Chapter 9: I’m Her Mother

Blood stained the black gloves. Meng Zhenyue wiped the blood across Du Mingxiao’s face.

“Crying? Now you know how to cry?”

She extended her hand. A bodyguard placed the electric clippers into her palm. She pressed them to Du Mingxiao’s scalp and shaved a strip straight down the middle, then pushed wildly as if she meant to crack his skull.

All his earlier arrogance was gone. He sobbed miserably, snot and tears running together as he begged.

“I was wrong. I won’t dare again. I’m sorry. Please let me go.”

“Mm. Sorry for what? Can’t say it clearly?” Meng Zhenyue shook her head. “That’s not right. You don’t even dare admit what you did?” She didn’t give him a chance to correct himself before slapping him again.

Through his tears Du Mingxiao cried, “I’m sorry. I’ll never bully Yun Zhixue again. I shouldn’t have cut her hair.”

Meng Zhenyue pressed the clippers under his chin. The faint trace of humanity he had left was gone; only ugliness remained. “You think an apology settles it? Didn’t you say we were even? I’m not satisfied with your apology. Do it again.”

She glanced at the four boys behind him. “Brothers, right?”

They were all pinned to the ground, none of the swagger they’d shown when they’d restrained Yun Zhixue. A high heel came down on Du Mingxiao’s fingers; the rest was left to the bodyguards. Wails rose immediately.

Meng Zhenyue grew annoyed listening to it. A bodyguard opened a metal case and handed her a cigarette. She glanced toward the nearby school. Too harmful to the nation’s flowers. “Press their heads into the filthy gutter and rinse their brains. Stupid and poisonous.”

Du Mingxiao kept begging. He didn’t even know who Meng Zhenyue was, only that it was Yun Zhixue who had asked him out. On the way here he’d been debating whether to toy with her and dump her, or reject and humiliate her outright to boost his popularity.

He never got to decide. This woman had appeared, charming and seductive, and just as fast and ruthless when she struck. Like someone from the underworld. Not a shred of mercy. She beat him until he couldn’t get up.

He asked several times who she was. Meng Zhenyue narrowed her eyes, considering what identity suited her. “Sister” wasn’t close enough. Everyone knew Yun Zhixue was an only child. Her lips curved, her voice slicing through the rain.

“I’m her mother.”

The torrential rain felt like boiling water poured from the sky. Yun Zhixue froze. The wind flipped her umbrella backward; she dodged aside quickly.

Meng Zhenyue was lighting the cigarette between her lips.

Sensing Yun Zhixue, she lifted the corner of her eye and looked over. The unlit cigarette rested between her fingers. Under that gaze, Yun Zhixue had nowhere to hide, shrinking in on herself.

Meng Zhenyue didn’t smoke after all. She put it away and tossed it into the trash can, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face. “You shouldn’t have seen that.”

She stripped off the gloves and threw them away too. The tendons in her fingers were taut, a blue vein standing out, blood pulsing beneath it.

She walked over and grasped the umbrella in Yun Zhixue’s hand, turning it upright with firm fingers. “How did you get here?”

The next second, Yun Zhixue suddenly wrapped her arms around Meng Zhenyue’s waist. Meng Zhenyue only loosely guarded her with her wrist, carefully keeping her blood-stained fingers away from the clean school uniform so as not to dirty her.

Yun Zhixue stared blankly at the fading bruise on her arm. It looked almost like a tattoo, a mark Meng Zhenyue had left for her. She should hope it faded quickly. Yet selfishly, she wished it would remain forever, a brand belonging to her alone.

The thought startled her. She trembled. Meng Zhenyue looked at her. “What is it?”

Yun Zhixue shook her head. “Nothing.”

Meng Zhenyue opened the car door for her. She took disinfectant wipes from the drawer and carefully cleaned her fingers, then put on the silver snowflake wristwatch before sitting beside her.

“I just said I was your mother. Do you mind?” she asked softly.

Yun Zhixue shook her head faster than her thoughts could form.

Meng Zhenyue placed her hand at the back of her head, smoothing down stray strands, drawing her into her arms and stroking her gently. “Feeling better now?”

“Mm.”

****

The rain showed no sign of stopping. Meng Zhenyue took her to breakfast and bought her hot milk. After parking outside the school gate, she held the umbrella and walked her into the building.

In the classroom, Yun Zhixue stared blankly at the blackboard, fingers clutching the milk bottle in her desk drawer.

Chalk dust drifted under the lights. The teacher’s voice sounded muffled, as if behind frosted glass. Outside, the rain was loud.

After the first period, the class monitor called her and the long-haired boy to the office.

The first thing she saw was Zhang Xiang’s father’s bulky back. Arms crossed, he blocked the doorway arrogantly. Yun Zhixue lowered her head and stepped inside.

Meng Zhenyue sat in a guest chair with her legs crossed. Her designer bag rested casually on the desk. Her fingers tapped the armrest lazily.

“Honestly,” she said in a languid tone, “trash belongs in the incinerator.”

The boy’s father snapped, “Who are you calling trash?”

Meng Zhenyue smiled. “Teacher, my child has been selected for the national top talent program in fundamental disciplines. Excellent grades. Awards too many to count.”

“This isn’t about grades,” the homeroom teacher said stiffly. “Yun Zhixue was wrong in this matter. At the very least, she should apologize to Zhang Xiang… Everyone saw it.”

Meng Zhenyue’s lips curved. “That… might not be possible.”

“Then persuade the child.”

“You misunderstand. I’m not worried she can’t say it. I’m worried that if she does, I won’t be able to resist breaking his legs.”

The homeroom teacher’s face changed. “What are you to her?”

“Me? I’m the mother, here to back her up.”

“You’re being unreasonable!”

Meng Zhenyue laughed. “You just realized? What were you doing earlier? I’m not here to watch you scold her. I’m here to hold you accountable.”

“My child is so quiet she wouldn’t cry out even if beaten with a stick. If she did something, it could only be because she was pushed too far. I don’t care what others say about her. I only believe her. Can you understand that? If not, maybe you should find a wall to run into. Low IQ isn’t fit for teaching.”

She smiled as she spoke, words sharp as blades.

Dressed in a fitted black suit, straight shoulders and narrow waist, hair tied back to reveal her striking face, she glanced at the homeroom teacher who looked ready to explode but couldn’t manage it.

“Stand aside.”

Compared to Yun Zhixue, this so-called stepmother was far more problematic, impossible to reason with.

Zhang’s father tried to argue but was silenced by her gaze. Zhang Xiang looked pitiful, preparing to continue his sob story.

Meng Zhenyue watched them perform, fingers moving several times as if to reach for a cigarette, but she only rubbed her fingertips together.

At that moment, a teacher from the next class hurried in. “Du Mingxiao’s family just called. He was beaten and is in the hospital observation room. It’s serious. We don’t know if it’s related to this girl.”

“I hit him,” Meng Zhenyue said, red lips lifting. “What does that have to do with my child?”

Silence hung in the air.

Zhang Xiang stopped pretending and hurriedly made a call. It was indeed the hospital.

Meng Zhenyue beckoned Yun Zhixue over. When she came to her side, Meng Zhenyue took her hand and idly pressed her palm like playing with a kitten’s paw.

The homeroom teacher stammered, “We should discuss this further, clarify the facts…”

“That won’t do. My child is first in her class. I don’t want her wasting time on idiots.”

“Who are you calling an idiot?”

Meng Zhenyue’s gaze was contemptuous. “Your son, that scum. Without evidence, do you think I’d be sitting here talking?”

Zhang’s father finally realized Yun Zhixue had someone powerful backing her. Nothing like what his son had claimed. He lost his nerve, dragged his son outside, kicking and cursing.

The homeroom teacher dared not speak. He knew Yun Zhixue had been bullied; as a teacher, he had failed.

Meng Zhenyue met his gaze. “Is there water?”

He quickly poured a glass and handed it over.

Meng Zhenyue squeezed Yun Zhixue’s hand. “The teacher poured this for you.”

Yun Zhixue froze. The teacher understood this was a chance to step down and quickly passed it to her. She obediently accepted it, took a sip, and glanced outside where the beating had intensified.

The teacher rushed out to mediate.

Yun Zhixue’s gaze secretly drifted toward Meng Zhenyue, only to be caught. Meng Zhenyue smiled at her gently.

Later the teacher returned to discuss the resolution: Zhang Xiang would apologize and write a self-criticism.

“I’ve been educated too,” Meng Zhenyue said lightly. “Without an official disciplinary notice, wouldn’t that be considered shielding him?”

“That needs discussion by the grade committee… I’ll inform you. And we need to see Du Mingxiao’s condition…”

“Teacher, I think you’re mistaken.” Meng Zhenyue said calmly. “That glass of water was your apology to my child. Now it’s my turn to speak with you.”

He choked.

“You don’t think this ends after I dealt with that one, do you?” She shook her head. “It won’t be minimized. I’ll investigate from the details, who targeted her, who condoned it, who ignored it. One by one. Since I’m here, this won’t be brushed aside. She’s understanding and kind. She forgave you. But I have no such moral restraint.”

“I’ve explained it clearly. Can you understand?”

The teacher broke out in a cold sweat.

Meng Zhenyue rose, took her bag, and led Yun Zhixue back to class. “My baby excels in both character and academics. Gentle in temperament. Her only flaw is being too outstanding. I’ve never been prouder.”

Yun Zhixue’s lowered head lifted instantly.

During break, Meng Zhenyue handed her the bag and dumped the trash from her desk onto the floor.

Then she beckoned Zhang Xiang. “Clean it.”

Kicked by his father, he obediently swept.

Meng Zhenyue turned to the students around them. “Xiao Xue just had surgery. I won’t trouble you to take care of her. But if anyone bullies her, I won’t be polite.”

She asked softly, “Can you manage alone? I have other matters. I’ll pick you up tonight.”

Yun Zhixue nodded.

After arranging everything, Meng Zhenyue left as the bell rang. Many students turned to look. Yun Zhixue’s eyes followed her figure until it disappeared.

Only then did she turn back to the blackboard. Called up to solve a physics problem, she did so smoothly.

As soon as class ended, she received a message telling her to come downstairs.

She ran down quickly. Meng Zhenyue stood under the corridor holding a paper bag. She stepped forward a few paces, said little, only urging her to return to class.

Yun Zhixue carried the bag upstairs, opening it halfway. Inside were cute flower clips, jasmine and rose, two hats with little ears, and several small Peter Rabbit tins. She climbed the stairs while looking, gripping the brim of a hat as if holding a heart ready to explode.

Class resumed.

Rain still fell outside, the room dim.

The girl in front turned to ask what Meng Zhenyue was to her. Something boiled inside Yun Zhixue.

She remembered Yun Jing’s words: If I can like her, why can’t you?

‘Is liking Meng Zhenyue really that simple? How simple is it?’

Lowering her head, she reached into her desk.

There was a box of candy inside. In the center lay a paper crane folded from candy wrapper foil. Something was tucked inside.

She carefully unfolded it.

Meng Zhenyue had written:

[If you died, the world would have no clouds and no snow, and it would lose white forever. I would grieve without end for the loss of my favorite color.]

Yun Zhixue tried to fold the wrapper back the way it had been. She tried again and again, all in vain, just like the fierce, uncontrollable pounding of her heart at this moment. No matter how she tried to restrain it, it insisted on beating.