"Look over there."

A girl among the students pointed toward Ji Yueyi and Ji Tianyang, sneering. Her circle of friends followed suit, shooting scornful glances at father and daughter.

"Tch. Guess anyone can sneak in nowadays."

"Right? Ever since she showed up, Young Master Wu’s ignored us completely."

These girls had once been Wu Fan’s entourage—his wingmen. They’d bullied and sweet-talked Ji Yueyi into meeting him, all while scheming to latch onto Wu Fan themselves for favors.

But yesterday, one called Wu Fan, inviting him for a "lovely evening." He’d shut her down cold—his tone sharp, utterly unlike his usual self. When they compared notes later, they realized he’d rejected them all the same way.

Remembering his strangely delicate voice on the phone—like a flower drenched in morning dew—they shuddered. No matter how hard they racked their brains, they couldn’t fathom what could change a man overnight.

Starved of answers, they chose the easiest path: blame. They pinned their lost privileges on Ji Yueyi.

*That aloof flower must’ve whispered poison in his ear*, they agreed. *He could’ve kept us all.*

"Look at that innocent act—still clinging to rich men like the rest of us."

One girl spat, glaring at Ji Yueyi’s back. Another chimed in instantly, "Exactly! Her ‘pure’ image is just a facade."

With zero evidence, they clung to their fantasy. Jealousy gnawed at their rotting souls, turning them into drowning ghosts desperate to drag others into the mud. Only then could they hide their own ugliness.

"Check this out."

A girl pulled out her phone, flashing a photo from her camera roll. She grinned wickedly. "What if we show this to her hillbilly dad? Think Ji Yueyi would be ashamed enough to kill herself?"

"Even better—project it on the conference screen! No way she earned all those scholarships clean. Let’s expose her!"

"Yeah! We’d be doing the world a favor!"

And so, this self-styled "army of justice" hatched their plan.

Ahead, the parent-teacher meeting raged on—a torture worse than exams for most kids, endured under parents’ murderous glares. But for Ji Tianyang, it was pure bliss.

Teachers showered him with praise, listing Ji Yueyi’s achievements in every subject. Finally, they invited him onstage to share his parenting wisdom. Amid thunderous applause, the flustered man scratched his head and stepped up.

"Truth is," he began, voice rough, "I’m just a simple man. No fancy degrees, no big theories. First time I’ve even sat in a high school chair."

"But..."

His eyes found his daughter in the crowd. Pride flooded his face. He thumped his chest. "I taught my girl one thing: never cheat or cut corners. Even if she stays in the mountains her whole life, this old man’s hands will feed her."

"So I say—instead of demanding what our kids can give us, ask what *we* can give *them*."

"They’re our children first. Everything else comes after."

He bowed deeply, then bolted back to his seat, his rugged face flushed like hot iron.

Applause erupted. Some scoffed, but none could deny his words struck deep.

Two hours later, the meeting ended. Parents dragged their kids away, eager to escape. Ji Yueyi had planned to show her father around campus, but a stranger approached.

"Mr. Ji, the homeroom teacher needs to see you in the office."

"Go on, child," Ji Tianyang waved her off. "I’ll just use the restroom."

He headed for the men’s room, Ji Yueyi watching until he turned the right corner.

At the restroom door, a shifty-eyed girl suddenly blocked Ji Tianyang’s path. He jumped back.

"What do you want?" He checked the sign—*Men*. Utterly baffled, he stared at her.

"Uncle, you’re Ji Yueyi’s father, right?"

"Yeah? What’s wrong with my daughter?"

The girl put on a pained, reluctant act. "I’m her close friend. That’s why I *have* to tell you—Ji Yueyi she—"

"*Cut it out!*"

A sharp voice cut her off. Before she could turn, a hand clamped over her mouth. Mu Yue Ran yanked her backward, dragging her unceremoniously into the *women’s* restroom.

Ji Tianyang stood frozen, scratching his head. *City girls and their weird games...*

Inside the restroom, Mu Yue Ran hurled the girl against a radiator. She yelped, glaring up. "Who the hell are you?!"