The person knocking on the door was a student. After the door opened, the student looked into the office and his eyes fell on Li Xiu.
"Teacher Ouyang, the head teacher asked me to call Li Xiu to his office. He said he has something to ask him."
He said.
What could the head teacher ask Li Xiu?
Normally, Ouyang would have shown the thoughtfulness of a good teacher, asking Li Xiu more questions and showing concern. But at this moment, Ouyang himself was already distracted, and naturally, he didn't have the energy to continue acting.
"Since someone is looking for you, you can leave."
Ouyang said with a sullen face.
But just as Li Xiu was about to step out of the office, he suddenly called out to her: "Li Xiu——"
Li Xiu paused and turned to look at Ouyang.
"Did you see anything?"
Ouyang thought he could feign composure, but the hoarseness of his voice startled even him. After asking that question impulsively, he stared at Li Xiu without blinking, not wanting to miss even the slightest expression on her face.
"ah?"
Li Xiu frowned, looking confused, but it didn't seem like she was pretending.
A chill instantly went straight from Ouyang's heels to his skull.
"...It's okay, go ahead."
Ouyang said.
After Li Xiu left, Ouyang staggered back to his desk and sat down.
It's just that I've been under a lot of pressure recently, so my eyes are blurry.
The man kept saying this to himself. But when he picked up the cup to drink some water, the back of his hand was splashed with water... His hand was shaking.
He couldn't help but think back to the hand he had just seen.
A cold, iron-blue hand with a dead air.
The fear turned into a chill that enveloped him, making him deeply understand what it felt like to be in an icy cave.
"You must be joking."
The young teacher murmured.
"It's been so damn long, even if it's a ghost, it wouldn't take this long..."
So, it must be a case of dazzle, or maybe that little Li Xiu had heard the rumors from back then and was using some new trick to trick him. Although he had already tried it, who knew if the other party had good acting skills and could have fooled him?
Ouyang's mind was in a mess and he felt severe pain in his temples, as if he was being pricked by many invisible needles.
"Knock, knock, knock."
At this time, there was another knock on his office door.
"I'm busy. We can talk later if you have anything."
Thinking that it was another student looking for him, Ouyang didn't care about maintaining his image as a good teacher and yelled at the outside of the door in an extremely rude manner.
However, after hearing his words, the person outside the door was still relentless and continued to knock on the door regularly.
"Knock, knock, knock."
"Knock, knock, knock."
…
The mechanical knocking sound continued, making Ouyang's headache worse.
Unable to bear it any longer, Ouyang jumped up and rushed to the office door, opening it angrily: "Didn't you hear me?! I already said I have something to say, why are you knocking on the door——"
His voice suddenly stopped.
Because at this moment, there was no one outside his door, only a thick and heavy photo album lying quietly on the ground.
As soon as he saw the familiar way the collection book was wrapped in a book cover, the color drained from Ouyang's face.
"How could it be possible—"
Hadn't he already put these things away? How could they be left out in the open? Wait, did someone find out and steal these special collections from his bookshelf?
"rustle."
Suddenly, the clear sound of turning pages was heard in the corridor.
Ouyang gasped, staring in disbelief as the album on the ground flipped open on its own without anyone touching it. One after another, ugly and evil photos spilled out from the transparent film.
The difference is that the photos in his memory only showed the tender bodies of underage children, but now, Ouyang's own image appeared extremely clearly in the photos, completely blocking those "souvenirs".
"Who—who is playing such a stupid joke?!"
Ouyang could no longer control his emotions. While scolding, he threw himself to the ground with his hands and feet, trying desperately to gather the shadows.
What he didn't expect was that the moment he touched the album, all the "Ouyangs" in the photos turned their heads and looked at the panicked man outside the photos.
They all had similar swollen, bruised faces, the kind of faces that had been dead for a long time, abandoned in a deserted corner to rot for days. They all grinned at Ouyang, their purple-brown tongues hanging out, dripping with black pus and blood.
[Teacher Ouyang.]
Ouyang heard "his own" voice ringing in his ears.
[Be a good kid, then the teacher will like you. ]
A fishy-sweet taste surged in Ouyang's throat, as if his heart was beating too fast and shattered his internal organs, causing bleeding.
"It's an illusion—no, that's not right. It's a nightmare. I must be having a nightmare—"
Everything was so weird that Ouyang was scared out of his wits. He kept talking to himself, trying to wake himself up.
Then, his shoulders suddenly sank.
A bluish hand reached out and clamped him tightly like an iron hoop.
*
When Li Xiu arrived at the Academic Affairs Office, before she even opened the door, she heard a familiar voice.
"...Song Cheng? Huang Xiaodong? God knows who this is... Oh, they're hanging out with that guy called Wang something, I'm not familiar with him."
Li Xiu clearly felt that the head teacher was relieved that she had appeared.
"Student Li Xiu is here."
The slightly balding middle-aged man wiped his forehead.
"Well, Mr. Fang, since Mr. Li is here, I'm sorry to interrupt your studies. The school actually just wants to get a more comprehensive understanding of the situation. I didn't expect you weren't familiar with those two students. You can go back to class now."
The head teacher spoke very kindly to the tall boy who was leaning on the sofa in front of him with an impatient look on his face.
He had a smile on his face, but only he knew that he was cursing madly in his heart.
It's simply outrageous. I don't know which fool has lost his mind. Why would he invite this prince here when there are so many other people he can ask for help?!
Just by going through the motions with Young Master Fang and asking a few questions, the head teacher felt like his life had been shortened by ten years.
As a teacher, no one likes to deal with those difficult students.
And if this troublemaker is a young master who cannot be beaten or scolded and can only be coaxed and flattered by all means, the degree of annoyance will increase exponentially.
Fortunately, Li Xiu's arrival instantly alleviated the terrifying deep-sea pressure in the Academic Affairs Office.
"Student Li, did you know that Song Cheng and Huang Xiaodong had an accident at school?"
The head teacher didn't dare to act rashly in front of Fang Qianan, but when facing Li Xiu, he instantly became strong again.
"I have no idea."
Li Xiu had heard a little bit from the classmate who had led the way on the way here. He also knew that the incident might be related to Song Cheng and the immortal official A Mazi. But to be honest, Li Xiu really didn't know what kind of serious accident could have happened to Song Cheng, who was still full of energy that morning, and A Mazi, whose real name was Huang Xiaodong.
According to what the student said, the two people were taken away by an ambulance, and before that, the dean was so scared that he almost fainted.
"Well, they suffered a very serious case of poisoning..." After a pause, the head teacher quickly added, "Food poisoning. They're still in the hospital, and their lives are in danger. Do you know anything about this?"
The head teacher narrowed his eyes and looked at Li Xiu with an extremely stern look.
Li Xiu shook his head.
"You really don't know? But other students said that when they went to look for you this morning, you were fine. And it was said that they seemed to have taken something from your schoolbag today. Li Xiu, what did you bring to school today?"
"I didn't bring anything that violated school rules."
Hearing the slightly bald man's suggestive words, Li Xiu replied.
He looked up at the other person, his face expressionless.
Did someone take something from his schoolbag? Li Xiu recalled the strange feeling he'd noticed after returning from the copy room today. He figured the mess of uncooked rice in his schoolbag must have been caused by Song Cheng and Ah Mazi.
But what does this have to do with poisoning?
Li Xiu pursed her lips.
He could sense that the head teacher was hinting at something.
Maybe they wanted to use him as a punching bag... or maybe as a scapegoat.
Although Song Cheng and Ah Mazi were merely the bottom rungs of the clique, they were still Qiming students. With the exception of special individuals like Li Xiu, anyone who could attend this school held some sort of status within the city.
But now, students are almost dying from poisoning on campus. If the school admits that there are safety hazards in its school, not only the parents of those two people, but also the parents of other students will be able to expose the school's top management.
In this situation, an ordinary student like himself, who had obvious conflicts with Song Cheng and Huang Xiaodong and came from a poor family, seemed to be the best person to take the blame.
Li Xiu's heart sank little by little.
He wasn't the kind of naive boy who grew up in a honeypot. He had seen similar things happen to his grandmother many times. However, even though he knew about it, when it really happened to him, Li Xiucai was shocked to find that he had no idea what to do.
Just like when he faced the bullying from the school bullies with superior status, there was no other way except to endure it silently.
"Student Li, I heard that your relationship with Song Cheng and Huang Xiaodong isn't very good, right? Of course, those two do behave badly at school. Don't worry, tell the teacher, and he will definitely deal with it later. But, Student Li, you've encountered so many unfriendly things before, have you ever thought about taking revenge on them..."
The head teacher looked at the pale face of the boy in front of him with satisfaction. Just as he was about to continue to put pressure on him, a loud noise suddenly came from the side.
That was Fang Qianan kicking the coffee table.
The coffee table in the Academic Affairs Office was made of genuine mahogany and was so heavy that several people couldn't lift it. However, Fang Qianan kicked it and actually moved the 1.5-meter-high mahogany coffee table directly.
"Mr. Fang?!"
The head teacher originally thought that Fang Qianan was just watching the show from the side, but the eldest young master suddenly attacked and almost gave him a heart attack.
"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention when I stretched my legs."
Fang Qianan shrugged without any shame and stood up as he spoke.
The well-developed 1.9-meter tall boy walked straight to the head teacher, putting great pressure on the latter.
Immediately afterwards, Fang Qianan raised his hand and embraced Li Xiu.
"This guy was with me during the first class, and we even went to the infirmary together afterwards. Teacher, do you remember?"
Fang Qianan lowered his eyes and said lightly.
"Ah...ah, that's what happened."
The head teacher had sweat on his forehead and was slow to respond.
His eyes shifted back and forth between Fang Qianan and Li Xiu, the confusion on his face almost overflowing.
Fang Qianan and Li Xiu?
As smooth as he was, he couldn't figure out the relationship between these two people who were so different from each other.
"I've been with him for almost the entire morning. There's no way he would do anything to that Song something Huang right under my nose. And I don't think someone like him, Song something Huang, would be interested in Li Xiu's stuff."
The high school boy's arms were heavy and hot, pressing down heavily on Li Xiu. Fang Qianan's scorching heat seeped into Li Xiu's body, making him, who was used to being alone, feel extremely uncomfortable.
The words that Fang Qianan said made him freeze in place.
Although it is not visible on the outside, in fact, Li Xiu's level of confusion is the same as that of the head teacher in front of her.
"Oh, yes, that's right."
The head teacher agreed with Fang Qianan blankly.
Fang Qianan nodded, and exerted force with the arm on Li Xiu's shoulder, almost pulling the boy directly into his arms.
"So this has nothing to do with him."
Fang Qianan said calmly.
"Since there's nothing to ask, I'll take him away."
*
Li Xiu was still confused until she was quite a distance away from the Academic Affairs Office.
He could still remember the red face of the head teacher before the door was closed: With Fang Qianan around, even if the head teacher was unhappy, he would not continue to cause trouble for Li Xiu.
Thinking of this, Li Xiu's mood suddenly became extremely complicated.
It's natural to feel at ease when you don't have to take the blame.
But Fang Qianan's behavior was really weird, which made him feel uneasy and he couldn't figure out what this guy was up to.
It can't be some new form of school bullying, right?
"Um... why?"
By the time he realized it, Li Xiu had already asked the question.
"What why?"
Fang Qianan still looked like he didn't care about anything.
"Why help me?" Li Xiu asked in a low voice.
As a special person in the school, Fang Qianan didn't need to speak up to defend someone like Li Xiu. Moreover, Li Xiu had noticed before that Fang Qianan didn't like him.
Fang Qianan was silent for a moment.
"Oh, that..."
The tall boy, who was many times bigger than the boy next to him, drew out his voice.
Who the hell knows? Why would he go to such lengths to defend a nobody, a cripple from a con mansion, the very kind he disliked the most?
"When the old man came to see me today, he entered the classroom with his right foot first."
Finally, Fang Qianan replied expressionlessly.
Li Xiu: "Huh?"
Fang Qianan snorted softly: "I hate people who enter the classroom with their right foot first. Okay, I just don't like him, what's wrong with that?"
Li Xiu withdrew his gaze.
"nothing."
After a moment, a whisper as thin as a mosquito escaped from the boy's lips.
"Thanks."
It was different from any previous time. Although his voice was low this time, the tone was soft and sticky, making the boy seem softer.
From Fang Qianan's perspective, he could see a small part of Li Xiulu's snow-white neck outside her school uniform, and her small, white earlobes under her jet-black hair.
For some reason, Fang Qianan subconsciously licked his fangs.
"That's all?" The vicious school bully raised his voice slightly, "That's not right, little cripple, I helped you so much, shouldn't I give you some practical thanks?"
The moment he finished speaking, Fang Qianan felt Li Xiu's shoulders tremble. The thin boy stopped, turned his head and looked at him without saying a word.
"I have nothing to offer."
Li Xiu said.
Fang Qianan didn't know what was going on in Li Xiu's head at that moment, but it was definitely not a good thing. Her face was so pale that Fang Qianan inexplicably thought of that kind of, well, that kind of young widow whose husband died and had no one to rely on, who was particularly weak and vulnerable.
...What the hell is he thinking about.
When Fang Qianan came to his senses, he was stunned for a moment.
However, the strange feeling on his chest as if there were many small claws scratching it did not disappear despite his alertness.
"What do you think I want to do?"
Fang Qianan tried to suppress the strange feeling in his heart and said calmly.
Hearing this, Li Xiu lowered his eyes again and said nothing.
Fang Qianan had discovered that whenever Li Xiu encountered something unpleasant, he would deliberately look away and not meet people's gaze. However, no one must have told him that with his effeminate and delicate appearance, the more he lowered his eyes and tried to keep a straight face, the more people wanted to... want to tease him.
Fang Qianan: "What's the old saying? If you can't repay someone, shouldn't you give yourself to them?"
Li Xiu turned around and looked Fang Qianan up and down.
"Sorry, I'm not gay, I can't do this."
"Ahem—"
Fang Qianan almost choked on his own saliva.
"I'm not a good person either!" he yelled. "It was just a joke!"
It's really just a joke.
But Li Xiu's reaction was so serious, so serious that Fang Qianan's face inexplicably felt hot.
Depend on.
"But I can help you with your studies."
Li Xiu glanced at Fang Qianan sideways and continued.
"I remember that your grades were very bad."
In fact, he was the last in the whole grade.
Fang Qian'an, who can't even take the exam, blushed really hard this time.
"With my grades... no, who would want a thank-you gift like that? Is there any sincerity?"
Once again, Fang Qianan reached out and hugged Li Xiu tightly.
The burning body temperature dispelled the chill brought by the low fever, leaving Li Xiu dazed for a moment.
"A Xiu."
At the same moment, a low, hoarse voice called out from the far end of the corridor.
A chill ran down Li Xiu's spine, and she turned around suddenly, just in time to see a man standing in the corner with his head lowered.
"Student Li Xiu."
The man repeated the call.
The complex building where the Academic Affairs Office is located is very large. When it was first designed, an internationally renowned designer was invited.
The resulting building, while avant-garde in design, proved rather daunting in its practical use. The offices were oddly positioned, connected by corridors that were so intricate and maze-like in design. Furthermore, despite the sheer number of corridors, there were no windows, relying solely on artificial lighting for lighting.
Once a lamp breaks down, that location will appear particularly dark.
And now, above that corner, there happens to be a fault light.
That's strange. Was the lamp broken when they passed by just now?
"Sizzle—sizzle—"
Even from such a distance, Li Xiu could still hear the occasional sound of electricity.
As the lights flickered, the figure became difficult to identify.
"Teacher...Ouyang?"
Li Xiu squinted her eyes for a long time before she could barely recognize who the person was.