Upon returning to school, I resumed classes after a seven-day absence. My homeroom teacher called me in for a talk. He acknowledged that the Ninth Prince had persistently troubled me in the past, but now that the threat was gone, he hoped I could focus on my studies. I was well-versed in handling such conversations, so I immediately assured him, “Don’t worry, sir. I will dedicate myself to my studies.”

With the teacher appeased, it was time to focus on my real priority—how to confess to Lin Ke’er. I hadn’t yet decided on the approach; love letters, roses, and candlelit gestures all felt too cliché, leaving me unable to settle on a plan. I consulted Houzi, asking if he had any bright ideas.

“Forget all that nonsense,” Houzi scoffed. “You think it’s romantic? I think it’s downright stupid. Just call her out, confess directly, and see what happens. If it works, great. If not, move on.”

I shot back, “You talk big—why don’t you confess to Liu Yina then?”

Houzi, never one to back down, grinned and said, “Fine. Let’s do it together. Snagging Liu Yina? That’s a piece of cake.”

I was already convinced that Lin Ke’er and I were practically a done deal—this confession was just a formality. But I wanted to make it a bit more entertaining, and with Houzi joining in, my excitement grew.

What I didn’t anticipate was that before the time and place were even set, that idiot Houzi had already turned it into the hottest gossip in school.

Huang Jie was the first to approach me, asking if I was really planning a confession. He even threatened, “Lend me five yuan, or I’ll spill the secret to Lin Ke’er and ruin the surprise.” Resigned, I handed over the money, and he scampered off to the internet café, delighted.

Next came Zheng Wu, who, in all seriousness, told me, “A confession is a big deal. You need to dress the part. I can lend you my battle robe.”

“No, no, I’ll just wear my own clothes,” I replied hastily.

Zheng Wu gave me a look that screamed, You have no taste, and I barely escaped using the excuse that I needed to use the restroom.

Then Liu Yina found me, her face glowing with excitement. “You’re confessing, right?”

“Yeah,” I admitted. “But besides me, have you heard of anyone else confessing?”

She looked puzzled. “No, why?”

I smirked. “Houzi is confessing to you. You’d better be ready.”

Later, Wang Yao came running to me, even more thrilled than Liu Yina. “This is amazing! I’ve been waiting for this day! You must treat my Ke’er well.”

Looking at her, a pang of melancholy hit me, but I swallowed it down.

By the time even Ma Jie, the dorm’s unofficial housewife, caught wind of it and started washing my clothes so I could look sharp for the confession, I wanted to strangle Houzi.

What I never saw coming, though, was Yi Zhen showing up.

That night, as I soaked my feet and chatted idly with Ma Jie, the door to the dorm swung open.

Yi Zhen walked in.

The mere sight of him soured my mood instantly. Without preamble, I asked, “What do you want?”

Frankly, if Houzi hadn’t repeatedly warned me not to provoke Yi Zhen, I’d have already beaten him to a pulp every time we crossed paths.

Yi Zhen dropped all pretenses. There wasn’t even a trace of a smile on his face. “I hear you’re confessing to Lin Ke’er. When?”

I had the urge to spit in his face. “What’s it to you?”

“When?” His expression darkened further.

“Tomorrow,” I answered on impulse. I hadn’t actually decided, but since Yi Zhen was asking, why not just throw out a date?

His face went deathly pale. “I’ll ask you one last time. Will you give up on Lin Ke’er?”

So, he knew. He knew that if I confessed, Lin Ke’er would be mine without question.

I sneered. “No.”

“You—”

Before he could finish, the dorm door burst open again.

“Zuo Fei, lend me five yuan! I need to book an overnight session at the internet café!” Houzi barged in, completely oblivious to the tension.

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“Me too, me too!” Huang Jie dashed in right behind him, as if afraid of missing out.

I was in no mood for their antics. With a cold expression, I snapped, “I don’t have any!”

“Oh hey, Yi Zhen! Long time no see!” Houzi’s eyes lit up as he lunged forward, grabbing Yi Zhen’s hand in an exaggerated handshake. “My dear friend! How have you been? It’s been ages! I’ve missed you so much—are you well?”

Not to be outdone, Huang Jie seized Yi Zhen’s other hand. “Ah, Yi Zhen! It’s been too long! How have you been? Is your esteemed mother well? Your father? How’s the family business?”

On any other day, I would’ve burst out laughing at their ridiculous display. But not tonight. Instead, I kept my head down and continued washing my feet in silence.

Yi Zhen, however, chuckled slightly. “Houzi, Huang Jie—you two wanted to borrow money, right?”

“Yes, yes! We need cash for an overnight session!”

Yi Zhen pulled out a crisp hundred-yuan bill. “Take it. Buy some food and drinks, too.”

“Oh my, my dear patron saint!” Houzi gleefully pocketed the bill, practically clinging to Yi Zhen.

“Yi Zhen, you’re truly a noble soul, treating money like dirt. A true gentleman,” Huang Jie fawned.

Yi Zhen remained composed. “I actually came to speak with Zuo Fei.”

“What about?” Houzi finally backed away.

“I heard he’s confessing to Lin Ke’er. I came to ask if he would reconsider.”

“Uh… that’s a bit much, isn’t it?” Houzi hesitated, rubbing his hands together.

“I’m willing to pay,” Yi Zhen continued smoothly. “Whatever price he names, I’ll meet it.”

Houzi shot me a glance. I quickly looked away, terrified that he might actually try to persuade me to back down.

“Well,” Houzi finally said, his voice filled with feigned difficulty, “if it were me, I’d definitely step aside—for the sake of our friendship, of course! But Zuo Fei… he and Lin Ke’er go way back. Childhood sweethearts, you know? Breaking them up wouldn’t be right.” (Damn, he really knows how to embellish things…)

“Exactly, exactly,” Huang Jie chimed in.

A slight relief settled in me—Houzi, at least, had finally said something decent.

“I see,” Yi Zhen sighed. “Then there’s nothing more to be done. I won’t make things difficult for Zuo Fei.”

“That’s the spirit!” Houzi beamed. “No need for conflict—take a step back, and the sea is wide and the sky limitless!”

Then, Yi Zhen suddenly turned to Houzi. “Houzi, with the Ninth Prince gone, you’re now the most influential figure in the first year. Could I ask you for a favor?”

“What kind of favor?” Houzi asked warily.

Yi Zhen’s lips curved into a smile. “I need you to help me beat someone up.”

"Who? Just say the name! I won’t make any promises for the seniors, but among the freshmen, my word is law!" HOUZI declared, thumping his chest.

Yet, a sense of unease crept over me.

"This might be a difficult request, but I’m willing to pay handsomely. How about five hundred yuan?"

HOUZI’s eyes widened, and beside him, Huang Jie swallowed hard. Five hundred yuan was no small sum for a student.

"Who do you want me to deal with?" Strangely, instead of excitement, HOUZI seemed to have calmed down—perhaps this was the composure of someone truly cut out for the game.

I stared directly at Yi Zhen, already guessing who he was about to name.

"Him." Yi Zhen lifted a finger and pointed at me.

Just as I expected.

"Zuo Fei?" HOUZI frowned.

A brief silence fell over the dormitory, making the air feel even heavier. My heart pounded in my chest.

All eyes turned to HOUZI, including mine. I feared he might say, Zuo Fei, let me rough you up a little, and we’ll split the five hundred. Or worse, Zuo Fei, I really don’t want to do this, but you understand, right?

HOUZI remained silent. I shut my eyes.

"Not enough? I can go up to a thousand."

"What do you want me to use to hit him?" HOUZI asked suddenly.

My heart plummeted.

I opened my eyes. If HOUZI was really going to do it, I would watch him do it with my own eyes.

The room remained eerily still. Yi Zhen glanced around, seemingly searching for a suitable weapon.

"That beer bottle over there should do."

In the corner of the room sat an empty beer bottle, one I had just finished earlier that day.

HOUZI walked over, gripped it tightly, then strode back.

Huang Jie said nothing.

Cold sweat trickled down my forehead as I locked eyes with HOUZI.

"Smash his head open, and the money is yours," Yi Zhen said, his voice devoid of warmth, laced with arrogance.

HOUZI looked at me—and then, unexpectedly, he grinned.

I smiled back.

HOUZI lifted the bottle high and brought it down with a resounding crash.

Right on Yi Zhen’s head.

The pampered young master didn’t even have time to react before collapsing onto the floor without so much as a twitch.

At that moment, I seized the basin of foot-washing water at my feet and dumped the entire thing over Yi Zhen’s head.

Then, together with HOUZI, I rained down kicks upon him, sending him rolling across the floor like a discarded ragdoll.

By the time we stopped, Yi Zhen lay curled up like a shrimp, his soaked hair dripping with a grotesque mixture of blood and foot water. Gone was the air of nobility—he now resembled nothing more than a pitiful wretch.

"A mere thousand yuan for my brother’s head?" HOUZI sneered.

I squared my shoulders, proud to have a friend like him.

"At least throw in an extra five yuan," HOUZI added nonchalantly.

I: "…"

Yi Zhen remained motionless, sprawled on the floor like a beaten dog.

Huang Jie, who had yet to lay a hand on him, lowered his head and, in the most exaggeratedly shameless voice, began to sing, “Oh, the vast horizon is my love, beneath the rolling green hills, the flowers are in bloom…”

Yi Zhen slowly picked himself up, chuckling coldly as he wiped the blood and foot water from his face with his sleeve.

"You can always run crying to your daddy," HOUZI suggested, his tone dripping with mockery. "Tell him someone at school bullied you. If your old man steps in, we’re done for."

"You think you lot are even worthy of my father’s attention?" Yi Zhen sneered.

"Or, you could go to Ding Sheng and Liang Qi," HOUZI continued, unbothered. "Slip them some cash, and they’d be more than happy to take care of it for you."

Yi Zhen said nothing more. He turned and stormed out, slamming the dormitory door behind him.

"Heh, made a hundred bucks," HOUZI said, fishing out the bill Yi Zhen had given him earlier. He examined it under the light, then dramatically brought it to his lips and kissed it.

"This is for both of us!" Huang Jie lunged forward, trying to snatch it.

"Get lost! I was the one who fought Yi Zhen—what did you do?" HOUZI retorted with conviction.

Huang Jie: "…"

I turned to him. "Who are Ding Sheng and Liang Qi?"