Chapter 62: Because She Is Pure, Must She Be Stained? [Part Three]

The three girls were startled, their eyes widening in disbelief.

They knew this person. He was the boy who had stormed the podium at the sports meet, seized the microphone, and openly challenged them before the entire school. At the time, after hearing Lu Yuanqiu's words, the girls huddled together, laughing mockingly. Although they saw Bai Qingxia hand Lu Yuanqiu a bottle of water, they never believed Bai Qingxia had any feelings for him.

After all, Bai Qingxia was such an oddity—someone incapable of connecting with others. Perhaps even the act of giving water was arranged by a teacher. She was dazzling enough on her own. To give water to the top runner of Class 28 would make their entire class shine.

Yes, that shameless girl wore a dress that day, let her hair down, and effortlessly stirred up so much discussion throughout the school. Everyone around them kept repeating her name, Bai Qingxia, and it was maddening. She truly was radiant.

But why? What gave her the right?

As for the boy on the podium, he was merely trying to impress Bai Qingxia—a typical high school boy's petty scheme, nothing more. The girls understood those little tricks all too well. Yet they genuinely thought Lu Yuanqiu was only bluffing...

They never imagined he'd be able to find them so precisely.

Now, Lu Yuanqiu strode in, eating bread, followed by four swaggering boys. He had brought eleven people with him! Compared to the others, Lu Yuanqiu, in his school uniform, looked almost like a model student, but at that moment, the girls felt the greatest pressure emanating from him.

It was obvious: everyone here listened only to him.

The freckled girl sitting in the middle spoke up defiantly, "So what if you have a crowd? My brother knows people at the police station!"

Cao Shuang burst out laughing at her words, squatting down and saying, "You crack me up! Do you know who Brother Qiu's third uncle is—"

"Cao Shuang," Lu Yuanqiu interrupted.

Cao Shuang cleared his throat, immediately falling silent and moving aside.

Lu Yuanqiu stuffed the last bite of bread into his mouth and squatted down, first gazing at the girl on the far left. As he brushed the crumbs from his hands, he stared at her unblinking, and she couldn't meet his gaze.

"What's your name?"

She remained silent, but Lu Yuanqiu was asking Cao Shuang behind her.

Cao Shuang replied, "Liu Jie."

Lu Yuanqiu slapped her across the face, his expression flashing with anger as he glared at her.

The slap echoed crisply.

Liu Jie broke down in tears, gasping, sitting on the ground, unable to even look at Lu Yuanqiu.

Lu Yuanqiu shifted his gaze as if even another glance would disgust him. He turned to the girl on the far right. "And her?"

His voice had grown low, his mind haunted by the image of a pink hair clip that never fit together, no matter how hard he tried... never fit, never fit...

Cao Shuang answered, "Li Yanping."

Another slap.

Seeing Li Yanping's frightened sobbing, Lu Yuanqiu smiled in confusion.

So you can cry, too?

Finally, he looked at the freckled girl who had challenged him, "And her?"

Cao Shuang replied, "Sun Ruofei."

Sun Ruofei covered her face in fear, glaring at Lu Yuanqiu. "If you dare hit me, I'll tell my brother!"

Lu Yuanqiu didn't rush to act; instead, he was amused.

He shook his head and sighed.

Then he asked, "Sun Ruofei, why would you bully an innocent girl?"

His question had a perplexed tone, as if he genuinely couldn't understand. Lu Yuanqiu simply couldn't fathom why people chose to be cruel from such a young age.

What had Bai Qingxia ever done wrong? Was this gentle, frail girl guilty of some heinous crime? Was her mistake wearing her school uniform every day? Eating leftovers? Silent, diligent study? Or was it that she retrieved the pants he had thrown away from the trash, patching the hole with grass and flowers?

Was it wrong that when he defended her, she became fearful he would get into trouble, and so she gave him the cold shoulder?

Whenever Lu Yuanqiu recalled her shy smile, his heart ached.

She had such a beautiful smile, but for her, showing it was more luxurious than eating a proper meal.

Her only mistake was being too clean, and that's why these scum wanted to dirty her.

Lu Yuanqiu slapped Sun Ruofei's left cheek, then her right. Finally, he snatched the hair clip from her head, tossed it to the ground, and crushed it beneath his foot.

Watching Sun Ruofei's tears, Lu Yuanqiu coldly slung his blue backpack over his shoulder and turned to leave, saying, "Let your brother come find me. My name is Lu Yuanqiu. I'll make sure your brother learns just how hard it is to survive in Lucheng."

Cao Shuang glared at Sun Ruofei. "You really don't know who Lu Yuanqiu is? Well, that's not your fault."

With that, he and the other ten boys followed Lu Yuanqiu out of the alley.

At the roadside, the sight of twelve boys standing together drew attention; many passersby turned to look.

Lu Yuanqiu pulled a stack of red bills from his pocket and handed them to Cao Shuang. "Here's five thousand. Treat your friends to a meal."

"Brother Qiu, I don't want it!"

Cao Shuang's eyes widened at the money, then he quickly retreated. The other boys looked at Lu Yuanqiu with admiration. They had all come voluntarily for his sake.

Lu Yuanqiu smiled, "Really don't want it? If you don't, I'll throw it away."

Cao Shuang immediately stepped forward, taking the money with both hands. "I... I guess I'll have to take it, but I don't even dare spend it!"

Lu Yuanqiu waved his hand. "Money should be used in the right place. As long as it's for the right reasons, spend it as you wish. But don't forget what I told you in the cafeteria."

"Of course, Brother Qiu!"

Cao Shuang snapped to attention beside the crosswalk.

Lu Yuanqiu nodded, heading toward the supermarket. Cao Shuang hurriedly asked, "Where are you going, Brother Qiu?"

"To work."

"Can't you skip work?"

Lu Yuanqiu paused, turned back to look at Cao Shuang. "Get lost."

"Alright, Brother Qiu!"

...

Arriving at Four Seasons Fresh Market, Lu Yuanqiu placed his backpack beside the checkout counter and stole a glance at the girl busy between the shelves. He casually called out to Old Lu, "Don't forget tomorrow's parent meeting, after school in the afternoon."

Lu Tian shot him a glare. "I'm not going to embarrass myself. This time, your mom will go. She wants to meet Xia, anyway."

Lu Yuanqiu raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? If you're sure, I'll let Mom go. Don't regret it."

Lu Tian shrugged and flashed a mocking grin. "Kid, you learned to make me laugh now? Regret? If I regret it, I'll eat your shoes."

Lu Yuanqiu nodded, "Alright, I'll find the smelliest pair."

Lu Tian grabbed the nearby clothes rack.

The boy quickly escaped.

He walked toward Bai Qingxia, who was wearing a red vest and organizing goods.

Apparently hearing footsteps, Bai Qingxia turned around and saw Lu Yuanqiu.

She turned, giving him a shy smile.

ps.

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