Chapter 52: A Lesson for You

Eleven parked the car at Tianyuan and glanced at the man who had just fed Shen Qing. He felt as though he'd been force-fed a mouthful of dog food.

“We’re here,” Gu Ting set aside the chips and looked at Shen Qing. “I’m a little thirsty. Mind if I go up for a glass of water?”

Shen Qing shot him a cold look, her voice icy and indifferent. “No.”

Gu Ting smiled, opened the car door for the girl, and said, “Don’t forget to take your snacks.”

“Oh.” Shen Qing took the plastic bag he handed her, filled with treats—brands rarely seen in the country.

Only after Shen Qing went upstairs did Gu Ting instruct Eleven to drive away.

*

The sky outside darkened, and Shen Qing shut down her computer, changed out of her school uniform, and headed out. She wound her way through a maze of alleys, bent her left leg at the knee, leaned against a wall, and pulled out her phone to play Snake.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when a shadow staggered out of the mahjong parlor on the street. As the man neared the alley’s entrance, Shen Qing caught a powerful whiff of alcohol and frowned slightly.

“Hey.” Shen Qing called to him, turning off her thick phone screen and holding it in her hand. The pockets of her jeans were too small to fit it.

Father Nie turned his head, his vision blurry, unable to see the girl’s face clearly, but her outline told him she was beautiful.

“What do you want?” he asked, puzzled. Was this little beauty interested in him?

Shen Qing watched as Father Nie’s expression grew sleazy. Her lips curled ever so slightly, and she lifted her foot and kicked him. “Here’s your lesson.”

“Ah!” Father Nie was knocked to the ground, rolling twice, clutching his abdomen and groaning in pain.

The sharp pain sobered him up considerably. He stared wide-eyed at the girl before him—it was her! That brat’s classmate!

“Ha! It’s you!” Father Nie spat viciously, his gaze murderous.

Shen Qing lowered her eyes, looking at the man on the ground. Before he could get up, she stomped on his right hand.

“Ah!” Ten fingers connected to the heart; Father Nie howled in agony.

“You feel pain too?” Shen Qing’s brows sharpened as she pressed harder.

“What do you want?” Cold sweat broke out on Father Nie’s brow, his voice trembling.

Shen Qing released her foot, crouched down, and smiled at him. “I told you, I’d cripple your right hand.”

Father Nie felt as if his head had exploded. How could anyone smile while uttering such cruel words?

“You… aren’t you afraid of prison?” This time, genuine fear filled him.

“If someone else does it, what does it have to do with me?”

Father Nie had gambled away his money, owed debts to gangsters who threatened to break his arm…

Thinking of this, his drunkenness vanished entirely. A bone-chilling cold crawled up from his feet. He scrambled up, kneeling before her. “Please, don’t turn me in. I’ll die. Nie Huan and Nie Yu would be orphans. I’m begging you.”

Shen Qing sneered, “You have the nerve to mention their names?”

With that, she kicked him again.

Father Nie lay on the ground, barely able to breathe.

“If you ever bother them again, the next person who comes for you won’t be me.”

“Yes, yes, I won’t ever bother them again,” Father Nie pressed himself to the ground, his voice trembling.

Shen Qing cast him a cold glance. “Your whereabouts have been exposed. Someone will come for you by tomorrow at the latest.”

Father Nie shuddered, staring at Shen Qing in disbelief.

“Remember what I said.” Shen Qing spared him no more looks and turned to leave.

Were it not for Nie Huan and Nie Yu, she wouldn’t have let him off so easily.

Father Nie stared, dazed, at her retreating figure. Suddenly coming to his senses, he rushed back inside to pack and flee.

*

Shen Qing didn’t return to Tianyuan. Instead, she hailed a cab straight to the airport.

From afar, she saw Nie Huan leading Nie Yu out after their tickets were checked.

“Didn’t you say you didn’t need a ride?” Nie Huan walked up to Shen Qing, her tone tinged with mild complaint, but her smile was wide.

Shen Qing glanced at her. “Just happened to be nearby.”

She bent down and patted Nie Yu’s head. Her hair was soft, her bangs swept up, and a bandage covered her right eye. She looked much better than before.

“Sister Shen Qing.” Nie Yu greeted her sweetly.

Shen Qing smiled, responding with a soft “Mm.”

“How’s Nie Yu’s recovery?” Shen Qing walked beside Nie Huan, pulling out her phone to call a car.

“She’s doing fine, but she can’t be exposed to light for a while.”

Shen Qing nodded. “Want to come to my place?”

“No need, I rented a little apartment near No. 1 High. I’ll stay there with Nie Yu.” Nie Huan declined.

Shen Qing’s sleep was poor—Nie Huan worried about disturbing her.

“Alright, I’ll drop you off first,” Shen Qing didn’t insist.

“Oh, Chu Yu said, when you get back, send him a message to let him know you’re safe.”

Nie Huan paused, but Nie Yu perked up at the mention of Chu Yu.

“Brother!”

Shen Qing raised her brows slightly, looking at Nie Huan with a teasing expression. “Chu Yu managed to win over your Nie Yu so quickly?”

“Mm, brother likes sister.” Nie Yu suddenly leaned closer to Shen Qing and whispered.

Nie Huan’s cheeks flushed, scolding softly, “Nie Yu.”