Chapter 25: For the Sake of Our Classmate Ties (Please Recommend)

At the entrance of the inn, Yunqi Liu stood gracefully, her slender figure exuding quiet elegance. She had just arrived and, not seeing any sign of Zhong Yun, decided to wait there. Today, she wore a white short-sleeved blouse that revealed a stretch of her ivory arm, and a pale yellow long skirt that fell softly to her ankles. Her long, beautiful hair was tied back with a sky-blue silk ribbon.

The first rays of morning sunlight bathed her form, casting a faint golden sheen across the left side of her delicate face. The entire scene resembled a masterpiece painted with the gentlest strokes of dawn. Where moments before the entrance had been filled with noise and commotion, her presence drew hush and reverence; everyone unconsciously moved with care, refraining from conversation as if afraid to disturb the serene beauty before them.

Yet in this world, there are always those who ruin the moment. Out from a distant corner strode a hulking, brash figure—he marched straight towards Yunqi, chest thrust forward and lips curled in unrestrained self-satisfaction.

He had not yet reached her when his voice, hoarse and grating, shattered the tranquil air. "Yunqi, what a coincidence!"

The nearby onlookers frowned in collective annoyance, casting him looks of disdain. Some young men, eager to stand out before the beauty, thought to step forward, but seeing his towering build, their courage quickly faded. When they recognized his trademark buzz cut, whatever warmth or bravado they had instantly turned to a chill.

This was Ben Niu, infamous throughout the school as an unrivaled troublemaker. He led a gang of followers, stirring up chaos wherever he went. No one was unafraid of him—not even the teachers, who felt their scalp prickle at his approach. Rumor had it his father was the underworld boss of Mingzhou City, a man whose influence spanned both sides of the law, someone even the mayor had to show deference to.

Yunqi's brow furrowed slightly as she replied coldly, "It's you."

Anyone could have seen her clear rejection, but Ben Niu paid it no mind. He grinned, pretending ignorance, his eyes drifting boldly to her chest. "Where are you off to?"

"I'm waiting for someone." The words were a pointed hint: I have an appointment. Please don't disturb me. If you have nothing to do here, leave.

"Waiting for someone?" he feigned surprise, glancing around. Those who had been sneaking glances at him quickly averted their eyes, not daring to meet his gaze.

"Looks like you’ve been stood up," he smirked, stepping even closer.

Yunqi edged away, increasing the distance between them, refusing to look at him. "He’ll be down any moment now," she said coolly.

"Is that so?"

An awkward silence fell. Ben Niu's eyes darted, then he slapped his forehead as if struck by a thought. "Oh, right," he said to Yunqi, "the person you’re waiting for—is it Zhong Yun?"

She nodded, clearly unwilling to speak further. She found Ben Niu's persistent pestering intolerable; were it not for the fact that they were classmates, she would not have acknowledged him at all.

Ben Niu continued, "I saw him here just now. He was standing around, then got a phone call and left in a hurry. He ran into me and asked me to tell you not to wait—said he didn’t want to keep you. He told me to keep you company instead."

He lied without a second thought. Yunqi, not so easily deceived, eyed him with suspicion. "Really? I’ll call him myself."

Of course, Ben Niu couldn’t allow that—if she called, his lie would unravel instantly. He grabbed her arm. "No need—he turned off his phone."

Startled by his grip, Yunqi wrenched herself free, stepping back with her hand at her waist, regarding him warily. "What do you think you’re doing?"

Ben Niu’s patience was wearing thin. If not for his father’s repeated warnings not to use force with this woman, he would have acted long ago. He feared nothing and no one—except his father, whose words he dared not disobey.

He spread his hands. "I’m not doing anything. I just think you shouldn’t waste your time on that loser."

Her eyes grew cold at his insult. "Watch your mouth."

Ben Niu retorted sourly, "Why are you defending him? Am I wrong? He’s a nobody—worse grades than me. If that’s not a loser, what is?"

Then he tried to persuade her, "Yunqi, I’m only looking out for you. With your background, being seen with him is humiliating."

Hearing him call Zhong Yun a "loser" over and over, Yunqi’s eyebrows arched in anger. "That’s enough. I don’t want to see you again. Leave."

At these words, Ben Niu bristled. No one had ever spoken to him like that. His expression turned vicious. "Don’t be so ungrateful."

Yunqi pulled out her phone, fixing him with a cold stare. "If you don’t leave, I’ll call the police."

"Go ahead, call them. Let’s see you try," Ben Niu spat, incensed.

Yunqi pressed the button and, as the call connected, said, "I want to report a crime."

"Damn it..." Ben Niu hadn’t expected her to actually call the police. Fury surged through him; his father's warnings forgotten, he now wanted nothing more than to teach this woman a lesson.

As his face contorted and he lunged at her, Yunqi remained unflinching.

A scream rang out from a bystander who had witnessed the confrontation.

Just as Ben Niu’s hand was about to reach her—less than half a meter away—his massive body suddenly froze. A strong, steady hand had seized his shoulder, abruptly halting him.

"So, first you throw your weight around bullying a male classmate, and now you’re turning on a female one? Ben Niu, Ben Niu, you’ve sunk lower and lower."

A voice sounded—one that had no business being there. Ben Niu’s face went pale with shock. "Impossible—what are you doing here?"

He turned and saw Zhong Yun’s half-smiling face—the very face he envied and loathed.

"Why shouldn’t I be here?" Zhong Yun asked with a pleasant smile, though his narrowed eyes glinted with a knife-like coldness.

Ben Niu was left speechless.

"Hit him!"

Someone in the watching crowd suddenly shouted, igniting a furious uproar. How dare he lay hands on the goddess they all adored?

"Hit him!" "Teach him a lesson!" "Give it to him hard!"

Zhong Yun shook his head and said to Ben Niu, "I didn’t expect you to be so unpopular. Since we’re classmates, I shouldn’t go too far."

Ben Niu, still nursing the ache from a fall Zhong Yun had given him just days ago, hesitated—he wanted to beg for mercy, but pride held him back. Hearing Zhong Yun’s words, he nodded hurriedly, about to speak—

Suddenly, he felt weightless. The world spun, and his body was flung into the air.

"No—!"

A dull thud, his scream cut short. Ben Niu’s vision went black from pain and he lost consciousness. This time, Zhong Yun hadn’t held back; Ben Niu was truly battered—he wouldn’t be getting up for at least a couple of weeks.

Zhong Yun was truly furious. Ben Niu had even threatened to break his arm. If not for concerns about causing trouble for his own family, Zhong Yun would have left him with injuries far more serious.

As Ben Niu’s hulking body crashed heavily to the ground, a cheer erupted from the crowd. Ben Niu, usually so arrogant and troublesome, had finally been taught a lesson—a moment of pure satisfaction for all who had suffered at his hands.