Chapter 22: Come With Us

“The person whose butt you kicked yesterday is also in our class! They are plotting to cause you trouble!”

Lin Yi gave a dismissive smile after reading the note.

He didn't believe for a second that Chen Yushu was giving him a kind warning. This girl lived for chaos; her intention in reminding him was nothing more than to see him continue to teach Zhong Pinliang and the others a lesson. She was likely fed up with Zhong Pinliang herself.

The physics teacher was an old man in his fifties, but his scholarship was very solid. Although Lin Yi had self-studied the material before, he still found the lectures quite engaging.

After the first period ended, Zhong Pinliang called Gao Xiaofu and Zhang Naipao to head out, but they didn't come looking for trouble with Lin Yi, and Lin Yi couldn't be bothered to care about them anyway.

“Naipao, what the hell is wrong with you?”

Zhong Pinliang glared at Zhang Naipao in frustration. “Didn't I tell you to give him a warning? What were you doing?”

“Don't even mention it, Brother Liang. I just extended my foot, trying to trip the guy so he'd fall flat on his face, but the bastard stepped right on the top of my foot. Dammit, it hurt like hell!”

Zhang Naipao said with a bitter face, “It still hurts!”

“Did he notice?”

Zhong Pinliang frowned. He had just been kicked by Lin Yi yesterday, and he knew exactly how much strength the guy had. He figured Zhang Naipao must be in significant pain.

“Probably not. He didn't even look down.”

Zhang Naipao was also skeptical about the incident.

“Damn it, I can't believe we've both fallen victim to a country bumpkin one after another. During the mid-day exercise break, we'll corner him in the restroom. I'm going to show him the difference between urine and beer!”

Zhong Pinliang said resentfully. Since enrolling, he had been ranked as one of the school's "Four Great Villains," and he had never suffered such a humiliation.

“And we'll show him the difference between feces and cake!” Gao Xiaofu added.

As the three were discussing this, a man wearing black clothes and chewing on a cigarette approached them. “I say, Liang-zi, what are you guys doing? Having a meeting or something?”

“Isn't that Brother Ming!”

Zhong Pinliang looked up and saw Zou Ruoming, the second-ranked member of the school's Four Great Villains!

This guy's misdeeds were even more excessive than his own. He had reportedly forcibly dragged a female classmate into a small grove to assault her back in middle school.

Zou Ruoming nodded, clearly enjoying the title of "Brother Ming." After all, his family background wasn't as influential as Zhong Pinliang's. However, he was quite ruthless and had a "big brother" figure in the social underworld, which allowed him to move quite freely in school.

“Is there anything you need Brother Ming's help with?” Zou Ruoming asked.

“It's nothing, just a transfer student bumpkin. In a moment, I'll show him who calls the shots in this school!”

Zhong Pinliang naturally refused to lose face in front of Zou Ruoming, speaking with an air of indifference.

“Shit! You're holding a serious meeting just for a country bumpkin?”

Upon hearing this, Zou Ruoming immediately lost interest. He had thought there was something fun going on. He shook his head and walked away.

Over the past few days, he had set his sights on a girl from Class 9 of the senior year and was pondering how to make a move. However, that "cold beauty" was very aloof, so Zou Ruoming was considering whether he should just use brute force.

The reason he referred to her as a "younger sister" was because Zou Ruoming was enrolled in a college entrance exam preparatory class—the so-called "Senior Year 4"!

This was for students who had failed to get into university. While Zou Ruoming could pay to attend university at any time, staying in high school was his own choice. He enjoyed the lifestyle of having people respond to his every call, and he understood that once he went to a university in another city, this situation would cease to exist.

The worldview of a college student was entirely different from that of a high schooler. Furthermore, in another city, away from his family's sphere of influence, being as arrogant as he was now would lead to a miserable end. Thus, Zou Ruoming had told his father he would study for one more year and take the entrance exam again next year.

Seeing that his son was willing to study, Father Zou naturally agreed, completely unaware of his son's ulterior motives.

Lin Yi spent three periods quite peacefully. Chu Mengyao acted as if she didn't know him at all, not even sparing him a glance, while that girl Chen Yushu kept glancing his way with a mischievous look.

Lin Yi naturally didn't think Chen Yushu had a crush on him; she was likely just waiting to see him fight Zhong Pinliang.

The break after the third period was the daily mid-day exercise time. Just as Lin Yi stood up to head to the playground with his classmates, he saw Zhong Pinliang, Zhang Naipao, and Gao Xiaofu walking toward him.

Since Lin Yi sat in the last row, there was no way to leave the classroom without passing through this area. Without a doubt, these three were coming for him. Lin Yi also knew that it was only a matter of time before they came looking for trouble.

“Yay! Yao-yao, look! That idiot Zhong Pinliang is going to find Arrow Brand Brother!”

Chen Yushu had been keeping an eye on the movements of Zhong Pinliang and Lin Yi throughout the classes. Seeing that Zhong Pinliang was finally going to cause trouble for Lin Yi, she became instantly excited. She had long wanted to see Zhong Pinliang make a fool of himself, but she had refrained out of respect for their elders. Now that someone else was doing it for her, she was thrilled.

“Oh? Then it's perfect for Zhong Pinliang to teach that bastard a lesson!”

Chu Mengyao's anger had not yet subsided.

“No way, Yao-yao, why are you taking Zhong Pinliang's side?” Chen Yushu was stunned. “Don't tell me you actually like him?”

“As if I'd ever like him! I actually hate Lin Yi even more!” Chu Mengyao snorted. “Let's go, ignore him!”

“Don't! I want to see! I want to see who wins!” Chen Yushu pulled at Chu Mengyao to stop her from leaving.

“Fine. I might as well watch that bastard get beaten to soothe my anger!”

Although Chu Mengyao said this, for some reason, she didn't actually want Lin Yi to lose. By comparison, she found Zhong Pinliang more annoying. While Lin Yi was detestable, he wasn't quite that bad.

And so, the two curious girls huddled by the classroom door, watching the unfolding scene.

“Kid, do you know why we're looking for you?”

Zhong Pinliang blocked Lin Yi's path, acting incredibly cocky as he pointed at him.

“I know. Because I kicked your ass yesterday and sent you face-first into the dirt,” Lin Yi said calmly, acting as if it were no big deal.

“Holy shit! If you know, why are you still being so arrogant? You think you're hot stuff?”

Zhang Naipao glared and reached out to grab Lin Yi by the collar.

“Is your foot not hurting anymore?” Lin Yi easily brushed Zhang Naipao's hand aside, speaking with a hint of mockery.

Zhang Naipao's face flushed red instantly. This was a deep humiliation for him! Lin Yi had done it on purpose!

“Kid, if you've got guts, come with us to the restroom! This is a classroom and there are too many people here. If the Dean sees us, it won't be good for anyone.”

Zhong Pinliang was fuming with rage. Was this kid actually stupid, or just pretending to be? Why was he acting so nonchalant? Did he really not realize that the three of them were about to teach him a lesson?