I was intrigued by Ye Zhan's theory, so I let him continue speaking.

"Not everyone who ventures out has a backing," Ye Zhan said. "Look at me, look at Li Jie, which one of us wasn't bullied before? Gradually, you gather your own group of brothers, gradually you're able to throw punches at others' faces, gradually people start acknowledging your existence."

"Being beaten, being scolded, being bullied," Ye Zhan said incessantly. "Some people collapse completely from such experiences, completely defeated by life; others, however, develop a resilient character, strive harder, and carve out a new life."

Listening to Ye Zhan's words, it felt as if the gloom in my heart was being touched by long-lost sunlight. The three years of being bullied in junior high school made me feel inferior, indecisive, and fearful. But now, Ye Zhan's words seemed to plant a small seedling of hope in my heart, allowing me to see many possibilities.

"So, being beaten isn't a big deal," Ye Zhan said nonchalantly. "What's a slap? I've endured much worse. I'm grateful that Su Xiaobai came in, otherwise we wouldn't be as relaxed as we are now, still able to chat as we walk."

"So, we should be grateful?" Even I couldn't help but smile.

Ye Zhan's theory was indeed interesting. If it were just me now, I would have long harbored deep hatred.

"Definitely!" Ye Zhan laughed heartily.

"Oh, what about Hong Li? What's his background?" I felt a deep aversion towards that person.

"He's a big troublemaker in the second year, notorious for his ruthless tactics. Even Liang Ge can't control him, and Zou Yang and Li Jie found the right person." Ye Zhan shook his head. "But that guy is obsessed with money, he'll definitely continue to bleed Zou Yang dry in the future!"

"Well, if he has money, let him spend it," Zou Yang's parents are officials in our town, they're not short of money.

As we chatted along the way, we happily arrived at the internet cafe.

Upon entering, we headed straight towards the area belonging to our vocational school. Even before we could speak, the internet cafe owner called out, "Meng Liang, your two little brothers are here again, with injuries on their faces and bodies. Looks like they got beaten up again."

Meng Liang dashed over in a flash, staring at us and asking, "What happened, got beaten up again? But you two seem rather cheerful, not like you've just been through a beating."

"We did, we did," I rubbed my head, no longer wearing the bitter and resentful expression I had when we first left school. Instead, I spoke with a relaxed tone, "The incident from last time isn't over yet. Zou Yang brought reinforcements this time, and both of us got beaten."

"What's going on, what's going on?" Yuan Shao was busy with his eyes glued to the screen, but his ears were sharp.

"Darn it, who beat you guys?!" Meng Liang rolled up his sleeves, looking furious.

"Hong Li." Ye Zhan shrugged helplessly.

"That bastard?!" Meng Liang's eyes widened even more, "I'll skin him alive!"

"He claims Zou Yang is his brother, so this matter can't be ignored," Ye Zhan sounded even more helpless.

"He's just a big idiot!" Meng Liang roared, "If it wasn't for money, he wouldn't even dare to act. I'll turn my surname upside down!"

Meng Liang's angry roar quieted down the entire internet cafe; he may be short in stature but definitely not in temper. His face turned red, clearly feeling indignant about what happened to me and Ye Zhan.

"What's going on?" Yuan Shao finally abandoned his computer and hurried over. Other students from our vocational school followed suit, but Yuan Shao waved them off as they approached. Seeing this, they returned to their activities.

In front of Meng Liang and Yuan Shao, I recounted the events of the afternoon, concluding with, "Thank you for having Su Xiaobai look after me, saving me and Ye Zhan from another beating. But I don't want it to end like this, and I definitely don't want to pay that thousand bucks."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Meng Liang and Yuan Shao exchanged a glance. Yuan Shao said, "We definitely won't let you pay that thousand bucks. However, Su Xiaobai wasn't someone we hired."

"Not you guys?" I was surprised, looking around the students from our vocational school, but couldn't spot Yu Chengfei. Did Yu Chengfei arrange for Su Xiaobai himself without informing even Yuan Shao's group? It didn't make sense. If Su Xiaobai wasn't sent by them, then who else would ask him to intercede for me? I didn't know many people from Chengnan High, and Su Xiaobai couldn't have just appeared out of nowhere to help me.

I glanced at Ye Zhan, who also seemed puzzled, shaking his head.

After a brief pause, Yuan Shao's voice echoed throughout the internet cafe, loud enough for everyone to hear, "Damn it, Ye Zhan, you can't even handle a simple task, yet you have the audacity to come to us for help. You got beaten, serves you right! Get lost as far as you can!"

I stared at Yuan Shao in astonishment, never expecting him to say such things. Ye Zhan's face reddened suddenly, drawing the attention of the entire internet cafe.

"Yuan Shao..." I tried to say something.

But Meng Liang quickly chimed in, "If we tell you to get lost, just get lost! Why are you still standing here? We don't owe you anything." His words were an insult.

Ye Zhan gritted his teeth and turned to leave.

"Ye Zhan!" I shouted and hurried after him.

Ye Zhan was a good person, and he had protected me several times. I couldn't let him be treated like this. As for Yuan Shao and the others... I suddenly realized that thugs were just thugs, whether from vocational school or high school, they were equally unreasonable and heartless! A sense of disappointment crept into my heart.

This internet cafe was frequented by students from Chengnan High, our vocational school, and Beiyuan Middle School. Ye Zhan was somewhat known as a small-time thug. Being insulted like that by Yuan Shao and his group in front of everyone... how could he swallow that?

I was about to chase after Ye Zhan when I felt someone grabbing my arm. Turning around, I saw it was Meng Liang.

"Liang Ge," I said helplessly, "Ye Zhan is a good person and has taken care of me. He couldn't help it this time with Hong Li."

"I understand your feelings," Meng Liang said. "But Yuan Shao was actually doing it for Ye Zhan's own good."

I looked at Yuan Shao in astonishment, unable to comprehend the cause and effect of the situation. How could it be good for Ye Zhan if Yuan Shao insulted him in front of everyone at the internet cafe?

But Yuan Shao just lit a cigarette, without any intention of explaining. Helpless, I turned to Meng Liang.

Meng Liang looked at Yuan Shao with dissatisfaction. "Are you shameless enough to smoke in front of him?"

Yuan Shao, however, appeared nonchalant. "This is my last one. Why should I supply you with cigarettes every day?"

"You heartless jerk!" Meng Liang yelled, snatching the cigarette from Yuan Shao's mouth. With a "howl," Yuan Shao attempted to snatch it back, and the two of them started playfully wrestling over it. My head was about to explode, and I said helplessly, "Can you two finish your conversation before you start fooling around?"

Meng Liang finally managed to snatch the cigarette and took two or three puffs before saying, "Let me ask you first, you definitely won't give up on this matter, right?"

"That's right," I said firmly. "If I give up, who knows how Zou Yang might bully me in the future? I don't want to go back to the life I had in junior high."

"Alright, let me tell you why we drove Ye Zhan away," Yuan Shao continued. "With Hong Li involved, this matter isn't so simple. Ye Zhan is a student of Chengnan High School. If he remains entangled with us from the vocational school in this matter, it might bring him trouble."

I was stunned, completely unable to fathom that Yuan Shao and Meng Liang were considering this aspect.

"Chengnan High School, our vocational school, and Beiyuan Middle School are actually in opposition," Yuan Shao continued. "The thugs from these three schools don't see eye to eye, always thinking they're the toughest. On the surface, everyone maintains peace, but behind the scenes, there's never-ending petty conflict. The delicate balance of power is maintained with each school standing firm. The relationships between the thugs are usually okay, like us and Hong Li's group. But once it involves two schools in conflict, everyone does what they have to, without holding back."

"You mean..." I said, somewhat shocked. "This matter could escalate into a conflict between Chengnan High School and our vocational school..."

"As long as you don't want to give up, we'll support you to the end," Yuan Shao said. "If Ye Zhan continues to work for us, he won't be able to survive in Chengnan High School. There were students from all three schools at the internet cafe just now. Us publicly berating Ye Zhan was meant for the students of Chengnan High School to see."

"I see..." I took a deep breath. Thinking about causing a conflict between two schools because of me, I felt a chill run down my spine from the depths of my heart. Should I continue? Am I sure I want to continue?

"If it comes to a fight," Yuan Shao said solemnly, "you probably won't be able to survive in Chengnan High School either..."

My hands trembled slightly.

This was obvious. If I brought students from our vocational school to deal with students from Chengnan High School, even if we were overwhelmingly victorious, how could I still fit in at Chengnan High School?

"That's the worst-case scenario," Yuan Shao said. "Of course, if we can avoid violence, we will. If this matter can be resolved peacefully, everyone will be happy. Regardless of how this situation develops, Ye Zhan isn't suitable to be involved anymore."

"I understand," I nodded, but my heart was shrouded in shadows.

"You should think about it yourself," Yuan Shao said. "Getting into Chengnan High School isn't easy. Although that school also has many thugs, it's much stronger than our vocational school and Beiyuan Middle School. Of course, I'm just telling you the worst-case scenario. There's still a chance for a peaceful resolution."

"Is Hong Li very formidable?" I clenched my fists.

Yuan Shao chuckled. "Of course, he's also one of the prominent figures at Chengnan High School. Otherwise, Li Jie and Zou Yang wouldn't have invited him."