. It'll be a little scuffle—nothing too heavy."
"Well, that's a relief."