The boy's puberty generally begins in junior high.
Bai Tang's peers, busy with their fun and games, were enjoying naive romance, singing the praises of their youth on the campus paths lush with greenery.
But what was he doing?
Day after day, he dismantled electronics and assembled parts; his hands and nose were always coated with sticky, black grease and stains; he took apart his grandparents' old radio and put it back together, then laughed like a fool when it resumed functioning...
In the silent environment of a dimly-lit room, amidst the cold touch of metal parts and the pungent scent of lubricating oil, he fumbled and learned about mechanical machinery like a kid with a strange hobby. If this could be called youth, it was truly too sad to bear. However, the reason Bai Tang could endure such solitude was because of passion—he loved these things!
Honestly, men all have a thing for large machines. If there's a digger working by the roadside, you're sure to find a crowd of men watching.
And Bai Tang, he was just a bit more intense than that.
His fondness for them was so strong it could even overcome the impulses of puberty.
What would happen if such a mech-fanatic was presented with a never-before-seen mecha that surpassed the limitations of its era?
This was Bai Tang's near-crazed excitement just a few days ago.
Yes, in the lab funded by Holy Sect Group...
He had seen a mecha, currently in the midst of repairs!!!
And on the very day Bai Tang saw this mecha, he was completely convinced that it wasn't just for show. Whether someone was piloting it or not, the mecha exhibited incredible flexibility.
It continuously cooperated with the lab technicians, performing a variety of movements.
Bai Tang had only recently joined this project as a disciple of the mentor, so he wasn't very clear about the other detailed aspects. But what he could be sure of was that his subsequent work would be closely related to the mecha.
Therefore, Bai Tang would absolutely not give up his spot to his senior apprentice brothers.
All the dreams and romance he could think of...
Were in this experimental project.
"Huff, it officially starts tomorrow, feeling a little nervous..."
Bai Tang put his phone back in his pocket, quickly walked out of the bathroom, went to the sink to wash his face, and dried off with a paper towel. Just as he was about to leave, he saw a familiar face entering from the side in the mirror. It was such an unfortunate coincidence to run into the very person he didn't want to see.
Feng Yu, a senior under the same mentor.
He too had come to this hotpot restaurant for dinner today.
And it looked like he had been drinking; his cheeks were somewhat red.
"Bai Tang?"
The next second, Feng Yu also saw Bai Tang, his eyebrows instantly standing upright, his face growing even redder. He had just been venting to his friends about the mentor and Bai Tang, cursing the old fogey for disregarding mentor-disciple relations, and branding Bai Tang as a sly and fawning villain. Feng Yu felt off-balance; he knew he had been lazy and couldn't possibly compete with his senior sister, Pei Ying. But he had retained a sliver of hope against his junior, Bai Tang; he believed he could defeat Bai Tang.
Unfortunately, that sliver of hope had been shattered a few days ago.
Feng Yu didn't dare lash out at the mentor nor challenge his senior sister, Pei Ying, so he placed most of his anger on Bai Tang.
Last time, the two had already had an argument at school.
And now, not even two days later, they had an unexpected encounter, and Feng Yu had had a bit to drink. Naturally, he couldn't hold back, and his anger surged to his head.
His palm suddenly exerted force, and he fiercely shoved Bai Tang on the shoulder.
Thud, Bai Tang's back slammed against the wall, emitting a dull sound.
"Are you crazy? Feng Yu!"
"The mentor decided to let me do it! You think I stole your spot? Why don't you ask yourself why you weren't chosen?"
Bai Tang was annoyed, having been shoved out of the blue.
But he had a relatively gentle nature, and still did not retaliate against Feng Yu.
Instead, he tried to reason verbally, which was somewhat tinged with sarcasm.
"Your mother!
Feng Yu had no intention of rationalizing anything with Bai Tang right now.
He just wanted to beat the other up and let off some steam.
Feng Yu's expression tightened, blinded by rage, and he charged forward aggressively. His eyes locked onto Bai Tang's delicate face as he swung his fist.
Bai Tang, leaning against the wall, was suddenly alarmed.
As he watched the fist before him swell rapidly in size, he reflexively closed his eyes.
Smack!
Oddly, after two seconds passed, Bai Tang didn't feel any impact or pain. He opened his eyes, gasping for breath.
"Hm?"
He saw that Feng Yu's swinging fist had been forcefully grabbed midair by someone. A thick, powerful arm reached out from behind Feng Yu like a pair of iron tongs. A robust inverse-triangle figure suddenly appeared.
"A drunkard? Or a madman?"
"I can take you to the hospital for free..."
"Who?!" Feng Yu spun around, his eyes filled with fury.
What met his gaze was a pair of deep, pitch-black eyes, devoid of emotion.
Cold as ice, they were like a glacier floating on the sea surface.
Looking downward, a face without expression, a formidable figure pressing in its strength, and the sleeves of a short-sleeve shirt stretched tight over muscular arms, highlighting a rough and rugged outline. This man's arms were nearly twice as thick as his own!
Feng Yu instantly cooled down, as if doused with a bucket of cold water.
"Scared, are you?"
"Seems like a drunkard."
Bai Xiao noticed a flicker of panic in Feng Yu's eyes, his eyelids drooping slightly, halving his gaze. Then, without any warning, he kicked out fiercely.
"Ah!"
Feng Yu screamed in pain, and his body was sent flying forward, crashing past the bathroom door, tumbling to the ground next to a urinal.
The spot where he fell was surrounded by suspicious yellow stains that resembled urine.
"You!"
Feng Yu, in pain, raised his head to look at Bai Xiao, who stood quietly outside the door.
However, upon making eye contact again, he averted his gaze, somewhat intimidated.
"You should be thankful you were afraid just now..."
"Otherwise, I would have taken you to the hospital in the physical sense, for free."
Bai Xiao's imposing stature was overwhelmingly oppressive, and Feng Yu didn't dare to retaliate. He could only watch as Bai Xiao and Bai Tang walked away leisurely while he, himself, staggered to his feet, looking at the footprints and stains on his hands and body with helpless rage.
It had been Feng Yu who, in a fit of temper, had struck first.
Now, he was forced to swallow his anger and accept the loss.
Meanwhile, in the corridor.
Bai Xiao led Bai Tang back towards their location.
"Who was that guy just now?" Bai Xiao asked.
"My senior brother; we had some history, and things just escalated..."
Bai Tang followed behind Bai Xiao's robust figure, relieved.
He had almost ended up with a smashed face from that punch.
"Bai Tang, I think it's time you started working out," Bai Xiao stopped, turned his head, and suddenly said to Bai Tang.
"Ah?" Bai Tang lifted his head, meeting Bai Xiao's gaze.
"You study to talk to idiots with peace of mind,"
"And you work out so that the idiots can talk to you with peace of mind."
"This is the first lesson I'm teaching you as your brother."