Thursday, early morning.
The spring sunlight streamed through the window, warming Jiang Chi’s body.
His long, curved eyelashes fluttered slightly as his deep blue eyes, as vast and mysterious as the starry sky, slowly opened.
Leaving the warm, cozy bed, the chilly air instantly jolted him awake.
Jiang Chi shook his head, forcing away the lingering drowsiness.
He filled a cup with warm water from the dispenser, drank it in one gulp, and tossed the disposable paper cup into the trash.
Gathering his change of clothes, he headed to the bathroom.
After a quick wash and getting dressed, he pushed open his bedroom door and stepped into the living room.
It was already 7:30a.m.
Breakfast was ready and waiting.
“Auntie Chen, where are Mom and Dad?”
Jiang Chi scanned the spacious house and asked.
Auntie Chen emerged from the kitchen carrying a bowl of century egg and lean pork congee.
She set it down in front of Jiang Chi and replied with a smile,
“The master left for the company early this morning. The mistress just got up not long ago, but she went out right after-didn’t even eat breakfast.”
Jiang Chi nodded with a quiet
“Hmm.”
No need to guess his mom had probably gone out to hang with Aunt Qingchuan again.
To her, her son was nothing compared to her best friend.
He lowered his head and began eating the congee.
Breakfast wasn’t extravagant—just a bowl of century egg and lean pork congee, a corn cob, and a piece of sweet potato, providing just enough nutrients for the morning.
After finishing his simple meal and freshening up, Jiang Chi put on a mask and gloves, slung his bag over his shoulder, and headed out.
Jiang Chi’s home wasn’t too far from school—just a five-minute taxi ride or a thirty-minute walk.
However, ever since that one time he threw up in a taxi reeking of cigarette smoke, he had sworn off taxis for good.
Walking alone with his hands in his pockets, Jiang Chi made his way through a narrow alley where sunlight barely reached.
This was a shortcut to school-normally a thirty-minute walk reduced to just ten minutes.
The path was overgrown with weeds and moss, the air filled with the crisp scent of earth.
“Senior! Senior Jiang!”
Suddenly, a girl’s urgent voice called out from a fork in the road up ahead.
Following the sound, he saw a delicate-looking girl in a white tracksuit, black pants, and a baseball cap, her long hair cascading down to her waist.
Spotting Jiang Chi, her eyes lit up as if she had found her savior.
She immediately waved at him.
“Senior Jiang! Senior Jiang! I sprained my ankle-can you help me up?”
As if to prove it, she rolled up her pant leg, revealing a swollen, red ankle.
Jiang Chi, however, merely glanced at her indifferently before walking past without a second look.
He even quickened his pace as he passed her, striding away without hesitation.
The girl froze in disbelief.
“Hey, Senior Jiang! I sprained my ankle-can you help me? I’m a freshman this year! I’m not trying to scam you or anything!”
She called out desperately, but Jiang Chi acted as if he hadn’t heard, continuing forward until his figure disappeared from her sight.
The girl: “…”
Is this guy even human?! she fumed inwardly.
“Hehehe Little girl~”
“Need a hand from big bro~?”
Suddenly, a lewd chuckle sounded from behind her.
The girl turned to see three greasy-looking delinquents in leather jackets and earrings, smirking at her as they approached.
The leader of the delinquent trio was clearly the boss, sporting bleached yellow hair, a faded gold chain around his neck, and tattoos on his arms.
“Don’t be scared, little girl. We’re good guys, honest,” he said, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together with a greedy glint in his eyes, his yellowed teeth on full display.
“We just wanna be friends and borrow a bit of cash from ya!”
“Don’t worry, little sis, we only want your money, not—”
Another thug immediately played the good cop.
“Who the hell are you calling ‘little sis’?!”
Unexpectedly, the delicate-looking girl cursed outright.
“It’s you three again! I told you to stay the hell away from my school! Now you’re back to harass and extort girls from my school-got an itch for another beating?!”
The girl’s demeanor shifted abruptly, her beautiful eyes radiating icy fury.
If she had been an untainted white lotus exuding purity moments ago, now she radiated an overwhelming murderous aura, like a Tyrannosaurus rex ready to devour its prey!
“B-boss… s-something’s not right…”
“T-this… this feels way too familiar…”
“N-no way… it can’t be… she doesn’t have the bell…”
The familiar aura, the familiar tone, the same domineering arrogance—the three thugs saw the shadow of that man in this delicate girl.
“Goddammit! I’m in a shitty mood right now, and you three are perfect for venting!”
The girl stood up, grinding her molars, her slender wrists cracking as she flexed them.
“This time, if I don’t break your third legs, my name isn’t Ji!!”
With that, she lunged at the trio, fists flying.
“Y-you… stay back!”
“I’m sorry! Not the face!!”
“Waaah-ahhh!!!”
At that moment, the three thugs were once again reminded of the terror of being dominated by that man!
No sooner had she spoken than a scream erupted—the girl’s fist had already smashed into the leader’s skull.
But…
“Huh? That didn’t hurt!”
After a moment, the gang leader cautiously opened his eyes and rubbed his forehead in confusion.
The aura was unmistakable.
By all rights, he should’ve been knocked out cold by now!
Meanwhile, the girl retracted her slightly throbbing right hand, frowning at the thugs before her.
Shit!
Forgot I’m just a normal sixteen-year-old girl now!!
Suddenly, the gang leader realized something.
He glared at her with a vicious expression.
“You little bitch, you dare trick—”
THUD!
A blur flashed past, and as if struck by an overwhelming force, the gang leader crumpled to the ground like a shrimp, nearly vomiting his breakfast.
“Thought I couldn’t handle you?”
The girl retracted her leg with a cold snort.
With that, she turned and fled deep into the alley without a backward glance.
The other two thugs didn’t dare stop her.
Only after her figure vanished did one thug rush to help the leader up.
“Boss, are you alr—”
“Boss my ass! What the hell are you two standing around for? Chase her!”
The leader kicked him away and roared.
Hearing this, the two thugs scrambled after their boss, sprinting into the alley where the girl had disappeared.