A hand suddenly patted his shoulder lightly. Ma Ge, instantly enraged, spun around and swung a slap, cursing, "Who the hell is so blind? Can't you see I'm in the middle of something—"
Before the last words could escape his mouth, a piercing scream tore through the air. A seemingly ordinary hand had seized his outstretched arm in an iron grip, and the sickening sound of bones snapping echoed crisply. His forearm was being crushed inch by inch.
With a mere flick of the wrist, that hand hurled Ma Ge's hulking body as though he were nothing more than a pebble. A thunderous crash followed as he was sent flying ten meters away, slamming into a large, rectangular metal trash bin. His body ricocheted off the dented steel before landing in a crumpled heap on the ground.
With a groaning creak, the garbage bin toppled over, disgorging a tide of reeking refuse that cascaded down, nearly burying the middle-aged thug beneath a mountain of filth.
Ling Yun's face was cold as steel, his eyes burning with fury. Without haste, he strode toward the remaining gangsters, who stood frozen in sheer terror. A single punch or kick was enough—one had his face shattered beyond recognition before collapsing unconscious, another convulsed on the ground, clutching his stomach and vomiting foam. In the blink of an eye, the narrow alley was littered with the battered, unconscious bodies of thugs sprawled in grotesque disarray.
Zhang Yunfeng and Li Lingling stood slack-jawed, utterly stupefied by the surreal spectacle before them. It wasn't until Ling Yun cast a glance at Li Lingling that she finally snapped back to reality. In a panic, she snatched up her torn T-shirt to shield her chest. Tears of humiliation welled up and spilled over, and before she could stop herself, she broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
Without a trace of emotion, Ling Yun stepped before Zhang Yunfeng, who still gawked at him in shock.
"Take off your shirt," Ling Yun commanded icily.
Zhang Yunfeng stared blankly, his eyes unfocused, as though he no longer recognized Ling Yun. "Take off my shirt?" he echoed numbly, his mind still sluggish, only managing to instinctively ask, "Why?"
Ling Yun cast him a withering look, as if regarding an utter fool, then gestured toward Li Lingling, who was still crouched against the wall, sobbing. "Do you really expect her to return to school like this?"
A sudden realization dawned upon Zhang Yunfeng, snapping him out of his daze. "Ah!" Without hesitation, he yanked off his shirt, hurried to Li Lingling's side, and draped it over her trembling shoulders.
"Ling Yun, I…" Zhang Yunfeng glanced at Li Lingling awkwardly, fumbling for words of comfort yet finding none. His gaze then shifted back to Ling Yun—the very classmate he had sought to have beaten up earlier, only to end up being rescued by him instead. The irony left him even more at a loss for words.
Ling Yun remained silent, his emotions a tangled web of indifference and sympathy. Regardless of how poorly Zhang Yunfeng and Li Lingling had treated him in the past, they were, after all, his classmates—not common thugs prowling the streets for trouble. He could not simply stand idly by and watch Li Lingling, a young girl in the prime of her youth, fall victim to such brutal depravity.
"Ling Yun, why are you here?" Zhang Yunfeng finally managed to ask the most pressing question on his mind.
"I figured after I gave you that beating, you'd seek out those thugs for revenge," Ling Yun replied coolly. "So, I followed you here—to settle the score for that day when you and your so-called 'brothers' ganged up on me. Now, what you owe me, and what they owe me, has all been repaid." His gaze flickered toward Li Lingling, who was slowly rising to her feet. "I suppose today was an invaluable lesson for both of you. Remember this—humility and kindness will take you much further than arrogance and cruelty. Not everyone you cross paths with will be willing to step in and save you."
Zhang Yunfeng's face flushed crimson with shame. He lowered his head, unable to meet Ling Yun's gaze, a bitter regret gnawing at his heart. How could he have been so blind as to trust Ma Ge and his gang? He had thrown himself at their feet, eager to play the role of a loyal lackey, believing them to be the honorable and righteous outlaws seen in films. In reality, they had viewed him as nothing more than a pitiful pawn, a disposable underling—someone they could trample upon at will, someone whose girlfriend they wouldn't hesitate to defile before his very eyes.
Li Lingling had stopped crying. Silently, she fastened the buttons of Zhang Yunfeng's shirt, then, as if making up her mind, she took a determined step forward. Lifting her tear-streaked face, she spoke in a low, trembling voice. "Thank you, Ling Yun. If not for you today, I… I don't even dare imagine what those beasts would have done to me…" Her voice quivered, and a pale pallor crept across her delicate features, fear still lingering in the depths of her heart.
"I'm sorry, truly sorry," she continued, her voice choked with emotion. "Ling Yun, I know I treated you terribly, yet you still saved me. I know I was wrong. I was awful to you, but… can you forgive me?" Her hands suddenly clutched his arm, her tear-filled eyes pleading desperately.
In the span of mere moments, Li Lingling had experienced a harrowing journey from the depths of despair to an almost euphoric relief. The turmoil in her heart had undergone a drastic shift, and for reasons she couldn't quite comprehend, the instant she saw Ling Yun appear, she had felt an overwhelming surge of joy. The resentment she once harbored toward his cold indifference had long since vanished, leaving behind only the fervent desire for his forgiveness. At this moment, Ling Yun's opinion of her seemed to weigh heavier than even the trauma she had just endured.
Ling Yun instinctively attempted to shake her off, but as his gaze fell upon her disheveled hair and tear-streaked, pitiful face, his heart softened. In the end, he simply sighed and said gently, "You're my classmates. There's no need for apologies. If I came to save you, doesn't that already mean I've forgiven you?"
At his words, Li Lingling's eyes lit up with uncontainable joy, her heart pounding wildly. She wiped her tears away and, with a mix of excitement and relief, said, "That's wonderful! You've finally forgiven me. If you hadn't, I think I would have carried this guilt for the rest of my life."
Zhang Yunfeng, still somewhat embarrassed, shuffled closer, his voice ingratiating. "Ling Yun… have you been trained in martial arts or something? I mean, how else could you be so strong? You took them down in just a few moves…"
Ling Yun, however, paid him no heed. Without so much as a glance, he gently pulled his arm free from Li Lingling's grasp and said indifferently, "I've already wasted half my afternoon. You two should leave now. I'm heading home." With that, he turned and walked away, his figure gradually disappearing into the alley's dim light.
As Zhang Yunfeng saw him turning to leave, he hurriedly called out, "Boss, where are you going? You haven't had lunch yet, have you? Let me treat you to a meal."
Ling Yun couldn't help but chuckle. "Boss? Did I hear that right? I'm no leader of yours. And do I look like a thug to you?"
Zhang Yunfeng had initially been somewhat intimidated by Ling Yun's impassive expression, but hearing this playful remark unexpectedly made him smile. His courage swelled a little, and he quickly stepped forward with a flattering grin. "The strongest one is the boss—that's the rule, isn't it? Ling Yun, from now on, you're my big brother. I'll follow you. You saved me and Li Lingling today—treating you to a meal is the least I can do." The boy, now back to his usual self, revealed his glib tongue once more.
Ling Yun waved his hand dismissively. "No need. I should be heading home."
Li Lingling took a step closer, her voice soft yet earnest. "Ling Yun, let us treat you to a meal. It's not just to thank you for saving us, but also because we've never really communicated as classmates. That's probably why there have been so many misunderstandings. The college entrance exam is just around the corner—after another month, we'll all go our separate ways, and chances to see each other will become rare. A moment like today… it's fate, in a way. I know I'll always remember this day, and I'll remember you. I hope you won't refuse me."
Ling Yun and Zhang Yunfeng both looked at her in surprise, caught off guard by her sudden sincerity. It was hard not to see her in a new light. At that moment, Li Lingling brushed a delicate hand through her tousled hair, her fingertips tracing the silken strands. As she tilted her head slightly, her natural charm and youthful beauty were unconsciously displayed. Zhang Yunfeng was instantly mesmerized.
Ling Yun sighed inwardly. There was a time when he had secretly admired Li Lingling, captivated by these very gestures of hers. Each time she did them, his heart had been drawn to her irresistibly. But now, things had changed. Though she remained just as alluring, his feelings had long since faded. His heart no longer stirred as it once did.
"Alright," he said at last. "I wouldn't make it home in time anyway. Since you and Zhang Yunfeng are treating, I might as well enjoy a good meal." Seeing the sincerity in their invitation, he no longer declined and accepted with a nod.
Zhang Yunfeng was overjoyed. "Great! Boss agreed! I know a fantastic barbecue place nearby—let's go!"
Li Lingling gazed at Ling Yun deeply, an unspoken joy shimmering in her eyes.
That afternoon, the three of them returned to school together. As they stepped into the classroom side by side, a stunned silence fell over their classmates. When had Zhang Yunfeng, Ling Yun, and Li Lingling—once bitter rivals—become so close? And not just close, but downright friendly, as if they had been lifelong companions. What was even more shocking was that it seemed as though Zhang Yunfeng and Li Lingling were the ones trying to win Ling Yun's favor. A wave of disbelief swept through the room. The world had gone mad—had the mice started officiating weddings for cats?
Stranger things continued to unfold. As the college entrance exam drew nearer, the notorious school bully, the delinquent Zhang Yunfeng, suddenly began attending class regularly. Though he still spent lessons reading novels and dozing off rather than listening, he had noticeably mellowed. He no longer disrupted the class, no longer broke the rules, and—most astonishingly—had stopped bullying others entirely. It was nothing short of a miracle. Even more baffling was his behavior between classes—he hovered around Ling Yun, showing an almost ridiculous level of deference, fawning over him in a way that was impossible to miss. Yet Ling Yun, for his part, remained as aloof as ever, treating him with indifference.
Another unexpected development was Li Lingling's request to the homeroom teacher—she wanted to switch seats and sit beside Ling Yun. Her reason? She wanted to learn from him. And indeed, many classmates witnessed her leaning close, earnestly asking Ling Yun for study guidance. What exactly she was asking remained a mystery, but the time she spent with him seemed excessive. Even during lunch breaks, she refused to leave his side…
A week before the college entrance exam, the results of the final mock test were released. As expected, Ling Yun secured the highest score, ranking first in the entire grade. His parents beamed with pride, and even the teachers and the principal were delighted. The school had produced another top student bound for a prestigious university—this meant bonuses for the faculty and enhanced reputation for the institution.
In the eyes of the school, Ling Yun had become a treasure. The once introverted and unassuming boy was now the center of attention both on and off campus.
"Boss! Boss! This is bad!"
Zhang Yunfeng burst into the classroom, panting heavily as he rushed to Ling Yun's side. "Boss, Ma Ge and his gang have brought a whole crew of thugs to the school gates! There must be twenty or thirty of them—they're here for us! What do we do?"
"I knew they'd come," Ling Yun replied coolly, not even bothering to lift his gaze. "You're too easily rattled."
Zhang Yunfeng's eyes lit up with excitement. "Boss, are you going to fight them? Haha! I can't wait to see your skills in action again!"
Ling Yun chuckled and glanced at the eager Zhang Yunfeng, then at the curious, faintly smiling Li Lingling. Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
"What era do you think this is?" he said, shaking his head. "Do you really not know that when there's trouble… you call the police?"
Two weeks after the college entrance exam, the results were publicly posted on the school bulletin board. Except for Ling Yun and Zhang Yunfeng, nearly all students flocked to the school, eager to check their scores—either to finalize their university applications or to determine whether they would need to retake the exam next year. The scene was a sea of people, a cacophony of excitement and anxiety.
As expected, Zhang Yunfeng's name was nowhere near the top of the list. But he remained utterly indifferent—after all, he had never truly intended to go to university. The exam was nothing more than a formality to him, something to go through for appearance's sake. Whether he passed or failed was of no consequence. His parents owned a private enterprise, and his future had long been mapped out for him—he would inherit the family business, stepping directly into a position of wealth and power. Why waste four years buried in theoretical studies that had no practical use?
Li Lingling, on the other hand, went to check her results in person. Her score was excellent—well within the range for the university she had set her sights on. Countless classmates surrounded her, offering their congratulations, but the young girl did not seem particularly overjoyed. Instead, she remained composed as she examined her own results, only breaking into a radiant smile when her gaze fell upon another person's score.
That night, Li Lingling locked herself in her bedroom, gazing at the moonlit sky outside her window. A deep, uncontainable joy surged within her, mingling with a thrill of excitement.
Ling Yun, you won't escape from me.My score may not be as high as yours, but it's enough to get into a university in Beijing. Let's meet again there.
Her heart brimmed with anticipation as she envisioned their future reunion.
Suddenly, her eyes widened in shock. An instinctive shudder ran through her body as she stumbled two steps backward. Reflected in the depths of her clear pupils was an enormous, monstrous shadow outside her window—growing larger by the second.
Before she could even scream, the shadow burst through the glass with a deafening crash, shattering the window into countless shards. Without a word, without a sound, it seized her in its grasp.
And then, like a wisp of smoke, it vanished into the night—taking the terrified girl with it.