Chapter 8

Yao Fang was expecting a call from his brother by now.

He had beaten up Chen Dulan, proven how weak the guy was, and was now ready to be scolded by his brother. He sort of felt bad for Chen Dulan because if he hadn't already been so angry with that stupid challenge, maybe he wouldn't have fought at all. He did deserve the scolding, but the call never came.

Yao Fang waited and waited for someone to scold him. To tell him he's wrong, or childish, or unnecessarily hot-tempered. Like they all usually do.

He had walked straight home, waited while doing whatever homework he felt like doing, waited while eating dinner, but the call hadn't come. The butler even asked if he was waiting for something, to which he said no.

The next morning when the call did come, all his confusion had disappeared.

"Hello, brother..." He had started flatly. "How are you today?"

"I'm good, A-Fang. How is everything now? There weren't any more complains so I expected he's doing his job well." Yao Jianguo paused. "Do you have any complaints?"

He had a lot of complaints actually. But right now this question feels like a chance to accept his mistakes before he's caught lying. "I don't have any complaints." Yao Fang decides to take the tougher route. A longer scolding for lying, considering that anything he does is reported to his brother anyway.

"That's good then. Sorry to call so early when you have school. Have a great day."

"Wait, brother-"

"Hmm... is there anything else?" His brother sighed thoughtfully. "Right, about coming to C City, actually father was hoping you'd finish high-school first. There's only an year left, so you can wait that much, right?" His mind was on something else currently.

"Alright..." Had Chen Dulan not snitched on him to his brother?

"A-Fang, are you upset? You're okay with another year?" His brother sounded surprised.

"Yes fine whatever! I have school, I am hanging up... thank you brother!"

Welp that was weird. He shouldn't have hung up like that when his brother seemed to be in such a good mood. Heck, he just accepted another year of living here? Was he still dreaming? Why were all things going so unbelievable?

"Young Master! Please hurry up, or you'd be late!"

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Chen Dulan had woken up with bad aching. Yao Fang hadn't hit him where bones could break, luckily. Because he didn't have the time or money for too many injuries. He reached school with a bruised face and was already getting looks from everyone around. Too much attention, he didn't like it.

"Chen Dulan, what the hell happened to you!?" The homeroom teacher had gasped while taking the attendance. He should've taken the day off, till the swelling could lessen. But he had to keep an eye on the piece of shit who was staring at him now, as if he wasn't the cause of his purple face. "I live in the 18 lane, sir. A drunk man tried to beat me up, but my landlord had chased him away."

"I tell you kids to not go alone at night. Why did you come to school today? That looks painful, do you want to sleep in the infirmary?"

"No sir, it isn't as bad it looks." Oh it's worse than it looks, if you include the ribs.

Class went on, Yao Fang kept staring and Chen Dulan kept being uncomfortable. He was excused from P.E. and he could finally rest. He was sitting with his back against a net wall, when the girl from last time came near him. He recognized her as she had given him notes, she was trying to talk to him, saying something to him but he couldn't hear it. What was she saying? He stared harder, trying to decipher her words.

Why was he feeling so weak and drowsy?

"If you don't have anything important to say to him then leave." Someone had said something to the girl, he didn't know what, but she left awkwardly. Something was placed in his hand. A candy? The same person touched his forehead to check his temperature. The person had flinched back when he'd lean in to the touch. He hadn't ever been touched like that, it was soft and comforting. "Don't go..." He had murmured unconsciously and the person unwrapped the candy and put in his mouth.

Chen Dulan went to sleep with a sugary taste in his mouth.