Chapter 042: Fragrant Orchid

"You!" Kang Hao was furious.
Zhao Feng shrugged. "If you all have nothing else to say, I'll be leaving now."
At that moment, Zhang Zhi was still lying on the ground, groaning in pain.
Zhao Feng chuckled, "Kang Hao, you'd better check on Zhang Zhi first."
"If I'm not mistaken, he's twisted his ankle. If it isn't treated in time, he might even need an amputation!"
"What?!" Kang Hao was astonished. "Are you serious?"
Zhao Feng shrugged again. "Believe it or not, it's up to you."
Kang Hao walked over to Zhang Zhi. "Zhang Zhi, how are you? Is it serious?"
Zhang Zhi clutched his ankle, grimacing. "I'm fine, just help me teach Zhao Feng a lesson!"
Kang Hao nodded.
He stood up, but immediately lost his confidence.
The reason was clear—Zhao Feng was six feet tall, whereas he barely reached five foot nine. Zhao Feng towered over him by half a head.
Kang Hao's expression soured, but seeing Zhang Zhi's encouraging gaze, his confidence returned.
A sudden idea struck Kang Hao. He decided not to confront Zhao Feng head-on, but to take a different approach.
He laughed slyly, "Zhao Feng, you’re showing off in those knock-off shoes! Aren’t you being a bit too vain?"
Zhao Feng shook his head helplessly. "I've never claimed they were designer."
"Still, wearing fake brands is wrong!" Lin Min chimed in, supporting Kang Hao.
"Exactly!" Kang Hao said. "We're all students. We should work hard and be frugal, not compete with each other."
"That's right!" Zhang Juan echoed.
Zhao Feng laughed, exasperated.
He shook his head. "So Zhang Zhi can wear designer brands, but I can't? Aren't you all being a bit hypocritical?"
Kang Hao shook his head. "Zhao Feng, we aren't being hypocritical. You know, your family circumstances are different from Zhang Zhi's."
"Your family is deep in debt, and you still want to compete? Worse yet, you're wearing fakes!"
He spoke as if he genuinely cared for Zhao Feng, but to Zhao Feng, it was nothing but patronizing.
He felt a twinge of disgust, but he didn't want to resort to violence.
He shook his head. "You'd better tend to Zhang Zhi."
"I'm fine!" Zhang Zhi howled. "I'm perfectly fine!"
Kang Hao shrugged. "See? Zhang Zhi says he's fine!"
"Alright then, you guys have fun. I'm leaving."
With that, Zhao Feng turned and walked away.
"Stop right there!" Kang Hao shouted.
Zhao Feng turned back. "What is it?"
Kang Hao said angrily, "You need to apologize to Zhang Zhi."
Zhao Feng rolled his eyes. "Why should I apologize to him?"

"Hmph! Zhang Zhi got hurt because of you. So you owe him an apology!"
Zhao Feng pursed his lips. "I didn't ask him to kick me."
"You!" Kang Hao was speechless.
"Hmph!" Lin Min stepped forward. "Zhao Feng, you used to be so quiet. Who knew you were this kind of person?"
Zhao Feng rolled his eyes dramatically. "What kind of person am I?"
"Hmph! You're just a vulgar man!"
"Pfft!"
Zhao Feng chuckled and shook his head.
"Sigh."
He let out a weary breath, feeling disheartened. Not because of anything in particular, but because he realized how childish his old classmates had become. Perhaps his own outlook had changed.
Just as Zhao Feng was about to let it all go, someone refused to.
That person was Ding Lan.
Ding Lan planted her hands on her hips like a fiery little pepper.
"Who are you calling vulgar?"
Lin Min frowned. "Ding Lan, what does this have to do with you?"
"Hmph!" Ding Lan snorted coldly. "We're all classmates. Don't you think your words are a bit too harsh?"
"Talking about fake brands and dropouts! Listen to yourselves—do you even realize what you're saying?"
Lin Min flared up. "It's true! Zhao Feng dropped out, and he owes money! And he was wearing knock-offs!"
"Boom!"
Ding Lan exploded with anger.
"To hell with you!"
"You dare insult me?" Lin Min was furious.
"Go to hell yourself!"
"You go to hell!"
The two traded insults, launching into a barrage of curses that drew a crowd of onlookers.
Just as they were about to come to blows, an angry voice rang out. "Lan!"
Ding Lan instantly fell silent.
She turned and saw a tall, imposing middle-aged man standing nearby.
He was Ding Lan's father, Ding Tao.
Ding Lan was visibly nervous. "Dad..."
"Hmph! Look at yourself! Swearing in public like this!"
Ding Lan lowered her head, not daring to meet Ding Tao's gaze.
Ding Tao glanced at Zhao Feng, then strode over. "Are you Zhao Feng?"

The two stood side by side, nearly equal in height. Their eyes met, sparks seemed to fly.
Zhao Feng nodded calmly. "Yes, I am."
"Hmph!" Ding Tao snorted. "Not just anyone can be friends with my daughter."
Zhao Feng laughed lightly. "We're just classmates."
"Pfft!" Ding Tao sneered. "Don't think I don't know what you're after."
Zhao Feng's expression darkened. "What am I after?"
"You know very well yourself."
Zhao Feng shook his head. "I don't understand what you mean."
Ding Tao sneered, casting a glance at Zhao Feng. "Lan, come home with me."
"But, Dad..."
"Home!"
"Alright..."
Ding Lan lowered her head and followed Ding Tao, not daring to look up. It was clear Ding Tao was a strict figure at home.
With Ding Lan gone, only Zhao Feng and the others remained.
Zhao Feng yawned. "Is there anything else?"
Zhang Zhi's face was flushed with anger, turning a dark shade.
Zhao Feng shook his head. "If there's nothing more, I'll be going."
With that, he turned and left.
This incident was nothing more than a minor interlude.
Zhao Feng wandered the streets alone, aimlessly.
As he walked, he noticed a crowd gathered ahead. Zhao Feng glanced over, and saw a woman holding a six- or seven-year-old girl, kowtowing repeatedly to the passersby.
Zhao Feng pushed through the crowd and approached them.
The woman did not look up, continuing to bow her head. "Please have pity on us, mother and daughter."
She wept as she begged, "I'm begging you, kind-hearted people, please lend us a thousand yuan. My daughter needs urgent surgery! I can leave my ID as collateral!"
Yet the surrounding crowd only cast indifferent glances.
Zhao Feng stroked his chin, looking at the little girl in the woman's arms.
Suddenly, a voice sounded, "Hey! What's your name?"
The woman looked up and saw a burly man. It was Liu Dahua.
Liu Dahua’s eyes gleamed with excitement. "Hey, I'm talking to you. What's your name?"
The woman, frightened by Liu Dahua's fierce appearance, stammered, "I—I’m—I’m Xiang Lan."