Chapter Five: The Past · Two

The situation immediately became uncontrollable

Having anticipated that the opponent would eventually take action, Jiang Tian sidestepped, allowing him to strike at nothing but air; the opponent, missing his blow, looked even more displeased. The other boys who had come along wanted to rush in, but were halted: "Don't move, this is between me and him. If you're a man, then don't fucking dodge, it's one-on-one, what kind of hero hides!"

Before being blocked at the stairway, he had been in the classroom. Previously, he had consulted the teacher about a physics problem, and then he completed half of a mock exam alone in the empty classroom. When he felt the time was about right, he began to pack his things to meet with Gu Yunsheng.

Then I have not found the wrong person The boy smiled, his face slightly contorted I want to ask you something

This habit was maintained by Gu Yunsheng until his third year of high school, and no matter how much the homeroom teacher talked to him, it was ineffective. He even specifically mentioned in a class meeting that the third year is a crucial time, a time for hard work! You have studied hard for over ten years just to get into a good university. The college entrance examination is like a thousand troops crossing a single-log bridge; a moment of negligence can lead to a lifetime of regret. Especially now, it is the most critical moment to intensify efforts. Do not think that just because your grades were decent in previous years—at this point, he paused deliberately, looking at Gu Yunsheng, who was smiling back at him with a clear and open expression, as if he believed the words were meant for someone else—just because you think you are almost guaranteed to get into a key school. Let me tell you, among so many key high schools in the city, which one is not made up of top students from middle school? Who is not working hard now? Studying is like rowing upstream; if you do not advance, you will retreat. If you think this is enough, others are fighting for their lives, and before you know it, you will fall behind. Do not think you are only competing against yourself; there are tens of thousands of candidates in the city. I urge all of you to work hard.

In summary, Jiang Tian is an anomaly, and so is Gu Yunsheng. The only difference is that most teachers hope to have as many students like Jiang Tian as possible, while for Gu Yunsheng, having just a couple in a cohort is more than sufficient to appreciate.

As he was about to pounce again, Jiang Tian realized that reasoning was futile and that evasion was hopeless. Just as he was relieved that Gu Yunsheng was not with him, he suddenly heard Gu Yunsheng's voice coming from the corner of the staircase: "Jiang Tian?"

She has written you several letters

Because they would arrange to go home together, and Jiang Tian often sought out the teacher after school to discuss problems—this was something Gu Yunsheng would never do, nor would he wait idly. Instead, he would arrange to play basketball or soccer with younger students or those from neighboring schools, and then when the time was right, he would go find Jiang Tian or wait for Jiang Tian to come to the edge of the court to look for him. Sometimes, Jiang Tian would also come down to play a game, for half an hour or three quarters of an hour, but he was never obsessed with it. He would arrange to play basketball or soccer with younger students or those from neighboring schools, and then when the time was right, he would go find Jiang Tian or wait for Jiang Tian to come to the edge of the court to look for him. Sometimes, Jiang Tian would also come down to play a game, for half an hour or three quarters of an hour, but he was never obsessed with it.

Wang Bo's companions hesitated at first upon seeing him knocked down, unsure whether to fight or not. However, as soon as Wang Bo caught his breath, he immediately shouted fiercely, "Everyone is dead, why aren't you hitting me!"

At first glance, this sounded somewhat like the tone of the popular Hong Kong and Taiwan gangster films currently playing in video halls, albeit with a clumsy delivery. This thought amused Jiang Tian, causing a fleeting smile to cross his lips, but this quickly passing smile only served to infuriate the young man further: "Bastard, you're still laughing!" As he spoke, he charged over, swinging his fist.

As Gu Yunsheng ascended the stairs, he observed the situation and, upon seeing the leader, scanned the crowd before parting the throng to approach Jiang Tian, and then remarked: "Isn't this Wang Bo from Class 27? So diligent, here to seek Jiang Tian about an issue?"

She is my girlfriend

After speaking, he shouted towards the stairway: "Jiang Tian is here. If you are looking for him, come up."

In front of everyone, being so decisively and casually rejected, Wang Bo's face turned a deep shade of purple. Noticing Gu Yunsheng nearby, he felt a bit intimidated. After a moment of thought, he suddenly twisted his face into a malicious smile: "I thought you were some kind of impressive figure, but it turns out you are just a good-for-nothing. Bah! I heard your mother died when you were young? Your father must not want you either, right? Probably thinks you're a bastard? Truly a child born of a father but raised without a mother..."

Jiang Tian has always been an exemplary student. From the first year to the third year of high school, there was not a single teacher who did not recognize him. When he was in the lower grades, the teachers from the upper grades would say, "You should strive a bit more, show some semblance of a graduating student from the third year. There are quite a few outstanding students in the first and second years, like Jiang Tian from the first year..." When he reached the third year, the homeroom teachers of the lower grades would say, "Look at you all, so carefree, where do you resemble students from a key high school? When they were in the lower grades, the teachers from the upper grades would say, 'You should strive a bit more, show some semblance of a graduating student from the third year. There are quite a few outstanding students in the first and second years, like Jiang Tian from the first year..." When he reached the third year, the homeroom teachers of the lower grades would say, "Look at you all, so carefree, where do you resemble students from a key high school? You are even less like students from an ordinary high school. Today's students truly are a generation worse than the last. Just look at the graduating seniors, I don't expect you all to reach the level of Jiang Tian..." This kind of rhetoric continued for several years after Jiang Tian and Gu Yunsheng graduated. Even during class meetings and motivational sessions after exams, their high school teachers would still occasionally mention Jiang Tian's name.

On that day, something indeed happened with Jiang Tian

The class had long since ended, and usually at this time, the hallway would be nearly empty. Occasionally, a few students from the neighboring class, like Jiang Tian, would remain for self-study, but now there were seven or eight boys of similar age standing at both ends of the hallway. Their unfamiliar faces made it difficult to detect even a hint of goodwill in their gazes.

Wang Bo was struck in the face by Zheng Zheng, causing him to stagger backward. Before he could regain his balance, Gu Yunsheng kicked him in the stomach, and this time he truly fell to the ground, hands and feet sprawled out, clutching the area that had been kicked, unable to get up for a long time, rolling on the ground in pain. The sudden turn of events left not only Wang Bo's companions dumbfounded, but even Jiang Tian was taken aback by Gu Yunsheng's expression: in an instant, his face transformed into a fierce visage, contorted with rage, color drained from his face, yet a fire seemed to ignite in his eyes. The sudden turn of events left not only Wang Bo's companions dumbfounded, but even Jiang Tian was taken aback by Gu Yunsheng's expression: in an instant, his face transformed into a fierce visage, contorted with rage, color drained from his face, yet a fire seemed to ignite in his eyes

Between the two individuals, this small gesture went unnoticed by Wang Bo and the group. It was only when Wang Bo saw that the person approaching was Gu Yunsheng that he paused for a moment before once again displaying his earlier domineering demeanor: "Jiang Tian, let’s proceed as we discussed earlier. I won’t bully you; let’s settle this one-on-one. If I can’t defeat you, then everything is off. If you can’t defeat me, then you need to get away from Yang Jing. Gu Yunsheng, you also come to bear witness." If I can’t defeat you, then everything is off. If you can’t defeat me, then you need to get away from Yang Jing. Gu Yunsheng, you also come to bear witness.

I have no impression of it either

If it weren't for the security guard on patrol who heard the commotion and rushed over, no one knows how this fight would have ended. Someone suddenly shouted, "There are security guards coming up the east staircase!" The group that had been fighting fiercely immediately dispersed, scrambling down the other staircase. Gu Yunsheng was still caught up in the excitement of the fight and had not yet reacted when suddenly a hand grabbed him, also running. He shouted, "What are you doing?" Then he heard Jiang Tian's hoarse voice, "Someone from the school is coming; you wouldn't want to get caught, would you?" He suddenly came to his senses, and someone shouted again, "There are security guards coming up the east staircase!" The group that had been fighting fiercely immediately dispersed, scrambling down the other staircase. Gu Yunsheng was still caught up in the excitement of the fight and had not yet reacted when suddenly a hand grabbed him, also running. He shouted, "What are you doing?" Then he heard Jiang Tian's hoarse voice, "Someone from the school is coming; you wouldn't want to get caught, would you?" He suddenly came to his senses, "The backpack, our backpacks!" Jiang Tian, reminded by him, also reacted, but still did not let go of his hand. They turned back to grab the backpacks and basketball before slipping out of the school through the staff dormitory gate under the cover of night.

As soon as the words were spoken, murmurs such as "This kid is tough-talking" arose from behind, and it was not until the leading boy made a gesture that they quieted down: "Do you know Yang Jing from Class 6 of the second year?"

Gu Yunsheng and Jiang Tian's high school life can essentially be described with the phrase "conventional and orderly". Regardless of how the world outside is undergoing tumultuous changes, life on campus remains methodical and unchanging.

You are Jiang Tian, aren't you

Jiang Tian felt a tightness in his throat and was unable to speak. He thought to himself that no one should make a sound, so that the other party would believe no one was there and leave quietly. However, contrary to his expectations, the other party heard Gu Yunsheng's voice and actually laughed: "Oh, there are helpers, huh"

I never expected there would come a day when we would meet. Jiang Tian chuckled bitterly to himself. After some analysis and consideration, he decided not to provoke him and said as politely as possible: "Then you should ask her. Classmate, this matter has nothing to do with me."

One weekend afternoon, after Gu Yunsheng finished playing basketball, he noticed that Jiang Tian had not yet arrived. Checking his watch, he realized it was already ten minutes later than usual. He thought that Jiang Tian might have lost track of time while asking questions, so he bid farewell to his companions and started searching from the biology office. Many offices were closed, and those that were open did not have Jiang Tian in sight. He knew that Jiang Tian could not have left early, and suddenly felt a bit anxious. Carrying his backpack and holding the basketball, he sprinted towards the teaching building to look for him

Initially, Gu Yunsheng tried his best to shield Jiang Tian, but the number of attackers was truly overwhelming. As the fight escalated, emotions ran high, and everything else was forgotten, except for the fact that Wang Bo had insulted Jiang Tian's deceased mother, which made it imperative to bring him down. In the chaos, Jiang Tian also joined the fray, and it was unclear whether it was purely for self-defense or in response to that remark. They had no prior experience in physical confrontations, lacking any small tricks or hidden moves typical in brawls; they were simply relying on the raw strength and spirit of youth. Despite their smaller numbers, they fought with reckless abandon. Conversely, Wang Bo and his group were taken aback by Jiang Tian's unexpected ferocity in combat, which only grew fiercer as the fight progressed, causing them to gradually lose their nerve. However, whenever someone from their side hesitated, Gu Yunsheng would swing an arm, clearly embodying the stance of someone who was in a situation from which they could not easily retreat.

The friendship between the two individuals remained as close as ever. In their first year of high school, Gu's mother made a significant profit from stock trading and purchased a new house not far from the school, which at the time was one of the best developments in the city. This meant they no longer commuted to school together. However, due to their endless conversations, Gu Yunsheng would ride his bike a longer route home every day after school. Sometimes, on weekends, Gu's family would simply invite Jiang Tian to stay for dinner and spend the night. It was just like before the move.

At that time, Gu Yunsheng was considered a well-known figure at school, though not in the same way as Jiang Tian. Gu Yunsheng was famous for two reasons: first, he was indeed handsome and tall, making him one of the most noticeable among a group of sixteen or seventeen-year-old boys; second, he was good at soccer and quite skilled at basketball, often finishing in the top three in the annual citywide long-distance run, and while his grades were not exceptional, he could still rank within the top fifty in his grade. In a school like San Zhong, this meant that getting into a key university was not a problem. Therefore, whenever he appeared on the playground, regardless of how the school enforced strict gender separation like a red alert, there were still bold girls gathered around the playground to watch him play. Some would even call out his name, while those a bit less daring would cheer for his team, and the more shy ones would huddle by the classroom window, stealing glances at him while the teacher at the podium was distracted. This was one of the few small joys amidst the pressure of high school life.

Jiang Tianxin felt that something was amiss, but was unaware of what had happened. Still, she attempted to pass by them nonchalantly to go downstairs. However, after taking just a few steps, the path was completely blocked.

"Stop pretending! I can't stand seeing you like this." A boy looking for trouble stepped forward and grabbed Jiang Tian's collar. Jiang Tian frowned and pushed him away, both of them retreating a few steps. The other person said, "You'd better not act tough. You're all alone, and you won't get any good out of it. The entire building is empty now, and no one will hear your cries for help. It's better to be honest and avoid some suffering."

Before he could utter the last two words, Gu Yunsheng, who had been silent until then, suddenly erupted. Without giving those present a chance to understand what was happening, he violently threw the basketball in his hand away.

Jiang Tian stopped and calmly nodded: "I am."

The other party's voice suddenly rose in pitch, and Jiang Tian was taken aback, realizing that they were indeed looking for trouble. However, there were so many of them, and the road was completely blocked, making the odds of winning a physical confrontation exceedingly low. Moreover, in this school, engaging in a brawl was as far-fetched as a tale from the Arabian Nights.

After finishing his statement, the boys who were watching all cheered. Wang Bo felt that his words were quite bold, revealing a self-satisfied expression. Gu Yunsheng, upon hearing this, frowned, but was interrupted by Jiang Tian, who continued, "I don't know her, what are we fighting for?"

It is getting late, I need to hurry home, so let me be brief.

Jiang Tian quickly thought for a moment and realized that he did not have any impression of interacting with girls from a lower grade: "I haven't seen them."

It seems that the one in the lead, with a sideways glance, has spoken, his tone carrying a sense of a hidden conspiracy about to come to fruition

The homeroom teacher was speaking passionately on stage, completely engrossed, when suddenly turning his head, he discovered that Gu Yunsheng had already laid his head on the desk and fallen asleep

Wang Bo, this name, Jiang Tian had heard of it to some extent. He did not expect to have unwittingly provoked the biggest troublemaker in the school, and he couldn't help but smile wryly. He glanced at Gu Yunsheng beside him and quietly tugged at the hem of his shirt.

As soon as I stepped outside, I realized something was amiss