Being late for class was an undeniable fact, but the thick-skinned individual remained unfazed. He strolled into the classroom nonchalantly, not even sparing the professor on the podium a glance.
"Boss, you're a bit late today!" Garlic Head, now accustomed to waiting in the back row for this person, remarked casually.
"Late? It's not even dinner time yet," Xiang Ri quipped, feeling as though it was still early.
"True, true." Garlic Head laughed awkwardly. "Did the beauty, Chu, not come?"
"Still in bed," Xiang Ri replied absentmindedly.
"In bed?" Garlic Head's mind wandered into murky thoughts. "Boss, you're really ruthless! After all, Chu is a delicate lady from a wealthy family, you should treat her with a bit more care!"
"Go cool off somewhere!" Xiang Ri retorted with a smile, though deep inside, he was quite pleased with himself. That girl had always been so strict with him, and now, he had finally gotten his revenge. From today onward, he would have the pleasure of exacting it every night.
"Boss, that grin of yours is downright wicked!" Garlic Head, seeing him silent for so long with such a sly expression, gave a reminder.
*Whack!* Xiang Ri flicked him on the head, straightening his face. "How long until class is over?"
"About 10 minutes." Garlic Head wore a puzzled expression. "Why are you asking, boss?"
"Going home," Xiang Ri replied succinctly. Sitting in class was dull without the girl around to bicker with, and he couldn't stand it any longer.
"No way! You just got here and you're leaving? The next few periods are with Ms. Song! You wouldn't dare ignore such a beautiful teacher, would you?" Garlic Head teased with a mischievous grin.
"Beautiful teacher?" Xiang Ri rummaged through his memories, struggling to recall such a person.
"Don't tell me you don't know Song Meiren?" Garlic Head looked at him in disbelief, as though he had just met an alien.
"Is she famous?" Xiang Ri asked indifferently.
"Are you sure you're not an immigrant from another planet?" Garlic Head's jaw practically dropped in shock.
"Which one? If she's decent-looking, I might stay and listen to a couple of her classes," Xiang Ri's interest was piqued.
"The renowned beauty teacher of the school, Song Qiuheng! She's been teaching here for five years already, and rumor has it she's still single at thirty. This semester, she was just assigned to our class. You must've heard the news, right? Do you know why the classroom is so packed today? It's all because of her." Garlic Head pointed toward the front rows filled with older men. "See those guys? They're all unmarried teachers and assistants from other departments. Afraid that attending only the last two classes would be too obvious, they even came to listen to the Shaolin Master's class. So shameless! Look at the smug expression on the Master's face, he'll probably drag on the lesson again. Poor us real students... wait, what's wrong with you?"
"Nothing, just feeling a little unwell. I'll head home after class." Xiang Ri's face had already turned pale the moment he heard the name Song Qiuheng. Song Qiuheng? Could there be another woman in this world with that name? After calculating the years, the age matched too—who else could it be but her? He never expected to run into her again after ten years.
"Senior, I'm Song Qiuheng. It's my pleasure to meet you."
"Senior, you're amazing. I admire you so much."
"Senior, now that we've graduated, will you marry me?"
"Senior, this is my first time."
"Senior, please cherish me."
...
That soft, tender voice seemed to still echo in his ears, and the smile of that girl, pure, beautiful, and sweet, appeared vividly before him, along with the memories of that night when her voice trembled with innocence.
"No!" Xiang Ri shouted abruptly, drawing the attention of the entire class. Garlic Head immediately averted his gaze, pretending not to know him.
The old professor cast a disapproving glance at him, yet continued the lecture, mentally noting his appearance for future reference, certain he'd find a way to make him pay.
"Garlic Head, I'm not waiting until class ends—I'm leaving now. Cover for me, will you?" Xiang Ri resolved. That woman… he couldn't see her again. If he had truly cared, he wouldn't have done that to her back then, sparing himself years of guilt that now even seeing her face would be unbearable.
"Sure, no problem. Wait, did you just call me Garlic Head? Boss, who are you calling Garlic Head? Look, how I look isn't my fault; blame my parents—they're the ones who gave me this unfortunate face. I have a name, you know! I'm Xu Wei…"
Xiang Ri didn't wait for him to finish. Ignoring the curious stares from the class, he strode out. He hadn't gone far before he ran into Shi Qing, his diligent disciple.
"Teacher, I have a question," Shi Qing said, her face an unwavering mask of calm.
"How did you know I'd be leaving?" he asked, skipping an answer.
"Class is nearly over, so I came to wait for you," she replied.
Relieved that his student hadn't guessed the real reason, he replied, "Ask as we walk—I'm heading out for a bit. Care to join me?"
"Of course." Shi Qing, indifferent to why her teacher was leaving early, cared only about one thing: how to grow stronger, just like him.
Across the street from the University of Finance, in a silver BMW, sat a man and a woman. The man, in his late twenties, possessed chiseled features and a rugged strength. The woman, beautiful and confident, was none other than Deputy Director of the Eastern District Police, Tie Wan.
"Chief Tie, we're embarrassed that you've had to get involved again. We're supposed to be your support, and yet we're—"
"Embarrassment isn't the point. Our job is to combat criminals and protect public safety," Tie Wan admonished him sternly.
"Right, right, Chief Tie. I'll remember that." He hesitated. "So, uh…are you free tonight? I was thinking maybe—"
"Focus. Pay attention to the situation," Tie Wan interrupted sharply.
"Yes, ma'am." The young man fell silent, mentally tallying the countless times his advances had been rejected. Still, he was determined; marrying her would mean not just a stunning wife, but at least forty years of life without struggle... Forty years—a lifetime.
Tie Wan's gaze remained fixed on the university gates, recalling the intel she'd received that morning: drug traffickers were using university students to transport narcotics. The contraband would be distributed among them, and as they left campus, each would drop it off at a prearranged location where it could be collected and consolidated. Her mission was simple: follow the student couriers, track down the hideout, and bring it all down in one sweep.
After nearly two hours of waiting, there was no movement from the university gate. Students occasionally exited Gaonan University next door, but her intel only mentioned the University of Finance. High glance, something caught her attention—a young man and woman emerging from Gaonan's gates. She didn't recognize the girl, but the man… Even if he turned to dust, she'd remember him. That bastard—a major drug lord. This trip hadn't been in vain.
"Prepare to move, Huo Gang!" she ordered suddenly.
The young officer flinched. "Chief Tie, is there something going on? I don't see anyone—"
"Not at the University of Finance—at Gaonan's entrance. That man is a notorious drug lord," Tie Wan growled.
"What? He's a student. How—" Huo Gang caught the fierce look on his superior's face and wisely shut his mouth.
"No excuses. Be cautious when we move in; he may be armed." She drew her revolver, flicking off the safety.
Huo Gang's pulse quickened. His chief rarely exhibited such tension. This only underscored how dangerous their target was. He, too, readied his service pistol, setting the safety to off.
"Teacher, is it really possible to grow so powerful?" Shi Qing asked, frowning.
"It is," Xiang Ri replied firmly, silently adding: *If you can endure the hardships.*
"Thank you, Teacher. I will train as you taught me," Shi Qing said with resolve.
"That's my student. Work hard, and one day you'll surpass me." Xiang Ri clenched his fist in encouragement.
"Thank you, Teacher!" Shi Qing bowed to him.
Xiang Ri was about to reach out, aiming to discreetly take advantage of the moment, when two sharp voices rang out from behind him.
"Freeze! Hands up!"
Xiang Ri didn't need to turn around to recognize the voice. Damn, he knew it too well—it was the same officer he'd taunted the night before. Had she followed him here? What was she, a bloodhound?
"What's going on?" Shi Qing gasped, alarmed at the sight of two officers with guns aimed at them.
"Is this a joke? Since when can police officers brandish guns and intimidate civilians on the street?" Xiang Ri rebuked, taking charge of the situation. Fortunately, he hadn't brought his weapon to class, or this would have been troublesome.
"Civilians? You'd have to be law-abiding first. Eliminating a scourge like you is merely a service to society," Tie Wan sneered.
"A service to society? Really? I wonder who it was last night that—"
"Huo Gang, cuff him!" Tie Wan cut him off, not about to let him finish that sentence. It was the last thing she needed—she'd never live down the embarrassment of being rescued by a delinquent.
Huo Gang, who had already taken a disliking to the guy, didn't hesitate. Who was this kid to have such a beautiful girl on his arm? Here he was, nearing thirty and still single. With Tie Wan's order, he didn't hold back and swiftly handcuffed him.
"This is how you operate? Arresting people without evidence? I'm taking you all to court for this!" Xiang Ri was far from foolish enough to resist the police physically but wasn't about to go down quietly.
"Evidence? I'll find it for you," Tie Wan muttered, searching his waist as she looked for his concealed weapon, certain he carried it with him after his cocky display the previous night.
"Hey, keep it up, and I'll report you for harassment!" Xiang Ri yelped, dodging her hands, only to be hit from behind by Huo Gang's rifle butt.