Over an hour had passed, yet the onlookers hadn’t even noticed their feet growing sore. Only when Tian Yuyao finished sculpting the clay figure did they snap back to reality.

The clay figure was already painted with a special quick-drying pigment that bonded perfectly with the clay. The colors were masterfully blended—so lifelike that, without a close photo inspection, one might mistake it for a real person.

The surrounding students gasped in awe, all leaning in for a closer look.

Naturally, the clay statue had a base—a circular platform with exquisitely lifelike grass.

It was such a delicate piece of art that Ye Wen barely dared to touch it, fearing even the slightest movement might ruin its perfection.

"It’s just like the real thing!" exclaimed the students nearest to the stall. "Absolutely incredible..."

"Make one for me too!" a student shouted, already pulling out cash.

Of course, many others were tight on cash. Though it was flea market day—and parents had handed out extra allowance—most only had fifty yuan. Even those with a hundred yuan hesitated to spend half of it so easily.

Still, over ten students lined up to order their own clay figures.

A tall, burly boy slammed a hundred-yuan bill onto the table. "Make me two!" he barked.

"D-don’t rush..." Tian Yuyao stammered nervously. "O-one... at a time..."

The boy obediently fell in line behind Ye Wen.

She glanced back—it was Jin Jiahui. Standing beside him was Feng Yulan. They weren’t holding hands, but their shoulders were nearly touching.

No one paid it much mind. These days, boys standing close wasn’t unusual—there weren’t enough fujoshi around to make a fuss.

"Hey! No cutting!" Lu Yu protested as Jin Jiahui ignored her and Jin Jing to queue behind Ye Wen. "What about us?"

"Oh! You two first!" Jin Jiahui quickly stepped back, gesturing for Feng Yulan to follow.

More students mimicked Jin Jiahui, placing money on the table. Tian Yuyao hurriedly added, "...O-only... five per day..."

"What? You’re stopping?" A burly senior snarled, his face flushed with anger. "You damn well *will* make one for me."

This was Gou Xuan—Wenlan Academy’s notorious bully. Even at the city’s top school, pests like him thrived. He’d cheated his way through exams undetected, smoothly advancing to senior year. Despite repeated offenses—from assaults covered up by his government-official father to rumors of assaulting a junior who later dropped out—he remained enrolled.

The principal longed to expel him but couldn’t. Gou’s father had donated heavily to the school. With graduation near, the principal chose to endure it. Out of sight, out of mind.

His underlings called him "Brother Gou."

Tian Yuyao paled, trembling as she struggled to speak under Gou Xuan’s glare.

Students murmured uneasily. A few boys bristled with outrage, but their friends held them back. Gou Xuan wasn’t alone—he commanded the "Four Guardians," each with their own followers. Together, they could muster nearly a hundred thugs. Fighting back was suicide.

"Pick on a girl? Pathetic," Jin Jiahui stepped forward. Though shorter than Gou Xuan, his lean muscles promised trouble. Revenge? He hadn’t even considered it.

"Hah. Kid, you need a beating?" Gou Xuan sneered. "Know who I am?"

"Idiot," Jin Jiahui replied flatly.

"Damn you!" Gou Xuan lunged, his massive fist swinging toward Jin Jiahui’s face.

His fighting skills were crude—relying solely on his bulky frame. Untrained and soft, he bullied smaller kids but was no match for someone like Jin Jiahui.

Jin Jiahui deflected the punch, then drove his right fist into Gou Xuan’s jaw. A sharp knee strike followed, slamming into his gut. Gou Xuan’s thick fat absorbed most of the impact, fueling his rage. He swung his other fist wildly.

The clumsy blow was easily blocked. Jin Jiahui swept Gou Xuan’s knee out from under him, forcing him to his knees.

"Damn you! You’ll pay for this!" Gou Xuan spat, scrambling away through the crowd. This humiliation would cost him his reputation if he didn’t retaliate.

"Badass," a friend beside Jin Jiahui gave a thumbs-up. "Aren’t you scared?"

"A real man fears nothing," Jin Jiahui declared, showing off.

Ye Wen rolled her eyes, but a few girls nearby already had stars in their eyes.

No further trouble arose. The crowd watched quietly, some drifting away while others stayed. The audience never thinned until the event ended.

Tian Yuyao carefully placed the dried clay figures into delicate boxes and handed them to the five buyers.

Seeing students disperse again, Tian Yuyao flushed with panic. "W-wait! No... no more custom orders... but... pre-made ones! I have those!" she called out desperately.

A few lingering students perked up. No custom figures? Fine—they could still buy the ready-made ones. And they were stunning.

The collection wasn’t just human figures. Animals—both realistic and chibi-style—filled the table. Nearly fifty pieces in total, likely crafted over a week.

As the crowd gathered anew, Tian Yuyao arranged the figures on display. Students examined them closely, occasionally selecting a favorite. Even after paying, they lingered, reluctant to leave.

As for Brother Gou? He was in the restroom, smoking with his Four Guardians, plotting to hire street thugs to beat up Jin Jiahui.

...