Haibin Tower gatherings had turned into meetings at the police station.
Yellow Hair looked utterly aggrieved, like a bullied little wife, trembling as he crouched in the corner of the station.
He and his gang really hadn’t done anything heinous!
Though they were delinquents, they didn’t collect protection fees or often get into fights. They just smoked, drank, ate, bragged a bit, and occasionally flirted with pretty girls.
He swore to the heavens that he only wanted to “invite” that white-haired beauty to dinner—nothing else!
As for “getting physical”? Only an idiot would risk a three-year sentence or worse, the death penalty.
“Committee Secretary Zheng, I’m sorry, I’m sorry for frightening your child.”
Yellow Hair’s gang members had long since been picked up by their parents at the station. Usually, every parent who came in would slap their kid twice before smiling and apologizing to Zheng Quan.
My goodness, what kind of big shot did I just offend today? Yellow Hair felt a wave of despair.
Finally, Yellow Hair’s father arrived late, entering the room and locking eyes with his son. Without a word, he slapped both sides of Yellow Hair’s face several times.
“Boss Huang, you’ve done a fine job raising this kid.” Zheng Quan’s expression was unreadable as he said this.
Yellow Hair’s father was stunned.
His surname wasn’t Huang, and as a fairly well-known entrepreneur in Haizhou, he was sure Zheng Quan wouldn’t have mistaken his name.
“……”
He had rushed into the station and hadn’t paid much attention earlier. Now, looking closely, he noticed his son’s hair dyed a fiery yellow, wild like autumn weeds growing untamed— a rather fitting match for mid-September.
Instantly, Yellow Hair’s father understood.
Boss Huang, boss Huang—Zheng Quan was teasing him. Thank goodness his idiot son hadn’t dyed his hair some garish green like a “shamate.”
His anger flared instantly. He shot Yellow Hair a fierce glare and said, “Just wait till I get home and deal with you!”
Yellow Hair trembled.
After dropping that threat, Yellow Hair’s father walked over to Zheng Quan, bent down slightly, and smiled apologetically.
“Committee Secretary Zheng, please don’t joke. It’s all my useless son’s fault for frightening your child.”
“Rest assured, I’ll discipline him properly at home! That bastard’s been spoiled rotten by his mother.”
His tone and demeanor were no different from those other parents who had come to retrieve their kids.
People were present, apologies made. Zheng Quan no longer made things difficult for the Huang father and son.
Those who needed to leave did so; those who needed to go home went home.
Meanwhile, Zi Yan, who had initially been shyly standing beside Zheng Quan, found the unfolding scene far too dramatic and couldn’t help but laugh quietly.
“Committee Secretary Zheng, this must be your child, right? He’s really quite handsome.” Huang Hair’s father praised Zi Yan and tugged Yellow Hair, who was shrinking behind his father, scolding, “Why haven’t you apologized properly yet?”
Dad, I’ve apologized a dozen times already…
Yellow Hair’s face was swollen from the slaps, looking utterly ridiculous and dejected as he glanced at Zi Yan.
Even with Zi Yan’s exquisitely carved, handsome face right in front of him, Yellow Hair could not appreciate it.
Roses have thorns— prickly, unwelcome, utterly unbearable.
——
A major event swept through the Haizhou school community.
That gang of about a dozen delinquents, notorious for causing trouble in various schools, suddenly disbanded after harassing the white-haired red-eyed transfer student at Haizhou No. 3 Middle School.
Eyewitnesses reported that at the gates of Haizhou No. 3 Middle School that day, the gang leader nicknamed Yellow Hair was single-handedly lifted like a chick by a handsome, middle-aged, strong man.
Following that, all gang members, including Yellow Hair, were packed into police cars like little chicks and taken away.
The next day, students at Haizhou No. 7 Middle School said that Yellow Hair was escorted by his father to school and— surprisingly— wasn’t late for class.
He was also shaved bald, his shiny scalp gleaming under the lights during the last period in the afternoon.
Who was this handsome middle-aged man? Could he be the bodyguard of the mysterious white-haired, red-eyed transfer student from Haizhou No. 3?
What kind of background did that transfer student have?
Thus, the news spread like wildfire throughout the Haizhou middle school circles.
“He’s not some bodyguard. That’s my father,” Zi Yan explained one afternoon after the incident to the curious onlookers gathered around him.
“Oh? The uncle who came to the playground during summer vacation to call you home?” Wei Lai asked, thinking it over.
“Yes.”
“That’s pretty handsome!” Wei Lai’s eyes sparkled.
“Firm features, tall and well-built, muscular even under a short-sleeved T-shirt, straight back…” Wei Lai recalled the memory of that day.
“Wow, Wei Lai, you’re blushing.” A girl beside her teased quietly.
“Heh heh.” Wei Lai giggled, “A handsome middle-aged guy is still handsome. Appreciating beauty is nothing wrong.”
She then nudged Zi Yan’s waist with her elbow playfully and teased, “No wonder our little Zi Yan has such high standards. Having such a good-looking father at home must be tough, huh?”
Huh?
Zi Yan didn’t quite get it and asked, “Tough? Why would it be tough?”
“Well…” Wei Lai suddenly smirked mischievously and asked Zi Yan, “Hey, Zi Yan, how about I be your little mommy?”
“My parents have a good relationship and haven’t divorced,” Zi Yan replied earnestly, rejecting the idea.
“Ah, ah, this kid is naturally dense.” Another girl beside Wei Lai laughed.
“What’s naturally dense?”
“All right, all right,” Wei Lai called out, “If we don’t leave soon, there won’t be any seats left for lunch.”
“Huh?”
Because it was raining today, the morning exercise was canceled, so although Wei Lai and the others were very curious, they couldn’t find a chance to chat with Zi Yan.
Ten minutes of break time was nowhere near enough for these curious kids.
No sooner had school let out for lunch than they swarmed Zi Yan.
“Yeah, it’s already been twenty minutes after school!”
“Let’s go, let’s go! My favorite spicy chicken can’t sell out again!”
“See you this afternoon, Zi Yan~”
“Yeah, see you this afternoon.”
After Wei Lai and the others grabbed their umbrellas and left, Zi Yan was left alone in the classroom.
But Zi Yan wasn’t in a hurry to leave school.
Zheng Quan had said he’d be driving Zi Yan to and from school for a while.
Today, the usual noon dismissal at Haizhou No. 3 Middle School was supposed to be at twelve, but because the rain canceled the morning exercise, lunch break was moved up by half an hour.
So his father would only arrive at the school gate at twelve, and going to the gate now would mean waiting in the rain for no one. Better to stay quietly in the classroom a little longer.
Come to think of it, students at Haizhou No. 3 Middle School quite liked this rule of canceling morning exercise and getting out early.
It meant lunch break was extended by half an hour —perfect for hanging out, dining together, shopping, or even for the boys to gather at internet cafes for five straight wins in their games.
Still.
Half an hour, even during Summer Time Schedule, was only a 20% increase in lunch break time.
Why did the students feel that was just the right amount of extra time?
Zi Yan pondered deeply.
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