A handbag grazed Xia Xiaolan’s cheek as it flew past, crashing into the door.

The bag’s metal chain proved unfortunate for Matthew, who was walking behind her – it struck his cheek, instantly leaving a mark.

This American shrew was even more vicious than Xia Xiaolan had imagined.

“Matthew, be careful! She won’t be held responsible for hitting you – after all, you can’t afford a lawyer!”

The office was quite crowded.

Heidi, who had attempted suicide, wasn’t present.

Neither was Jonathan, Heidi’s ex-boyfriend.

Professor McCarthy was there, along with Snow Ning, who had just stormed out.

A blonde woman dressed elegantly with well-maintained looks and figure behaved most unbeautifully. She had hurled her designer bag forcefully, probably expecting Snow Ning to have returned – the bag was meant for her.

Missing Snow Ning, it had unfortunately struck Matthew instead.

Mrs. Dawson glared at Xia Xiaolan: “So you’re another campus bullying perpetrator. Your professor refused to turn you in, but now you’ve conveniently shown up yourself.”

“Professor McCarthy-“

Xia Xiaolan ignored the shrew, thinking the Demon King must be furious.

To be fair, Professor McCarthy wasn’t known for his good temper. Serious and aloof, he only remembered the names of exceptionally outstanding students and would bombard students with questions until they broke down during assignment reviews… This was Professor McCarthy’s teaching style, and there were many more eccentric professors across American universities.

But to suggest that Professor McCarthy’s pressure drove Heidi to suicide? The Demon King was quite innocent in this.

Not just him – most professors had similar requirements.

With such expensive tuition, letting students idle away their time would be truly irresponsible of Cornell University. As an Ivy League school, Cornell’s purpose was to cultivate elites and inject fresh, capable blood into society’s development – if one couldn’t handle such pressure, it simply meant they weren’t excellent enough.

There were so many universities in America.

And so many different majors – why insist on struggling with architecture at Cornell?

Everyone feared Professor McCarthy.

But after the fear?

His high standards also helped students progress significantly.

If they truly despised the Demon King, how could there be students like Lyle, who would whimper under the Demon King’s torture while remaining his devoted fan?

So how was the Demon King feeling now?

Angry? Hurt? Questioning his teaching methods? Xia Xiaolan worriedly watched Professor McCarthy. This classroom tyrant, nearly invincible in his field of expertise, was probably encountering someone like Mrs. Dawson for the first time.

Mrs. Dawson continued her endless tirade.

Two lawyers stood beside her, both looking proper and dignified – probably trying to intimidate Xia Xiaolan, thinking this Chinese student wouldn’t understand American law. To Xia Xiaolan, they were just buzzing flies. Professor McCarthy’s chest heaved as the office atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Annoyed, Xia Xiaolan spoke:

“Mrs. Dawson, please-“

Professor McCarthy’s hawk-like nose twitched as he raised his hand to stop Xia Xiaolan. He attempted to control the office situation as he would his classroom:

“Why can’t you accept the fact that your daughter isn’t exceptional? Are you afraid? Afraid that your husband, our distinguished alumnus Mr. Dawson, will be angry with you, believing your intelligence has lowered his… Mrs. Dawson, I think you need to process Heidi’s leave of absence quickly and send her to professional medical treatment. In her mental state, she may be unable to handle the intensity of Cornell’s architecture program.”

The shrew had finally pushed Professor McCarthy to unleash his sharp tongue.

His words, combined with his naturally severe appearance, were truly cutting.

Ordinary students would tremble and question their life choices when targeted by the Demon King’s verbal attacks.

This was the frank Professor McCarthy.

He always spoke the truth.

When students’ assignments were terrible, expecting him to dishonestly praise them with “good job, keep trying”… well, that’s why McCarthy wasn’t called the “Demon King” for nothing.

Now the Demon King spoke truth again but aimed at Mrs. Dawson.

Mrs. Dawson, with her beauty pageant background, was still quite attractive in middle age.

Blonde hair, and blue eyes – she fits the American mainstream beauty standard.

She hated nothing more than being called unintelligent.

And indeed, she wasn’t the scholarly type. The Demon King’s few sentences nearly sent Mrs. Dawson into a rage. Xia Xiaolan quickly caught the key point – the impressive one wasn’t the beauty pageant contestant Mrs. Dawson, but Mr. Dawson, the “distinguished alumnus” the Demon King mentioned.

Mr. Dawson wasn’t in the office.

Xia Xiaolan felt the Demon King was giving her a hint.

Mrs. Dawson, furious enough to throw her bag again, realized she’d already thrown it. It lay on the ground, “accidentally” stepped on several times by Daisy and the others who had entered after.

She pointed at Xia Xiaolan and McCarthy:

“This is Cornell University’s quality – arrogant students, cruel professors. I’ll expose you all to the newspapers!”

Before Xia Xiaolan could respond, Matthew, his face still marked, spoke first:

“I’m calling the police. The injury on my face is evidence. Mrs. Dawson, why did you assault me? I’m both victim and witness – nobody ever bullied Heidi!”

“I’m also a witness.”

“Me too.”

“We all are!”

Daisy, Richard, and Lyle had long shed their timidity.

Daisy stepped forward, “Professor McCarthy is the most professional. He never drove any student to suicide, and Xia never forced Heidi to apologize. Heidi provoked us first – she called us losers, shouldn’t she apologize for that? I seriously question Heidi’s upbringing!”

Well, well, the young lady had grown considerably.

Previously unable to articulate such thoughts clearly, now she dared to confront the shrew directly.

Xia Xiaolan felt proud as Daisy’s group, like chicks protecting a mother hen, shielded the Demon King behind them. Professor McCarthy was stunned.

Xia Xiaolan stood beside Matthew – if the shrew turned violent, Matthew’s build should provide some protection, right?

With other chicks protecting the Demon King, Xia Xiaolan felt she couldn’t just watch the show:

“Mrs. Dawson, let me say something. What’s the use of bringing lawyers? Before causing us trouble, you should use that pretty head of yours to sort out priorities. Are you clear about your demands? I understand a mother’s grief and anger over her daughter’s suicide attempt. You’re creating a scene at the Academic Affairs Office hoping the school will bow to public pressure and punish us ‘culprits,’ including me, Snow Ning, and Professor McCarthy, right?”

Mrs. Dawson’s eyes flashed sharply, “And Jonathan Rice!”

Xia Xiaolan clapped softly: “I admire your thinking and initiative, making such a self-righteous scene. Though I don’t know where you get your confidence, I must tell you – you’re dreaming! Let me guess, you’re probably a racist. Chinese students aren’t as precious as American students. If an American student sneezes, we Chinese students must be held responsible, let alone something as serious as suicide… I sympathize with Heidi, not for her suicide attempt, but for having you as a mother. You’ve truly set a terrible example! Oh, and I’m waiting for your lawyer’s letter, as well as your attempt to get me expelled from Cornell!”