Lu Yingchi’s expression remained unchanged, as if nothing had happened. He looked at Jian Song’s shocked gaze and asked innocently, “What is the matter, Brother Jian?”
Jian Song’s lips moved as he touched his own mouth, his voice full of shock. “No, you… I…”
Jiang Qi was also stunned by the scene. He widened his eyes and pointed at the two of them. “Brother Jian, Lu Yingchi, you two, you two…”
Lu Yingchi’s expression remained puzzled, his voice calm and curious. “What is wrong?”
He acted as if what he had just done to Jian Song was trivial, as if it were a perfectly normal occurrence. Jian Song and Jiang Qi exchanged a look, both staring at Lu Yingchi’s pure, innocent eyes. Could it really be that they were overthinking it?
Jian Song let go of his shocked expression and waved his hand. “N-nothing. It is fine.”
Lu Yingchi turned to Jiang Qi. “Little Qi, what is wrong with you?”
Jiang Qi shook his head repeatedly, frowning in deep thought. Could he also be overthinking things?
Jian Song and Jiang Qi did not enjoy the rest of their breakfast. Watching Lu Yingchi’s clean, innocent demeanor, they became increasingly certain that they had been reading too much into it. Jian Song watched Lu Yingchi previewing the upcoming lesson, opened his mouth to speak, but finally let out a silent sigh.
Jiang Qi turned around from the front seat and whispered into Jian Song’s ear, “Brother Jian, do you think we overthought it just now?”
Jian Song glanced at Jiang Qi, his expression serious. “I think we did. Maybe we are just too sensitive.”
Jiang Qi stroked his chin. “I cannot blame us for being sensitive, Brother Jian. That incident…”
Jian Song shot him a glare, and Jiang Qi was so startled he dared not finish his sentence. Meeting Jian Song’s cold, hard expression, he quickly begged for mercy. “I said the wrong thing. I should not have brought it up. I am sorry, Brother Jian.”
Jian Song let out a cold hum. “Do not let it happen again.”
Their brief conversation ended there. Lu Yingchi, who appeared to be seriously studying, was actually paying close attention to every move they made. His hearing, which was several times more acute than that of an average Alpha, caught every word Jiang Qi said. Lu Yingchi’s brows furrowed in thought. What incident is that incident? Tsk, why did Jiang Qi learn the habit of saying only half of what he means? It is maddening. When I get the chance, I have to ask about this. But that chance, he realized, would likely have to wait until he was closer to Jian Song. Lu Yingchi took a breath and forced his attention back to his book.
After they finished their breakfast, Jian Song and Jiang Qi tidied up the table. Jian Song checked the wall clock: 6:45 AM. Five minutes until morning study started. At this time, the school infirmary would be open. Jian Song rose from his chair, and both Jiang Qi and Lu Yingchi looked over at him.
“Brother Jian, where are you going?” Jiang Qi asked.
Jian Song smiled slightly. “I have something to take care of. If the teacher comes, tell him I went to the restroom.”
Jiang Qi was used to Jian Song’s sudden errands, so he nodded. Lu Yingchi, however, watched Jian Song closely. He only has something to do right before class starts? What could be so important that it must be done during study hall? He even checked the time before saying he had to go.
Lu Yingchi’s brows locked. He watched Jian Song walk out of the classroom, and once his figure disappeared, he stood up as well. Without looking back, he said to Jiang Qi, “Jiang Qi, tell the teacher that I went to the restroom with Jian Song.”
Jiang Qi, who was busy chewing on his pen while wondering about lunch, did not react in time. “Huh? What?”
Before he could voice his confusion, Lu Yingchi had already vanished from the classroom. Watching Lu Yingchi chase after Jian Song, Jiang Qi’s heart tightened. Why is Lu Yingchi following Brother Jian? Could it be… could he be planning something?!
Jiang Qi gritted his teeth. History cannot repeat itself. I have to go protect Brother Jian. He rushed out of the classroom. A classmate called out, “Jiang Qi, the teacher is coming! Where are you going?”
Jiang Qi panicked. “Tell the teacher I went to the bathroom to rescue Brother Jian!” He sprinted away, leaving his classmate completely bewildered.
Jian Song had no idea two people were trailing him. The warning bell rang, and most students had returned to their classrooms, leaving the campus relatively empty. Jian Song strolled across the campus, whistling a light tune as he headed slowly toward the infirmary.
Lu Yingchi followed Jian Song’s pheromone trail all the way there. Seeing the sign for the infirmary, he thought, As I expected.
Jian Song had cuts on his face, and Lu Yingchi wondered if there were others elsewhere. Jian Song had not shown any discomfort at his house last night. The impulse to rescue Jian Song and take him home had occupied all of Lu Yingchi’s reason, causing him to forget that Jian Song had been in a fight. Now, it was clear that Jian Song was not fine; he was just trying to bear it all alone.
Lu Yingchi softened his footsteps, approaching the infirmary door, and heard the conversation between Jian Song and the school doctor.
“How is the wound on your back?”
“Good heavens, Jian Song! Who did you get into a fight with? It is a solid patch of purple and red bruising. This is lethal! What hit you?”
Jian Song’s voice was muffled. “A wooden club.”
“How many times did they hit you to cause wounds like this? Did you apply medicine last night?”
“No, that is why I am here to find you first thing in the morning.”
The doctor sneered. “Why did you not wait until all your bones were broken before coming to me?”
“Uncle, just apply the medicine quickly. It hurts like hell.”
“You know it hurts, yet you should have applied medicine last night! If it reached the bone, you will have chronic back pain in the future. Have you been to the hospital?”
Jian Song did not answer. Lu Yingchi’s voice came from outside the door: “Not yet. We plan to go after school gets out at noon.”
Jian Song froze, turning to look at Lu Yingchi, who should not have been there. “Lu Yingchi, why are you here?”
Walking into the infirmary, Lu Yingchi saw Jian Song lying face down on the bed. His shirt had been lifted, revealing his back. The skin that should have been clean and fair was now covered in horrific marks. Lu Jian’an had been ruthless; at a glance, there was not a single spot of healthy skin left on his entire back. It was purple, bruised, and swollen, with visible blood pooling under the skin.
Lu Yingchi could not believe Jian Song had slept in his house last night while bearing such injuries, all while pretending he was completely fine. No wonder he acted so strangely this morning; his posture while carrying his bag was so awkward.
Lu Yingchi pursed his lips and looked at Jian Song. “You are so badly hurt; why did you not tell me? I have medicine at home.”
Jian Song met Lu Yingchi’s pained gaze and felt the atmosphere grow strangely suffocating. He hurriedly stood up and lowered his shirt. “I did not want to trouble you. I was planning to come here this morning anyway.”
Lu Yingchi’s heart throbbed with pain. He frowned. “We are going to the hospital right now.”
Jian Song’s eyes widened, and he refused without thinking. “No, I am fine once I apply the medicine here.”
The doctor interjected. “You are far from fine! Get yourself to the hospital immediately. This concerns your future. Even if you are a top-tier Alpha, your body cannot handle this kind of abuse. I will write you a sick note and speak to your teachers myself. Go, right now.”
Seeing the lingering resistance on Jian Song’s face, Lu Yingchi narrowed his eyes, walked over, hauled Jian Song up, and bent down as if to pick him up. Jian Song was startled, wanting to retreat and dodge him, but he bumped into the bed behind him and could only slide backward while sitting.
“You, you, what are you doing?”
Lu Yingchi looked down at the flustered Jian Song on the bed, towering over him. “If you are not willing to walk there, then I will carry you there.”
Jian Song’s pupils dilated; he never expected Lu Yingchi to say something so absurd.
Jiang Qi, who had just reached the door, heard this line, felt his heart skip a beat, and shoved the door open. Without even looking at the scene inside, he shouted at the top of his lungs, “Lu Yingchi! What are you planning to do to my Brother Jian? Do not be afraid, Brother Jian, I am here!”
Jiang Qi’s arrival instantly shattered the tense atmosphere, like pricking a balloon. Jiang Qi stood there, eyes blazing, deliberately widening them as he scanned the room, attempting to intimidate everyone with a glare.
Jian Song looked at the incredibly dense Jiang Qi and could not help but rub his forehead. “Jiang Qi, why are you here?”
Jiang Qi locked eyes with Lu Yingchi, his gaze fierce, his nose huffing with indignant breaths. He walked over to Jian Song like a protective boar, standing in front of him to block Lu Yingchi. “Brother Jian, I am here to protect you. Do not be afraid!”
Lu Yingchi frowned in confusion, looking at Jiang Qi. “Protect him from what? Is Brother Jian in any danger?”
Jiang Qi looked at Lu Yingchi’s feigned ignorance, his nostrils flaring with anger. “You! You dare ask if Brother Jian is in danger? The biggest danger to Brother Jian is you! Where are you planning to take him? An Alpha and an Alpha alone together—what exactly do you want?!”
Hearing Jiang Qi’s impassioned tone and connecting it to what they had said earlier, Lu Yingchi began to form a guess about the incident Jiang Qi had mentioned.
“Jiang Qi, I think you are overthinking it. I am here because I am worried about Brother Jian. His back wounds are horrific; I need to take him to the hospital.”
When Jiang Qi heard Jian Song had back injuries, he turned in a panic. “Brother Jian, you are hurt? Was it Lu…”
Jian Song cut him off before he could finish. “Yes, that is enough. Lu Yingchi and I have nothing going on. Little Qi, you are overreacting.”
Jian Song stood up from the bed, smoothed his collar, and said, “Think about it, Lu Yingchi wants to do something to me? Do you think he can even beat me? Even that Alpha back then could not defeat me. Little Qi, do you not believe in my strength?”
Jiang Qi shook his head. Hearing Jian Song so casually dismiss the situation, he bit his lip.
“Brother Jian…”
Jian Song patted his shoulder. “It is fine. I do need to go to the hospital anyway, so I will let Lu Yingchi accompany me. You hurry back to class before you get your parents called in again.”
Jian Song narrowed his eyes, his tone dangerous.
Jiang Qi shivered, terrified of how the teacher would deal with him if his parents were called in again.
“Then, Brother Jian, you and Lu Yingchi go. I will go back first.”
After seeing Jiang Qi off, Jian Song and Lu Yingchi walked out of the school gates, holding the sick note from the infirmary. Jian Song wiped his nose. “This is the first time Brother Jian has walked out so brazenly without being stopped by the guards.”
Lu Yingchi looked down at Jian Song without answering, then signaled for a taxi.
Receiving no response, Jian Song looked up at Lu Yingchi and noticed his lips were downturned, his brows heavy with gloom. He looked incredibly unhappy. Jian Song felt a toothache just looking at him.
He poked Lu Yingchi’s arm. “Hey, brat. You are the one who said you would take me to the doctor, and now you are the one giving me the cold shoulder? I am already being obedient and letting you take me to the hospital, so what more do you want?”
Lu Yingchi looked at Jian Song. “Brother Jian, I am not angry about that.”
Jian Song crossed his arms. “Then what are you angry about?”
Lu Yingchi’s tone was heavy. “I am angry because you were hurt, yet you were unwilling to tell me last night so I could help you apply medicine.”
Jian Song choked. He did not expect Lu Yingchi to be angry over that. He waved it off indifferently. “Oh, what does it matter when the medicine is applied? If I remember, I apply it; if I do not, I do not.”
“Besides, last night—”
Jian Song tried to find an excuse, saying he had simply forgotten, but Lu Yingchi interrupted him directly. “Brother Jian intends to say that his back was hurting so much the whole time, yet he forgot?”
Jian Song was blocked, staring at Lu Yingchi in a daze. After a few seconds, he came to his senses. Wait, since when does this brat Lu Yingchi have the right to interrogate me? By what status, by what position does he get to interrogate me?
Jian Song instantly grew arrogant. “No, Lu Yingchi, on what basis are you interrogating me? Whether I apply medicine or not has nothing to do with you. We have only known each other for a single day!”
Lu Yingchi was silenced by Jian Song’s words. He could not refute them, and he grew red in the face with frustration. Seeing Lu Yingchi unable to retort, Jian Song’s lips curled into a smile. “Fine, let us forget the hospital. Come, Brother Jian will take you to a fun place.”
Jian Song, the Big Boss, knew that you had to give a sweet date after a hard slap if you wanted to survive in the underworld. Hahaha!
Lu Yingchi looked at Jian Song’s cool, casual posture, narrowed his eyes, and followed.
Jian Song thought that by relying on his top-tier Alpha physique, he could survive today just as he survived last night. But once the sun hit him, he realized he had overestimated himself. He had not noticed his body’s decline at first. He triumphantly led Lu Yingchi to see his cat minions.
Cats of all sizes gathered around Jian Song, meowing. Jian Song patted each cat head one by one, squatted on the ground, and looked up at Lu Yingchi with a triumphant smile. “Join my Meow-Meow Sect, and I guarantee you will never go without a cat.”
Lu Yingchi’s gloomy mood was lifted by Jian Song’s smile and words, and he crouched down beside him.
“Are these all raised by Brother Jian?”
Jian Song hummed smugly. “Of course. These are all my subjects.”