Chapter 67: Slow Changes 2

That pretty boy Jiang Chi has someone on the side behind my back!!

That was the very first thought that popped into Ji Yuennian’s mind after hearing the “official announcement”!

But then he quickly came to his senses. That’s impossible! How could Jiang Chi, that pretty boy, ever cheat? Even if he had ten guts, he wouldn’t dare!!

Ji Yuennian intertwined his fingers and placed them on the table, temporarily setting down his chopsticks. He looked at Yao Shiming: “Tell me the details. When was it officially announced? With whom?”

At this moment, Yao Shiming was holding a pack of 381-brand cigarettes that Ji Yuennian had given him, exhaling smoke with a look of pure enjoyment.

Hearing Ji Yuennian’s question, he scratched his head: “I heard it was some first-year junior girl. The school heartthrob admitted it in front of the news department and also asked the upperclassmen and juniors not to bother him anymore.”

So that’s how it was~

The weight that had been pressing on Ji Yuennian’s heart fell away, and secretly he even let out a sigh of relief. He didn’t even know why himself.

“It’s just that? Not a big deal.” Ji Yuennian smiled and picked up his chopsticks again.

Yao Shiming glanced at the noticeably smaller portion of braised chicken on his plate and asked in confusion: “Old Ji, are you on a diet recently?”

“No, just no appetite.”

Lately, for some unknown reason, his hair had been growing rapidly, his appetite had shrunk, and his weight kept dropping. Even his height had shrunk by a centimeter or two.

It got to the point where Ji Yuennian, who used to mock others by saying, “Men who use height insoles aren’t real fathers,” had no choice but to start using height insoles himself to maintain respect in front of his juniors.

Sure enough, fate’s boomerang always likes to hit you right on the head.

Ji Yuennian wasn’t unaware of these strange symptoms; he had been to the hospital for tests. The results came back: healthy—actually healthier than before.

In the end, Ji Yuennian attributed it all to that silver coin.

Thinking back to those old-style urban supernatural novels, they were always about meteors falling from the sky, supernatural radiation, and the protagonist becoming a little superhero.

Lost in thought, Ji Yuennian suddenly realized that Yao Shiming, who had just delivered the news, hadn’t left.

He picked up a piece of chicken, popped it into his mouth, and glanced at Yao Shiming, who looked hesitant to speak.

“Something else?”

“Ahem.” Yao Shiming cleared his throat twice, a little embarrassed. After all, he was half a rich second-generation himself, but now he had even stooped to borrowing money.

“Well, Brother Ji, I recently went with a friend to see a doctor, and the costs unexpectedly went up. I covered some of it, but now my living expenses are short. I was wondering if you could lend me some money.”

“How much?” Ji Yuennian took out his phone.

“A thousand, just to get through this month.”

“Three thousand it is. Pay me back whenever you can, no rush. We’re brothers; I’d stab myself in the ribs for you.”

With a “ding,” the money transferred. Amid Yao Shiming’s thanks, Ji Yuennian waved his hand and walked away, quietly claiming credit.

After slowly finishing lunch, his phone buzzed with a message.

Six Heavenly Aides: Brother Ji, aren’t you here yet?

Bright Moon and Eternal: Wait a moment, don’t act rashly. I’m going home to grab something.

…

The scorching afternoon sun burned down on the earth, waves of heat rolling endlessly. Under a tall, sturdy poplar tree, two upright young men stood side by side, finally awaiting the person they came to meet.

“Wang Xin, you’re pretty efficient this time.” Ji Yuennian’s usually rugged face carried a faint smile as he looked at the thin, sickly boy wearing thick glasses before him.

Wang Xin was a sophomore and a member of the Information Department.

He had once been casually saved by Ji Yuennian during a fight against some thugs. Unexpectedly, Wang Xin turned out to be quite savvy with computers but was a bit of a loner, sometimes even ostracized.

In Ji Yuennian’s words: “He doesn’t have Jiang Chi’s luck, but he has Jiang Chi’s illnesses.”

“It’s all thanks to that senior,” Wang Xin adjusted his glasses shyly, eyes filled with admiration.

Apparently, in the past month or two, Wang Xin had accidentally met a hacker big shot on a small website and often consulted him. Even this time was a small test by that hacker.

Otherwise, how could one find the exact address and even ID number of “Tao Zhi Yao Yao” from a deleted empty account? It was like opening a box.

“Brother Ji, does wearing this stuff really help?”

“This style? I once analyzed it for a military enthusiast senior on my site. It’s the latest bulletproof vest, with excellent performance and strong shock absorption. It won’t take a Barrett sniper rifle bullet, but it can absorb at least sixty percent of the force from large-caliber handguns.”

“Good eye! My family’s in the clothing business, and this bulletproof raincoat counts as clothing too. My dad spent money to get several sets from friends in the military. After all, the Huayuan Federation doesn’t ban guns. Sometimes when going out on business, it’s safer to be cautious.”

The bulletproof vests were all black and plain, and after the three of them put them on, it looked like they were wearing thick black jackets over their short sleeves.

What they were about to do skirted the gray edge of the law.

Simply put: They were going to bring the one who dared to write Ji Yuennian as the protagonist of a scandalous, gender-swapped “Tao Zhi Yao Yao” erotic novel to justice!

A residential building near Wanqing Yongxing School.

Contrary to Ji Yuennian’s guess, “Tao Zhi Yao Yao” was not a student of Wanqing Yongxing School, but a local resident who loved surfing the internet, especially the school’s forum.

According to the info from opening the box, this person was also a gaming expert, three-quarters of the “Rice Noodle Mountain.”

The three walked to the third floor of the building.

“Brother Ji, I feel a bit scared. Even though our plan is thorough, maybe we should call the police. Let the professionals handle it. I heard the crime of profiting from distributing obscene materials starts at at least three years in prison.”

“Old Su, don’t chicken out. The bigger the storm, the more valuable the fish. We’ll personally bring the offender to justice, then hand them over to the police. Imagine the banner hanging on our dorm door—wouldn’t that be super prestigious?”

“But what if they have a gun?”

The Huayuan Federation did not ban guns, a policy dating back 800 years to the first chairman who ended the Yuan Empire and founded the federation system.

“Most good people don’t point guns at others, but bad people definitely fear good people pointing guns at them.”

This saying was still engraved on the walls of the Imperial Capital and revered by countless shooting clubs in the Federation.

Hearing this, Ji Yuennian thought for a moment, then said gravely, “I’ll lead the charge. If things get tough, we retreat immediately, then call for backup. No, call the cops.”

“What was that saying? Live as a hero, die as a hero. Three minors working together to catch a distributor of obscene materials—forget about looks or reputation, think about this year’s political practice exam. We’re definitely going to get full marks!”

Wang Xin and Su Tian exchanged a glance, each seeing the helplessness in the other’s eyes.

As expected, Brother Ji still loved fame, or rather, enjoyed basking in the admiration of others.

Ji Yuennian pressed the doorbell with practiced ease.

Not long after, footsteps echoed closer and closer, and a plain male voice called out, “Who is it?”

“Neighbor, open up, we’re here to check the water meter.”