The evening breeze swirled and swept across the ground, as if even the wind was making way for him.
Wen Tingxue watched Yu Wenli's retreating figure, a sudden ominous premonition stirring in her heart. She desperately wanted to pull him back.
"Yu..."
After a long silence, with a lump in her throat, her voice, when it finally broke free, was nothing but a breathless gasp. Wen Tingxue herself was startled, her already pale face growing even more ashen. Even her lips had almost completely lost their color.
Chi Zerui frowned with a hint of pain, "You can't stop him."
Yet, even so, she had to go, to rush towards him no matter what. But Chi Zerui and Song Jiamiao's strength was too immense; she couldn't resist at all. Struggling until the very end, all that was left was her breakdown. So many emotions piled up, erupting at their peak. The young girl squatted on the ground, hugging her knees, crying silently.
Song Jiamiao and Chi Zerui were both stunned. Neither of them knew how to comfort a girl, standing there awkwardly, exchanging wide-eyed glances. Tong Jiayi had already slipped away amidst the chaos, following closely behind Yu Wenli. Chi Zerui, catching a glimpse of this out of the corner of his eye, paid it no mind. It wasn't a pleasant scene, after all; rushing towards it would only be seeking disgust.
Xie Jinni held Wen Tingxue, gently wiping her tears. "Don't cry, he wouldn't let you go if there wasn't a reason."
Even after so many years, Xie Jinni still remembered the fight Yu Wenli had when he first arrived at Mo Xiang Ya Ju at the age of nine. He fought Shang Ziqian with a reckless abandon, both of them fighting as if their lives depended on it. In the end, Yu Wenli, covered in blood, had pinned Shang Ziqian down and was beating him. It was almost a one-sided brutal assault, with every punch landing with bone-jarring force, a fight to the death. Even his indifferent peach blossom eyes were splattered with blood, a terrifying red. If someone hadn't intervened, someone might have died that day. Afterward, she had nightmares for a long time. For over a year, she avoided Yu Wenli whenever she saw him, even catching a fleeting glimpse of a back that resembled his from afar. Later, his temper seemed to mellow considerably, and the arrogance of his past was no longer visible. She had slowly forgotten about it, but whenever he put on a cold face, she would recall that summer day, the grass stained red with blood.
Wen Tingxue, being so timid, couldn't possibly bear to witness such a scene. Thinking of this, Xie Jinni suddenly felt a pang of envy. Even when Yu Wenli was angry, he hadn't forgotten to arrange for the young girl's safety. This consideration was something even her own parents had never shown her...
Wen Tingxue didn't understand the inside story, only thinking she was trying to comfort her, and cried even harder. Sobs escaped from her tightly bitten lips, and Chi Zerui looked down. Under the dim yellow streetlights, the slender young girl was huddled on the ground like a quail, her fingertips gripping the seams of her pants until they turned white. Her head was buried in her knees, her shoulders shaking with sobs, a heart-wrenching sight.
Yu Jie knew he detested girls crying; anyone who cried in front of him would make him turn and leave, utterly annoyed. But this time, she actually saw a look of something akin to heartache on his face? Before she could examine it further, Chi Zerui beckoned Song Jiamiao over. After a brief whispered exchange, Chi Zerui strode away. Yu Jie, relieved, followed closely behind. Unexpectedly, he flung back without looking, "Wait here." Yu Jie watched the direction he was heading. It wasn't towards school, nor an internet cafe, but... a supermarket?
Meanwhile, a street away from the school, beneath an internet cafe. A narrow, long alleyway, with thick ivy climbing the tall walls on both sides, made the alley appear even more sinister. Shang Ziqian stood by the tree near the staircase, smoking, and was startled by the sound of footsteps. To be honest, he wasn't sure if Yu Wenli would actually come. The cigarette in his hand burned fiercely, leaving a small dot in the silent, gloomy air.
"It seems the little girl is more important than Tong Jiayi." Shang Ziqian turned, his eyes burning as he stared at the blue and white school uniform not far away, as if looking at prey that had fallen into a trap. The twilight deepened, and the alley was shrouded in shadow, making it impossible to discern anyone's expression. Yu Wenli's cold laugh was heard.
"Because I ruined your life, you want to ruin mine?"
"Of course," Shang Ziqian smiled, taking a puff of his cigarette. The smoke rings he exhaled carried a heavy sense of hatred. "Why should I have nothing while you have a brilliant future? That's not fair."
"Then let's go to hell together." Yu Wenli expressionlessly took off his school uniform jacket and tossed it casually onto the ivy. Then, the muffled thuds of fists meeting flesh echoed from the alley. The motion-activated lights at the stairwell flickered non-stop.
When Tong Jiayi arrived, Shang Ziqian lay on the steps, his face covered in blood. Yu Wenli knelt with one knee on either side of his waist, gripping his hoodie collar with one hand and clenching his fist with the other, relentlessly smashing it into Shang Ziqian's face. The force of his blows was incredibly vicious. Each time, Shang Ziqian would spit out a mouthful of blood, directly staining Yu Wenli's white shirt. The usually fastidious Yu Wenli showed no reaction, his movements purely mechanical as he raised and dropped his fists. His handsome profile, blurred by the light, was filled with indifference. The occasional splash of blood on his face made him appear like a grim reaper.
The visual impact was overwhelming. Tong Jiayi's legs buckled, and she slumped to the ground, her face almost transparent. Shang Ziqian, noticing Tong Jiayi's arrival, laughed wildly. "Look... your beloved... Brother Wenli... is avenging... another woman... right now! Hahahaha!" His fragmented, pained taunts finally pulled Tong Jiayi back to her senses. Stumbling over, she desperately grabbed Yu Wenli's fist, which was about to fall again, and cried, "Yu Wenli, wake up! Can't you see this is his trap?!"
"Scram." Yu Wenli's eyes were bloodshot as he unceremoniously flung her away, his actions becoming even more brutal. Of course, he knew this was Shang Ziqian's setup. He knew it from the very beginning, from the moment he offered no resistance, but what of it? Even if it was a trap, a snare, he was determined to jump in! He had finally carved out a small space in the young girl's heart, making her willing to believe him, to accept him. He had carefully nurtured this rare trust and affection, fearing that the small flame would be extinguished by the wind. And yet! It had been so easily destroyed by him! His once well-ordered life had become fragmented time and time again because of him! Even though he had burned his bridges and let go of the past, Shang Ziqian still clung to him. And now, he had pushed his little girl to the brink of despair, all to shatter his last remaining dream. Fine then! Let everyone sink into hell together! The anger, mixed with three years of grievances, resentment, unwillingness, frustration, and hatred, completely reddened Yu Wenli's eyes. Vaguely, it felt like a return to that summer day nine years ago, to the despair of a fight to the death. Tong Jiayi was thrown to the ground, her delicate palms drawing blood, tears streaming from her eyes from the pain. Her heart felt heavy and sore, and her voice took on a sharp edge. "Yu Wenli! You can give up your dream, but what about your parents? If you beat him to death, what will your parents do?! What about Wen Tingxue?!"