Chapter 23

Back at school, classes had already started, and I had already missed seven days. The homeroom teacher specifically talked to me, saying he knew that the Ninth Prince had been causing me trouble before, but now the Ninth Prince was no longer around, and he hoped I could settle down and focus on my studies. I was good at dealing with such situations, so I made a promise on the spot, saying, "Teacher, you can rest assured, I will definitely study hard."

After dealing with the teacher, it was time to get busy with my own affairs. I still hadn't figured out how to confess to Lin Ke'er. Love letters, roses, and candles all seemed too cliché, and I couldn't make up my mind. So I discussed it with Monkey, asking if he had any good ideas. Monkey said, "Don't bother with all that nonsense. Do you think it's romantic? I think it's ridiculous. Just call her out and confess directly. If she agrees, great; if not, so be it." I said, "If you're so good at talking, why don't you confess to Liu Yina?"

Monkey wasn't the type to be shy either. He said, "Let's confess together. Getting Liu Yina should be a piece of cake, right?"

Actually, I felt that Lin Ke'er and I were a sure thing; we just needed to go through the process. So I wanted to make it as fun as possible, and Monkey's involvement made me incredibly excited.

What I didn't expect was that before we even decided on the time and place for the confession, Monkey had already stirred up a storm in the city.

First, Huang Jie came to me, asking if I was planning to confess. He even threatened me, saying that if I didn't lend him five yuan, he would tell Lin Ke'er, ruining the surprise. I had no choice but to give him the five yuan, and he happily ran off to the internet cafe.

Next, Zheng Wu came to me. He said, "You're going to confess, huh? This is a big deal. You should dress nicely. I can lend you my battle robe." I quickly said, "No, no, I'll wear my own clothes." Zheng Wu looked at me with a "You really don't know a good thing when you see it" expression, and I used the excuse of needing to go to the bathroom to escape.

Then, Liu Yina came to me, her face full of excitement, asking if I was going to confess. I said, "Yes, besides me confessing, have you heard anything else?" Liu Yina said, "No, what else?" I said, "Monkey is going to confess to you, so be prepared."

After that, Wang Yao came to me, even more excited than Liu Yina. She said, "Great, I've been waiting for this day. You must treat my Ke'er well." Looking at her, I felt a bit sad, but I suppressed it.

Later, even Ma Jie, my little girlfriend, found out and started organizing to wash my clothes, saying she wanted me to look handsome when I confessed.

I really wanted to punch Monkey in the ass!

But what I never expected was that Yi Zhen would come to me.

That evening, I was in the dorm, washing my feet and chatting with Ma Jie when Yi Zhen suddenly pushed the door open and walked in.

Seeing him, I immediately felt bad and said, "What do you want?"

To be honest, if Monkey hadn't repeatedly warned me not to confront Yi Zhen, I would have beaten him up every time I saw him.

Yi Zhen didn't pretend anymore, his face devoid of any smile. "I heard you're going to confess to Lin Ke'er. When?"

I really wanted to spit in his face. "What's it to you?"

"When?" Yi Zhen's face grew even darker.

"Tomorrow!" I hadn't really decided, but since Yi Zhen asked, I just said tomorrow!

Yi Zhen's face turned iron gray. "One last time, are you willing to give up on Lin Ke'er?"

It seemed he knew that once I confessed, Lin Ke'er would be mine!

"No," I said with a cold laugh.

"You..."

Before he could finish, the dorm door was pushed open again.

"Zuo Fei, lend me five yuan, I want to stay at the internet cafe all night!" Monkey walked in boldly.

"Me too, me too," Huang Jie ran in, as if afraid of being late.

I had no mood to lend money, so I said sternly, "No!"

"Hey, Yi Zhen is here too!" Monkey's eyes lit up, and he pounced on Yi Zhen, grabbing his hand and saying, "Friend, how are you? It's been a long time, I've missed you. How have you been?"

Huang Jie wasn't to be outdone, grabbing Yi Zhen's other hand and saying, "Oh, it's been so long since we last met! How have you been? How is your mother? Your father? Your family business?"

If it were any other time, I would have found their antics hilarious, but I had no mood for laughter, so I just lowered my head and continued washing my feet.

Yi Zhen smiled slightly. "Monkey, Huang Jie, you were asking for money, right?"

"Yes, yes, we want to stay at the internet cafe all night!"

"Here." Yi Zhen generously took out a hundred yuan. "Besides staying all night, buy some food and drinks too."

"Oh, my little tycoon!" Monkey put the money away, almost sticking to Yi Zhen.

"Yi Zhen, having a friend like you is great. 'Money is like dirt'—that's what they say about gentlemen like you." Huang Jie was being overly sweet.

"Um, I have something to talk to Zuo Fei about," Yi Zhen continued smiling.

"What?" Monkey stepped back from Yi Zhen.

"I heard Zuo Fei is going to confess to Lin Ke'er, so I came to ask if he would give up."

"Uh... that's not a good idea, right?" Monkey rubbed his hands.

"I'm willing to pay. If Zuo Fei is willing to give up, I'll do whatever it takes."

Monkey glanced at me, and I looked away. I was really afraid that Monkey would persuade me to give up, really afraid!

"About that," Monkey's voice sounded particularly difficult. "If it were me, I would give up, we're good friends, right? But Zuo Fei... he and Lin Ke'er grew up together (I swear, he's such a liar). Breaking them up wouldn't be right, would it?"

"Exactly, exactly," Huang Jie chimed in.

I felt a bit relieved that Monkey had said something reasonable.

"Is that so?" Yi Zhen sighed. "Then there's nothing I can do. I won't force Zuo Fei."

"That's great, we can still be friends. A step back and the sky is wide and the sea is vast!" Monkey laughed happily.

"Monkey, after the Ninth Prince was taken down, you're the best in the first year. Can you help me beat someone up?" Yi Zhen suddenly said.

"Who? Just say it. I can't guarantee anything for the second and third years, but the first year is under my control!" Monkey puffed out his chest.

I had a bad feeling.

"I'll pay a high price, five hundred yuan. How about that?"

Monkey's eyes widened, and Huang Jie swallowed a big lump. Five hundred yuan was a lot of money for a student.

"Who?" Strangely, Monkey remained calm, perhaps he was made of sterner stuff.

I stared at Yi Zhen, almost guessing who he would name.

"Beat him." Yi Zhen pointed at me.

Just as I thought!

"Zuo Fei?" Monkey frowned.

There was a brief silence, and the dorm became even quieter. My heart was pounding in my throat.

Everyone was looking at Monkey, including me. I was really afraid that Monkey would say, "Zuo Fei, I'll beat you up, and we'll split the five hundred yuan," or "Zuo Fei, I don't want to beat you, please understand."

Monkey remained silent, and I closed my eyes.

"Is that too little? I can offer a thousand yuan."

"What do you want me to use to beat him?" Monkey suddenly said.

My heart sank.

I opened my eyes. Even if Monkey was going to beat me, I wanted to see it with my own eyes.

The dorm was still silent, and Yi Zhen was looking around, seemingly searching for something.

"How about that beer bottle?"

In the corner was a beer bottle I had just finished drinking from.

Monkey walked over, tightly gripped the bottle, and walked back.

Huang Jie said nothing.

I stared at Monkey, cold sweat dripping from my forehead.

"Crack his head, and I'll pay immediately." Yi Zhen's voice was cold and proud.

Monkey looked at me and suddenly smiled.

I smiled too.

Monkey raised the bottle high and brought it down hard.

It hit Yi Zhen's head.

Yi Zhen, the pampered rich boy, couldn't withstand the blow and fell to the ground without a wobble.

At the same time, I picked up the basin of foot-washing water and poured it all over Yi Zhen's head.

Monkey and I kicked Yi Zhen together, treating him like a ball, kicking him around on the ground.

When we stopped, Yi Zhen couldn't even cry out. His body was curled up like a shrimp, his head wet with blood and foot-washing water, no longer looking like a rich boy at all.

"A thousand yuan to buy my brother's head?" Monkey said coldly.

I stood up straight, proud of such a brother!

"At least give us a thousand and five yuan, right?" Monkey continued.

I: "..."

Yi Zhen lay on the ground motionless, like a dead dog.

Huang Jie, who hadn't joined in, lowered his head and sang to Yi Zhen in the most despicable tone, "The vast horizon is my love, the green mountains at my feet are in full bloom, what kind of rhythm is the most, the most swaying..."

Yi Zhen slowly got up, coldly chuckling and wiping the blood and foot-washing water from his head with his sleeve.

"You can cry to your father," Monkey said. "Complain to him that someone at school is bullying you. If your father takes action, we'll be finished." His tone was sharp and sarcastic, deliberately provoking Yi Zhen.

"Are you guys even worth my father's attention?" Yi Zhen continued to laugh coldly.

"Or you can go to Ding Sheng and Liang Qi." Monkey continued to give him ideas. "If you pay them, they'll definitely help you."

Yi Zhen said nothing, walked out of our dorm, and slammed the door hard.

"Hehe, we earned a hundred yuan." Monkey immediately took out the hundred yuan Yi Zhen had given him, looked at it under the light, and kissed it.

"That's for both of us!" Huang Jie reached out to grab it.

"Cut the crap. Did you help me fight Yi Zhen?" Monkey said firmly.

Huang Jie: "..."

I asked, "Who are Ding Sheng and Liang Qi?"

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