Chapter 85

Chapter 85

Professor Zhu Guangya arrived, looking puzzled at the room full of people, wondering why they were all gathered. His gaze swept over Feng Xia, and the anxiety on his face eased slightly—at least he had found her.

"Isn't this Deputy Director Zhu? What brings you to our humble corner?" Old Zhang spoke up. He and Zhu Guangya were old friends, though neither knew yet that the fluid mechanics prodigy and future battery leader from the Flower Kingdom they each admired had been poached by the other—if they did, it might come to blows.

Professor Zhu Guangya then noticed Liao Wen and Old Zhang and asked in confusion, "What are you two doing here? Is there a meeting?"

When Jiang's mother saw Professor Zhu Guangya, her face paled. She worked at a guesthouse in the capital and had received many leaders. The man they called "Deputy Director," followed by a guard whose bulging waistline hinted at a concealed weapon—she was the kind who bullies the weak and fears the strong, so of course she was terrified.

Before Old Zhang could answer, Professor Zhu Guangya walked straight to Feng Xia, patted her shoulder, and motioned for her to follow. There was an urgent matter, and he had no choice—higher-ups were waiting to see her.

Now it was Old Zhang's turn to be surprised. Chen Yue was still there, yet Old Zhu was rushing off. They all knew Old Zhu well, and while they knew Feng Xia was a junior living in Professor Zhu Guangya's home, they didn't know she had developed the liquid lithium battery with him, nor did Zhu Guangya know that Feng Xia's NS equation general solution paper was in their hands. Both sides were curious, but now, Professor Zhu Guangya truly had no time.

He glanced at Chen Yue, who understood, but Feng Xia insisted on resolving the matter first. The school leaders had to recount the incident again, and this time everyone listened with rising anger.

First, the male student hit someone and didn't apologize; then his mother came in and started insulting the young girl and the female student. The old professors were fuming—how could anyone be so unreasonable? At this point, Jiang Lei was truly anxious. Jiang's mother, trying to garner sympathy, knelt half on the ground, wailing, "My poor Leilei! I've never even dared to hit him since he was little, and now he's been beaten by this little beast! Bruised and swollen, and they won't even pay the medical bills! It's all because I'm a useless mother!"

She put on a full performance, but everyone merely stood and watched, their eyes cold, showing no trace of the sympathy she had imagined.

Professor Zhu Guangya spoke, "You say my girl hit your son with a ball. Let me ask you: didn't your son first accidentally hit that girl with the ball?"

Jiang's mother glanced at the guard, swallowed hard, and said, "But it didn't hit her, did it?"

Professor Zhu Guangya: "That's because my girl blocked it for her. When my girl hit your son, couldn't he have dodged? Did he just stand there and let her hit him?"

Jiang Lei hung his head, his expression hidden. At that moment, he had indeed wanted to dodge but couldn't—he wasn't fast enough, and he never expected Feng Xia to act without warning.

Jiang's mother: "My Leilei didn't dodge! That little bitch of yours hit him, and he didn't dodge. Is that his fault?"

Professor Zhu Guangya: "Very well, according to you, he didn't dodge. Please watch your language. This time, my girl was in the wrong. How much for the medical bills? We'll cover it."

Jiang's mother: "Two hundred, not a penny less." Jiang Lei tugged at his mother's sleeve, signaling her to stop, but she insisted on two hundred.

Feng Xia, who had been silent, spoke coldly, looking at them: "Two hundred, huh? Fine. Everyone here is my witness. I'll give her two hundred, and Jiang Lei takes a beating from me—a fair trade." With that, she took out money and handed it to Jiang's mother, who eagerly counted it, her greedy eyes raking over Feng Xia—if she knew the girl had that much, she would have asked for five hundred.

Then Feng Xia continued, "Your son's matter is settled. Now let's settle yours. You had fun cursing me, didn't you? Wait, I just counted—how many times did you curse me? Seventy-five. Let's hash this out properly."

With that, she grabbed Jiang's mother and yanked her down. No one saw how Feng Xia moved, but the stout, healthy woman fell to the ground with a loud thud. In one swift motion, Feng Xia dislocated both of Jiang's mother's arms with a crack. The arms hung limply, a shocking sight to everyone present.

The guard had never seen anything like it. She knew Feng Xia's status in Institute 101 and that she was supposed to protect her, but now it was clear that Feng Xia was way more powerful than her!

Jiang's mother felt excruciating pain in both arms. Feng Xia had just channeled some kind of power into her body, and now the dislocated joints felt like thousands of ants biting them. It was unbearable. Jiang Lei, watching his mother roll and scream in pain, was stunned. His eyes bloodshot, he glared at Feng Xia: "What did you do to my mother?"

Feng Xia stood there lazily, one foot still on Jiang's mother's sleeve, her voice dripping with contempt: "What? Two hundred for your injury, and two thousand for your mother's life—not enough? Then tell me, how much do you want? I'll pay. Buying your mother's life with money—I'd gladly do it."

Jiang Lei looked at Feng Xia and realized she meant it—she really would buy his mother's life. Now truly terrified, he trembled violently. His pleading eyes turned to the school leaders, who were also scared stiff, trembling like leaves, too afraid to utter a word. It was Professor Chen Yue who stepped forward, patted Feng Xia, and took her hand, saying, "Child, she's been taught a lesson. Let's let it go, alright?"

Zhu Guangya, Old Zhang, and the others chimed in, "Yes, yes, don't bother with them. This woman will remember today for the rest of her life. Let's let it go, don't stoop to their level."

Feng Xia withdrew her hand, lazily crouched down, and with a quick motion, reset Jiang's mother's arms. Though the pain had vanished, Jiang's mother's body wouldn't stop trembling. She didn't dare look at Feng Xia, her damp hair plastered to her face, looking utterly pathetic. Jiang Lei supported his mother, his gaze at Feng Xia filled with undisguised hatred, but Feng Xia paid it no mind.

"Money isn't so easy to take, and people aren't to be cursed at will. Buying a life with money—I've done it before. We can negotiate the price. As for money, I've got plenty."

With that, she didn't even look at them. She pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her fingers one by one. Jiang's mother staggered up, dragging Jiang Lei to the door, completely terrified. They fled without a peep. The school leaders exchanged glances, afraid to even breathe.

Professor Zhu Guangya sighed and ultimately led Feng Xia away.