C4 I Have to Help My Brother

Zhou Wen took his seat in the back row, and no sooner had he settled in than the boy across the aisle turned to him.

"Zhou Wen, you're quite the hero! Jumping into a river to save someone—weren't you scared of drowning?" the boy joked.

His name was Hui Yuming, one of Zhou Wen's best friends.

"Who do you think I am? I'm the guy who was born under the red flag and raised under the red star, the exemplary youth who wholeheartedly embraces the core socialist values!" boasted Zhou Wen with a swagger.

"Up for some online gaming tonight?"

Yuming leaned back in his chair, angling his body with his feet hooked on the table, striking a relaxed pose.

"Count me in!" Zhou Wen replied instantly, his true nature shining through.

"Zhou Wen, I thought you'd changed. Why are you still the same old you?"

Chen Wan'er, Zhou Wen's desk mate and good friend, chimed in. She was attractive, though not quite on par with the school's reigning beauty.

"What do you mean 'the same'? Saving lives, gaming, and studying aren't mutually exclusive," Zhou Wen declared with conviction.

Chen Wan'er was left speechless by his response.

Zhou Wen was feeling particularly cheerful, reminiscing about the day's events with a spontaneous smile.

Sensing a gaze upon him, he instinctively looked up and caught the eyes of the school beauty in the front row.

Su Qin.

Her name crossed his mind like a gentle breeze.

For three years in high school, Zhou Wen had harbored a secret crush on Su Qin. He wasn't alone; many boys at the school admired her from afar, all wagering on who could win her heart, yet none had succeeded.

Su Qin was exceptional in every way, so much so that most boys could only admire her from a distance. She was not only beautiful and academically gifted, but she also came from a well-to-do family, making her all the more desirable.

Zhou Wen felt like a toad lusting after a swan soaring through the sky, without the slightest chance of drawing near.

Thus, he had kept his feelings hidden deep within.

But now, the goddess of his silent adoration, Su Qin, was smiling at him, her eyes brimming with admiration.

Zhou Wen and Su Qin exchanged glances for a brief moment before looking away. Zhou Wen, feeling somewhat sheepish, lowered his head.

He whispered to himself that perhaps being a good student would give him a better opportunity to interact with her.

Shaking off these thoughts, Zhou Wen turned to chat with Hui Yuming, who was sitting nearby.

Chen Wan'er, their classmate, watched them with a glare that could almost set them ablaze.

Ding ling ling!

The bell signaling the end of class rang out, and the classroom erupted into a cacophony of noise.

While boasting to Yuming, Zhou Wen caught a whiff of a delicate scent. He turned to find its source and saw Su Qin standing quietly by her desk.

His face flushed with a mix of surprise and confusion.

"Zhou Wen, I didn't think you'd be so courageous," Su Qin said gently, her gaze filled with a hint of admiration.

This rare interaction with Su Qin made Zhou Wen's heart soar with happiness, yet he bashfully replied, "I'm just doing what I should."

"Zhou Wen, I actually think you're pretty smart. If you put effort into your studies, you could definitely get into a top university," Su Qin chuckled, encouragingly. As the class president, she naturally wanted all her classmates to succeed.

"Keep it up!"

With that, Su Qin walked away, aware that many classmates were watching her.

"Why's your face red?" teased Yuming with a grin.

"Red? Me? How could that be? Yuming, are you ready for me to take you flying later?" Zhou Wen stammered, touching his face in a fluster.

It was the first time Su Qin had initiated a conversation with him.

How could he not be thrilled and blush when the girl he'd secretly admired for three years spoke to him?

...

At 9 PM, the evening self-study session at Big Valley School came to an end, and the students began to trickle out.

Zhou Wen and Yuming blended into the crowd and exited through the school gates.

Once outside, they made a beeline for the internet café, along with a number of other students.

Despite Big Valley School's strict rules, they had no control over the students' activities once they were off campus.

"Zhou Wen, wait up! I'm coming too!"

Under the cloak of night, Zhou Wen navigated by the glow of the streetlamps and glanced back to see Yang Ke approaching.

Yang Ke lived in the same neighborhood as Zhou Wen and was a senior at Big Valley School, known for his honesty and studious nature.

Zhou Wen was somewhat taken aback; Yang Ke wasn't one to waste time on internet games.

"I... I'm just going online to look up some study materials," Yang Ke explained upon noticing Zhou Wen's puzzled look.

"Come on, today's a rare occasion! Big Brother Yang Ke is gracing us with his presence online. Zhou Wen, you've got to be thrilled!" Hui Yuming slung an arm around Yang Ke's shoulder.

Zhou Wen sensed Yang Ke was keeping something to himself, but since he wasn't forthcoming, Zhou Wen let it be.

"Quickly! If we're late, those younger kids will snag all the computers!"

They hurried to Tsunami Cybercafe.

As Zhou Wen and his friends were getting their passes at the front desk, a group walked into the cafe.

"Hey there, Qiang!"

"Qiang, would you like us to set up some computers for you?"

The staff at the cybercafe's front desk greeted him with immediate respect.

Qiang, with his dark complexion and open floral shirt showcasing a green dragon tattoo, was followed by a string of young lackeys, all seemingly in their early twenties.

He nodded: "You guys go ahead. I'm just looking around."

His piercing gaze swept over the students at the front desk, causing many to retreat a few steps.

The place was mostly filled with students, a stark contrast to the gangsters who had just entered.

Yang Ke voiced his concern in a nervous whisper, "There won't be any trouble, right?"

"No worries. These thugs don't typically mess with students," Zhou Wen replied nonchalantly.

Once they had their passes, the trio found computers and settled in.

"Yang Ke, come sit over here!" Hui Yuming called out.

"No, I'll just sit here and do some research so I don't disturb your gaming," Yang Ke replied, his tone hesitant.

Yang Ke chose a seat a few spots away from Zhou Wen and the others.

"Forget about it, just leave him alone," Zhou Wen said, sensing that Yang Ke was hiding something they weren't supposed to know.

Hui Yuming came from a wealthy family and was quite carefree, having rarely faced any hardships.

Zhou Wen, however, was aware of Yang Ke's family background. It was this environment that had shaped Yang Ke into a more reserved person from an early age.

They launched the game and started playing together.

"Damn it, I lost again!" Hui Yuming pounded the table in frustration, then suddenly exclaimed, "What the hell! Where did Yang Ke go?"

Zhou Wen looked over to find Yang Ke's seat empty, his computer screen still glowing, but both the person and his bag were missing.

Zhou Wen instantly sensed something was wrong.

"Let's look for him!" Zhou Wen commanded in a stern voice.

Without hesitation, he stood up and began searching the entire Tsunami Cybercafe, with Hui Yuming quickly joining the search.

In a dimly lit corner near the back door of the cafe, they found Yang Ke huddled on the ground, clutching his backpack, which was now marred with numerous footprints.

The backpack's zipper was undone, revealing several bundles of red bills inside.

Despite the pain on his face, Yang Ke held on to his backpack with a vice-like grip.

Surrounding him were the thugs from Qiang's group.

Qiang himself was perched on a computer chair, legs crossed, sporting a mocking grin.

"Yang Ke, are you okay?" Hui Yuming rushed to his side as soon as he spotted him.

"Beat it, this doesn't concern you!" one of the thugs barked.

"Why are you hitting my classmate?" Hui Yuming's anger flared.

He helped Yang Ke to his feet, who had tears in his eyes yet still clung tightly to his backpack.

"Your classmate? Well, that simplifies things," sneered one of the thugs.

"Your buddy here bumped into our Brother Qiang in the restroom. Now Brother Qiang's got a headache. Pay up for his treatment, and we'll call it even. Otherwise, forget about leaving this place!"

Before Hui Yuming could respond, Yang Ke cried out, "He's lying! They just want to steal the money they saw in my backpack!"

Crack!

A thug slapped Yang Ke across the face, leaving a vivid red handprint.

"How do you talk like that? You're supposed to give money for Brother Qiang's medical expenses. Is this theft?" the thug snarled.

"Son of a..." Hui Yuming charged at the thug, throwing a punch.

Several thugs swaggered out, and within moments, Hui Yuming was sent sprawling to the ground with a kick. He clutched his stomach, lying next to Yang Ke.

The disturbance quickly drew the attention of others in the cybercafe.

Timid students scurried out, while the bolder ones gathered around to watch.

"Tsunami Cybercafe is under Brother Qiang's protection. Who would dare to cross Brother Qiang here?"

"Brother Qiang's guys are tough fighters. I heard that just last time, someone got beaten so badly they ended up in the hospital," the onlookers murmured among themselves.

"Isn't this just plain robbery?" someone ventured to ask.

At that, a thug's eyes darted over, and the questioner promptly fell silent and backed away.

A male internet cafe administrator weaved through the crowd, approaching Qiang with a sycophantic grin. He offered a cigarette, lighting it for him.

"Brother Qiang, please, take it easy. These students just don't understand. Without you, they couldn't even be here surfing the net; they'd have been picked up by the cops by now!" the administrator said, beaming.

He turned to Yang Ke with a sleazy grin. "Hand over the money you have for Brother Qiang's treatment, and we'll call it even."

"This money is for my mother's medical treatment; I can't give it to you!" Yang Ke replied, his gaze resolute.

"Don't make me force you. I'm already doing you a favor. Otherwise, you'll end up giving up the money and getting a beating!" the administrator's tone turned menacing.

"I want to report this to the police. I need to call the police," Yang Ke muttered, his voice faltering.

"Call the police? Hahaha!" Qiang rose from his seat, cigarette pinched between his fingers, and strutted over to Yang Ke.

"Your mother can wait to see a doctor! Don't I need medical attention too? Her illness can be dealt with later. Give me the money for my treatment first!" Qiang's eyes glinted menacingly.

They were just a bunch of students; he wasn't about to let them get the better of him!

Yang Ke was shaking uncontrollably.

Suddenly, a figure in a white school uniform appeared before them.

It was Zhou Wen, who had just arrived. His expression hardened at the sight before him.

Qiang was trying to steal Yang Ke's emergency funds, showing a complete lack of humanity!

"What's your plan, trying to play the hero?" Qiang sneered viciously.

Zhou Wen's fists were clenched. "You're even going after the money meant to save a life? Have you no decency?"

"It's you who's sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. Get him!" Qiang flicked away his cigarette butt, clearly annoyed.