Chapter 71: You Can Call Me Brother Yan, or Just Brother

Chapter 71: You Can Call Me "Brother Yan" or Just "Brother"

"Don't delete me, I'm leaving right now, I won't disturb your class!" He Lin immediately stood up, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and left the classroom, glancing back every few steps.

Lin Haiyin entered the classroom and sat down next to Du Yang. "Is that He Lin causing you trouble again?"

"No," Du Yang shook his head. "He just came to add me on WeChat."

"If he bothers you, don't be scared of him." Lin Haiyin leaned in closer. "My uncle is the dean of the finance department, so he can handle that rich kid."

A warmth filled Du Yang's heart. Du Yang looked at Lin Haiyin, a sincere smile of gratitude spreading across his face.

In his past life, only Lin Haiyin had genuinely advised him to prioritize his studies and not trust He Lin.

"Thank you, Lin Haiyin."

"No... it's nothing. We're... classmates."

Lin Haiyin suddenly stammered. Du Yang rarely smiled before, but seeing him smile now made her heart race. It felt strange.

The bell rang. The teacher walked in and started the lesson. Du Yang listened attentively and took notes.

Lin Haiyin couldn't focus on what the teacher was saying at all. Her mind was filled with Du Yang's dazzling smile, and she couldn't help stealing glances from the corner of her eye.

With each look, her heartbeat quickened, like a startled deer in her chest.

Finally, Lin Haiyin dared not look anymore; she felt something was wrong with her.

The fourth period was an elective. They had different choices, so they split up.

With no classes in the afternoon, Du Yang grabbed a quick lunch at the cafeteria and then headed back to his apartment.

"You little bastard! Stop right there!" Du Debao came cursing from a side path.

Du Yang stopped in his tracks and turned to look at the stout, big-eared Du Debao, who always wore a leather jacket. His fingers tightened around his backpack straps.

Even on campus, Du Debao was a thug who wouldn't hold back in a fight, so Du Yang would be at a disadvantage.

In the blink of an eye, Du Debao was already in front of him. Du Yang instinctively stepped back a few paces.

This reaction greatly pleased Du Debao.

The little bastard was still scared to death of him, just as he'd thought. Years of beatings had crushed any pride—timidity was his true nature.

How could such a coward dare compete with his son for a man? How dare he!

"You little bastard, you've been hard to find! So you think you can just stop giving money to the family, huh?" Du Debao spat on the ground, his face menacing.

"Even if you beat me to death, I won't give you a cent. Go ahead, beat me to death if you dare!"

Du Yang stared coldly at the man. He knew he was Du Debao's leverage over Qin Yue, so the man wouldn't kill him now.

"Ha! Kill you? That'd be letting you off too easy!" Du Debao grinned, revealing yellow teeth. "Since you won't work at the club, there's no point keeping that pretty face."

Du Debao pulled out a small dagger from his pocket and flashed the blade.

If he ruined that face, what chance would the kid have to steal his son's boyfriend?

At high noon, sunlight glinted off the blade, but Du Yang's heart felt icy cold.

Ruining his face—a dimwit like Du Debao couldn't have come up with such a vicious plan. It had to be that woman Qin Yue's idea.

If his face was ruined, he'd be no threat to Lu Yu. Who would love an ugly person? Fu Yan wouldn't either.

This was a corner near an office building, and there weren't many people around at this hour. Du Yang calculated his odds of escape.

Du Debao seemed to read his mind, gripping the knife and stepping closer.

Du Yang retreated, his face betraying no panic or fear. "Du Debao, carrying a weapon and attempting to assault someone will land you in prison!"

"Prison?" Du Debao laughed. "This is a dead angle for surveillance. I'm just scarring your face—it's not assault. Who's to say it was me?"

"Idiot! Injuring me is enough to get you locked up!" Du Yang's heart raced, but he kept his steps steady, trying to reason with him.

Du Debao hesitated, but the lure of Qin Yue's curvy body was stronger. This was a blind spot for cameras. As long as he ran fast enough, the cops couldn't catch him.

"You think I'd believe your bullshit? Don't give me—shit!"

Before Du Debao could finish, Du Yang threw his backpack, hitting him right in the face.

The moment the backpack hit, Du Yang turned and ran. If he could just get to a crowded place, he'd be safe!

Just as he rounded the corner, he slammed into a hard chest. The person instinctively caught him, spinning him around to steady him.

Du Yang thought it was one of Du Debao's accomplices. In a split second, he shoved hard and threw a punch at the person's chest.

Fu Yan reacted quickly, catching the incoming fist. His voice was urgent and soothing. "Du Yang, it's me."

The moment he heard Fu Yan's voice, Du Yang's strength drained away. His fierce expression shifted to one of fear and vulnerability, and he clutched Fu Yan's cashmere coat, gasping.

With Fu Yan here, he didn't need to be afraid anymore.

Fu Yan looked down and met Du Yang's panicked, helpless eyes. He pulled the boy into his arms.

Du Yang didn't even realize his body was tense and trembling slightly.

Du Yang pushed him away again, speaking urgently and frantically: "Du Debao was about to attack me!"

"I know." Fu Yan wrapped a comforting arm around Du Yang's waist and turned him so he could see behind them.

Two burly police officers had already subdued Du Debao.

"Ah! Let me go! You can't just arrest me!" Du Debao struggled violently, resisting fiercely.

"For what? Carrying a weapon and attempting assault in a public place—is that not enough?" Chen Miao's stern voice rang out.

Fu Yan kept one arm around Du Yang's lower back and gently rubbed the back of his head with the other hand, his voice equally soothing.

"Du Yang, it's okay. I'm glad I found you in time."

Those words were meant to comfort Du Yang, but also himself.

Last night, Grandma Lu had called him, telling him that Du Debao would come looking for Du Yang tomorrow, and begged him to protect Du Yang.

As for Du Debao, Fu Yan had been on guard, sending people to tail him.

But today, once inside the campus, Du Debao had wandered around aimlessly, losing his tail.

Fu Yan rushed over with the police, but Du Yang wasn’t answering his phone.

Fortunately, they arrived in time. A little later, and Du Yang might have been injured, or even worse.

The thought made Fu Yan shudder. He shouldn’t have gone to the office that morning; he should have beaten Du Debao half to death.

Du Yang's breathing slowly steadied. Fu Yan always had a magical calming effect on him. He took out his phone from his pocket.

"Officer, I have recorded evidence."

Du Yang played the recording, which contained the threats Du Debao had made earlier.

"Ha! Kill you? That’s letting you off easy. Since you don’t want to work at the club, keeping that face of yours is pointless."

The moment he saw Du Debao, Du Yang switched his phone to airplane mode and started the recording.

He intended to get Du Debao locked up for a while. Although he didn't like Lu Ting, he found Du Debao and Qin Yue's affair even more disgusting.

Du Debao was livid. He hadn't expected Du Yang to set him up. Cursing and grumbling, he was taken away in the police car.

With the recording, Du Yang went along to the police station to give a statement. At the very least, Du Debao would have to stay inside for a while.

On the way back to the apartment, Chen Miao was driving, while Du Yang and Fu Yan sat in the back seat.

"Du Yang, you were very brave." Fu Yan turned to look at Du Yang, his eyes full of sincere admiration.

"Chairman Fu, thank goodness you were here." Du Yang touched his cheek, still shaken. If not for Fu Yan today, he might have really been disfigured.

Fu Yan hummed in acknowledgment. His long legs casually crossed, hands on his knees, eyes tender. When he spoke again, his voice held even more warmth.

"Du Yang, since you're no longer my employee, how about changing what you call me?"

Fu Yan paused for two seconds, then continued, "You can call me Brother Yan, or simply brother."

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