I was expelled.
The female demon took the big toad to get his injuries checked. She submitted the medical reports to the school, accusing me of bullying and fighting. Coupled with my frequent absences, the school decided to expel me, only suspending my academic status. To re-enroll, I would have to pass all examinations again.
I knew this was just a formal excuse. Once expelled, re-admission was impossible.
In an instant, I was transformed from a victim into an aggressor. The black was painted white, and the white became black.
What a cruel irony that the two demon-like adults were portrayed as the weak ones!
When school ended, I was waiting for Wang Xin at the school gate. I happened to meet my homeroom teacher, who was delivering the expulsion notice to my house. She handed me the notice with an expression of someone ridding the world of evil. I didn't argue. Everything happens for a reason. Not going to school doesn't mean I can't be successful. Since this place couldn't even distinguish right from wrong, I might as well not attend.
First my father, then me. Both of us were defeated by the female demon. It was indeed a great irony!
Wang Xin looked at me in surprise, not at the notice in my hand, but at the transformed me. I was wearing a brand new casual outfit, soft-soled leather shoes, and my hair was neatly trimmed and shiny. I looked nothing like the person she knew.
Xiao Pang also asked quietly, "Did you rob a bank?"
I replied, "Yeah, I robbed a rich woman."
Xiao Pang exclaimed, "You're rich now! Did she like you after you robbed her, and is she supporting you now?"
Seeing Wang Xin's disappointed expression, I realized she had taken my words seriously. I quickly added, "I'm just kidding. I went to a gemstone gambling shop today and gambled on a piece of agate. It paid off, and I won some money."
Although I wasn't being supported by a rich woman, I couldn't mention Lan Ya. It would only lead to more misunderstandings. Wang Xin was like a goddess in my heart, and being misunderstood by her was a serious matter.
Wang Xin asked, "You haven't even paid for the glass yet, how could you have money to gamble on stones?"
I replied, "Yesterday, I watched someone gamble. That person won on two consecutive stones and gave us a few dozen yuan as a red envelope. I used that money to gamble."
The red envelope wasn't entirely fabricated, but I hadn't actually used it for gambling.
Wang Xin looked at me with disappointment, as if I had failed her. "Now it's even worse. You can't go to school anymore. How will you explain this to your family?"
I said, "I won't be going home for now. I'll be staying with my master. Tell my mom tonight that I've taken a leave of absence to work. Anyway, with things the way they are at home, they won't pay much attention to me."
Wang Xin said helplessly, "I can go and explain, but you still need to try to get back into school. Without even finishing high school, it will be hard to get by in society. We'll figure out a way to get you back in."
I gave a wry smile and said to them, "Let's try. I don't want to be expelled either, but fate has arranged it this way, and I have to accept it. I need to solve my immediate survival problems first, and then worry about other things."
I gave Wang Xin a hundred yuan to give to my mother for rice. I didn't dare to give more, as it would arouse suspicion and make things even more complicated.
Wang Xin took the money hesitantly, still looking at me with confusion, as if she didn't recognize me.
I said, "Alright, I really haven't done anything bad. Don't you know what kind of person I am? Hurry back, it will be dark soon."
I walked with them for a while until we were close to home. I stopped at the intersection and watched Wang Xin go back.
The big toad and the female demon wouldn't give up. Expelling me wouldn't be the end of it. The big toad would definitely have his eyes on Wang Xin.
Lan Ya had given me a pager. I gave the number to Xiao Pang. There was a public phone at a small shop near the school. He could page me if there was an emergency.
This time, it was Xiao Pang who looked at me in surprise. Wang Xin had already walked far away. Xiao Pang pulled me aside and asked me seriously, "What exactly happened? Don't tell me you won from gambling on stones, I don't believe you!"
A piece of agate wasn't worth much, so no matter how much you gambled, you couldn't win this much money.
Even a pager would cost over a thousand yuan, plus annual service fees of several hundred. Xiao Pang wasn't stupid; he knew there was more to it.
I knew I couldn't hide it from him, so I told him, "This morning, the female demon blocked me at the school gate and even got into a physical altercation. A woman intervened and hit the female demon, rescuing me. That person was the former female boss, named Lan Ya. She gave me some money."
Xiao Pang said, "She gave you so much money for no reason; she must have some ulterior motives. Be careful."
I replied, "I'll take it one step at a time. I need to survive, and I don't see any malice from her yet. I'll find a place to stay first. Let's keep in touch. Also, the big toad and the female demon won't let me go that easily. Keep an eye on them."
Xiao Pang nodded. As I watched him walk away, a sense of endless sorrow washed over me. We had grown up together, gone to school together, and spent our holidays together. I thought this beautiful time would last forever, but suddenly we were separated, and so completely.
My biggest worry was Wang Xin. Wang Xin was pure and kind; she wouldn't think the worst of anything. With a fierce female demon around and a big toad watching her, I didn't know how she would cope.
As I walked back, Lan Ya had said she would host a welcome dinner for me tonight and introduce me to some people I should know. I had no idea who these "people I should know" were.
Even Lan Ya herself, I had only known her for a few hours.
I arrived at the Grand World. The security guards didn't give me a hard time this time, but they didn't have pleasant expressions either. Their gazes were still the same as when they looked at a beggar, which made me uncomfortable.
I ignored them; there was no need to argue with such people. My master had told me that if you want others to respect you, you must first become strong. No one earns respect without reason; respect is earned, not given.
Lan Ya was waiting for me in an office on the third floor. I asked the concierge, and she led me there.
I hadn't seen Lan Ya all day. Later, a waitress told me about the welcome dinner she was hosting for me tonight.
I knocked on the door. Someone inside opened it for me. I saw Lan Ya sitting in the boss's chair. Beside her, on the sofa, sat a man in his thirties, wearing a Zhongshan suit, with a grim expression and no emotion on his face.
Two girls stood by the table with their hands clasped.
This man had a buzz cut, and a deep scar ran across his cheekbone, almost reaching the corner of his mouth.
He looked somewhat sinister, exuding an aura of authority without anger.
I felt a bit wary of him and stood opposite Lan Ya, unsure of what to do.
Lan Ya said, "My junior is here. Let me introduce you. This is Brother Leopard, my boss. Since you're my junior, you have to call him boss too. This is my junior, Li Hua, a rather innocent young boy."
I lowered my head and called out, "Brother Leopard." Brother Leopard glanced up, acknowledging me. I stood there, bewildered, not knowing what to do next.
Lan Ya said, "Come, sit next to me. I've invited some business friends to have dinner with us. You can all get acquainted, and from now on, we'll have to work together."
I didn't know how capable Lan Ya was. Since Brother Leopard was her boss, why was she sitting in the boss's chair, giving orders as if she wasn't giving Brother Leopard any respect at all?
Brother Leopard's face remained grim, devoid of any expression.