Chapter 21: Lin Zhihao, You Scoundrel

Even his mother couldn’t spare a few days to comfort him after his failure in the college entrance exam.

Before leaving, his second sister bought two pagers—one for him and one for Liang Jiyong. With these, they could at least get in touch quickly.

As for mobile phones, they were far too expensive; given their current finances, it was an extravagant luxury.

In the next two days, Liang Jiyong and Su Wanqing spent most of their time studying in the dormitory.

During these days, a woman in her mid-twenties, slightly thin and walking with her head down, appeared in the courtyard.

“Good morning, Sister Qianyun!” Liang Jiyong greeted as he returned from buying breakfast, noticing Zhu Qianyun brushing her teeth by the sink downstairs.

“Morning,” Zhu Qianyun replied quietly, her tone distant and rejecting.

This was already her eighth year of tutoring. Although her family was relatively well-off, sparing her from severe financial stress, repeated failures in the college entrance exam had twisted her originally gentle and introverted nature into one of paranoia and low self-esteem, making her rarely lift her head when walking.

“I brought you some breakfast, too!” Liang Jiyong placed a bag of steamed buns and a cup of porridge by the sink.

Zhu Qianyun looked up at him, somewhat surprised.

When she first met Liang Jiyong, he was probably only ten years old, back when Zhu Qianyun and Liang Shaoping were still classmates.

But now, Liang Shaoping had become her teacher, and Liang Jiyong was her classmate—a fact that only deepened her inferiority complex.

“No need.”

“I already bought it, and I can’t eat that much anyway. We live in the same courtyard; let’s study together from now on!”

“Don’t study with me. I won’t get in...” Zhu Qianyun lowered her head and tried to head upstairs.

Liang Jiyong sensed that her heart was filled with endless negativity.

He didn’t know how well Zhu Qianyun’s grades were, but if she carried such negative energy, even after two or three more years of studying, she might still fail to enter college.

“Sister Qianyun, do you think I can get into university?”

He blocked her path to the stairs.

“You’re Teacher Liang’s younger brother, of course you can!” Zhu Qianyun still kept her head down.

Liang Jiyong smiled slightly. “I only scored 275 on this year’s exam, and my math and English combined are less than sixty points!”

His words surprised Zhu Qianyun. In all her eight years of tutoring, she hadn’t seen anyone improve by over two hundred points in a single year.

“Even if you don’t get in this year, you will next year!”

Zhu Qianyun stubbornly believed that since his brother and sister were all top scorers, it was only natural that Liang Jiyong would get into university.

“I will definitely get in this year. At least, I want to attend Yunzhou University!”

Her eyes flickered briefly but soon returned to a detached expression as if it was none of her concern.

“Listen to me, I guarantee you’ll get into university this year too!”

A brief spark flashed in Zhu Qianyun’s eyes, quickly replaced by anger. She seemed to have misunderstood Liang Jiyong’s intentions.

She turned to press past him.

Liang Jiyong stepped aside but spoke behind her back.

“Sister Qianyun, taking the college entrance exam and going to university are important, but they are just paths to pursue a better and richer life.

I don’t know how much pressure you’ve endured over the years, but I think you’re placing too much weight on the exam, even sacrificing the life you deserve.

My sister said that with your current knowledge, you’re more than capable of getting into a top university.

But your mindset is off. How long has it been since you watched a drama, went shopping, danced, or enjoyed good food?

If you can find your way back to enjoying life, the exam should be easy for you!”

Zhu Qianyun seemed to realize that Liang Jiyong meant no harm and that she had misunderstood him, having thought he was like some bad boys, teasing or taking advantage of her.

“Why are you telling me this?” Her tone lost some of its coldness.

“Do you remember the first time you came to my house and gave me a gift?”

Her eyes blanked for a moment, but she had no memory of it and shook her head.

“It was a black electric helicopter that could fly. At that time, other kids’ planes could only run on the ground; only yours flew in the air. It was really cool!”

“Oh, I forgot,” Zhu Qianyun said sadly, truly having no recollection.

“Tonight we’re going roller skating. You should come too!”

Instinctively, Zhu Qianyun shook her head. “I can’t.”

“No worries, I’ll teach you. It’s easy. It’s settled—we’ll go at six tonight!”

After saying this, Liang Jiyong took a few steps down, placed the breakfast in Zhu Qianyun’s washbasin—giving her no chance to refuse—and returned to his room.

Only after Liang Jiyong’s shadow disappeared did Zhu Qianyun murmur to herself, “Thank you.”

...

“Sister Qianyun, don’t be afraid. Jiyong and I will hold you, you won’t fall. Lean forward slightly, walk with your toes pointed outward...”

Di Yutong came again in the afternoon; she had no interest in university at all.

At that moment, Zhu Qianyun was carefully stepping forward, held by both Liang Jiyong and Di Yutong.

Though Di Yutong said she wouldn’t fall, it was pure reassurance. Learning to roller skate without falling was impossible.

But with knee pads, the falls wouldn’t hurt.

Zhu Qianyun was timid, but after twenty minutes, she could walk slightly, though she still didn’t dare to skate alone.

So Liang Jiyong stayed by her side practicing, while Di Yutong skated freely on the rink.

As for Su Wanqing, she was unwell today and sat outside sipping soda.

Around Di Yutong were three or four teenagers, all enchanted by this beautiful older sister, scrambling to get close, but Di Yutong easily avoided them; she was an excellent roller skater.

Di Yutong was naturally gifted at sports—both swimming and skating.

“Sister Qianyun, try it yourself. I’m right here, don’t be afraid.”

Liang Jiyong felt Zhu Qianyun was ready to skate alone, so without asking, he let go.

After a brief fluster, Zhu Qianyun steadied herself.

Though wobbly, she didn’t fall.

After skating alone for seven or eight minutes, Liang Jiyong led her to the railing at the rink’s edge.

Sweat dampened her bangs, but she looked happier than before.

“Thank you,” Zhu Qianyun said again.

Liang Jiyong smiled but said nothing.

“Hey, beautiful, buy me two bottles of soda!” Liang Jiyong called toward Su Wanqing, who was resting not far away.

Su Wanqing turned her head and smiled faintly, pretending not to see.

“Not giving face at all—self-reliance is the way to go!” Liang Jiyong grabbed the railing and jumped down.

Zhu Qianyun gasped, but Liang Jiyong landed steadily without falling.

He went to Su Wanqing, took a soda, returned to give one to Zhu Qianyun, then sat beside Su Wanqing.

“Isn’t it a bit boring?” Liang Jiyong asked; Su Wanqing had never been interested in roller skating.

She and Di Yutong were opposites—one quiet, one lively.

“Not at all. After a few days of studying, getting some fresh air is nice. You’re really good to Sister Qianyun!”

“Yeah, she’s wasted eight years here. It’s kind of sad.”

“Do you think she can come out of it?”

“Maybe. Sister Qianyun used to have a good personality.”

As Liang Jiyong sipped his soda and turned his head, he saw seven or eight rough-looking young men entering the rink.

Two led the group: one wearing a plaid shirt, Lin Zhihao, Su Wanqing’s cousin known as Liu Ergou.

The other had a buzz cut, sturdy build, and a shallow but fierce-looking scar on his face.

As Liang Jiyong frowned, Su Wanqing also noticed the newcomers.

“Let’s go back,” Su Wanqing said. She didn’t want to see this cousin, especially with that annoying thug Zhang Tuozi.

Zhang Tuozi wasn’t really bald; his name was Zhang Guang, and “Guang” meant bald.

He was the one who had hit Liang Jiyong with a stick before but got his ribs broken in return, forced to lie low for over half a month, and now was back to cause trouble.

Tonight, Liang Jiyong was out with three girls; if a fight broke out, it would be hard to watch over them.

Moreover, Liang Jiyong had no interest in fighting street thugs now.

“Help Sister Qianyun take off her skates. I’ll go get Yutong!”

“Okay, be careful—don’t fight!”

“Heh, don’t worry. I’m all about peace now!” Liang Jiyong said as he saw Lin Zhihao notice Di Yutong and immediately try to corner her at the rink.

“But if someone deserves a beating, don’t blame me. Your cousin is really asking for it!”

Liang Jiyong, wearing his skates, took a few quick steps, stretched out his hand, and skated over the railing toward Di Yutong.

“Lin Ergou, you a turtle or what?”

Di Yutong saw Lin Zhihao leading people to encircle her and immediately sped up to join Liang Jiyong.

“Yutong, don’t run! Today, your brother’s here just for you!”

Lin Zhihao shouted, leading seven or eight rough thugs, colliding with the skating teenagers, sending them sprawling.

Though the youths were furious, none dared to fight the thugs.

A few, with some fight left in them, intentionally shielded Di Yutong.

“Lin Ergou, I think your bones are itching!”

A cold glint flashed in Liang Jiyong’s eyes.

If Lin Zhihao had come specifically for Di Yutong, he truly deserved a beating.

Di Yutong was now in university; she couldn’t have someone like him always after her. Trouble was inevitable.

Liang Jiyong’s eyes gleamed with a plan to end this threat permanently.

Killing was unrealistic; incapacitating him...

But that idea was rejected too. How to make him afraid in a lawful way?

Fists couldn’t solve the root problem, but sometimes only fists worked.

Lin Zhihao’s face changed as he saw Liang Jiyong looking his way, halting his steps. He feared Liang Jiyong deeply.

Zhang Tuozi knew Liang Jiyong was here today, and seeing him alone, he was ready to take revenge.

Being hospitalized at the Red Flag Factory by a high school student was a disgrace he couldn’t bear. He had to settle the score or be laughed at by the underworld.

“Liang, Lin Shao’s dating this girl. Mind your own business!” Zhang Tuozi yelled.

Di Yutong had reached behind Liang Jiyong, but they were surrounded by seven or eight men.

“Nonsense! Even if all the men in the world died, I wouldn’t stoop to a jerk like you!”

Di Yutong’s disgust for Lin Zhihao was clear.

Lin Zhihao wanted to retort harshly, but Liang Jiyong’s cold gaze silenced him.

“Lin Zhihao, you bastard. If you dare hurt Yutong or Jiyong, I won’t let you off!” Su Wanqing shouted at him.

Lin Zhihao wasn’t afraid of his cousin at all. Before, he had Su Kui backing him; now Su Kui had left Yunzhou.

Liang Jiyong noticed that these thugs were well-prepared.

They all wore long sleeves, from which they slid out steel pipes or plastic sticks.

These wouldn’t be fatal if struck carefully but were painful and could easily cause fractures.

“You go first!” Liang Jiyong told Di Yutong.

“I won’t...” Di Yutong was nervous because no matter how good Liang Jiyong was, he couldn’t fight seven or eight armed thugs alone.

“You’d only get in the way here. These trash can’t beat me!”

Di Yutong knew she couldn’t win.

Liang Jiyong grabbed her arm and charged left.

A red-haired thug wielding a steel pipe stood there.

He raised the pipe to strike, and Liang Jiyong braced for the blow, knowing he only had one chance.

The hit was bone-jarring, but Liang Jiyong grabbed the pipe with his free hand.

The red-haired thug tried to pull back, but Di Yutong kicked him sharply.

A scream echoed across the rink.

All the men instinctively clenched their legs.

Usually, a kick would just hurt, but Di Yutong wore skates; this kick crushed the man’s groin.

He fell to the ground, writhing in pain, blood pooling beneath him.

Di Yutong had used groin strikes many times before but never this powerfully; even she was a bit shocked.

“Nice! No mercy for scum like this. If anyone tries to stop you, kick them down. Self-defense isn’t a crime!”

Liang Jiyong pushed Di Yutong forward, then, free of worry, swung the steel pipe at an approaching thug.

The thug was a bit slow, his plastic stick broke with a crack from the blow, surely fracturing his arm.

But Liang Jiyong didn’t have time to snatch the stick because Zhang Tuozi and four others charged him.

Liang Jiyong quickly retreated; he didn’t want to be battered by pipes and sticks.

Though he skated well, he wasn’t as agile as on foot and was soon surrounded again by five men.

Despite their numbers, they couldn’t suppress Liang Jiyong.

He ignored consequences and aimed each blow at vital points—the head or neck.

A strike there could cause concussion or even death if strong enough.

But Liang Jiyong didn’t care; it was self-defense, and even if he killed someone, he wouldn’t go to jail.