Chapter 42: The Bullied Leia
“You’re back? Was school fun? Lunch will be ready soon. You all should…”
Yifu opened the door, but what met her eyes was Leia with tear-streaked cheeks and Qianzhi looking guilty.
Leia’s slightly faded old uniform had several holes in it, accompanied by slight abrasions on her fair skin.
Beside her, Qianzhi’s pretty face also bore a few minor scratches, and both children looked extremely wronged.
Yifu stared blankly at the two of them, not understanding what had happened that could leave these little girls in such a sorry state.
“Did you… fall on the way?”
“I’m sorry, Miss Yifu, I didn’t protect Leia well.”
Qianzhi lowered her head slightly, her tone filled with guilt, and she didn’t even dare to look Yifu in the eye.
“It’s not Qianzhi’s fault; it’s all my problem.”
The two kids were each trying to take the blame for the other, pulling back and forth for several rounds, yet Yifu still didn’t know what they had gone through.
However, she patiently squatted down. To be honest, Yifu’s form-fitting skirt wasn’t very suitable for squatting; given her already curvy figure, she felt as if her skirt might split at the thighs.
“What happened? Take your time, don’t rush.”
Yifu gently patted the heads of the two little girls, her warm touch slowly calming them down.
“Those bullies who often pick on me came again today. They insulted me in various ways. I didn’t want to pay them any mind, but they said the mother I found is fake, that I hired her with money.”
“Even if it’s true, she wouldn’t genuinely care for me; she only sees my worth.”
“I was infuriated, so I fought back.”
Leia was looking down, getting more agitated as she spoke, her beautiful big eyes filled with tears of grievance.
She could tolerate being attacked by those people; she had heard their vile words for many years now, so hearing a few more didn’t matter.
But she could not tolerate anyone insulting Yifu, not even a single word.
“I’m sorry, I acted too impulsively.”
At the Church Academy, due to the high magical proficiency of the students, if a real fight broke out, the entire academy could suffer.
Therefore, unprovoked fights were absolutely not allowed; regardless of which side was at fault, both would face punishment.
Especially now, Leia was in a precarious position because, despite being criticized for skipping classes, she appeared on the Outstanding Graduate list.
This had already caused dissatisfaction among many because everyone knew what the Outstanding Graduate list represented, aside from a few deserving individuals.
The Outstanding Graduate list? It was just a list of privileged backgrounds.
If every outstanding graduate were to speak on stage, their speeches would at least thank their count fathers, marquis uncles, and count grandfathers…
At this point, even the great work “My District Chief Father” would have to take a backseat.
“Let me see, is there anywhere you’re hurt?”
A pang of sadness surged in Yifu’s heart; she understood very well why Leia had lashed out.
Compared to her act of striking back, Yifu was obviously more concerned about Leia’s well-being, especially since, by her description, those bullies were likely numerous.
“I’m fine; I just got my clothes torn.”
Leia lowered her head, muttering softly.
“And what about you, Qianzhi? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I didn’t get involved; I just regret being late. I’m sorry for not protecting you, little Leia.”
Qianzhi also kept her head down, looking like a child who had made a mistake, not daring to look Yifu in the eye.
“Good, as long as you’re both okay. Those bullies are too much; come on, let Mommy take you to find them!”
Those little bullies really had gone too far, squandering their privileged circumstances instead of studying properly, and bullying a weak little girl—what was that supposed to show?
And they dared to provoke her daughter to fight; was there no law left? If they had the ability, they should come out and face Yifu head-on; she wouldn’t mind letting them taste her power to rearrange the stars.
Yifu absolutely knew who the instigator behind this was—Long Aotian, who was definitely the one to blame.
This dark-hearted brat, while Yifu was busy handling her precious daughter’s graduation, had the audacity to jump up.
“No need to go; those guys are no longer in the academy.”
Qianzhi grabbed Yifu’s sleeve, speaking cautiously.
“Ah?” Yifu was slightly confused.
“I didn’t say that little Leia didn’t win; those guys didn’t stand a chance against her, even with over a dozen of them. By the time I got there, all of them were already knocked down. It was quite serious; they probably have been rushed to the hospital by now.”
Qianzhi looked at Leia, who seemed about to bury her head underground; her little face was slightly flushed, looking very embarrassed.
“I’m sorry, Mommy, I was so angry that I struck a bit hard.”
“Ah?”
Now it was Yifu’s turn to be at a loss. If that was the case, Leia really did seem quite strong.
But fighting against over a dozen…
Though it was a bit absurd, Yifu still felt happy.
At least Leia was no longer timid.
“What’s there to be sorry about? You should have done this a long time ago; give those guys a good beating, and let’s see who dares to bully you from now on!”
Even if Leia hadn’t acted, Yifu would have stepped in to help her.
If Leia could take down over a dozen with her anger, Yifu’s presence would surely make things even more brutal.
“But in the Church Academy, it’s wrong to hit people. My outstanding graduate spot might…”
Leia spoke, her tone already tinged with tears. Not only her outstanding graduate spot but maybe even the hard-earned opportunity to graduate would be taken away.
The thought of this made Leia feel immense regret, hating herself for not being able to endure a little longer…
But they had insulted her favorite Yifu!
“It’s okay; what’s wrong with that? As long as you’re fine. I’m here; you don’t need to worry.”
Yifu lovingly pulled Leia into her embrace; she clearly had the ability to fight back, yet for so many years, she had chosen to endure.
It was clear that she had listened to Yifu’s words well.
Yifu had once told her when sponsoring her to study that she should work hard and change her destiny through knowledge.
At that time, she was homeless, with nothing at all.
And Yifu’s words were truly etched in her heart.
For so many years at the Church Academy, she had never made a mistake; even when Yifu was a Cardinal Deacon, she had never bothered Yifu despite her struggles.
She endured and endured, all for the sake of realizing Yifu’s words—to change her fate with knowledge.
But now, the anger she had suppressed for years had exploded in an instant.
Just because those bullies had insulted Yifu…
“I just wanted to graduate smoothly; why do they keep bothering me? Wuwuwu…”
