Chapter 4 Support
From now on, anyone who dares to bully Lin Yujing is going against me, Chen Jingshu!
"You dare touch her? She's my woman." Chen Jingshu's deep, menacing voice made Chi Man tremble with fear.
The anger of young people, in particular, is undisguised and without regard for human feelings, making it all the more oppressive.
In Chi Man's eyes, when the person he likes defends someone else in public, even though he is the one who committed the violence, he can't help but feel a sense of defeat, shame, and loneliness deep down.
She glared fiercely at Lin Yujing, but then noticed a faint smile playing on the girl's lips when no one was looking.
Then, watching Lin Yujing's pitiful eyes redden, tears stubbornly welling up in her eyes.
When Chen Jingshu turned to look at her again, tears of grievance streamed down her face.
Chen Jingshu immediately put away the butterfly knife, took off his school uniform jacket with a flourish, and strode over to Lin Yujing's side.
The next moment, a school uniform jacket that was still warm was wrapped around Lin Yujing.
Also wrapped up was the girl's disheveled state exposed to the public eye, and the embarrassment she had nowhere to hide in her heart.
As the early autumn breeze swept through the hall, some were captivated by youthful idealism, while others were heartbroken by years of unrequited love.
Some onlookers couldn't help but cheer and jeer.
Wow, Jing-ge is so handsome!
"The way Jing Ge protects his girlfriend is so reassuring, so sweet!"
"I only have one year left in my senior year of high school. God, I want a boyfriend like Jing Ge on campus. Please arrange one for me!"
"Chi Man, you should tone it down a bit in the future."
“In the past, Chi Man would bully anyone who had a crush on Brother Jing. Today, he was even more arrogant and bullied his girlfriend. No wonder Brother Jing is angry.”
"I've disliked Chi Man for a long time, this is karma!"
"I feel sorry for Jing Ge's girlfriend for three seconds. She was targeted as soon as they confirmed their relationship."
Lin Yujing stood at the center of public opinion, her heart in turmoil, her face and body aching.
She reached out from under her school uniform and carefully tugged at Chen Jingshu's sleeve, saying in a barely audible voice, "Chen Jingshu, I need to go to the restroom."
Chen Jingshu nodded, "I'll go with you."
-
On her way to the restroom, Lin Yujing recalled and recounted the unexpected predicament she had just experienced.
She received a WeChat message from Chen Jingshu just before get out of class ended, saying he was coming to bring her snacks.
That's why she carried the bucket out of the art studio, not wanting to attract the attention of her classmates.
Unexpectedly, one of Chen Jingshu's admirers suddenly appeared, embarrassed her in public, and attempted to threaten and bully her.
The moment that cup of hot water was poured into my skin, I felt a burning pain, embarrassment, helplessness, and the indifferent onlookers and the crowds of onlookers in the corridor.
It's enough to evoke feelings of grievance, fear, and anger in normal girls when faced with bullying.
However, Lin Yujing, as the intruder, knew that she did not understand the girl in front of her, had no chance of winning a counterattack, and could not predict whether Chen Jingshu would appear in time.
Rather than escalating the predicament by getting into a physical fight and violating school rules, it's better to swallow the humiliation and remain silent in the face of any eventuality.
At worst, she can stand on the moral high ground and file a complaint with the education department to protect her safety and rights.
So when the boy appeared against the crowd, like a ray of light breaking through the sky, protecting her at that moment.
At the same time, she also protected her dignity as a newcomer and her feigned strength, which she had always had to face humiliation alone.
The tower of self-esteem built deep within a young girl's heart has involuntarily developed a crack.
The grievances also brought a soreness to her nose, causing her tear ducts to burst forth.
Chen Jingshu had probably never comforted a girl before. When he tried to console Lin Yujing, his words were teasing and playful: "Heroine, where did your heroic spirit go when you saved me last night?"
Lin Yujing's eyes were red, and she subconsciously wanted to vent her grievances, "Chen Jingshu, you're a troublemaker. I was bullied because of you."
Chen Jingshu pulled out tissues from his pocket. The tall, imposing boy with a fierce expression bent down to wipe her tears. His tone sounded accusatory, yet also full of affection. "I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I apologize to you, okay?"
"It's all your fault!"
"Lin Yujing, I've discovered you're just a paper tiger; you only dare to be fierce towards me."
Ultimately, she also bears some responsibility for this.
After all, it was she who took the initiative to say in the crowd that she was Chen Jingshu's girlfriend.
But she also noticed that while people liked Chen Jingshu, they also feared him.
Only she felt safe with Chen Jingshu and dared to vent her emotions to him.
"So what if I'm a paper tiger? I'll just take advantage of its power!" At that moment, Lin Yujing was like a wildflower that often gets rained on by the roadside, suddenly given an umbrella over its head, and she also had the right to be spoiled.
"Paper tiger or real tiger, it doesn't matter." Chen Jingshu was not annoyed at all by her complaints. His tall figure in the midday sun shielded her from the scorching sun and protected her from the cool breeze. His voice was as gentle as water. "If you are willing, stay by my side and be a little fox for the rest of your life. I will protect you."
The early autumn wind stirred Chen Jingshu's clothes, filling the surrounding air with the unique scent of soapberry emanating from the young man.
Having not seen her true self for so long, Lin Yujing's heart felt as if a crack had been pried open.
Those petty calculations between the two of them brought tears to her eyes once again.
"Chen Jingshu, this is actually the real me, not as dashing and brave as I seem. I grew up being bullied and isolated by my classmates. I endured punches, kicks, and verbal abuse. There are so many girls like Chi Man that I've become used to it... I don't even have the courage to fight back like you..."
She had read a book called "The Heart of Wood," in which there was a passage that said: "People are so strange. They won't utter a sound even when they suffer great injustice, but they will burst into tears when they hear words of comfort."
Like a moth drawn to a warm light, its innate instinct is to be attracted to light.
"Jingjing, please don't cry!" Chen Jingshu frowned deeply after hearing her words. His flustered movements were full of heartache, and the water in his eyes seemed to shatter along with her. His eyes were red and swollen. "I promise, I will never let anyone bully you again."
-
Lin Yujing stood in the bathroom, the cool water sliding down her fingertips, which finally calmed her agitated emotions.
"Lin, my classmate." Suddenly someone leaned in. It was Qu Xi, who had just been talking about her in the art studio. "Jing asked me to bring this to you."
Lin Yujing wiped away her tears, took the paper bag from Qu Xi's hand, and saw that it contained a clean set of girls' school uniform.
"I figured your underwear must be wet too, so I took the liberty of giving you mine. I don't know if the size will fit you." Qu Xi looked timidly at her expression and quickly added, "But don't worry, it's new, I've never worn it."
"Qu Xi, thank you!" This was a sincere expression of gratitude.
"You're welcome. Lin Yujing, I should apologize to you for talking about you in class just now..."
Lin Yujing shook her head. "I know you're just curious..."
She accepts normal curiosity.
Qu Xi helped her fold the clothes she had changed out of and put them in the bag. "I've also filled the bucket with water for you."
Looking at the girl with round almond-shaped eyes and a sweet smile in front of her, Lin Yujing felt grateful from the bottom of her heart. "Thank you."
"Lin Yujing, I don't think you're as scary as we imagined." Qu Xi stared with her big eyes, smiling sweetly, and couldn't resist gossiping, "Are you really Jing Ge's girlfriend?"
Lin Yujing had a good impression of Qu Xi, and she didn't really intend to come to school with the erroneous title of "Chen Jingshu's girlfriend".
Just as I was about to take this opportunity to clarify the cause and effect, the bathroom door was suddenly kicked open from the outside, and then Chi Man came in angrily.
"Unrelated personnel, if you don't want to get beaten up, get out of here now."
Qu Xi looked scared, not wanting to leave Lin Yujing behind, but also afraid of offending Chi Man.
"Qu Xi, you should go back first." Lin Yujing didn't want to drag Qu Xi into this, so she pushed her out of the bathroom.
Qu Xi: "Lin Yujing, wait for me, I'm going to find Brother Jing."
As soon as Qu Xi left, Chi Man locked the bathroom door from the inside, as if afraid that her bullying behavior would be interrupted again.
"Chen Jingshu was called away by his homeroom teacher. Let's see who can help you now," Chi Man said arrogantly, with the practiced ease of someone who often bullies classmates.
Lin Yujing said with a hint of helplessness, "Chi Man, are you never going to stop?"
"When you were shamelessly trying to seduce Chen Jingshu, did you ever consider what kind of person you were?" As he spoke, Chi Man rolled up his sleeves and walked towards her with a fierce expression. "Today I'll show you who the only girl from Pengzhen No. 1 High School who is worthy of standing next to Chen Jingshu is."
Lin Yujing's eyes darkened, and she moved her wrist with a helpless expression. "Student Chi, then don't blame me for my instinctive self-defense."
Lin Yujing first dodged Chi Man's heavy punch, then quickly picked up a bucket full of water from the edge of the pool and kicked Chi Man hard in the back of the knee.
Then, just as Chi Man collapsed, they poured a whole bucket of ice-cold water over her head.
The early autumn spring water poured over my head, coupled with the excruciating pain of my knees hitting the floor tiles.
Before Chi Man could retaliate, Lin Yujing pinned him against the wall, rendering him unable to move.
The girl's eyes were filled with a bright but empty smile. She bent down to look at the expression on Chi Man's face. The warm light shone on her smooth, porcelain-like profile, giving off an inexplicable sense of cold oppression.
"Chi Man, you're really pushing your luck." Lin Yujing's tone was calm and gentle, but it carried an invisible pressure. "Consider this bucket of water as a way of settling the score."
Chi Man instinctively struggled, trying to break free of the restraint, but found that she was really strong.
It possesses an inherent viciousness and ruthlessness that comes from climbing up from the bottom.
She was somewhat frightened, but still relied on her past arrogance to threaten, "Don't be so cocky, you're just a freshman, believe it or not..."
"Believe it or not, I'll make sure you don't leave Chongyi Building after school!" Lin Yujing increased her strength until Chi Man cried out in pain. "Does your Pengzhen No. 1 Middle School's bullying tactics not need to be updated every year?"
Chi Man lay prone on the stench-filled, muddy bathroom floor. The girl's vulnerability crumbled instantly, yet she remained stubbornly defiant. "You only dare to bully me because Chen Jingshu is backing you up. If it weren't for him..."
“I’ll still fight back even without him,” Lin Yujing said coldly.
"Do you know how my previous school bullied students?" Lin Yujing tilted her head, making Chi Man see the empty smile on her face. "They would stuff toilet paper soaked in the toilet bowl into students' mouths, force people to swallow live flies, and prick your skin with embroidery needles..."
Lin Yujing was also one of those classmates who were often bullied before junior high school.
They were subjected to unwarranted verbal abuse and physical assault; their textbooks and workbooks were always used as targets for others' venting. They were either covered in insulting language or torn to shreds.
She lied to Chen Jingshu again today; they are actually the same kind of people.
After witnessing her classmates go through all of that before her eyes, she picked up a stick and fought back.
While violence should not be encouraged, that was the only solution that the girl, who was disliked by her classmates, teachers, and parents at the time, could only think of.
Fortunately, it worked; after protecting myself, I was no longer bullied.
Chi Man looked at her and began to sob, her sobs still accompanied by curses and warnings.
"Do you know why you're beating people like this? Because the teacher won't find out." Lin Yujing leaned close to her ear, her tone even more sinister. "Of course, don't worry, I've never bullied anyone like this."
"I'm just telling you, don't mess with me again." Lin Yujing helped Chi Man up. "Otherwise, I have my own way of getting back at you without relying on Chen Jingshu."
"Stop talking." Chi Man's psychological defenses completely collapsed, and her sobs changed from resentment to fear. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'll never do it again."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yujing gently tucked the stray hairs clinging to Chi Man's face behind her ear. "Chi Man, there's something else I want you to know. Chen Jingshu is an independent individual with human rights, not anyone's private property."
"But I still want to thank you today," Lin Yujing said, raising an eyebrow.
She originally thought that their first encounter was already quite good, but she didn't expect that Chi Man's provocation would reverse her image in Chen Jingshu's mind.
Rather than portraying a heroine who falls from the sky, it seems that stimulating a man's protective instincts towards the weak is more likely to strengthen the emotional bond between them.
"Jingjing, are you still in there?" Chen Jingshu's voice came from outside the bathroom again.
Lin Yujing picked up the bucket that had been refilled with water, opened the bathroom door, and went out.
When Chen Jingshu heard that Chi Man had gone to cause trouble for her again, he rushed over anxiously and first checked her from head to toe to see if she was injured. "She didn't bully you again, did she?"
Lin Yujing shook her head, pulled him towards the classroom, and said, "Now that I have a big tiger behind me, who would dare to bully me?"
The girl's charming smile and voice instantly soothed the boy's heart.
The two stood side by side, and Chen Jingshu took the bucket of water from her hands.
Just as she reached the corner, she was stopped by several girls. Lin Yujing guessed that they were Chi Manshan's girlfriends who had arrived late.
"Chen Jingshu, Manman has liked you since she was a child. Today, you slapped her in public for the sake of an outsider. Isn't that too heartless of you!"
As class approached, there were even more students in the corridor than before, and many of them, because they liked Chen Jingshu, were secretly cheering for Chi Man.
Lin Yujing and Chen Jingshu exchanged a glance. In her eyes, there was an unintentional look of grievance and fear of being bullied.
"Outsider?" Chen Jingshu spread his arms, his hand on Lin Yujing's shoulder blatantly showing favoritism. "This is my boss! I'm telling you this now, anyone who dares to bully Lin Yujing is going against me, Chen Jingshu!"
The corridor fell silent the moment those words were spoken.
Chi Man was frightened and afraid of being embarrassed in public, so he only dared to turn his back to the crowd and quietly peek out from the bathroom.
She listened to Chen Jingshu publicly defending Lin Yujing, and she also saw Lin Yujing standing next to him looking like a well-behaved but wronged little white rabbit.
The sinister and terrifying look on his face, from which he had just threatened her in the bathroom, was completely gone.
Chi Man gritted his teeth and thought fiercely to himself, "This is not over!"
-
All day long, Qu Xi led all the girls in the class to sit around her, as if it were another form of protection for her.
Lin Yujing felt for the first time in seventeen years that she was surrounded by her classmates in a friendly manner.
As soon as the school bell rang in the afternoon, Chen Jingshu suddenly appeared by her window.
The window was pushed open, and the clean, refreshing scent of soapberry laundry detergent, unique to young people, rushed in.
"Boss, to welcome you to Pengzhen No. 1 Middle School, we're having a bonfire party for you by the sea tonight," Chen Jingshu said with a bright and clear expression.
Lin Yujing, on the contrary, was overwhelmed with gratitude for being accepted by the group for the first time, her face filled with flattery. "Am I... being too... inappropriate...?"
Even the language, which she was afraid of bothering others and worried about not being able to fit in, left her momentarily at a loss for how to organize her thoughts.
But Chen Jingshu seemed to understand her heart, and bent down, supporting himself on the windowsill with both arms.
The boy was backlit, his features softened by the gentle light, like a tranquil ink painting.
A pair of eyes that could completely melt away Aohan's coldness shone with sincere and clear light. "Jingjing, when you told me you were bullied, isolated, and had no friends growing up, I guessed that might be why you suddenly transferred schools in your senior year of high school. You opened up to me about your wounds and revealed your true feelings; after hearing it, my heart truly ached..."
It's no exaggeration to say that when he saw her shed tears, his heart felt like it was breaking.
"So, besides protecting you and supporting you, I also want to give you everything I have..."
A note from the author:
The Last Fireworks of Summer Night
Singer: Jingjing
[Heart flutter] [Instant fascination] [Longing] [Holding the microphone] [One can be vulnerable, one can be imperfect. When I looked up, you were looking at me, your eyes reflecting the dazzling fireworks of summer. My gloomy heart began to come alive. Your presence healed me...]
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Chi Man: Family, does anyone understand?! That couple, one is openly ruthless, the other is secretly wicked. I was almost scared to death.
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Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 23:07:47 on August 23, 2023 and 00:00:53 on August 25, 2023!
Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: Dormant_7 1 bottle;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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