Free Web NovelChapter 82: Chapter 79: 3 Days Until the City League
Three days until the City Tournament.
...
...
"DING DONG~"
At 10:30 PM, the lilting end-of-class bell echoed through Huai City’s Second Beast Taming High School.
The students, who had been impatiently enduring a self-study session, heard the bell and burst from the classroom like Pavlov’s dogs let off the leash.
A fair-skinned boy with a cold expression packed his things alone at his desk, an unmoving reef in a raging torrent.
"Brother Yuan!"
A few boys who were about to leave together called out to him from the doorway.
"Wanna go shoot some pool? You’re about to compete in the City Tournament, so how about we treat you?"
"I have training. I’m not going," Fang Yuan said, his face expressionless.
The one who had called out opened his mouth, a bit awkwardly.
The other boys shot Fang Yuan a strange look before crowding out of the classroom.
"Told you he wouldn’t go. You just had to try."
"That’s just how Fang Yuan is. All he cares about is training; he has no social life."
"Isn’t he just a visiting student from Shanda University Affiliated School? He’s only here because of his dad’s connections. What’s he so arrogant about..."
The sounds of them discussing him gradually faded.
Fang Yuan paid them no mind. Once he finished packing, he stood up, slinging his backpack over one shoulder. In his hand, he clutched a stack of love letters he’d pulled from his desk.
He turned off the lights and closed the door.
Fang Yuan shut the door, crumpled the love letters into a ball, and stuffed them into the trash can by the entrance. His gaze fell upon the dark, deep hallway ahead.
"P-Please... wait!"
Just as he was about to leave, he heard a soft voice behind him.
Mildly curious, Fang Yuan turned around. He saw a girl with her hair in a bun. She was cute, but still within the realm of ordinary.
She sat in front of Fang Yuan in class; he recognized her face.
A few other girls stood a distance behind her. ’Moral support?’
"F-Fang Yuan, you’re an amazing person, and I’ve been watching you for a long time... I like you!"
The girl with the bun hairstyle bit her lip, bowed, and held out a small envelope.
"I’m not as amazing as you, but I’ll work hard to learn from you! P-Please, go out with me!"
"Sorry, not interested."
Fang Yuan didn’t take her love letter. He left her with those three terse words and turned into the darkness, not even glancing back to see her reaction.
"He rejected me... WAAAH!"
"Ah, Ruoruo, don’t cry! This kind of thing is actually pretty normal!"
"Fang Yuan is on Hell difficulty. He’s rejected more girls than you’ve seen boys. Why’d you have to put yourself through this?"
"You’re all wrong! Fang Yuan’s family has connections! How could he possibly date a girl from an ordinary family..."
The sounds of them discussing him gradually faded.
Fang Yuan walked through the hallway, across the campus, down the unlit streets, through the darkness...
He stopped in front of the magnificent, towering Battle Hall.
The Battle Hall’s lights were off. The sparring partner was part-time and had something to do today, but he’d left the key for Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan walked up and unlocked the door.
004, shaped like a white Flame and wreathed in pink glowing patterns, floated behind him, waiting quietly.
Fang Yuan pushed the door open, walked proficiently behind the front desk, and flipped the main switch.
CLICK—
CLICK—
CLICK—
The lights of the Battle Hall turned on one by one, in sequence.
In that moment, light appeared in his eyes.
"004, prepare for training."
...
...
「A villa in the suburbs. Second-floor bedroom.」
A Wave White stood by the window, practicing its glow. Each of its fluffy white hairs was so translucent that from a distance, it looked like a glowing ball of fluff.
The Wave White looked at its master, its face a picture of resignation.
Cao Mingyu, with a solemn expression, held its cheeks between his two index fingers and rotated it slightly clockwise.
Finally, Cotton was adjusted into a perfectly symmetrical position.
Cao Mingyu let out a long sigh and sat down on the floor.
His phone buzzed. It was a message from Fang Lihua, whose contact name he had saved as [Dog Principal]:
[Dog Principal]: Mingyu, tomorrow we’re holding a general mobilization for the City Tournament and an opening ceremony for the qualifiers. How about you give a speech under the flag? Get us off to a good start. (smiley face)
’That asshole principal punishes my friend Su Zhi and still wants me to give a speech? Who the fuck does he think he is...’
Cao Mingyu quickly typed a reply:
[Cao Mingyu]: Of course. I will display the spirit of the students of No. 1 High School, show all of society our prowess, and our determination to win the tournament. (fist pump emoji)
[Dog Principal]: Mhm, you’ve always put my mind at ease. (smiley face)(smiley face)(rose emoji)
...
After cursing the principal’s entire family in his head, Cao Mingyu heaved a long sigh.
Even so, when he was in that environment, he still had to put on a mask and play the part everyone wanted him to play. freewebnoveℓ.com
Even in minor tests and competitions, he did his best to stick to conventional, by-the-book tactics, all to be a poster boy for the school’s "successful education."
...
The date of the City Tournament drew closer day by day. The opponents from other schools were all formidable.
In a situation like this, where the knives were out, wearing a mask would only put him in danger.
The arena offers no extra pity for the timid.
Only courage and resolve could win him a fighting chance.
"I really admire you. A person who doesn’t wear a mask."
Cao Mingyu sat before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing in the direction of Wudu New Village as he murmured softly.
He took out his phone and opened a certain photo in his gallery.
It was a candid shot of Su Zhi’s side profile at Fengyun Arena, one he had taken when Su Zhi wasn’t looking.
He looked at it every night before going to sleep.
Cao Mingyu stared at Su Zhi’s focused and pure expression.
In that moment, light appeared in his eyes.
"I’m done pretending! Let’s fucking do this!"
...
...
「Huai City’s First Beast Taming High School. By the man-made lake.」
It was long after school had ended. The entire campus was deserted, save for the gatekeeper.
"HUFF—"
"HUFF—"
A boy, drenched in sweat, was sprawled by the lake, gulping down air.
He had his school uniform jacket tied around his waist. On his upper body, he wore only a weighted vest. His well-defined arms were covered in sweat, glistening like steel.
