The school morning had barely begun, yet the air was already thick with tension. A cluster of luxury cars lined the entrance, engines off but presence heavy. Students gathered in hushed clusters, whispering behind cupped hands, eyes darting toward the administration building.
"Did you hear? Song Mei's in big trouble."
"Yeah, the boys she beat up… their mothers came to school."
"I heard they're inside the principal's office right now, demanding punishment!"
"They say Song Mei's violent. That she's dangerous."
"She beat five boys by herself. No one's ever done that here."
Amid the growing stir, Song Mei entered through the back gate, her steps quiet but steady. She could feel the air shift as soon as her shoes hit the tiled floor. The hallway noise dulled, like someone had pressed mute. She was used to it now—this spotlight that chased her everywhere.
Inside the classroom, Chu Shaojia rushed to her side with a serious look.
"Meimei," she said in a low voice, tugging gently on her sleeve. "The mothers of those boys you beat up… they're here. In the principal's office. They came with lawyers and everything. It's not looking good."
Song Mei raised an eyebrow. "Lawyers?"
Chu Shaojia nodded. "They're saying it was an unprovoked attack. That you bullied their sons."
A bitter laugh escaped Song Mei's lips. "How convenient."
Before Shaojia could reply, a student burst into the room, out of breath. "Song Mei, the principal wants to see you. Now."
Outside the classroom, students pressed close to the glass panes, trying to catch a glimpse of the brewing storm.
"Her luck's run out."
"I bet she gets expelled."
"She's always been a problem. Beautiful or not, she's still the same Song Mei."
"I heard her mom is on the way. That says everything."
Meanwhile, inside the principal's office, the atmosphere was suffocating. Three well-dressed women—mothers of the beaten boys—sat stiffly in the chairs across from Principal Huang. Their faces were carefully painted with concern and righteousness, though their eyes flashed with fury.
"This kind of violence cannot be ignored, Principal Huang," one of them said sharply. "My son has bruised ribs."
"Mine hasn't slept since the incident. He's traumatized."
"If you don't act, we'll take this to the board—and the media."
Principal Huang sighed, just as the assistant walked in. "Mrs. Song and her son have arrived, sir."
Mrs. Song entered, elegant and poised, followed by Song Feng in his uniform. A few steps behind was Song Ning, looking more confused than concerned. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze darting across the tense room.
Mrs. Song nodded coldly at the mothers and then turned to the principal. "What happened now?"
Before anyone could answer, the door opened again. Song Mei stepped in.
Her presence hit like a thunderclap—unbothered, steady, eyes sharp like polished steel.
She didn't wait to be addressed. "I heard I was being accused. So here I am."
The mothers started speaking all at once. "She attacked our sons without warning we demand disciplinary action!"
"That's the girl! That violent thing who assaulted our sons! We demand she be punished!"
"My child was attacked without reason! This is bullying!"
"What kind of school allows delinquents to roam around, injuring others like this?"
The principal looked caught between sympathy and confusion. He cleared his throat. "Please, calm down. We're here to discuss the matter civilly."
Song Mei glanced at each of them with the kind of calm that made your skin crawl. Song Mei stood silently as accusations rained down on her. She didn't flinch.
"Did they also tell you they tried to corner me in an alley? That one of them grabbed me? That they threatened me?"
The room fell into silence.
Mrs. Song narrowed her eyes. "You beat up five students, Song Mei."
Song Mei turned to her mother. "I defended myself. Or is that something I'm not allowed to do in this family?"
Song Ning, standing quietly beside Song Feng, tugged at his sleeve. "Ge… what's going on? Why would Meimei fight those boys?"
"I don't know," Song Feng muttered. "But she's changed. She's not the same Song Mei."
In the corner of the hallway, outside the office, Hao Ran leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, watching through the frosted glass.
He smirked to himself. Everything was going according to plan.
This little mess—he orchestrated it.
He'd overheard the boys grumbling about revenge, and he'd just given them the nudge they needed. Then, a little whisper in their mothers' ears, a few embellished details… and now Song Mei was on trial.
All so he could walk in and "save" her at the perfect moment.
Not because he loved her. No. His heart still beat only for Song Ning. But Song Mei—she was fun. She was unpredictable. Watching her burn down everything in her path? That was entertainment.
Still, a part of him was curious. Would she actually need saving?
Inside the room, Principal Huang cleared his throat. "Miss Song, there are serious accusations being made. You are saying this was self-defense?"
"Yes."
"And do you have witnesses?"
"No. But they do. Each other. Which makes it convenient, doesn't it?"
Before more could be said, the door opened again. Hao Ran stepped in.
Everyone turned.
"I was there," he said calmly. "I saw the whole thing."
Song Mei's gaze darkened instantly.
Hao Ran smiled at the principal, ignoring her glare. "Those boys surrounded her. I was just coming around the corner. I saw it all."
Everyone turned to him. Even Song Mei narrowed her eyes.
"And what a coincidence that you were there, Hao Ran?" she asked coldly. "Or was this your plan all along—to play the hero?"
Hao Ran's smile twitched. "You think too much of me."
"No. I think just enough," she replied.
The mothers looked furious.
"Why didn't you step in, then?" one snapped.
"I was about to. But she didn't need help." He chuckled. "Frankly, it was impressive."
Principal Huang gave him a long look. "Your testimony may change things, Hao Ran."
"Oh, I'm sure it will," he said, his tone smooth.
Song Mei said nothing, but her eyes were sharp daggers. She knew exactly what he was doing.
Principal Zhao sighed and looked at Mrs. Song. "Madam Song, we need your cooperation to handle this. Whether it was self-defense or not, this has caused a stir. We need to come to an understanding with the parents. We'll investigate thoroughly before making a final decision."
Mrs. Song, still visibly shaken from Song Mei's earlier words, nodded slightly. "See that you do and Let me speak with her… alone."
But Song Mei stood up. "There's nothing to talk about. If this school values lies over truth, go ahead and expel me."
She turned on her heel and walked out, leaving silence and chaos in her wake.
Outside the office, the whispers began again.
"Hao Ran's defending her?"
"Are they… together?"
"No way. He's just being a gentleman. Right?"
Song Ning frowned slightly, but said nothing. Her heart didn't know what to feel. She'd always thought Hao Ran was kind, but Song Mei… she didn't understand her sister anymore. Everything felt so far apart now.
As they exited the office, Song Mei walked right past Hao Ran without looking at him.
He fell into step beside her, whispering, "A little thanks would be nice."
She stopped and turned her head just slightly.
"Stay out of my business, Hao Ran. I know what you're doing. You're not a hero. Just a bored rich kid looking for amusement."
Her voice was cold enough to freeze lava.
And with that, she walked away—back straight, eyes unflinching—leaving him staring after her, for once, unsure what to say.
Hao Ran was left standing there, a little stunned, a little annoyed.
He had expected Song Mei to blush, to stammer—maybe even yell and storm off. But this? That cold, dismissive stare that cut deeper than any insult?
It irked him.
Not because he liked her.
But because she was no longer predictable.
And unpredictable people were... entertaining.
As he turned away, a faint smile tugging at his lips, Song Mei continued toward the front gate—only to find herself blocked by a familiar figure.
Mrs. Song.
"Meimei…" her mother called, stepping forward, her voice unusually soft. "Wait a moment."
Song Mei halted, but didn't respond.
Her mother looked at her with an expression that might have passed for concern to anyone else. Her lips curled into a practiced, motherly smile. "I heard about what happened. You must've been so scared. You're always so impulsive… Why didn't you call home?"
Song Mei's jaw clenched. The word home felt like poison on her mother's tongue.
Mrs. Song gently reached out, brushing invisible dust off Song Mei's shoulder, her voice syrupy sweet. "I was so worried, you know. You mustn't be so reckless. You should rely on your family more—"
Song Mei snapped.
She stepped back sharply, breaking the contact.
"Don't," she said coldly. "Don't pretend like you care."
Mrs. Song froze.
"If you want someone to dote on, you already have Song Ning. Go to her. Isn't she the one who needs all your worry, your affection, your praise?"
"Meimei, what are you saying?" Mrs. Song's voice dropped, tight with warning beneath the sweet facade. "I'm just trying to talk to you—"
"No. You're trying to control me," Song Mei shot back. "Just like before. You think showing up with a soft voice and fake smile will make me run to you like some obedient pet?"
Her eyes glinted, fierce and unafraid. "Save it. I don't need it. I don't need you."
The nearby students who had been watching in silence suddenly looked away, pretending not to have heard the confrontation. Even the teachers lingering by the faculty office avoided eye contact.
Mrs. Song's expression hardened, but she said nothing.
Song Mei stepped around her without another glance, her heels clicking like gunshots against the tile.
She wasn't the same girl who cried for her mother to acknowledge her.
Not anymore.