Chapter 104: If You Lose, Leave Your Life Behind

Yin Huaiyu said lazily, "Shao Yu, there are still many things between Ling Wu and me that you don't know about."

Jin Shaoyu wanted to throw the lollipop at his face, but when the words reached his lips, they turned into a cold sneer: "Heh."

The commendation ceremony in the auditorium ended, and students walked out one after another; seeing the four of them, Ling Wu and the others, standing together, they stopped one after another to watch.

"Where is my Young Master Jing? Didn't he come out with Ling Wu? Why don't I see him?"

"I never thought that not only would I not see the baldy at this commendation ceremony, but I'd also get to hear speeches from Young Master Jing and Senior Ling Wu, and then run into Young Master Yu and Young Master Yin on the way out—this is simply being favored by the Goddess of Luck!"

"Young Master Yin... ahhh, I love you!"

"......."

Qi Yu walked out from the flow of people, stepping on patches of sunlight; the youth was tall with long legs, and the thin, sparse tree shadows cast a layer of fragmented gloom over his entire person, his long, thick eyelashes shading dark eyes, his gaze currently locked onto Ling Wu, who was at the center of everyone's attention.

He paused for a moment, then lifted his leg and walked over, ignoring the gazes of Jin Shaoyu and the others: "Ling Wu, the time has come, you should go with me."

Yin Huaiyu turned slightly, the dark light deep within his peach-blossom eyes scrutinizing the Qi Yu before him.

Yu Shixue stepped back half a step with composure, the interplay of light and shadow falling upon him; he stood on the same horizontal line as Jin Shaoyu and Yin Huaiyu, the scene instantly becoming clearly demarcated, the two sides' gazes clashing, nearly on the verge of breaking out.

Qi Yu just stood there straight, waiting for Ling Wu's reply.

A few seconds later.

"Now?" Ling Wu asked, puzzled: "It's only 10 o'clock, isn't it a bit early?"

Qi Yu: "Going early makes it easier to grab tickets."

"Oh, alright." Ling Wu was a person of great principle; since he had promised, he would carry it out, and he looked back at Jin Shaoyu and the others, saying: "Then we'll be going first."

Jin Shaoyu's expression turned gloomy instantly: "If you're going, then get lost far away; don't let me see you."

As soon as his voice fell, he lifted his leg and left.

Even his back exuded anger.

Just as Ling Wu and the others were about to leave, a voice came from behind:

"Wait!"

Yu Shixue blocked their path, his tone displeased: "Did I let you take him away?"

His gaze met Qi Yu's levelly, his eyes dangerous: "Hmm? Special Student."

Qi Yu pulled Ling Wu to his side, the expression on his face open and honest, possessing an unshakable sternness: "What if I insist on taking him away now?"

"That would be fun." Yu Shixue let out an irritated 'tsk', a hint of mockery flashing in the depths of his eyes, his gaze filled with undisguised malice and superiority: "For a lowly thing like you, I could make you get out of Sike Academy with just two sentences."

Qi Yu's profile was cold and stern, a trace of chill rising at the corner of his mouth: "Do you not have any upright way to win?"

"Clap, clap, clap!"

Yin Huaiyu applauded.

He walked forward slowly: "Oh my, it's really been a long time since I've seen such an ignorant and arrogant Special Student; your courage is commendable."

Yin Huaiyu draped one arm over Yu Shixue's shoulder, first knitting his brows, his eyes revealing a hint of disapproval: "Shixue, we aren't unreasonable people."

"Wouldn't it be letting him off too easily to just have him kicked out of the Academy like this?"

"Fine." Yu Shixue raised his eyelids, a mocking arc at the corner of his mouth; he shoved his hands into his pockets, leaned forward slightly, and looked at Qi Yu with a suddenly sharp expression: "I won't use power to suppress people; you compete with me in a shooting match, and if you lose, leave your life behind."

"If you win, I'll let bygones be bygones regarding today's matter."

"How about it?"

Ling Wu stood to the side listening to their conversation, his expression very calm and composed... yet his eyes became complex and subtle, possessing an unfathomable sense of mystery; this change was a very unfamiliar feeling, as if he were testing how deep a future partner might be.

This was a fundamentally unequal contest.

Lose and pay with your life; win and there is no reward at all.

【Is it already at the point of betting lives?】

【Why doesn't the second male lead step in to stop it?】

【Second male lead! The villain likes you so much, aren't you going to help him?】

【Actually, if the second male lead just spoke up, this farce would easily be over, right.】

【I don't know if you guys feel it... the second male lead looks like he's easy to talk to, but there seems to be a layer of ice in his bones.】

Yet Ling Wu was analyzing a great deal at this moment, weighing the pros and cons, without realizing that each of them had, to a greater or lesser extent, some secret feelings for him.

He was like a pair of dark hands shrouding the sky over Beidu, manipulating everything while also being indifferent, cold-hearted, and ruthless...

There were very few things Ling Wu cared about, so few that they could be counted on one hand; among them, revenge and his family accounted for two, the former consuming almost all of his mental energy, leaving him unable to spare himself, making it difficult to notice the discrepancies and changes in the outside world.

Leaving him to be silent and closed off day after day.

When an answer was thrown before him, Ling Wu would not choose to accept it immediately, but would verify it; just like when he was in the Abandoned Warehouse in Ganan, the bullet screen told him there was another path, and he didn't fire immediately, but threw a Steel Pipe to test it.

Even when facing Jin Shaoyu, he still maintained his guard.

At the same time, Ling Wu also thought the comments on the bullet screen calling him "wife" and saying they "love him" were ridiculous and laughable, and there was even less reason to believe Qi Yu liked him just from a few words on the bullet screen; this was one-sided and superficial.

He wanted to see, to verify, not to listen to hearsay.

Ling Wu only trusted himself.

Even true hearts can change in an instant.

Ling Wu walked against the current of the world; he had, and only had, himself.

His feelings for Jin Shaoyu were entirely one-way, requiring no response or contribution from the other party.

The plans Ling Wu made, the path he had to walk, had only him alone from beginning to end.

Anyone else could be excluded at any time.

Ling Wu did not deny the comments on the bullet screen saying he was cold; he had a clear positioning of himself—tolerance, magnanimity, and letting bygones be bygones were all under the condition that his bottom line had not been touched; he had, of course, seen himself go mad, and knew even more clearly how terrifying that was.

He was no saint.

Ling Wu also possessed all the base traits of human nature, being double-standard and contradictory, but even a gentleman is judged by his actions rather than his heart; he admitted that when he took out his bank card at the Central Hospital to save Grandma Liu, it was a utilitarian card he played for the sake of his future path of revenge.

His plan required Qi Yu, this Crown Prince.

As things stand, Ling Wu's one-sided relationship with Qi Yu is merely transitioning from utilization to a partnership.

He does not care what kind of feelings others have for him; Ling Wu hopes everyone will follow the steps to finish this game of chess, and then he will be able to find release.

Finally, Ling Wu heard Qi Yu say, "It's a deal."

The people around them were still confused, while Yu Shixue and Yin Huaiyu stood where they were, their gazes more or less condescending and intriguing as they watched Ling Wu and Qi Yu side by side, stepping on the sunlight, their shadows stretching long, slowly... slowly walking into the crowd and disappearing from view.