After eating and drinking his fill, Qin Tian took a comfortable nap at home.
Sleeping on a desk in the classroom couldn't compare to sleeping in his own bed.
When they parted ways at the school gate, he had already told Xia Nuannuan that he would likely be napping at home from now on, and suggested she also rest at home before returning to school.
About twenty minutes before the preparatory bell for the first class of the afternoon rang, Qin Tian was woken up by his mother.
The house was not far from the school, about a fifteen-minute walk.
After washing his face with cold water, Qin Tian bid farewell to his mother and hurried towards the school.
Meanwhile, on a street not far from Yucheng Fourth Middle School, two people stood by a motorcycle, smoking.
One was a young man with a buzz cut, appearing to be in his early twenties, dressed in a somewhat flashy manner.
Beside him stood a boy who looked a bit childish, mimicking the young man’s smoking posture, appearing rather awkward.
"Xingzai, we've been waiting for almost an hour. Why isn't the person you mentioned here yet?"
The buzz-cut youth casually flicked the cigarette butt at his feet and stomped it out, his tone impatient.
"Brother Qiang, just a little longer. Class is about to start. This is the only way he takes to school from his house, he'll definitely come."
Liang Xing had a fawning smile, quickly pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket and offering one.
The youth took the cigarette and put it in his mouth, lighting it with the flame he provided.
After taking a puff, he skillfully exhaled a smoke ring under the boy's envious and admiring gaze.
"Xingzai, it's not that I'm lecturing you, but you should focus on your studies at school. What's the deal with you constantly getting into trouble with others? If your parents find out, they'll blame me for leading you astray again."
The youth spoke in a tone of a senior figure.
Their families were neighbors, and when Liang Xing was young, he often followed the youth around playing, and they had a good relationship.
However, ever since the youth dropped out of school due to fighting and started idling about, Liang Xing's parents forbade their son from associating with him.
Liang Xing still admired this neighborly older brother, feeling that he lived a free and easy life, dropping out of school when he wanted, and had many associates in the underworld who were respected wherever they went.
"Brother Qiang, I already told you, I didn't go looking for trouble. That guy was too much, he hit me without even reasoning."
"Heh, don't forget, I watched you grow up. I know what you're holding back. You've definitely left something out, and probably exaggerated, right?"
The youth wore a look of disdain.
"Really, I didn't!"
Liang Xing immediately looked wronged, but his eyes darted away.
In fact, Brother Qiang's guess was spot on.
What he had told Brother Qiang was not exactly the same as what had happened, but rather completely unrelated.
In his account, the incident was as follows:
Before evening study hall, he was walking and chatting with a female classmate on the track field when that scoundrel suddenly appeared.
Relying on his status as a senior, he not only hit on his classmate in front of him but also told him to get lost for being in the way. Naturally, he couldn't accept that.
So, after a few arguments, they fought. After a hundred rounds, the scoundrel, unable to win, brought reinforcements, and he, fighting against many, was gloriously defeated.
"Fine, fine, I can't be bothered to ask the specifics."
Brother Qiang waved his hand and said irritably, "You're my brother Maoshan Qiang's kid, no matter what, if you get bullied at school, I have to get you some backup."
"Brother Qiang..."
Liang Xing's eyes immediately turned red with emotion.
"You little brat, what are you smoking for!"
Brother Qiang slapped the hand holding the cigarette.
Liang Xing cried out in pain, and the cigarette in his hand fell to the ground.
"Hand it over!"
Brother Qiang extended his right hand towards him.
"What?"
Liang Xing grimaced, rubbing his reddened hand, and asked in confusion.
"The cigarettes and the lighter!"
Brother Qiang said calmly.
"Oh!"
Liang Xing reluctantly took the cigarettes and lighter from his pocket and placed them in his hand.
He had bought them with determination before Brother Qiang arrived, spending a full week's allowance, all to appear more like a "jianghu" figure.
Brother Qiang naturally put the cigarettes and lighter into his own pocket and said seriously, "Consider this my reward. This time, I'll help you teach that kid a lesson. From now on, don't cause trouble at school, and study hard."
"Brother Qiang, I can't focus on studying like you. If I can't get into university, I'll just follow you!"
"Follow me for what!"
Brother Qiang raised his hand and slapped him.
"Brother Qiang, why did you hit me?"
Liang Xing rubbed his head, asking pitifully.
"What era is this and you're still talking about jianghu? I had no choice, I didn't want to work for anyone, so I can only get by like this. You still have a chance to do well!"
Brother Qiang slowly exhaled a puff of smoke and said earnestly, "Little brother, I'm speaking from experience, and I truly mean well. Don't ever be like me. Studying is the way to succeed!"
"But... even if I graduate from university, won't I still be working for someone else?"
Liang Xing said with a dejected face.
Brother Qiang was taken aback. He opened his mouth as if to say something more, but he was truly not good at arguing with people verbally. So, he slapped him again.
"Ah! Brother Qiang, what's wrong now?"
Liang Xing rubbed his aching head, almost crying.
Even the scoundrel he resented hadn't hit him this hard!
"Nothing, I just can't be bothered to talk nonsense with you anymore."
"Then don't hit me!"
"I'm disciplining you on behalf of your parents. If you don't study well, don't let me see you smoking again, it looks really stupid!"
Liang Xing was momentarily speechless, looking at the neighborly older brother he had admired since childhood with a complicated expression.
How come it felt like this Brother Qiang was different from before!
What Liang Xing didn't know was that not long ago, this Brother Qiang, his elder brother, and a group of their associates had been beaten into submission by a teenager.
Brother Qiang gradually understood that what jianghu was, what brotherhood was, it was all just a joke!
Speaking of which, that terrifyingly inhuman teenager seemed to have been encountered nearby, and looked like he was also a student of Yucheng Fourth Middle School.
Could it be...
Brother Qiang shook his head vigorously, dismissing this speculation.
Impossible, how could there be such a coincidence!
"Brother Qiang, he's here, it's that scoundrel!"
Liang Xing suddenly exclaimed, raising his hand and pointing to a figure walking in the distance.
Brother Qiang looked towards the approaching teenager and narrowed his eyes.
He wasn't good at studying, but his eyesight was slightly poor.
As the figure got closer and he could see the person's face clearly, Brother Qiang's eyes widened in disbelief. His fingers, holding the cigarette, trembled violently, and a bit of ash fell to the ground.
"Damn it, this Yucheng is too small!"
Brother Qiang couldn't help but curse, then turned directly and mounted the motorcycle he had borrowed from his elder brother.
"Xingzai, this one is a bit too tough. I can't help you. I'm leaving!"
As he spoke, Brother Qiang had already started the motorcycle.
"Huh?"
Liang Xing was completely stunned, his face a perfect picture of a black person's question mark.