Gu Ranran's hand bore a small crescent-shaped fingernail mark, the kind of trace that would appear with just a little pressure.
At most, such a mark on the back of a hand would last a few minutes.
Yet, it had been an hour or two since the fight!
Before He Shuwan could finish her words, she was sternly pulled back by Madam He.
She hadn't even regained her balance when Madam He raised her hand and slapped her hard.
"You dare to injure Miss Gu? Go and apologize to Miss Gu!"
Gu Ranran sat there, glancing at her older brother.
Seeing that her brother's expression was normal, she felt she understood.
"I don't accept," Gu Ranran said, her eyes lowered, her gaze flickering. "I will sue you for intentional injury."
Silence filled the room.
Ming Xue, sitting next to Qin He, blinked her big eyes. "Sister, why do I feel like Gu Qichen is fighting for you!"
"Shut up," Qin He said coldly.
She had no interest in what Gu Qichen was doing, but the person who had injured Ming Xue and was so vicious in heart truly could no longer stay at Qing University.
Qin He lowered her gaze.
She would not allow such a person to be near her family. He Shuwan's vicious words were already a sign of her hatred for Ming Xue.
If He Shuwan was not expelled from Qing University today, given Ming Xue's straightforward personality, if she were to be designed for revenge by He Shuwan one day, she would only regret it then.
Since it was a poisonous weed, it had to be cut down to the root.
Qin He waited to see He Shuwan expelled, but only after she had apologized.
"Miss Gu, I'm sorry." He Shuwan's face was swollen on one side. The side her mother hit was even more swollen than the side Ming Xue had hit.
Gu Ranran did not respond, nor did she look at He Shuwan, maintaining a demeanor of refusal.
Madam He understood Gu Qichen's meaning. Gritting her teeth, her heart feeling as if it were bleeding, she still restrained He Shuwan. "Apologize to Miss Gu and kowtow!"
He Shuwan looked at her mother in disbelief.
Finally, the usually arrogant girl bent her knees.
The sound of kowtowing echoed in the room, one after another. Qin He frowned, feeling this was very inappropriate.
This would only intensify He Shuwan's hatred, wouldn't it? Petty people are the most vengeful.
"Enough, Gu Qichen, have your people get up now," Qin He said coldly from the side.
Gu Qichen's expression was cold, but when he answered Qin He, the chill in his voice lessened. "You are too soft-hearted. Ranran hasn't forgiven her yet. Do as Madam He said earlier, let her kowtow until Ranran is appeased."
He sat upright, casting a glance at He Shuwan on the floor.
Qin He frowned.
Gu Ranran also felt a bit awkward now. Although He Shuwan was not a good person, having her kowtow in front of her was quite unsettling.
She turned to look at her brother, blinking her eyes: Can I be appeased now?
Gu Qichen gave her a cold glance.
Gu Ranran understood; her brother was still not appeased.
More than ten minutes later, He Shuwan's body swayed. She was dizzy from kowtowing and collapsed on the floor.
Her forehead was red and swollen. Her five little girlfriends, huddled in a corner of the room, were quietly crying.
Gu Qichen stood up and instructed, "Study hard at school and don't cause trouble."
Gu Ranran was a little unconvinced, but also afraid of her brother, so she dared not argue loudly, only muttering softly, "They were the ones who cursed Qin He first."
To avoid appearing as though she were standing up for Qin He, Gu Ranran twisted her little face in an awkward manner. "Ming Xue and I are good friends, and Qin He is Ming Xue's older cousin, I—"
"You're doing this for a friend, which is commendable," Gu Qichen changed his tune.
Qin He stood by, speechless.
Ming Xue raised her eyebrows and nudged Qin He with her shoulder, whispering, "Sister, Gu Qichen is definitely harboring a secret crush on you! No, he's openly in love with you!"
What Ming Xue thought was a whisper was actually exceptionally abrupt in the silent office.
The director dared not make a sound. Madam He supported the weakened He Shuwan, her face pale, understanding more now.
After Ming Xue finished speaking, seeing everyone looking at her, and then meeting Qin He's indignant gaze, her guilty eyes darted upwards.
A trace of a smile appeared on Gu Qichen's usually indifferent and distant face.
"Ming Xue?"
Ming Xue met Gu Qichen's gaze. She had had a lot of objections to this former brother-in-law before.
But now, since Gu Qichen had stood up for her sister, Ming Xue found him quite agreeable. "Mr. Gu."
Gu Qichen glanced at Qin He and smiled at Ming Xue. "Since you are—Ranran's friend, you can call me brother along with her."
"Calling you brother might be a bit too intimate. My parents and maternal grandmother don't like you much," Ming Xue said frankly. "I'll call you Brother Chen."
Gu Qichen had no objections and instructed Gu Ranran to go to class and study.
Qin He looked at Ming Xue. Ming Xue, being skilled, had not sustained any injuries and seemed energetic, so she also let her go to class.
In the office, Qin He watched the director issue the notice of He Shuwan's expulsion before preparing to leave.
She, along with Di Shishi, left. Gu Qichen walked ahead.
They were separated by a bit of distance.
As they went downstairs, Di Shishi received a phone call, and her expression changed.
"President Qin, we just got a call from the campus. The traffic police have towed our car, saying it was illegally parked!"
"They should at least issue a ticket and deduct points, why would they tow it directly?" Qin He frowned.
Di Shishi nodded, her face full of guilt. "President Qin, parking spaces are already scarce here. It was usually fine to park in that open area. This—"
Qin He was also aware of the traffic situation around Qing University. She couldn't really blame Di Shishi for this.
She sighed. "Go to the traffic police to handle it. I'll take a taxi back."
As she reached the entrance of Qing University, Di Shishi went to the traffic police. Qin He stood by the roadside, and before she could see a taxi, a black Rolls-Royce pulled up beside her.
Gu Qichen opened the car door from inside. "I'll give you a ride home."
Qin He's face was cold. "No need!"
Gu Qichen chuckled. "Are you afraid?"
The previous time Gu Qichen had locked Qin He in the car was a vastly different memory for both of them.
Qin He gritted her teeth, her smile dangerous.
Gu Qichen turned his head to look at her. "Get in the car. After all, we are still partners."
Qin He opened the door and got in, shaking his hand.
Since the "close call" last time, she had kept a bottle of special pepper spray in her bag. If Gu Qichen dared to make any moves today, she would let this beast in human clothing know the consequences.
The car drove smoothly to the Qin residence.
After Qin He got out of the car, she said coldly, "Thank you, Mr. Gu."
Gu Qichen did not linger long in the spot; he had other matters to attend to.
The He family. As He Shuwan left today, her gaze towards Qin He was so venomous it seemed about to bleed.
He had only intended to teach her a lesson initially. Since the He family had held a grudge, there was no need for them to remain in Qing City.
...
Qing City Traffic Police Third Brigade.
Di Shishi, as one of the four managers of Qingyan Mansion, was extremely meticulous. Even though she was only playing the role of an assistant now, she felt something was not quite right.
Why was their car towed like that?
Before long, Di Shishi managed to get through to someone and check the surveillance footage from when the car was towed—