Yu Chengfei lowered his head, seeming to ponder something. Worried he might fall asleep, I tugged at his sleeve.

Yu Chengfei nodded. "Go on."

So I continued. I explained the flour plan, how all thirteen of us would act, and finally how I would be left alone with Wheat, then I would pull out the switchblade from my pocket and stab him in the stomach. That would be the end of it. Then the ambulance arranged in advance by Slap King would rush in, take Wheat away, and send him to the hospital. Then the school would hold a meeting and expel Wheat, punishing me. "It's a double-edged sword, Yu Ge."

Yu Chengfei laughed after listening. "This plan is not bad. At first glance, it seems flawless."

Hearing Yu Chengfei's praise, I felt happy and smiled, feeling much relieved.

"Mouse, do you know why I always wanted you to transfer to our vocational school?" Yu Chengfei suddenly asked out of nowhere.

"Why?" I always thought he just wanted to look out for me.

"In a gang, you not only need a tough enforcer but also a strategist," Yu Chengfei said leisurely.

"Tough enforcer? Strategist?" It was the first time I heard these terms, and I had no idea what they meant.

"The tough enforcer is the strongest fighter in the gang, while the strategist is the one who plans and schemes," Yu Chengfei explained with a smile. "Mouse, you're not suited to be a tough enforcer; your heart is too soft. Remember when I asked you to slap Zou Yang, and you couldn't even do it? Zou Yang had bullied you for three whole years! But you read a lot of books, and you're smart, with a sharp mind for understanding things. So being a strategist suits you best."

"Um." I nodded. "So you're the tough enforcer?" Yu Chengfei's skills in fighting were unmatched.

"No, I'm not the tough enforcer," Yu Chengfei chuckled. "I'm the leader, the core of this gang. Yuan Shao is the tough enforcer; he's the most renowned fighter under my command. Don't be fooled by Yuan Shao's easygoing demeanor; he's a ferocious fighter when it comes to brawls."

"Oh!" I looked at Yuan Shao, suddenly understanding. Yu Chengfei could fight and strategize, it seemed that being both the tough enforcer and the strategist was necessary to be the leader. But I still didn't understand why Yu Chengfei was talking about this now.

"You're not good at fighting," Yu Chengfei said. "So even if you have a knife, you might not be able to beat Wheat."

My face flushed. "Yu Ge, you underestimate me. If Wheat were standing here, I'd really stab him!" With that, I took out the switchblade, as if to prove it to Yu Ge, and waved it in the air a couple of times.

Yu Chengfei laughed. "I know you would. You're a smart kid and quick to learn. But stabbing someone isn't as simple as it seems. Do you know where to stab to make someone bleed the most without killing them? Do you know where to stab to instantly immobilize them? Do you know where to stab to completely break their spirit? Do you know where to stab where they won't feel pain but it's still deadly?"

Yu Chengfei's series of questions left me dumbfounded. Stabbing someone seemed more complicated than I thought.

"A novice stabbing someone usually has two outcomes," Yu Chengfei patiently explained. "One is after the first stab, they get scared by the sight of blood and can't bring themselves to stab again. If the other person is also scared stiff and doesn't move, then it's fine. But if the other person is an experienced fighter, they might counterattack; the other is after the first stab, the person's mind goes blank, and they go crazy, stabbing continuously seventeen or eighteen times, and end up killing the person. Of course, there are people who can remain calm after the first stab, but they're as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns."

I took a deep breath. "Yu Ge, teach me how to stab someone. I'll definitely stay calm!"

Yu Chengfei laughed again and patted my shoulder. "Good brother, I believe you'll learn quickly, and I believe you'll stay calm. But I still don't want you to stab Wheat."

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"Why?" I asked anxiously. Tomorrow, the flour plan would be implemented, and after preparing for so long, Yu Chengfei was telling me not to go?

"Because the double-edged sword might be a trap."

"What?!" I looked at Yu Chengfei in astonishment. When he said those words, something in my mind seemed to click, as if I had been waiting for this moment in the classroom, sweating profusely, as if waiting for this sentence to be spoken.

"A double-edged sword," Yu Chengfei said. "According to Slap King's plan, Wheat gets expelled from Cheng Gao, and you become the next leader. But why would he give you a knife? What consequences could a knife cause? As the head of the Academic Affairs Office, he can't be unaware of it. What if you accidentally kill someone? Can he really guarantee your safety? He's blatantly trying to goad you into a trap! Whether you kill Wheat or not, he'll kick both of you out of Cheng Gao!"

I stared at Yu Chengfei in shock, feeling everything become clear. The reason I couldn't find the problem was because subconsciously I didn't want to find it. I had never used a knife before, but Slap King wanted me to use one to stab someone. Why specifically use a knife, a weapon with unpredictable consequences?

"A double-edged sword, indeed," Yu Chengfei said. "Your Academic Affairs Office head is too cunning, clearly setting you and Wheat against each other, then kicking you both out as a matter of course. Using a knife? Is that a joke? Can it be covered up by 'self-defense'?"

"But... why?" I hesitated. "Why would Slap King set up such a trap for me? I was planning to transfer schools anyway, why would he go to such lengths to have me expelled?"

"I guess there are a few reasons," Yu Chengfei said. "First, you're indeed the best candidate to take down Wheat. Second, Slap King sees your potential and worries that you might become even more ambitious than Wheat at Cheng Gao. Third, since you're planning to transfer anyway, he might as well have you deal with Wheat. Fourth, it's a warning to others; by expelling both of you, Cheng Gao will have peace for a long time."

My fists clenched. Being used like this felt uncomfortable...

"So, deep down, you still don't want to leave Cheng Gao," Yu Chengfei patted my shoulder. "Actually, it's just my speculation. Maybe I'm being overly suspicious? Perhaps Slap King really wants to groom you as the new leader."

"No, Yu Ge," I said, head down. "You've analyzed it clearly. Slap King, as the head of the Academic Affairs Office, giving me a highly lethal switchblade, his intentions are obvious."

Yu Chengfei sighed. "Speaking of which, your Academic Affairs Office head is really something. I never thought he was the one pulling the strings behind Cheng Gao's big brothers. Hahaha... So, Old Dog, Wheat, and Brick are just pawns."

"Yu Ge," I said with a bitter smile. "I'll go back now and cancel the plan, return the switchblade to Slap King."

"Ah, don't." Yu Chengfei said. "The plan should proceed as usual, after all the preparation."

"Huh?" I looked at Yu Chengfei, puzzled by his meaning.

Yu Chengfei placed his hands on my shoulders. "Mouse, you still have a long way to go to become my strategist. This time, let me teach you what it means to turn the tables. Just change one aspect of it..."

&&&&&&&&&&

I returned to school, looking relaxed and natural. During afternoon class, Liu Zihong looked at me. "Brother Hao, why are you so happy? Weren't you gloomy this morning?" I smirked. "We're about to make a name for ourselves tomorrow, how can I not be happy?"

With Yu Chengfei's guidance, the only place I worried about had been sealed shut. The whole "flour plan" was now flawless and seamless!

"I told you," Liu Zihong said happily. "With Wheat's limited brains, how could he ever outsmart Brother Hao? Brother Hao, you're going to be one of Cheng Gao's big shots from now on, but don't forget us, your brothers who started with you."

"How could I forget?" I nudged Liu Zihong with my shoulder, chuckling at him.

Time passed quickly, and in the evening, after self-study class, I told Liu Zihong, "Go inform Ye Zhan and the others. We'll gather at the basketball court and run through the plan one last time. Tomorrow, we'll officially implement the flour plan!" With that, I hurried off to the basketball court to wait for them. It would attract less attention if we gathered there in a larger group.

As soon as I left the classroom, I saw Su Xiaobai and Xia Xue talking in a corner. I felt a pang of sadness and was about to walk around them when Su Xiaobai spotted me. "Wang Hao, looking for Peach?" Xia Xue turned her face away, pretending not to see me. I felt annoyed and deliberately said loudly, "Yeah." Then, I really headed towards Peach's classroom. Su Xiaobai and Xia Xue didn't look at me again but continued their conversation. I circled around Peach's classroom entrance and was about to take another staircase down when a girl blocked my path.

"Ye Qianqian?!" I looked at the tall, beautiful girl in front of me in surprise. I remembered her vividly because she was the first girlfriend of Su Xiaobai that I knew, and back then, I even warmly called her sister-in-law.

"Wang Hao." Ye Qianqian looked almost on the verge of tears. "Do you have a moment? I want to talk to you."

Honestly, I didn't have a moment, but looking at Ye Qianqian's pitiful appearance, even the hardest-hearted person couldn't just brush her off. So, I reluctantly said, "Alright, what do you want to talk about? I have other things to do."

"Okay, I won't take up much of your time!" Ye Qianqian grabbed my arm. "Let's walk downstairs and talk."

I gently shook off her hand and said in a tone that wasn't too cold or too warm, "Let's go."

Side by side, the two of us walked downstairs.

"Su Xiaobai is really not a good person!" As soon as we reached the bottom of the stairs, Ye Qianqian's first words startled me.