Chapter 2: Leaving, and a Lesson Learned

With a black backpack slung over her shoulders, Ji Chuxing stepped out the door. The girl still looked pale, but the past cowardly expression was no longer visible on her face. Her peach-blossom eyes were clear and bright.

As she left, she noticed a boy skulking outside the door.

Ten-year-old Wen Liyang, the youngest son of Zhou Ru and Wen Huaming, had been spoiled by Zhou Ru since childhood, nurturing a domineering and arrogant character in him.

Seeing Ji Chuxing, he was initially taken aback by her expressionless face, but soon remembered that this was the "poor little girl" he had been bullying. Instantly no longer afraid, he even stuck his tongue out at Ji Chuxing, mocking her as usual, "Boo, you poor thing, don't you dare try to take my mother from me, or even think of robbing our Wen family's property!"

Ji Chuxing regarded him with a glance. A ten-year-old boy speaking such words was clearly a reflection of the slanderous remarks made by many servants behind the scenes. And this was how Zhou Ru educated her son.

The old Ji Chuxing would have swallowed her anger, but the present Ji Chuxing would not.

The phrase 'swallow one's anger' was not in her dictionary.

And there were no rules against hitting children either.

She immediately grabbed the toy gun from his hands and pressed it against Wen Liyang's forehead.

Although it was a child's toy gun, it was nonetheless loaded with steel pellets. While not life-threatening, they could potentially cause significant injuries with a careless shot.

In her memory, the original host had been injured in the eye by one of Wen Liyang's toy gun pellet shot after her college entrance examination, causing visual impairment. However, in Zhou Ru's view, it was but a result of a child's mischievous play.

The original host did not even receive an apology.

After all, Wen Liyang was a ten-year-old child; spoiled as he was, he knew that his toy gun could hurt people. That's why he always used it against Ji Chuxing.

But Ji Chuxing had never dared to complain before, he never thought she would dare to seize his toy.

"Let go! Give it back to me!" Wen Liyang is causing a ruckus.

"Shut up!" Ji Chuxing speaks coldly, expressionless as he looks at him. "This thing hurts pretty badly when it hits someone. You've never been hit before, have you? Should I test it on you?"

Wen Liyang is genuinely scared now, putting on a fierce front: "You...you dare?"

Hearing the commotion outside, Zhou Ru also hurried out, spotting Ji Chuxing holding Wen Liyang's toy gun against his forehead.

While Wen Liyang was clueless, how could Zhou Ru not understand that this toy could injure Wen Liyang?

She couldn't believe it. How dare Ji Chuxing do such a thing.

Who gave her the audacity? Was it sheer ignorance or fearlessness?

"Ji Chuxing! You stop right now!" Zhou Ru shouted.

As she spoke, she wanted to come over and take away the thing in Ji Chuxing's hand, but Ji Chuxing gently rotated the toy gun in his hand, saying: "Don't move!"

Her movements were swift and deft. Zhou Ru didn't know that only people who are accustomed to handling guns could demonstrate such skillful actions.

Zhou Ru dared not move, fearing that she might actually fire a shot. Now, Wen Liyang was shivering with fear and could only cry, "Mom, I want to drive her away, I want to drive her away!"

"She's crazy!"

"I want her dead!"

"You want me dead?" Ji Chuxing tilted his head, staring at Wen Liyang and asked.

Zhou Ru's heart was about to break from worry, suppressing her anger: "Little Star, Little Yang is still a child. How can you, as his sister, be so petty with him? Was he unintentionally rude to you? Quickly put this thing down, if you accidentally hurt Little Yang... He's your little brother, wouldn't your heart ache?"

"A child?"

Ji Chuxing found it amusing.

Thirteen years ago, when Zhou Ru dumped and neglected the original owner, didn't she consider that she was just a child then?

After the original owner came to the Wen family, she was bullied by Wen Liyang, didn't she realize that she was still her child?

"Your son is ignorant. How about I, as his sister, help you teach him a lesson?"

With that, she was ready to pull the trigger of the toy gun.

"Bang!"

"No!"

"Wah!"

A woman's scream and a child's cry rang out at the same time in the villa.

Wen Liyang was so scared that he covered his head and cried.

The marble hit Wen Liyang's foot. It hurt, but it wasn't serious enough to cause injury.

"Heh!"

Ji Chuxing sneered, tossing the toy gun from her hand away.

"Just a scare, and yet you're this frightened?"

She raised her hand and playfully slapped Wen Liyang's chubby cheek, "If you're so scared, remember to clean up this thing properly. Next time you use it to hit someone, it'll ruin your hand."

Wen Liyang was still in shock, shaking as he sobbed uncontrollably.

His mother, Zhou Rou reactively dashed over, "Ji Chuxing! Have you had enough?!"

Firmly hugging her son, she watched Ji Chuxing fiercely, "What else do you want? The whole house is disturbed as soon you wake up!"

Ji Chuxing, too lazy to pay attention to her, headed straight down the stairs.

Just at the moment, Wen Huaming was coming home from outside. He perhaps heard the commotion inside the house and saw Ji Chuxing descending the staircase, causing him to frown, "What's all the fuss about? It's so noisy".

Was he misperceiving or did Ji Chuxing seem odd?

Girls of her age usually appeared timid in his presence, bowing their heads and not daring to speak.

But now she stood on the stair, proud and aloof, like a regal peacock.

It was only a fleeting glance from her, but Wen Huaming felt a sense of oppressive intimidation.

Wen Huaming collected his thoughts and dismissed it as overthinking. He knew Ji Chuxing's health hadn't been great for the past couple of days - apparently, she had accidentally fallen into the swimming pool and caught a fever.

As for this daughter of his wife and her ex-husband, he didn't particularly mind her much. The Wen family was affluent, more than capable of providing for her.

As long as she didn't do anything to tarnish the reputation of the Wen family in Nancheng, all was well.

Seeing Wen Huaming return, to Wen Liyang it was like sighting a savior. He stood by the upstairs railing shouting, "Dad! She shot me with a gun!"

Wen Huayang frowned.

"Dad! Can you send her away! I never want to see her again! I, I wish she were dead!”

Wen Huaming furrowed his brows, angrily retorting, “Who taught you to talk like that!”

Wen's sister-in-law suddenly appeared from somewhere, gave Ji Chuxing a scornful glance, and said, “Sir, it’s not the young master's fault. Miss Ji is really outrageous. She's already an adult, how could she bully our young master? He was just showing some concern for her health, she not only disregarded his kindness but also shot him with a toy gun.”

The sister-in-law is a servant in the house, considered an old member of the Wen family, and quite prestigious.

But she always looked down upon Ji Chuxing, this country girl. She always despised her and often covered up for Wen Liyang when he would bully her, appeasing many situations.

Standing in front of Wen Huaming, Zhou Ru allowed her elegant lady image to resurface, "Xiao Xing, you really have to change this temper of yours. Quickly apologize to your brother!"

"I want her to kneel and apologize to me!" Wen Liyang shouted ferociously.

Upon hearing sister-in-law's words, Wen Huaming frowned at Ji Chuxing, "You just recovered from a severe illness, so, apologize to Liyang, and we'll let this matter go."

Ji Chuxing completely indifferent, retorted, "Just because he said I bullied him, it means I bullied him?"

"Is Miss Ji going to argue back? I heard and saw it clearly!" Displeased, Sister-in-law chimed in.

Ji Chuxing huffed, "I say he pushed me into the pool almost drowning me. Why don’t you believe me?"

"Impossible!" Zhou Ru's face slightly changed, responding immediately, "Liyang is such a sweet child, he would never do anything like that. He is your younger brother, how could you slander him like this! Besides, aren't you okay right now?"

Ji Chuxing knew it would turn out like this. Certain people, forever disregarding others' words, only believe whatever they want to believe in their mind.

She had nothing to say, and headed downstairs with her backpack.

Wen Liyang couldn’t swallow this anger, he snatched the toy gun off the ground, aiming at Ji Chuxing’s retreating figure, shot twice.

"Bang--"

Only a muffled groan echoed in the air, followed by...

The sound of something shattering.