The next morning, Zhong Yu was awakened by the sound of an engine downstairs.
He climbed out of bed quietly and carefully lifted one corner of the curtain. He saw Pan Wang walking inside with an impatient expression, shaking out his hands.
Zhong Yu lowered the curtain and held his breath as he dressed. He could no longer care whether they were dirty. He hurriedly stuffed both the coat and umbrella Mr. Cheng had lent him beneath the blanket, patted it messily into what he hoped looked unsuspecting, then finally breathed out and sincerely prayed that Pan Wang would simply return to his own room.
His hope was disappointed.
The bedroom door was kicked open with such force that Zhong Yu's heart jumped painfully in his chest. He wondered whether his sister had been awakened, whether she had been frightened…
Before the thought could go any further, Pan Wang advanced on him reeking of alcohol. Zhong Yu instinctively stepped back twice, only for his back to hit the wall. There was nowhere left to retreat.
His eyelashes trembled twice. Pan Wang sneered and reached for Zhong Yu's throat, preparing to demand how he had suddenly become brave enough to run away even in front of Young Master Zhou.
But then something caught his eye.
Zhong Yu's body went rigid. His trembling gaze followed Pan Wang's and froze the instant he saw it.
A sliver of black showed at the edge of the bed.
Pan Wang raised his brows and looked at Zhong Yu maliciously. Deliberately stepping closer, he lowered his voice. "You really [censored]? Got a taste for it and even brought a man home?"
The words were too obscene. Zhong Yu stared at Pan Wang without reacting. Experience since childhood had taught him that whether he showed anger, grief, or fought back, all of it acted like a stimulant for Pan Wang and only gave him more entertainment.
But when Pan Wang walked toward the bed and reached to lift the blanket, Zhong Yu could no longer endure it. He lunged over and grabbed Pan Wang's wrist.
Pan Wang paused and looked back at him. "Did I actually guess right?"
Seeing Zhong Yu's anxious movements, he grinned and shoved him mercilessly to the floor. At the same time, he yanked away the blanket with a swish.
When he saw what was hidden beneath it, disappointment crossed his face. "That's it?"
He first picked up the black umbrella, casually threw it onto the floor, and stomped on it twice. Then he grabbed the coat and immediately saw that it was not Zhong Yu's size.
He turned it over repeatedly but found no familiar logo. Shaking his head, he clicked his tongue. "You sold yourself pretty cheaply. One piece of clothing was enough to get you into bed?"
As he spoke, he tried to tear the coat. After two attempts, howeverâeven with an alpha's strength, he could not rip it?
For a moment, Pan Wang felt humiliated. Carrying the coat to the desk, he pulled open a drawer to look for scissors, only for someone to seize his arm. He turned and saw Zhong Yu had gotten up at some point and was gripping his hand tightly. For once, a trace of stubborn resistance appeared on the face that always irritated him.
"Give it back."
Zhong Yu shaped the words soundlessly with his mouth. His body shook, but he did not step back.
Pan Wang could not be bothered trying to understand what Zhong Yu was saying. He only raised his brows in curiosity.
He knew perfectly well how poor his little brother's health was. Congenital heart disease was no joke. Before Zhong Yu's equally sickly mother died, Pan Wang had nearly killed this little brother several times.
He remembered it clearly. After all, those had been among the only times his father had ever scolded him throughout his childhood.
After that bastard mother died, Zhong Yu became even more cautious and obedient around him. Only when something involved Zhong Jue could Pan Wang see a little anger from him.
So who did this person belong to?
Pan Wang was unusually curious, but more than learning the stranger's identity, he wanted to see Zhong Yu's despair after the object was destroyed.
He kicked Zhong Yu aside, then cut the trench coat clean in half with two sharp snips. Satisfied, he was just about to look at Zhong Yu's reaction when pain suddenly shot through his arm. He shouted and looked down to discover Zhong Jue had appeared without him noticing and had sunk her teeth viciously into his arm.
Her eyes glared fiercely at him. "Don't bully my brother!"
Pan Wang exploded in rage. He threw the scissors aside and reached for Zhong Jue's collar. "You little bastard! I'm your brother too!"
But the moment he lifted the child, sudden coldness touched his neck.
His body stiffened as he looked back. It was Zhong Yu.
The beautiful young man's lips were so pale they were nearly colorless. His hand was trembling, but the sharp, gleaming scissors remained pressed firmly against Pan Wang's neck. Zhong Yu mouthed, "Let her go."
Still soundless, the words were formed slowly and clearly, but the weapon in his hand was already enough for Pan Wang to understand.
Pan Wang stiffly released his grip. Zhong Jue landed nimbly and did not forget to stomp hard on Pan Wang before escaping.
Pan Wang winced but did not dare make a sound. He forced out an ugly smile. "Hey. I'm the only alpha in this family. You wouldn't dare actually do anything."
Zhong Yu took a deep breath. He was gripping so hard that even his tensed arm began to shake. His free hand lifted and pointed straight at the door. "Get out."
Keeping the scissors pointed at Pan Wang, he forced him step by step out of the room, immediately locked the door, and only then felt all strength leave his body. He almost collapsed as he sat on the floor. The scissors dropped beside him with a crisp clang.
The world before him blurred. Zhong Yu blinked, and several tears slid down his cheeks.
Rapid footsteps sounded behind him. His sister was coming. He wiped his face carelessly, turned around, and caught Zhong Jue as she threw herself into his arms.
[Did I scare you? I'm sorry…]
"I'm not scared of him!"
Zhong Jue made two defiant little sounds, immediately sprang out of Zhong Yu's arms, and punched the air several times to demonstrate her determination to beat Pan Wang to a pulp.
She practiced every day at school now! All so she could master her divine martial arts as soon as possible and defeat the big villain!
"When I grow up, I'll beat him so badly he'll never dare bully us again!"
Zhong Yu smiled. Holding his little sister's small body, he finally felt the heart that had been pounding ever since he was awakened that morning calm a little. He remained quiet for a long, long time, and Zhong Jue obediently rested against him the entire while.
The child's warm, soft body leaned against him, and like a surging tide, that thought rose in his heart once again.
Run.
No matter which direction they went.
He lowered his head, took his sister's hand, and slowly wrote stroke by stroke across her still-childish palm: "Let's leave this place."
Zhong Jue lifted her face to look at her brother and scrunched it with conflict. "But I don't want to leave my teachers and classmates…"
In the end, however, she rubbed her fluffy head against Zhong Yu's cheek and whispered, "But wherever you go, I'll follow. I like you best."
Zhong Yu did not speak. He only held his sister tighter.
–
The siblings stayed quietly in the room for a while. Only after there was no sound at all outside did they go downstairs.
Pan Wang's bedroom door was tightly shut. He was probably sleeping, and Zhong Yu did not care.
Today was Tuesday. He first took his sister to school. Their father paid absolutely no attention to her. Back when Zhong Jue was in first grade, even when her teacher led the class in excluding her and a classmate later pushed her from the second floor and injured her leg, he had never noticed.
The moment Zhong Yu discovered what had happened, he immediately transferred Zhong Jue from the private elite school to an ordinary public primary school near his own school.
The teachers were unremarkable and so were the students, but Zhong Yu thought it was wonderful.
From his sister's descriptions, the teachers treated everyone equally and most of the students were innocent and straightforward. Zhong Jue liked the environment very much.
At least his sister would not have to experience what he had once experienced.
The teachers also knew their family circumstances were somewhat unusual. Grandma Song had specifically requested leave for Zhong Jue yesterday, so the teacher did not ask many questions, only reminding Zhong Yu that it would be best not to let his sister miss too many classes.
Zhong Yu acknowledged her seriously. After saying goodbye to his sister, he took the bus to university.
His first class was at nine that morning. He rushed back to the dormitory for his books, and by the time he reached the classroom it was already packed.
He hurriedly looked around. His roommates were sitting in a corner waving at him.
Only then did Zhong Yu relax. He quickly went over and sat in the seat they had deliberately saved for him. The moment he sat down, his roommate Zheng Yue, who was right beside him, leaned over and asked, "What were you doing yesterday? The old man called your name!"
Hearing that, Zhong Yu smiled awkwardly and wrote his answer on paper.
[Something happened at home.]
Last Friday evening, halfway through class, Pan Wang had dragged Zhong Yu directly out of the classroom. He had not had time to explain anything to his roommates. Then the accident happened, and Zhong Yu did not regain consciousness until Monday afternoon…
But telling his roommates all that did not seem appropriate.
After all, they had known each other for less than a month.
Zheng Yue understood. He sighed and patted Zhong Yu on the shoulder. "You have no idea how ugly the old man's expression was. I hurriedly explained that you were sick, and only then did his face look a little better."
Zhong Yu looked at him with complete sincerity.
[Thank you. I'll go explain to him next week.]
"Fine, as long as you've got it handled. Oh, right. The old man assigned homework yesterday too. I posted it in the group chat. Did you see it?"
Zhong Yu paused and shook his head apologetically.
[I haven't had time yet.]
Too much had happened yesterday. Since starting university, he had also been added to all kinds of messy group chats, with messages constantly pouring in. Zhong Yu had not yet had time to look carefully.
Zheng Yue waved a broad hand. First he shoved away their other roommate, Shao Wenrui, who had inexplicably started tugging his arm. Without even looking back, Zheng Yue asked, "Why are you grabbing me?"
Then he told Zhong Yu, "It's fine. Back at the dorm, you can copy mine!"
Shao Wenrui rolled his eyes and stopped bothering with him. At that moment, a light cough sounded from the podium. The teacher looked expressionlessly at Zheng Yue and said, "This student seems to have something to say. Would you like to come up here and say it?"
Zheng Yue jumped in surprise and only then realized Shao Wenrui had been trying to help him. He immediately raised both hands in surrender and pleaded, "Sorry, teacher, I was wrong, I won't dare again, I'll definitely listen properly!"
After that rapid-fire combination, low laughter immediately rippled through the previously dull classroom. Even the teacher could no longer maintain his stern expression. He smiled and said, "Don't do it next time. Sit down."
Only then was the matter dropped.
Zhong Yu did not dare pass any more notes. He only pressed his palms together apologetically toward Zheng Yue and gave a small bow. Zheng Yue sat perfectly straight, but from the corner of his eye he glanced at Zhong Yu beside him and smiled.
Only then did Zhong Yu relax.
The old professor's drawn-out voice drifted slowly through the classroom. Students in the front rows were energetic while those in the back were drowsy. Warmth filled the air. It was the most familiar kind of ordinary day.
At last, Zhong Yu's constantly tense nerves loosened a little.
When the professor reached a practice problem, Zhong Yu reached into his schoolbag for scrap paper, but his fingertips touched soft fabric first.
…It was the coat that had been cut apart.
Zhong Yu's heart sank again.
For the rest of the day, Zhong Yu barely absorbed anything from class. His roommates looked at him several times as though they wanted to speak but held back.
After afternoon classes ended, Zhong Yu said goodbye to them. His roommates were long accustomed to him leaving around dinnertime to pick up his sister from school.
But today his sister had an after-school program, so dismissal would be half an hour later.
With his backpack over his shoulders, Zhong Yu wandered around the back streets of A University and finally found a tailor shop tucked into an inconspicuous corner.
But when he took out the trench coat that had been crudely cut into two pieces with hopeful eyes, the tailor examined it for a long time and shook his head apologetically.
"No. It can't be fixed."
Disappointed, Zhong Yu put the coat back into his backpack and walked farther, finding two more tailor shops. The answer was the same every time.
His mood grew heavier. He practically dragged his feet by the time he reached the primary-school gate.
His sister's class had not come out yet, so he simply hugged his backpack and stared blankly at the ground.
He did not intend to simply patch the coat up, pretend nothing had happened, and deceive Mr. Cheng.
The lessons he had received all his life told him that when you did something wrong, you had to take responsibility. First you made sincere amends, then asked the other person's opinion. That was how a proper apology should be made.
This situation was no exception. First repair the coat, then apologize sincerely to Mr. Cheng face-to-face, and finally, according to Mr. Cheng's wishes, compensate him with some money… All right, perhaps not some money, but a lot.
No matter what, he had to repair the coat first, didn't he? At least show the right attitude when apologizing.
But…it seemed he had already failed at the first step.
He felt a little miserable and instinctively wanted to open the calculator again to work out how much longer it would take to save enough money to leave with his sisterâafter subtracting the money he would need to compensate Mr. Cheng, of course.
How much would be appropriate?
Five thousand…?
His eyelashes trembled. He remembered what Mr. Cheng looked like.
The man appeared extremely wealthy. Zhong Yu could not identify the brand of the coat, but he knew it could not possibly be cheap… A four-digit amount probably would not be enough.
He began calculating the absolute maximum he could afford. After setting aside Zhong Jue's tuition and living expenses, then rent, utilities, and other unavoidable costs, perhaps he could cut his own living expenses…
Heavens.
Zhong Yu calculated and recalculated until he managed to depress himself.
==========Author's Note:==========
He doesn't want money.
