Redemption from the Abyss: The School Beauty Insists on Pulling Me Out of the Mire

There are two days left until the midterm exams.

Xie Wang has been living a life worse than death these past two days. During the day, he is bombarded by teachers from all subjects, and at night, Su Qinghe forces him to memorize vocabulary words. He also has to run code late at night.

He's in such a state that he could burst into flames at any moment.

Lunch break.

The dead corner of the stairwell at the end of the corridor is rarely visited and is used as a place to store miscellaneous items.

Xu You stumbled out of the office, carrying a stack of homework books that was half her height. She was so small and thin that the pile of homework books almost blocked her view.

We just turned the corner.

"Bang!"

She accidentally bumped into a few people.

The homework books scattered all over the floor with a "whoosh".

Immediately afterwards, a sharp scream rang out:

"Ah! Are you blind?!"

Xu You turned pale with fright and hurriedly squatted down to pick up the things, repeatedly apologizing, "I'm...I'm sorry! I didn't see it..."

Standing in front of her were several girls from the next class.

The one in the lead was named Chen Fei. She wore light makeup that didn't conform to school rules, and her school uniform skirt was altered to be very short. She was Jiang Yue's number one fangirl and usually couldn't stand the group of bookworms in Class 1 who only knew how to study, especially the always timid Xu You.

"Does 'sorry' even help?"

Chen Fei stomped her foot angrily at the black mark on her shoe. "These are my newly bought limited edition Air Jordans! Can you afford to pay for them? I think you did this on purpose!"

"I...I didn't..." Xu You's eyes welled up with tears, and her whole body trembled. "I'll wipe it clean for you..."

"Get away! Don't touch me with your dirty hands!"

Chen Fei kicked the homework books on the ground, scattering them even further away, some even ending up in a dusty corner.

Several girls surrounded Xu You, cornering her against the wall and shoving her.

"You always act like a little white rabbit, what, do you think our Sister Fei is easy to bully?"

Xu You huddled in the corner, covering her head, too afraid to speak, only able to shed silent tears.

Just then.

"What are you doing!"

A roar exploded like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

Chen Fei and the others were startled and turned around to look.

A burly boy carrying a basketball charged over.

It's Shen Hao.

Shen Hao had just finished playing basketball, his body covered in sweat, revealing large muscles that made him look very powerful. He rushed over in a few steps, standing in front of Xu You like a wall, separating her from the other girls.

"Bullying a classmate? Have you no shame?"

Shen Hao pointed at the homework on the ground, his neck veins bulging with anger. "This is the whole class's homework! You kicked it all over the place, do you want me to tell the head teacher?"

Although Chen Fei was a little afraid of Shen Hao, who was a big guy, she still dared to shout, relying on the fact that there were more of them:

"Shen Hao, mind your own business! She dirtied my shoes first! Doesn't she have to pay for what she broke?"

"Pay my ass!"

Shen Hao was straightforward and hated this kind of unreasonable arguing. "How much? I'll pay for her! Take the money and get out of here! Don't get in my way!"

"You..." Chen Fei choked, her face flushed red, "This isn't about money! It's about attitude! I think your Class 1 is just a gang bullying each other!"

Just when the situation was at a stalemate.

A lazy voice, slightly hoarse from not being fully awake, came from the shadows above the stairs.

"There's a security camera in that corner."

Everyone was startled and looked up in unison.

Xie Wang was sitting on the stair railing, one long leg dangling casually, with an unlit menthol cigarette dangling from his mouth.

He was holding a phone, the camera pointed directly down, the screen lit up with a red recording dot.

"High definition, with audio recording."

Xie Wang looked down at Chen Fei with a wicked smile. "That 'Get out of here' comment was recorded quite clearly. If this video were posted on the school's confession board, or sent directly to Jiang Yue..."

He paused, then added in a chilling tone:

"Do you think President Jiang prefers gentle, ladylike women or rebellious girls who throw tantrums in the hallways?"

This move is simply a game-changer.

What these girls care about most is their image in Jiang Yue's heart.

Chen Fei's face turned deathly pale instantly.

"You... Xie Wang, you're despicable!"

She gritted her teeth, glared at Xu You, and said, "You're lucky today!"

After saying that, he and his followers covered their faces and slunk away, afraid that Xie Wang would really release the video.

The hallway finally quieted down.

Xie Wang jumped off the handrail and put his phone back in his pocket.

Shen Hao breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at Xu You, who was huddled in the corner.

"Are you alright? They're gone."

Shen Hao scratched his head, looking at the homework books scattered all over the floor, somewhat at a loss. "Um... don't cry, I'll help you pick them up."

He awkwardly squatted down and picked up the dusty notebooks.

Xu You was still sobbing, tears streaming down her face, blurring her glasses. She wanted to say thank you, but her throat felt blocked, and she couldn't make a sound.

Xie Wang walked over and frowned as he looked at Xu You, who was crying her eyes out.

Tsk.

trouble.

He's most afraid of girls crying.

Just as Xie Wang was getting impatient and reaching into his pocket for a cigarette, a familiar jasmine scent wafted over.

Su Qinghe arrived at some unknown time.

She was holding a book, seemingly passing by, yet also appearing to have come on a special occasion.

She didn't say anything, but walked straight to Xu You and squatted down.

That innate, aloof aura made Xu You, who was still sobbing, subconsciously hold her breath.

Su Qinghe took out a pack of wet wipes from his pocket and pulled out one.

She didn't mind the dust and tears on Xu You's hands, but gently took Xu You's hand and carefully wiped the stains off her fingers, bit by bit.

The movements were very light and gentle.

This was completely different from her usual aloof and unapproachable demeanor.

"Don't cry."

Su Qinghe's voice was calm, yet it carried a comforting power: "Tears are pearls; don't let them fall for unworthy people."

She wiped Xu You's hands clean, then folded the dirty wet towel and held it in her own hand.

Then, she stood up, took half of the stack of homework that Shen Hao had picked up, and held it in her arms.

"Let's go back to the classroom."

Su Qinghe glanced at Xu You, who was still in a daze, and said, "Also, if they dare to ambush you again, just tell me. Or..."

She pointed to the two boys next to her, her tone matter-of-fact:

"Let's find them. These two idle people are too good to pass up."

Shen Hao: "???"

Am I just a bystander? I'm a good young man who stood up for what's right!

Xie Wang: "..."

Only you could describe "thugs" in such a refined and elegant way.

Xu You stared blankly at Su Qinghe.

Backlit, the aloof school beauty seemed to be edged with a soft gold.

"Um!"

Xu You nodded vigorously, wiped away her tears, and followed Su Qinghe like a little tail, clutching the remaining homework books.

The four of them walked towards the classroom.

Shen Hao continued to comfort Xu You, who whispered her thanks.

Su Qinghe walked ahead, his back straight and tall.

Xie Wang walked at the back, hands in his pockets, chewing on candy.

He looked at the three people in front of him.

Especially the figure holding a book and with her hair tied in a high ponytail.

The scene of her wiping Xu You's hands just now lingered in his mind.

He had always thought Su Qinghe was the kind of pampered young lady who lived in the clouds and didn't understand the hardships of life.

Dislikes dirt, has obsessive-compulsive disorder about cleanliness, and is indifferent.

But just now, she didn't mind the dust on Xu You's hands.

"Tsk."

Xie Wang lowered his head and looked at his hands.

Those hands, used to typing on a keyboard year-round and occasionally getting into fights, are certainly not clean.

But that day by the river, she had also handed him a handkerchief.

It's still in his bag.

Su Qinghe

It doesn't seem so unattainable.

It's even a little warm.

Xie Wang curled the corners of his lips and quickly followed.

"Hello, Teacher Su."

He called out lazily, "Shouldn't that 'idle person' comment just now be paid overtime?"

Su Qinghe didn't turn his head, his voice carrying a hint of amusement:

"Okay, double the vocabulary tonight, you're not allowed to sleep until you've memorized them all."

Xie Wang: "..."

Hold.

I don't need the overtime pay.