Chapter 22

Chapter 22

On the first day of school, Jian Yi went to top up his campus card.

He transferred five hundred yuan, his meal allowance for the month.

Bidding farewell to Xu Ru, Jian Yi set out early, heading towards Yude High School.

There was a shortcut from Ankang Alley to Yude High School, a path Jian Yi and Shen Ju often took together.

But ever since Shen Ju left, Jian Yi had walked that path alone.

Usually, he was the only one.

But today seemed to be an exception—

Just beyond this alley lay Yude.

Yet, Jian Yi stopped in his tracks.

"What’s wrong, our top student? Not in a hurry to get to school?"

Ma Rui, accompanied by a few others, blocked the alley, smoking as he eyed Jian Yi.

"Tsk, tsk. Must feel strange going to school alone, huh? That little lapdog Shen Ju used to trail after you all day. Now that he’s off living the good life, you must be feeling his absence, right?"

Ma Rui hinted, "Oh yeah, I ran into him yesterday. He was playing basketball with a bunch of guys at the court on Central Street—having a blast, it seemed. Probably forgot all about you already. Well, I guess he’s in a different crowd now, not in our league. I knew it last time when he came by and left so early—must’ve already thought he was too good for your family."

Jian Yi looked at Ma Rui, his face devoid of expression. "Are you done talking? If so, move aside."

Ma Rui’s face instantly darkened. "Damn it, Jian Yi, don’t push your luck! Shen Ju isn’t here to protect you now!"

"So what?"

Jian Yi scrutinized Ma Rui, then let out a sudden scoff. "Don’t tell me you got humiliated by Shen Ju and now you’re trying to get even with me?"

"Right, Shen Ju and I aren’t in the same class anymore. But does that mean he’s in yours?"

"Let me put it this way, Ma Rui—you should know your place—"

Before he could finish, Ma Rui had already been stung.

Too enraged to maintain his facade.

"F*ck! I’m giving you too much credit!"

Ma Rui cursed, ordering two of his cronies to pin Jian Yi down. After a quick beating, he tore open Jian Yi’s backpack, spilling its contents onto the ground. "Where’s your phone? You must’ve brought money for school, right? I heard Shen Ju’s family gave you a lot of money when he left. What does a gimp like you need so much money for? Just let us borrow it!"

"Boss, the phone’s here!"

"Sh*t! This phone is so crappy. Is he really loaded?"

"Whether he’s got money or not, we’ll soon find out."

Jian Yi struggled, his clothes disheveled, gasping for breath. "Ma Rui, aren’t you afraid I’ll tell your mother?"

Jian Yi’s expression suddenly changed. "Aren’t you afraid—"

"Afraid of what? I’m just catching up with an old classmate. Shen Ju’s new family is rich and powerful—you think they’d care about something this trivial?"

Ma Rui was a complete hooligan, but not stupid.

Nothing is scarier than a punk—after all, he has nothing to lose. Regardless of whether Ma Rui would actually follow through, the fact that he dared to say it meant he had considered it.

"Don’t involve him," Jian Yi said, gritting his teeth.

Ma Rui was pleased with Jian Yi’s reaction and grinned triumphantly. "So, be smart and transfer us the money. And be here at this time tomorrow—bring more money, got it? If it’s enough, we won’t cause any extra trouble. It’s up to you whether you play along, understand?"

Jian Yi took a deep breath, his hands trembling as he transferred the money to Ma Rui.

Operating with one hand wasn’t easy, and he was mocked several times by the others.

"Damn! Only five hundred?!"

"That’s too little."

"It’s all I have."

Jian Yi looked down and muttered, "Didn’t you say you’d want more tomorrow?"

Ma Rui snorted. "Fine, you know the drill. Be here early tomorrow and wait for us."

After Ma Rui and the others left, Jian Yi crouched down to gather his belongings.

Ding dong—

His phone buzzed with a message.

It was from Shen Ju.

He talked about running into Ma Rui the day before.

Shen Jiujiu: [Bro, he was running his mouth again. I lost it.]

[But was I too impulsive?]

[I’m not with you—has Ma Rui bothered you?]

Shen Ju went on and on.

Even if Jian Yi didn’t reply, he could keep talking to himself.

Jian Yi typed back two words: [No.]

Shen Ju’s reply came quickly: [Bro! Are you at school? Really, no trouble? I’m just worried since I’m not with you.]

Jian Yi: [Enough with the fussing. Knock it off.]

You can’t stay by my side forever.

Jian Yi thought about it, then deleted that line.

[He was running his mouth and bothering you—you put him in his place. That’s fair. Don’t overthink it. Besides, if anything happens, I can take care of myself.]

[Shen Jiujiu, how many times do I have to tell you? I’m your brother, not your kid. If you keep babying me, don’t bother visiting me next time.]

[Okay, bro, I’ll stop.]

Jian Yi watched his phone screen go dark, really wanting to tell Shen Ju not to overthink it. Even without Shen Ju’s actions, he had anticipated that Ma Rui might cause him trouble. After all, he had already confronted Ma Rui in the alley that day. Given Ma Rui’s vindictive nature, he would always find a chance to get back at him. He just hadn’t expected Ma Rui to dare extort money from him.

Extortion, huh.

That’s fine.

It’s really fine.

Jian Yi slung his backpack over one shoulder and brushed the dust off his clothes.

He smiled bitterly and glanced at his disabled left arm, thinking that Shen Ju was truly like a startled bird, overanalyzing everything and worrying about how it might affect him, burdened by so much anxiety. Yet, it was all on his account that he had confronted Ma Rui... Jian Yi could easily imagine how cruel Ma Rui’s words must have been in front of Shen Ju.

But it was probably just taunts like "cripple" or something.

He was used to it by now.

Why bother, why go through all this for him again...

Thinking of the things Ma Rui had said, Jian Yi lowered his gaze, a flash of anger flickering in his eyes.

He went to school with injuries on his face. No one asked him what had happened, and Jian Yi remained silent as usual.

After school ended, Jian Yi went home first.

By then, Xu Ru had already returned early and was cooking in the kitchen.

Jian Yi didn’t want to disturb Xu Ru and tried to keep his movements as quiet as possible, but she still heard him come back and noticed the injuries on his face when she stepped out of the kitchen.

Xu Ru’s face immediately changed, and she rushed forward: "Xiao Yi, what happened to your face?!"

"Nothing."

"Who hit you?"

"Mom, it’s really nothing—"

"Did someone at school bully you?!"

Unable to get a clear answer from Jian Yi, Xu Ru grew even more panicked and anxious: "I knew it... I knew it! You’re all alone at school, they must think you’re an easy target, that you’re vulnerable, and... who bullied you? How did they bully you? What else did they do? Huh? Xiao Yi, tell Mom—"

"Mom!"

Jian Yi raised his voice, sounding somewhat weary.

"I have something to do, I need to go out for a bit."

After a pause, he added: "Mom, don’t overthink it. I can take care of it myself."

"What can you take care of by yourself?!"

Jian Yi didn’t say anything more and turned to enter his room.

When the Guan family came to take Shen Ju away, they did give them a sum of money, and it was quite substantial. Jian Yi didn’t want it, but Xu Ru accepted it. He also remembered that before leaving, Shen Ju’s birth mother, that well-dressed, stylish woman, had given his mother a business card, saying they could contact them if they ever faced difficulties. The Guan family had already been very generous.

But Jian Yi didn’t want to touch that money.

Unless absolutely necessary... but now he had no choice but to use it.

Jian Yi transferred 5,000 yuan to himself and looked up the price of a digital camera online. It was too expensive; even if he could afford it, he didn’t want to buy one. After some thought, he decided to buy a used phone and a portable charger instead. Once he made up his mind, Jian Yi left his room again. Xu Ru was no longer in the living room or the kitchen. He hesitated briefly but said nothing and went out.

However, what Jian Yi didn’t know was that after he left, Xu Ru dug out the business card Qin Suxi had given her in her room.

She gave Qin Suxi a call.

............

At Yujin Fu.

Shen Ju also got back from school.

As their semester began, Pei Yan was back at work.

During the holidays, Shen Ju had gone next door for lessons. After the semester started, he hesitated about whether he should continue going over. But considering that Pei Yan had already returned to work, and the tutoring had only been because he happened to be home during the break—and the arrangement wasn’t official anyway—he assumed it would just stop once school started, right?

Shen Ju hesitated and lingered, just as he saw Qin Suxi seemed to have just finished a phone call and then beckoned him over.

"Baby, come here for a moment."

Shen Ju walked over, nudging past Guan Mulin, who had tagged along.

"Mom was calling me!"

Guan Mulin smiled patiently: "Yeah, ‘baby’ is you."

Shen Ju: "............"

Feeling embarrassed.

Qin Suxi chuckled too, then spoke up: "Perfect, both of you should hear this."

"I’m planning to transfer your cousin to Qichen as well. How does that sound?"