LABMY CH5

On Monday morning, after the early reading class ended, Wei Zhenge’s deskmate finally seized the opportunity to ask him, “Who was that man at the school gate that day?”

The deskmate, Chen Ji, felt somewhat guilty for running away at the time, but coming from an ordinary family, he was truly afraid of getting into trouble because of Wei Zhenge.

The one who had been at odds with Wei Zhenge for years, Fu Pengyi, was the son of the school’s largest shareholder. Someone like Wei Zhenge, who had consistently ranked first in the grade, should have been highly valued by the school.

However, thanks to the Wei family’s indifference and refusal to let Wei Zhenge transfer schools, the school could avoid offending the shareholder’s son while benefiting from the glory brought by Wei Zhenge’s excellent academic performance.

No one dared to jeopardize their college entrance exam, so even if Wei Zhenge faced unfair treatment at school, his good grades still brought honor to the institution.

Moreover, Fu Pengyi’s actions hadn’t escalated to physical assault. At most, he shoved him around a few times, which could be dismissed as mere schoolyard scuffles. However, the private harassment and disgusting little tricks were endless.

This behavior precisely targeted Wei Zhenge’s mindset, making him feel utterly sick. The neglect from both the Wei family and the school led to his current awkward situation.

After all, Chen Ji was just a deskmate.

Because he was merely a deskmate, Wei Zhenge replied calmly, “It’s nothing, just a friend.”

Chen Ji’s eyes held a trace of pity. “He doesn’t seem easy to mess with. You’d better be careful.”

So what if he had good grades and good looks? With a family that ignored him, judging by his worn-out clothes and basic school supplies, who would believe he came from a wealthy family?

Even Chen Ji, from an ordinary background, felt superior in this aspect.

If it were the old Wei Zhenge, he might have nodded in agreement. But after spending two days with Jian Yuanbai, although it was brief, he sensed that Jian Yuanbai’s personality was far from what his appearance suggested.

In fact… in some ways, his thought process was a bit unconventional.

Wei Zhenge muttered, “He’s… actually quite a good person.”

His hesitation appeared to Chen Ji as forced optimism, making Chen Ji’s pity deepen, along with a hint of concealed satisfaction.

Chen Ji knew that although the girls in their class dared not approach Wei Zhenge due to Fu Pengyi’s constant trouble, they secretly admired him.

But so what? With all the trouble surrounding Wei Zhenge, which girl would dare get close to him?

“Wei Zhenge.”

A clear and pleasant female voice called out.

Chen Ji’s thoughts came to an abrupt stop. How could he forget that the class beauty, Tong Lerong, had always treated Wei Zhenge quite kindly?

The girl wore the school uniform of Jinyang No.1 High School, her ponytail full of youthful energy. “Come outside with me. I have something to tell you.”

Chen Ji smiled and greeted her, “Good morning, Lerong.”

Tong Lerong ignored him and only looked at Wei Zhenge. Chen Ji’s smile froze on his face as he awkwardly lowered his head and pretended to read.

“The first period is about to start. Just say it here,” Wei Zhenge replied.

Tong Lerong’s eyes showed a hint of disappointment, but she still reminded him, “That day at the school gate, Fu Pengyi was punched, and he blamed you for it.”

“He’s planning to cause trouble for you,” her face flushed slightly as she tried to maintain a normal classmate-like concern. “Why don’t you walk with me to and from class and the cafeteria these days? He wouldn’t dare do anything then.”

Although Tong Lerong’s family wasn’t as powerful as Fu Pengyi’s, they were still wealthy. Fu Pengyi wouldn’t dare touch her unless he was completely out of his mind. Plus, both she and Wei Zhenge were boarders.

Facing such an opportunity to walk side-by-side with the class beauty, Chen Ji was so shocked that he forgot to pretend to read. He looked at Wei Zhenge with envy and jealousy.

Under the gaze of two pairs of eyes, Wei Zhenge directly rejected her, “No need. I’ll be careful. Thank you for the reminder.”

After being rejected, Tong Lerong, who was highly sought after, felt her pride hurt. She snorted coldly, “No need to thank me.”

She stomped away, her heavy footsteps revealing her anger.

After she left, Chen Ji nudged Wei Zhenge with his elbow, full of gossip, “Hey, why didn’t you accept? What a great opportunity!”

“What opportunity?”

“To walk with the class beauty Tong Lerong!”

Although she was only known as the class beauty, it was because Jinyang No.1 High School had never formally voted for a school beauty. In most students’ eyes, Tong Lerong was the prettiest girl in school.

Wei Zhenge replied indifferently, “I have too much trouble on me. It wouldn’t be good to drag her into it.”

Chen Ji pouted and sneered in his heart, “What a pretentious act.”

Wei Zhenge ignored Chen Ji’s thoughts. After being deskmates for half a year, he had already seen through Chen Ji’s character — not someone worth befriending.

…

Because of Tong Lerong’s warning, Wei Zhenge was extra cautious these past few days. When encountering Fu Pengyi and his gang at school, they would intentionally bump into him or hurl insults, but nothing more.

Just like that, Friday came.

“Wei Zhenge, it’s your turn to clean the classroom this week. Don’t forget to clean up before you leave,” said the class cleaning monitor, a tall and skinny boy nicknamed “Monkey.”

Wei Zhenge looked up, “I remember it’s not my turn this week.”

“I said it’s your turn, so it’s your turn. Stop talking nonsense.” Monkey rolled his eyes impatiently, slung his bag over his shoulder, and left.

It was actually Monkey’s turn to clean, but he dumped the job on Wei Zhenge and walked away without a care.

“Is everything ready?” At the corner of the school building, Fu Pengyi looked arrogantly at Monkey with his hands in his pockets.

Monkey grinned, “Don’t worry, Fu-ge. I even made the classroom messier. He won’t finish until everyone else has left.”

Fu Pengyi laughed along, “Good. Dare to hit me, huh?”

The two sports students behind him didn’t bother pointing out that the punch wasn’t from Wei Zhenge. Instead, they echoed, “He deserves a lesson.”

“Acting all high and mighty all day. Let’s show him who rules Jinyang No.1 High School.”

Watching Monkey leave, Wei Zhenge didn’t bother stopping him. He didn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble in his final year of high school.

He knew the Wei family refused to let him transfer schools just to torment him. He was the son of Wei Chengye, a disgraceful stain on the family’s reputation.

As long as he endured this year and scored high enough to leave the Wei family’s sphere of influence, he would finally be free.

Cleaning the classroom was supposed to be done by two people, but Monkey’s partner was nowhere to be found, leaving only Wei Zhenge to clean the entire room.

When he went to the restroom to rinse the rag, he saw Fu Pengyi grinning menacingly at him.

The restroom door was shut by two other students who had followed him in, trapping Wei Zhenge inside.

Even though he reacted quickly, his arms were pinned by the two sports students, forcing him to stand helplessly before Fu Pengyi.

With a twisted grin, Fu Pengyi threw a punch into Wei Zhenge’s stomach. “This punch is payback.”

With a loud thud, the sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed.

“This punch… is for Tong Lerong.”

Fu Pengyi’s face contorted with rage. “She looked for you, and I wasn’t happy. You dared to reject her? I’m even more unhappy.”

At this very moment, Jian Yuanbai was standing at the school gate, waiting for Wei Zhenge to finish school.

Over the past five days, he had fully experienced the life of a delinquent—playing in game arcades, standing guard for the owner of a chess room, holding a cigarette in his mouth while wandering around aimlessly. Even a passing cat couldn’t escape having its tail pinched by him.

He perfectly played the role of an annoying thug. Plus, although he was handsome, the sharp and distant look in his eyes kept people at bay. As a result, no one noticed that what he was biting on wasn’t actually a cigarette…

But a candy stick that looked like one.

As the number of students leaving the school dwindled, and Wei Zhenge still hadn’t appeared, Jian Yuanbai could only talk to the system in his mind: “He still hasn’t come out. Could he be hiding in the school grove, secretly dating?”

“I remember one of his three future wives was his high school classmate.”

The system responded, “Wei Zhenge wouldn’t get into an early romance. To become the ultimate protagonist, before he rises to power…”

However, before the system could finish, Jian Yuanbai wasn’t even listening. “Early romance is unacceptable. It would affect his academic performance. As his guardian, I have to step in.”

With that, Jian Yuanbai directly walked into the school.

The system, which had been chattering nonstop, suddenly fell silent as if struck by a heart attack. It swore that it would never, ever respond to Jian Yuanbai again!

Jian Yuanbai found the classroom of Class One, Senior Year, and spotted the familiar backpack on the desk. “His bag is still here. Where did he go?”

“Could something have happened? Aren’t there still a few people in this school who have a grudge against him?”

Hearing this, the system became a bit nervous as well, instantly breaking the vow it had just made. It quickly scanned the situation and hesitated for a moment before reporting, “He’s been blocked by Fu Pengyi in the restroom. You don’t need to intervene. There’s no threat to his life.”

“These setbacks are all essential experiences for a future protagonist’s growth.”

However, Jian Yuanbai furrowed his brows and said in a low voice, “So humiliation that doesn’t threaten his life isn’t worth mentioning?”

The system was stunned by his words and fell speechless.

In the next second, Jian Yuanbai declared righteously, “I’m his dad! If a father doesn’t protect his son, is he even human?”

“God, you’re actually telling me to be heartless. I really misjudged you.”

As he spoke, Jian Yuanbai shook his head and clicked his tongue in disappointment, giving the system a look that seemed to say, I can’t believe you’re this kind of system. Then, acting magnanimous, he added, “I’ll forgive you this time. After all, you systems have never experienced the bond between parent and child.”

In that moment, the system felt like a complete idiot for ever thinking Jian Yuanbai was reliable and mature.

With an expressionless face, the system watched as Jian Yuanbai strode toward the restroom and kicked open the locked door with a single blow.