Louis back to home without the impression of how much time had passed. As he opened the door, his parents immediately find the injury on face. "Louis, what happened to your face?"

Overwhelmed by his own pride, Louis hesitated to admit that he'd been struck by Jack. He muttered vaguely, "I slipped and fell because of the rain outside."

His mother's worry was palpable as she questioned, "Are you alright, Louis? Should we take you to the hospital?"

"I'm fine, Mom. Don’t worry," Louis replied, retreating to his room and shutting the door behind him. His mind was a chaotic mess, and he yearned for solitude.

Later, his father knocked on his door and remarked, "Louis, you haven't eaten anything."

"Dad, I had a meal outside." came an impatient voice from within the room. Louis' father exchanged a concerned look with his wife, and sighed, "It seems like the gap between us and our child is widening. Louis rarely shares anything with us anymore."

As the clock struck ten, Louis discerned his parents retiring to their bedroom. Seizing the opportunity, he emerged from his room, making his way to the bathroom to cleanse himself. Thereafter, he ventured onto the balcony, searching for a toolbox. With a determined purpose, he retrieved a knife and returned to his room.

Undressing, he stood bare in front of the mirror, knife in hand. Gazing at his reflection, he spoke with steely resolve, "Louis, remember this moment. From now on, no one will ever bully you again."

Louis holding the knife over his left palm. The sharp edge creating a two-inch gash that instantly welled with blood. Suppressing his pain, Louis clenched his teeth, his contorted face reflected in the mirror. Louis admonished himself, "If you can't endure this agony, how can you hope to stand against bullying?"

Perhaps from the intensity of the pain or the blood loss, Louis felt sleepy, but he still held the knife. As his parents heard noises, they rushed in and met with a horrifying sight: blood-covered hands, a wounded son collapsed on the floor. His father lifting Louis up and rushing to the hospital, his mother trailing behind.

A week later, Louis returned to school, his left hand swathed in white bandages. His presence evoking curiosity among his classmates. Ignoring the questioning gazes, Louis silently settled into his seat. His absence for a week had made him appear different, though the change remained elusive, leaving an atmosphere of strangeness in the room.

Rose inquired: "Louis, I heard you were in the hospital. Was it something serious?"

"It's nothing," Louis smiled faintly. "I accidentally cut my hand."

Rose nodded understandingly and scolded, "You need to be more careful!"

Louis chuckled, "I will, I promise." His smile seemed different to Rose, as if a newfound cheerfulness had taken root.

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However, Jack, with a smirk on his face, approached Louis mockingly, "What's so funny? Were you at the hospital to avoid me?"

Rose exclaimed, "Are you out of your mind, Jack? Can't you see Louis got hurt?"

"He's your buddy, huh? Since when did you two become so close?" Jack taunted.

Fueled by anger, Rose retorted, "You're shameless." Louis tugged at Rose, whispering, "Forget it, he just spouting hot air."

Rose can’t help to laugh. Jack cannot believe what he has heard: "What did you just say?"

Louis approached Jack, their faces nearly touching, and enunciated calmly, "I said you're just spouting hot air."

The classroom suddenly be quiet and everyone turn their head with surprise. Jack attempted to dismiss the situation, shoving Louis, "Do you know what are you doing?"

Blood trickled from Louis' mouth, but this time he didn't cry. Instead, Louis smiled and put his hands in pockets. He retrieved a knife from his pocket. Louis revealed the blade. The room fell into silence once more. Jack couldn’t believe what he sees: "Do you think I will afraid a knife?"

Louis remained poised, the knife's blade capturing Jack's attention. Suddenly, with a swift motion, Louis brought the blade close to Jack's face, leaving a chilling sensation. The classroom erupted in piercing screams.

Louis held the blade close, his face evolving into a twisted smile. Holding his bloodied hand, Jack yelled in agony. Louis grabbed Jack's hair, forcing their eyes to meet. "This is the price of bullying me."

The students had never witnessed such a scene. One student dashed out, seeking help from the teacher. Bursting into the teacher's office, the student stammered: "Louis... cut... Jack's face... bleeding."

The teacher can’t believe what he heard, but the student's urgency convinced him to investigate. Arriving at the classroom, students in the class were all sitting in their seats. The teacher glanced at Louis first, who was lying on the table reading a book. Then he looked up and saw Jack covering his face with a handkerchief, but the handkerchief was soaked in blood, and the blood dripped onto the table.

The teacher asked loudly, "Jack, who cut your face?"

Jack raised his head and glanced secretly at Louis, Louis was looking back at him, with the eyes of a beast, which made him feel that if he told the truth, he would be torn to pieces. Jack couldn't help shivering, stood up and said: "It’s me, not someone else."

The teacher dislikes Jack very much, he was relieved to hear him say that, "Go to the hospital to bandage yourself." He glanced at Jack and muttered in a low voice: "It's disgusting, the blood is everywhere."

The teacher then asked the student: "How do you say that Jack's face was cut by Louis?" The student replied: "I saw it just now..." But when he saw Louis' eyes, he stopped and said: “Yes... I'm sorry teacher, I shouldn't have lied. Jack's face was cut by himself."

"What are you talking about?" The teacher turned to Louis and said, "Louis, the next exam is coming soon. How is your preparation?"

Louis stood up respectfully and replied: "Don't worry. I am confident that I will be the first in grades."

The teacher patted Louis on the shoulder and said, "Louis, it's good to study hard. But pay attention to your healthy, don't get too tired."

Louis nodded obediently: "Thank you!"

The teacher said to one of the students, "Get a mop and wipe off the blood." After the students wipe the floor clean. The classroom was surprisingly quiet. All students were sitting in their seat, as if a big rock was pressing on their heart, and made them couldn't breathe.

Rose breaks the silence and asked, "Why have you become so merciless?"

Louis replied cryptically: "This is the only way I won't be victimized."

"But hurting Jack like this, it's excessive. His face will bear scars." Rose protested.

Louis chuckled, murmuring enigmatic words, "Destiny shapes us regardless of our efforts."

Jack returned from the hospital, a gauze strip masking his face. Approaching Louis, he declared, "Louis, I'll follow your lead now. You're my boss."