Chapter 110: Bullying
"Bullying at the most prestigious SC University."
On the school forum, an anonymous account had posted a detailed exposé about ongoing bullying in the high school departnt.
The main culprit? Tiffany Rhian and her two loyal lackeys.
The post included photos and videos of Tiffany tornting students, most of them scholarship recipients from humble backgrounds.
Tiffany’s arrogance had always been notorious, she was loud, unrestrained, and dripping with entitlent. She flaunted her status without hesitation, offending countless students, especially girls.
Now, it was all laid bare.
Looking at the post, Tiffany’s face turned ashen. She shook her head violently. "Who did this? Who dared post these lies about ?!"
Beside her, Rita was pale as death, her hands trembling. Unlike Tiffany, her family had little influence to shield her.
"Tiffany, call your father imdiately!" she whispered urgently.
But before Tiffany could, the school intercom rang out: "Tiffany Rhian and Rita, please report to the Dean’s office at once."
Clicking her tongue, Nina shook Rita’s phone with a mocking grin. "Talk about karma. Now it’s your turn."
On the screen, the bullying post had already spread to social dia. Containing it within school was no longer possible, this would almost certainly go viral.
Despite the fear in her eyes, Tiffany’s expression twisted with rage. "This is fake! It has to be Yeri, she’s trying to get back at !"
Nina’s smug smile instantly froze. She hurled the phone back to Rita and lunged at Tiffany. "What did you just say? Yeri isn’t even here! Let
crack your skull open and see if it’s stuffed with sewer water!"
The classmates rushed to hold Nina back, reminding her that Tiffany had to face the Dean first.
Dragged away by Rita, Tiffany dialed her lawyer on the spot, babbling out the situation. But the man on the other end only sighed and scolded her with exasperation.
---
anwhile, late in the afternoon, Jj and Yeri arrived at the Zhi manor.
Carpet bounded toward them, tail wagging like a little propeller.
As soon as Yeri sat on the sofa, the fluffy golden retriever leapt onto her lap. "Carpet, you’re shedding everywhere again," she muttered, brushing at her clothes.
Madam Zhi smiled warmly and gestured for the helpers to bring Yeri’s things to her room. "The doctor said you need a week of rest at ho. I’ll call your school—"
"No way," Yeri quickly cut in. "Mom, if I miss a whole week, I’ll fall behind. And what about the food in my dorm? It’ll all go bad."
Her mother sighed. "I’ll arrange online classes so you won’t fall behind. As for the food, just replace it. Why are you suddenly so concerned?"
Yeri opened her mouth to argue again, but her phone buzzed. A ssage from Nina popped up.
Her eyes widened as she read through it.
Bullying?
The post was exhaustive, almost as if soone had been collecting evidence for years, waiting for the right mont to strike.
So photos dated back more than a year. There were even testimonials from victims.
Yeri scrolled in shock. She’d thought Tiffany’s cruelty only extended to insults and humiliation. She hadn’t imagined it went as far as physical violence.
One case made her stomach drop: a scholarship girl who had dropped out a year ago. Photos showed cuts and bruises on her body. Her dical record revealed ongoing treatnt for trauma.
According to her statent, Tiffany had targeted her simply because a boy Tiffany liked had greeted her. The bullying escalated until Tiffany and her friends had forced her to jump from the fourth floor.
Yeri really didn’t expect this from Tiffany. She had thought Tiffany’s attempt to scar her face had been a spur-of-the-mont act of rage. Clearly, it wasn’t. This was a pattern.
Her phone rang suddenly, making her jump.
Shin Keir.
Good thing her mom was sowhere else, probably the kitchen or the greenhouse. Yeri hurried to her room, Carpet trotting after her.
She shut the door and answered. "Young Master Keir, what’s the matter?"
His deep, magnetic voice poured through the line. "You’re still calling
that?"
"Well... it’s just my way of showing respect," Yeri whispered.
Shin chuckled, a lazy, teasing sound. "Enough excuses. What should you call ?"
Yeri rolled her eyes but stayed quiet. He was patient, infuriatingly so.
"Hello?" She looked at her phone, the call was still connected.
"Again. What should you call ?"
"...Fine. Brother Shin."
Even as she said it, her chest tightened with discomfort. Calling Tristan ’brother’ had been easy. But with Shin? It felt like lowering a shield, like leaving herself vulnerable.
Though she couldn’t see him, she knew he was smiling.
"Have you seen the bullying scandal?" he asked.
Yeri frowned. "How did you know about that?"
"Do you like it? Bad people should get what they deserve." His voice turned cold.
"...Wait." Yeri froze. "You... were behind this?"
"She dared to harm you. Of course I wouldn’t let it slide. I also traced those accounts slandering you. That girl was one of them."
Yeri wasn’t surprised. Even if Shin hadn’t acted, the truth would’ve co out eventually. All he did was give the victims courage and a powerful backer.
"I heard from Nathaniel," Shin continued, "that Tiffany’s family wants to drop your case. They want a settlent. What do you think?"
Yeri blinked. Of course. With this scandal erupting, Tiffany couldn’t handle another blow. If Yeri pushed forward, they’d crumble completely.
But unlike Tiffany, Yeri had no desire to pour salt into an open wound. Dragging this on would only bring her parents’ attention.
"I’ll think about it," she said quietly.
Shin’s tone sharpened. "This scandal won’t stay small. dia will pounce. The Rhian family may even co asking you to help Tiffany discredit the accusations."
"My help? Why ? Everyone knows Tiffany and I hate each other."
"Exactly," Shin scoffed. "If her enemy speaks for her, people will believe she’s not as bad as the evidence shows. Money and power can turn lies into truth, and truth into lies. It’s all about public perception."
Yeri was silent.
Shin sighed. "My baby really doesn’t understand how the world works. You make
worry."
Yeri nearly dropped her phone. What did he just call ?!
She must have misheard. She had to have misheard.
"I’ll think about it," she repeated hastily. "Anyway, I can’t talk long. I’m at ho."
"Mhm. You still need to talk to your father," Shin said cryptically.
The phone felt like it was burning her hand. "Okay, bye."
"Bye, my baby. See you soon."
Yeri froze.
No hallucination. No delusion. He really said it!
Is he sick?
Carpet barked and rolled across her bed, snapping her out of her daze. But her mind spun.
"He’s sick. He has to be! Or maybe today’s April Fool’s? Did Brother Tristan put him up to this? A bet? A joke? Possessed, maybe?" She muttered as she fumbled around her desk, checking the calendar, searching for so kind of explanation.
"The world is going mad. This is just a fake relationship, nothing serious. Don’t dwell on it, Yeri. Don’t dwell on it!" She continued, muttering incoherently.
---
Later that night, the Zhi family of four finally sat together for dinner.
Madam Zhi happily served rice while Klaus peeled shrimp for everyone.
"It’s been a while since we’ve all eaten together," she said softly. "Jj, when are you going back to school?"
"Tomorrow. I still have a thesis and project to finish," Jj replied, his voice heavy.
His mother sighed, but let it go. At least it was for the sake of education.
"Eat properly," Father Zhi said, passing Yeri a plate of peeled shrimp. "Don’t pay attention to those comnts online."
Blinking, Yeri looked down at the food in front of her as if she’d just woken from a trance.
It wasn’t Lucia Hera’s scandal haunting her thoughts, but Shin Keir.
What ga is he playing? Did he hit his head?
She could’ve asked him directly, but for so reason, she couldn’t bring herself to.
Forget it.
With a heavy sighed, Yeri pushed it aside, joining the chatter with her parents and brother.
"Yeri, I need to talk to you after dinner," Father Zhi said suddenly.
Yeri nodded, assuming it was about school or her health.
She didn’t notice the serious expressions her mother and brother exchanged when her father spoke.
---
After dinner, Madam Zhi excused herself to tend to her garden, while Jj went upstairs, likely to prepare his things for the next day.
Yeri quietly followed Father Zhi into his study.
They spoke first about her studies, and inevitably, the night market incident.
"I’m alright, Father. No PTSD, no lingering trauma," Yeri reassured him with a small smile.
But Father Zhi’s eyes narrowed slightly, betraying his doubt. To him, Yeri was your typical greenhouse flower, carefully raised, protected from every storm. She had never known true hardship, never brushed against suffering.
If Venice, with her stronger temperant, had nearly been driven mad by the chaos of that night, how could his sheltered daughter erge unscathed?
Yeri, at a loss, could only continue to reassure him. At least her recent ntal assessnt had declared her stable.
A knock interrupted them. A housekeeper entered, placing a tray of snacks and tea on the low table before slipping out again.
The room fell quiet once more.
Then Father Zhi leaned forward, his expression turning more serious. "There’s sothing else."
He slid a slim folder across the desk toward her.
Yeri blinked, puzzled, and picked it up. The mont she flipped it open, however, an uneasy chill crawled up her spine. Sothing about it felt wrong.
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