Сhаpter 7: Аbsеnt frоm thе Finаl Session
As dusk fеll, а car рulled up аt thе еntrаnсе of thе Gu rеsidеncе.
“Aunt Gu, hаppу birthdаy.”
Тhe уоung lаdy hаd hеr hair рinnеd uр tоdау, rеveаling her grасeful swan-like neсk. Hеr fair skin shimmеrеd with а dеlicatе glow, and а sаррhire nеcklаce аdоrnеd hеr nеck, рerfectlу соmрlеmenting her attirе.
Shе smilеd brightly аs she рresentеd hеr gift—а tеa set shе hаd persоnally sеlесtеd, worth оvеr ten million.
“Oh, our Kuizhi knows me bеst.” Aunt Gu wаs оvеrjоуed. “А girl changes sо much аs she grоws up. Кuizhi is becoming more and more beautiful.”
Gu Chen, standing nearby, was momentarily stunned when he saw Lin Kuizhi. He turned his head away with a light scoff, only to be met with a sharp glare from his mother.
“This boy of ours is so immature. Auntie has already scolded him on your behalf. If he ever dares to bully you again, just tell me, and I’ll make sure he pays for it.” Aunt Gu pulled her to sit beside her.
“It’s nothing, Auntie. I was the one who was too immature before, not Gu Chen.” Lin Kuizhi wore a forced smile.
Hearing this, Aunt Gu felt even more that the young lady was poised and graceful, far better than her own troublesome son!
“Aunt Gu.”
A gentle and refined voice sounded.
Lin Kuizhi turned to look. The man had gentle eyes, a tall and straight nose, and wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, a soft smile playing at the corners of his lips.
What was this familiar feeling?
“Oh, Young Master Chi still remembers to come visit this old lady.”
Young Master Chi…
Chi Lin?!
Wasn’t this the male lead’s half-brother?
Now she knew where this sense of familiarity came from.
Chi Yu and Chi Lin looked so much alike! Except Chi Yu was colder, with a sharper, more striking beauty. If Chi Lin was an elegant gentleman, then Chi Yu was a dangerous trap in the dark night, luring you in only to plunge you into an abyss.
“I rushed straight here as soon as I returned to the country. Auntie, you’re still so young—you shouldn’t say such things.”
“You’re such a smooth talker.” Aunt Gu covered her mouth, laughing uncontrollably, and pulled Lin Kuizhi closer.
“Come, let me introduce you. This is the eldest daughter of the Lin family, Lin Kuizhi.”
“This is the eldest son of the Chi family, Chi Lin. He plans to shift the focus of his company to the domestic market this year. He’s a few years older than you, so you can just call him brother.” Aunt Gu teased with a smile.
“Miss Lin, nice to meet you.” Chi Lin extended his hand.
His hand was slender and clean, with distinct knuckles, glowing like warm jade under the light.
Lin Kuizhi shook it. “Nice to meet you, Brother Chi Lin.”
The novel didn’t dwell much on him, but since he was a member of the Chi family, Lin Kuizhi didn’t believe he was as harmless as he appeared.
Moreover, she had always been curious: since Chi Lin already existed, why did the Chi family go so far as to threaten Chi Yu’s sister’s life to bring this illegitimate son back?
After this gathering, she never saw Chi Yu again and gradually forgot about him.
The final subject of the monthly exam was about to begin.
“Little Zhizhi, it’ll be over soon. Hang in there!” Yue Xin pinched her cheeks as if absorbing good luck.
“Mmm, you too!”
After encouraging each other, they each entered their respective exam halls and took their seats.
She hadn’t seen Chi Yu since noon. She had intended to look for him, but the bell had already rung, so she had no choice but to give up.
Lately, Chi Yu had been acting strangely. His eyes were gloomier than before, and even though the weather hadn’t turned cold yet, he bundled himself up tightly. When she asked him what was wrong, he brushed her off casually.The words on the test paper seemed to float, jumbling together chaotically. No, Lin Kuizhi shook her head, focus on the exam first.
After enduring the final subject, the monthly exams were finally over. She was about to rush off to find him when Gu Chen stopped her.
“Where are you running off to right after the exam? Come on, I’ll take you somewhere to relax.” Gu Chen leaned lazily against the wall, blocking her way.
“Are you crazy?” Lin Kuizhi felt baffled and tried to step around him, but he grabbed her arm.
“My mom told me to spend more time with you,” Gu Chen insisted stubbornly. “I know a place you’ve definitely never been to.”
“No! Need! To!” Lin Kuizhi glared at him, but then the System’s voice echoed in her mind.
【Hello, Host. Detected that Chi Yu is at the location Gu Chen mentioned. Please follow him there.】
“What? He didn’t come to the afternoon exam?!”
【That is correct.】
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier!”
【Apologies, Host. Your personal development takes priority over dealing with the antagonist.】
So that’s why she had to finish the monthly exams first. This System really was…
“Hey, really not going?”
“I’m going, I’m going!”
The car wound through dark alleys before finally entering an underground parking lot.
Lin Kuizhi followed Gu Chen into an elevator, descending to the tenth basement level.
As the elevator doors opened, screams and cheers surged in like a tidal wave, assaulting her eardrums.
Before she could adjust, a loud bang echoed, and blinding lights illuminated the stage.
Lin Kuizhi covered her eyes for a long moment before slowly lowering her hands and forcing them open.
“This is the Chi family’s business.”
Gu Chen’s voice was barely audible over the noise.
Filled with confusion, she followed Gu Chen to the VIP seats and saw a towering, muscular man standing on the stage.
Is this… an underground black boxing ring?
“Number nineteen! Number nineteen! Number nineteen!”
Men and women alike cheered for the burly man in the ring.
“Beat him, and it’s five hundred thousand, no matter life or death,” Gu Chen whispered close to her ear.
“Only five hundred thousand for risking your life?” Lin Kuizhi couldn’t believe it.
“One’s willing to fight, the other’s willing to take the risk,” Gu Chen shrugged indifferently.
A black-haired youth stepped into the ring—today’s opponent for Number Nineteen.
Lin Kuizhi stared intently at the young man, her fingers gripping the armrest so tightly they turned white. An overwhelming sense of dread washed over her.
“Welcome contestant Number Fifty-Nine!” The host’s passionate voice rang out, and the crowd erupted into even wilder cheers.
On the large screen directly ahead, a familiar face appeared.
Lin Kuizhi’s pupils contracted sharply, and she shot to her feet.
“What’s wrong?” Gu Chen was startled by her reaction and followed her gaze. He immediately straightened up, his expression turning grave. “Chi Yu?!”
Lin Kuizhi bit her lower lip hard.
What on earth happened? Why would Chi Yu suddenly appear here?
No, she had to stop this immediately.
As she moved, her wrist was seized tightly.
“Lin Kuizhi! You can’t go!” Gu Chen shouted loudly.
“Let go of me!” Lin Kuizhi frantically tried to pry his fingers loose.
“He signed a life-and-death waiver. Even if someone from the Chi family showed up, they couldn’t stop it!” The boy used brute force to hold her down, trying to keep her from doing something reckless.
“Then what do we do? Just watch him die?!” Lin Kuizhi screamed desperately. “Let me go!!”
In that brief moment, another wave of screams swept through the arena.
The match had already begun at some point, and both sides were already injured.At that moment, a thick arm drove a swift punch straight toward the boy’s abdomen. Chi Yu couldn’t dodge in time and took the heavy blow head-on.
“Chi Yu!!”
A voice filled with worry pierced through the thick fog. Chi Yu’s vision blurred from the pain—was someone calling his name?
No, that couldn’t be. There was no one left in this world who would call out to him with such concern.
He struggled to his feet, fists clenched tightly.
Although the man was large, he relied solely on brute force. Chi Yu had to find his weakness before it was too late.
Time ticked away, and Chi Yu’s injuries grew heavier, yet his eyes grew brighter, sharp as a blade.
Found it.
The moment the ferocious man swung his fist again, Chi Yu stepped forward, his gaze fixed on him like a wolf’s.
He dodged his head to the side and drove a solid punch into the man’s abdomen.
Chi Yu had put all his strength into that blow, and blood immediately gushed from the man’s mouth.
His hand was fractured, but he endured the excruciating pain of bone piercing flesh, striking the same spot again and again.
The towering man, nearly two meters tall, was now half-kneeling on the ground, his eyes filled with terror.
All he could think was that this boy was insane—his bloodthirsty gaze evoked a fear he had never known before.
With great difficulty, Chi Yu raised his hand. Silence fell over the arena, only to be followed by an even more fervent wave of cheers that nearly shook the entire venue.
“Number nineteen surrenders! Congratulations, contestant number 59!”
With the host’s final declaration, the outcome was sealed. Chi Yu collapsed, utterly spent.
Finally, he could rest.
Pain surged through him in waves, his mind growing hazy.
Before his eyes closed, he saw a figure sprinting toward him.