Sharon no longer cared about her noble image. She shot up, ready to lunge at Zhou Xi. Zhou Xi, however, looked far from satisfied with just one slap—she clearly wanted more. Su Wei quickly pulled Zhou Xi back. Meanwhile, a man who’d been watching Zhou Xi intently since the start finally stepped in and led Sharon away as tensions flared.

“Why are you pulling me?!” Sharon hissed. Slapped publicly in the cafeteria, she felt utterly humiliated. She wouldn’t stop until she left scratch marks on Zhou Xi’s face. The man pulled her aside and murmured two words. Sharon instantly fell silent, shot Zhou Xi a suspicious glance, then slunk away.

On the other side, Su Wei guided Zhou Xi aside, her voice heavy with exasperation. “How could you hit someone?”

“I can’t stand how she talks to you. Who does she think she is, speaking to you like that?” Zhou Xi stiffened her neck in defiance, still glaring at Sharon—clearly ready to go another round.

“Sigh. She lacks manners, but must you too?! If this leaks, how will it look? Don’t you know your status? One viral post and your reputation’s ruined.”

“I’m not afraid.”

Still, Su Wei’s words landed. The once-unyielding Zhou Xi visibly calmed. As Su Wei led her out of the cafeteria, she spoke earnestly:

“Hitting is the dumbest move. It makes you seem crude. That label doesn’t suit you. As someone from a distinguished lineage, you must mind your conduct. Countless ways exist to counter or retaliate—no need to get physical. Understood?”

“Mm…” Zhou Xi gave a perfunctory nod, eyes distant. Don’t be fooled by her usual warmth around Su Wei. She was, after all, Imperial Princess of Grand Zhou. Kindness was royal duty—but arrogance was her birthright. Boldness ran deep in her bones. Someone who’d once piloted a military helicopter across half of Grand Zhou? Never docile.

*She still needs tempering.*

Su Wei sighed inwardly. “I’m not fond of Buddhism, but I love this line: *‘If the world slanders, bullies, insults, mocks, scorns, despises, hates, or deceives me—how should I respond?’* Shide replied: *‘Endure him. Yield. Let be. Avoid. Tolerate. Respect. Ignore. Wait years… then watch.’*”

“How spineless!” Zhou Xi wrinkled her nose. “Where’s the backbone in that? Where’s national dignity?”

“How’d we jump to nations again?”

“Aren’t nations built from people? I hate those bald monks’ nonsense.”

“Fine. No Buddhism—how about *The Art of War*? ‘Best to defeat strategy with strategy; next, diplomacy; then battle; worst is besieging a city. Siege is last resort.’ Know it?”

Zhou Xi blinked. *The Art of War* was global canon. She’d memorized it.

“It means… highest warfare is strategic outmaneuvering; then diplomacy; then combat; lowest is city assault.”

“Exactly.” Su Wei nodded. “Was slapping her publicly your *best* choice? You had a thousand smarter ways. You picked the dumbest.”

Oddly, Zhou Xi—who’d always been headstrong (enrolling at Zhaoge Royal Academy was *her* call)—actually listened to Su Wei. Sharp as she was, the point sank in.

“…I was wrong.”

“Admitting mistakes makes you better.”

Relieved, Su Wei nodded. They moved to continue lunch. Sharon? Who cared.

Half Mountain Restaurant, tucked in a courtyard, was the campus’s priciest—and most overhyped—spot, popular with couples. Pricey, mediocre food. Su Wei and Zhou Xi had sworn off returning after one visit. Today was the exception. Seated in a curtained booth, they gazed outside.

“Weiwei,” Zhou Xi said suddenly, “seeing that crazy woman today… you’re a billionaire now. Time for a bodyguard?”

“A bodyguard?” Su Wei flushed. “Overkill.”

“Necessary.” Zhou Xi leaned in. “That one app earned you tens of millions of Zhou yuan monthly. Now Qin Ge’s live, plus Huaxia branch dividends—you’re a rising business star! Campus is safe with military zones nearby. But off-campus? Even if no kidnapping, what if an enemy sends thugs? You couldn’t run.”

“You’re exaggerating…” Su Wei thought it absurd. Grand Zhou enforced strict gun/drug control, attracted elite immigrants, and barred tourist visas to the capital. Its safety ranking never dipped below third globally. Zhaoge rarely saw violent crime. To her, it felt as secure as Huaxia.

“There *is* danger!” Zhou Xi’s eyes gleamed mysteriously. “You just don’t know. Zhaoge spans 260,000 square kilometers—housing forty percent of Grand Zhou’s population. Think it’s all safe?”

A chill crept up Su Wei’s spine. She wasn’t the man she’d been in her past life. Now? A delicate woman. She *thought* she could fight back… but reality whispered otherwise. Against a strong man? She’d lose in seconds—even to Zhou Xi.

“Then… where do I find one?”

“Leave it to me!” Zhou Xi whipped out her phone, tapping furiously. Her face darkened. Finally, she slammed it on the table.

“Grandpa’s so stingy! Wouldn’t even spare two people!”