The Aftermath and an Unexpected Ally

On the third day of Pan Yao’s hospitalization, his injury report was released.

It detailed a minor concussion coupled with soft tissue contusions, a diagnosis that could be considered both serious and not so serious, depending on one’s perspective.

Regardless, if Pan Yao’s parents desired, they could press charges against me for intentional assault.

As I was still a minor, no compulsory detention measures were taken against me. The school, too, wished for Pan Yao and me to settle the matter privately, hoping to prevent further escalation and protect its reputation.

Thus, the day after Pan Yao’s medical report was issued, the school teachers contacted Uncle Big Hammer, a friend of my father’s, asking him to bring me to school to negotiate with Pan Yao’s parents.

Naturally, I had deliberately kept Chen Si Yi in the dark about Pan Yao’s hospitalization due to the injuries I inflicted.

The reason was simple: our relationship at the time was rather distant, and I merely wished to spare her any worry on my behalf.

“You brat, always finding ways to cause me trouble!”

At the school gate, Uncle Big Hammer, who had arrived fifteen minutes earlier than me, sat smoking on the hood of his black Mercedes. (I called him Uncle Big Hammer because my father would always exclaim, ‘Big Hammer, you’re here!’ whenever he saw him, and over time, I naturally adopted the moniker.)

Upon seeing me, Uncle Big Hammer extinguished his cigarette and, with practiced familiarity, delivered a series of hearty slaps to my shoulder.

“You rascal, this time wasn’t bad. At least you didn’t cripple him. Keep up the good work next time, eh?”

“Haha, Uncle Big Hammer, you’re joking,” I said, scratching my head sheepishly. “I truly had no other choice but to resort to violence this time.”

Indeed, it had been nearly three years since I last got into a physical altercation.

If Pan Yao hadn’t been harassing Xiao Yu for over half a year, and even intended to… well, I would never have been so enraged as to beat him into hospitalization.

“Oh, please, don’t give me that. Don’t I know you, kid?” Uncle Big Hammer scoffed, his face stern, clearly unconvinced by my explanation.

“I thought you’d mellowed out a bit after starting high school, but no, you immediately hand your uncle a huge mess. Good thing I haven’t left for my Maldives vacation yet, or who would clean up this disaster for you? Your dad would fly back just to beat you senseless!”

“Cough, cough, my apologies, Uncle Big Hammer. You’ve gone through so much trouble,” I quickly said, rubbing my hands together ingratiatingly. “Once this is all settled, may I treat you to a meal?”

“Eat your sister’s meal, you mean!”

Uncle Big Hammer unceremoniously smacked my forehead, then lit another cigarette and began to smoke.

“Should I even have the nerve to let a junior like you pay for a meal for an elder like me, huh?” he scoffed, puffing on his cigarette. “Once this is over, bring your sister along. I’ll take you both to a newly opened Italian restaurant. It’s been too long since I’ve seen you two siblings, and it’s high time I, as an elder, treated you to a meal.”

“Haha, this… this is truly too kind…”

I tried to feign politeness and decline, but Uncle Big Hammer delivered a swift, hard kick to my leg.

“Get out of here, kid! Don’t be so formal with me now. Where was all this politeness when I was cleaning up your messes before?”

Uncle Big Hammer, chuckling and scolding, turned around and began walking towards the school building.

“Oh, right, remember to be a bit more polite when you speak later, kid.”

Halfway there, Uncle Big Hammer, as if recalling something, turned his head to instruct me, “Don’t worry, with your uncle here, neither you nor your little girlfriend will suffer any injustice!”

“Pfft—she’s, she’s not my girlfriend!” I blurted out, explaining, “Uncle Big Hammer, don’t talk about me yet, but please don’t say anything random later! Xiao Yu and I… we’re just good friends.”

“Oh? Me saying random things?” Uncle Big Hammer sneered at me. “She’s not your girlfriend now, but won’t she be once this matter is settled?”

“Her name is Su Xiao Yu, right? I think I even saw her when you were a little kid. So, is this your plan, Lin Yan? To stage a ‘hero saves the beauty’ act to capture your childhood sweetheart’s heart?”

“No, it’s not!” I exclaimed urgently. “Uncle Big Hammer, I’m begging you, please don’t say anything else inappropriate in front of Xiao Yu later. If she misunderstands, I’ll be absolutely mortified.”

“Hahaha, alright, alright,” Uncle Big Hammer chuckled, waving his hand dismissively. “Young people’s matters are for you young people to sort out yourselves. I’ll just take care of the troublesome guy for you. That’s good enough, right?”

“Yes, yes, absolutely!”

I quickly nodded my head, then stepped forward to respectfully lead the way.

“Uncle Big Hammer, please take your time. The Disciplinary Director’s office is just two floors up.”