Xingye Group.
Shi Wei held a cigarette between his fingertips, leaning against the expansive floor-to-ceiling window. He occasionally glanced at his phone, his handsome brows tinged with a hint of irritation.
'Knock, knock, knock——'
The door was knocked on, and Chen Cai walked in carrying a thermal container.
"Boss, here's some soup for you."
He opened the lid, and the rich aroma of chicken soup quickly filled the entire president's office.
"Not drinking."
Shi Wei glanced at him indifferently, sat down on the sofa, lit his cigarette, and continued fiddling with his phone, staring at the empty dialogue box.
Chen Cai sighed quietly, sitting next to him while holding the thermal container. In a heartfelt tone, he said, "Boss, people can't run on empty. Aren't you feeling hungry?"
To tempt Shi Wei's appetite, Chen Cai moved the container closer to him and even waved his hand over it, wafting the aroma straight to his nose.
"Chen Cai." Shi Wei exhaled a puff of smoke, looking at him with a faint smile: "What's your opinion on Africa?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Cai immediately stopped his actions. He quickly placed the lid back on the container and set it on the table. "Master Shi, my opinion doesn't matter. What matters is yours. Of course, if I have a say, then I…"
"Stop."
Shi Wei interrupted him, his sharp gaze sweeping over him: "Speak one more word and get out."
Chen Cai: "..."
He shut his mouth quietly and obediently sat to one side, not daring to speak anymore.
Shi Wei ignored him, leaning back against the sofa, legs crossed, typing a few words on the keyboard with his fingers. After hesitating for a moment, he eventually sent the message.
But after waiting for a long while, finishing two cigarettes in the process, the other party still hadn't replied.
Shi Wei frowned, tossed the phone aside, but within minutes, he picked it up again.
After repeating this several times, Chen Cai finally couldn't stand it anymore.
He asked, somewhat puzzled, "Boss, why don't you just make a phone call? Why go through all this trouble?"
Shi Wei paused for a moment before lightly scoffing, "Why should I call?"
He straightened up, his tone turning harsher: "Who does she think she is?"
Chen Cai: "..." Not calling is fine, but did you have to be that dramatic?
However, seconds later.
Shi Wei walked back to the floor-to-ceiling window, pressed the phone button, and put the receiver to his ear.
He called twice before the line was finally picked up. Frowning, he asked harshly, "What are you doing?"
"At the office."
A clear and sweet voice came through, seemingly smoothing out his frustrated mood.
Shi Wei's tone softened slightly, his eyes lowering and his crow-feather lashes trembling gently: "Reporting for duty?"
"No." Yu Zhi's strained swallowing sound came through the receiver, her tone seemingly suppressed.
Shi Wei sensed something was off and quickly asked, "What happened to you?"
"Nothing."
"Really nothing?"
"Mm." Yu Zhi said this and immediately ended the call.
Gazing at his phone, Shi Wei's unease grew stronger.
He opened his contacts, dialed a number, and then strode to the coat rack to grab his suit jacket. With a serious expression, he took Chen Cai and left the president's office.
On the way, he sent multiple messages to Yu Zhi, but each message seemed to disappear into the void, receiving no response after a long wait.
Chen Cai sat in the driver's seat, turning his head to look at him: "Boss, where are we heading?"
Shi Wei's dark eyes flickered with a hint of shadow. His thin lips parted, spitting out two words.
**
"Yu Zhi, are you okay?" Ji Jingchen sat beside her, turning his head to gaze at her.
He had just returned from the infirmary, his clothes still stained with traces of blood, appearing rather messy.
Yu Zhi responded softly, her head lowered, her lashes shielding her eyes. Gradually, the crimson hues faded, restoring their original clarity and purity.
Ji Jingchen furrowed his brows, walked to the water dispenser, poured a cup of water, and handed it to her: "Why did you get into a fight with Yu Nian?"
Though their interactions were few, he could tell that Yu Zhi wasn't the impulsive, violent type—just a bit aloof.
At his words, Yu Zhi's hand holding the cup paused. She took a small sip and said blandly, "She insulted me."
Ji Jingchen was about to speak, but his phone rang.
He stepped aside to answer, and though it was unclear what the other person said, his expression turned increasingly serious.
A long moment later.
He returned to Yu Zhi, speaking softly: "Yu Nian's parents are here. The principal asked me to bring you over."
"Okay."
Yu Zhi's face showed no trace of panic. Instead, she let out a breath, as if she had been worrying about how to handle the situation if she had accidentally killed someone.
Seeing her composed and unconcerned demeanor, Ji Jingchen chuckled and shook his head.
The two had just arrived at the principal's office door when a piercing female voice could be heard inside.
"Principal Zhou, look at this! Look at what's been done to our Nian Nian! If you don't give us an explanation today, this won't end here!"
A middle-aged woman in a white dress with her hair elegantly styled stood yelling, losing all semblance of grace despite her normally refined appearance.
Seated in the main chair, Zhou Xiaoqian brewed tea, his polite yet insincere smile attempting to placate her: "Mrs. Yu, please calm down. The school will handle this impartially and ensure both you and Mr. Yu are satisfied."
Before she could reply, he pushed a cup of tea forward, gesturing for her to take it.
"Thank you." The man seated beside Mrs. Yu nodded slightly toward Lu Qian.
From start to finish, he remained calm, wearing a mild, approachable smile that gave the impression that he was easy to negotiate with.
"Principal."
Ji Jingchen symbolically knocked on the door and entered with Yu Zhi in tow.
"Take a seat."
Zhou Xiaoqian lifted his eyelids slightly, his scrutinizing gaze falling on the young girl behind him.
"You're Yu Zhi?" Mrs. Yu immediately rose upon seeing her, pointing at her nose: "You were the one who attacked our Nian Nian?"
Her face contorted, as though she intended to devour her whole.
Ji Jingchen calmly shielded Yu Zhi, offering Mrs. Yu a polite smile: "Hello, I'm Ji Jingchen, the homeroom teacher of Class Seven."
The saying goes, one doesn't slap a smiling face.
Yet Mrs. Yu, consumed by anger, paid no attention to pleasantries. Ignoring Ji Jingchen, she continued to scold, "At such a young age, how can you be so cruel? What kind of parents raised you? No manners at all!"
Yu Zhi's lashes lifted slightly, her calm gaze sweeping across Mrs. Yu without a word.
Her defiant attitude only fueled Mrs. Yu's fury further. As she lunged forward, she was held back by Yu Bin.
He took out a medical report and handed it to Yu Zhi: "My daughter has a fractured wrist, a mild concussion, and nine injuries across her back, neck, and face."
Yu Bin chuckled softly: "Do you want to settle this legally or privately?"
If they chose legal action, it would mean the Yu Family proceeding with police involvement.
Based on the medical report alone, it would be sufficient to charge her with intentional assault.
"Do as you please."
Yu Zhi arched her brows, standing in a relaxed posture as if the matter didn't concern her at all.