The voice behind them called a halt, and the leader slowly turned around, feigning composure, "Is there something wrong?"
"There's a race, where's it at? Take me there."
Chen Xin's reputation was known to everyone in Shuilu Town. He had a nasty personality and was a complete scoundrel. Every school had its own cliques, but he was different, taking on multiple schools by himself in group fights and still coming out unscathed.
Once, someone who had been beaten up cursed him, "You're a freak! You're so strong, you can even fight, is your dad a cop?"
At that time, Chen Xin's expression darkened, and he proceeded to beat the person up again.
What was terrifying about him was that he beat people up without reason, regardless of whether they were good or bad, making everyone naturally fear him.
No one could beat him, let alone these three weak high school seniors. They had to submit.
Shen Mo was treating Lin Shicha well, offering her a pack of rainbow candy and shooing Li Ya Yin away to the side. He fed Lin Shicha piece by piece, "Here, open your mouth, it's grape flavored and it's purple."
Lin Shicha opened her mouth, and Shen Mo put the candy in, the two of them laughing like children, as if playing house.
On the other side, Bian Heng had just left the multimedia classroom when he encountered three boys from the neighboring class leading someone over. As soon as they arrived, the three of them disappeared in a flash, leaving the person they brought behind.
Bian Heng's eyes widened as he looked at the person and asked in a stern tone, "What are you here for?" in a manner that seemed to block the entrance.
"It's none of your business, get out of the way," Chen Xin couldn't be bothered to deal with him, raising his chin to go in.
A girl screamed Chen Xin's name from behind, and the entire hallway and outside lobby were filled with chaotic talking.
Bian Heng didn't move, refusing to let him in.
The atmosphere became tense temporarily, until Chen Xin finally looked at Bian Heng in the eye after a while. After seeing what was in his eyes, Chen Xin chuckled, "I don't want to fight today, move aside."
The last sentence he spoke slowly and purposefully, staring at Bian Heng intently.
"Is it that you don't want to fight, or you don't want her to see you beat someone?" Bian Heng asked without fear, countering Chen Xin.
As soon as the words fell, a sharp sound resounded as the iron gate of the staircase classroom was pushed back by Bian Heng, causing a grating noise and silence around.
Chen Xin retracted his foot, a hint of sinister coldness in his pitch-black eyes, and even a barely discernible disgust, "Know me very well, do you? Who are you?"
Bian Heng's stomach hurt from the kick, but he didn't show it. Instead, he let out a slow breath and showed a smile to Chen Xin, which was hard to decipher, "Don't think you're the only one who dislikes me."
"I was the first one to meet her, what do you all count for, thinking you like her?" Bian Heng pursed his lips tightly, tensing up to the extreme and starting to sneer, "You don't measure up to her, let alone like her."
The atmosphere froze.
Chen Xin's breathing gradually became heavy as he stared at Bian Heng for a moment. "Very well." He spat out these two words expressionlessly. "You're asking for it."
A fight broke out.
Screams echoed everywhere, and someone ran to the office to find a teacher.
Half an hour later, in the medical room of Shuilu First High School, a male doctor in a white coat individually applied alcohol and bandaged wounds for two boys. Due to the difference in strength, Bian Heng was seriously injured, even with swelling around his eyes.
On the other hand, Chen Xin had a simple bandage on his hand due to excessive force.
Lin Shicha appeared at the door of the medical room, accompanied by Shen Mo. His voice could be heard from outside, "Don't worry, they'll be fine."
Chen Xin straightened his back for a moment, feeling a hint of guilt, then saw Lin Shicha's face. As expected, she went to check on Bian Heng first.
Chen Xin didn't say a word, lowered his eyes, and clenched his fists.
"Does it hurt?" Lin Shicha was surprised. She hadn't expected Chen Xin to suddenly show up at Shuilu First High School. When she first heard that Bian Heng and Chen Xin had fought, she immediately thought that Chen Xin had acted recklessly and might have landed someone in the hospital.
Thankfully, it wasn't that serious, but seeing Bian Heng's condition still left her stunned for a moment.
At that moment, Bian Heng, who had lost his usual handsome and imposing appearance, looked forlorn.
"It hurts," Bian Heng said honestly, "It hurts a lot." Exaggerating, he took Lin Shicha's hand and tried to mimic the pitiful expression Shen Mo had made that morning while whining.
Shen Mo was instantly exasperated and exchanged glances with Lin Shicha.
Bian Heng pretended not to notice and spoke only to Lin Shicha, "It hurts a lot when he beats people up, and I didn't say anything, he just attacked me out of nowhere and I didn't react at all."
"You!" Chen Xin was exasperated and just stared blankly.
"Hmm?" Bian Heng provocatively asked, his eyes filled with a message of 'say it, say it.'
Certainly, Chen Xin couldn't possibly say that line, "You don't measure up to her."
While Bian Heng was talking and getting friendly with Lin Shicha, Shen Mo sat down next to Chen Xin. On seeing that there was no visible injury on Chen Xin, he felt curious and asked, "Why did you guys fight in the first place?"
"Go hang out somewhere else," Chen Xin looked straight ahead and couldn't be bothered to respond to Shen Mo.
Not only did he dislike the fact that Bian Heng fought alone, he also disliked anyone who vied with him for Lin Shicha's attention, which naturally included Shen Mo, but Shen Mo and Bian Heng were the most disliked. Shen Mo had a connection with a dog named Xiaoguang, which Lin Shicha personally said resembled Shen Mo. Who knows if she had feelings of remembrance.
As for Bian Heng, it was simple, he was directly with Lin Shicha in the same school. It would be strange if Chen Xin didn't feel itchy about him.
Unfortunately, the idea of transferring schools that Chen Xin mentioned to his parents was unconditionally rejected on the grounds that his grades were too poor and the other schools did not want him.
That reason really hit close to home.
This time, Chi Xing won a crushing victory, and he thoroughly enjoyed the triumph, but Lin Shicha's attitude immediately made him regret, but it was of no use in the end.
"I also want to beat him. Teach me how to fight, bro," Shenmo whispered to Chi Xing, completely ignoring Chi Xing's dislike.
"I'm not your bro. Stop trying to cozy up to me," Chi Xing rolled his eyes at Shenmo, "Don't touch me!"
"I'll give you money."
"Do I look like I need money?" Chi Xing sneered, showing his disdain.
"Then, uh, I can give you Shicha's jacket," Shenmo hesitated, reluctantly offering Lin Shicha's school uniform jacket that he was holding in his arms to Chi Xing.
Chi Xing didn't speak immediately. The two looked at each other for a while, and then Chi Xing finally spoke, "Fine."
"Let me see your chat records with her, and I'll teach you," Chi Xing reached out his hand.
Shenmo looked puzzled for a moment, "Oh," and took out his phone.
Chi Xing glanced over it, emitting a ruthless laughter, and leaned back in the chair in the clinic.
Bian Heng and Lin Shicha turned to look at them at the same time. Shenmo looked at Chi Xing in dismay, Chi Xing joked at him, and the two didn't know why they were talking about it.
"Bro, it's a bit of a mess," Chi Xing patted Shenmo's shoulder, "You should—wait, why should I teach you how to chat with Shicha? What was I thinking?!"
After coughing twice, Chi Xing changed the subject, "We'll meet on weekends, and I'll teach you how to hit people the most painful way without leaving obvious wounds."
Shenmo, startled, asked, "Is your mother a doctor?"
"Oh, how did you know?"
Shenmo shook his head frantically, "Nothing, just asking." He remembered a news article about a nurse who, after breaking up with her boyfriend, stabbed him several times with a knife, avoiding vital points, and was finally charged with only slight injuries.
The school was very angry about the matter. Chi Xing was expelled and it was said that he had been in contact with the leaders of the Second High School. Before long, Chi Xing received a call from his homeroom teacher, ordering him to return to school.
Lin Shicha saw Chi Xing off at the school gate.
Bian Heng watched her get up, called Chi Xing, and scolded Chi Xing, who lowered his proud and arrogant head, apologizing to her, "Don't be angry, I was wrong."
Bian Heng felt a chill all over his body.
He couldn't understand all this, especially when he was fighting with Chi Xing. He deliberately did not fight back, but when he was beaten, he vaguely remembered many things.
At that time, Lin Shicha only had him by her side. She always spoke softly and gently, not in a hurry, giving people a feeling of warmth and a need for protection. In fact, Bian Heng had always treated her like this.
He would try to make her happy in every possible way. Those who knew him said he looked sunny on the outside but had a bit of a silly personality. He just wanted to make her smile more.
When he first met her, she felt very hollow, as if nothing could fill it. He thought he could do it well, but in the end, it was just a joke.
"Am I not good enough?"
Lin Shicha slowly stopped and Chi Xing turned to look at Bian Heng's bruised face, not saying a word.
"Am I not good enough?" he asked again, seeming to be insisting on an answer.
Lin Shicha turned to face Bian Heng's gaze, slowly withdrew her hand from the door, seriously thought for two seconds, and then sincerely answered Bian Heng's question, "I'm not good enough."
On the way, Lin Shicha did not speak to Chi Xing voluntarily. Chi Xing followed Lin Shicha like a shadow, knowing he was wrong, so he didn't dare to speak.
Chi Xing's homeroom teacher was quite surprised to see this scene. After all, Chi Xing had invited parents over many times. This guy was exceptionally arrogant even in front of his parents, and only his mother could somewhat control him.
Unexpectedly, in front of this girl, Chi Xing completely became a shaved cat.
After the 'handover', Lin Shicha was about to leave.
Chi Xing suddenly felt flustered, grabbed Lin Shicha's hand, "Shicha...I really didn't mean it. Please don't ignore me."
Lin Shicha just realized, looked confused, and said, "I'm not."
Seeing this, Chi Xing felt dejected, "What are you thinking?"
Lin Shicha replied, "I'm thinking about the problems I can't solve. If I send them to Huo Yanan, will he scold me?" She blinked.
After hearing this, Chi Xing's face darkened, "Which one can't you solve?"
"....?" Lin Shicha looked at Chi Xing without saying a word.
"Why do you look at me like that? Can I not search on Baidu?" Chi Xing retorted angrily.
"But I want a detailed solution, every step of the way. Huo Yanan is super patient and will teach me many times," Lin Shicha said with great pride, showing that she really liked Huo Yanan's way of thinking.
"...I'm leaving!"
Chi Xing turned and walked away.
"Oh, and this weekend, I'm taking Xiaoguang to the dog market for vaccinations. Do you want to pick me up?" Lin Shicha asked pleadingly from behind.
"No, I'm dead. I have something to burn," Chi Xing didn't even look back, his tone sulky, giving off the feeling that someone owed him millions.
"Then see you at two o'clock on the weekend."
Chi Xing was frustrated but had no choice. He followed the homeroom teacher.
The homeroom teacher came on a pink electric scooter and, while walking, lectured Chi Xing. Although she knew that lecturing had no effect, she couldn't help but say a few words.
Chi Xing was lazy, "Teacher, are you annoyed? Thirsty?"
The homeroom teacher's eyes widened in anger, "Hey you! What's going on with you and that girl? Don't lead her astray. I heard you telling her to search for solutions on Baidu."
"… How did I corrupt her."
"Because you are bad," the class teacher answered without hesitation.
Chi Xing strangely remained silent.
Because you are bad.
Chi Xing's tongue pressed against his palate, silently repeating it twice in his mind. He hadn't been bad in front of her, every time he did something bad, he hid it from her quietly, not wanting her to see his terrifying side, and not willing to say harsh words.
Occasionally, he would get angry and speak loudly, then apologize and ask if he had scared her.
She was the girl he treated with care, how could he bear to corrupt her.