The drill instructor couldn't help but chuckle, pointing at me. "Really? I think the kid looks quite sharp."

"I still find him ugly," Lin Ke’er replied, her voice calm and indifferent.

"Alright then," the instructor sighed in defeat. "Can you at least turn around?"

Without a shred of hesitation, Lin Ke’er turned her back to me, showing me the same mercilessness I had once displayed two years ago.

"Enough laughter! Stand properly!"

The instructor silenced the crowd, and the training ground fell quiet once more. But I knew—all eyes remained on me. By this point, I had grown numb to it. After a whole day of humiliation, I'd long discarded any sense of dignity. Staring at Lin Ke’er’s back, I thought to myself—this makes us even. No apologies needed. We owe each other nothing now.

Finally, break time arrived. Just as I was about to call Houzi, a familiar figure approached—Long-haired Guy, once again, accompanied by his lackeys.

"Kid, I heard you told me to watch my back?" he said, grinning.

I knew Ma Jie had snitched again. Shooting him a glare, I saw him smirking smugly, even flashing me a mocking "V" sign.

I knew there was no time to make a call. The only way to get out of this was to escalate the situation—Houzi would see the commotion and rush over. So, I roared, "Yeah, I told you to watch yourself! What of it?!"

My voice was so loud even Long-haired Guy flinched. The surrounding students turned to watch, and not far away, Lin Ke’er stood observing as well. Surely, Houzi would hear that, right?

"The hell? You’re pretty d*mn cocky!" Long-haired Guy snarled, launching a kick at me.

Remembering how Binzi fought, I caught his leg and yanked forward. He stumbled and fell with a cry. Seizing the chance, I lunged at him, but before I could land more than two punches, his goons grabbed me and dragged me away.

And so, the morning’s scene repeated itself. The noon’s scene repeated itself.

For the third time today, I was thrown to the ground and mercilessly kicked.

Morning—beaten in the teaching building.Noon—beaten in the dormitory.Afternoon—beaten on the training field.

And always by the same group of people.

If there was a record for the most humiliating day in history, surely, I had just set it.

Through the gaps between the crowd, I saw many people gathering, even the instructor watching from the side, pointing and whispering. Fine. The bigger the scene, the better. Houzi, you’d better hurry. I can’t take much more of this.

"Long-haired Guy, f*ck your mother!" I bellowed with every ounce of strength I had left, ensuring my voice carried across the entire field.

Surely, Houzi would hear that. Why wasn’t he here yet?

"Enough!" A voice suddenly rang out.

The kicks stopped. Panting, I lay on the ground.

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"Ke’er, are you speaking up for him?" Long-haired Guy smirked.

"That’s enough," Lin Ke’er’s voice was as cold as ever. "How badly do you intend to beat him?"

I glanced around. A large crowd had gathered, yet there was no sign of Houzi.

"Heh, since you’re pleading for him, of course I’ll give you face," Long-haired Guy grinned, snapping his fingers before sauntering away with his crew.

"Move along! Nothing to see!" The instructors finally spoke up.

Lin Ke’er didn’t even spare me a glance before walking toward the shade of a nearby tree.

Slowly, I pushed myself up. The instructor approached, shaking his head. "Useless. Just sit this one out. No need to join the next round of training."

With so many eyes still on me, I no longer cared about saving face. I turned and walked toward Class 5, determined to ask Houzi why he hadn’t shown up.

As I passed by, students whispered behind my back. Everyone had witnessed my humiliation. But I had nothing left to lose. There were only two options left for me—death or revenge.

Reaching Class 5, I scanned the crowd, but the sea of camouflaged uniforms made it impossible to spot Houzi.

"Where’s Houzi?" I asked directly.

The students exchanged glances, some clearly confused.

"What do you want with him?" someone finally asked.

"I need to see him."

"He went to an internet café. If you’re looking for him, go there."

So Houzi wasn’t even at school. No wonder he never came.

I felt a surge of anger. We had agreed—this afternoon, we would take care of Long-haired Guy. Yet here he was, ditching me for video games? Was this some kind of joke?

Still, I swallowed my frustration. I needed him.

Dialing his number, I called three times before he finally picked up.

"Who is this?"

He didn’t even have my number saved. What kind of "friend" had Binzi introduced me to?

Suppressing my fury, I said, "It’s me. Zuo Fei."

"Oh, you. I’m at Feilu Internet Café. Come over. And bring me some fried noodles while you’re at it."

The call ended. My hand trembled slightly. Ever since I arrived at this school, I had felt like I had fallen straight from heaven into hell.

But I bought the fried noodles anyway and headed for the café.

The place was chaotic. After searching for a while, I finally spotted Houzi—headphones on, hands flying over the keyboard, cursing nonstop.

"F*ck! Push, you moron! What kind of dumbass jungler are you?! And bot lane, stop feeding, you f*ck*ng noobs!"

I sat beside him, placing the food down. He shot me a glance and motioned for me to wait.

Between bites of noodles, he continued cursing at his teammates. The entire café was filled with people just like him, so his outbursts hardly stood out.

I waited as long as I could before finally saying, "Long-haired Guy came after me again."

I didn’t mention the beatings. I still had some pride left.

"How?" Houzi asked absently. "Hey! Mid lane, are you an idiot?! Gank properly, you useless piece of sh*t!"

Losing patience, I raised my voice. "He beat me in front of all the first-year students. That was the third time today."

Finally, Houzi paused, setting his headphones down. "Let’s go."

I stood up, ready for action.

Houzi pushed his chair back but then hesitated, glancing at his screen. After a moment, he leaned forward, tapped the keyboard a few more times, and looked conflicted.

"Can’t let my team down. Listen, just head back first. Wait for me at the training field gate. I’ll be there in ten minutes, tops."

I nodded and left.

Ten minutes passed.Houzi didn’t come.

An hour passed.Still no sign of him.

The sun dipped below the horizon, and I buried my face in my knees, unwilling to let anyone see my tears.

I had been a fool to rely on him.

As the sky darkened, the training ended, and students dispersed, some still pointing at me and whispering.

"That’s him.""Got beaten up again today.""Why’s he still sitting there?""Did they beat him stupid?"

Eventually, the crowd thinned.

Then, a sudden voice broke the quiet.

"Hey! The idiot’s still here!"

I looked up.

Long-haired Guy and his gang were approaching.

Instinctively, I stood, ready to run.

But this time, he waved his hand. "Forget it. Let’s leave him alone."

I was stunned. Was this a trick?

"Ke’er asked me to stop," he said, smug. "And in return, she agreed to have dinner with me."

My blood ran cold.

Lin Ke’er… had agreed to a date… just to stop them from beating me?

My hands clenched into fists.

Houzi was useless. I had to rely on myself.

I found a brick and waited at the school gate.

If I was still a man, I would not allow this to happen.

And when Long-haired Guy finally appeared, walking beside Lin Ke’er, laughing, reaching for her waist—

I shot up from the shadows, bellowing, "Long-haired b*st*rd, f*ck your mother!"

And smashed the brick straight into his skull.