Chapter 15: Lin Siqing, You’ve Gone Too Far

Zhang Chenxi’s originally gentle face instantly grew cold and stern. He slowly rose to his feet, standing tall and straight. The blue-and-white school uniform he wore somehow brought out a heroic aura in him.

His eyes blazed with anger as he fixed his gaze tightly on Lin Siqing. The smile that usually graced his lips was now pressed into a straight line, pale at the edges.

“Lin Siqing, you’ve gone too far!”

Zhang Chenxi’s voice was low but powerful, as if squeezed through clenched teeth, unable to tolerate Lin Siqing’s attitude toward the little trickster.

He took a small step forward, his hands involuntarily clenched into fists, knuckles whitening from the force.

Veins subtly bulged on the backs of his hands, like dragons on the verge of breaking free, brimming with strength.

Lin Siqing was slightly taken aback by Zhang Chenxi’s reaction but stubbornly lifted his chin. In his deep eyes flickered a trace of disdain. Beneath his high nose bridge, his thin lips parted lightly.

“Too far? She was the one making all the noise.”

His tone was casual, but the arrogance on his face grew more apparent. Leaning back slightly, hands shoved deep into his pockets, he seemed to dismiss Zhang Chenxi’s fury entirely.

Hearing this, Zhang Chenxi’s anger surged even more. His chest heaved violently like a storm-tossed sea.

“Lin Siqing, you really have gone too far!”

As he spoke, he stepped forward again, closing the distance between them in an instant. Zhang Chenxi now resembled an enraged lion, ready to pounce at any moment.

The surrounding students cast shocked glances, and the once noisy cafeteria gradually fell quiet, as if waiting for the confrontation to escalate.

Xu Zhixing nervously tugged at Fu Siqiao’s sleeve, signaling her to stay silent.

Fu Siqiao’s eyes widened in worry. Could Zhang Chenxi be about to fight Lin Siqing?

Lin Siqing’s brows furrowed slightly, a flash of displeasure crossing his face. He stepped forward too, almost nose-to-nose with Zhang Chenxi, his gaze tinged with provocation.

“I just can’t stand her. So what? You’re going to stand up for her?”

His breath grew rapid, and his cold, stern face seemed even more imposing—a grim reaper in the night.

Zhang Chenxi stood his ground without backing down, his eyes steadfast as rock: “I will stand up for her! You’re asking for a beating.”

Sweat beaded on his forehead, slowly sliding down his cheeks.

At this moment, he had shed his usual gentle demeanor, all for the sake of protecting Fu Siqiao.

A mocking smirk tugged at the corner of Lin Siqing’s mouth. Inwardly, he thought Fu Siqiao really was something special to make the ever-gentle Zhang Chenxi confront him so fiercely.

His already cold face seemed shrouded in a layer of frost, growing darker and uglier like the sky before a storm.

“Hmph. For her, you really dare to challenge me.”

Lin Siqing retorted impatiently, his voice thick with tension.

His eyes were filled with contempt, as if looking at a clown overestimating himself. Leaning forward slightly, shoulders raised, he seemed ready to strike harder at any moment.

Just as Zhang Chenxi was about to respond, Lin Siqing suddenly called out, “Ah Shui.”

That familiar yet long-unheard nickname struck like an invisible key, instantly unlocking the door to Zhang Chenxi’s memories.

His lips trembled slightly; the words he had prepared were choked back by an invisible force. Frozen momentarily, his eyes flickered with complex emotions—surprise, nostalgia, and above all, confusion.

Seeing this, Xu Zhixing’s own anger erupted beyond control.

She sprang up, her face flushed red like a ripe apple.

Her eyes burned with fury as she glared fiercely at Lin Siqing, shouting, “Lin Siqing, you’ve gone way too far! How can you bully Siqiao like that and provoke her on purpose here?”

Her hands clenched tightly into fists, her body trembling slightly with anger. The hem of her blue-and-white school uniform swayed gently in response.

Yet Lin Siqing ignored Xu Zhixing’s accusations, as if her words were nothing but an insignificant breeze.

His gaze remained fixed ruthlessly on Fu Siqiao, as if piercing through her with deep hatred and resentment.

Fu Siqiao felt a chill run down her spine under his gaze and instinctively shrank behind Xu Zhixing, clutching her sleeve so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

Fu Siqiao wanted to persuade Xu Zhixing not to confront Lin Siqing, but Lin Siqing’s eyes darkened as he looked at her.

“Fu Siqiao, you’re quite something.”

Lin Siqing shot a sharp glare at Fu Siqiao, as if he wanted to devour her alive.

Then, he turned and strode away, his footsteps thudding loudly on the floor, as if venting the frustration inside.

His retreating figure looked particularly out of place in the cafeteria. Surrounding students cast curious glances, but he didn’t care. Soon, he disappeared from sight.

Xu Zhixing gently patted Fu Siqiao’s back, her delicate fingers rhythmically stroking, trying to convey warmth and comfort.

“Don’t be afraid, I’m here,” Xu Zhixing’s voice was soft yet firm, like a spring breeze soothing the soul.

Fu Siqiao lifted her head slightly and forced a faint smile, but it was laced with bitterness and helplessness.

Her eyes were red and swollen, as if she had just held back tears.

“I’m fine. It’s only natural he hates me—after all, I took his dad away.”

Fu Siqiao’s voice trembled faintly, carrying a sorrow she could hardly conceal.

Her hands clenched tightly together, knuckles whitening, as if struggling to suppress the pain within.

Xu Zhixing stiffened at those words, her face registering shock.

Her eyes widened, mouth slightly agape, as if wanting to say something but suddenly at a loss for words.

Her once lively eyes were now filled with confusion and astonishment, staring blankly at Fu Siqiao until she finally snapped back to reality.

Seeing Xu Zhixing stunned, Fu Siqiao slowly revealed the truth about their blended family.

Her gaze carried weariness and helplessness, like a traveler groping alone in darkness who finally found a way to speak her heart.

She lowered her head slightly, strands of hair falling beside her pale, weary face.

Nearby, Zhang Chenxi seemed as if his soul had been drained away.

His eyes grew hollow and vacant, staring blankly ahead as if everything before him was unrelated.

His once bright and lively eyes lost their gleam, veiled in a thick fog that obscured all emotion.

His lips quivered slightly, as if wanting to speak but trapped by the turmoil within.

Seeing Zhang Chenxi like this, Fu Siqiao felt a surge of compassion and the urge to comfort him.

She stepped forward a little, reaching out to grab him, but her hand froze in midair.

Zhang Chenxi seemed unaware of her gesture. He slowly turned and walked away mechanically, step by step.

His figure appeared lonely and desolate, like a solitary boat lost at sea, drifting farther and farther away.

Fu Siqiao watched his retreating back, knowing he was angry—and Lin Siqing was probably in for a beating.

That “Ah Shui” must mean a lot to Zhang Chenxi, right?

“Jiao Jiao, let’s go.”

Xu Zhixing called out to Fu Siqiao, then ignored the onlookers and left the cafeteria.