You’re Bleeding Again

For the rest of the morning, Shi Sui didn’t speak to Lu Huaizhi. When the morning classes ended, the homeroom teacher, Tian Hongjun, suddenly called Shi Sui to the office.

Since it was Saturday and classes only ran for half a day, many teachers were already gone. Only Tian Hongjun remained.

Tian Hongjun took a sip of tea from his desk. “How are you getting along with the new classmate?”

Shi Sui shoved a hand in his pocket. “Not great. You’d better transfer him away before I beat your precious student into a disability.”

With Lu Huaizhi’s annoying personality, a fight between the two was inevitable sooner or later.

These arrogant words almost made Tian Hongjun spit out his tea. “Shi Sui, he’s the top student in the grade. Countless people want to sit with him but don’t get the chance, yet you’re complaining?”

He slapped the report card from the last quiz onto the desk in front of Shi Sui. “Look at yourself!”

Shi Sui glanced at it casually. “My grades are quite stable.” Solidly at the bottom.

Shi Sui hadn’t intended to look at Lu Huaizhi’s scores, but Tian Hongjun had highlighted the first row in bright red marker, making it impossible to ignore.

Full marks in Physics and Chemistry, 147 in Math. The total score was 695—a 50-point lead over second place. A total landslide victory.

Lu Huaizhi hadn’t transferred yet when the exam was held, but the teachers had given him a private test to gauge his level. They hadn’t expected such outstanding results.

Tian Hongjun was even more proud, having added Lu Huaizhi to the very top of the class list, eager for everyone to know this was his student.

However, their class had both the excellence of Lu Huaizhi and the headache-inducing Shi Sui.

Tian Hongjun gave Shi Sui a side-eye. “Why do you think I put you two together? The teachers discussed a ‘Top-Bottom Student Peer Support’ program, and I wanted to test the waters on a small scale in our class first.”

There was a natural rift between top students and those at the bottom. In other classes, this friction was even more obvious, leading to a poor class atmosphere. The teachers came up with this compromise.

It was a high-risk method. He had deliberated for a long time before choosing two pairs for this seat swap.

Wang Cheng and the Class Monitor; Shi Sui and Lu Huaizhi. This was based on his understanding that while Shi Sui and Wang Cheng were troublemakers, they wouldn’t cross certain lines.

Shi Sui frowned. “I don’t need help. Also, did you ask the ‘good students’ for their opinion?”

Wang Cheng crunched instant noodles in the Class Monitor’s ear all day. Shi Sui had seen the Monitor looking mentally exhausted during class today.

As for Lu Huaizhi? He must be even more on edge, probably terrified of getting hit.

“You think I didn’t ask?” Tian Hongjun looked at him. “They all agreed.”

Shi Sui froze. “?”

“I was the one who proposed it,” Tian Hongjun said. “If your grades stay like this, you won’t get into any university.” Shi Sui wasn’t a bad person at heart, and Tian didn’t want him to keep drifting like this.

Tian Hongjun sighed, speaking earnestly, “Just know that Lu Huaizhi has good intentions. Don’t always be so fierce to him.”

Shi Sui was expressionless. “Oh.”

Tian Hongjun stopped trying to persuade him; with him watching over them, nothing too bad could happen. He changed the subject. “How is your grandmother’s health?”

“Mhm.” Shi Sui responded, his expression visibly softening. “But it rained recently, and she said her knees hurt.”

A few years ago, Shi Sui’s grandmother had accidentally fallen and broken a bone. Luckily, Tian Hongjun had been passing by, helped get her to the hospital, and even paid the medical fees. Because of that, Shi Sui was relatively obedient to him.

Tian Hongjun sighed. “That’s how it is for the elderly. Remember to tell her to keep her knees warm. I’ll go visit her another day.”

Shi Sui’s parents weren’t around, and he had lived with his grandmother since he was a child. Tian Hongjun tried to help out whenever he could.

In the afternoon, as the sun began to set.

Shi Sui, Wang Cheng, and a few others from different classes went to that barbecue shop in South Alley.

The owner had set up several tables outside, and the place looked very lively. When Shi Sui’s group arrived, a table had just cleared. The waiter ushered them over. “Here’s the menu. Just call me once you’ve decided.”

Being a new opening, the shop was hectically busy, and the food was slow to arrive. The table next to them was also a group of students, chatting to kill time.

“Have you heard? A lot of people have been extorted in South Alley lately.” “The gang from No. 3 High has been quiet lately, so why is there more trouble? It’s so annoying…” “Those people target students specifically. Sounds like they’re older delinquents.”

Shi Sui, who was playing Happy Pop to pass the time, paused his fingers.

Wang Cheng heard it too and got interested. “Extortion? They’ve got some guts.”

Others at the table clearly knew about it. Someone opened an ice-cold beer and poured a glass for Shi Sui and Wang Cheng. “Those guys aren’t just gutsy; they’re arrogant. They threaten students not to tell, saying they have ways to mess with people even inside the school.”

“Huh?” Wang Cheng blinked. “They can sneak into the school?” No. 1 High had strict gate security, with guards and teachers patrolling. It was impossible for outsiders to get in.

“Who knows?” The person lit a cigarette and took a deep drag. “Sooner or later, we’ll have to meet those b*stards.”

None of the people who hung out with Shi Sui were pushovers, but they all had their own bottom lines. They looked down on extortion and bullying the weak the most.

“Brother Shi, how about we wander around South Alley tonight?” The guy was eager for a fight.

Shi Sui didn’t even look up. “Not interested.” He wasn’t in the mood to mind other people’s business.

Just then, the barbecue was served, and the conversation shifted to eating and drinking.

The table became shrouded in smoke as several people started smoking. The mixed smell of alcohol, smoke, and grilled meat was strange and unpleasant.

Shi Sui pushed away the wobbly, drunk Wang Cheng with disgust. “I’m going out for a smoke.”

He circled around to a quiet side alley and lit one up.

The Dean had been checking strictly lately, so Shi Sui generally didn’t smoke at school, only occasionally at home. His current craving had been completely triggered by the people at the table.

Shi Sui blew a smoke ring just as two people turned into the other end of the alley.

They were wearing shorts and flip-flops, with “Smart” style red and yellow dyed hair, muttering curses.

“Are there fewer students in South Alley lately? Or they’re always in groups. So f*cking annoying!”

“Right? It was so easy the first few days. A little scare and those little chicks would hand over the money. Now you have to use your fists to make them listen.”

As they spoke, they were caught off guard by a person standing not far ahead.

He was wearing an An Cheng No. 1 High uniform, leaning against the wall expressionlessly, a freshly lit cigarette between his fingers.

Yellow-hair nudged the guy next to him with his elbow, giving him a look. Red-hair understood instantly.

Alone. A student. This job was a go.

Shi Sui saw right through them. He glanced at his relatively clean uniform and tutted. Because Old Tian had been nagging him, he hadn’t taken the uniform off, and he hadn’t expected to be targeted by thugs because of it.

He flicked the ash from his cigarette and stood up straight, watching them. It had been a while since he’d fought; it was a good time to stretch his muscles.

Shi Sui stood right in front of them, his gaze direct and unwavering, clearly waiting for them to approach.

“Wait…” Yellow-hair felt a tremor of unease. “Something’s not right.”

It was his first time encountering someone so fearless. Usually, students would just glance at them and immediately take a detour. Not like this guy…

Yellow-hair’s eyes held a hint of wariness. This guy either had backup, or he was a hard nut to crack.

Red-hair wasn’t as cautious. “There’s two of us and one of him. What are we afraid of?”

But as soon as he spoke, Yellow-hair covered his mouth and pulled him back. “Let’s go!” He recognized Shi Sui.

Word had it that a few days ago, someone took on five people alone and beat the leader of No. 3 High so badly he didn’t dare set foot in South Alley again. Otherwise, these two wouldn’t have had the chance to sneak in here and reap the benefits.

Shi Sui didn’t expect them to be such cowards and gave a short sneer.

Red-hair heard the sneer clearly and was fuming with rage, but Yellow-hair kept dragging him away. As they hurried toward the corner ahead, they suddenly slammed into someone.

The impact sent Red-hair reeling. When he regained his balance and saw the familiar school uniform, he couldn’t hold back anymore and screamed, “Do you have f*cking eyes?”

This person was also from No. 1 High.

Yellow-hair instinctively looked back at Shi Sui. He thought Shi Sui would step in to help a schoolmate, but instead— Shi Sui just leaned against the wall with an indifferent look that said, “Do what you want, I’m just watching the show.”

If it were anyone else, Shi Sui might have helped. But the person who appeared happened to be Lu Huaizhi. He couldn’t be bothered.

Lu Huaizhi looked up and saw Shi Sui leaning against the wall, looking on with undisguised schadenfreude. His gaze lingered for a moment on the cigarette in Shi Sui’s fingers, his eyes darkening.

“Hey, I’m talking to you!” Seeing Lu Huaizhi’s silence, Red-hair became even more arrogant. “Go to the commissary and buy me a pack of cigarettes. The most expensive kind.”

Red-hair was just starting to feel better when the person in front of him spoke. “No.”

The tone was indifferent, yet it instantly ignited the short-tempered Red-hair’s fury. He shoved Lu Huaizhi’s shoulder hard. “You kid, say that again?!”

Lu Huaizhi seemed not to have expected the man to attack. He stumbled, his arm slamming heavily into the wall beside him.

Shi Sui heard a muffled gasp and saw Lu Huaizhi turn pale, clutching his right forearm.

That familiar spot.

Shi Sui’s eyelid twitched. It couldn’t be what he was thinking…

Red-hair was also stunned. Could the shove he just gave really send the guy that far?

He was instantly enraged and raised his hand. “You kid, are you f*cking try—”

Before the last word could leave his mouth, his raised arm was grabbed.

Shi Sui twisted the man’s arm behind his back and pressed down. “Where did you just hit him?”

“Ow, ow, ow, ow!” Red-hair’s expression contorted.

Shi Sui frowned and kicked the man away. Unfortunately, there was an empty can right by Red-hair’s foot. Under the impact, he lost his footing and lunged straight into the wall.

With a heavy, solid thud, Red-hair was left dazed.

Seeing things go south, Yellow-hair immediately helped him up and the two ran away limping.

Shi Sui didn’t chase them. He frowned at Lu Huaizhi, who remained silent with his head down. “Stretch out your arm.”

Lu Huaizhi took a step back, his eyelids lowered. “I’m fine.”

“I told you to stretch it out, so do it!” Shi Sui grabbed his hand. “Stop wasting time!”

He looked down at the bite mark he had left previously. Once he saw it clearly, he couldn’t help but swear. “F*ck!”

Why the h*ll was it bleeding again?