With both sets of parents at an impasse, Shen Mingyu simply delegated all her recent work to her assistant, spending her days going to the school to argue with people.
During this time, the troublemaker was suspended from school and disappeared for several days, causing his classmates to gossip about him.
Shen Zhifei, with his face covered in a mess of medicine, listened attentively to the lesson as usual, as if all the chaos had never happened.
Seven or eight years old is an age when even dogs would avoid a child. This child is so quiet and well-behaved, and even after being injured, he doesn't stop pursuing his dream of knowledge. What teacher wouldn't like such a student?
As a result, most of the school's faculty and staff sided with Shen Zhifei.
Half a month later, the matter was finally settled. The troublemaker was transferred to another school, and his parents apologized to Shen Zhifei in person at a class meeting on his behalf and paid 2,000 yuan in medical expenses.
Shen Mingyu did not feel relieved by this; Shen Zhifei's sad stories had probably become the talk of the town among all the classmates.
“Feifei, Mom can help you transfer to another school,” she said, calling her youngest son into the study after dinner and holding his slightly cold hand. “Mom promises that this will never happen again, okay?”
Shen Zhifei shook her head. "I don't want to transfer schools."
"Why?" Shen Mingyu smiled gently. "Mom knows you're sensible, but you're still a child. Don't have any worries, okay?"
She was afraid that Shen Zhifei would bear the gossip and criticism alone because he was worried about causing her trouble.
Shen Zhifei, however, said to her, "There's... a brother at that school."
Shen Mingyu was a little surprised but also relieved. She had initially worried that the two children wouldn't get along, but it seemed that this incident had actually brought them closer.
"Mom! Are you ever going to stop?" Song Lang scratched at the door from the outside. "I still need to play games with my brother, there are only 20 minutes left!"
According to family rules, 8 p.m. is the children's playtime, and it's only for one hour, not a second more.
Shen Mingyu laughed and cursed, "You brat!" She walked over and opened the door, and Song Lang fell flat on his face.
"Hiss—" He struggled to lift his head from the ground and protested, "Mom! My injuries haven't healed yet. This fall is the end of it. Your son is crippled."
“Get up,” Shen Mingyu lightly kicked his butt, “You’re not behaving like a brother.”
Song Lang looked at the person not far away and grinned. When he met Song Lang's gaze, Shen Zhifei slightly curled the corners of his mouth.
Song Lang got up, patted his bottom, and pleaded with his mother, "Mom, your eldest son is crippled, can't I skip school tomorrow?"
Shen Mingyu smiled: "Say it again? I didn't hear you clearly."
Song Lang immediately admitted defeat: "It's nothing, it's nothing."
Unexpectedly, Shen Mingyu nodded: "I'll ask for a day off for you and Feifei tomorrow and take you to the hospital for a physical examination."
"Oh ho, long live Mom!" Song Lang jumped three feet high, hugged his mother's leg, and started spinning around in the magic of love.
For underachieving students, not having to go to school is simply the happiest thing in the world.
Shen Mingyu was dizzy from his rambling, so she grabbed his collar and laughed, "Don't get carried away. I agreed because you protected your brother. But you two were beaten up like this in a fight, so I'm really not happy."
“Well…” Song Lang’s eyes darted around, and he seized the opportunity to say, “Then sign me up for a Taekwondo class, I want to learn how to fight.”
"You're really pushing your luck, aren't you? Didn't I enroll you in karate last year? And what happened?"
“This time it’s really different! I’m serious!” Song Lang stood up to show how seriously he took the matter, and then winked at Shen Zhifei, signaling him to say a few words in his defense.
After all, Shen Zhifei is now the apple of the family's eye.
Shen Zhifei walked over, tugged at Shen Mingyu's sleeve, and looked up timidly to ask, "Mom, I want to learn too, is that okay?"
This was the first time he had asked for something since coming to this house, and Shen Mingyu was overjoyed and agreed without hesitation.
"Yes, of course you can. From now on, Mom will rely on you, my little man, to protect her."
"Yes, I will." Shen Zhifei nodded very seriously. Shen Mingyu's heart softened terribly, and she hugged him affectionately and kissed his forehead.
Upon hearing that loud "pop," Song Lang belatedly realized, "Oh no, I've really fallen out of favor."
Chapter 005
Shen Mingyu kept her word and quickly enrolled her two children in a Taekwondo class, which lasted for two days on weekends.
Meng Fanxing was incredibly envious: "I have to suffer through tutoring on weekends, while you get to practice boxing and kung fu. Is there any justice in this world?"
Song Lang said, "You can tell your mom that no matter how much tutoring you get, it's useless. Why waste the money?"
"Then my butt is going to be sore." Meng Fanxing sighed and craned her neck to look at Song Lang from the other side. "Little Fei, can your little body take a beating? I heard you have to press your legs down, it hurts so much."
Shen Zhifei shook his head and remained silent, continuing to be a silent shadow.
Song Lang punched Meng Fanxing on the shoulder and said, "Don't talk nonsense. If you scare him away, who will practice Taekwondo with me?"
Meng Fanxing felt particularly aggrieved: "I was just telling the truth."
Song Lang: "Shut up."
Meng Fanxing realized that ever since the last fight, Song Lang had put Shen Zhifei on the list of first-class protected animals.
When going to school, Song Lang would escort Shen Zhifei into the classroom and help him sit down. After school, he would personally pick him up at the classroom door. Song Lang would carry Shen Zhifei's schoolbag and hold his hand or put his arm around his shoulder the whole way.
Even Meng Fanxing was given rules: she couldn't swear, she couldn't mention fighting, and she couldn't show any aversion to school, etc.
Any behavior that could have a negative impact on Shen Zhifei is strictly prohibited.
Meng Fanxing felt that her life had lost its color, and she cried out in protest, but her words were ruthlessly rejected.
After recovering from his injury, Song Lang went to an interest class with great enthusiasm. Two hours later, he was helped home by Shen Zhifei, limping.