Deceased Mother's Inheritance - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: How Easy Is It to Love Her?

Bl00d stained the black glove. Meng Zhengyue wiped the bl00d on Du Mingxiao’s face.

“Crying? Now you know how to cry?”

Meng Zhengyue reached out, and a bodyguard placed an electric clipper in her palm. She pressed the clipper against Du Mingxiao’s scalp, shaving a path down the middle. Then, as if she were trying to peel off his skull, she shaved him haphazardly. Du Mingxiao’s previous arrogance was gone. He begged for mercy pitifully, crying with snot and tears streaming down his face.

“I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. Please, let me go.”

“Hmm, sorry for what? You don’t want to explain it clearly?” Meng Zhengyue shook her head. “That’s not right. You don’t even dare to say what you did?” She didn’t give Du Mingxiao a chance to correct himself and slapped him again.

Du Mingxiao cried, “I’m sorry. I’ll never bully Yun Zhixue again. I shouldn’t have cut her hair.”

Meng Zhengyue pressed the clipper against his chin. He had looked a little human a moment ago. Now, Du Mingxiao was just an ugly mess. “Is ‘sorry’ enough? You said we were even. I’m not satisfied with your apology. You have to start over.”

Meng Zhengyue looked at the four boys behind him. “You’re all his friends, right?”

They were all pinned to the ground, with none of the arrogance they had when they were controlling Yun Zhixue. A high heel landed on Du Mingxiao’s fingers, and the rest was left to the bodyguards. Cries of agony immediately filled the air.

Meng Zhengyue got annoyed. A bodyguard opened a tin box and handed her a cigarette. Meng Zhengyue glanced at the school next to them. This was too harmful to the future of the nation. “Press him into the dirty sewer next to us to wash his brain. He’s stupid and malicious.”

Du Mingxiao kept begging for mercy. He had no idea who Meng Zhengyue was. He only knew that Yun Zhixue was the one who had asked him to meet her. When he came, he was still debating whether to mess around with Yun Zhixue and then dump her, or to just reject and humiliate her to get more online followers.

He hadn’t even figured out the answer when this woman came over. The woman was charming and alluring, and she moved with a fast and precise ruthlessness, like a gangster. She was completely merciless and beat him until he couldn’t get up.

Du Mingxiao asked several times who she was. Meng Zhengyue narrowed her eyes, thinking about what her identity was. Saying “sister” wasn’t close enough. Everyone knew Yun Zhixue was an only child. She curled her lips, her voice piercing through the rain. “I’m her mommy.”

The pouring rain became a boiling torrent. Yun Zhixue was stunned. The wind caught her umbrella and flipped it backward. She quickly ducked.

Meng Zhengyue was lighting the cigarette in her mouth.

Noticing Yun Zhixue, she looked over with a slight arch of her eyebrow. She held the unlit cigarette between her fingers. Yun Zhixue felt there was nowhere to hide and shrank her arms.

Meng Zhengyue didn’t smoke. She put the cigarette away and threw it into the trash can next to her. She said with some annoyance, “I shouldn’t have let you see that.”

Meng Zhengyue pulled off her gloves and threw them away. A bluish vein protruded from her tensed hand, and bl00d flowed through it.

She walked up to Yun Zhixue and took the umbrella from her hand. Her knuckles held the umbrella tightly, and she flipped it back over, asking, “How did you get here?”

The next second, Yun Zhixue suddenly reached out and hugged Meng Zhengyue’s waist. Meng Zhengyue just loosely wrapped her arm around her, intentionally keeping her bloody fingers away from her clean school uniform so as not to get her dirty.

Yun Zhixue stared blankly at the fading bruise on her arm. It looked like a tattoo. It was a mark Meng Zhengyue had left for her. She should have wished for the bruise to disappear quickly, but she selfishly hoped it would stay on Meng Zhengyue forever, becoming her own brand.

She was startled by the thought that had just popped into her mind, and her body trembled. Meng Zhengyue looked at her. “What’s wrong?”

Yun Zhixue shook her head. “Nothing.”

Meng Zhengyue opened the car door and let her in. She took out a disinfectant wipe from the drawer to wipe her hands, then took out the silver snowflake wristwatch and put it on. Only then did she sit next to her and ask softly, “I said I was your mommy just now. Do you mind?”

Yun Zhixue’s actions were faster than her thoughts. She shook her head quickly.

Meng Zhengyue put her hand on the back of her head, smoothing her messy hair. She pulled her into her arms and stroked her reassuringly. “Are you feeling better now?”

“Mm.”

…

The rain showed no sign of stopping. Meng Zhengyue took her to get breakfast and bought her hot milk. The car was parked outside the school gate. She held an umbrella and took her to the teaching building.

In the classroom, Yun Zhixue stared blankly at the blackboard, her fingers tightly holding the bottle of milk in the drawer.

Chalk dust floated in the light. The teacher’s lecture sounded like it was coming through a frosted glass. The rain outside was loud.

When the first class ended, the class president called her and the boy with long hair to the office.

The first thing that came into view was the bulky back of Zhang Xiang’s father. The man stood at the door with his arms crossed, looking arrogant. Yun Zhixue lowered her head and walked in.

Meng Zhengyue was sitting in a visitor’s chair with her legs crossed. Her designer bag was casually placed on the office desk, and her fingertips were tapping the armrest rhythmically.

Meng Zhengyue’s voice had a lazy tone. “In fact, all garbage should be thrown into the garbage incinerator.”

The boy’s father said fiercely, “Who are you scolding?”

Meng Zhengyue laughed. “Teacher, our child has been accepted into the national top talent pool for basic subjects. Her grades are excellent, and she has won countless awards.”

“This has nothing to do with grades. Yun Zhixue was wrong in this matter. At least let Yun Zhixue apologize to Zhang Xiang…” The teacher took out evidence. “Everyone saw it.”

Meng Zhengyue’s lips curved. “About that… I’m afraid not.”

“Then do some work on your child.”

“You misunderstood. I’m not worried that my child can’t say it. I’m worried that once my child says it, I won’t be able to help but break his legs.”

The teacher’s face changed. “Who are you to her?”

“Me? I’m her mommy, here to support her.”

“You’re being unreasonable!”

Meng Zhengyue laughed. “Just figured that out? What were you doing before? You’re right. I’m not here to listen to you scold her today. I’m here to settle a score.”

“My child’s personality is so闷. She won’t even scream if you hit her with a stick. If she did something like this, it could only mean she was at her wit’s end. I don’t care what others say about her. I only believe her. Can you understand that? If you can’t, then go find a place to hit your head and die. People with such a low IQ shouldn’t be teachers.”

She was smiling, arguing with them all by herself.

She was wearing a black suit with straight shoulders and a slim waist. Her hair was tied up, revealing her beautiful face.

She glanced at the teacher, who was about to lose his temper but couldn’t get a word out. “Stand on the side.”

Compared to Yun Zhixue, her new stepmom was even more problematic and completely uncooperative.

Zhang’s father was about to argue, but her gaze stopped him. Zhang Xiang looked miserable and was about to continue trying to win the teacher’s sympathy.

Meng Zhengyue watched their performance calmly. Several times, she reached out as if to light a cigarette, but in the end, she just rubbed her fingertips together.

At this moment, the teacher from the next class rushed in and said, “Du Mingxiao’s family just called. They said he was beaten and taken to the hospital. He’s in the observation room, and the situation is serious. They don’t know if it has anything to do with this girl.”

“I was the one who beat him,” Meng Zhengyue said, her red lips slightly raised. “What does it have to do with our child?”

The air was still for a few seconds.

Zhang Xiang didn’t dare to feign misery anymore. He quickly made a phone call, and sure enough, the person was in the hospital.

Meng Zhengyue waved to Yun Zhixue behind her. Yun Zhixue walked to her side. Meng Zhengyue held her hand, playing with her like a cat’s paw, pressing it over and over again.

The teacher said, “Let’s discuss this matter again and figure out the whole story…”

“No way. My child is the top student. I don’t want her to waste her time on an idiot…”

“Who’s the idiot?”

Meng Zhengyue’s eyes were filled with contempt. “I’m talking about your son, that scumbag. Do you think I would be sitting here talking to you without any evidence?”

Zhang’s father finally understood. Yun Zhixue had someone to protect her, and this person had a strong background. It was completely different from what his son had said about her having no one to care for her. He immediately stopped being so aggressive. He pulled his son out, kicking and scolding him outside.

The teacher didn’t dare to say anything. He knew that Yun Zhixue had been bullied and that he had failed as a teacher.

Meng Zhengyue met his gaze and asked, “Do you have any water?”

The teacher went and got a cup. Meng Zhengyue squeezed Yun Zhixue’s hand and said, “The teacher is pouring this for you.”

Yun Zhixue was stunned. The teacher understood that this was a way for him to step down, and he quickly handed the water to her. Yun Zhixue obediently took the water and drank a sip. She looked outside, where the fighting was even more intense.

The teacher was afraid that something else would happen, so he went out to mediate and discuss a solution with the Zhang family.

Yun Zhixue’s gaze secretly glanced at Meng Zhengyue, but she was caught. Meng Zhengyue smiled at her gently.

Afterward, the teacher came in and discussed how to resolve the matter. Zhang Xiang would apologize and write a letter of apology. Meng Zhengyue said, “I’ve been to school too. If you don’t give him a demerit, it would be considered protecting him, wouldn’t it?”

“The grade-level committee will discuss it and decide. I’ll inform you then. We also need to see Du Mingxiao’s situation…”

“No way, teacher. You seem to be confused.” Meng Zhengyue said, “That cup of water just now was you apologizing to my child. But, now it’s my turn to talk to you.”

The teacher was speechless.

Meng Zhengyue said, “You don’t think that after I’ve dealt with that guy, this matter is over, do you?”

She shook her head. “It’s impossible to sweep this under the rug. I’ll start with the details. Who targeted her, who indulged, and who ignored it? I’ll find out every single one. Since I’m here, this matter won’t be settled easily.”

“You apologized to her. She’s sensible and kind. She’s a good kid, and she forgave you. But I don’t have morals, so I can’t.”

“I’m being very detailed now. Can you understand?”

The teacher was stunned, and he also understood her insults.

Cold sweat trickled down his back. He suddenly felt that his career was over.

Meng Zhengyue got up, took her bag, and led Yun Zhixue to her classroom. She said softly, “Hmm, my honey is excellent in both character and studies. Her only problem is that she’s too outstanding. This is the first time I’ve ever been so proud.”

Yun Zhixue, who had been looking down, suddenly raised her head.

It was just after class. Meng Zhengyue handed her bag to Yun Zhixue and dumped the garbage from her desk.

Then, she waved to Zhang Xiang outside. “Clean it up.”

Zhang Xiang was kicked by his dad and obediently came in to clean. Meng Zhengyue sat in his seat and watched him coldly. Zhang Xiang felt that his ordeal was not yet over.

Meng Zhengyue also said to the students sitting around her, “Xiaoxue just had surgery, so don’t trouble everyone to take care of her. But, if anyone bullies her, I won’t be polite.”

Meng Zhengyue asked Yun Zhixue softly, “Can you be alone? I have other things to do. I’ll come pick you up tonight.”

Yun Zhixue said, “Okay.”

Meng Zhengyue arranged everything for Yun Zhixue. She didn’t want to disturb the students during class, so she left when the class bell rang. During the class, students frequently turned their heads to look at Yun Zhixue. Yun Zhixue’s eyes followed Meng Zhengyue’s back the whole time.

A long time later, Yun Zhixue looked at the blackboard. She was called to the stage by the teacher to solve a physics problem. Meng Zhengyue said she had things to do. When the class ended, Yun Zhixue received a message from her, asking her to come to the bottom of the teaching building.

Yun Zhixue ran down the stairs. Meng Zhengyue was standing under the porch with a paper bag. She took a few steps toward her and didn’t say much, just told her to go to class.

Yun Zhixue was out of breath as she carried the bag upstairs. Midway, she opened the bag to look. Inside were cute flower clips, jasmine and rose, two hats with ears, and several small Peter Rabbit tin boxes. She looked at them as she went up the stairs. When she held the brim of the hat, it felt like she was holding a heart that was about to explode at any moment.

Class started again soon.

The rain outside was still falling, and the classroom was dimly lit.

The student in front of her turned around to talk to Yun Zhixue. When they asked her who Meng Zhengyue was, her heart was a little excited.

She thought of what Yun Jing had said.

I can love her, so why can’t you?

Is it that simple to love Meng Zhengyue?

How simple is it, really…

Yun Zhixue lowered her head and reached into her desk.

In the bag, there was a box of candy. In the middle, there was an origami crane made of candy wrapper. There seemed to be a note inside the iridescent candy wrapper.

Yun Zhixue carefully unfolded it.

Meng Zhengyue wrote: “If you die, the world will have no clouds or snowflakes. It will completely lose the color white. I will be endlessly sad because I’ve lost my favorite color.”

Yun Zhixue tried to fold the candy wrapper back the way it was. She tried many times, but it was all in vain, just like her pounding heart at this moment. She couldn’t control it. It just had to beat.