"Don't talk nonsense. Of course, intentional homicide would..."
Before they could finish, Li Jiu threw a punch right at them.
"I’ve looked into it. It carries a prison sentence, but at least you get a lifetime supply of steamed buns, so it’s not exactly a loss."
Li Jiu’s smile turned icy, sending a shiver down their spines. This girl was not a nice person; she wasn't even afraid of going to prison.
"L-let’s all go together! She can't beat all of us," the lead man said, stepping back and gathering his courage. He couldn't let a little girl intimidate them; if word got out, how would their four-man squad ever hold their heads up in this school?
Li Jiu tossed her schoolbag aside, swept her leg across the ground, and instantly sent two of them crashing down.
...
"Whoa! Someone’s fighting! And it’s against the 'Four-Man Squad'—how fierce!" Jiang Zhi’s eyes lit up, his voice filled with keen interest as he commented on the scene.
This was a rare sight. After all, it was a prestigious academy, and since everyone knew the Four-Man Squad was backed by the four great families, no one dared to provoke them. It was truly unexpected to run into something like this so early in the semester. A real case of "a newborn calf is not afraid of the tiger."
"Still, four against one? Those four young masters are losing their dignity, picking on a little girl." Jiang Zhi let out a 'tsk' of disdain. "Wait... why does that girl look so familiar?"
Duan Qili stood still, one hand in his pocket, his gaze following the school uniform. *How wild.* He never expected the Chu Family to produce a child like this. *She’s got some real skills.*
"Brother Li, don't you usually hate watching spectacles?" Jiang Zhi asked, looking at him suspiciously as Duan Qili stood motionless.
"Bullying the weak—now that’s a game worth watching," a strange glint flashed in Duan Qili's handsome eyes.
"That's for sure. Four grown men bullying someone weak," Jiang Zhi sighed repeatedly. "How shameless."
Duan Qili flicked his finger. "I’m saying, those four are the pitiful ones."
"Huh?" Jiang Zhi was confused. "You think this little girl can take on the Four-Man Squad?" he asked, clearly unconvinced.
Duan Qili watched the girl’s agile movements. She was running the four men ragged, as if they were just dogs on a leash. The four grew anxious, yet they had no way to counter, only managing to get kicked or punched by the girl every few moments.
The technique was reminiscent of ancient martial arts—the kind of soft-fist style that wouldn't kill, but could leave the enemy severely incapacitated. *But,* Duan Qili narrowed his eyes, *ancient martial arts were lost centuries ago. That fake heiress of the Chu Family has always been kept in the inner chambers, never stepping a foot outside. Where would she have learned this?*
Fifteen minutes later, all four were sprawled on the ground, wailing.
"Ancestor! Please, spare us!" the four grown men on the ground cried and laughed simultaneously. She had struck some pressure points that left them completely out of control—all they could do was laugh.
Li Jiu took out a wet wipe and carefully cleaned her fingers, looking at them with disgust. "Don't provoke me. From now on, whenever you see me... walk the other way."
"We understand, Granny! Just please, help us release the pressure points first," the lead man begged. His face was so swollen from the beating he looked like a pig, a truly comical sight.
Li Jiu raised an eyebrow. "Sorry, there is no way to undo it. You’ll naturally be released after you’ve laughed for forty-nine hours."
"Ah!" The four grown men let out a unified wail. *Forty-nine hours? They’d be laughed to death!*
Not far away, Chu Yunyun sneered at the scene, then turned the corner and disappeared.
Li Jiu knocked on the classroom door. The sound of the lecture inside stopped abruptly. Li Jiu stood there, looking lazy, and the math teacher felt his temper flare. Everyone already knew a student from a poor background had joined their class and had been secretly mocking her, and now this girl from the boondocks actually dared to be late!
"Late for class? Go stand outside," the math teacher snapped.
"Oh." Li Jiu didn't argue; she simply walked to the door and stood there.
Duan Qili, who followed, simply put down his basketball and joined her outside.
"Student Duan, what are you doing?" The teacher’s attitude changed instantly when he looked at Duan Qili.
Duan Qili replied lazily, "Late. Serving detention."
"You don't need to..." Before the teacher could finish, Duan Qili was already outside.
Everyone was shocked.
"Since when did the Second Young Master Duan become a student in our class?"
"The Second Young Master is actually... wearing a school uniform? My god, am I seeing things?"
"Must admit, he looks so handsome in the uniform!"
Li Jiu was busy playing a game on her phone. Duan Qili glanced over; it was a tile-matching game. It looked simple, but it required intense speed, and rumor had it that no one had ever passed the second level.
"Is it fun?" Duan Qili asked out of the blue.
Li Jiu’s fingers paused. In that one second, the game ended. She lost. She lifted her eyes, her beautiful gaze filled with resentment. Anyone would be angry at being disturbed right before beating a level.
"You can play it yourself," Li Jiu said coldly.
Duan Qili chuckled. "My apologies for the interruption."
Li Jiu took a step to the side to increase the distance between them. She had a lukewarm impression of Duan Qili—or rather, a lukewarm impression of the entire school. She shoved her phone into her pocket, bored.
Duan Qili nodded. *She seems... quite guarded against me.*
"You can go inside and attend class. I’ll back you up," Duan Qili said, looking at Li Jiu, casually finding a topic to break the silence.
"No need." Li Jiu refused without a second thought. It was simple: she didn't want to owe anyone a favor. Besides, this level of material? She already knew it; she didn't need to learn it at all.
Duan Qili smiled. *The little girl has backbone.*
As soon as the bell rang for the end of class, a boy ran over. "Student Li Jiu, the director wants to see you. You better go now."
Li Jiu frowned. *Wants to see me? Is this about the fight?* Li Jiu sighed. *Schooling is such a hassle.* She strode off toward the office.
Behind her, Duan Qili raised an eyebrow. *Teachers these days... always so much drama.*
...
Li Jiu pushed open the office door and found all the teachers there. When they saw her enter, their eyes were full of mockery. Everyone was waiting for a show. Although Li Jiu was the national top scorer, her family background was what it was, and everyone looked down on her. They couldn't afford to offend the young masters and misses of the school, but making things difficult for Li Jiu was easy.
The director straightened his back, putting on an arrogant posture. "Student Li Jiu, you actually fought in school! Do you have any idea how heinous this behavior is? You have crossed the school’s bottom line!"
Li Jiu glanced around the room and blinked innocently. "Since it was a fight, shouldn't both parties be called in for a talk? Seeing as it's just me here... that doesn't seem right, does it? Shouldn't the director have called those four in as well?"
The director’s mouth twitched. "Those four students were severely injured and are not in a condition to attend."
"Four people ganged up on me, and yet the director isn't pursuing them, but is instead here to harass me? Could it be..." Li Jiu laughed mockingly, "that the director is too afraid to handle them, so you’re using me as a scapegoat?"