"And what’s your name, lover boy?" Xue Lin suddenly had an interest to know his name.

  "My name is Xiao Rong. I’m in the second year and at the D – section with Susu."

  "At least you name isn’t Bubu or Ruru." Xue Lin mumbled. She said, "That makes the two of you classmates."

  "Yes, we are." This boy was tall and had a handsome feature. He was well-built, it meant he was good at sports. He was wearing a white t-shirt and white shorts. He was wearing a tennis cap and tennis hand bands. A

  From the look Xue Lin could tell that the boy was playing Tennis and heard about Susu being bullied; he forgot about changing his clothes and rushed to look for her. ’It looks like he was genuinely worried for her.’ She said, "And you like Susu."

  Xiao Rong answered without hesitation. "I do."

  "I see, we were having lunch together. We cannot share it with you but feel free to sit down on the stool. While we finish our lunch, why don’t you share your side of the story?" Xue Lin suggested.

  Only then Xiao Rong noticed the meal on the table. He immediately bowed deeply and apologized. "I will. I’m sorry for interrupting your lunch. Please forgive me."

  "You are forgiven. Now sit." Xue Lin resumed eating and Susu also sat down. She didn’t feel like eating anymore though she could never forget the taste of this meal in this lifetime.

  Xiao Rong narrated everything in details. Long story short – Xiao Rong’s father work under Mumu’s father and since his childhood his parents told him to do whatever Mumu told him to do. He became her slave. Even in the school, she would cling onto him and he had to stay quiet. He had to run errand and give her his notes. He had to get lower marks than Mumu. From the kindergarten to the middle school, everyone knew him as her loyal dog.

  However, in the high school, he tried to break free. Although he gave Mumu his notes, he got better scores. He did well in sports and other areas. He became popular in no time. Even teachers liked him. He became the Student Council President in his second year. Just when everyone started to think that he was forced to become Mumu’s dog, Mumu declared that Xiao Rong was her boyfriend.

  The girls were upset about the fact that rich heiress got the most popular boy but they could only accept the reality. But there was a girl who started to get close to him and he also started to give her more attention. The girls couldn’t take it anymore and spread the false news. The one who got hurt because of that was Susu. She was powerless and had no rich background. Every jealous girl vented their anger on her.

  Xue Lin was already full. More than food, Xiao Rong’s story filled her stomach. She didn’t care if what he was telling was true or false. She was glad that none of her classmates were like that. Though there were bullies, it was only created based on good results and bad results.

  ’Nowadays, girls get more freedom but they don’t utilize it well. They only think about romance and marriage. Though not everyone is the same but most girls are. The freedom we have earned through years of fight, they throw it away and become submissive to the words called ’love’, ’jealousy’, ’men’. Why can’t they think about a future where they can stand on their own two feet where no man nor elder can tell them to do the wrong thing?’ Xue Lin started to have a headache.

  She sighed and said, "If I think about it correctly, it was your parents who started all these. Did they say anything to you recently after bob cut girl announced her relationship with you?"

  Xiao Rong answered negatively, "No, they don’t know anything. When I tried to retaliate against her, she threatened to tell them."

  "And you just agreed,��� Xue Lin shook her head helplessly. She couldn’t understand why boys these days lacked courage.

  "I didn’t want my parents to know." Xiao Rong fidgeted. He didn’t want to speak any more than this.

  Xue Lin looked at Susu and said, "Why don’t you go to the infirmary and treat your wounds? After that, come to my room by taking permission from your homeroom teacher."

  "O-okay." Susu took a glance at Xiao Rong and then left. Xue Lin paid attention to Xiao Rong. She continued asking, "What would they do to you? Kill you?"

  "……N-no……" Xiao Rong was relieved that Susu wasn’t here. No man would want their loved one to hear about their painful private life.

  Xue Lin’s voice softened. "Did she ever complained to your parents before?"

  "She cried and my father locked me in the storeroom for several months." Xiao Rong looked down. He didn’t want to remember that incident.

  "Do you hate darkness?" Xue Lin asked carefully. "Or are you scared of darkness?"

  Xiao Rong replied in a low voice, "I’m scared of darkness. I cannot sleep if it’s too dark."

  Xue Lin nodded. She could understand him. He isn’t the only person who had a dark childhood. She talked to many grown-ups who had similar experience as him, some experienced even worse than this. "What did your mother say about your father’s behavior?"

  He said, "She fully supports him."

  Xue Lin thought so. If his mother supported him even a little, he didn’t have to live like a slave for all these years. "What about bob cut girl’s father? Does he know that his daughter was playing with your life?"

  "I don’t know. But I know that he really dotes on his daughter. She is the only child after all." Xiao Rong told the truth.

  Xue Lin thought about the whole situation for a while. Without talking to the bob cut girl, she couldn’t even tell if this boy was telling the truth. It wouldn’t be good to listen to only one side of the story and judge everything. "Do you have the evidence that the bob cut girl threatened you?" she asked. It has been a while since she had some fun.