Chapter 9

The monkey clutched his stomach in pain and fell into the water. I shouted and wanted to rush over, but a group of people charged into the fountain and quickly knocked me down with a few punches and kicks.

"What are you doing?" Liu Yina shouted, and a group of girls also shouted. Although they were all delinquent girls, they were still girls at heart and couldn't help but panic at the scene.

With seven or eight people surrounding me, I had no chance to fight back as I fell into the water. This was the sixth beating I had received since coming to this school. No matter how strong my body was, I couldn't take it anymore. I lay in the water like a dead dog, letting them beat me. After an unknown amount of time, they finally stopped and dragged me and the monkey out onto the ground outside the fountain.

We were both drenched, leaving water marks all over the ground. I saw that the monkey's abdomen was still bleeding, so I crawled over to him and asked how he was. The monkey shook his head, meaning it was fine, but his pale and pained face couldn't fool anyone.

Lin Keyi rushed over with tissues to press on the monkey's wound, already crying uncontrollably. The other girls didn't dare speak, and Zhang Xuan was also crying while hugging Xing Qiu.

Liu Yina shouted, "Big Cat, what do you mean?"

Big Cat said, "I'm avenging Zhang Xuan and Xing Qiu. I didn't hit Lin Keyi; I'll let Wang Yao handle it herself."

Liu Yina was so angry she couldn't speak: "Are you saying you also think Lin Keyi seduced Xing Qiu?"

"Of course, isn't it obvious?" Big Cat had a strange look on his face. "Xing Qiu and Zhang Xuan were so in love, and Lin Keyi was clearly jealous, so she came to stir things up. But Xing Qiu didn't fall for it, that's what makes him a good man!"

Liu Yina was so angry she couldn't say a word.

"Enough, don't waste time with him. He's doing it on purpose," the monkey said weakly.

I didn't say anything, "Let Wang Yao deal with it when she comes." Liu Yina calmed down, walked over to the monkey, and said, "Sisters, help me take him to the hospital."

Liu Yina, what do you mean?" Zhang Xuan jumped up, "Are you helping Lin Keyi now?"

When Zhang Xuan said this, the other girls didn't move, as they were closer to Zhang Xuan.

Big Cat laughed, "Monkey, you stabbed me half a year ago, and today I returned the favor. You're not at a loss, right? I gave you face before, but you didn't give me face, so don't blame me."

The monkey didn't say anything; there was no point in arguing now. I was anxious to get the monkey to the hospital, but they kept talking, and I didn't know when it would end.

Zhang Xuan was still cursing, and Lin Keyi was silent. I wanted to pick up the monkey, but I was covered in injuries and couldn't even stand, let alone carry him. Finally, I heard Big Cat say, "You two, be low-key at school from now on, or next time it won't just be a stab. Let's go!"

I just relaxed when I heard a voice: "Big Cat, since you're here, don't be in a hurry to leave."

Big Cat's face changed, but Liu Yina's face lit up. The girls started chattering, "Wang Yao, Sister Yao." The atmosphere was as if their idol had arrived.

A pretty girl approached, with short hair, a delicate face, and bright, black eyes. She wore a tight T-shirt and a tight skirt, revealing two white, slender legs. She looked smart and capable.

"Wang Yao, Lin Keyi seduced Xing Qiu!" Zhang Xuan said angrily.

"So, she's Wang Yao."

"I've heard about it," Wang Yao said, walking over and slapping Zhang Xuan.

"Snap out of it, do you think Lin Keyi would even look at Xing Qiu?"

Zhang Xuan cried out, covering her face and not daring to say a word.

Wang Yao then walked to Xing Qiu, who was still on the ground, and stepped on his crotch.

"Speak, what happened? If you lie, I'll cripple you."

I noticed she was wearing high heels, at least eight centimeters long, which is why she seemed almost as tall as me.

The whole scene was eerily quiet, and her presence dominated everyone.

"Big Cat, a bit dissatisfied?" Wang Yao said.

"Shut up," Wang Yao pointed at him, "I'm handling family matters, can't you see?"

Big Cat immediately shut up.

"Speak!" Wang Yao pressed harder with her heel.

"I drugged Lin Keyi!" Xing Qiu shouted, his voice trembling and on the verge of tears, clearly terrified.

"You bastard, you dare to touch my people." Wang Yao kicked Xing Qiu, who clutched his crotch and howled.

Apart from Xing Qiu's howls, the scene remained silent, the air thick with danger.

Lin Keyi stood up, tears streaming down her face. My hands were shaking with excitement, but the monkey's lips curved into a smile. Big Cat was breathing heavily, looking ready to explode, but he didn't say a word.

Zhang Xuan didn't speak but looked defiant.

"I know you're upset," Wang Yao pointed at Zhang Xuan, "Do you think I'm biased? When have I ever handled things unfairly? Come out, both of you!"

Two students emerged from the darkness. I recognized them as Xing Qiu's brothers, who had been with him at lunch. They were in a terrible state, their heads swollen like pig heads.

"Come, tell me what happened." Wang Yao crossed her arms, her tone cold.

The two took turns explaining the situation at lunch, which matched Lin Keyi's account perfectly.

"Any objections?" Wang Yao looked at Zhang Xuan.

Zhang Xuan didn't speak, lowering her head.

"Any objections?" Wang Yao looked at everyone.

No one spoke, except for Xing Qiu, who was still groaning on the ground.

Wang Yao finally looked at Big Cat, "Any objections?"

Big Cat's face was uncertain, but he finally smiled, "So that's what happened. I almost wronged Lin Keyi. Got it, I'll take them away."

A group of people carried Xing Qiu away, and the girls behind them made various jeering sounds.

Zhang Xuan watched Xing Qiu with longing but didn't dare move, let alone follow.

Wang Yao walked to Lin Keyi, "Stop crying, it's not a big deal."

Lin Keyi immediately stopped crying.

Wang Yao patted her head, her tone softening, "Zhang Xuan is a silly girl, but she's not bad. You'll still be good sisters, okay?"

Lin Keyi nodded, and Wang Yao turned, her tone becoming stern, "Come over and apologize!"

Zhang Xuan moved over, not daring to look at Wang Yao, only at Lin Keyi, "Keyi, I'm sorry, I wronged you."

Lin Keyi nodded and hugged Zhang Xuan, and both girls burst into tears. The other girls also joined in, and soon everyone was crying.

Wang Yao didn't join in the emotional scene. She walked to the monkey, bent down, and asked, "Are you dead?"

"Not yet," the monkey smiled, "Only you can handle this situation."

"You could too, if you wanted to." Wang Yao pulled out a cigarette and put it in the monkey's mouth, "If you're not dead, go to the hospital. You don't need us girls to carry you, right?"

"No," the monkey supported himself with one hand and clutched his stomach, slowly standing up. His fingers were covered in blood.

I quickly stood up to support him, and I was amazed by his resilience.

"Thank you," I said to Wang Yao.

"Oh, Zuo Fei, right? Thanks for protecting Keyi. I've heard about it from them." Wang Yao lit a cigarette, the hazy smoke making her even more alluring and mysterious.

"Stop crying, you're the Twelve Roses. Do you want to be laughed at?"

"Sister Yao, with Lin Keyi, we're the Thirteen Roses!"

The girls' cheers and laughter behind me were warm and touching.

I supported the monkey as we walked away. Seeing his increasingly heavy steps, I felt both ashamed and guilty. If it weren't for me, the monkey wouldn't have been stabbed. I kept asking, "Are you okay? Should I carry you?"

"Zuo Fei," the monkey put his arm around my shoulder, "Don't worry, I'm fine. I took this stab on purpose."

"Huh?" I was surprised.

The monkey, pale but smiling, said, "Think about it. This morning, I told you that each of the Nine Princes is more devious than the last. As the creator of that statement, how could I be stupid enough to get stabbed by Big Cat?"

My heart was pounding, "So you took the stab on purpose, but I can't understand why!"

"Who would be stupid enough to take a stab on purpose!"

The monkey took a few breaths, "Let's go to the hospital first. I'll explain later."

"Okay."

We walked out of the park and hailed a taxi. By the time we reached the hospital, the monkey was almost unconscious, his face drained of color, and he couldn't even speak. At the hospital entrance, the nurses carried him to the operating table. The monkey, in pain, held my hand, his mouth opening as if to say something.

"Zuo Fei,"

Hearing the monkey's weak voice, I almost cried, "What do you want to say? I'll do it."

"I haven't eaten dinner. Go buy some food and wait for me outside the operating room."

I stared at the monkey as the operating table was quickly wheeled away.

"Damn it!" I shouted.

The monkey was taken into the operating room, and I went to a nearby restaurant to prepare food for him. I ordered a plate of fried rice, two steamed buns, two pancakes, and a bowl of century egg and lean meat porridge. "I'll stuff him tonight!"

I waited outside the operating room for an hour and a half, watching the food gradually cool. During this time, Lin Keyi called to ask about the monkey's condition. I told her he was fine and in surgery. She wanted to come, but I said, "Don't come, it's late and not convenient for you." In the end, Liu Yina came, saying that Lin Keyi and Zhang Xuan were crying in the dorm and gave me a thousand yuan for the monkey's medical expenses. Wang Yao had contributed five hundred.

"No, no, I have money."

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