Chapter 57 - Dont Get Into Fights You Cant Win (2/2)

“It’s nothing,” she insisted helplessly. “I can handle it.”

“Even so, I can’t just leave you like this.”

She had no choice but to push him in. The professor studied the newcomer: a cripple, hiding who-knows-what under his mask. “Tang Qiu beat up and threatened a fellow student,” he declared. “She deserves to be punished–regardless of whoever you are.”

“And have you found out why Tang Qiu attacked her in the first place? There’s a winner and loser in every fight–why should the loser receive money? It’s called survival of the fittest. Or aren’t you smart enough to understand that, Professor?”

He spoke so unflinchingly, Xie Qingqing nearly applauded him. A sickly cripple he may be, but even from the wheelchair, he projected a dominance that made him seem twice as physically imposing. Not bad. “Exactly,” she echoed. “You shouldn’t get into fights you can’t win. What’s the point of crying now? Shameless thing.”

“You ganged up on me!” Niu Caijie screeched.

“I witnessed Tang Qiu and Xie Qingqing bullying Niu Caijie.” The professor was disgusted by Jiang Shaocheng’s words. “We are an institution that takes pride in our learning. No matter the reason, such disgraceful behavior will not be tolerated. Who are you, anyway, to barge in like this?”

Jiang Shaocheng looked at Tang Qiu expectantly. She couldn’t bear for them to treat him like this, so she said coldly, “He’s my husband, Jiang Shaocheng. You didn’t even try and find out why we were fighting, Professor. You just assumed it was our fault. How is that fair? We were willing to let it go, but to compensate her? No. We can’t, and we won’t.”

“You attacked me. I deserve to be compensated!” Niu Caijie studied the man in the wheelchair. She recalled what Feng Yao had said, that Tang Qiu had married a rich man. Indeed, the cripple’s suit was an expensive one, as was the watch displayed on his wrist. Already, her head was swimming with calculations of how much money she could extort from him.

“Compensated for a slap?” Jiang Shaocheng sneered. “Are you certain?”

“Of course. Why? Are you going to pay up?”

“No!” Tang Qiu grabbed his hand. “We didn’t do anything wrong–if she hadn’t hit Qingqing first, I wouldn’t have attacked her. Even Qingqing’s own parents have never slapped her like that. What right did Niu Caijie have?”

“I know.” He met her gaze. “I won’t waste my money on her.”

Tang Qiu nodded in understanding. Xie Qingqing’s eyes wandered to their intertwined hands. They seemed… comfortable together. There was a synergy, a trust, almost, that could have passed for compatibility. She shook off the thought. “Tang Qiu’s right. We won’t pay her a cent.”