In a neighborhood like this, it was rare to see someone driving a Mercedes G-Wagon—especially a young woman with such a striking, intimidating appearance.
With one hand in her pocket, Li Qiao walked casually around the front of the car and onto the sidewalk.
Not far ahead, Guan Mingyu, clad in a bulky school uniform, instantly lowered her head and turned her face away as soon as she saw Li Qiao. Her eyes began to redden.
Li Qiao stopped calmly in front of them, her gaze cool as it landed on Guan Mingyu.
"You're being bullied like this and don't even think to fight back?"
Guan Mingyu's overly round face flushed bright red. Her eyes were filled with panic.
"I… I'm fine. They don't really mean anything bad by it. Miss Li, you must be busy. Don't worry about me."
Afraid of dragging her into trouble?
Li Qiao paused, quietly studying Guan Mingyu.
She was still the same timid, submissive girl. Her features were too crowded and lacked any real charm.
Only her eyes still faintly resembled the girl in the photo.
Li Qiao sighed softly, then turned her gaze to the group of stunned schoolgirls.
"Does bullying her make you feel powerful?"
"Who the hell are you?" the leader of the group shouted, trying to put on a tough act. But the wannabe-thug attitude completely shattered the youthful spirit a student should have.
Before Li Qiao could speak, Guan Mingyu quickly interjected,
"I don't know her. You guys don't need to get upset…"
These girls had been forming cliques at school for quite some time.
Led by the one they called Yuan-jie, the four of them ran unchecked. Anyone who crossed them got beaten up.
They even gave themselves a ridiculously childish name:
The Four School Beauties of No. 2 High.
Li Qiao had no intention of wasting her breath on them. She raised an eyebrow at Guan Mingyu.
"Come on. Get in the car."
"Why should she go with you?" one of the girls snapped.
"Guan Mingyu, I'm telling you, if you don't back out of that speech competition today, this won't be over!"
They still looked like high school students, yet their words were disgustingly vicious.
Li Qiao turned slightly, didn't say much, and calmly tapped her phone screen a few times.
"Hello, I'd like to report a case."
Then she glanced at the school emblem on their uniforms and added:
"Students from No. 2 Affiliated High School, bullying a fellow classmate on Jiannan Road…"
Before she could finish, the girls' expressions shifted to panic.
Without a word, they tugged at each other and bolted like frightened rabbits.
Li Qiao: "…"
That's it? You call that bullying?
If she'd recorded a video and posted it online, those girls might've had their academic records wiped clean.
She snorted, sliding her phone back into her pocket, and looked toward the dumbfounded Guan Mingyu.
"Well? What are you waiting for?"
Snapping out of her daze, Guan Mingyu hurried over to her.
"Miss Li, thank you so much!"
"No need. I didn't actually call the police. But next time, try using your brain."
Li Qiao's tone was cool and detached, but if one listened carefully, there was a hint of irritation in her voice.
Guan Mingyu lowered her head awkwardly, her eyes reflecting guilt.
"I… I thought about calling the police, but we're all classmates. I was afraid it might ruin their futures…"
Ignorant.
Li Qiao looked at her timid and submissive expression, shook her head, and sighed.
"Get in the car. I have questions for you."
…
Inside the car, Guan Mingyu clumsily climbed into the front passenger seat, her every move full of caution.
She took off her backpack and hugged it to her chest, legs drawn together, sneaking glances at Li Qiao.
"Miss Li… Did my brother do something again…?"
"No," Li Qiao leaned lazily against the door, one hand propped on the windowsill, glancing sideways at her.
"You're twenty years old, right?"