HOUZI chuckled, "Where else could I go? I was just talking nonsense. Honestly, I think Zuo Fei’s plan is brilliant. After what happened this afternoon, Ding Sheng and Liang Qi wouldn’t dare lay a finger on us anymore." As he spoke, he cast me a peculiar glance.

  I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. Perhaps it was my own conscience haunting me, but I had this nagging suspicion that HOUZI, being as sharp as he was, might have already figured out what was going on between me and Wang Yao. However, he didn't bring it up. Instead, he proceeded to divide our tasks according to my plan. He assigned me and Zheng Wu to rally the freshman forces since we were unfamiliar with the school’s layout, while he and Huang Jie would approach the sophomore factions that held grudges against Ding Sheng and Liang Qi.

  There were no objections from anyone, and thus we made our way back to school. To avoid any further confrontation with the manager from the Blue Moon Restaurant, we deliberately took a longer route.

  On our way back, something suddenly crossed my mind. I turned to HOUZI and asked, "By the way, did you end up giving that three hundred bucks to the manager?"

  HOUZI froze momentarily, then responded matter-of-factly, "Yeah, of course I did."

  "Bullshit! He clearly said he didn’t want it. Hand it over — that was my entire living allowance!"

  "Seriously, I gave it to him. Look!" HOUZI panicked, turning all his pockets inside out.

  Shirt pockets, pants pockets — every single one of them was turned out, revealing nothing but emptiness. I was bewildered. I was certain I had seen the manager refuse the money. Had my memory somehow failed me?

  "You must've remembered it wrong," HOUZI muttered, patting his now-empty pockets. "I'm heading to the internet café. You guys go on without me."

  Without another word, he turned and left, though his posture was oddly skewed — one shoulder seemed noticeably higher than the other.

  An inexplicable intuition surged through me, and without thinking, I lunged at him from behind, tackling him to the ground. In one swift motion, I ripped off his shoe, and as expected, a cascade of crumpled banknotes tumbled out. Three crisp hundred-yuan bills, and the rest were fives and tens.

  "That's my private stash!" HOUZI wailed.

  "Private stash, my ass!" I burst out laughing. We had fled the restaurant together; not once had HOUZI stopped to hide the money. God only knows when he managed to stuff it into his shoe!

  I retrieved my portion of the money — albeit reeking of foot odor — while Huang Jie and Zheng Wu reclaimed theirs as well. HOUZI, now utterly exasperated, shouted, "Where’s my five bucks?!"

  No one admitted to taking it. Furious, HOUZI plopped himself down on the ground and started cursing, "You lot from XX City are nothing but thieves and scoundrels!" His outburst only elicited howls of laughter from us. Indeed, in trying to pull a fast one, he had only ended up losing his own five yuan — truly a case of losing the bait along with the catch.

  This was the magic of HOUZI. No matter how disheartened or battered we felt after a brawl, he somehow always managed to turn our mood around, making us laugh until our sides hurt.

  Soon after, HOUZI and Huang Jie headed off to the internet café, while Zheng Wu and I returned to class. It was already time for the evening self-study session, so I suggested, "Let’s check in at our classroom first. Once the teacher leaves, we’ll go find Yang Zecheng and Li Baiyu."

  Zheng Wu agreed but added, "Honestly, you don’t even need them. I alone am enough."

  I knew he was bragging but refrained from calling him out. If I did, he might actually charge into Ding Sheng’s territory alone. So, I merely replied, "I know you can handle it, but teamwork is important."

  "Right, right. I need to consider you guys," Zheng Wu conceded. Then, with a sly grin, he added, "By the way, HOUZI really treats you well."

  I was caught off guard. "What do you mean?"

  "Didn’t you see how he stood up for you in front of Ding Sheng? You’re clearly just a rookie, but he declared you as his equal brother. That’s not something anyone would do lightly."

  I fell silent.

  It was clear that in Zheng Wu’s eyes, I was still just a lowly underling. However, his straightforward and carefree nature prevented him from ever looking down on me — he had always treated me like a genuine friend.

  After a quick wash to freshen up, I returned to class. Though my clothes were fine, my face still bore traces of the scuffle. As soon as I walked in, Liu Yina rushed over, concern etched on her face. "What happened to you?"

  I briefly recounted the incident in the private room. Her expression turned icy with anger. "Ding Sheng and Liang Qi are scum! Wang Yao trusted them so much, and they still did this to you?"

  She then asked, "Is HOUZI alright?"

  I grinned. "Your man’s fine. In fact, he was quite the hero — beat Ding Sheng until he didn’t know which way was north."

  A blush crept up her cheeks. "I… I don’t really like guys who resort to violence."

  I laughed teasingly. "Well, I’m as gentle as they come. How about you ditch HOUZI and go out with me instead?"

  Liu Yina turned scarlet. "As if! Besides, you’re Lin Ke’er’s precious darling."

  The mention of Lin Ke’er made my heart sink slightly. Earlier, in the restaurant restroom, I had promised Wang Yao that I would come clean with Lin Ke’er and announce my relationship with her. But now, with the looming retaliation against Ding Sheng, romance had to take a backseat.

  Still, I couldn’t help myself. Once Liu Yina left, I immediately texted Wang Yao: I’m back in class. How about you?

  Predictably, she didn’t reply. I persisted, sending her another text explaining our revenge plan — not that she needed to know, but I was simply grasping for an excuse to talk to her. Yet, my phone remained silent.

  Disappointed, I left to find Zheng Wu. It wasn’t like the evening self-study was being strictly monitored — only a few class leaders were overseeing discipline, and they dared not interfere with us.

  The moment I spotted Zheng Wu, I was taken aback — he had once again donned his "battle armor."

  "What the hell? Planning to fight again?" I asked incredulously.

  "No," Zheng Wu replied seriously. "We’re about to invite Yang Zecheng and the others, right? I figured dressing formally would make a better impression."

  I was speechless. There was no talking sense into him, so I simply let it slide.

  We managed to lure Yang Zecheng out under the pretense of a smoke break. He had been doing quite well lately, already gathering two or three loyal followers of his own. In the restroom, amidst puffs of smoke, I got straight to the point. "We’re planning something big. Want in?"

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Yang Zecheng’s eyes lit up. "Who’s the target?"

  "Ding Sheng and Liang Qi," I said nonchalantly. "Think you’re up for it?"

  A brief hesitation flickered across his face before his pride took over. "What’s there to be afraid of? Let’s do it!"

  I knew the temperament of guys like him — rebellious and defiant by nature. Had I simply asked him to join, he might have been hesitant. But challenging his courage left him no choice but to accept.

  Everything was progressing smoothly until Zheng Wu, being Zheng Wu, added smugly, "Honestly, we could handle it ourselves. We’re only bringing you in for the sake of teamwork."

  Yang Zecheng’s expression instantly darkened. "Then why the hell did you even ask me?"

  Having spent considerable time with Zheng Wu, we had grown accustomed to his peculiar way of speaking, so we seldom took his words to heart. However, Yang Zecheng was different — he wasn't familiar with Zheng Wu's character. Seeing that things might take a turn for the worse, I quickly pulled Yang Zecheng aside and explained, "That's just how Zheng Wu is. Don't take it personally. In fact, it was HOUZI who specifically asked me to come to you. He said you're one of the bravest in the first year, and look — you're the first person I came to!"

  After bestowing upon him a generous metaphorical crown, Yang Zecheng's temper gradually cooled. Once he left, I turned to Zheng Wu and said, "You really need to be more mindful of how you speak. You’re going to offend people this way. From now on, let me do the talking, alright?" Surprisingly, Zheng Wu actually took my advice to heart and nodded in agreement.

  We then proceeded to find Li Baiyu, employing the same method. First, we flattered him a bit, then challenged his courage. At sixteen or seventeen, teenage boys were particularly susceptible to provocation. The moment I asked if he dared, Li Baiyu instantly declared, "Dare? Hell yeah! It's just Ding Sheng. I'll kick his ass so hard he won't know what hit him!" And thus, we successfully recruited Li Baiyu. Things were progressing smoothly, and I felt a faint sense of reassurance.

  After parting ways with Li Baiyu, our next target was Zhu Jianlong. His classroom was situated at the far end of the corridor. As Zheng Wu and I made our way there, a classroom door suddenly swung open, and to my utter dismay, Lin Ke’er stepped out.

  She was the last person I wanted to encounter in those days, and for a moment, I was completely frozen.

  Zheng Wu, as shameless as ever, nudged me and teased, "Hey, your main wife is here. Aren't you going to say hi?"

  "Don't talk nonsense. She's not my—wait, hold on. What did you mean by 'main wife'?"

  At that time, Lin Ke'er was still some distance away and could not hear our conversation.

  Zheng Wu grinned slyly, "Isn't Wang Yao your secondary wife?"

  My heart immediately started pounding. "What the hell are you talking about? When did Wang Yao become my secondary wife?"

  Zheng Wu scoffed, "Come on, she was all over you at the restaurant. She even fell out with Ding Sheng for your sake. If that’s not wifey behavior, I don’t know what is."

  My pulse quickened again, and a wave of anxiety washed over me. If even Zheng Wu had caught on, surely HOUZI and Huang Jie — who were even sharper — had figured it out as well. My voice trembled as I said, "Don't spout nonsense. There's absolutely nothing between Wang Yao and me."

  "Why so flustered? It's normal for guys like us to have more than one girlfriend, you know? Mao Mao from Seventh High has three, for crying out loud."

  As Lin Ke'er drew closer, I hastily shoved Zheng Wu and hissed, "Shut up already! There's nothing going on!"

  Zheng Wu clicked his tongue in disdain. "Tsk, tsk. What a coward. Mao Mao is way more open about it."

  Just as he finished speaking, Lin Ke'er finally approached us, concern etched on her face. "Zuo Fei, I heard you guys got into another fight?"

  Since I had already told Liu Yina about it, it was no surprise that Lin Ke'er knew as well. Trying to downplay the situation, I shrugged, "It wasn't much of a fight — more like we got beaten up."

  Her delicate brows furrowed. "Are you hurt badly? Should I get some ointment for you?"

  It was then that I noticed she was holding a bottle of medicinal oil in her hand. I quickly waved it off. "No need. It's just some minor scratches, nothing serious."

  Lin Ke'er hesitated for a moment before softly suggesting, "Or... should I call Wang Yao over to take care of you?"

  I was about to decline, but Zheng Wu couldn't resist butting in, "Aha! So Lin Ke'er knows about it too, huh? Geez, Zuo Fei kept telling me to keep it a secret, as if it's some big deal."

  Lin Ke'er blinked, puzzled. "Keep what a secret?"

  Panic surged through me, and I shoved Zheng Wu again. "Go back to class! I need to talk to my—uh, girlfriend privately!"

  The moment the word "girlfriend" escaped my lips, I knew I had messed up. Damn it, I had been calling Wang Yao my "wife" in my head for too long, and it had slipped out.

  Zheng Wu burst into hearty laughter, "Aha! Gotcha! Fine, fine. I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone." With that, he swaggered off.

  I turned back to Lin Ke'er, who was now blushing furiously. Mortified, I stammered, "I-I didn't mean that. It was a slip of the tongue."

  She simply responded with a shy "Oh," before gently offering, "Let me apply the ointment for you."

  Feeling too awkward to refuse, I turned around and lifted my shirt, pressing myself against the wall. Lin Ke'er carefully and tenderly dabbed the ointment on my wounds, her touch feather-light. It felt oddly intimate — almost too comfortable. In the past, I would’ve cracked a few jokes or flirted with her, but now I was too afraid to say a word, lest I worsen the already tangled mess.

  As she applied the ointment, she suddenly murmured, "Wang Yao told me everything…"

  A violent shiver ran down my spine, and my entire body stiffened. My heart pounded so fiercely it felt like it might burst from my chest, and cold sweat instantly drenched my back.

  Lin Ke'er continued in a soothing voice, "She feels really guilty about what happened. She said she only invited you guys to dinner, and she never expected you to get ambushed like that. She cried a lot when she got home. Seriously, Zuo Fei, don't blame her, okay? She never meant for any of this to happen."

  My heart, which had been suspended in terror, suddenly relaxed. My limbs loosened, my scalp ceased its prickling, and my sweat-soaked back began to cool. The sheer intensity of the emotional rollercoaster was beyond words. Logically, Wang Yao and I were both single — even if something did happen between us, no one had the right to judge. But for some inexplicable reason, I was utterly terrified that Lin Ke'er might find out the truth. Perhaps Wang Yao felt the same way.

  Lin Ke'er was still speaking, trying to clear Wang Yao’s name, as if afraid we were holding a grudge against her. But in reality, none of us blamed Wang Yao. On the contrary, we were grateful. After all, she had practically declared war against Ding Sheng for our sake — or rather, for mine.

  "Promise me, Zuo Fei. Don't hold it against her, okay?"

  I nodded. "Yeah… I won't."

  A relieved smile bloomed on Lin Ke'er's face. "Good. Now, can you go talk to her? She's still crying in the classroom."

  Without waiting for my response, she grabbed my sleeve and started dragging me towards Wang Yao's classroom. I didn't resist — truthfully, I had been wanting to see Wang Yao anyway. But the situation was bizarre beyond words. Here I was, being pulled along by my "main wife" to go comfort my "secondary wife." Or perhaps it was my ex-girlfriend dragging me to my current girlfriend? Hell, even Qiong Yao herself couldn't write a love triangle this convoluted.

  When we arrived, the classroom was noisy and chaotic since no teacher was present. In the far corner, Wang Yao was curled up at her desk, face buried in her arms, visibly crying. Several girls from the Thirteen Roses were gathered around, trying to comfort her.

  Lin Ke'er stepped forward with a cheerful smile. "Look who I brought!"

  The girls immediately erupted into a chorus of teasing. Some called me "brother-in-law," while others cheekily referred to me as "little brother-in-law." Cold sweat instantly drenched my back.

  Wang Yao lifted her tear-streaked face and locked eyes with me. The sight of her puffy, reddened eyes tugged painfully at my heartstrings. I desperately wanted to hug her, but the presence of so many people stripped me of the courage.

  "You…" Wang Yao's voice was hoarse and cold, "Who told you to come?"

  I froze, utterly bewildered.

  "There’s no need. Tell him to leave," Wang Yao continued coldly.

  I stared at her blankly, utterly incredulous that she could utter such harsh words.

  Her gaze was frigid, filled with an unyielding and authoritative determination. The air in the room thickened with awkward silence, and everyone present seemed hesitant, unwilling to provoke her wrath. As the undisputed leader among them, Wang Yao commanded unparalleled authority, and now, no one dared to speak up on my behalf. To be honest, even I felt a chilling dread, as though I had been transported back to the day we first met — a day when she was equally formidable and distant.

  "Leave," she repeated with an even colder tone.

  Utterly mortified, I felt as though I had been publicly humiliated. Lin Ke'er tugged gently at my sleeve, and with no better choice, I rose to my feet and stumbled awkwardly out of the classroom, my heart heavy and my face burning with shame.

  Lin Ke'er silently followed me out. I quickened my pace, my expression clouded with frost as I marched forward, saying nothing. She did not speak either, merely trailing behind me like a quiet shadow.

  I had no idea what had gotten into Wang Yao. Had I somehow offended her without realizing it? Or was there something I had overlooked?

  Descending the teaching building swiftly, I strode across the pitch-black campus and onto the desolate sports ground. The night wind was sharp and biting, causing both of us to shiver. My chest burned with pent-up frustration, and without thinking, I lashed out with my foot, sending a small stone flying into the infinite darkness. It vanished soundlessly, swallowed by the abyss.

  "What happened between you and Wang Yao?" Lin Ke'er finally broke the silence.

  "I don't know," I replied flatly, my face devoid of expression.

  "That's odd," she murmured, hesitation lacing her voice. "Sometimes, you two seem like nothing more than ordinary friends, but other times, it's as though you're exceptionally close. But tonight... tonight was the first time I’ve ever seen her act like this toward you. Did something happen between you two?"