(PS: Inserting a brief flashback of Lin Ze)
Lin Ze’s family background was ordinary. His father ran a small company doing business, and his mother was a highly educated university professor. Because of his excellent academic performance, his parents had pulled some strings and asked for favors to get him into this elite school.
Upon first entering this prestigious school, Lin Ze hadn’t yet experienced much of the wealthy world, nor did he understand their rules. As soon as he stepped inside, he was met with strange looks from everyone around him. He frequently found himself subjected to the disdainful, sizing-up gazes of his classmates.
He’s pretty good-looking, but his clothes look so shabby.
Lin Ze felt rather speechless. He was just dressed somewhat casually because it was more comfortable. How did it look to them like he was wearing beggar’s rags? Were wealthy people really all this difficult to get along with?
Just as Lin Ze was feeling a surge of indignation, the corners of Li Yu’s lips pulled back into a warm smile as he extended a helping hand to him. Turning to the others with a look of annoyance, Li Yu said, “Lin Ze is our classmate. You shouldn’t treat him with such a hostile attitude!”
Hearing Yu-shao speak up, no one around them dared to step out of line. They quickly scuttled back to their seats and shut their mouths.
Lin Ze looked at the boy standing before him speaking up on his behalf. His well-defined eyebrows angled slightly upward, and beneath long, slightly curled eyelashes were a pair of clear, morning-dew-like eyes, a high-arched nose, lips as pink and tender as rose petals, and fair skin.
He had to admit that the first time Lin Ze saw Li Yu, his mind went completely blank, leaving his thoughts scattered. He stood frozen in place, snapping back to reality only at Li Yu’s gentle call. He furrowed his brow and walked over to his seat without saying a word.
Did a guy really need to look this good? Did he have to be this bewitching?
He refused to believe that some pampered, high-and-mighty young master could genuinely treat him as a good friend! At best, the guy was just bored, wanted to tease him, and was looking for a way to pass the time!
Thinking this, a somewhat sarcastic smile couldn’t help but tug at the corner of Lin Ze’s mouth.
However, after spending a long time together afterward, he realized that Li Yu was different from everyone else. He truly didn’t mind the disparity in their social standings and genuinely wanted to be friends with him!
The moment that reality was confirmed, Lin Ze felt happy and elated. That very night, he even dreamed of traveling around the world with his brother, grinning so foolishly that his mouth split wide open.
＊
On the basketball court,
Lin Ze moved with agile grace, deftly dodging his opponent’s interception and swiftly sinking the final shot into the hoop, securing a crushing victory with a final score of 35 to 9. Thunderous applause and cheers erupted across the court.
Lin Ze tugged his jersey up to wipe the sweat from his face. From a distance, his eight-pack abs were faintly visible. Upon catching sight of this intoxicatingly handsome face and the mysterious, masculine aura he radiated, the girls on the sidelines flushed red and shrieked in excitement.
Lin Ze glanced at the girls in the spectator stands, flashing a smile as a wave of smug satisfaction rippled through him.
As expected, his big brother here had an irresistibly charming appeal!
It was a pity that Li Yu had business to attend to and couldn’t come, meaning he missed seeing this dashing side of him.
By the time Lin Ze headed home, night had already fallen. The bustling streets were exceptionally lively, and Lin Ze strolled casually along the pavement. Suddenly, he was struck by an impact, and a stranger muttered a low “Oops, sorry” as he brushed past.
Lin Ze frowned, standing frozen in place for three seconds before patting his pants pockets. Baring his teeth in a curse, he took off in the direction the man had fled.
“Damn it! Don’t run!”
Lin Ze chased him for two blocks, bent over with his hands on his knees as he panted heavily before finally looking up with a hint of triumph at the stranger. “Pipsqueak, did you really think you could shake off your grandpa here? Did you think you were that fast? Now hand over my stuff and call me grandpa, and your grandpa here might consider not sending you to prison!”
The man sneered with a hint of disdain. “Oh? Who’s calling whom grandpa isn’t set in stone yet! You better take a look around you!”
Lin Ze watched as a dozen figures gradually emerged from the dark corners, closing in to surround him.
With a smug and gloomy expression, the man said, “Did you really think I was scared of you? Why do you think I stopped right here? If I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll never learn to keep your behavior in check!”
Watching the men around him brandishing clubs and growing restless, Lin Ze grinned, spreading his hands and lifting them halfway. “Bro, if you wanted money, my bag is already with you, and I won’t call the police. How about you show some mercy and let me off this once?”
“You think the trap I set was just for a bit of your pocket change?”
Uncomprehending, Lin Ze asked, “Huh?”
“I just can’t stand the sight of you! You played a game of basketball and went out of your way to seduce my girlfriend?!” the man said through gritted teeth.
“What are you acting innocent for?! Weren’t you playing basketball today? I spent over a year chasing her before she finally agreed to date me, and the moment she caught a single glance of your game, she started picking fights with me and demanding we break up so she could chase after you!” Red-eyed with fury, the man’s chest heaved violently as spittle flew in all directions.
Without hiding his amusement, Lin Ze let out a snort of laughter. “Does that have anything to do with me? Why don’t you just keep a tighter leash on your girlfriend? If you lack charm yourself, don’t go looking for someone else to blame.”
Driven mad with rage, the man gritted his teeth and snarled, “Bastard! You really have a death wish, huh? Get him!”
At the command, the group of men swarmed toward Lin Ze, brandishing their clubs.
Although Lin Ze had some martial arts training, two fists were no match for four pairs of hands. Caught completely off guard, he took several blows to his body and ended up with a bruised face, collapsing to the ground within minutes.
Seeing that he had been beaten unconscious, the man strolled leisurely over to him and spat on his body. “Hmph. Look at your own pathetic self. You wanted to compete with me? Are you even worthy?”
Lin Ze’s mouth twitched as though he wanted to speak, but he couldn’t withstand the agonizing pain across his body and passed out cold.
A long while later, a familiar, magnetic chuckle seemed to drift into Lin Ze’s ear. “Well, well, why is our little Ze falling asleep in a place like this?”
In his hazy state, Lin Ze felt his body grow light as he was hoisted up and hoisted onto someone’s back.