Chapter 65: Leaving a Toll

At this moment, only Tong Wei remained in the room. Though moments ago he was all smiles and amiable, as soon as Zhang Shen stepped out, a flicker of irritation flashed across Tong Wei’s eyes. He picked up the phone and dialed.

“Second Brother, I’ve run into a bit of trouble.”

The man who answered was named Ma Chao, a young fellow in his twenties with a buzz cut and a striking blue dragon tattoo winding along his right arm. It was obvious from his demeanor that Ma Chao, whom Tong Wei addressed as Second Brother, was nothing short of a local thug.

“Brother, what are you saying? If there’s any trouble, just say the word.”

Tong Wei’s spirits lifted at Ma Chao’s words. “There’s this punk at the school who dared to take away the woman I was planning to gift to you, Second Brother. It’s infuriating.”

Ma Chao was notorious in the area for his unsavory dealings, and the fact that Tong Wei associated with such rabble hinted at his own questionable character. The idea that someone would dare snatch a woman right under his nose made Ma Chao immediately unhappy. Everyone knew he lived off loan sharking, and when people couldn’t pay back the mounting interest, he’d make their lives hell.

“So where is this kid now?”

Tong Wei realized Ma Chao was out for revenge against Zhang Shen. “He’s at the school.”

“Alright, I’ve got it. I’ll bring a few guys over. Wait for me at the usual spot.”

Tong Wei replied eagerly, “Yes, yes, of course, Second Brother!”

Despite Ma Chao being younger, Tong Wei acted like a mouse before a hawk, bowing and scraping in a way that was almost absurd.

Soon after, Tong Wei hurried downstairs to the school gates to greet Ma Chao. Dusk had already begun to fall, and couples—young men and women—clung to each other, coming and going at the entrance. The security guards nearby were unperturbed; after all, these were university students, and the nuances of romance had long become second nature to them.

Suddenly, a black Volkswagen pulled up with a roar, parking at the school gate. The security guards knew Ma Chao’s reputation well and dared not intervene. As Ma Chao stepped out, Tong Wei rushed over at a trot.

“Second Brother, you’re here!”

The obsequiousness on Tong Wei’s face stood in stark contrast to the domineering air he’d shown with Zhang Shen earlier—he was the very definition of a two-faced man.

“Mm,” Ma Chao replied curtly.

“Second Brother, please come inside. I suspect he’s in the park with that girl right now…”

Ma Chao knew exactly what Tong Wei was implying and felt a surge of anger—especially since the woman was supposed to be a gift for him. “Let’s go right now.”

With that, Ma Chao strode confidently toward the park, followed by several blond-haired thugs. Tong Wei kept badmouthing Zhang Shen along the way, hoping to stoke Ma Chao’s fury and get Zhang Shen thoroughly taught a lesson.

…

“Achoo!”

Meanwhile, Zhang Shen had just finished dinner in the cafeteria with Ye Qiong, Wang Ying, and the others, and was strolling around the campus. Suddenly, Zhang Shen sneezed several times in succession.

“Hey! Looks like someone’s thinking about you,” Ye Qiong teased.

Zhang Shen understood the implication and replied, “Could it be you?”

Ye Qiong fired back, “I wouldn’t be thinking about you—but maybe the one who is, is right in front of you.”

Hearing this, Wang Ying immediately realized Ye Qiong was poking fun at her again. “What are you talking about?”

Ye Qiong pressed on, “Did I name names? Why are you so worked up? Could it really be you who’s thinking about him…”

Wang Ying, knowing she’d fallen into Ye Qiong’s trap, lunged at her with her “cat claws,” making Ye Qiong burst into giggles, while Zhang Shen simply watched as a bystander.

Yet Ye Qiong’s cheerful laughter drew the attention of a group nearby.

“Second Brother, look, there’s the kid. The girl beside him is the one I was going to give you.”

Tong Wei’s move was truly sly—claiming a woman he’d wanted for himself was meant for Ma Chao, and then calling in reinforcements when he couldn’t handle things alone.

Ma Chao stepped closer for a look. The young man seemed unremarkable, hardly someone with extraordinary abilities, and the two girls beside him were laughing so brightly that Ma Chao’s heart nearly melted.

“Hey! Kid.”

Hearing the commotion behind him, Zhang Shen turned to see a buzz-cut young man glaring fiercely at him. Ye Qiong and Wang Ying stopped their playfulness and became quiet.

“Are you calling me?” Zhang Shen asked, feigning ignorance, though he was the only male nearby. Who else could Ma Chao be addressing?

“No kidding!” Ma Chao barked, “Get rid of him!”

A few blond thugs surged forward, heading straight for Zhang Shen, who appeared oblivious. Meanwhile, Tong Wei, hiding in the bushes, watched with a wicked grin, anticipating Zhang Shen’s humiliation.

Zhang Shen took a few steps back, facing the advancing thugs. “Gentlemen, I don’t believe we’ve ever met.”

Ma Chao signaled his men to halt. “Hold on.”

The thugs obediently stopped, unwilling to defy their leader.

Ma Chao stepped forward. “Now you know us.”

Zhang Shen replied, “If that’s the case, we’re acquainted now. Can we leave?”

Ma Chao thought to himself, this guy’s an idiot. “Leave? Of course…”

Before he could finish, Zhang Shen said, “Thank you, brother.”

Seeing Zhang Shen about to lead away the girls he fancied, Ma Chao roared, “Stop! Who said you could leave?”

Zhang Shen looked at him innocently. “Brother, you just said we could go. Why the change of heart?”

“Damn it, who told you to leave? I said you could go if you leave the two girls behind.”

Ma Chao pointed at Ye Qiong and Wang Ying.

The two girls, realizing they were about to be left behind, immediately burst into loud tears, knowing that falling into these hands meant disaster.