You Like The Smart Ones? You Should Have Said So Sooner! - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Adults Are Here

Ding Zi was woken up by a phone call at 12:00 midnight. When he was told that two of his students had encountered street violence, he was completely stunned.

He drove frantically to the address given, arriving at the hospital emergency room within ten minutes. Upon entering, he saw Song Ying sitting by the door of the operating room with his head bowed.

The fluorescent lights shone coldly on the boy’s pale face, making the small patches of dried, blackened blood on his forehead look particularly jarring. A few stray strands of hair hung over his expressionless face, making him appear lonely and fragile. Two police officers, a man and a woman, stood nearby with worried expressions.

Ding Zi’s eyelid twitched violently. He approached and asked, “……What’s the situation?”

Song Ying kept his head down, neither moving nor speaking. The police explained the chain of events to Ding Zi. It was a case of provocation and intentional injury by five thugs; all of them were currently locked up at the station, and these two students were purely victims.

As they spoke, the “In Operation” light went out. Song Ying looked up immediately, forcing himself to stand.

“Gastric bleeding. He’s out of danger now. Make sure he maintains a regular and healthy diet moving forward,” the doctor said briefly before leaving.

Both Ding Zi and Song Ying breathed a sigh of relief. The former paused, noticing Song Ying was limping. He frowned. “What’s wrong with your leg?”

The female officer stepped forward to explain, “His leg was also hit. We told him to go get it treated earlier, but he refused; he insisted on standing guard right here at the door.”

“……”

Veins throbbed on Ding Zi’s forehead from anger. He snapped at Song Ying, “Go! Go! Go right now! Can a leg injury be delayed?! How old are you? Don’t you have any sense?!”

He was worried to death. Who could understand his feelings—being woken up in the middle of the night only to be told his two precious students were beaten into the hospital, and now one of them was refusing treatment!

Once Song Ying knew Qin Mian was okay, his cold expression softened, and he obediently went to have his leg checked. Under Ding Zi’s tense vigil, the doctor eventually announced there was no major damage, finally allowing the teacher to let out a breath of relief.

After Ding Zi accompanied Song Ying to give his statement, the two sat down outside Qin Mian’s hospital room.

“Tell me, what exactly happened?” Ding Zi frowned, his expression serious. “You had injuries on your face before, but you wouldn’t say anything when I asked.”

“What ‘provocation’ just happens to find you? Oh right, and now Qin Mian is involved too.”

Song Ying lowered his eyes, staring dully at the floor as if a thick mist were obscuring his vision. Ding Zi didn’t rush him; he just waited quietly for an answer.

After a long silence, Song Ying spoke softly: “Family matters.”

Ding Zi: “Family matters?”

“I offended someone. Those people were all sent by him.”

“What the…?” Ding Zi was dumbfounded. “Then—then call the police immediately!” He looked at Song Ying and froze. “Don’t tell me this was the first time you’ve reported it!?” In his agitation, Ding Zi’s voice rose.

Song Ying raised his pale face and shot him a dissatisfied glance, signaling him to keep his voice down so as not to disturb Qin Mian inside.

“……” Ding Zi lowered his voice, still in disbelief. “What kind of society is this? Still pulling these stunts?” Was this a novel or a TV drama?

Song Ying shook his head gently. “Calling the police is useless. They go in for a while and then they come out. Even if they don’t come out, he can just switch to a new group. I have no evidence to prove he’s behind it.”

Ding Zi opened his mouth to retort but suddenly found he couldn’t say anything. As a teacher and an adult, he was actually helpless in the face of this reality. Listening to Song Ying, he keenly sensed something was wrong. A rare chill rose in his heart, and he asked with a trembling voice, “Then… how long has he been hounding you?”

A roll of thunder suddenly rumbled outside. A cold wind carrying moisture swept through the chilly, silent hospital corridor, making the unlit corners look extra dark.

“Nine years.”

Starting from when he was ten, it had gradually escalated. The faint voice, filled with numbness and hoarseness, was carried away by the wind.

But Ding Zi heard it clearly. In an instant, the surroundings seemed shrouded in the shadows of power, class, hatred, and revenge. His eyes and heart trembled simultaneously; he couldn’t imagine what kind of hatred could make one person cling to another like a maggot on a bone, hounding and retaliating for nine years.

Nine years ago, Song Ying was just a child.

Song Ying suddenly twitched the corners of his mouth, as if trying to comfort Ding Zi. “It’s been okay. I had people looking out for me in high school. I got by.”

Ding Zi was not comforted. His voice shook: “……Why?”

Because of what? Why could he hound you and retaliate against you for nine years?

Hearing this, the smile Song Ying had forced disappeared completely. His eyes suddenly turned red. He blinked hard, trying to push back the rising moisture.

Looking at this scene, a wave of infinite bitterness surged in Ding Zi’s heart. He reached out, pulled Song Ying into a tight embrace, and rubbed his head.

“Cry if you want to. Your teacher is here.”

The thin frame began to tremble slightly. Warm tears soaked Ding Zi’s shoulder, and faint, suppressed sobs broke out. But he didn’t completely break down; his precarious rationality still held him up, reminding him of his surroundings.

Mo Weixin had also once asked him why he was being haunted by such a ghost, but Song Ying had always endured it without saying. He carefully guarded his self-esteem, not wanting others to see his embarrassment, refusing to complain easily—even though he was already in a miserable state.

But tonight, there was someone who stood up for him while he was being beaten. Someone who was even hospitalized for his sake.

He suddenly couldn’t hold it in anymore.

Wasn’t it enough to target me alone? Even the people around me have to be dragged into this.

Ding Zi quietly patted Song Ying’s back, letting him vent his emotions. He felt a sudden sense of sorrow. Why are my students all so ill-fated? Song Ying was like this, and Qin Mian, lying inside, was the same. He thought of Qin Mian’s family background, and a flash of gloom crossed his eyes.

Time ticked by, and Song Ying’s sobbing gradually subsided. He looked up, moving away from Ding Zi’s shoulder. Noticing Ding Zi’s clothes were wet from his tears, he felt too embarrassed to look him in the eye.

Ding Zi smiled and pretended not to notice, changing the subject: “So, what are your plans after this? Do you intend to keep going like this forever?”

Song Ying turned his face toward the window, looking at Qin Mian, who was sleeping peacefully inside.

“I will put an end to this,” Song Ying’s raspy voice carried a firm resolve. He would not let the people around him get hurt because of him again. That hatred, which was never his to bear in the first place, should end right here.

“Alright, Teacher believes you. If you run into any problems, tell me immediately. Don’t face it alone with Qin Mian,” Ding Zi instructed.

Song Ying nodded gently. “Thank you, Teacher Ding.” Although his previous years had been dark and absurd, he was lucky to have met good teachers, excellent friends… and Qin Mian.

Finally, Ding Zi stopped Song Ying from paying and settled the medical bills for both of them. In his words: “While adults are here, there’s no need for you two kids to pay.”

According to the doctor’s orders, Qin Mian had to stay in the hospital for two days. Knowing Song Ying wouldn’t leave, Ding Zi granted him two days of leave and arranged for him to stay near the hospital so he could easily care for Qin Mian.

Ding Zi himself, as the head teacher of Class 18, couldn’t stay away for long; he could only make time to visit the two kids whenever possible.