Chapter Four: You're Fired

"Yang Le can't be expelled. It's normal for students to be impulsive during adolescence, and his grades are quite good. If we expel him over a minor conflict between students, his entire future will be ruined!" Zhang Xinjie immediately voiced her disagreement when Huang Li mentioned expelling Yang Le. Yang Le was her student, and she was familiar with his family situation.

Yang Le had always been well-behaved, even working during the summer to support himself, and his academic record was impressive. If nothing out of the ordinary happened, he would have no trouble getting into a good university after his final year. If he were expelled now, he might spend the rest of his life in mediocrity.

"But Yang Le hit someone and was completely unrepentant. A student like that can't stay; he sets a bad example. If others follow his lead, how will we keep order in this school? How will teachers maintain authority?" Huang Li had already received money from the other side. If he didn't handle things properly, who would bother sending him gifts in the future? At least, that's what he thought, and that's what he said.

"Yang Le, what are you standing there for? Apologize, now!" Zhang Xinjie, hearing that Yang Le was facing expulsion for refusing to apologize, immediately urged him to do so.

But Yang Le wasn't buying it. Now that he had money and connections, why should he apologize? He'd been beaten up plenty of times before, and he’d never seen anyone else get expelled for it.

Besides, it was obvious Huang Li just wanted him gone. Even if he apologized now, would it make any difference?

Huang Li gave the answer. "It's too late for apologies. No need to say anything. I've already decided—Yang Le must be expelled. At noon, there will be a school-wide assembly on the athletic field."

Zhang Xinjie sighed; Yang Le was going to be expelled after all.

Li Yifei was gleeful inside! Yang Le was finally getting expelled, and now nothing would stand in the way of his pursuit of Song Fei’er. At least, he wouldn't be accused by her of bullying Yang Le anymore.

"Director Huang, you've already made your decision. Aren't you going to consult the principal?" Yang Le narrowed his eyes, his lips curling into a half-smile.

"Someone like you, penniless and worthless, still wants me to ask the principal? I have the authority to handle this myself." Huang Li lifted his chin, looking at Yang Le down his nose.

Yang Le didn't bother to respond, turning and leaving the office with a casual air.

Once Yang Le left, Li Yifei and his lackeys quickly followed. As they passed by Yang Le, Li Yifei sneered at him.

Unable to stand Li Yifei's smugness, Yang Le kicked him squarely, catching him off guard. The force sent Li Yifei sprawling, face-first into the dirt.

Li Yifei's cronies rushed forward, ready to give Yang Le a beating.

"Stop! We're going to the office right now. Let Director Huang expel Yang Le immediately." Li Yifei restrained himself. Although Yang Le had struck first, attacking him as a group might get them in trouble too. If Yang Le seized on that, they might not escape punishment.

So he decided to report to Director Huang and have Yang Le thrown out on the spot.

Yang Le couldn't be bothered with them and strolled leisurely back to the classroom. Not long after he returned, the school broadcast crackled to life.

"Hello, this is Huang Li, the senior year director. This morning, a very serious incident occurred. Yang Le from Senior One maliciously assaulted another student. After careful consideration, I have decided to expel him. After class, all students and teachers are to assemble on the athletic field."

As soon as the announcement ended, all eyes in Class One turned to Yang Le—some mocking, some sympathetic, some uncomfortable.

"Brother Maitreya," Wang Peng said, a bit annoyed, "this is really unfair. They used to bully you all the time, and Huang Li never said a word. Now you hit Li Yifei just once, and he’s expelling you?"

"Don't worry. He can't do anything to me," Yang Le replied with a nonchalant smile.

Song Fei’er felt deeply sorry for Yang Le. If he was expelled now, what would become of his future? She was kind-hearted, and since they were classmates, she felt obliged to try to help him.

Pan Xiang, meanwhile, felt triumphant when he heard the school announcement. As Young Master Pan, even without making a complaint himself, Yang Le was being expelled less than half an hour after kicking him. That was influence.

When the bell rang, the students swarmed toward the field.

Yang Le walked slowly at the back, unhurried. It didn't matter if he was expelled—he could simply call the director of the Education Bureau after school and come right back. This would even give him time to pick up his new car.

Song Fei’er called her father, asking him to appeal to the school on Yang Le’s behalf. To her surprise, after hearing Yang Le's name, her father readily agreed. Even more bewildering, her father assumed she liked Yang Le and told her to seize the opportunity if she did. He insisted she bring Yang Le home for dinner, threatening not to help otherwise.

Song Fei’er refused. Though Yang Le was tall, handsome, and smart, she saw their relationship as simply classmates. She would do her best, but nothing more.

Yang Le and Wang Peng arrived at the athletic field. Many students glanced at Yang Le as he walked confidently to his class’s assigned spot.

Song Fei’er was the last from the class to arrive. She gave Yang Le an apologetic look before joining the other girls.

On the platform, Huang Li stood with a microphone, flanked by Li Yifei and his henchmen.

"Yang Le, come up to the platform," Huang Li called out. He wanted the entire school to see exactly who Yang Le was—the student he was expelling. It was also a chance to boost his own authority and collect more gifts from influential parents.

At Huang Li's summons, Yang Le stepped up onto the platform. Zhang Xinjie and several other teachers watched, feeling regretful but helpless.

Zhang Xinjie was especially pained. She had wanted to plead for Yang Le, but right after he and Li Yifei left the office, Li Yifei returned to complain that Yang Le had hit him again. Huang Li, furious, kept Li Yifei in the office to prevent further incidents and stormed off to the broadcast room himself.

Now, on the platform, Yang Le stood beside Li Yifei as Huang Li began his address.

"Yang Le has violated school rules. The school has decided to expel him—"

But before he could finish, Li Yifei let out a piercing scream.

Huang Li turned around to see what was happening. Yang Le was just retracting his foot, while Li Yifei was doubled over on the ground, clutching his most sensitive area and writhing in pain.

"Yang Le, what do you think you're doing!?" Huang Li shouted, shocked that Yang Le would cause trouble even on the platform.

"It was Li Yifei who asked for it," Yang Le said with a bitter smile. "He came over all smug and said, ‘Don’t you like kicking me? Now you’re getting expelled, right? If you like kicking me so much, go ahead and kick me again!’"

The students below burst into laughter.

Pan Xiang felt a twinge of disappointment. He had thought Yang Le's expulsion was thanks to his own influence, but it turned out to be Li Yifei's complaint that had sealed Yang Le’s fate. Still, as long as Yang Le was expelled, he was satisfied. He’d originally planned to beat Yang Le up at lunchtime, but if Yang Le was expelled now, he could do it sooner.

Song Fei’er was stunned that Yang Le dared to strike someone on the platform. He was nothing like the timid boy he used to be—now he was bold, even a bit roguish and manly. But Song Fei’er didn’t like this new side of him; she thought students should act like students, as Yang Le used to do. That was why she wanted to help him—now, she wasn’t so sure. Maybe it was for the best that her father wouldn’t intervene. She disliked seeing classmates bullied, but she also didn’t like bullies.

"This is outrageous! You have no respect for us teachers at all!" Huang Li bellowed.

"Teacher? You just expelled me and still have the nerve to call yourself my teacher? Have some shame," Yang Le retorted.

"We’ll see how I deal with you," Huang Li said, rolling up his sleeves.

"Listen here, Huang—barking is one thing, but biting is another. You’d better be ready to take responsibility," Yang Le replied, referencing the rumors about Huang Li taking bribes and making it clear he had no intention of sparing him any dignity.

The students, hearing Yang Le call Huang Li a dog, at first tried to smother their laughter out of respect for the director. But soon someone couldn’t hold back, and the entire crowd erupted in laughter. Even the teachers on stage couldn’t help but smile, though not as openly as the students.

"Fine, fine. You’re something else. You can leave now—the school has no place for people like you," Huang Li said, restraining himself from lashing out physically and motioning for Yang Le to go.

"Hold on, I have something to say," came a loud cry.

Everyone looked toward the academic building, where someone was running over. It was none other than the principal himself.