Chapter One, Iron Blue (01)

Chen Juefei knew that his uncle, when truly enraged, was more terrifying than anyone else. Not daring to provoke him, he obediently said in a loud voice: "I am sorry"

From head to toe, there was an air of resistance. How could Liang Jinghang not perceive it? Yet he insisted on pretending not to know, and then continued to inquire, "... ... Are there any financial difficulties?"

Chen Juefei reluctantly stepped forward and muttered a few words

Liang Jingxing let out a light snort, "I see that you are not wronged at all"

Liang Jingxing looked at her for a few seconds and nodded

"After studying for over a decade, have you only learned to slander others at will?" Liang Jingxing furrowed his brows, his pair of narrow and deep-set eyes fixed intently on his face, the gaze as cold as ice, frighteningly calm

Liang Jingxing could not help but scrutinize her

Jiang Ci tilted her head slightly, resembling a queen surveying her territory, as she walked forward slowly and resolutely

Then... this girl, I don't know what got into her, went home and shaved her head. The next day she came to class with a shiny bald head. Her grades were excellent, and she had always been a key focus for the teacher. Naturally, the teacher asked her what had happened, and the result...

Liang Jingxing glanced at him and said, "What harsh words did you say to her?"

How have you been during this period

Jingjing had been smoking quietly for a while when Jiang Ci's figure appeared in the open space downstairs. Liang Jingxing followed her gaze, watching as she entered the building across the street, disappearing for a moment before reappearing in the corridor on the fourth floor. As she walked by holding her assignment book, many girls peeked out to look, pointing and whispering, yet none dared to approach her for a conversation

Chen Juefei was taken aback

Liang Jingxing's expression darkened, "Speak louder."

Jiang Ci turned a corner and completely disappeared from sight. Liang Jingxing lit a cigarette, disregarding the fact that he was wearing a suit, and rested his elbow on the dust-covered railing

Liang Jingxing's gaze darkened

Liang Jingxing did not take the bait, "Where is your class teacher?"

Chen Juefei sat back with a smile and asked, "Have you eaten?"

"He has gone to the cafeteria." Chen Juefei could not sit still, his hands propped on the stool, twisting back and forth like toffee. Liang Jingxing lightly kicked his calf and asked, "What good deed have you done this time?"

Chen Juefei

Jiang Ci slightly lowered her gaze, "Mm."

Jiang Ci lowered her gaze, passing by Liang Jingxing's side, and walked down the stairs step by step. The athletic-style school uniform draped over her, resembling a clumsy sack, making her figure appear even more emaciated

"Hey," Chen Juefei revealed two rows of white teeth, "I was wronged this time." Chen Juefei sat up straight, looking at Liang Jingxing, "There is a girl in Class 3 who is quite pretty. I have always wanted to befriend her, so I asked someone to help me convey my feelings a few times, but she ignored me. Yesterday, I blocked her on the road... but her face was so sour as if I had killed her entire family. She glared at me and took a detour. I said a few angry words and rushed over to grab her ponytail, and she actually slapped me back—if you don't believe me, look, there are still marks from her hand now." Chen Juefei leaned his face forward, but was pushed away by Liang Jingxing in disgust.

Chen Juefei looked up at him and asked, "Where are you going?"

As soon as Chen Juefei's figure disappeared, Liang Jingxing turned around and was immediately taken aback

More emaciated than in March, her entire face was as pale as a piece of paper. If it weren't for the bald head that added a touch of absurdity, the whole person exuded a chilling aura of illness.

Jiang Ci also noticed Liang Jingxing; her lips parted slightly, but in the end, she did not speak and subtly averted her gaze

Liang Jingxing pushed Chen Juefei and said, "Go apologize."

She is an art student, having been learning to paint under a painter for some time. The tuition is quite high, amounting to 100,000 a year, yet both her parents have passed away, and it is truly unclear where the money comes from

In just two short years, the world has changed dramatically; the once cherished jewel has fallen into its current state, inevitably evoking a sense of lamentation

At that time, Jiang Ci's father, Jiang Mingyuan, was experiencing a booming business, flourishing like a fire fueled by oil. Jiang Mingyuan started from scratch; in his early years, he sold boxed meals, and later ventured into building materials. After accumulating some savings, he began to avoid being referred to as a "newly rich person." He had a profound appreciation for the arts and had reached a level of mastery in this regard. In addition to collecting antiques and calligraphy, he befriended literati and poets, and even had Jiang Ci apprentice under a master of oil painting. Jiang Mingyuan took great pride in this decision, even organizing an auction of her debut painting before the start of Jiang Ci's birthday banquet, claiming that all proceeds from the auction would be used to support young and aspiring impoverished painters.

Upon reaching the stairway, Liang Jingxing suddenly stopped and said, "Chen Juefei, you can go eat by yourself."

Liang Jingxing completed the license application in the morning, drove to the company to check on the renovation progress, did not have a bite of hot food, and hurried to the school without a break

"Is there anything else?" Chen Juefei stared at him, "Uncle, you aren't planning to go back and compensate that girl for emotional damages, are you? Let me tell you, she is not as delicate as she appears. Last time, when four girls cornered her in the restroom, they didn't gain any advantage from her at all..."

Liang Jingxing could not help but recall the circumstances of his first meeting with Jiang Ci

At noon, the office was empty. Chen Juefei lounged at his desk, his fingers tapping intermittently on the leaves of a potted green plant that the homeroom teacher had placed on the table. As soon as he saw Liang Jinghang appear, he immediately sprang up from his chair and affectionately called out, "Uncle".

Liang Jingxing walked over, lowered his head to look at her, "It has been a long time since we last met"

Jiang Ci gathered her fingers slightly, still shaking her head, "No." This time, without giving Liang Jinghang a chance to speak, she raised her head and took the initiative to say, "Mr. Liang, thank you for your concern." She glanced towards the clock tower, "The lunch break is about to end, so I will return to the classroom first."

Chen Juefei curled his lips and said, "She accused me of sexual harassment"

Chen Juefei lamented, "Did I not just say a few unkind words to her? Why are you turning your elbow outward?"

Chongcheng No. 4 Middle School is one of the top schools in the province. However, after the hopeless Chen Juefei was admitted, he not only made no progress but instead became even more of a failure. Now, I do not expect much from him; I only hope he can get through high school steadily and then be sent off to cause trouble in America. Yet, even this small request seems to fall on deaf ears, as he frequently stirs up trouble. If it were not for the school's consideration of the hefty sponsorship fees, Chen Juefei would have likely been expelled hundreds of times by now. But even this small request seems to fall on deaf ears, as he frequently stirs up trouble. If it were not for the school's consideration of the hefty sponsorship fees, Chen Juefei would have likely been expelled hundreds of times by now

Chen Juefei hesitated and stammered

"It's fine." Jiang Ci looked down at his toes, his voice flat

Liang Jingxing reached out to take the homework notebook she was holding, but Jiang Ci slightly turned to the side to avoid him, saying, "It's fine, it's not heavy."

Chen Juefei was indeed apprehensive, immediately falling silent and taking a step back, "I... I am going to have a meal, uncle, you go ahead and do your own thing." After saying this, he quickly turned and ran down the stairs.

Liang Jingxing turned his face away and said, "Go back and sit properly"

As May has passed, the temperature in Chongcheng is steadily rising. Liang Jingxing is shuttling between teaching at school and preparing for his sister's company's grand opening, busy to the point of not having a moment to spare. He even has to find time to go to school to clean up the mess left by his troublemaking nephew, Chen Juefei.

After waiting for a while, the office door was pushed open, and a teacher wearing glasses walked in, followed by a girl dressed in a red, black, and white school uniform. The girl slouched her shoulders and kept her head bowed deeply, leaving everyone with only a completely bald head.

The last painting was sold for 230,000, and Jiang Ci smiled modestly in gratitude, exuding a sense of pride that was, however, understated and not off-putting. No one expected that Jiang Mingyuan, who could never escape a certain vulgarity despite his attempts to appear refined, would have such a daughter who elicited admiration from all.

Liang Jingxing was momentarily taken aback, staring for several seconds, and finally convinced that the girl in front of him, with only her green scalp remaining after shaving, was indeed Jiang Ci, whom he had not seen for several months

The matter was resolved smoothly. Liang Jingxing led Chen Juefei out of the office, while Jiang Ci, who was following behind, was called by the homeroom teacher, "Jiang Ci, please bring back the English homework notebook as well."

I have other matters to attend to

In the corridor not far away, Jiang Ci was quietly standing while holding a stack of homework books. It was unclear how long she had been there, nor how much she had absorbed.

Liang Jingxing remained unmoved, "Did you not consider the consequences when you were harassing others"

Chen Juefei leaned closer to Liang Jinghang's ear and said, "No way, apologizing in the office?"

Liang Jingxing was about to reprimand the two when the homeroom teacher, Teacher Qian, entered the room. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Teacher Qian, Liang Jingxing got straight to the point, "This matter is Chen Juefei's fault; he is willing to apologize and, if necessary, will provide compensation."

No, "Jiang Ci lightly shook her head, "I just haven't rested well."

The girl's slightly slumped shoulders straightened a bit as she slowly raised her head, her cold gaze landing on Chen Juefei's face. "I accept your apology, but I do not forgive you." Her dark, deep-set eyes showed no emotion, resembling two glass beads.

I see that you do not seem to be in good spirits; are you feeling unwell

What happened to the results

He thought that his foolish nephew might truly have become a victim this time

Before the auction began, Jiang Ci gracefully made her entrance. The fifteen-year-old girl wore a white little dress, her long black hair elegantly styled into a bun. When she slightly tilted her head to speak with others, she resembled a swan stretching its neck.

Liang Jingxing's footsteps paused slightly, but he did not turn back

In a moment of daze, it seemed as if he saw Jiang Ci from the year he was fifteen. Liang Jingxing squinted his eyes, extinguished the cigarette, and tossed it into the nearby trash can

Teacher Qian, seeing Liang Jinghang so straightforward, merely followed the routine and scolded him a couple of times, saying, "The head teacher of Class 3 has already brought people over, you all wait here for a moment."