“So you really do think I’m an idiot. You thought you could just put on an act and fool me? You’re not just as fat as a pig, you’re as stupid as one, too! I’ve been beating you for ages. If you had some kind of problem, I’d have beaten it out of you by now. Why would I have to wait until today?”

Zhou Lin only got angrier as he spoke, and immediately kicked him again.

He knew what Wang Fanran was thinking.

He’d simply seen Lin Qing have an episode and watched him panic, then assumed he’d found a way to fight back.

Too bad.

That method didn’t work on everyone.

Especially not on someone like Wang Fanran, who was fat enough to drip grease. No matter how hard Zhou Lin beat him, he’d be fine.

But Lin Qing was so skinny and frail he looked like a strong gust could blow him away. Zhou Lin wasn’t even sure he could take a single punch.

Wang Fanran had been too clever for his own good—and his clever little schemes were the kind that couldn’t stand up to scrutiny.

Zhou Lin admitted he was afraid of being held responsible. But when there was no risk of that, he had nothing to hold him back.

Like beating the crap out of this fat pig.

“It’s barely morning. Why are you so fired up? Zhou Lin, that’s enough!”

As Zhou Lin pummeled Wang Fanran with punches and kicks, beating him until he cried out in pain, Wang Jian had just stepped into the classroom. He saw what was happening and spoke up with a helpless sigh.

Zhou Lin sure had a temper. How long had it been now?

And he still wasn’t over it.

“Wang Jian, you don’t know what this fat pig just did. He tried to fake an episode and scare me. What a damn pain in the ass!”

When Zhou Lin heard Wang Jian, he realized he’d misunderstood.

He gave a brief explanation, but didn’t go into detail. He also felt like Wang Fanran had made a fool of him.

Even a pig like that had dared to trick him. It pissed him off so much!

“All right, all right. Whatever it is, deal with it after school. The teacher’s about to get here.”

Seeing Zhou Lin still fuming, Wang Jian raised an interested eyebrow.

But when he glanced up at the clock on the wall and saw that class was about to start, he quickly tried to talk Zhou Lin down. He didn’t want him causing trouble in front of the teacher.

If Brother Liu were here, they wouldn’t have to worry about the teachers.

Any teacher standing in front of Brother Liu looked like a weak, useless little chick.

They wouldn’t dare raise their voice.

Too bad the school had ordered Brother Liu to stay home and reflect for a week. He still couldn’t come back.

For now, they had to keep their heads down, or the teachers would be on their case nonstop.

“Fine, I’ll listen to you… Fat pig, don’t think you can run away at lunch!”

After that threat, Zhou Lin left Wang Fanran alone and went straight back to his seat. He started chatting with Wang Jian about what was going on outside school.

Once Zhou Lin was gone, the students who’d been watching the show turned away too, paying no attention to Wang Fanran, who was still lying on the floor.

Lin Qing, Wang Fanran’s deskmate, didn’t step in. It wasn’t because he was heartless. There was simply no reason to help Wang Fanran.

Lin Qing wasn’t some easygoing do-gooder.

Wang Fanran had acted maliciously again and again. This was nothing like normal interaction between classmates.

Even though Lin Qing had spent ten years away from school and hadn’t been part of student life, he wasn’t stupid. He could clearly tell kindness from malice.

From beginning to end, his deskmate hadn’t shown him the slightest bit of kindness.

So Lin Qing decided to ignore him and draw a clear line between them.

Besides, he had something more important to figure out now.

Su Yao’s red skull…

When Lin Qing thought of Su Yao, he looked up toward her seat. She was laughing and chatting with the girl beside her, her profile breathtakingly beautiful.

Like a goddess from a dream, she made everyone’s heart flutter.

How was he supposed to deal with the red skull problem?

“Damn it, Lin Qing! This is all your fault!”

Just as Lin Qing was staring at Su Yao and lost in thought, Wang Fanran, who’d been lying on the floor, suddenly shouted.

His loud voice drew the whole class’s attention. Even Su Yao, who’d been talking to someone, turned curiously toward Lin Qing when she heard his name.

She looked a little confused, but her eyes were full of anticipation.

They sparkled.

It seemed she found Lin Qing getting into trouble pretty entertaining.

A little seasoning for an otherwise boring day.

When the shout snapped Lin Qing back to reality, he caught the schadenfreude in Su Yao’s eyes. Before he tried to solve the red skull problem, he’d have to make a careful plan.

Su Yao’s true nature was far too nasty.

She wasn’t someone he could handle.

Her sweet, obedient act was all fake.

In reality, she was a sly and cruel monster. One careless move, and she’d drag him away and send him plunging into the abyss.

He had to be careful!

As for Wang Fanran’s angry shout, Lin Qing merely glanced at him before looking away. He didn’t take it seriously.

Wang Fanran had gotten beaten up because he’d brought it on himself.

You reap what you sow.

The seeds he’d planted from the start had naturally borne the same fruit.

There was no feeling sorry for him.

And Lin Qing didn’t want to.

“What are you all shouting about? Are we having class or not? Wang Fanran, why are you lying on the floor? Get up. Class is starting!”

After Wang Fanran’s furious outburst, everyone had expected a pathetic slap-fight between two losers. But the teacher, who’d arrived early, spoke up and cut things short without mercy.

The students were disappointed. They stopped watching and quickly took out their books.

Wang Fanran was still lying on the floor, and he was so heavy that the teacher eventually lost patience and had the students nearby help him up.

When Wang Fanran finally sat back down, he didn’t bother Lin Qing again. He put his arm on the desk and buried his face in it.

What should he do???

He was going to get beaten up again at lunch.

No!

If he kept getting beaten up, he might as well transfer schools.

But he was already in his second year of high school. His family wouldn’t agree to let him transfer.

Damn it!

Did he have to keep putting up with this?

There were still two years until graduation. Could he really endure it that long?

Damn Zhou Lin. Damn Lin Qing. Damn this school!

Wait…

In this desperate situation, he could ask that guy to help him!

The last time that guy came looking for him, Wang Fanran had thought he was a pervert. But now, with nothing else to try, he might as well give it a shot.

What was that guy’s phone number again?

He’d send a text first and see what happened.

……

Ding!

Chen Sen heard the alert for an incoming text, but didn’t check his phone right away. Smiling, he raised the iron rod and tapped the huge iron cage in front of him, which was covered with red cloth.

The sound of the cage rang through the dim basement, low and heavy, breaking the silence.

Chen Sen didn’t mind at all. His smile only grew brighter.

He was about to make a fortune again.

He’d been worrying about not having enough hands to help.

Looks like he didn’t need to worry anymore.