Chapter 13: Zhou Zhuoyuan had a book of fables…

Zhou Zhuoyuan had a book of fable stories that his Chinese teacher had rewarded him with when he scored a perfect 100 in Chinese during fifth grade in elementary school.

He cherished this book deeply.

Jiang Yueyi and Lin Decai only bought extracurricular books for Lin Boxu. Sometimes Zhou Zhuoyuan would sneak into his room to read them, finding every single one fascinating. It would have been even better if he didn’t have to feel so terrified while doing it.

One time, Lin Boxu caught him red-handed. In front of his gang of delinquent friends, Lin Boxu roared at Zhou Zhuoyuan: “These are my books! You thief! Don’t touch my stuff!”

Then he snatched the book away and kicked Zhou Zhuoyuan hard in the stomach.

After that, Zhou Zhuoyuan never dared to enter Lin Boxu’s room again.

Lin Boxu had tons of extracurricular books, but Zhou Zhuoyuan only had one. He kept this fable book clipped between his textbooks every day, never letting it out of his sight.

This book stayed with Zhou Zhuoyuan for a very, very long time. He knew every story in it by heart and even remembered the details of the illustrations perfectly.

One of the stories was “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.” On the last page’s illustration, the big gray wolf was cradling its round, full belly, and the lying shepherd boy was nowhere to be seen.

The boy who lied all the time lost everyone’s trust and eventually lost his life. In the same way, Zhou Zhuoyuan—who often bullied Zhou Zhuoyi—would always be the first one suspected.

Zhou Zhuoyuan understood Zhou Zhuoli’s and Zhu Wan’s perspective. He had long stopped holding any expectations of them.

It was just that, in front of all those watching eyes, being scolded by the “family” his friends envied for treating him so well made him feel a bit humiliated.

Sun Yuqing comforted him from the side: “Master, don’t worry. Your brother will definitely be fine.”

Zhou Zhuoyuan looked at him blankly: “My brother?”

Sun Yuqing scratched his head: “Yeah, isn’t that boy who got hit by the ball your brother?”

Zhou Zhuoyuan burst out laughing: “He’s not my brother. He’s younger than me.”

After a moment, he added uncertainly: “He should be… younger than me?”

Sun Yuqing didn’t press further: “You’re getting old and senile.”

Zhou Zhuoyuan: ?

Distracted by this exchange, the embarrassment in his heart eased quite a bit. Zhou Zhuoyuan raised an eyebrow, his smile bold and arrogant: “Continue?”

Sun Yuqing quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

That’s more like it. His master should look this smug.

That evening, as Zhou Zhuoyuan headed back to the dorm, he received a call from Zhu Wan.

She frankly admitted her mistake: “Sorry, Zhuoyuan. Mom misunderstood you. You can make one request from me as an apology gift.”

Zhu Wan was rational and fair. For Zhou Zhuoyuan, who had been lost and missing for so many years outside, she did her best to make up for it.

But a lack of love was a lack of love. People’s hearts were inherently biased, and first instincts couldn’t be faked—Zhu Wan’s choice would always be Zhou Zhuoyi, never him, Zhou Zhuoyuan.

Sometimes he wished Zhu Wan were just a terribly bad person: spoiling Zhou Zhuoyi rotten, selfish and vain, despising him for his poor education, even abusing him. If that were the case, it would have been so much better.

That way, when he fled the Zhou Family, he could have confidently declared that he’d escaped from scum and started a new life.

But Zhu Wan wasn’t like that. She had raised Zhou Zhuoyi exceptionally well, and she was gentle and tolerant with everyone.

In this novel, it seemed like he was the only villain, relentlessly sabotaging everyone’s happiness.

Zhou Zhuoyuan buried his face deeper into his scarf, and the muffled, cold voice that emerged said: “Just stay away and stop affecting my studies.”

Zhu Wan fell silent for a moment, then agreed sadly: “Okay. Focus on your studies. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself—if you don’t get in, you can always go abroad. Don’t wear yourself out.”

He replied perfunctorily: “Got it.”

After hanging up, Zhou Zhuoyuan received a bank transfer from Zhou Zhuoli—probably sent at Zhou Zhuoyi’s request.

One hundred thousand yuan, more money than he’d earned in an entire year before.

Zhou Zhuoyuan was past the age of throwing away a bank card in a fit of pride. Zhou Zhuoli had humiliated him in front of all those people, so taking this money was only fair.

He double-checked the amount, pocketed his phone, and entered the dorm.

–

Ji He, as Zhou Zhuoyi’s good friend, had heard about the incident right away. When he handed the breakfast to Zhou Zhuoyuan, he couldn’t help complaining: “Why’d you take Little Yi onto the basketball court? It was lucky nothing bad happened this time—what if someone collides with him and hurts him next time?”

Zhou Zhuoyuan lowered his gaze and carefully tore open the sandwich wrapper: “There won’t be a next time.”

He wouldn’t be alone with Zhou Zhuoyi anymore. He wouldn’t have any prolonged contact with him.

Ji He pursed his lips: “Fine.”

Zhou Zhuoyuan paused, then added: “And you don’t need to bring me breakfast anymore.”

Ji He was caught off guard for a moment. He stared at Zhou Zhuoyuan for a long while before finally grasping the meaning of his words. “What do you mean? Just because I spoke up for Little Yi? Did I say anything wrong? Besides, Little Yi and I have been best friends since we were kids. We’ve only been desk mates for a few days, and you already expect me to take your side? Who do you think you are? I really don’t understand why you’re always picking on Little Yi. What has he ever done to offend you? If he weren’t so even-tempered and willing to let things slide, do you think you’d still be welcome at the Zhou Family? If you hadn’t ignored me that day, nothing would have happened to me anyway. Looking after you is my way of repaying a debt—don’t push your luck!”

He unleashed a torrent of words. In the past, Zhou Zhuoyuan would have torn into him for being full of himself, and Ji He had braced himself for exactly that.

But Zhou Zhuoyuan said nothing this time. Not a single cutting remark. “I never asked you to take my side.”

Ji He was at a loss for words.

It was true—Zhou Zhuoyuan had never made any demands of him. Ji He had always been the one jumping to conclusions on his own.

The heavy silence dragged on until the end of evening self-study.

As usual, Ji He lingered in the classroom with Zhou Zhuoyuan until everyone else had gone. He kept stealing glances upward now and then.

Just as he finally worked up the nerve to speak, Zhou Zhuoyuan seemed to sense it. He stood up and headed to the bathroom.

Ji He’s pent-up frustration deflated in an instant.

~~~

The bathroom was far from quiet this time. A group of boys clustered by the window, the cramped space thick with cigarette smoke.

Zhou Zhuoyuan irritably knit his brows and strode into a stall.

He had no intention of stirring up trouble.

But they clearly had other plans for him.

As soon as he emerged from the stall, a basin of ice-cold water splashed over him, soaking him to the skin.

The ringleader, cigarette dangling from his lips, let out a scornful laugh. “We were starting to worry you wouldn’t show tonight, huh, good little student? Such a dedicated learner.”

Zhou Zhuoyuan’s first instinct was that these were Liu Kuo’s thugs.

The boy quickly set him straight. “That coward Guan Qi was all tough talk when he beat the crap out of us before. But call him out now, and he doesn’t dare face us. Had to come hunt you down instead. Since he threw down for you, he wouldn’t just ditch you here alone, right?”

Zhou Zhuoyuan froze in place for a beat before realizing he’d been dragged into someone else’s mess. He remembered Guan Qi boasting about thrashing everyone who’d badmouthed him—no need to play nice, then.

He let out a cold sneer. “Guan Qi fought for me? What the hell are you supposed to be? And what the hell is he?”

The boy gnashed his teeth. “Your mouth’s as foul as ever.”

They were obviously lying in wait for Guan Qi, but Zhou Zhuoyuan wasn’t about to play along. He charged forward and slammed a fist into the guy’s face. They grappled wildly.

If Guan Qi could take them down one by one, they had to be a bunch of pushovers. Zhou Zhuoyuan’s no-holds-barred style connected several solid hits before the others piled on, yanking him away in a chaotic scramble. No one even noticed the knocking at the door.

The boy hauled himself up, face twisted in fury as he glared at Zhou Zhuoyuan, now forced to his knees by the group. “Fucking mad dog!”

Zhou Zhuoyuan might be the black sheep of the Zhou Family, but he still carried the family name. They held back from going all out. The standoff stretched on until a massive “Bang!” from the window snapped everyone’s attention that way.

Guan Qi vaulted in from outside, bracing himself on the frame.

Winter had arrived, and he wore only a sweater, sweat pouring down his face.

The boy gaped in shock. “Holy shit! That’s the fifth floor!”

Guan Qi stalked forward, face like thunder. The guys pinning Zhou Zhuoyuan flinched and let go.

Zhou Zhuoyuan pushed himself up, hand on his knee. “Nice mess you’ve gotten me into.”

Guan Qi wheeled around to shield him, a vein throbbing at his temple. “We’ll square up later. Get the hell out now, or wait around for the boot!”

They hadn’t schemed this far just to scatter at a threat of suspension. They tensed to lunge—then Ji He’s voice rang out from the doorway. “Zhou Zhuoyuan! What the hell are you doing? Fall in the toilet or something?”

The group slunk past Ji He, heads down.

Ji He stared after them in utter confusion.

Zhou Zhuoyuan made to follow, but Guan Qi grabbed his arm. He snapped irritably, “What? I’m soaked and freezing. I need to get back and change.”

Ji He heard him and bolted inside.

Both their hair was drenched, but Zhou Zhuoyuan was the worse off—water streamed steadily from his clothes and pants.

Ji He’s mind went blank with a buzz of rage. “Those assholes from before? They jumped you? I’m gonna find them!”

He whirled to give chase.

Zhou Zhuoyuan’s head pounded. “Chase them for what? They finally bailed—don’t drag them back. This has nothing to do with you. Keep your mouth shut about it.”

Ji He turned back, fuming. “But…”

“Enough already. I didn’t come out on the losing end. They didn’t dare actually hit me. If you kick up a fuss, I might even end up having to apologize to them.”

Zhou Zhuoyuan truly hadn’t suffered much. That basin of water had left him looking a little bedraggled, but his face was still clean and dry. Dressed warmly for winter, the punches that landed on him barely stung.

Only when Ji He saw that he really didn’t seem hurt did he reluctantly trudge back over.

As Zhou Zhuoyi’s friend, Guan Qi had crossed paths with Ji He privately a few times before. They were on nodding acquaintance, at least.

Guan Qi was usually fairly warm toward him, but this time he completely ignored Ji He and kept clinging to Zhou Zhuoyuan. “You’ll catch your death of cold going out like that. Swap clothes with me.”

Zhou Zhuoyuan found the idea a little amusing. “You’re dressed even lighter than I am. And do you think you’re in any better shape? You’re drenched in sweat.”

Guan Qi’s expression turned awkward in an instant. The moment he’d gotten the message, he hadn’t dared waste even a second—he’d rushed out without grabbing his jacket.

Ji He had been about to make the same suggestion, but Guan Qi had beaten him to the punch. Hearing Zhou Zhuoyuan turn it down, he jumped in. “Swap with me, then. I’ll have the driver come pick me up. You only just got over being sick—don’t go catching it again.”

Zhou Zhuoyuan’s lips had gone pale from the chill. The classroom was still a good distance from the dorms. After a moment’s hesitation, he decided against playing the tough guy.