Others might not have grasped what just happened, but Ye Qiuxue had seen every move Lu Guifang made.

The instant Hu Ming turned away, Lu Guifang actually shoved him forward!

Had Hu Ming not reacted in time, he’d be the one lying on the ground now.

No wonder Hu Ming was furious—even Ye Qiuxue, an outsider, felt her blood boil.

Even if you refuse to acknowledge him, what was that lethal push about?

Ye Qiuxue scanned the crowd, searching for something. Suddenly, she spotted someone nearby pointing at their phone screen, discussing it with others.

She strode over quickly.

Meanwhile, the onlookers stared in shock.

No one expected Hu Ming to do this. However wrong she was, she was still his birth mother!

Most classmates had been distracted by Sun Zhe and missed Lu Guifang’s action.

Only Han Shuyi stood frowning nearby, weighing how to resolve this mess.

Lu Guifang was too foolish. Instead of escalating things, she’d backed herself into a corner.

Now, most students pitied Hu Ming.

Without that slap, public opinion might have already turned.

Han Shuyi looked at Hu Ming, his voice tinged with resignation, as if Hu Ming were causing a scene.

"Hu Ming, isn’t this going too far?"

"I’d stay quiet if I were you. Once the chance slips away, you won’t get it back."

Hu Ming’s icy glare made Han Shuyi’s spine prickle with sweat.

He realized Hu Ming wasn’t bluffing—he truly meant to do something to Lu Guifang.

Those words felt like a threat, silencing Han Shuyi completely.

Seeing Han Shuyi retreat, Hu Ming turned back to Lu Guifang.

She was just snapping out of her shock, but the stinging pain on her cheek and the crowd’s stares ignited her fury.

Reason evaporated. She scrambled up and lunged to choke Hu Ming.

Before she could reach him, Hu Ming kicked her hard. She tumbled across the ground, rolling twice before stopping.

Zhao Wei’s stoic expression finally cracked.

He fixed his gaze on Hu Ming, his voice raspy with disapproval.

"Hu Ming, do you know what you’re doing? Aren’t you afraid of gossip?"

"You lot had the nerve to cause trouble here. Why should I fear rumors? If she itches for a beating, why shouldn’t I oblige?"

Hu Ming crossed his arms. His words were provocative, yet his face stayed utterly serious.

Lu Guifang clutched her aching body on the ground, her pain visible.

Gritting her teeth, she spat curses at him.

"I’ll make you pay! If the school doesn’t expel you, I’ll protest here every day!"

She’d target only Hu Ming. For her injuries, she’d demand compensation from the Khan Family later—enough to turn them against him. That’d secure Han Shuyi’s position in the family.

The thought thrilled her.

She jabbed a finger at Hu Ming, refusing to back down.

Han Litian frowned deeply, his expression darkening.

Hu Ming’s slap had clearly complicated everything.

*[Too impulsive.]*

Han Litian hesitated inwardly, then quickly understood.

If Hu Ming didn’t act like this, would he still be Hu Ming?

Zhao Wei stepped forward to help his wife up, but she shoved his hand away.

She was dead set on ruining Hu Ming’s reputation.

"Pay the price? What gives you the right to demand that from Han Huming?"

A voice cut through the tension.

All eyes turned to its source.

Ye Qiuxue glared at Lu Guifang on the ground, fury burning in her eyes.

She held someone else’s phone—the screen showed footage just captured.

Though the owner had been watching Hu Ming, the phone had stayed fixed, perfectly recording the earlier moment.

The video showed Hu Ming turning away as Lu Guifang pushed him.

"I don’t know how you dare criticize Han Huming. When you accuse him of bad manners, do you even have basic decency? When you deny he’s your son, why threaten him shamelessly?"

Ye Qiuxue dropped all respect for elders.

To her, Lu Guifang didn’t even qualify as human.

If Hu Ming had taken that knife, wouldn’t Lu Guifang be a murderer?

The thought chilled Ye Qiuxue.

Hu Ming could be annoying sometimes, but he was changing—becoming better.

Ye Qiuxue always tried her best to help students like him.

Especially since she and Hu Ming got along fine.

Lu Guifang’s face flushed under Ye Qiuxue’s sudden attack. She shot up, pointing and screaming before Han Shuyi could stop her.

"Who are you? Why meddle in our business?"

She’d grown up in the countryside and didn’t recognize this girl.

But the students around her sucked in sharp breaths.

That was Ye Qiuxue—a name known even across the city.

This woman was insane!

Ye Qiuxue frowned. This woman was a shameless harridan.

More students were arriving. This scene could spiral badly.

She addressed the crowd.

"Everyone back to class. Don’t forget—it’s a normal school day."

Her words scattered the crowd instantly. Students hurried off, gossiping under their breaths, while arriving teachers ushered them inside.

Watching them leave, Lu Guifang panicked.

She’d planned to ruin Hu Ming publicly. With no audience, who’d witness her performance?

Her hatred for the girl deepened.

"What’s your game? Is Han Huming paying you off? At your age, helping with such dirty tricks? Are you two involved in something improper?"

Lu Guifang grabbed Ye Qiuxue’s coat, trying to yank her back.

A scream tore through the air—

She flew backward.

Hu Ming stood before Ye Qiuxue, disgust twisting his features.

"People like you sicken me. A few days in jail might finally teach you shame."

Sirens wailed in the distance.

Lu Guifang stared at the flashing police lights behind her—blindingly bright.