Volume One, Chapter 18: No More Schools to Attend

“Mr. Lu, Yuanbao is still very young. He will surely change in the future.”

“Please, spare Yuanbao this once. Even if he has to withdraw from school, please don’t let this matter be made public. Can you do that?”

Today, Chu Yun’er’s dress already had a low neckline, and as she leaned forward slightly, the view of her chest was fully exposed.

She looked up at Lu Tingxiao with tearful, wronged eyes, hoping for a flicker of pity.

Yet Lu Tingxiao didn’t even spare her a glance; coldly, he shifted his legs apart without mercy.

Turning around, he took the hands of the two children and looked back at the principal.

“The children were frightened today, so I’ll take them home first. They will attend school as usual tomorrow.”

“Understood,” the principal agreed immediately.

Watching Lu Tingxiao lead the two children away, Chu Yun’er once again cast a hopeful glance toward the principal.

Just as she was about to speak, someone beat her to it.

“Lu Tingxiao has taken the children away. His time is precious.”

“But it doesn’t matter. I have plenty of time. I can wait for the principal to finish drafting the report before I leave,” Qiao Ye said as he sat down on the sofa, then, as if remembering something, spoke to the principal.

“When I arrived this time, I noticed many of the surveillance videos were unclear. Since I happen to have some free time now,”

“could you please prepare a computer? I’ll adjust the surveillance system to ensure that if similar incidents occur in the future, we won’t lose crucial evidence.”

After speaking, Qiao Ye emphasized,

“The children are young and don’t have bad intentions, but it’s uncertain what the adults behind them might be up to, don’t you think?”

The principal quickly nodded in agreement, his attitude respectful.

But when he looked at Chu Yun’er, his expression instantly turned cold and indifferent.

“Madam, I have made it very clear – the evidence is conclusive.”

“You should understand well the impact this would have if it were released online.”

“At the moment, I am only informing the entire school staff and students; the video will not be circulated. But if you continue to cause trouble, don’t blame us for issuing a public statement online.”

“Please, don’t put it online. I’m leaving now,” Chu Yun’er said in panic, feeling helpless despite her unwillingness to concede.

Before leaving, she shot a fierce glare at Qiao Ye, then slammed the door behind her with Yuanbao in tow.

Shortly after returning home, Chu Yun’er received the official notice posted in the old school group chat.

Furious, she immediately quit the group and took out her phone to contact other connections, hoping to transfer Yuanbao to another school.

But after inquiring at all the prestigious private schools, none were willing to accept him.

The admissions officers, upon hearing that Yuanbao had once tried to harm another child, used this as a reason to refuse him.

At first, Chu Yun’er had been confident, unwilling to believe that there was no good school in the county.

But this notice had such a huge impact. She called every school she could, yet none were willing to take him in.

Left with no choice, Chu Yun’er had to settle for a public school.

Thinking of her son’s education falling behind others from the very beginning, she was so furious she almost wanted to smash her phone.

No, she thought again and again that the cause of this mess was Qiao Ye stirring things up behind the scenes.

Seeing Yuanbao lying on the sofa watching cartoons, carefree and oblivious, Chu Yun’er’s anger flared uncontrollably.

She walked over, snatched the remote from his hand, turned off the TV, and said,

“What’s so good about these cartoons? If it weren’t for the surveillance camera at the place you chose, how could the school have kicked you out?”

Yuanbao looked at her, his face full of displeasure, and retorted,

“Didn’t you tell me what to do? You never said I had to avoid the cameras!”

Then he started to throw a tantrum, trying to keep watching TV.

Seeing that the child had been spoiled to the point of impudence, Chu Yun’er’s mind hatched a new plan.

“Do you want to go back to the big villa at the Lu family?”

Yuanbao stopped crying, blinking his eyes as he looked at his mother.

“Mommy, do you mean the big house Daddy took us to at first?”

“Yes, that’s the one. Do you want to see Great-Grandma Zeng again? To live with her every day, with servants to serve you good food and drinks?”

“Yes!” Yuanbao nodded without hesitation.

“Then listen to Mommy. I’ll take you home later, and when you go back...”

At the school,

The principal praised the newly adjusted surveillance camera footage.

“Thank you so much, Ms. Qiao. If you hadn’t helped resolve the evidence issue, if these two parties had escalated the conflict, our little school couldn’t have handled it.”

Qiao Ye smiled gently and said,

“Actually, I had a personal motive too—I wanted to see how Tangdou and Doubao live at school.”

The principal was relieved.

“Don’t worry, I haven’t violated the students’ privacy. This computer will be returned to you, and I haven’t copied any videos.”

“I’ve also restored all previous videos, the clearer ones stored on this computer for the principal’s backup.”

The principal smiled even more warmly, accepting the computer.

“A mother’s concern for her children is natural. Even though you’re just their godmother, you pick them up and drop them off every day—I think you’re closer to them than most parents.”

“You flatter me. It’s getting late, so I’ll be going now.”

Just after leaving the school, Qiao Ye’s phone buzzed again. Opening it, she saw it was a call from her grandmother.

She answered, and the voice on the other end was noisy.

“Xiao Ye, I heard you went to the school today. You probably haven’t returned to the company yet, right? Why don’t you come home first? I have something to ask you.”

“Okay,” Qiao Ye replied.

Her ears perked up—she thought she heard Yuanbao’s voice faintly in the background.

It seemed Chu Yun’er’s scheme had failed, and she was going back to muster reinforcements.

Arriving at the Lu family’s gate, Qiao Ye heard crying and shouting from inside.

“Grandma, Yuanbao is the only great-grandson of the Lu family. Not only was he bullied at school, but now he’s been kicked out.”

“I know our presence makes Miss Qiao very jealous, but Yuanbao is still just a child and innocent!”

“You can’t just let this go without doing something!”

Chu Yun’er knelt halfway on the ground, crying pitifully, holding the red-eyed Yuanbao in her arms.

Yuanbao’s legs were wrapped heavily in plaster, looking far worse than before.

Madam Lu’s face grew cold as she glared at Qiao Ye and asked sharply,

“Since you’re here, explain what’s going on. How could Yuanbao be attending a public school?”

“He is a child of the Lu family. If word gets out, how could anyone avoid criticizing us?”

Public school?

Qiao Ye was slightly surprised. Recalling the contents of the notice, she finally understood why Chu Yun’er was so fearless even confronting Madam Lu.

She was certain Madam Lu would never allow Yuanbao to attend an ordinary school.

“What? You refuse to explain because you want to admit everything was your doing?”