Chapter 41... Could it be something Brother Ji made up?
"Jiang Sui." Yu Xiaocheng pushed her empty plate aside, leaned slightly towards her, her eyes sparkling, and said in an admiring tone, "You're so brave!"
Although Yu Xiaocheng stayed behind, she had to admit that when she confronted Li Lin and his group, she couldn't help but feel a chill for everyone, and even planned out an escape route in advance.
Yu Xiaocheng was putting on a brave face, but Jiang Sui seemed genuinely unafraid.
Xia Fan nodded in agreement, "When that slanted-eyed guy looked over just now, I was actually a little flustered."
"What's the panic?" Jiang Sui rested her chin on her hand, then pouted in the direction Ji Jingyu had returned. "With our top student in the grade here, what's there to be afraid of?"
Yu Xiaocheng and Xia Fan turned their heads at the same time and saw Ji Jingyu returning after buying the cake.
The tall boy in his school uniform stood tall and straight. The sunlight outside the cafeteria outlined his handsome profile. He had sharp brow bones and a high nose bridge, showing the beginnings of a grown man, but he still retained a natural boyish charm. The muscles in his arms, which were carrying paper bags, were clearly defined and beautiful.
Like a movie poster.
Yu Xiaocheng shifted her gaze back, her words carrying a pointed meaning, "Hmm, Brother Ji is quite reassuring, isn't he?"
Among these people, apart from Jiang Sui, Ji Jingyu was also very calm.
The former thought it was funny, while the latter genuinely didn't take these people seriously.
Ji Jingyu always exudes a calm and composed air, as if everything is under his control.
Having been classmates for almost two years, Yu Xiaocheng had never seen him show any signs of panic.
Jiang Sui smiled and said, "That's right."
"I feel pretty safe too," Jiang Deyu said, pulling his sleeves up to his shoulders and clenching his fist to show off his biceps. "Right?"
Yu Xiaocheng couldn't bear to look at him and pulled his school uniform sleeves back up. "Don't get involved. Go somewhere cool and stay there."
—
The short boy, who had been called over by Jiang Sui, stood by the dining table with red and swollen eyes, a look of fear on his face, and kept sniffling. His fingers, hanging down by his school trousers, trembled slightly.
Jiang Sui frowned as she looked at him. She didn't understand why he was still afraid. Hadn't Li Lin and his group already left?
She now understood why Li Lin had targeted him.
They are cowardly and silent; when bullied, they only dare to swallow their tears and grievances, and never think of reporting their crimes.
This is probably the main reason why Li Lin dared to be so fearless at school.
"Why are you standing? Sit down."
As soon as Jiang Sui finished speaking, Jiang Deyu immediately understood. He pulled the trembling "quail" to his side, forced him to sit down, and then patted the other's shoulder heartily, "What are you afraid of? Li Lin has already left. We just want to ask you a few questions."
"What's your name?" Jiang Sui asked. "Which class are you in?"
"Zhang, Zhang Peng, from Class 12."
Zhang Peng's speech was incoherent, as if he believed that he had merely escaped from the jaws of a tiger only to fall into the clutches of a wolf, and that his situation had not changed at all.
The next second, he pushed the meal card in front of Jiang Sui with both hands, "I... I just topped it up, you can use it as you like."
The others present: "..."
Jiang Deyu clicked his tongue in displeasure. "What do you mean? Do you think we're like Li Lin's group?"
Hearing this, Zhang Peng's back hunched even more, and he stammered, "I didn't... I didn't mean that."
"Zhang Peng," Jiang Sui called out to him, "Do you know me?"
Zhang Peng shook his head.
"And what about him?" Jiang Sui pointed to Ji Jingyu sitting next to her.
"know."
There should be no one in Xunning No. 2 Middle School who doesn't know Ji Jingyu.
He thought.
“Yeah, what are you afraid of with the top student in the grade? We won’t bully you.” Jiang Sui looked at him. “And don’t forget, we saved you from Li Lin today, and you haven’t even said thank you yet.”
As if by reflex, Zhang Peng said, "Thank you, thank you all."
"Why don't you go buy some food first?"
The cafeteria staff have already started the final cleanup; if they wait any longer, they really won't be able to buy anything.
Zhang Peng had no appetite at all; he shook his head to indicate that he wasn't hungry.
Jiang Sui distributed the desserts that Ji Jingyu had bought to everyone, including Zhang Peng's share, saying, "If you're not going to eat, then have some cake to fill your stomach first."
Zhang Peng held the cake Jiang Sui handed him, feeling as if he were holding a hot potato, and was very uneasy.
Jiang Deyu couldn't stand the boy's dawdling, so he reached out and took the cake from Zhang Peng's hand, quickly unwrapped it, and then used a fork to scoop a large spoonful and stuff it directly into the other's mouth.
Zhang Peng was startled by his sudden action and almost jumped up from his seat, but the sweet cream in his mouth calmed him down, leaving him staring blankly at Jiang Deyu with his mouth half open.
"Why are you looking at me?" Jiang Deyu shoved the spoon into Zhang Peng's hand. "Eat it yourself."
"How many times has Li Lin bullied you?" Jiang Sui asked casually.
“The first time,” Zhang Peng said, bowing his head, “I am their new prey.”
"New prey?"
"Um."
Li Lin is "smart"; he won't bully the same person for too long.
Even if someone is timid and cowardly, they might retaliate if they are bullied too much, and the risk of being discovered by the school will also increase.
Therefore, he changes his targets regularly.
But Li Lin wouldn't go looking for a replacement himself; he had a better and easier way: to let the bullied person find a replacement themselves.
Every class has a few "invisible" people who are on the margins. Li Lin can't possibly know everyone's situation; only those of his own kind truly understand each other.
At first, some people were unwilling to be accomplices to evil, but after being bullied for a long time, that method naturally became their lifeline.
Just mentioning one person's name can sever ties with Li Lin and his gang, allowing one to return to a normal life. It's hard not to be tempted!
Whether the normal life obtained by betraying others can still be considered normal is something only they themselves know.
Zhang Peng was the new target chosen by the previous victim for Li Lin.
He was timid and quiet. His parents were both working away from home, and he lived with his elderly grandmother. He was easy to control and had a negligible presence in class. Even if others knew he was being bullied, they wouldn't be willing to risk offending Li Lin to stand up for him.
If I hadn't run into Jiang Sui and the others today, not only would I have lost the money on my meal card, but my wallet would probably have been emptied as well.
Zhang Peng gripped the spoon tightly and stammered, "Li Lin said that if I could help them find the next one, he would let me go."
Yu Xiaocheng was equally angry, "Then just let them bully you! Go tell the homeroom teacher, go tell the grade head!"
"It's no use, Li Lin made us write a voluntary statement."
"A voluntary application form?" Jiang Sui repeated in confusion, "What is that?"
"It clearly states that we spent money on him voluntarily, and he did not force us."
The surroundings suddenly fell silent, and no one uttered a sound.
"grass."
After a long while, Jiang Deyu finally uttered a curse, "I shouldn't have let those bastards go so easily just now, they're too lawless!"
Not only do they assimilate the victims into the perpetrators, but they also force people to write so-called "voluntary guarantees." No wonder those who are bullied and extorted dare not tell the school or their parents.
"Is Li Lin really that smart?" Jiang Sui looked at Ji Jingyu.
Generally speaking, people who engage in school bullying are usually a bunch of brainless idiots. That's why they need to bully the weak to assert their presence and gain a sense of accomplishment from the fearful eyes of others.
In her mind, a fool like Li Lin could never come up with such a vicious method.
Ji Jingyu tapped his fingers together absently, his tone calm, "Perhaps someone gave him some pointers."
"Roach?"
The first person Jiang Sui thought of was him.
If it really was Luo Qi giving Li Lin advice, then that person was truly wicked to the core.
“You’ve managed to escape this time by sheer luck, but Li Lin will definitely come after you again.” Jiang Sui looked at Zhang Peng and spoke frankly, “You might not be so lucky next time.”
Zhang Peng shuddered; clearly, he had thought of what Jiang Sui had said.
So, what are your thoughts?
"I……"
"Trying to find a scapegoat like the people before you?"
Zhang Peng suddenly raised his head, his face showing a pained and conflicted expression.
He had certainly considered Li Lin's suggestion.
After all, this is the fastest way to get rid of Li Lin.
However, he couldn't find a replacement for himself in the short term.
and……
Zhang Peng felt a lump in his throat; he didn't want to use this method.
Jiang Sui noticed the hesitation in his eyes, exchanged a glance with Ji Jingyu, and continued, "If I can help you get rid of Li Lin and his gang without going against your conscience, would you be willing to give it a try?"
"W-What do you mean?"
"Next time Li Lin comes looking for you, find a way to lead them under the surveillance cameras."
Zhang Peng's heart sank. "They know the location of the surveillance cameras. If I really do this, they won't let me off the hook."
If Li Lin is not mentally unstable, he would never do something so stupid.
“Exactly.” Jiang Deyu also didn’t understand why Jiang Sui would come up with such a flawed plan. “Although Li Lin isn’t very bright, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to hand over the evidence himself.”
Jiang Sui glanced at the hemispherical surveillance camera operating in the corner of the cafeteria and said, "The surveillance cameras I mentioned are all installed very discreetly. I guarantee Li Lin and the others won't find them."
The school's security is now handled by the Jiang family, so it would be incredibly easy for Jiang Sui to tamper with it.
“I will also prepare a mobile monitoring device for you to wear,” she paused, “I’ll have two options ready, it just depends on whether you dare to use it.”
After listening to Jiang Sui's words, Zhang Peng fell into a long silence.
I know what you're thinking.
Ji Jingyu's gaze was calm and slow, yet it gave Zhang Peng a sense of suffocating tension.
Compared to Jiang Sui, he was actually more afraid of communicating with Ji Jingyu.
Ji Jingyu's dark eyes stared straight at Zhang Peng. "Think about whether we are reliable or not. Would cooperating with us make your situation worse? Perhaps it would be more feasible to inform Li Lin in exchange for peaceful days ahead. Am I right?"
Zhang Peng's expression stiffened slightly; Ji Jingyu had completely guessed his thoughts.
Ji Jingyu looked him over without any emotion. "But based on your understanding of Li Lin's character, do you really think he will let you go? After all, you can betray us now, and you might turn around and bite him in the future."
Jiang Deyu glared at him angrily, "What's wrong with you? We're trying to help you, and you're trying to stab us in the back!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhang Peng suddenly became agitated, "Weren't you just playing a trick on me?"
His bloodshot eyes glared at Jiang Sui. "Who do you think you are? You think you can just move the school's surveillance cameras whenever you want? Even if you're going to play a trick on me, at least come up with a decent excuse!"
“If you had shown the same intensity you had when you confronted me, Li Lin might not have bothered with you.” Jiang Sui’s gaze swept coolly over Zhang Peng, and she scoffed, “Looks like you’re quite good at bullying the weak and fearing the strong.”
He dared to speak like that because he knew that these people wouldn't do anything to him.
"I……"
Zhang Peng's face turned pale and then red, as if someone had grabbed his throat.
"Alright." Jiang Sui was already impatient with him. "I will do what I said I would do. As for you, contact me if you've thought it through..."
Her gaze swept over her friends before finally settling on Jiang Deyu. "Jiang Deyu, give him your QQ number."
Although Jiang Deyu looked reluctant, he still asked the cafeteria lady for paper and pen. "Here, this is my QQ number."
Before leaving, Jiang Sui said, "If you want to tell Li Lin, then go ahead. We're not afraid of him."
—
On the way back to the classroom, Jiang Sui and Ji Jingyu walked at the very back.
The midday sun was a bit too bright, and Jiang Sui squinted, her mood visibly worsening.
Are you angry?
Jiang Sui snorted, "I won't get angry over people like that or things like that."
Ji Jingyu was certain that Jiang Sui was angry.
I meddled in other people's business and did a good deed, but all I got in return was the other party's doubt and distrust.
"Let me state upfront that I have no intention of exonerating Zhang Peng."
Ji Jingyu first highlighted the key points to Jiang Sui to prevent her from getting even more agitated.
"Hmm?" Jiang Sui responded without understanding.
“Everyone’s growth experience is different. Some people are brave while others are cowardly. Zhang Peng’s current reaction is just a manifestation of his insecurity. You don’t need to take it to heart.”
Ji Jingyu looked at her seriously, "You are great and very capable."
Jiang Sui was taken aback at first, then nodded proudly, "That's right, I've always been great."
Ji Jingyu silently curled the corners of his lips, a barely perceptible smile flashing across his dark eyes.
"Um."
As Jiang Sui walked, she stopped.
Because she has never had a father since birth, Ji Jingyu has been harassed and gossiped about by others.
I don't know how he got through that period.
They met too late.
Jiang Sui thought.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing." Jiang Sui shook her head subconsciously. "Let's go back to the classroom."
—
"I felt like I was watching an FBI drama just now," Xia Fan said, leaning closer to Yu Xiaocheng and Li Wu. "Do you think Sui Sui can handle those surveillance cameras?"
Yu Xiaocheng: "..."
It's one thing for Jiang Deyu to be slow to react, but why is Xia Fan like that too?
Since Jiang Sui has spoken up, she must be able to handle it.
So, who exactly is this young lady from Licheng? How could she possibly control the school's surveillance cameras?
Li Wu nodded. She always trusted Jiang Sui completely. "Sui Sui, you can definitely do it."
"Hey, class monitor," Jiang Deyu called out to Yu Xiaocheng, "Teach me how to braid that rope again later when you have time. I think I've forgotten what I learned yesterday."
Yu Xiaocheng sighed, "..."
You teach it, then forget it; you forget it, then teach it again, then forget it again…
How can a person be so stupid?!
She took a deep breath. "You have to go to class and do homework during the day, so it's normal to forget things. Why not study at home?"
Yu Xiaocheng emphasized the word "go home," trying to make Jiang Deyu understand her good intentions.
“Gu Ci is leaving tonight. Ji Ge said I can only choose between tutoring and learning this, so I’ll definitely choose tutoring.”
Yu Xiaocheng: "Then you can also look for Jiang Sui."
Her gaze involuntarily fell on Jiang Sui's wrist hanging at her side, the exquisitely braided red rope making her wrist appear even more porcelain white and delicate.
It has to be said, Jiang Sui is really skillful.
“Jiang Sui is a complete idiot,” Jiang Deyu said in shock. “She’s probably not even as good as me.”
"She doesn't know how? Then that thing she's holding..." Yu Xiaocheng suddenly paused, as if she had thought of something, and her expression became gossipy, "Could it be something Brother Ji made up?"
"Otherwise what... Damn, what's with that expression?"
Yu Xiaocheng let out a soft burp. "It's nothing."
She just got to eat "food" again.
I feel so full.
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