"Hmm?"
Lin Yi was slightly taken aback. He looked up toward the rooftop entrance and saw two graceful figures walking away. Who else could they be but Chu Mengyao and Chen Yushu?
Lin Yi didn't actually believe that Chu Mengyao and Chen Yushu had developed secret crushes on him.
He could more or less guess why they were here; it was likely that the little troublemaker Chen Yushu had dragged Chu Mengyao along to join the excitement.
"They were just onlookers," Lin Yi said nonchalantly.
"Why do I feel like those were the Chu Mengyao and Chen Yushu from our class?"
Kang Xiaobo, however, was somewhat excited. "Boss, don't tell me you've actually caught the eye of two beauties?"
"You're overthinking it."
Lin Yi gave the back of Kang Xiaobo's head a helpless smack. "If I had known you were this talkative, I should have let Zhang Naipao hit you with that blow to clear your head."
"Hehe..."
Kang Xiaobo laughed heartily.
Having spent three years of high school being a pushover, he never expected to finally act like a big shot right before graduation.
Looking at the three former school bullies lying on the ground behind him, Kang Xiaobo felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
"Brother Liang, are you okay?"
Gao Xiaofu's injuries were relatively light, and the pain in his abdomen had subsided. Once Lin Yi left, he hurried to Zhong Pinliang's side and helped him up from the ground.
"I'm fine!"
Zhong Pinliang said, his face deathly pale. Looking at his current state, his words clearly didn't match reality.
"Brother Liang, what do we do about this? Are we just going to swallow this insult?"
Gao Xiaofu asked indignantly.
"Damn it, we really took a massive hit today!"
Zhong Pinliang cursed viciously. "I didn't expect that kid to have some actual skills. I almost fell right into his trap!"
"It's all my fault for being careless."
Seeing Zhong Pinliang's grim expression, Gao Xiaofu quickly took the blame to avoid having his anger directed at him.
"I don't blame you."
Zhong Pinliang waved him off. He had been tossed around by Lin Yi enough that he couldn't blame anyone else; he could only conclude that they simply weren't a match for the kid. "With the strength of the three of us, we don't seem to be his match. If we want to teach him a lesson, we'll have to call for reinforcements!"
"Should we talk to Zou Ruoming and ask him to step in?"
Gao Xiaofu suggested.
"Don't involve him. If he finds out about this, we'll lose all face, and we won't be able to hold our heads up in school anymore!"
Zhong Pinliang waved his hand dismissively. "I'll go to my father and find someone!"
When Lin Yi and Kang Xiaobo returned to the classroom safely, many classmates who had been worried about their safety breathed a sigh of relief.
Most students detested the arrogance of Zhong Pinliang and his gang, though a few were gloating onlookers who felt a slight sense of disappointment upon seeing that Lin Yi and the others were unharmed.
However, what puzzled them was that Zhong Pinliang, Gao Xiaofu, and Zhang Naipao did not return to the classroom. They didn't even show up when the large period began, which spoke volumes...
Zhong Pinliang didn't want Zou Ruoming to know about this, yet he ran into him on the sports field anyway.
Gao Xiaofu was supporting Zhang Naipao as they followed behind Zhong Pinliang. The three of them walked with a staggered, uneven gait, looking like defeated deserters.
"Zhong Pinliang, what happened to you guys?"
Zou Ruoming was playing basketball on the field. From a distance, he recognized the three familiar figures, and upon closer inspection, realized it was Zhong Pinliang's group.
Zhong Pinliang cursed his bad luck inwardly. When you're having a run of bad luck, even drinking cold water can get stuck in your teeth—how could he run into him at such an awkward moment?
As one of the school's "Four Great Villains," Zhong Pinliang cared deeply about his reputation. If another "villain" saw him in this pathetic state and the news spread, his reputation would be ruined.
"It's nothing..."
Zhong Pinliang didn't want to say much. He waved his hand and quickened his pace.
"I say, Liang-zi, did you guys get beaten up? Who did it? Tell Brother Ming, and I'll handle them for you!"
Seeing their miserable state, how could Zou Ruoming not guess they had lost a fight? He shouted with bravado.
Zhong Pinliang knew Zou Ruoming's capabilities; he was the strongest fighter among the Four Great Villains and had connections in the outside world—he was a real powerhouse.
But today was simply too embarrassing. Zhong Pinliang didn't want too many people to know, so he waved him off. "It's nothing. We were just sparring with each other and got a bit too heavy-handed..."
Since Zhong Pinliang insisted on not saying more, Zou Ruoming didn't press him.
Watching their retreating backs, Zou Ruoming shook his head. "Stupid. Friends beating friends? And beating them nearly to death? I don't buy it for a second."
"Boss, where do you live? Let's walk home together after school!"
Kang Xiaobo was still in an excited state, feeling a deep sense of admiration for his new boss.
Lin Yi was startled. He couldn't let anyone know that he had walked home with Chu Mengyao that evening. He wouldn't care, but Chu Mengyao certainly wouldn't want that.
Thinking of this, Lin Yi said, "My house is very far. You go ahead; I'll leave a bit later."
"Then I'll wait for you! It'll be good if we walk together to the school gate!"
Kang Xiaobo was reluctant to leave and wanted to chat with Lin Yi a bit longer. He never imagined there would be a time when even Zhong Pinliang could be beaten so badly he couldn't get up.
"Alright then..."
Lin Yi knew that if he kept making excuses, it would arouse Kang Xiaobo's suspicion. Since they were just walking to the school gate anyway, he would just wait until Kang Xiaobo was far away before getting into Uncle Fu's car.
Chu Mengyao and Chen Yushu had already packed their things and left the classroom. Lin Yi intentionally timed his departure to avoid them. After lingering for a while, he slung his backpack on and walked out of the classroom with Kang Xiaobo.
"Boss, let me tell you a secret..."
As they walked out of the classroom, Kang Xiaobo suddenly lowered his voice and spoke in a whisper.
"What secret?"
Lin Yi looked at him, puzzled. Why was this kid acting so mysterious?
"I live very close to the commoner school belle, Tang Yun..."
Kang Xiaobo gave a lecherous grin and added, "Actually, I often get to take the same bus as her!"
"Damn!"
Lin Yi smacked the back of Kang Xiaobo's head. "Why are you even thinking about that? What kind of secret is that? What does it have to do with me that you live near her?"
"Are you really not interested in her?"
Kang Xiaobo asked, sounding skeptical.
"It's not that I'm not interested, it's that I've never even seen what she looks like! You're asking me to be interested in someone who doesn't exist to me!"
Lin Yi said with a laugh. "Alright, go on home. I need to head out too!"
"Okay, Boss. See you tomorrow!"
Kang Xiaobo waved to Lin Yi and disappeared into the crowd of students leaving school...
(End of Chapter)