Lu Yinghan took a deep breath through her nose to relieve the discomfort in her chest.
She paused and pulled Jiang Yibai to her side.
“If you want to take off your glasses, you can take them off now. It’s fine.”
Jiang Yibai shuddered slightly.
“I... I’ll take them off tomorrow...”
Lu Yinghan shrugged and let him be.
The two finished their lunch peacefully and went through the rest of the day’s classes.
However, the bond between Jiang Yibai and Lu Yinghan had firmly taken root.
For the rest of the day’s group activities—like cooking and PE—they naturally paired up.
Their interactions grew more and more natural.
This made a few classmates begin to envy Jiang Yibai.
Kids naturally admired strength.
Lu Yinghan’s brave stand against the third-graders had deeply impressed them.
Now, though many wanted to step forward and get on her good side, not a single person dared to approach.
They were too mindful of the bad things they had done to her before...
“Yinghan, it looks like everyone wants to say something to you...”
Noticing the atmosphere around them, the observant Jiang Yibai whispered to Lu Yinghan while she was stretching.
“I know.”
Jiang Yibai clamped his mouth shut. He was beginning to understand why no one dared to come up and talk to her.
When someone had put thumbtacks under her desk before, even though he hadn't taken part, he hadn't stopped it either.
He had even threatened her...
The more he thought about it, the more ashamed he felt!
He was so embarrassed he wanted to stamp his feet right then and there.
He could completely understand why their classmates were too shy to approach.
On top of that, Lu Yinghan’s aura was no joke.
Although she usually wore the same expression and seemed utterly indifferent, her distant, stay-away-from-me presence made people shrink back.
The sun soon sank, and the dismissal bell rang as expected.
Jiang Yibai approached Lu Yinghan on his own initiative.
“Yinghan, where do you live? Let me see you home.”
Lu Yinghan didn't even raise her head as she packed her backpack.
“No need. I live pretty far, and it would take you an hour round trip.”
Jiang Yibai opened his mouth to say something more, but Lu Yinghan had already slung her backpack over her shoulders and left the classroom.
“Hmph, you’re certainly keen.”
Xie Chengsheng, sitting in front, watched their interaction for a moment and let out an involuntary chuckle.
Jiang Yibai’s expression soured instantly, but he still turned to face Xie Chengsheng.
“Thank you for helping today and driving those guys away.”
Xie Chengsheng waved his hand nonchalantly. “I just thought they were noisy and annoying. Don’t overthink it.”
With that, he grabbed his empty backpack and left the classroom. His finished homework was already tucked neatly under his desk.
Jiang Yibai watched Xie Chengsheng walk away, nervously tightening his grip on his backpack straps.
He stood there pondering for a long while, the look on his face growing increasingly firm. Finally, he burst out of the classroom and ran toward the school gates...
“Driver Uncle! Take me to my grandfather’s house!”
“Ah? Oh, okay.”
The driver was stunned by Jiang Yibai’s passionate tone before snapping back to reality.
For the past few days, his employer’s son had looked gloomy, saying nothing and clutching his backpack all the way home.
It had been rather awkward for him too.
So today’s unusual outburst genuinely caught him off guard.
The car quickly drove into Old Master Jiang’s estate, a lavish courtyard worth hundreds of millions.
“Grandpa! Grandpa!”
“Oh! Isn’t this Yibai? What brought you to Grandpa’s place today?”
Old Master Jiang quickly set down his chopsticks, greeting his adorable grandson with a beaming smile.
Every time he saw his soft, adorable little grandson, Old Master Jiang’s heart melted!
“Yi... Yibai, who bullied you?”
Grandpa Jiang looked closely at Jiang Yibai, noticing the bruises on his exposed arm.
With all his experience, Grandpa Jiang could tell at a glance that these were contusions caused by a beating.
Yet Jiang Yibai’s eyes were resolute, showing not a trace of panic or retreat. He simply pulled his sleeve down further to hide it from his grandfather.
“Grandpa, I want to learn medicine from you! I’ll be good and listen to you! I’ll study hard and become someone really strong in the future!”
Upon hearing this, Grandpa Jiang’s anger burned even hotter.
“Yibai! Tell me clearly, is someone at school bullying you? Is that why you want to learn from me? If so, forget about going to school! It’s Grandpa’s fault for sending you to school to suffer...”
As he spoke, Grandpa Jiang’s eyes reddened, and he began to sob emotionally.
Grandma Jiang stood up, walked to Grandpa Jiang's side, and patted the old man’s shoulder comfortingly.
She looked kindly at Jiang Yibai.
“Yibai, do you want to learn from your grandfather because you don’t want to go to school, or is there another reason?”
Jiang Yibai shook his head vigorously.
“Grandma, it’s not that I don’t want to go to school. I was bullied, but someone helped me! She’s even shorter and smaller than me. If I don’t become strong, no one will be able to help her!”
Children thought simply.
You protect me, I protect you.
As long as there was a way to become stronger, they would dive right into it headfirst.
Grandpa Jiang and Grandma Jiang both shivered in surprise.
“Yibai, Grandpa understands. Starting today, Grandpa will teach you step-by-step. But you must also learn to protect yourself, understood?”
“Mm! I understand! Thank you, Grandpa!”
In his excitement, Jiang Yibai’s cute childish voice cracked.
Grandma Jiang smiled and handed him a pair of chopsticks, and the three of them shared a simple meal in the dining room.
Back at school, the atmosphere in the classroom eased up a bit.
Every time Teacher Zhao came to teach, she could sense that the class’s attitude toward Lu Yinghan had softened.
Teacher Zhao was displeased in her heart, but she didn't dare show it.
As long as Lu Yinghan didn't cause trouble, it was fine.
The next day, Lu Yinghan stepped off the bus and waited attentively at the stop for Jiang Yibai.
After a black business van pulled up in the distance, out stepped a boy with fluffy, cute boyish hair and knee-high socks. A flush of blush colored his fair, delicate skin out of shyness.
His eyes shone bright as stars, making anyone who looked at him marvel in their hearts.
What kind of unbelievable beauty was this?
He looked just like a lost elf from the forest, utterly adorable and endearing.
Jiang Yibai squirmed slightly as he tugged at his short suit pants.
Last night, his grandmother had given him a new hairstyle and taken off his glasses.
It was a complete makeover!
Passersby stared in awe at the stunningly pretty young boy.
Nervously tightening his grip on his backpack straps, Jiang Yibai quickly looked toward the bus stop.
Sure enough, Lu Yinghan was already standing there waiting for him.
The unease in his heart vanished instantly, and he trotted over to her.
“Lu Yinghan! Good morning!”
Feeling cheerful, his tone became noticeably light and lively.
Lu Yinghan turned toward the sound of his voice. Seeing Jiang Yibai, her eyes widened slightly.
However, she quickly regained her composure.
“Good morning. Let’s head to the classroom.”
“Okay!”
Seeing that Lu Yinghan had shown at least a tiny reaction to his transformation, Jiang Yibai nodded with satisfaction, and the two walked into the classroom together.
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