Song Yifei was a student in Class 4. His grades were mediocre at best, making evening self-study sessions more or less optional for him.
Wen Yan and Song Yifei headed to their usual barbecue stall, located just two or three streets away from the school. The owner was deaf and mute, but he kept the food clean and the flavors were excellent.
Seeing Wen Yan and Song Yifei approach, the owner pointed toward a spot in front—a plastic table paired with a few wooden chairs. Since it wasn't quite time for the late-night snack rush yet, the stall looked somewhat desolate on the empty street side.
Wen Yan sat across from Song Yifei. They didn't even need to go up and order; the owner already knew the tastes of these two boys by heart.
Song Yifei went to the convenience store next door and bought two bottles of ice-cold mineral water. In the October autumn wind, the chill was even more piercing.
Wen Yan didn't like to talk while eating. Song Yifei fiddled with his phone for a while before taking a gulp of water, letting it pour straight down his throat to instantly sharpen his senses.
"Wen Yan, what kind of person do you think Su Jingming really is?"
Wen Yan looked up, pulling out a tissue to wipe the corner of his mouth. "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious," Song Yifei said. "I don't believe for a second that you aren't."
Wen Yan’s hand paused. He gripped the napkin, crumpling it into a messy ball before tossing it into the nearby trash can.
How could he not be curious?
It was precisely because he was curious that he wanted to get closer.
Wen Yan lowered his head slightly. Whatever he was thinking of made his entire aura soften significantly. Even Song Yifei couldn't help but shiver. "What are you doing? That’s creepy."
"It's nothing. About..." Before Wen Yan could finish, his eyes instantly turned cold as he spotted a group at the table behind Song Yifei.
Just a moment ago, Song Yifei thought Wen Yan looked as gentle as jade; now, he had a completely different face. His gaze was cold enough to devour someone.
It was the first time Song Yifei had seen Wen Yan like this. He followed Wen Yan’s line of sight. At the table behind them sat three "spiritual young lads." They had colorful tattoos on their arms, and every head of hair sported at least two different dyes. They were currently discussing the female students who had just passed by in crude, filthy language.
Song Yifei turned back and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"
"Those are the ones who harassed Wen Miao last time." Wen Yan stood up and straightened his school uniform. His memory was excellent—so good that he had burned the faces of these chance encounters deep into his mind.
Song Yifei hurriedly stood up and grabbed Wen Yan. "What are you doing?"
The sky had darkened imperceptibly, approaching the dead of night, though the scent of cumin still lingered in the air. The old street, washed by several days of fine drizzle, stretched toward the horizon under the dim streetlights.
Song Yifei looked at the silent Wen Yan, gripping his wrist tightly. "Wen Yan, calm down first."
Wen Yan stood rooted to the spot. He lowered his eyes, glancing indifferently at the hand Song Yifei used to restrain him.
Before Wen Yan could speak, the owner suddenly ran over from the grill. He pointed at the table behind Song Yifei, looking anxious and hopping with frustration.
Wen Yan glanced over. Those guys had finished eating and bolted, leaving behind a table of food scraps and a total mess.
He cursed inwardly, broke free from Song Yifei’s grip, and sprinted in the direction the group had fled.
Song Yifei shouted from behind him, "Fuck! Wait the hell up, Wen Yan!"
Wen Yan ran through the endless night. He was rarely this angry. He was relieved that nothing had ultimately happened to Wen Miao, and he was grateful to Su Jingming for stepping in back then. He only felt a twinge of regret—why hadn't he given these people a lesson himself when he first found Wen Miao?
"Running this far should be enough. That deaf guy can't outrun us."
"That was a rush. I haven't dined and dashed in ages."
"Hahaha, once the heat dies down, let's go back and eat there again."
"Seriously though, the food was actually pretty good."
The further they went into the alleyways, the more deserted it became. The only sounds were the muffled shouts, laughter, and the cries of children drifting from the residential buildings.
Wen Yan slowed his pace, watching the group walk ahead with their arms around each other's shoulders. Tall pine trees lined the street, casting long, distorted shadows under the streetlights.
He pulled his sleeves up to his forearms and lowered his voice, preparing to shout.
"Motherfucker, you again!"
Wen Yan’s footsteps faltered. The delinquents not far off stopped in their tracks, some even making a move to back away.
Su Jingming wasn't wearing his glasses. Carrying a bag of food, he looked at the thugs with a cold expression. He curled his lip slightly. "Oh, it's you guys."
The thugs felt a massive headache coming on the moment they saw Su Jingming. They hadn't expected to run into him in a place like this. The spots where Su Jingming had hit them last time still throbbed with a dull ache.
What kind of freak could easily take on five people at once?
"It's you again, you dumbass."
The thug took two steps back, and Su Jingming followed with two steps forward. He looked as if he had everything under control. His low, raspy voice carried a hint of mockery. "What are you backing up for?"
The thug cursed in his head. *I'm backing up because I can't fucking beat you!*
"Don't come any closer! Don't think we're scared of you just because you've got some moves!" One of the thugs with red-and-green hair lifted his chin. "My brother is fucking..."
Before he could finish, Su Jingming lunged forward in two or three strides, grabbed the man's shoulder, and slammed him hard against his knee.
The man was dazed by the maneuver and ended up kneeling before Su Jingming.
Su Jingming leaned down and said tonelessly, "Didn't I tell you? Don't show your face in front of your daddy. Every time I see you, I'll beat you. Forgot?"
In moments like this, Su Jingming’s sense of justice and *chuunibyou* tendencies peaked. He felt that saying things like this...
Was so damn cool!
Su Jingming’s gaze swept coldly over the remaining two, only to suddenly realize that not far behind them stood a very familiar person. This was the same person who, just this afternoon, had asked if he wanted to feel his abs.
"..."
Despite being a *chuunibyou* for so many years, Su Jingming felt a rare surge of intense shame.
*Fuck?*
*Why is Wen Yan here?*
*How much did he just hear?*
*Is he going to think I'm a total idiot?*
*But... I really did think that line was cool!*
Su Jingming was already mentally drafting several ways to explain himself. Just as he was discarding the second option, the two thugs suddenly lunged at him, grabbing his arms.
Wen Yan immediately shouted, "Su Jingming!"
Before Su Jingming could react, he was pinned by the two men. The thug Su Jingming had knocked down scrambled up and, without a word, punched Su Jingming hard in the stomach.
"You really think you're hot shit? Think you can threaten me just because you know a few moves?"
The thug had just landed one punch and was winding up for a second when Wen Yan sprinted over, catching the thug's fist.
The thug turned around to see a refined-looking student in a school uniform. "Fuck! Who the hell are you now? Why are you grabbing me?!"
Bad luck. Absolute shit luck.
Su Jingming snapped out of it and violently shook off the two thugs holding him. With agile movements, he struck the thug on his left, knocking him to the ground in a matter of seconds. His strikes were incredibly fast and efficient, leaving the opponent no room to breathe.
Wen Yan let go of the thug's hand and easily dodged the punch swung toward his face.
The thug spat on the ground. "I hate you 'good students' the most. You fight even more ruthlessly than your own fathers!"
In the blink of an eye, only the red-and-green haired thug was left standing. The situation had shifted from three-on-one to three-on-two, and now to two-on-one. It had happened in an instant.
Wen Yan and Su Jingming surrounded the thug. Su Jingming rolled his wrists. The dim light filtered through the pine needles, casting mottled spots of light across his face.
He instinctively brushed the hair off his forehead. "What were you saying? Your brother?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Su Jingming delivered a punch straight to the thug's stomach—fast, accurate, and ruthless. The blow made the thug let out a muffled groan of pain.
"I'm telling you, even if your brother shows up, this isn't over!!"
Su Jingming rarely had such large emotional swings. Just as his fist was about to descend again, it was stopped by a warm, steady palm.
"That's enough." Wen Yan’s face was calm. "That's enough, Su Jingming."
He didn't know what kind of deep grudge Su Jingming had with this person, but his current state was completely different from when he had emerged from the alley before.
There was no response.
Wen Yan gradually tightened his grip on the hand. "Be good. Don't you have training tomorrow?"
The fist held in his palm slowly relaxed. The thug clutched his abdomen, looking at the two students as something suddenly clicked in his mind.
Wen Yan looked down at the thug. "Go settle the bill for the barbecue."
***
Song Yifei hadn't expected his own physical fitness to be such a liability. It was bad enough he couldn't beat Wen Yan in exams, but he couldn't even outrun him.
By the time he reached the battlefield, only Wen Yan and... Su Jingming were left?
Song Yifei clicked his tongue. What kind of fate was this, to run into him even here?
Su Jingming heard the commotion and glanced over. Wen Yan knew who it was without looking. He asked Su Jingming, "Why were you so angry just now?"
"It's nothing."
Su Jingming picked up his plastic bag from the ground. Wen Yan took a quick look; it was mostly instant, self-heating meals.
"What did you have for dinner?"
"Haven't eaten yet."
"Want to come grab some barbecue? The taste is quite good."
Faced with Wen Yan’s invitation, Su Jingming looked at Song Yifei standing nearby. He recognized him but had never spoken to him.
Song Yifei walked up and familiarly draped an arm over Wen Yan’s shoulder. "Let's go, Rank Two."
"Eating with Rank One and Rank Two... I wonder if I can soak up some of that brilliance. Maybe I'll break into the top hundred next exam?"
"If that worked, I'd suggest you vomit up everything you've eaten for the last decade and eat it all over again," Su Jingming said, looking rather unfriendly. Perhaps it was the aftereffects of the fight, but he looked both exhausted and incredibly cool.
It made Song Yifei want to offer him a cigarette...
The group returned to the barbecue stall. Wen Yan paid the owner for the meal the thugs had skipped. The owner looked grateful, pressing his hands together in thanks. Wen Yan couldn't understand the sign language he used.
He could only offer a gentle comfort: "It's fine, no need to thank us. Oh, and add some more..." Wen Yan turned to Su Jingming, who was sitting in a chair. "Is there anything you don't eat?"
"I don't eat onions, cilantro, or organ meats."
Su Jingming froze for a second after speaking, then quickly added, "Actually, I can eat anything..."
Wen Yan ignored the correction and went to the freezer to pick out more food.
Song Yifei looked over curiously and couldn't help but ask, "You're so good at fighting. Did you learn it somewhere?"
Although Song Yifei hadn't seen Su Jingming in action himself, based on what Wen Yan said, the guy clearly had some skills.
Su Jingming looked down at his phone and answered dully, "I wouldn't say I learned it."
Su Qicheng was a combat coach. When he was being abusive, he occasionally used professional techniques. After seeing and experiencing it for so long, Su Jingming had naturally picked it up through osmosis.
"Then you must have been in a lot of fights. Otherwise, how could you take down those thugs so easily?" A look of admiration suddenly flashed in Song Yifei’s eyes.
Su Jingming: "I don't usually get involved in brawls."
The incident with Wen Miao had been the first time.
Song Yifei wouldn't let it go. "Then you—"
"Alright, Song Yifei. Even food can't shut your mouth." Wen Yan walked back over, having sensed that Su Jingming’s mood had turned sour again.
Since Wen Yan had spoken up to stop him, Song Yifei rubbed his nose and swallowed the rest of his questions.
The barbecue at this place was just as Wen Yan had described—delicious.
Su Jingming ate in a slow, methodical manner. In Song Yifei’s eyes, he looked like a second Wen Yan. Although their styles were vastly different, they were surprisingly similar in certain ways.
Just as Song Yifei was about to speak again...
Su Jingming’s phone on the table vibrated. Wen Yan naturally glanced toward it.
Su Jingming opened WeChat.
**Wen Yan:** *Why is our little hero angry?*
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
精神小伙 | spiritual young lads | Slang for delinquents, often with flashy hair/tattoos.
中二 | chuunibyou | "Middle school syndrome"; acting overly dramatic or like a fictional hero.
苏启成 | Su Qicheng | Su Jingming's father.
宋依斐 | Song Yifei | Wen Yan's friend, a student in Class 4.
听话 | Be good / Listen to me | A phrase used to coax or command someone gently.
