Pitiful people must have their hateful sides.
Ji Yun felt sympathy for Jiang Hua's plight.
But Ji Yun didn't think much of the guy.
He was self-reliant, which was admirable, but sometimes he had no bottom line in the things he did.
For example, just before high school graduation, because someone was also selling cigarettes on campus, he rallied a group of guys and beat that person half to death.
Unfortunately, among those involved in the fight were himself and Wu Kai.
They thought it was just a typical group fight with people calling in reinforcements, but it turned out the other side was just a few junior high students.
Ji Yun and Wu Kai felt it was wrong, and seeing that the opponents were junior high students, and there weren't many of them, they left straight away.
However, Jiang Hua and the others were very heavy-handed.
The incident had a huge impact, resulting in severe punishment for everyone involved.
Ji Yun and Wu Kai were no exception.
Even though their grades weren't great at the time, they could still have muscled their way into a lesser college had it not been for this premature entrance into factory work.
Ji Yun and Wu Kai had gone to the school leaders to argue their case since neither of them had hit anyone.
But it was no use; the matter had already been settled, and even became a notorious example of misconduct throughout the schools in Lan City, leaving Ji Yun and Wu Kai with no room for defense...
Out of frustration, both of them dropped out of school and didn't even attend the college entrance exams.
For a long time afterward, Ji Yun and Wu Kai regretted that decision every time they brought it up.
Even with the disciplinary record, it wouldn't have affected the college entrance exams, so why act rashly and drop out in a huff?
Had they tried, they might have made it into a university, and having a university diploma would have made job-hunting much easier!
Jiang Hua himself had never planned on taking his studies seriously.
Once in society, Jiang Hua continued his small-time business.
But by leveraging his unscrupulous focus on profit, he did make something of a name for himself.
He opened his own store, becoming his own boss.
The temporary work at a high-end restaurant had also been introduced by Jiang Hua.
Out of guilt, and because he was doing well for himself, Jiang Hua helped Ji Yun and Wu Kai from time to time, providing them with introductions to well-paying daily jobs.
So, when Jiang Hua said that working a day in the restaurant could bring in hundreds, neither of them thought too much about it and agreed.
Wu Kai worked in the kitchen.
Ji Yun, because of his good looks, wore a tailcoat to serve as a waiter.
Little did they know, this was a trap set by Luo Yao for themselves!!
Jiang Hua had screwed him over once while they were in school, feigned compensation afterward, but this guy, with no principles or bottom line, couldn't be trusted!
If Wu Kai said that he hadn't mentioned the temp job to anyone else, then the person who told Luo Yao must have definitely been Jiang Hua, the referrer!
They had grown up on the same street, after all.
Could he really be so merciless in setting them up???
Ji Yun narrowed his eyes, watching Jiang Hua walk away in feigned stomach pain, and a notion took shape in his mind.
"Hey, this cigarette tastes off," suddenly, the brown-haired delinquent Brother Xin said.
"It tastes wrong?" Ji Yun snapped back to reality and looked up at the brown-haired boy with an unfriendly expression.
This guy was a senior in high school and had a bad reputation in school for a long time.
But a smoking corner like this one naturally attracted the most problematic group from the school.
"It's not a fake, is it?" the slick-haired boy beside him asked.
"Pah, it is a fake, no wonder it tastes moldy!" Brother Xin with the brown hair threw the cigarette on the ground and then grabbed Ji Yun by the collar.
"You heard just now, I'm only helping to watch for a bit; when Jiang Hua returns, you can ask him," Ji Yun uttered, fending off the other's rough behavior with his hand.
"What the hell, you're in cahoots with him, what's the difference between asking you and asking him!" Brother Xin approached again, glaring viciously at Ji Yun.
Brother Xin's cronies also tossed aside their cigarettes and surrounded Ji Yun.
In the past, Ji Yun would definitely have argued back, then, out of a sense of loyalty and his own justice, held the fort for Jiang Hua.
But now, knowing what kind of person Jiang Hua was, Ji Yun realized why something had felt off.
Jiang Hua's stomach pain was all too convenient!
"How about this, if the cigarettes are indeed fake, I'll help you guys beat up Jiang Hua later?" Ji Yun proposed.
"Don't give me that, we're looking for you, you get it? You're Ji Yun!" Brother Xin jabbed his finger into Ji Yun's face.
Ji Yun could even see the dirt under his fingernails.
Jabbing me, are you?
Do you really think I haven't seen through your ruse???
Colluding with a few delinquents, lying in wait here.
It's so obvious they're coming for me!
In a place like this, you could scream from a beating and probably no one would hear it.
Ji Yun wasn't fully certain before whether the humiliation from his classmates was orchestrated by Jiang Hua and Luo Yao, but with the current situation, it became clear that they'd had a special relationship ever since their school days!
Luo Yao was rich.
And Jiang Hua was someone who would do anything for money!
"How much did Luo Yao pay you, the price of a pack of cigarettes?" Ji Yun asked with a smile.
He really was the type to hold a grudge.
He had just formatted his beloved camera, and now Luo Yao had set him a new trap!
And no shabby trap, at that.
Jiang Hua knew Ji Yun smoked and was sure to come by after class.
Luo Yao rounded up some older students, pretended to be here buying and smoking, then Jiang Hua feigned stomach pain, asking Ji Yun to watch over, and in the end, Brother Xin would pick a fight and give him a beating right here!
Quite reminiscent of the ten-year class reunion.
Despite the more sophisticated methods ten years later, they left me even more disgraced.
Jiang Hua, you treacherous dog, I haven't even settled the score with you for the pitfall from ten years ago, and now you're selling me out again??
"What crap are you spouting? I'm just asking if this cigarette is fake. You gave me a fake cigarette to smoke; watch how I beat the hell out of you!" Brother Xin with brown hair said as his hand, already aiming at Ji Yun's face, fiercely swung out for a slap!
Although their main job was with the Rescue Association, this philanthropic work was mostly idle in Lan City and barely provided enough to afford meals.
Therefore, Ji Yun and Wu Kai also had many side jobs.
Day-pay waiters at high-end restaurants.
Citywide emergency delivery.
Stand-in performers at the park.
Security personnel at major events.
And sparring partners at the freelance fighting club!
Being a sparring partner paid well.
After all, they occasionally encountered professional fighters whose techniques were dazzling!
Ji Yun effortlessly dodged the sudden slap by tilting his shoulder and cocking his head to one side.
Then, with a shove of his elbow, he delivered a fierce elbow strike to the guy!
"Ouch!!!" Wang Xin cried out in pain, completely taken aback by Ji Yun's counterattack.
The other few, seeing their Brother Xin at a disadvantage, immediately swung their fists, ready to join in!
"Vice Principal Wang, what are you doing here!!" Suddenly, Ji Yun shouted in panic.
The delinquent teenagers who were about to gang up on him stopped in their tracks, turning their heads in shock to look.
But behind them was nothingness.
There was no Vice Principal Wang!
By the time they turned back, Ji Yun, who they had surrounded, had slipped away and taken off as if he was sprinting a hundred-meter race!!
"Damn it, chase him!!" Brother Xin with brown hair roared angrily.
Ji Yun's physical fitness in high school was quite outstanding; he often trained by mountain climbing with professionals.
These delinquents who spent their time drinking, playing cards, and staying up all night gaming were not much of a match; Ji Yun easily shook them off!
"Useless trash, how could you let him get away!!" Just then, a man with a camera hanging around his chest emerged from a corner and swore loudly.
This person was none other than Luo Yao!
He had been prepared to film Ji Yun getting beaten up!
Who would have thought that such a formidable group of school bullies couldn't hold onto the little Ji Yun!
Keep in mind that not long ago, Ji Yun had kissed Qiu Mo, and it was the talk of Luo Yao's frustration right here!!
Now, the money was spent, but the target had not been hit!
...
Ji Yun was not stupid.
With so many people ganging up on him, he might be able to avoid losing, but he was bound to receive a few punches and kicks.
Having footprints and fist marks on his body would clearly contradict his image as an elegant young man on campus.
Ji Yun could bide his time for revenge after autumn!
"Block him!!" Brother Xin with brown hair suddenly shouted at a group of teenagers ahead.
Ji Yun had intended to escape back to the school building, only to discover that the group approaching him were also affiliates of brown-haired Brother Xin.
It was a student with green hair, not wearing a uniform, his shirt open nearly to his navel.
Students who dare to defy Vice Principal Wang's lechery by not wearing uniforms were real troublemakers; Ji Yun remembered that this guy was not to be trifled with!
Indeed, the student with green hair, seeing the bustling scene, immediately smirked as if he had been bored all morning and finally found some amusement, then a group of them rushed over like mad dogs.
"Damn it!"
Ji Yun cursed under his breath.
Getting back to the school building was looking unlikely now!
Glancing at the adjacent comprehensive building, Ji Yun didn't think twice and rushed into the building!
What exactly the comprehensive building was for, Ji Yun didn't quite understand.
Fortunately, the building had many corridors, stairs, classrooms, and venues, so finding a place to hide shouldn't be a problem.
Although he was going to leave the place in twenty minutes.
But judging from the previous cycles, the world continued to operate as usual.
When Xiao Ji Yun, still delirious from heatstroke, opened his eyes only to find himself being chased by two gangs of delinquents, how helpless and confused he must have felt!
Thankfully, there were still a few minutes to spare.
"Bang!"
Ji Yun forcefully pushed open a classroom door in the activity hall, then quickly shut it.
Inside, the lights were off, and the curtains were half-drawn; it was rather spacious but still somewhat dim.
Just when Ji Yun thought he had found an ideal hiding spot, a swift figure shot out like a cat!
Then, the figure leapt up, and that magnificent leg lift made Ji Yun feel as if he'd stumbled into an anime scene. Following that, a straight and powerful leg kicked against his broad chest!
"Bang!"
Ji Yun was sent back several steps; just as he was finding his balance, he felt a dull pain in his chest and then tumbled backward onto the floor!!
Luckily, the floor was covered with mats.
Otherwise, that fall would have definitely broken a few bones!
What powerful force!!
Such control of strength was comparable to those professional fighters!
Fortunately, the floor was soft, and the opponent's weight class didn't seem heavy; otherwise, with that kind of kick, they could have sent me flying against the wall!
"Hmph, who allowed you smokers in here!!" A clear yet somewhat arrogant voice rang out.