Chapter 22: Shen Chirp, the Frightened Bird

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

He transferred a total of five hundred yuan, which was his food allowance for the month.

Jian Yi said goodbye to Xu Ru and headed out early in the morning toward Yude.

From Ankang Hutong to Yude High School, there was a shortcut through an alley that Jian Yi and Shen Ju used to take together often.

But ever since Shen Ju left, Jian Yi had been walking it alone.

Pretty much only Jian Yi walked it.

But today seemed to be an exception??

After passing through this alley, Yude was just ahead.

But at that moment, Jian Yi stopped in his tracks.

“Our grade’s top student, why aren’t you walking anymore? Not in a hurry to get to school?”

Ma Rui was blocking the alley with a few guys, smoking a cigarette while eyeing Jian Yi.

“Tsk tsk, looks like you’re not used to going to school alone. That little lapdog Shen Ju used to follow you around everywhere, front and back. Now he’s living the good life, and you’re not used to it, huh?”

Ma Rui said pointedly, “Oh right, I ran into him yesterday. He was at the basketball court on Central Street with a bunch of people, having a blast. Probably forgotten all about you already. Makes sense—the circles he’s mixing in now are different. He’s not on our level anymore. That’s why last time he showed up and left so early; he must’ve already looked down on your family.”

Jian Yi looked at Ma Rui, his face expressionless: “You done? If you’re done, get out of the way.”

Ma Rui’s face suddenly darkened: “Fuck, Jian Yi, don’t you toast me and get forced to drink the forfeit! Shen Ju’s not around to protect you anymore!”

“So?”

Jian Yi sized up Ma Rui and suddenly sneered: “Don’t tell me you got shut down by Shen Ju, so now you’re here to take it out on me?”

“After all, Shen Ju and I aren’t from the same class anymore, but you are, right?”

“I’d say, Ma Rui, you should have some self-awareness??”

Before the last word fully landed, Ma Rui had been hit right in his sore spot.

Furious and no longer pretending, he exploded.

“Fuck! I gave you face!”

Ma Rui cursed as he had two lackeys hold Jian Yi down. First, they gave him a beating, then yanked open his backpack and dumped everything out on the ground: “Where’s the phone? School’s starting—you must’ve prepared some money, right? I heard when Shen Ju left, their family gave you guys a nice chunk of change? What’s a cripple like you need all that money for? Just lend it to us to spend!”

“Boss, phone’s here!”

“Fuck! Why’s this phone so shitty? He really got money or what?”

“Rich or not, we can just check.”

Jian Yi struggled, his clothes disheveled, panting heavily: “Ma Rui, aren’t you afraid I’ll tell your mom?”

Ma Rui spat on the ground, dropping all pretense: “Go ahead, tell her! Worst case, I get a beating. What else can she do to me? And if you snitch, let me think—maybe next time I’ll head over to Qichen High School. Shen Ju’s gone to a rich family now; he’s gotta have plenty of cash on hand, right? Even if they covered for him once, there’s always a next time. He’s bound to stir up trouble. Compared to that kid they swapped him with by mistake, guess if his new family will think he’s too much hassle?”

Jian Yi’s face changed drastically: “You wouldn’t dare??”

“What am I afraid of? Just catching up with an old classmate. Shen Ju’s new family’s loaded—what’s this little thing to them?”

Ma Rui was the shameless type, but not stupid.

This guy was most afraid of dealing with deadbeats—bare feet fear no shoes. Whether Ma Rui would actually do it or not, the fact that he dared say it meant he’d thought it through.

“Don’t go after him.” Jian Yi gritted his teeth and said.

Ma Rui was satisfied with Jian Yi’s reaction and grinned smugly: “So, be smart about it. Transfer the money to us. And tomorrow, same time, wait here early with more cash, got it? If it’s enough, we won’t do anything extra. Just depends if you play ball or not, you know?”

Jian Yi took a deep breath, was released, and shakily transferred the money to Ma Rui with one hand.

It wasn’t convenient operating with one hand, and he got mocked several times by the guys nearby.

“Fuck! Only five hundred yuan?!”

“That’s not much.”

“That’s all there is.”

Jian Yi lowered his eyes and said softly: “You want more from me tomorrow anyway?”

Ma Rui snorted: “Fine, you’re playing ball. Be here early tomorrow at this time.”

After Ma Rui and his crew left, Jian Yi finally squatted down to pack his backpack.

Ding dong??

A message came on his phone.

It was from Shen Ju.

He mentioned running into Ma Rui yesterday.

Shen Chirp: [Bro, he was mouthing off again. I couldn’t hold back.]

[But was I too impulsive?]

[Now that I’m not by your side, has Ma Rui given you any trouble?]

Shen Ju rambled on.

Even without a reply from Jian Yi, he could keep chatting to himself.

Jian Yi sent two words: [No.]

Shen Ju’s messages came right back: [Bro! You at school yet? Really nothing? I’m mainly worried since I’m not there with you.]

Jian Yi: [Nagging, cut the crap.]

You gonna stay by my side forever?

Jian Yi thought about it, then deleted that line.

[He was mouthing off and bothering you—you were right to teach him a lesson. Don’t overthink it. And if anything happens, I can handle it myself.]

[Shen Chirp, how many times do I have to tell you—I’m your bro, not a kid you’re babysitting. Keep treating me like glass, and don’t bother coming back to see me.]

[Okay, okay, Bro. I won’t say more.]

Jian Yi watched the phone screen go dark. He really wanted to tell Shen Ju not to worry. Even without this incident, he’d anticipated Ma Rui might come after him—after all, he’d already pissed him off once in the hutong that day. With Ma Rui’s vindictive personality, he’d find a chance for revenge. Jian Yi just hadn’t expected outright extortion.

Extortion’s good.

Fine by him.

Jian Yi slung his backpack over one shoulder with his single hand, brushed the dirt off his clothes.

He gave a self-mocking smile, glanced at his missing left arm, and thought Shen Chirp was like a startled bird—overthinking every action, whether it’d affect him, tiptoeing around with so much baggage. And yet, he’d only clashed with Ma Rui because of him… Jian Yi could imagine how nasty Ma Rui must’ve been to Shen Ju.

But nothing more than cripple talk anyway.

He was used to it.

Why bother… why burden yourself for him again…

Thinking of Ma Rui’s words, Jian Yi lowered his gaze, a flash of viciousness in his eyes.

He went to school with wounds on his face; no one asked what happened, and Jian Yi stayed silent as usual.

After school, Jian Yi went home first.

By now, Xu Ru was already back early and cooking in the kitchen.

Jian Yi tried not to alert her, moving quietly, but Xu Ru heard him come in and saw the injuries on his face when she stepped out.

Her face changed instantly as she rushed forward: “Xiao Yi, what happened to your face?!”

“It’s nothing.”

“Who hit you?”

“Mom, really, it’s no big deal??”

“Was it someone from school bullying you?!”

Xu Ru, not getting a straight answer from Jian Yi, looked even more panicked and anxious: “You going to school alone, I knew it… I knew it! They must think you’re an easy target now that you’re by yourself, singled out, and… Who bullied you? How did they do it? What else did they do? Tell Mom, Xiao Yi??”

“Mom!”

Jian Yi called out, sounding a bit worn out.

“I have something to do. I’m heading out.”

He paused, then added: “Mom, don’t overthink it. I can handle it myself.”

“What can you handle yourself?!”

Jian Yi said nothing more and went into his room.

When the Guan Family took Shen Ju away, they did give them a hefty sum. Jian Yi hadn’t wanted it, but Xu Ru accepted it. And before leaving, he remembered Shen Ju’s biological mom—that pretty, stylish auntie—gave his mom a business card, saying to contact them if there were troubles. The Guan Family had been generous enough.

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

Unless absolutely necessary… but now he had to.

Jian Yi transferred 5,000 yuan to himself, then searched online for single-lens reflex camera prices online—too expensive; even if he could afford it, he didn’t want to. After thinking, he decided on a beat-up second-hand phone and a power bank. Once decided, Jian Yi left his room. Xu Ru was no longer in the living room or kitchen; he paused but said nothing and went out.

What Jian Yi didn’t know was that after he left, Xu Ru dug out the business card Qin Soxi had given her from her room.

She called Qin Soxi.

Yujinfu.

Shen Ju was also home from school.

They’d started school, and Pei Yan had started work too.

During break, Shen Ju went next door for tutoring. Now that school had started, he hesitated about continuing—Pei Yan was working now anyway, and the tutoring was just because he was off during break; it wasn’t anything formal, so it should end by default now, right?

Shen Ju dawdled, hesitating, when he saw Qin Soxi who had just finished a call, beckoning him over.

“Baby, come here.”

Shen Ju walked over, squeezing past Guan Mulin who was coming too.

“Mom’s calling me!”

Guan Mulin good-naturedly smiled: “Yeah, ‘baby’ is you.”

Shen Ju: “……”

Embarrassing.

Qin Soxi found it amusing too, then spoke again: “Good timing—both of you listen.”

“I’m planning to transfer your cousin to Qichen too. What do you think?”