Zero Mercy

006 an excessive punishment

Mu Yang saw the hesitation flicker across Director Wu’s face, and her heart sank heavily in her chest. A sharp sense of foreboding seized her. She had the unmistakable feeling that today, she was going to suffer a serious loss.

“Young Master Qianyi,” Director Wu said at last, after much internal struggle. He looked at Gu Qianyi with evident caution, his tone measured and deferential. “What if Mu Yang apologizes to the others? After all, no one seems to have suffered any major injury. Wouldn’t that be sufficient?”

“An apology?” Gu Qianyi let out a short, derisive laugh. “So that’s all it takes?” His voice was cold, edged with unmistakable mockery. “May I ask you this, Director Wu—if today’s incident gets out, and everyone knows that someone openly assaulted members of the student council and merely apologized afterward, do you think no one will follow her example? Do you think the student council’s authority will survive that? Or will its work become impossible in the future?”

“Th–this…” Director Wu hesitated, torn. He had to admit that Gu Qianyi’s words made sense. If the incident spread, the student council’s prestige could indeed suffer. But did that mean Mu Yang truly had to be punished?

Seeing the wavering in Director Wu’s expression, Gu Qianyi pressed on, his tone even and detached, as though he were discussing an abstract problem rather than a person’s fate.

“If Director Wu finds it difficult to decide,” he said calmly, “I can offer a suggestion. Mu Yang engaged in a physical altercation with her own roommates in the dormitory, which constitutes a violation of dormitory regulations and a failure to maintain harmony among classmates. Such behavior is unbecoming of a high school student. Therefore, she is no longer suitable for on-campus residence and should be required to commute from off-campus in the future.”

He paused briefly, then continued, his words precise and merciless.

“As for her actions in the student council office—openly assaulting student council members—she should receive a formal disciplinary demerit. Additionally, she should compensate each of the two injured members with two hundred yuan for medical expenses.”

There was no warmth in Gu Qianyi’s voice at all. His words fell like ice, and both Director Wu and Mu Yang herself shuddered involuntarily.

The others in the room, however, exchanged subtle glances of satisfaction.

From Gu Qianyi’s tone, it was obvious that Mu Yang had offended him at some point. Otherwise, he would not be pressing so relentlessly against her. It seemed clear enough: Mu Yang’s days at Di Rui High School were unlikely to be peaceful from now on.

“Isn’t that punishment a bit too severe?” Director Wu asked uneasily. He glanced at Mu Yang’s face, which had turned deathly pale, before looking back at Gu Qianyi.

If Mu Yang could not endure such punishment and transferred to an ordinary high school, Di Rui would lose an exceptional student. The principal would undoubtedly hold him responsible.

“Too severe?” Gu Qianyi snorted. “If we don’t deal with it this way, how else are we supposed to demonstrate the strict discipline of Di Rui High School?”

By now, Mu Yang could barely stand it anymore. Her face had drained of all color, and her body swayed as though she might collapse at any moment. She stared at Gu Qianyi, her eyes blazing with barely restrained fury.

“You’re Young Master Qianyi, is that it?” she demanded sharply. “What right do you have to question Director Wu’s decision? Or do you think you can replace the school leadership and make decisions on their behalf? Do you even realize how disrespectful that is? Is this how your family taught you to behave?”

The moment the words left her mouth, Director Wu’s face changed drastically.

He had never expected Mu Yang to say something like that. He had still been considering how to plead on her behalf, but after she openly provoked Gu Qianyi like this, there was nothing more he could do.

Gu Qianyi’s expression darkened instantly. His aura turned chilling, like that of a demon from hell, brimming with murderous intent.

Very well. She had managed to anger him again.

“Director Wu,” he said coldly, “if I do not see a reasonable resolution to this matter, then you won’t need to come to work at Di Rui High School tomorrow.”

With that, he turned and left the student council office without another glance.

“Haha! Who would have thought Young Master Qianyi would personally stand up for us?” one of Mu Yang’s dorm mates burst out laughing as soon as he was gone. “This Mu Yang really is disgusting!”

Director Wu staggered, his legs nearly giving out. The student council president reacted quickly and supported him, preventing him from falling. Once he steadied himself, Director Wu tremblingly took out his phone and called the principal of Di Rui High School to seek guidance.

The student council president swept his gaze over everyone in the room and said coolly, “Until the school makes an official decision, everyone should behave themselves.”

Under his watchful eye, the others quieted down considerably. Knowing that Gu Qianyi had pushed for harsh punishment against Mu Yang had already lifted their spirits.

After Director Wu briefly explained the situation over the phone, the principal unexpectedly came to the student council office in person.

“What exactly is going on?” the principal asked as soon as he arrived. “This was a minor issue to begin with—how did it end up involving Young Master Qianyi?”

“We don’t know either,” Director Wu replied, sounding aggrieved. “I had already settled the matter and thought it was over. Who knew Young Master Qianyi would suddenly appear?”

Unable to get a clear answer from Director Wu, the principal turned to Mu Yang and spoke sternly.

“Mu Yang, Di Rui High School values you and has provided you with appropriate benefits because we expect you to develop well and bring honor to the school in the future. How is it that you’ve managed to offend so many people shortly after enrolling?”

He did value students with outstanding academic performance. But if Mu Yang was prone to causing trouble, then she was unreliable. What if something even worse happened later? Especially now that she had offended Young Master Qianyi—this was no small matter.

“I’m sorry to have disappointed you, Principal,” Mu Yang said softly, lowering her head.

She had already sensed that she might have caused serious trouble today. She did not dare argue further and could only hope that the principal would show her some understanding.

“In that case,” the principal said after some thought, “the school was originally happy to provide you with favorable living and study conditions. However, it seems you may not be well suited to communal living. From now on, you should no longer live on campus. As for the others, simply apologize and let the matter rest.”

Mu Yang’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Not suited to living on campus?

Had the principal truly accepted Gu Qianyi’s proposal and effectively expelled her from school housing?

It seemed that Young Master Qianyi really did have considerable influence. His earlier threat of expelling her had not been empty words after all.

“Principal, my home is over half an hour away by bus,” Mu Yang said urgently. “That would seriously affect my studies, and—”

“If the distance is an issue, you can rent a place off-campus,” the principal interrupted regretfully. “In any case, the school cannot guarantee your continued residence here.”

“But I can’t afford to rent a place,” Mu Yang said bleakly.

Even the tuition for attending one of G City’s key high schools had been paid reluctantly by her family. There was no way they would give her money to rent an apartment on her own.