Upon returning home, Cheng You felt guilty, her head drooping, afraid to speak.
From the moment they entered, Qi Chengyan's face was cold. Colder than it had been in front of Tang Jing and Zhang Yuling. Cheng You felt like a student being punished, standing silently.
She scratched the back of her head, wondering if he was angry because she had gotten into a fight. After a moment of tense silence, Cheng You stepped forward and linked her arm through his.
“Don’t be angry, okay? I won’t fight again next time.”
“Stand straight.”
As soon as Qi Chengyan spoke, Cheng You released his arm and stood tall and proud. It was almost an instinctive movement.
Qi Chengyan, his face stern, asked, “Besides fighting, what else?”
Cheng You racked her brain, unable to think of any other mistakes she had made. “I only fought, that’s all… nothing else.”
Qi Chengyan said coldly, “Why didn’t you tell me about what happened at school?”
Cheng You had been receiving threatening letters and items for several days, and he, her husband, was the last to know.
Cheng You was stunned and stammered, “How did you find out?”
“Shouldn’t I know?” he retorted coldly.
Cheng You quickly grabbed his hand. Appealing to him with affection was never wrong at a time like this.
“I didn’t mean to hide it from you. I was going to tell you as soon as I got back today. It’s all Tang Yu’s mother’s fault.”
She clung to him like a spoiled kitten. “I’ve been terrified these past few days. Please don’t be angry with me anymore. I know I was wrong, and I promise I’ll tell you immediately next time.”
She blinked her large, clear eyes, which softened his heart.
Qi Chengyan sighed and pulled her closer. “You’re the one who should be protected, Youyou.”
Cheng You was used to being independent, used to handling everything herself. In many situations, she didn’t need to lift a finger. Today, for instance, no one would have blamed her if she had stayed at Sister He’s house and not come out.
“This makes me feel so useless.”
Cheng You wrapped her arms around his neck and straddled his lap. “You’re the most capable person in the world, not useless at all.”
She had simply felt the matter wasn't significant enough to bring to him. She also hadn’t expected Tang Jing and Zhang Yuling to dare show up at her door to cause trouble.
“Don’t be angry. I’m not as independent as you think. Look, I came to you for help. Help me find out who reported Tang Yu and tried to frame me.”
What she disliked most was being a scapegoat.
Qi Chengyan pinched her cheek. “Remember next time, I am your husband. You must tell me everything immediately.”
Cheng You nodded obediently, “I know.”
She then recounted her experience of receiving dead ants that day, as well as the previous threatening letters. The more Qi Chengyan listened, the colder his expression became.
“Should you take a few days off school?”
Cheng You shook her head. “If you have time, come pick me up after school. I don’t need to take time off.” If she took leave, wouldn't that person feel like they had succeeded?
“Alright, starting tomorrow, I’ll pick you up and drop you off.”
A cold glint flashed in his eyes; he needed to find the person behind this quickly.
***
The next day at school, Su Jinwen called Cheng You to the office again. She took an envelope from her desk and handed it to her.
“The school hasn’t found out who the anonymous reporter is yet, but I heard that the original letter has gone missing.”
Cheng You looked at the envelope in her hand. “Teacher, this is…”
“This is a photocopy of the举报信 (jǔbào xìn - anonymous report letter). I had the foresight to make a copy of it.” She had even gone to the principal’s office to find a copier, going to great lengths.
“The school probably can’t help you investigate this. Isn’t your man an officer in the military? Let him help.” Although Su Jinwen was strict, she was also protective. She couldn’t stand by and watch her student be bullied.
Cheng You bowed slightly. “Thank you, Teacher Su.”
Su Jinwen waved her hand. “I just don’t want your studies to be affected. If you don’t get into the top five in the grade for the final exam, you’ll be letting me down for getting this for you.”
Cheng You smiled playfully. “Mission guaranteed to be accomplished!”
She tucked the envelope into her pocket and walked out. Before she reached her classroom, she encountered a male student walking towards her. His bangs were long, covering half of his eyes. But Cheng You felt as if she could see his sinister gaze, like a venomous snake, wanting to tear her apart.
As they passed each other, Cheng You paused. She glanced back just as a cold glint flashed, and a sharp knife extended from the boy’s chest, lunging directly at her.
Cheng You froze, stepping backward, her mind screaming, *It’s over*. Was she going to meet her end here today?
At the critical moment, the boy’s neck was caught by an arm. Cheng You stared in disbelief. It was Qi Chengyan!
In her astonishment, she heard a *crack*, the boy’s hand went limp, and the knife clattered to the ground. Qi Chengyan quickly kicked the knife away and pinned the boy down. Close behind him was Liu Zi, holding a rope, expertly tying the assailant up.
“Brother Yan, good thing you ran fast!”
Qi Chengyan, still shaken, pulled the stunned Cheng You into his arms to check her. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” Even though the knife had been aimed at Cheng You, he felt as if he himself had been stabbed. No, he would have preferred to be the one hurt.
Cheng You shook her head. “Why are you here?”
Still feeling the lingering fear, her gaze involuntarily fell on the knife on the ground. She found it hard to imagine what it would have felt like for that knife to land on her.
Liu Zi, having finished tying the boy, stomped on him and spat. “We just tracked down this brat and were planning to bring him back for interrogation.” It was indeed a coincidence. Qi Chengyan had arrived just in time to see this boy trying to harm Cheng You. Fortunately, they had come quickly.
Qi Chengyan’s face was grim, his aura almost freezing the air. “You’re taking the day off today. We’ll go back first.”
Cheng You pointed at the boy on the ground. “What about him?”
“Sister-in-law, don’t worry, I’ll take him back and interrogate him properly.”
Cheng You took out the letter she had in her pocket. “This is the photocopy of the举报信 our teacher made. See if it’s useful, it’s a shame it’s not the original.”
Liu Zi stuffed the letter into his pocket and lifted the boy as if he were a small chicken. “Let’s go!”
Cheng You, held in Qi Chengyan’s arms, called out, “Wait!”
Liu Zi stopped, waiting for her to speak. Cheng You stared intently at the boy’s face, confirming she didn’t recognize him. “I don’t know you. Why did you try to hurt me? Were you the one who reported Tang Yu?”
The boy remained silent.
Cheng You let out a small laugh. “Were you working for someone? Was someone instructing you to harm me?”
He still didn’t speak, but his expression clearly changed. Cheng You’s words had struck a nerve.
Cheng You said, “Liu Zi, it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t say anything. Once we get back and compare the handwriting on the举报信, we’ll know.”
The boy’s face contorted in rage, struggling under Liu Zi’s grip. “I wrote the举报信! I wrote it! And I posted it on the bulletin board. It has nothing to do with anyone else!”
Qi Chengyan’s eyes suddenly sharpened, and he said sternly, “Interrogate him thoroughly. Make sure to find out who this ‘anyone else’ is!”