Everyone in the office turned to look as Shen Yubai appeared at the door, Director Wang's face changed slightly, and his expression shifted instantly, "Mr. Shen, what brings you here?"
Recalling the words Shen Yubai had just spoken, Director Wang lowered his stance and asked, "Were you also present when they were fighting, Mr. Shen? Do you know what happened?"
Shen Yubai ignored the ingratiating look on his face, glanced indifferently at Shen Sinian, and said calmly, "I wasn't there, but you could ask the other classmates of Shen Sinian's class. It's true that him hitting someone was not right, but if there was a reason for it, don't you think that giving him a major demerit is a bit too much?"
"Yes, yes, yes," Director Wang hastily agreed and gave Qi Yeran a side glance, "Go call a few classmates over, I want to ask about the situation."
Qi Yeran glanced at Mou Xue, who nodded in response.
Shen Sinian didn't hit anyone's vital areas, so there was no need for a hospital check-up.
A few people waited in the office, and then the rest of the classmates arrived.
Wang Hong, the head of discipline, asked them about the cause of the fight. Everyone pretty much said the same thing as Qi Yeran had: the classmates were all quite annoyed by Zhao Hu and Du Yangxu, who didn't study properly every day and were utterly inconsiderate of others, being very selfish.
Sometimes, even the teachers during class could be driven to frustration by them.
This time, seizing the opportunity to discipline them was naturally met with approval from the classmates. Deng Xitong and another girl even exaggerated how noisy the two boys were, adding fuel to the fire regarding why Shen Sinian had acted.
And the girl who often had her hair pulled by Zhao Hu, sitting in front of him, also mustered the courage at this moment to say that Zhao Hu was the first to throw a punch, and that Shen Sinian acted in self-defense.
After everyone had their say, Wang Hong's expression turned sour. He glared at Zhao Hu, cleared his throat with his hands behind his back, and said, "Alright, I have understood the specifics."
Under Shen Yubai's gaze, he took a deep breath and said, "Zhao Hu and Du Yangxu did wrong, and so did Shen Sinian. He shouldn't have been so harsh. What if it had led to a fatality? Could you bear that responsibility?"
After a bit of a rambling lecture, the punishment he decided on was to have Shen Sinian and Zhao Hu and Du Yangxu write reflections, pledging not to repeat their mistakes. As for the demerits, they would let it slide this time.
After handling the situation, Mou Xue told the students to return to their classrooms.
Shen Yubai was called out by Wang Hong and stayed a bit longer.
Xu Chuning didn't pay much attention to him. After she left the teachers' office, she dragged Shen Sinian away.
The mother and son walked to the pavilion outside the teaching building. Xu Chuning turned around, about to say something, but Shen Sinian spoke first, "Are you still going to scold me? Say that what I did was wrong?"
"..."
Seeing him like that, Xu Chuning couldn't bring herself to reprimand him, "Was it Zhao Hu who hit you first?"
Shen Sinian didn't respond.
Xu Chuning: "Say something."
Shen Sinian pursed his lips, "He was disturbing your sleep."
Xu Chuning was taken aback, completely unaware that it was because she hadn't slept well that Shen Sinian would pick a fight.
Looking at the young man who was now half a head taller than herself, Xu Chuning felt a tightness in her chest, and a very special emotion spread through her, "Shen Sinian."
Shen Sinian's voice was stiff, "What?"
Xu Chuning: "Lower your head."
Shen Sinian looked at her, puzzled.
"Lower your head," Xu Chuning's tone grew a bit fiercer.
Shen Sinian obliged with an "Oh" and bent over to lower his head.
As soon as he did, he felt a warm breath on his cheek. Shen Sinian's breathing paused, as he looked down at the girl on tiptoe blowing air on his face, he was taken aback.
"Does it hurt?" Xu Chuning blew gently on Shen Sinian's face where Zhao Hu had swung at him, softly asking.
Shen Sinian paused, only snapping out of it when Xu Chuning's finger touched his cheek, and with a stiff twist of his lips, he replied reluctantly, "It doesn't hurt."
Zhao Hu had merely patted him lightly.
"Really?" Xu Chuning was somewhat skeptical.
Shen Sinian: "Really."
He looked down at her, sullenly asking, "Are you angry?"
Xu Chuning paused, then looked up at him, "Shen Sinian, if you can tolerate, then tolerate. You shouldn't start a fight over every little thing."
She didn't say the rest. Currently, she didn't have the ability to protect him. She was afraid that if he lost his restraint and really hurt someone severely, there would be no solution.
Hearing this, Shen Sinian coldly said, "As long as they don't provoke me, I won't initiate a fight."
He wasn't actually keen on fighting, but with scum, it was impossible to reason, and he could only solve it with his fists.
Xu Chuning nodded, "Alright, let's not talk about this. Go back to the classroom for class."
Shen Sinian hummed in agreement.
The two turned to walk towards the teaching building, but as they stepped out of the pavilion, they saw Shen Yubai, who had come over at some point.
The three exchanged glances, and Xu Chuning asked, "Do you have something to say to Shen Sinian?"
Shen Yubai met her clear, bright eyes, "I'm looking for you."
Xu Chuning: "..."
Shen Sinian, showing great insight, walked ahead, "You guys chat slowly, class starts in ten minutes."
Watching the receding figure of Shen Sinian, Xu Chuning inexplicably felt as if she were being abandoned.
"... Are you here to talk about Shen Sinian fighting?" she took a moment before asking the suddenly arrived individual.
Shen Yubai hummed in affirmation, "Did you just scold him?"
Hearing the tone of his voice, Xu Chuning was a bit puzzled, "Do you wish for me to scold him, or not?"
"He didn't do anything wrong," Shen Yubai said measuredly, "Some people who deserve a beating, just let him deal with them."
Xu Chuning: "......"
After a moment of silence, she said in disbelief, "You support him fighting?"
Shen Yubai lifted his gaze to meet hers, his eyes were deep, "He doesn't fight without reason. Why shouldn't I support him?"
"... Shen Yubai," Xu Chuning closed her eyes briefly, then spoke softly, "I think it's necessary for us to have a talk."
Shen Yubai's eyebrows lifted slightly, "Talk about what?"
Xu Chuning met his narrow, peach blossom eyes, and said word by word, "About the education of Shen Sinian."
Shen Yubai: "..."