Chapter 68: Begging for Forgiveness on My Knees

In the evening, Xia Yu personally prepared dinner. As it happened, Liu Hua had just finished her work and came to pick up Liu Xiaomi.

“Xia Yu, I really have to thank you for helping me take care of Xiaomi. Without your help, I truly wouldn’t be able to manage on my own. Thank you so much,” Liu Hua said sincerely over the meal.

The ten million left to mother and daughter by Liu Zhengyang was more than enough for them to live comfortably, free from the hardships of their past.

Liu Hua herself harbored no grand ambitions. She only wished to run a small business and raise her daughter in peace. With money came a better sense of self-care; she now dressed with the air of a small business owner and looked several years younger.

Seeing their lives improve brought Xia Yu great comfort. He smiled and said, “No need to be so polite, sister-in-law. We’re family, after all. Xiaomi is my goddaughter—there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.”

“In that case, I won’t stand on ceremony,” Liu Hua replied with a smile and a nod.

They chatted about her shop for a while, but before long, the doorbell rang.

Xia Yu checked the front door camera and saw several strangers outside, along with a few children. He recognized them at once—they were the classmates who had bullied Liu Xiaomi, as well as two teachers.

“Sister-in-law, there’s something I need to report to you,” Xia Yu said, and explained everything that had happened to Liu Xiaomi at school.

When Liu Hua heard it all, her eyes reddened as she hugged her daughter tightly, scolding her gently for not telling her sooner.

“Don’t worry, sister-in-law. They’re here to admit their fault,” Xia Yu said with a reassuring smile as he led the two of them outside.

When they opened the door, the group stood waiting.

“Mr. Xia...” one teacher began.

“Xiaomi’s mother,” another said.

The two teachers, seeing Xia Yu, turned pale and hurriedly introduced him to Cao Neng and Liu Jingshu, “This is Xiaomi’s godfather and her mother.”

“My apologies, Mr. Xia, and Xiaomi’s mother,” said Principal Liu, stepping forward with a deeply apologetic look, trying to shake Xia Yu’s hand—only to be brushed aside. Instead, he turned to Liu Hua, clasping her hand and saying, “We are truly sorry. We only just learned about what happened to Liu Xiaomi and brought the children here to apologize at the first opportunity.”

“That’s right, Mr. Xia. I’m Cao Neng, Minister at the Department of Education. I never expected my son to behave so rudely. Please accept my sincerest apologies,” Cao Neng added, then turned to glare at his son, barking, “You little rascal, aren’t you going to apologize to Xiaomi and her godparents?”

“And you, apologize at once!” Principal Liu snapped at his own son.

The two children trembled in terror, clearly having been disciplined before they arrived.

Behind them, the two teachers, Su Mei and Chen Jun, kept their heads bowed, faces ashen with dread, terrified Xia Yu might single them out. They remembered all too well how they had mocked and dismissed Xia Yu, even telling him to file a complaint if he wished. Who could have predicted the consequences would be so grave? To see Principal Liu and Minister Cao kneeling before him, and to learn Xia Yu lived atop the highest level of Baiyun Mountain, his status and influence were unmistakable.

How could this girl, Liu Xiaomi—a single child with no background—have such a formidable godfather?

“I’m sorry, Xiaomi. Sorry, uncle and auntie,” stammered the two boys, the ringleaders of the bullying, now deeply frightened. They were terrified of Xia Yu, knowing this intimidating uncle was not above using force.

“Kneel and apologize. All of you, kneel and make amends,” Xia Yu commanded coldly, his face expressionless. “And you two teachers—do you remember what I told you?”

“I said you would kneel and beg Xiaomi to return to class. Otherwise, the school would need new leadership.”

A visible shudder ran through the group, especially Cao Neng and Liu Jingshu, who exchanged glances. They had just knelt to speak with Xiao Jun earlier today. To kneel again did not seem so unthinkable. Thus, each pulled their son to their knees at the doorstep.

Su Mei and Chen Jun stared in shock, mouths agape, unable to believe that these two men—so powerful in their eyes—would kneel so willingly.

“Do you two have any objections?” Xia Yu asked, looking at the teachers.

“I...” Chen Jun began, but before he could finish, Liu Jingshu barked, “You two idiots, kneel to Mr. Xia immediately!”

Both teachers paled and knelt.

Once everyone was on their knees, Liu Jingshu addressed Xiaomi earnestly, “We’re so sorry, Xiaomi. Please, come back to school. I promise, no one will ever bully you again.”

One by one, they offered their sincere apologies, leaving Liu Xiaomi a bit at a loss for how to respond.

Liu Hua, standing by, could not help but sigh inwardly. Although she had always suspected Xia Yu’s status was exceptional, she had never inquired. Now, it was clear this young man was far more formidable than she could have imagined. With such a godfather to protect Xiaomi, she would have much less to worry about in the future.

“Xiaomi, do you want to forgive them and go back to school?” Xia Yu crouched down, gently holding Liu Xiaomi’s small hand. The stern air about him softened into tenderness.

Liu Xiaomi nodded, “Godfather, I... I still want to go to school, so let’s forgive them.”

“My goddaughter is so kindhearted. Very well, we’ll do as you wish,” Xia Yu smiled, rising to address the kneeling group. “Remember this—on account of my daughter’s compassion, you are forgiven for now. But should this ever happen to Xiaomi again, each of you will pay a terrible price.”

“Rest assured, Mr. Xia. It won’t happen again.”

“That’s right. From now on, our school will do everything it can to nurture and protect Xiaomi,” the others promised, relief mingling with the cold sweat of fear.

This young man’s presence was in no way inferior to Xiao Jun’s; in fact, the pressure he exerted was even stronger. Who exactly was he? Why did even Xiao Jun show him such respect and personally warn them over such a trivial matter?

Was there anyone of note in Shenzhen with the surname Xia? They vaguely recalled a humble family named Lin, who had once taken in a son-in-law named Xia—but surely there could be no connection between this powerful man and that insignificant in-law.

“Get out. Remember every word I just said,” Xia Yu said curtly, unwilling to waste further words on them. After today’s lesson, he was sure they would be exceedingly cautious from now on.

When the group had left in disarray, Liu Hua turned to Xia Yu and said, “Thank you, Xia Yu. You’ve helped Xiaomi yet again. I truly wouldn’t know how to handle things otherwise.”

“Sister-in-law, if you keep treating me as an outsider, I’ll really get angry,” Xia Yu said, feigning a stern face.

“Haha, that’s my fault. I won’t be so formal from now on,” Liu Hua replied with a smile. “It’s getting late; I’ll take Xiaomi home to rest. She has to go back to school tomorrow morning.”

“All right. Be careful on the road, and call me if you need anything,” Xia Yu said with a nod.

“Bye, godfather! Mwah!” Liu Xiaomi blew him a kiss and waved goodbye, her face full of innocent charm.

Xia Yu smiled as he watched them go. When he returned to his now-empty villa, a wave of melancholy washed over him.