Upon entering the school building and ascending the stairs to the third floor, the classrooms were all locked tight, the sounds of lectures occasionally leaking through the doorways, soft and indistinct, like murmured whispers.
Chen Lishu followed a step behind Song Shi, walking down the corridor until they stopped in front of the classroom in the middle of the third floor.
The sign for Class 2 (3) hung above the doorframe. Song Shi stood beneath it, gazing through the window on the door. At the podium, a tall male teacher was passionately delivering his lesson, a miniature, four-dimensional, beastly hologram projected on the desk.
Song Shi hesitated before turning to Chen Lishu. "Should I wait until the class is over to go in? It wouldn't be polite to interrupt the lesson."
Chen Lishu's eyes behind his glasses shifted before he replied, "Go in now."
The classroom would soon be filled with students eager to gossip.
Too many people, too many voices.
It would be hard to control what might happen.
Song Shi likely understood his intention without him stating it outright, but still did not confirm it. "Then please wait for a moment."
With that, she raised her hand to knock on the door.
Chen Lishu felt an ominous premonition, especially as he saw her fingers poised to touch the door. Gritting his teeth, he made a final attempt to stop her, reaching out to hold her arm. "Why don't I get it for you instead? What books do you need?"
Song Shi paused her hand mid-air, sensing the tension in Chen Lishu. After a brief silence, she turned back to face him. "I forgot to ask you—what punishment will Yan Qianlin face for his actions this morning?"
Chen Lishu stiffened, instinctively running his hand over his thinning hair, his voice wavering, "Well... he's already written a self-reflection..."
Song Shi forced a faint smile, dispelling the last vestige of goodwill in her heart.
"The items I need, you wouldn't be able to find quickly." Avoiding Chen Lishu's hand, she resolutely knocked on the door without hesitation.
The sharp sound of two knocks echoed through the air.
The teacher's voice was interrupted. He glanced displeased at the door before walking down from the podium to open it.
There, in full view of the class, stood Song Shi in her hospital gown.
"Is there something you need?" The teacher frowned and asked.
Song Shi walked straight in, disregarding his question entirely.
The teacher clicked his tongue in irritation.
Behind her, Chen Lishu awkwardly explained, "Ah, sorry to interrupt, Teacher Yue. She's just here to pick up a few books. She'll be gone right away."
After entering, Song Shi scanned the room, inevitably meeting Wei Yuyu's gaze.
He appeared to have just woken up, with the side of his face marked by a red imprint from his pillow and his hair a tangled mess. The moment she looked at him, he raised his middle finger, grinning at her with a mocking, arrogant smile.
Song Shi lingered only for a second before quickly looking away, as though avoiding his gaze, in a subtle acknowledgment of defeat, or perhaps simply not deeming his petty provocation worthy of her attention.
The class was rife with onlookers, their eyes darting back and forth between the two. Most of them leaned toward Wei Yuyu's side.
Though Song Shi had resisted, she ultimately couldn't compare to Wei Yuyu, whose powerful background and arrogance dominated. The gap between them was far too vast. Instead of confronting him directly, it seemed wiser to submit and endure; life might be easier that way.
While the others imagined how Song Shi's school life would become even more precarious, Song Shi had already begun searching for her seat.
There were only five empty seats in the room now. After discounting the ones occupied by the severely injured students she had fought with earlier, the remaining one was surely hers.
It was by the window, at the farthest end, right next to the trash can.
The nickname for that seat flickered in her mind.
Song Shi closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, walking firmly toward her place.
Chen Lishu, having finished his explanation to the teacher, kept his eyes fixed on Song Shi, watching her every move, afraid she might cause trouble again.
When he saw her head toward her seat, he silently exhaled, relieved.
But his relief was short-lived, for he saw that Song Shi wasn't heading to the bookcase to grab textbooks. Instead, she was dragging the chair from her seat, pulling it toward the back door.
The legs of the chair screeched harshly against the floor.
The entire class turned to look, puzzled by her actions.
Wei Yuyu, however, didn't bother glancing back. He leaned back in his chair, his legs crossed, one hand casually resting on his knee, the other fiddling with a pen on the desk.
He stared at the virtual creature projected on the podium, seemingly uninterested in what was happening behind him. It seemed that, to him, Song Shi's every action was irrelevant. He was certain she lacked the courage to challenge him again.
Standing at the door, Chen Lishu watched Song Shi's movements, then glanced at Wei Yuyu, who was still unaware of the unfolding situation. A realization struck him, and his eyes widened in alarm.
As Song Shi dragged the chair around the corner, Chen Lishu's heart skipped a beat. His mouth dropped open, and his right leg moved forward quickly, trying to stop her.
But it was too late.
"Bang!"
[Anti-abuse value progress: +2%]
Silent subtitles materialized in Song Shi's mind.
The back of the chair struck Wei Yuanyu's back, toppling him and the chair to the floor.
"Ahh!"
"Song Shi!"
"Stop!!"
The classroom was immediately thrown into chaos.
Chen Lishu's heart shattered, his insides churning with distress, especially when he saw Wei Yuanyu spitting blood on the floor. His legs turned to jelly, and he rushed to stop her, nearly stumbling as he reached her.
Screams, shouts of "Song Shi!" from both Chen Lishu and the male teacher, and Wei Yuanyu's enraged roars...
All merged into one cacophonous sound.
Fortunately, Chen Lishu had managed to close the door before running in, keeping the commotion contained to the classroom, sparing the other students outside from hearing it.
Song Shi coldly watched as Wei Yuanyu struggled to rise, his hands gripping the chair's backrest. Before he could fully stand, she lifted the chair high above her head and, with all her strength, slammed it down on his back once again.
[Anti-abuse value progress: +2%]
Wei Yuanyu let out a muffled grunt, his limbs giving way, collapsing back onto the floor.
Song Shi, like an emotionless machine, withdrew her hand and lifted the chair once more.
As she brought it down again, Chen Lishu lunged forward, grabbing the chair with both hands, putting his full weight into stopping her.
"Calm down! Let's talk this out! We can discuss this, don't be impulsive!" Chen Lishu was near tears.
Song Shi pressed her lips tightly together, frowning. She tried to pull the chair from his grip but failed.
"Here."
Song Shi snorted coldly, throwing the chair at Chen Lishu.
Chen Lishu thought there would be another struggle, exerting all his strength. When Song Shi suddenly released her grip, he stumbled backward and collapsed onto the floor, dazed.
Song Shi kicked aside the desk that blocked her path to Wei Yuanyu.
The desk flipped over in the aisle, books scattering everywhere.
The surrounding students quickly backed away, forming a crowd, while the three of Wei Yuanyu's lackeys, who had been less injured in the morning, rushed over to pull at Song Shi.
Without hesitation, Song Shi grabbed a stack of books from Wei Yuanyu's desk and threw them at them. The books flew into the air, and they instinctively dodged.
Seizing the opportunity as they evaded, Song Shi leaped at Wei Yuanyu, grabbing his hair and forcing him to lift his face.
Wei Yuanyu was still conscious, though the pain in his back from a broken bone prevented him from standing up straight.
As Song Shi tugged on his hair, it aggravated his injury. He sucked in a sharp breath, gritting his teeth to stifle the cries of pain that threatened to escape. He turned his head slightly, his eyes filled with venom as he glared at Song Shi.
"Good job, Song Shi! Don't think you can stay in District 11 after this! Neither you nor your parents—"
Song Shi yanked his hair and slammed his head to the ground.
[Anti-abuse value progress: +1%]
When she lifted him again, blood was pouring from Wei Yuanyu's nose, and he could no longer speak.
Wei Yuanyu's lackeys were paralyzed by fear at the sight, huddling together and moving to pull at Song Shi.
Song Shi pushed them away, turning Wei Yuanyu's face to the side with force. "Without your father, what are you even worth?"
Wei Yuanyu's fist clenched on the floor, creaking with tension. He glared at Song Shi, gritting out words through his teeth, "Go ahead, touch me again!"
Song Shi responded, "Gladly."
Without hesitation, Song Shi lifted his head and slammed it back onto the floor.
"Bang!"
The sound of his head hitting the floor was heavy and solid.
"Song! Shi!" Wei Yuanyu trembled with fury, his voice hoarse. "I won't let you get away with this!"
"I don't need you to let me off," Song Shi raised his head again and met his eyes fearlessly. "If you have the guts, kill me! Oh, wait, you don't have the guts. Better call your dad!"
Wei Yuanyu gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, his face smeared with blood. He looked utterly disheveled.
In that moment, he had traded places with Song Shi from earlier.
After helping Chen Lishu to his feet, the male teacher hurried over, grabbing Song Shi's arm and trying to pry her fingers from Wei Yuanyu's hair.
His grip was immense, and since Song Shi instinctively didn't want to strike him, she reluctantly released her hold.
Seizing the opportunity, Wei Yuanyu's lackeys, who had been lurking in the background, pulled Song Shi backward.
Dragged to her feet, Song Shi watched helplessly as the distance between her and Wei Yuanyu grew. She elbowed one of her captors in the face, and he cried out, clutching his face and crouching down.
The remaining two couldn't hold her back. Song Shi pushed forward, taking a large step and kicking Wei Yuanyu's thigh.
"Try throwing a chair at me again!"
The thought of his sneak attack only fueled her anger.
One kick wasn't enough. She followed it up with another. "Bring your father too! You and your dad, bring the chairs! Let's see if you can kill me!"
The classroom was in chaos, students huddling in corners, trembling at the scene before them.
Song Shi was like a woman possessed, relentlessly kicking at Wei Yuanyu. Her sickly uniform was now a mess, her hair, hastily tied with a scarf, had come undone. A fierce energy radiated from her as if she had nothing to lose. No one in the room could control her.
"Useless fool who only calls for daddy! Good-for-nothing second-generation heir!"
Dragged further away, Song Shi's final kick aimed with the intent to break Wei Yuanyu's leg. She swung her heel back, then launched it forward with all her might.
"Ahhh—!"
[Innocent harm]
[Anti-abuse value progress: -10%]
Suddenly, Chen Lishu barged between Song Shi and Wei Yuanyu, blocking the thunderous blow with his body. His face instantly turned bright red, his legs clamped together, and his fists were clenched at his side, positioned to shield his lower abdomen.
Song Shi froze: "?!"
The male teacher, who had been shielding Wei Yuanyu, stood stunned, instinctively bringing his legs together.
All the boys in the classroom subtly shifted their sitting positions, crossing their legs and keeping them tightly together.
The scream was so piercing that it sent shivers through the room. The once rowdy classroom fell into complete silence.
The bell for the end of class rang just at that moment, clear, melodious, and prolonged.
(End of Chapter)