Chapter 33: Yaoxing Academy 33 Part 2

His head throbbed as if struck hard. A sharp ringing pierced through, like a thick needle stabbing into his brain.

It was that day.

The day he left Xun Ji.

Xun Ji had come looking for him. Xun Ji had come looking for him.

And then…

Lu Zhou clutched his chest tightly, his throat emitting rough, gasping “huh-huh” sounds, like a dying beast.

He Ming was clearly frightened, reaching out helplessly to help him up, only to be shoved away.

Lu Zhou slapped himself hard across the face. The sharp ringing seemed to pause briefly. He staggered to his feet and charged toward the festive area like a lost soul.

He hadn’t planned to meet Xun Ji during this return to the country. Even coming to the island, he only wanted to glimpse him from afar, to confirm he was doing well.

That would give him the courage to keep going alone.

A smile uglier than crying twisted Lu Zhou’s face.

Confirm he was doing well?

He knew nothing. Absolutely nothing!

Xun Ji had been hurt. Hurt coming to find him.

Hurt badly. Very badly.

He had almost… almost never seen him again.

No… no! He had to see him! Right now!

He must see him.

Festive music started up, and the crowd formed a circle to dance, singing the birthday song loudly. That golden figure drowned in the tide of joy, slipping from Lu Zhou’s sight.

Lu Zhou’s steps quickened. His racing heartbeat and numb limbs signaled a severe drug reaction, but he ignored it.

Just a bit closer, a bit closer, and he could see Xun Ji, hear his voice.

He had to return to his side.

Boom!

A fist came flying at him. Lu Zhou fell flat on his back.

All the strength he had gathered scattered in an instant. He lay there staring blankly, unmoving.

“Hey, what’s your problem, hitting people!” He Ming’s fuzzy yelling reached his ears.

No… no… he couldn’t lie here. He had to go see Xun Ji!

Lu Zhou bit his tongue hard. His drugged body finally regained some control. He struggled to prop himself up and looked at the person in front of him.

Lin Yule.

The red-haired young man had shed his usual playful cuteness. He looked down coldly.

“Well, well, if it isn’t an old acquaintance.” Lin Yule curled his lip in a sneer. “Sorry about that. You looked so suspicious, I just reacted. You know how it is—gotta be cautious at A Xun’s birthday party.”

Lu Zhou showed no surprise at the face. He scrambled up on all fours and, without steadying himself, lunged like a feral beast ready to fight.

The punch whistled through the air, grazing Lin Yule’s cheek.

Lin Yule mocked, “Can’t even stand steady, and you…”

Bang!

Intense pain shot through his calf. Lin Yule grunted and dropped to one knee.

Lu Zhou retracted his kicked-out right leg and rasped, “Lin Yule, you should’ve stayed abroad like a good boy.”

Lin Yule chuckled lowly twice. “Lu Zhou, that goes for you.”

“Lu Zhou? Y-you’re that Lu Zhou?” He Ming sucked in a cold breath. “The scumbag who dated the Young Master of Xun Family and then dumped him??”

Lu Zhou frowned and asked Lin Yule, “You knew I was abroad?”

If Lin Yule knew, then Xun Ji…

Lin Yule seemed to guess his thoughts, his gaze turning colder.

“You think someone in a three-year coma should know anything? Lu Zhou, you chose to leave. You have no right to entangle him again.”

Pain stabbed densely into Lu Zhou’s chest like needles, but his eyes grew resolute.

“Whether I have the right isn’t up to you. I want to see him.”

He tried to push past Lin Yule toward the crowd, but the next words hit him like thunder.

“Is that so? Lu Zhou, even a dog knows who its master is, but you?” Lin Yule didn’t hide his disgust. “Wasn’t hurting Xun Ji enough? You even let the Xun Family raise your kid for three years while you went abroad fawning over the Xue Family. Now you’re back pretending to be loyal?”

“What did you say?” Lu Zhou demanded sharply. “What do you mean the Xun Family raised my kid for three years?”

“You didn’t know?” Lin Yule raised a brow, a flash of realization in his eyes. “Don’t tell me you thought your sister… that’s why you never came back?”

Lu Zhou lunged forward in two strides, grabbing his collar. “You know where my sister is?!”

“Hahaha…” Lin Yule burst into laughter, trembling all over. “Lu Zhou, Lu Zhou, I almost feel sorry for you. He went to such lengths for you, but you still couldn’t escape your fate…”

Lu Zhou tightened his grip, eyes flashing with ferocity. “You exactly…”

“Your sister wasn’t trafficked. Xun Qian saved her. She’s been living well at the Xun Family for these three years.” Lin Yule said, “Lu Zhou, you’ve wasted three years for nothing.”

Each word sliced like a blade into his heart.

“All the suffering you endured, and all the suffering Xun Ji endured for you—utterly meaningless.”

Thud!

Blood trickled down his temple, brushing over Lu Zhou’s stunned, bewildered expression.

The bodyguard tossed aside the bloody chunk of boulder and caught the collapsing body. He turned to Lin Yule. “Young Master Yu, what do we do with him?”

Distant sounds of revelry continued unabated. A wave crashed against the boulder, splashing water everywhere.

Lin Yule clutched his chest, a trickle of blood at his mouth.

“Young Master!” The bodyguard rushed to support him, but he waved him off.

“Lock him up.”

As the punishment descended, the OOC alert in his mind finally ceased.