3 Taming the Bully

As both of them were looking around, the class door opened. Shen Ai entered the class with Cheng Muxi, who was her best friend but more like a sidekick. Bei Shiyi and Nie Ankai's faces immediately turned sour at her arrival.

'Why do we have to face her every year?' was all they could think.

Shen Ai used to be a bright student who used to compete Bei Shiyi in everything including studies and extra-curricular activities. She always ended up second to Bei Shiyi in every competition. So, she began to envy her and slowly, the feeling of jealousy turned into hate. She used many tricks to fail and hurt Bei Shiyi but Bei Shiyi along with Nie Ankai always managed to dodge her traps.

Having to see her yet again on the first day in grade three was definitely an eyesore for Bei Shiyi and Nie Ankai.

Shen Ai and Cheng Muxi neared them and sat on the fourth bench in middle row, just parallel to them. Shen Ai whispered something into Cheng Muxi's ear and Cheng Muxi walked to Bei Shiyi. She threw blue ink on Bei Shiyi's shirt and said,

"This is the last year of competition. After this, it will be decided who is the real winner, Shen Ai or you." Cheng Muxi looked like a puppet who always spoke what she had been taught.

Nie Ankai raised her fist but Bei Shiyi stopped her in time. Cheng Muxi stood there scared.

"May the best person win." Bei Shiyi said facing Shen Ai. After, Cheng Muxi left, Nie Ankai turned to Bei Shiyi with an angry look.

"Why did you stop me? I would have taught that sidekick a lesson."

"By hitting them, we will become like them." Bei Shiyi said.

Nie Ankai looked at her amazed. 'Since, when did she become so calm.'

Bei Shiyi gave her a crafty smile and said, "We will teach them a lesson in our special way."

Nie Ankai burst in laughter.

That's right. That was like Bei Shiyi. She never kept any dues, be it insult or favor.

She whispered something into Nie Ankai's ear. They both nodded to each other with understanding. Nie Ankai and Bei Shiyi ran to the sports room and changed the shirt. Then, they went to the art room. They searched for yellow ink. And Bei Shiyi, talented as she was, made a beautiful flower pattern on the damaged portion of the shirt. I didn't look spoiled at all. Rather, it looked like a perfect specimen of fabric art.

They returned to their classroom and saw the store peon carrying paint boxes. An idea struck into their mind. Nie Ankai asked the peon to let her carry it. Strong as she was, she carried two boxes together. Meanwhile, Bei Shiyi cornered a junior and told him to do something, in return she promised him, her notes of the first chapter. Her notes were something very difficult to get. Any junior would love to trade them with anything, they have. The boy immediately agreed.

He ran into grade three.

"Which one of you is Sis Ai?" he said with a slight panic in his voice.

'This child is a born actor.' Nie Ankai and Bei Shiyi thought to themselves as they exchanged glances.

Shen Ai immediately rose from her place. "What happened?"

"The principal urgently calls you. You must report to him within five minutes if you don't want to be suspended." the boy said.

"But why?" fear struck Shen Ai.

It's true. You always feel afraid whenever you are wrong. You can't think straight and your mind goes blank just like Shen Ai's at that moment.

The boy shrugged his shoulders. "How would I know? Must be something, you have done."

He walked out as he finished. He showed Bei Shiyi, a thumbs up as he came out. Shen Ai panicked.

'Must be that Shiyi. She just can't keep things to herself. Let's see who can save her.' Shen Ai muttered as she came out.

Nie Ankai crossed the corridor just in time, making the the open paint boxes fall on Shen Ai's shirt. Her shirt got covered completely in red and yellow paint. Her face which had now turned red with anger, complimented her spoilt dress. She raised her hand to slap Nie Ankai. But Nie Ankai was no coward, she dodged her immediately.

Before, the fight could grow any further, Bei Shiyi reached there with a teacher. She was teacher Song, who was their head teacher for grade three.

"Easy easy kids. We are in the school. Maintain the decorum."

"But teacher.." Shen Ai was stopped by the teacher.

"Let's get in and discuss the matter. "

The three of them walked behind teacher Song. Everyone started laughing as soon as they saw Shen Ai with a spoilt dress and angry look.

"Now tell me what's the matter." teacher Song's voice immediately made everyone silent.

"Teacher, Nie Ankai spilled paint on my clothes and ruined them." Shen Ai said.

"Yes teacher. I did spill paint on her clothes..." everyone's eyes bulged out at Nie Ankai's words.

'How could she accept it so easily?'

Nie Ankai continued, "But it was an accident. I was just helping the storeroom-in-charge in carrying the paint boxes. I couldn't see properly ahead of me. Suddenly, Shen Ai came running out of the class and I lost my balance."

Shen Ai immediately understood their plan. She gritted her teeth in anger for she was at loss of words.

"But..."