But his cold and aloof image won't let him accept that he was happy about it at all. He never wanted others to fight his battles but apparently, he was too innocent for this society ruled by humbugs. While he was busy evaluating Ji Caihong, she had rummaged out her cellphone to make a call to her father.
"Hello, daddy! I need your help," Ji Caihong had just spoken when her phone was pulled away by Xiao Zhi-Yuan. Ji Caihong looked at him disbelief.
"What do you think you're doing? Did I ask for your help? I don't need your help and certainly don't need your father's help. This is my life and you have no right to interfere in it. Both of you should just stay away from my life." As Xiao Zhi-Yuan was fuming in anger, he didn't realize that the call was still connected and Ji Yifeng heard each and every word that his youngest son said.
He was hurt and yet he couldn't do anything about it. He felt like no matter what he said, to both his sons, his words would only be excuses and nothing more. Ji Yifeng silently disconnected the call and leaned back in his chair with a heavy heart.
Back on the road outside the Imperial Private Academy, Ji Caihong was not hurt but rather angry at Xaio Zhi-Yuan.
"And who even told you to come to my school? What are you even doing here?" Xiao Zhi-Yuan finally asked the question that he wanted to.
Ji Caihong opened the car door and pushed a beautiful wooden lunch box towards Xiao Zhi-Yuan saying, "I came to apologize."
Xiao Zhi-Yuan was taken aback by her apology. Why was she apologizing? Wasn't he the one who hurt her last time? What's with the lunch box then?
He frowned in confusion as he asked, "For what?" His words had just fallen when Ji Caihong gave an open-handed slap on his cheek which was unscathed. She had held back her strength but the slap's sound was still sharp.
Even her driver looked wide-eyed at the supposedly delicate young miss of his family. What happened to her? The driver was thinking but he wasn't alone.
Xiao Zhi-Yuan was in disbelief as he gaped at her. "Did you just slap me?" He was feeling resentful and Ji Caihong was feeling pained but she had to persist. To crack this hard nut, she had to become harder.
"I did! But I also apologized, didn't I?" She spoke with such nonchalance that Xiao Zhi-Yuan had the urge to vomit blood.
"Who apologize before the mistake?" He roared at her.
"I do!" Ji Caihong replied with ease and said, "Now, don't waste the food. It's very special."
She was going to turn to leave when she heard him mumble behind her, "Even my brother has never touched me. How can you slap me like this?" Hearing his heartbreaking voice, Ji Caihong became the nut who cracked with a single blow.
She whipped around and held his face lightly as she spoke anxiously, "Does it hurt a lot? I'm sorry! I was angry. I know you don't want me as a sister but you should still give me some respect as I'm older than you."
The rims of his eyes got red as he retorted, "You could have said that nicely. Why did you slap me? Already my jaw is hurting from that punch I took."
Realizing her own mistake, Ji Caihong's eyes got red and tears flowed out without restraint, "I'm really sorry! Ah-Yuan, please forgive me! I'll do anything just don't be upset. Let's take you to the hospital first."
Xiao Zhi-Yuan was again surprised by her sudden flow of tears but he couldn't comment on that since she had already pulled him inside the car. As the car drove, she said, "Ah-Yuan, you eat the lunch box. It's better to eat something before going to the hospital."
He wanted to reject but his grumbling stomach gave him away. He didn't eat anything in the morning since he was alone at breakfast. So, he decided to have a bite. As he opened the lid of the lunch box, enticing aromas filled inside the car making his stomach growl loudly.
'Forget it! She slapped me. So, I can definitely eat this without feeling guilty.' Thinking this, he started eating with zeal. He didn't try much of Chinese Cuisine before since Xiao Zhi-Ren always made western cuisine for him but now, taking a single bite of the delicacies before him, made him want more.
Watching him eat with such content, Ji Caihong felt extremely happy. It was a good thing that she didn't tell him about who prepared the lunch especially for him. When they arrived at the Capital hospital, Xiao Zhi-Yuan was done eating.
Xiao Zhi-Yuan got out of the car and said, "Thanks for the ride. I'll manage the rest. As for forgiving you, we are not even close to that." With that, he turned to leave and stopped to ask, "How are you going to sue the school and my whole class? Is that even possible?"
Ji Caihong smiled softly and said, "I have plenty of reasons to sue them. Defamation, bullying, protecting the offender, and many more things. You don't worry. This matter won't settle outside of court unless your whole class gets on their knees to ask for forgiveness." Seeing her determination, Xiao Zhi-Yuan felt strange. He didn't ask her to not file a case. He had no interest at all.
"Fine! I'm going then." He turned around walked inside the hospital doors.
Ji Caihong knew that if she pushed any further, he would be irked. Therefore, she decided to leave him on his own. But she didn't forget to inform Xiao Zhi-Ren about the incidents that happened without leaving any detail. "You don't worry about any of it. Let me handle Yuan's matters." Xiao Zhi-Ren spoke calmly over the phone.
"Ge, he's my responsibility as well. I'll not back off. Not at any cost. If anything, you stay out of my way. I won't involve anyone from the whole family. But please, don't push me further away from my little brother." Xiao Zhi-Ren knew that she was ambitious. So what if she was overly sensitive? He believed in her but he didn't want her to worry so much. He was left with no other choice, so he reluctantly agreed. "Thank you, Ge! You just take care of him and yourself."
She hung up the call and got back inside her car to leave for home.
When she arrived at the Ji Family House, she saw her father pacing back and forth inside the huge living room. Seeing her enter, he walked towards her and asked, "What's going on? Why am I getting the news that a fake Ji Caihong tried to threaten high school students with a lawsuit?"
"Fake? How do I look fake?" Ji Caihong didn't like this insinuation at all.
"That is not the main point right now. Princess, tell daddy what's going on? Why were you with Zhi-Yuan and is he hurt?" Ji Caihong held her father's trembling cold hands in her small ones and said, "Daddy, he's your son. He can handle a punch. As for what's going on, you stay out of it. This is a sister's fight for her brother."
Ji Yifeng didn't understand her meaning. He had already felt like fainting when she mentioned Xiao Zhi-Yuan getting punched. Perhaps, because he never got a chance to even hold his youngest son, his love for Xiao Zhi-Yaun was in exuberance. After all, he never even got to shower that love on him, so, it just stayed buried in him all these years.
"I won't interfere. But tell me everything in detail," Ji Yifeng had to know the details to be at ease. Ji Caihong knew this fact and that's why she related the whole events of the day to him in detail. Ji Yifeng was raging by the time she finished. "How dare they? Do you think a lawsuit will be enough?"
Ji Caihong smiled at her father and said, "Don't worry daddy! I have my own plans. Just let this princess of yours handle this matter in her own way." Seeing her so spirited, Ji Yifeng naturally couldn't refuse.
He affectionately patted her head and said, "Don't show mercy. It's a fight for your brother. Mercy is not allowed!" Ji Caihong only needed these words and she nodded her head vigorously.
If she was proud to be the only sister of three brothers, she also knew how to love and protect those three brothers. No-one gets to touch her brothers; they are her bottom line!