After Becoming the Abused Heroine in a Campus Story - Chapter 29: Stop Provoking Them

Chapter 29: Stop Provoking Them

“Zhizhi, who are you talking to?” Jiang Yueyi asked cautiously.

“No one, Sister. I finished my milk. I’m going to rest now. You rest early too,” Jiang Xianzhi said.

She went upstairs in a great mood, almost floating with joy.

Jiang Yueyi raised her brow. This was bad. Her sister was really smitten. But who was it?

Jiang Xianzhi didn’t notice her sister’s worry. Back in her room, she happily rolled on her bed, hugging her blanket. Her day’s irritation vanished. She could sleep well tonight.

On Saturday morning, Jiang Xianzhi had the driver take her to school early. She got off near the school and bought a big bag of snacks at a nearby supermarket, as promised to Zhou Yining.

After bringing the snacks to her class, Jiang Xianzhi kept thinking about giving them to Zhou Yining. She couldn’t focus during morning reading. When the first period ended, she grabbed the snacks and jogged out.

At Class 19’s door, she asked someone to call Zhou Yining.

Zhou Yining heard the commotion, got up, and walked out. She saw Jiang Xianzhi waiting in the hallway.

Zhou Yining smiled at her. “Here to feed me?”

“Hmm, as promised. For you,” Jiang Xianzhi said, her ears slightly red. She handed the bag to Zhou Yining.

Zhou Yining took it and peeked inside, seeing a bag full of snacks.

“Great, my snacks for the week are set,” Zhou Yining said.

“Don’t other girls give you snacks too?” Jiang Xianzhi asked, pursing her lips. Her pretty fox-like eyes stared at Zhou Yining, waiting for a reply.

“Yours are definitely tastier. You’re different from them,” Zhou Yining said, smiling at Jiang Xianzhi, soothing the little fox.

As expected, Jiang Xianzhi’s fox-like eyes blinked, and her face lit up with a smile. “That’s more like it.”

“Go back and focus in class. See you tomorrow morning,” Zhou Yining said.

“Hmm, see you tomorrow,” Jiang Xianzhi said, now content but reluctant to leave. She hadn’t talked much with Zhou Yining before class started again, but she had no choice. She checked the time and headed to the third floor.

Seeing Zhou Yining lifted her spirits. She didn’t zone out in class anymore.

Zhou Yining returned with the big bag of snacks, in a great mood. She took out a yogurt to drink.

Xu Yueming eyed the three big bags by Zhou Yining’s desk, his tone sour. “So many snacks. Can you even finish them?”

“What’s it to you? If I can’t, I’m happy just looking at them,” Zhou Yining said, sipping her yogurt.

Xu Yueming was envious. The snacks weren’t expensive; anyone could buy them. At home, they’d go untouched, but at school, they seemed irresistible.

But Xu Yueming, too proud, knew Zhou Yining disliked him and didn’t dare ask for any.

After the second period, Chen Yitong urged the class to go downstairs for exercises. “Hurry up. If we’re late, we’ll lose points. Wake up, everyone.”

No one in the class wanted to do exercises, but they had no choice. Every class had to. Some students walked downstairs in groups, others grabbed vocabulary booklets to review before starting.

Zhou Yining didn’t know where this study habit came from. She didn’t approve. Forming lines took minutes, and the noisy environment wasn’t good for memorizing words. Better to spend time in self-study.

Soon, classes lined up. Zhou Yining stood in formation, running with her class. They had to run three laps and walk one. It was exhausting for students.

Already sleep-deprived, running so much made them tireder in class. Zhou Yining didn’t understand the point. It just made students suffer more.

Finally, they dispersed. Students returned to class to rest or nap. Zhou Yining’s legs ached from running. She decided to walk a bit before going back.

After exercises, they had twenty minutes of free time. Zhou Yining walked, feeling hungry, and planned to eat snacks in class.

The field was nearly empty. As Zhou Yining walked back, passing a corner by the field, she saw boys blocking the path, talking.

She glanced over. Trees partially blocked the view from the track, making it less clear.

Looking again, she recognized the boys as Lin Shaohui and his two lackeys. They cornered a girl against the wall, and she seemed to be crying.

Zhou Yining’s face hardened. She opened her phone’s recorder, put it in her uniform pocket, and picked up small stones from the field’s edge. She threw them at Lin Shaohui’s group. “What’re you doing?”

Lan Guangwen jumped, startled. “Damn, who’s meddling? Wanna die?”

Lin Shaohui and his group looked toward Zhou Yining. Seeing her, Lin Shaohui’s mouth twitched.

He’d been rebuffed by Zhou Yining yesterday, so he targeted another girl from the video to intimidate. He’d just made her cry when Zhou Yining showed up.

Lin Shaohui frowned deeply. “Zhou Yining, what? Here to save your little friend? You can barely save yourself, and you’re worried about others?”

“How can’t I save myself? You guys are sick. Go see a doctor. You enjoy building your happiness on others’ pain. All three of you are messed up, huh?” Zhou Yining said, frowning.

“Zhou Yining, you’re asking for it. You think we won’t post the video?” Lan Guangwen said, furious at her attitude, his neck stiff.

Zhou Yining nodded at him. “Don’t just talk. You’re like sewer bugs, wearing wigs to sneak into the girls’ locker room to film. You’re still smug about it. How can there be such rotten people like you?”

“Who’re you cursing?” Han Fei said, also enraged.

“I’m a good citizen, not like you sewer bugs. I don’t curse, but I speak the truth,” Zhou Yining said.

“Damn, say that again. One more word, and I’ll post the video on Nanchuan City’s forum. Let everyone see how shameless you all are,” Han Fei said, his face red.

“We did nothing wrong. What’s to fear? You’re the ones who messed up. You’re shameless. No, I was wrong. You maggots living in sewers don’t even have faces, so shamelessness doesn’t apply,” Zhou Yining said.

She mocked them, certain these cowards wouldn’t post the video. If they did, she could report it to the police with complete evidence.

“Damn, Zhou Yining, I’ll post it, I swear,” Han Fei said, pulling out his phone.

Lin Shaohui’s face paled seeing the phone. He moved to stop him, but the crying girl knelt before Han Fei. “Don’t post it, please don’t.”

She turned to Zhou Yining, crying. “Please stop talking. Don’t provoke them. I don’t want people seeing that video. I really don’t.”

Han Fei grinned triumphantly at Zhou Yining. “See? Li Yuting, filmed with you, is kneeling to me.”

Seeing the girl kneel, Zhou Yining’s heart ached. The original Yining had been forced to kneel too.

Zhou Yining stepped forward, ignoring their stares, trying to pull the kneeling girl up.

The girl shook off Zhou Yining’s hand. “Leave me alone, Zhou Yining. We’re different. You might not care about reputation, but I do. If that video gets out, how can I live? What will my parents think? What will people at school say? How can I stay at One High? Please, stop talking. Don’t provoke them.”

The girl caught her breath, tears streaming, looking at Zhou Yining. “They hadn’t bothered me for a while. They’d let me go. Why did you anger them? It was over. Why bring it up? Can’t we let it go?”

She cried, nearly fainting. Zhou Yining opened her mouth but said nothing.

After a moment, Zhou Yining calmed down. She understood the girl. Society was harsh on women. Wanting to escape this was understandable. If the video leaked, victims’ pain could multiply.

People might judge the perpetrators briefly, but some would say vile things like “flies don’t land on perfect eggs.” Others might sleazily seek the video. Low morals abounded, especially online, where malice grew unchecked.

This was the reality many women faced. True fairness was hard to achieve.

But Zhou Yining didn’t see this as a reason to back down. Should they let perpetrators go because of fear of attack, judgment, or stares?

She wouldn’t. Wrongdoers should be punished, no matter the reason.

“It happened, so we can’t pretend it didn’t. The fault isn’t mine or yours. You shouldn’t kneel to them. They don’t deserve it,” Zhou Yining said.

Seeing the girl cry harder, she continued, “If you don’t pull this thorn out, it’ll haunt you forever. Just when you’re moving on, it might resurface. The best way to face problems isn’t to run.”

Lin Shaohui scoffed, mocking. “Zhou Yining, you’re full of big talk since you got good grades. Funny, pull the thorn? How? Got evidence? Hilarious.”

Zhou Yining turned, staring at Lin Shaohui steadily. “Anything done leaves a trace. Lin Shaohui, watch yourself.”

Her stare unnerved him, and he stepped back. “You’re crazy, talking nonsense. Bad luck. Let’s go.”

The boys wanted to feel superior by bullying these girls. They’d made Li Yuting cry, but Zhou Yining showed up. Lin Shaohui lost interest. Zhou Yining wasn’t scared and acted wild. He didn’t want trouble.

After they left, Zhou Yining reached out to help Li Yuting up, still kneeling.

Li Yuting dodged her hand. “You don’t understand. You won’t.”

She wiped tears, stood shakily with hands on the ground, and walked to the teaching building.

Zhou Yining watched her back, sighing. How few stood up for their rights in such cases?

But Zhou Yining wouldn’t stop. She never blamed victims. Perpetrators deserved punishment.

Back in class, it was almost time for lessons. Zhou Yining opened a bag of corn chips, eating quickly to fill her stomach. The math teacher entered.

Teacher Zhang always had window-side students open windows first. Teenagers’ metabolism was high; without ventilation, she could barely breathe from the stuffiness.

At noon dismissal, Zhou Yining walked with Tian Xue. Having arrived recently, she didn’t know people from other classes, including Li Yuting.

“Do you know Li Yuting?” Zhou Yining asked while walking.

Tian Xue nodded. “Hmm, I’ve heard of her. She’s usually in the grade’s top ten, a good student from Class 1. Why?”

Zhou Yining shook her head. “Nothing, just heard someone mention her.”

“Hmm, by the way, has Lin Shaohui’s group bothered you lately?” Tian Xue asked.

“No, I’d be the one troubling them,” Zhou Yining said, snorting at the thought of those jerks.

Tian Xue looked at her, hesitant. “You’ve really changed. Before, you’d be scared for days, unable to eat.”

“I was too timid and cowardly before. Now I’m not afraid. If they want trouble, I’m ready,” Zhou Yining said, walking upright.

Tian Xue noticed Zhou Yining’s posture had changed. Before, like her, Zhou Yining hunched, trying to shrink away from notice. Now, she stood tall, unafraid of others’ gazes.

Tian Xue’s look grew complex. Zhou Yining had truly changed.

Saturday passed quickly. After evening self-study, Zhou Yining walked home in the dark. Her house was, as usual, cold and empty. Since she’d confronted Zhao Xiuna last time, Zhao Xiuna stopped making her late-night snacks.

This was fine. It’d make leaving easier, with fewer ties. She brought snacks and yogurt, so she wouldn’t go hungry.

Zhou Yining took clean clothes to the bathroom for a shower. The original Yining’s bathroom was tiny, about three square meters, barely enough to stand and bathe.

She showered, changed into pajamas, and washed her clothes in the machine.

While waiting to hang them, Zhou Yining returned to the dining room. She turned on the desk lamp, took out snacks, and ate chips with yogurt, quite content.

Zhou Jiaming, hearing someone eating, poked his head out and saw Zhou Yining with snacks.

He coughed lightly. “Where’d you get those snacks?”

“Duh, bought them. Obvious much?” Zhou Yining said, ignoring him, eating chips and using her phone.

Seeing her brush him off, Zhou Jiaming said, “Got any left? You’re making me hungry.”

“Hungry?” Zhou Yining turned, raising a brow.

“Hmm, Sister, got more food?” Zhou Jiaming said, calling her sister for the first time, driven by craving.

“Nope, wouldn’t give you any if I did,” Zhou Yining said calmly, ignoring his fuming expression and continuing with her phone.

Zhou Jiaming glared, furious. “Just some lousy snacks. You think I care? Even if you begged me, I wouldn’t eat your stuff.”

Zhou Yining rolled her eyes. “Am I crazy? Beg you to eat? You could starve, and it’s not my problem.”

Zhou Jiaming was livid but knew Zhou Yining feared no one now. Unable to outtalk her, he slammed his door shut in frustration.

Zhou Yining’s lips curved, grabbing more chips to eat.

While browsing forums, she got a message from Jiang Xianzhi. She quickly opened it.

Jiang Xianzhi: [What’s Teacher Zhou doing? (Cat peeking jpg)]

Zhou Yining’s lips curved. She wiped her hands and typed on her phone.

Zhou Yining: [Eating your chips and yogurt. Just washed clothes, a bit hungry. (Grabbing cat jpg)]

Jiang Xianzhi saw the reply, rolling on her bed with joy. Zhou Yining was eating her snacks.

She buried half her face in her soft blanket, only her lively eyes peering at her phone. She typed on it.

Jiang Xianzhi: [Still 8 a.m. tomorrow? Kinda miss you. Feels like forever since we met. (Cat nuzzling jpg)]

After sending, Jiang Xianzhi buried her face in the blanket. Would Zhou Yining think she was clingy?

But she meant it. She really missed Zhou Yining.

After a few seconds of worry, Jiang Xianzhi felt shy. She grabbed her phone, deleted the message, and hid her face, too nervous to check Zhou Yining’s reply.

Zhou Yining, waiting, saw the withdrawn message.

Her lips curved. Was the little fox shy?

Zhou Yining: [I miss you too~ (Hugging cat jpg)]

Jiang Xianzhi, face buried, peeked at her phone with one eye and saw the reply.

She hugged her phone, rolling on her bed with joy. Zhou Yining missed her too. It wasn’t just her; Zhou Yining missed her as well.

The more she thought, the happier she got, her heart sweet like honey.

When Liang Jing knocked and entered with milk, she saw her daughter rolling happily on the bed.

Liang Jing asked, puzzled, “Zhizhi, what’re you doing?”

Jiang Xianzhi shot up, covering half her face with the blanket, whining, “Mother, why didn’t you knock?”

Liang Jing was speechless. “I did knock. You were too happy to hear.”

“Something up?” Jiang Xianzhi asked, her cheeks red from being caught.

“Hmm, brought you milk. Drink it before sleeping,” Liang Jing said, placing the milk on the nightstand.

She asked casually, “What were you looking at? So happy?”

“Nothing, chatting with a classmate,” Jiang Xianzhi said, humming, adding, “It’s late. Mother, go rest. I’ll sleep soon.”

Liang Jing glanced at her, unable to resist. “Who? Not Zhang Ye, right?”

Jiang Xianzhi grimaced. “No way.”

She didn’t even want to talk to Zhang Ye, let alone chat.

“Alright, rest early. Isn’t your classmate coming to tutor you tomorrow?” Liang Jing said.

“Hmm, hmm,” Jiang Xianzhi replied.

Liang Jing left, still uneasy. Her daughter’s behavior seemed like she was in love.

Worried, she went to Jiang Yueyi. Jiang Yueyi was about to sleep when her mother came. She asked, puzzled, “Mother, why’re you here?”

“It’s your sister. Haven’t you noticed she’s acting odd lately?” Liang Jing said, entering Jiang Yueyi’s room and closing the door.

“You know too?” Jiang Yueyi said, sitting up, looking at Liang Jing in surprise.

“Know what?” Liang Jing asked, confused.

“Zhizhi’s fallen for a central air conditioner. He’s probably a playboy, ambiguous with several girls. Yesterday, she was upset about it, but he messaged her, and a few words cheered her up. She’s deep in this time,” Jiang Yueyi said, rubbing her face, sighing.

“What? Why didn’t you tell me sooner? It’s not Zhang Ye?” Liang Jing asked urgently.

“Probably not, but I haven’t found out who. It’s tricky. Zhizhi seems to really like him,” Jiang Yueyi said, head aching. Her sister was such a love-sick brain.

“Find out fast. A playboy won’t do. He should at least be devoted to Zhizhi,” Liang Jing said, sighing. “I went to give her milk and saw her rolling on her bed, happy. She said she was chatting with a classmate.”

“Probably him. I’ll ask her two friends. They’d know more about school stuff than us,” Jiang Yueyi said, knowing her sister had two friends who likely knew.

“Okay, just don’t let it affect her studies. And he better be reliable, not a central air conditioner loving everyone,” Liang Jing said, sighing.

“Hmm, don’t worry, Mother. They’re off tomorrow. I’ll find out who he is. Go rest early,” Jiang Yueyi said.

“Alright, handle this,” Liang Jing said, giving more instructions before leaving.