Wang Xiong chuckled, glanced at "Cobra" and "Fatty," and pulled out his phone, opening several photos he'd taken the previous night.
The background was the elegantly decorated French restaurant. Wang Xiong sat opposite Xia Ling, secretly taking these photos under the table when she wasn't looking.
The texture of the grey stockings was clearly visible in the photo; the silky feel against her skin seemed to emanate from the screen. The toes of her high heels were slightly upturned, the heels tapping lightly on the floor, seemingly revealing a hint of unease.
Although Xia Ling's face wasn't shown, her black pencil skirt, long, shapely grey stockings, and those 10cm patent leather stilettos were clearly visible in the photo.
"Dude, I had a French feast last night, and a beautiful woman with me," Wang Xiong's eyes gleamed like a mouse's as he smugly scanned the faces of each of his underlings. Then, lowering his voice, he added, "Those beautiful legs, those stockings, guess who it is?"
"Wow~~"
The underlings' eyes widened. The impact of the photo was far more powerful than words. As they jeering, they deliberately dragged out the last syllable, their eyes unconsciously glancing in my direction, seemingly observing my reaction.
Immediately, Cobra chimed in, "Is that even a question? It's definitely Xiao Wei's mom! Xiong, you're amazing, you even managed to handle a cold, aloof female CEO like that!"
The fat guy chimed in, "Tell me more!"
Wang Xiong, still showing everyone the photos, raised his eyebrows smugly and added, "These women, they act all aloof on the surface, but deep down they're incredibly slutty. They just need a man to make them obedient! Last night I told her to take off her stockings, and she didn't even hesitate..." "Yes, she just took it off!"
"Holy crap, awesome!" Cobra continued to liven things up, even turning his gaze directly to me, teasing, "Xiao Wei, your mom's a real gem, so obedient to Brother Xiong."
Fatty, panting heavily, eagerly asked, "Brother Xiong, when are you bringing your wife to school?"
Upon hearing this, the surrounding underlings burst into laughter, their eyes gleaming with a nauseating light, as if the more they teased Xia Ling, the more excited they felt.
Then Wang Xiong waved his hand, saying to the underlings, "Getting excited already? Come on, next one!"
Wang Xiong continued scrolling through his phone screen; the photo was still from the French restaurant yesterday, another candid shot of Xia Ling. She was still wearing that tight black pencil skirt, her long, beautiful legs in 10cm patent leather stilettos, but the only difference was that the grey stockings were gone, her fair skin directly exposed to the air! "Holy crap! Xiong-ge is awesome!" Cobra jumped up excitedly!
The fat guy also admired Xia Ling's beautiful photos, but he quickly noticed the difference and asked, "Hey Xiong-ge, something's not right. In the previous picture, Xiaowei's mom was wearing gray stockings, but they're gone in this one?"
"Do I even need to explain? Those who know, know."
Wang Xiong, looking smug, took the pair of gray stockings out of his pocket and waved them at them.
Looking at the bare legs in the photo without the stockings, and then at the gray stockings in Wang Xiong's hand, these lecherous lackeys were instantly captivated, just like the crazy fans at a concert, engaging in a personality cult of Wang Xiong.
"Brother Xiong is awesome! Brother Xiong is mighty!"
"Holy crap, that's incredible!"
"Brother Xiong, can I borrow your stockings to play with? I really want to masturbate with Xiao Wei's mom's stockings!"
Wang Xiong was surrounded by a bustling crowd, chattering incessantly.
He thoroughly enjoyed being the center of attention, holding a phone in one hand—showing a beautiful picture of Xia Ling—and stockings in the other—the ones Xia Ling had given him yesterday.
He looked like a victorious general returning home, receiving a throng of applause.
Meanwhile, I sat in my seat, feeling as if a huge rock was pressing down on my heart, making it hard to even breathe.
Looking up, I saw Wang Xiong staring at me with a provocative gaze, a sinister smile playing on his lips.
"Hey, young master Wei!" Wang Xiong deliberately raised his voice, "Wei, your mom was really obedient last night! You wouldn't believe it, I told her to take pictures, and she did; I told her to wear black stockings, and she did. Do you think she'd do anything else if I asked her to?"
His words drew a burst of laughter from the classroom. At that moment, everyone's eyes were on me. Most of the girls covered their mouths and whispered, while the boys laughed unrestrainedly.
My face instantly turned bright red, my fists clenched, and my whole body trembled.
I couldn't let this continue. My forbearance would only embolden him to bully me even more!
I jumped to my feet, strode over, and roared, "Wang Xiong, you're not allowed to insult Xia Ling again!"
"Huh?"
Wang Xiong tilted his head, seemingly unfazed by my anger, and instead became even more arrogant, saying, "Xiao Wei, you think you've grown wings? You dare to defy me? Have you forgotten how I dealt with you back then?"
He grabbed Xia Ling's gray stocking, deliberately waving it in front of my eyes, and said with a smile, "This is what your mother took off yesterday, it still smells of her! How about this, you kneel down and kowtow to me, and I'll allow you to smell it, okay?"
"Hahahahahaha!"
The surrounding henchmen erupted in cheers again, the most lewd of them all grinning. "Brother Xiong," I said, "why don't we have Xiaowei's mom come to school and dance in front of us? It'll be really fun!"
Wang Xiong laughed heartily, patted my shoulder, and whispered, "Xiaowei, I promised your mom in the car yesterday that as long as she listens to me, I won't touch you. If you dare say another word, I'll not only embarrass you, but I'll also make your mom come over and kowtow to me to apologize!"
"Wang Xiong, you!"
At this moment, my anger had reached its limit. My fists were clenched white, and my whole body was trembling violently. Looking at Wang Xiong's arrogant appearance, and thinking of Xia Ling's vulnerability as she drank and cried alone in the study after being humiliated by him, I hardened my heart and threw a punch at his face!
"Smack!"
However, my fist was easily caught by Wang Xiong just before it reached his nose.
A savage glint flashed across his face. Though short, his fighting skills, as a thug, far surpassed mine; with a single swift move, he threw me to the ground.
"Heh, you've gone too far! You dare lay a hand on your future stepfather!" Wang Xiong sneered, stuffing Xia Ling's gray hair back into his school uniform pocket. "Brothers, let's teach this arrogant brat a lesson!"
Before he finished speaking, his henchmen swarmed me. Amidst the punches and kicks, I curled up on the ground, their unrestrained insults echoing in my ears.
"Your mom looks so sexy in those stockings!"
"What female CEO? Xiong-ge can make her obey with just one look!"
"Xiaowei, what color stockings is your mom wearing today?"
I gritted my teeth, enduring the pain, my mind replaying last night's scenes: Mom crying alone in the study, her slender fingers gently stroking a photo of Father, downing glass after glass of red wine…
Wang Xiong stood to the side, casually taking out his phone and snapping a few photos of me.
"Click, click…"
"Xiaowei," he crouched down and whispered in my ear, "I'll send these photos to your mom later, okay? Let her know how useless her son is…"
Just then, hurried footsteps came from the corridor.
"Stop it, all of you!" Teacher Zheng's voice rang out at the classroom door.
The boys finally stopped and dispersed in twos and threes. I struggled to my feet, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth, my school uniform covered in dust from being kicked.
Ms. Zheng frowned, scanning the room. Her gaze lingered on Wang Xiong for a moment, but she ultimately said nothing. She knew all too well the power Wang Xiong's father wielded in the area—a powerful gangster who had stood the test of time for over a decade, even the police gave him a wide berth.
"Back to your seats, everyone. Get ready for morning self-study," Ms. Zheng said calmly. "Xiaowei, go to the infirmary to get your wound treated."
I dragged my aching body, limping towards the classroom door. As I passed Wang Xiong, he deliberately bumped into me, whispering, "Don't think I'm joking. If your mother doesn't kneel down and apologize to me today, this isn't over."
I clenched my fists, but I was powerless.
Morning self-study began. The corridor was empty; the morning light cast a long, long shadow on the floor.
Mom, I'm sorry...
I didn't even have the courage to protect you.
*************