HBWMA -Chapter 231 Campus Turmoil

Shen Lanxi had already spotted Jiang Huashan off to the side when he squeezed into the crowd. Seeing her standing there obediently, just watching the drama unfold, the “Crown Prince” visibly relaxed.

Three years of growth had been quite gratifying. At this moment, the young man didn’t even realize that his expectations for Jiang Huashan had dropped so low that as long as she wasn’t fighting, she counted as “well-behaved.”

Shen Qingyu darted out of the crowd and casually pulled out a gold card. “Not bad, not bad.”

For once, she hadn’t caused trouble—definitely worth a reward.

Jiang Huashan was overjoyed and accepted it with a grin. “Thanks! Oh right, digging wild vegetables these past few days must’ve roughened your hands, right? I bought you some hand cream.”

Shen Qingyu was very pleased and took out his phone to transfer her another sum. “Buy the expensive kind.”

Jiang Huashan happily agreed.

Looking at her radiant smile—brighter than the sun—Shen Lanxi fell into deep silence. Unconsciously, his mind replayed the image of Jiang Huashan barging into Lanyuan that night, baring her teeth at him.

“…”

At the podium, Fu Xiaoxiao and Su Miao had been interrupted mid-fight and were now locked in a stalemate, each clutching the other’s hair.

“Let go first!”

“Why should I? You let go first!”

“You started it, so you let go first!”

“You were the one running your mouth—why should I let go first?”

“Excuse me, please make way.”

Shen Mianzhi called out softly from the classroom doorway. The students of Class Three immediately recognized the student council president and quickly stepped aside.

Holding a register, Shen Mianzhi glanced between Fu Xiaoxiao and Su Miao and said gently, “Class is about to start. If there’s an issue, you can go to the academic affairs office to resolve it. Acting like this affects school discipline.”

Fu Xiaoxiao wasn’t buying it. She rolled her eyes at Shen Mianzhi. “Don’t put on airs in front of me. Are you blind? Didn’t you see that Su Miao started it?”

Just as Su Miao was about to retort, a pen suddenly flew through the air and smacked straight into Fu Xiaoxiao.

“Ow!” she cried out.

Shen Qingyu walked over with his hands in his pockets. He looked casual, but there was a dangerous edge beneath it. “Who are you calling blind? Say that again.”

Fu Xiaoxiao immediately fell silent. She dared to be rude to Shen Mianzhi because of her good temper, but Shen Qingyu was famously hot-headed—she didn’t dare push her luck.

Shen Mianzhi hadn’t expected Shen Qingyu to stand up for her and felt a little touched.

Noticing Shen Mianzhi’s fingers still nervously gripping the register, Shen Lanxi lifted his gaze toward the two on the podium. “School rules are meant for everyone. Since Miss Fu won’t listen to advice, then record it and notify the parents.”

Fu Xiaoxiao and Su Miao both stiffened and instantly let go of each other.

“We… we were just messing around. There’s no need to call our parents, right?” Su Miao didn’t dare plead with Shen Lanxi, so she turned to Shen Mianzhi for help.

Zhou Qishan also spoke up, “This started because of me. If there’s punishment or if the school needs to contact someone’s family, let it be me—it has nothing to do with Miaomiao.”

“Tch!” Su Miao shook off Zhou Qishan’s hand. “Who asked you to speak for me?”

Fu Xiaoxiao found their back-and-forth annoying and was about to mock them when her peripheral vision caught Zhou Yanheng outside the crowd. Her expression changed instantly, and she hurriedly fixed her hair.

Zhou Yanheng stepped into the crowd, nodded politely to Shen Mianzhi, then looked at Zhou Qishan. “What happened?”

Zhou Qishan looked a little uneasy. Although she and Zhou Yanheng were cousins, they weren’t close, and there were many things she didn’t want him to know.

Fu Xiaoxiao also didn’t want Zhou Yanheng to find out about her bad relationship with Zhou Qishan, so she forced a smile. “It’s nothing, just a small incident.”

Before Zhou Yanheng could respond, Xiao Lanlan stepped forward with feigned enthusiasm, looping her arm around Zhou Qishan’s. “Shanshan, what’s wrong? Is someone bullying you?”

Fu Xiaoxiao’s expression shifted, and she shot Xiao Lanlan an annoyed glare.

Seeing this, Fu Sui’er couldn’t help but laugh. She tugged Jiang Huashan’s sleeve and whispered in her ear, “Doesn’t Xiao Lanlan look like Zhou Qishan’s sister-in-law with that act?”

Jiang Huashan smiled faintly.

Zhou Qishan awkwardly pulled her wrist back—she didn’t like physical contact with strangers.

“It’s nothing, just a small misunderstanding earlier.”

The smile on Xiao Lanlan’s face froze for a second before she quickly recovered, acting as if nothing had happened.

Shen Mianzhi had been feeling a bit happy that Shen Lanxi and Shen Qingyu had spoken up for her, but the moment Zhou Yanheng and Xiao Lanlan appeared, that bit of happiness was instantly worn away.

She took a deep breath, trying to keep herself calm.

“After class, the two of you will go to the disciplinary office and write a self-reflection. Additionally, this matter will be recorded in the next home visit report.”

Fu Xiaoxiao immediately protested, “Shen Mianzhi, are you abusing your authority for personal revenge?”

Writing a self-reflection didn’t bother them much—they just didn’t want their families to find out.

Su Miao was also displeased. She opened her mouth to curse, but after glancing at Jiang Huashan, she swallowed her words.

Shen Mianzhi didn’t argue. Instead, she turned to Zhou Qishan. “You said just now that this was your responsibility. Then you’ll come along too after class.”

Zhou Qishan nodded reluctantly.

Seeing this, Xiao Lanlan stepped forward again, playing the peacemaker. “Zhizhi, we’re all friends. Isn’t this a bit too serious? Now that everything’s been clarified, there’s no need to be so strict about it. A-Heng, don’t you think so?”

Shen Mianzhi glanced at Zhou Yanheng, lowered her head, and explained, “Without rules, there’s no order. When authority is weak, those below will overstep. This matter must be handled seriously.”

Putting on airs with all that classical phrasing—Xiao Lanlan couldn’t help but sneer.

Fu Sui’er stroked her chin. “Looks like Shen Mianzhi was provoked by your ‘A noble household does not harbor those who hoard wealth.’”

Jiang Huashan still said nothing.

Zhou Yanheng smiled. “You’re the student council president. We’ll follow your decision.”

The moment he said that, the three people involved all fell silent.

His tone was far too gentle—so gentle that Shen Mianzhi couldn’t resist it. She lowered her head, murmured a soft “thank you,” and then turned and ran out.

Seeing this, the teasing look in Fu Sui’er’s eyes suddenly sharpened. “Scumbag!”

Indignant, she gritted her teeth and whispered, “Zhou Yanheng did that on purpose, didn’t he?”

Jiang Huashan raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised as she looked at Fu Sui’er. For some reason, she felt a sense of pride, as if watching a daughter come of age.

With such clarity, someone like Xia Xingchen probably wouldn’t be able to deceive her anymore.

The matter was resolved, but the crowd of onlookers kept growing larger. It was all because the young masters of the Shen and Zhou families were too eye-catching—seeing the three of them in the same frame had everyone buzzing with excitement.

Xiao Lanlan had always enjoyed being admired. Though secretly pleased, she pretended nonchalance and waved at Shen Lanxi. “Brother Lanxi.”

Shen Lanxi remained indifferent. He glanced at Zhou Yanheng, then turned and walked out of the classroom.

“…”

To avoid embarrassing herself, Xiao Lanlan quickly turned to Shen Qingyu. “Brother Qingyu…”

Shen Qingyu’s reaction was even colder than Shen Lanxi’s—he acted as if he hadn’t seen her at all. After greeting Jiang Huashan and Fu Sui’er, he shoved his hands into his pockets and walked out without a second glance.

He had always been proud by nature and couldn’t stand fools who lacked brains yet loved to stir up trouble.

Ever since Xiao Lanlan’s scandal was exposed three years ago, Shen Qingyu had classified her as exactly that—a fool. During family gatherings over the years, he had consistently ignored both Shen E and Xiao Lanlan.

Shen Yuan had been quite dissatisfied with this, even reminding him more than once that Shen E was his biological aunt and that he shouldn’t side with outsiders.

At first, Shen Qingyu didn’t bother responding. But after hearing it too many times, he grew annoyed and shot back directly, “You’re my biological father, and I still help outsiders deal with you. What does a biological aunt amount to?”

From then on, Shen Yuan never mentioned Shen E or Xiao Lanlan again.