Yang Haoran took a deep breath. Fuck it, he couldn’t take it anymore. He was so used to playing the meek grandson in front of his mom that he’d actually hesitatedβ¦
“Fuck your mother⦔
Yang Haoran cursed angrily. Under the other’s astonished gaze, he suddenly erupted into action, rudely grabbing the other guy by the throat. The guy staggered and was slammed down onto Wei Ming’s desk. The surrounding desks and chairs were shoved aside from the force of their struggle.
“Let go! What are you doing?!”
Caught completely off guard, the senior felt Yang Haoran’s hands clamp around his neck like a wrench, cutting off his air. He slapped at Yang Haoran’s arms, but they didn’t budge an inch.
The class instantly erupted into an uproar. Seeing the situation turning bad, Zhao Jun ran out of the classroom to find the homeroom teacher. No matter what trouble Yang Haoran was stirring up, getting a teacher would at least guarantee he’d get a scolding.
“Think I sneak-attacked you?β¦ That it’s an unfair win?”
Yang Haoran controlled his strength; even though the other couldn’t break free, he wasn’t choking him out completely. He hadn’t actually lost his mind.
“Let go, Yang Haoran⦔
Yao Yao’s gritted, delicate voice came through, strangely echoing his mother’s tone. Yang Haoran’s grip on the other’s neck gradually loosened.
He then looked calmly at the other guy, who was rubbing his neck and glaring back furiously. “You wanna take this outside and settle it?”
“Bring it on! Who’s scared of who?”
The senior’s face was still red from being choked. Now, anger and humiliation spread through him. If the other hadn’t fought dirty, given his own build, there’s no way he would have been pinned down so easily. This was so fucking embarrassing! He felt utterly aggrieved.
“You want to chase after her?”
Yang Haoran pointed at Ji Youxi, who was watching the drama. “She’s my deskmate, and she’s my girlfriend. Of course, this fight between us has nothing to do with her, win or lose. I just want to tell you right here, and everyone else, if you want to chase her, you’d better ask her boyfriend for permission first!”
“Whoa!”
As soon as these words were out, the classmates were stunned. Even Ji Youxi, facing the sudden focus of so many eyes, felt her cheeks burn. She was both embarrassed and annoyed. When had she ever agreed to be his girlfriend? Was he completely shameless?
The senior’s eyes went blank for a second, then he looked at Ji Youxi in disbelief. Seeing she didn’t refute it, he turned back to look at Yang Haoran. Rage mixed with bitter heartache surged in his heart. Blinded by anger, he threw a punch straight at Yang Haoran’s face.
Yang Haoran ducked low, the whooshing fist grazing his cheek, then lunged forward. Putting his whole body into it, he slammed the other guy to the ground. Desks and chairs screeched and toppled over, books scattering everywhere. Yang Haoran grabbed the other’s arms, pinning them to the floor on either side of his head like a cop arresting a criminal, his knee pressing down on the other’s chest. He sneered, “I gave you a free shot at a sneak attack and you still couldn’t make it work. Do you even know how to fight?”
Listening to Yang Haoran’s taunts, the senior’s face flushed red. He struggled with all his might, but the other guy,ζζ half a head shorter than him, seemed to contain an endless supply of strength. He struggled fiercely several times but couldn’t break free.
“Had enough?⦔
Even without relying on brute force, Yang Haoran didn’t consider him a threat.
The other guy, face crimson, glared furiously at Yang Haoran who was pinning him down, craning his neck to yell:
“Not enough!”
“Fine, I’ll give you another chance.” Yang Haoran simply let him go. The other guy, however, seemed to have used up a lot of energy and was panting heavily.
“Classmate Yang Haoranβ¦ if you keep fighting, I’m calling the teacher.”
Yang Mengyao, who had been watching her brother dominate, saw he was about to go again. Annoyed and anxious, she grabbed Yang Haoran’s arm, her voice a mix of anger and worry.
The other classmates, as if waking from a dream,ηΊ·ηΊ· jumped in to break up the fight. Even Xiao Shaowan stepped forward toει» Yang Haoran along with the others.
“Haoranβ¦ that’s about enough. You’ll get in trouble with the school.”
Zhou Shiwen’s reasonable advice was drowned out in the chorus ofει»ing voices.
Yang Haoran frowned and waved his hand at the senior. “Not fighting anymore. You should know in your heart you can’t beat me. Don’t feel too ashamed. You wanted to pursue my girlfriend first. No matter how you spin this, I’m the one in the right.”
Hearing this, the senior shot Yang Haoran a hateful look. He didn’t utter any tough-guy lines, just turned and slunk away under everyone’s gaze, though he was filled with immense frustration.
This wasn’t a movie. There was no point spouting tough talk after losing. This incident quickly spread like wildfire across the campus, which actually granted Ji Youxi a period of peace and quiet. Instead, it was Yang Haoran, now known as Ji Youxi’s boyfriend, who became a minor campus celebrity for a while. Ask anyone about Yang Haoran, and nobody knew him. But mention ‘Campus Goddess Ji Youxi’s boyfriend,’ and every male student was green with envy.
The classroom had just settled down, classmates helping to right the desks and chairs, when Wei Ming arrived. He only learned about the whole thing through his classmates’ discussions.
“HaozΓ¬, you’re that fierce, man?!”
Wei Ming looked at Yang Haoran in surprise, as if seeing him for the first time.
“Hehβ¦ Xiaomingziβ¦ when it comes to fighting, I’m a pro⦔ Just as Yang Haoran was holding forth, boasting and bragging, making even Ji Youxi crack a smile.
Right then, Zhao Jun walked into the classroom, trailing behind the homeroom teacher, Gu Qingying, like a loyal lackey.
“Yang Haoran, come with me.”
Gu Qingying called Yang Haoran out in front of the whole class. Zhao Jun looked rather pleased with himself. Yang Mengyao wanted to follow the teacher to see what would happen, but Gu Qingying told her to maintain order in the class, stopping her in her tracks.
Teacher and student walked down the corridor, one behind the other, talking as they descended the stairs.
“Yang Haoran, can you please behave? Stop causing trouble for me.”
“Teacher, have you ever heard of ‘misfortune falling on one out of nowhere’?”
“Hehβ¦ don’t you try to be slick with me.” Gu Qingying was almost amused by his nonsensical reply, scolding him with a mismatched metaphor. “If you don’t want me to call your mother to the school, you’d better explain yourself properly later.”
“Hey, teacher, are you going to cover for me?”
“What nonsenseβ¦ You’re my student. If you get disciplined, I get implicated too. Don’t think just because I’m being nice that you can take it lightly.”
“Teacher, you’re not angry? That’s rare.”
“Yes, yesβ¦ make sure you kowtow a few more times to your grandmother at New Year’s.”
Yang Haoran, of course, understood the homeroom teacher’s implication. Principal Gu Ping, the homeroom teacher’s father, knew his grandmother, Lin Wanqing, and was, in a way, under her influence. So, for minor issues, the homeroom teacher could cover for him. Except for that last time when he’d smashed Zhao Jun’s head open and knocked him outβthat had really pissed her off and gotten parents involved.
Yang Haoran had anticipated this, which was why he’d always kept his actions in check.
Teacher and student left the teaching building and, after walking a distance, arrived at the discipline office on the third floor of the comprehensive building.
Yang Haoran familiarly pulled over a stool and sat down. Homeroom teacher Gu Qingying sat behind the desk opposite him. Yang Haoran began to explain what had happened.