It seems that there was some commotion here, which may have attracted the passing physical education teacher. Hearing the footsteps getting closer, Tang Shan quickly ran a few big steps and turned the corner of the fence, successfully escaping.

Lin Jinglei, who was about to sprint, suddenly felt a strong grip on his left ankle. He almost stumbled before even starting to run. Afraid of the PE teacher coming from the other side to quickly locate them, he dared not curse aloud. With a fierce glare, he looked at the person still crouched on the ground gripping his ankle, understanding that this move was called "death trap."

Lin Jinglei didn't want to be stopped by the P.E. teacher and have his time online delayed, so he had no choice but to bend down and forcibly remove the hand that was holding onto his ankle, resorting to forcefully prying it off if necessary.

After separating his two fingers, he prepared himself mentally for the appearance of the physical education teacher above his head. However, he only saw two senior students who had skipped class coming down from the wall. Feeling guilty as a thief, he stood up straight and kicked the person still lying on the ground, saying, "Let go."

The two high school sophomores were curious when they saw the eerie scene under the wall. They turned their heads and stared for a while before running away.

Yan Zizheng: "I feel like I can't move."

Lin Jinglei: "Damn, he's trying to scam me, isn't your hand powerful enough?"

Yan Zizheng released Lin Jinglei's ankle and slowly propped himself up with his hands on the ground. He said, "My back hurts."

Lin Jinglei snorted and said, "That's none of my business. I never asked you to squat there and wait for me to smash it down."

"I was tying my shoelaces!" Yan Zizheng shouted angrily, "Are you blind? Didn't you check the situation on this side of the wall before jumping down?"

The two of them, one half lying down and looking up, the other half squatting down and looking down, did not speak again.

Tang Shan saw Lin Jinglei didn't catch up, so he leaned out from the corner of the wall and urged, "Leizi, hurry up and go!"

Lin Jinglei waved his hand, signaling Tang Shan to come back. Seeing that Yan Zizheng struggled to prop himself up, only to fall back down again, he gestured to Tang Shan, saying, "Help him up. If he's going to die, at least not in the middle of the road."

Tang Shanting obediently bent over to pull Yan Zizheng, but he immediately received a swift kick to his buttocks.

After kicking the person, Lin Jinglei ran and shouted, "Damn it, I'll let you run first!"

Tang Shan was caught off guard and was kicked, causing him to lose balance and fall to his knees. He hit Yan Zizheng's back directly with his knees. He quickly got up and said, "Oh, oh, I'm sorry!"

Yan Zizheng looked up and only saw a figure hurriedly running away. The pain intensified when Tang Shan fell to his knees, causing his eyebrows to furrow tightly.

Lin Jinglei usually has a lot of pocket money, but he never wants to spend it. Tang Shan has been watching and cursing at him for more than ten years. This kid always mooches off him - mooching meals, mooching internet access, mooching snacks. Over time, Lin Jinglei got used to mooching, and Tang Shan also got used to being mooched off.

"Lei Zi, you mean Yan Zizheng is really in bad shape, right?"

Tang Shanping is usually loud and fearless, but most of the time it's just empty bravado. He's actually quite timid. Since he was young, he has been afraid of many things. After causing trouble, he would always be the first to ask foolish questions like, "Is everything alright?" Lin Jinglei has gotten used to this and responded indifferently, "Do whatever you want, what's there to be afraid of?"

The two arrived at the entrance of their usual internet cafe, but before they could go in, Lin Jinglei's phone in his pocket started vibrating like crazy. He took it out to check, and his beautiful pair of eyes narrowed: "Damn, it's Principal Lin."

Tang Shan was crestfallen and said, "What should we do then? Maybe we should just go back."

After refusing the phone call, Lin Jinglei opened the unread message he had received a few minutes ago. It was from Si Meiqi: "Yuange has told the lunatic about you guys, come back immediately."

He glanced at Tang Shan and continued walking towards the internet cafe, saying, "If you want to go back, go back."

Tang Shan followed along and laughed cunningly, "Didn't I tell you to go online?"

These two people had long since figured out the situation of all the internet cafes near Yizhong High School. They could roughly be divided into two types: one that strictly followed the rules and banned minors, fearing fines; and another that allowed underaged patrons to sneak in, solely motivated by the desire to earn money and unafraid of penalties.

The internet cafe was called Aurora, which, in this area, was considered to have excellent surroundings and internet speed. The owner was a young woman, and she turned a blind eye to high school students inconspicuously sneaking in. Everyone who came to surf the internet called her Sister Zhiqiong.

Lin Jinglei and Tang Shansuan were regular customers. As soon as they arrived, without saying a word, Zhang Ziqiong would hand them two slips of paper with their ID numbers written on them, indicating for them to go in and sit near the back door.

There are approximately dozens of machines in the area near the back door. Most of the people playing here are nearby middle and high school students, in case the police come to check if there is a quick escape route for underage internet users. This is just a potential excuse, at least so far Lin Jinglei and Tang Shan have not encountered such chaotic situations.

They chose two machines that were next to each other and just as they were about to sit down, they saw a familiar troublemaker a few meters away, diagonally across from them.

The young man, slumped in a chair with headphones on, had a half-smoked cigarette dangling from his mouth. He wore a pair of slippers and his right foot, wrapped in gauze, rested on a small stool. His eyes were fixed on the screen as he grumbled and cursed.

Tang Shan muttered, "What should I do?"

"What do we do now?" Lin Jinglei pulled out a chair and sat down. "Of course, those who come to go online must go online."

Zhaoyu heard some movement and looked up. He saw two damn familiar faces, but only glanced at them briefly before returning to the game.

Due to discomfort in his back, Yan Zizheng had to struggle to turn back into the classroom, then slowly return to his seat.

On the last self-study class of that day, he got up and went downstairs to Class 9 of Grade 11 to find someone.

After knocking on the door, there was the excited and gentle laughter of a girl inside the room. However, the girl who was called out by the handsome guy did not show much smugness. She stepped out of the door and said, "It's you."

Yan Zizheng leaned against the wall and looked at Ma Liangli. "I have something to discuss with you."

"What's the matter?"

"I have something to do after school tonight and can't pick up Xiaoqing. Could you help me pick her up?"

"Sure," Ma Li added after giving it some thought, "but just so you know, I'm not doing it to help you. I'm doing it for Xiao Qing's safety."

Yan Zizheng nodded and turned to leave, with a voice of complaint coming from behind.

"Don't you know how to say thank you?"

Yan Zizheng turned around and said, "He is called Lin Jinglei."

Ma Liangli smiled and said cheerfully, "You understand me!"

Before the dismissal bell rang, Zou Jing returned to the classroom once again to confirm whether Zhao Yu had appeared. After seeing it with his own eyes, he returned to the office and quickly tidied up his things, preparing to leave work.

A colleague in the office asked before he left, "Teacher Zou, do you really intend to go and look for him?"

Zou Jing nodded, "If the address is correct."

Walking among the crowd after school, Zou Jing would occasionally greet students who would in turn greet him. After leaving the school gate and walking about 200 meters, he reached his residence, which was on the second floor of a small snack shop. However, instead of going back, he continued walking.

Zhao Jing found the address of the Zhao family by using the home address he filled out when he enrolled as a freshman.

When he stopped in front of the second floor of the standalone courtyard building, a black car happened to pull up. A middle-aged man with a puzzled expression poked his head out of the car window and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

Yue Gang used to run a coal mining company and was a nouveau riche. He wasn't very educated, but he deeply admired those who were. When he heard that the visitor was his son's class leader, he immediately got out of the car, his face filled with a big smile as he opened the door. With politeness and courtesy, he leaned to the side and said, "Teacher, please come in."

Take bus route 50 across from Yizhong Middle School. Take it for six stops and get off at the Fourth People's Hospital stop. Cross the overpass, turn right at the bank at the intersection, and walk straight for one hundred meters to reach his residential complex. Yan Zizheng had walked this road countless times with his mother.

Since his mother passed away two years ago, his father started drinking heavily every day. He had a medical accident and lost his job as a doctor, and his temper became increasingly irritable. He would frequently resort to physical violence against his siblings.

The first time Yan Zizheng raised his hand to block his dad's fist was on the evening after the end of the high school entrance examination. He gave his dad a shove, packed his belongings, and took his younger sister to his grandfather's house overnight.

This was his first return since leaving at that time. It had been almost two months, completely missing the peak blooming period of the large purple lilac flowers in the greenery area of the neighborhood.

He entered the entrance of the unit and stood against the wall for a while before taking out the keys from the backpack slung diagonally across his back. He then climbed the stairs, taking two steps at a time.

At the entrance of 502, there was a pile of trash. He used his foot to kick away the few empty beer cans blocking the way. The sound of metal bottles clashing reverberated through the quiet corridor.

The key turned only once and the door opened. This indicated that someone was inside the house, or perhaps his dad had gone out without locking it.

The first type was what Yan Zizheng saw as soon as he opened the door. He saw a person curled up on the sofa, unsure if they were asleep or awake. Their face was pressed against their arms, and there was a strong smell of alcohol and something rotten in the room.

The young boy intentionally slammed the door shut, causing the man on the sofa to turn his head and inspect his arm. His hair was unkempt, his beard unshaven, and his face appeared gloomy. Although his lips hardly moved, his voice was clear as he muttered, "So, you've come back."

Yan Zizheng glanced around the messy room, without saying a word, he took out an envelope from his pocket and walked forward to toss it onto the coffee table.

The man called out to the young boy who was about to leave and turned around, saying, "What is it?"

Yan Zizheng didn't turn around, his hand had already reached for the doorknob, his voice devoid of warmth: "We don't need your money."

Yan Sijun chuckled and turned over, facing the back of the sofa. He said, "When did I ever give you money?"

The young man's body stiffened as he stood still for a few seconds. Suddenly, he turned around and walked back to pick up the envelope, gripping it tightly in his hand. With a slam of the door, he made his departure known.

Yu Zhaoyu would get off the computer at the internet cafe around the usual time he finished school and take the school bus back to the school gate. He did this to make his return home seem normal in terms of timing.

He never expected that as soon as he hobbled into the living room, he would see Zou Jing sitting on his family's sofa. This teacher had actually come to his house just because he skipped school for a day. He was originally humming a tune, carrying his backpack and eating ice cream, but now he was frozen in place as if he had been struck by an acupuncture point.

From a rough and uncouth man like Yuzhang, disciplining his children relied mainly on physical punishment. As soon as he saw his disappointing son return, he immediately got up to give him a beating.

"Where did you go, little brat! How dare you skip school!"

If it were during normal times, Zhaoyu could still easily avoid it, but with his injured foot now, he closed his eyes and tightened his neck, waiting for his father's slap to come down.

But he didn't wait. Slowly opening his eyes to look, it was Zou Jing who stood between him and his father.

"Sir, it is better to have a proper conversation rather than resorting to verbal abuse, as it will not solve any problems."

Pui, if his father wasn't present, Zhao Yu would really spit the unswallowed ice cream soup in the face of this meddlesome teacher who came to his house to complain. He has grown up like this, and every class teacher who taught him would turn a blind eye to his misconduct. This is the first time someone bothers to come knocking on his door and act like they care, and it's even a male teacher. How is he more nosy than a female teacher?

Yu Gang was very angry, but he had no choice but to be held back by the teacher. He temporarily gave up, and after giving his son a fierce glare, he sat down and continued talking to the teacher.

As Yuan Zhaoyu, who believed in the saying "Avoiding conflict is the best strategy," turned around to go upstairs, he was halted by his father's angry shout.

"Where are you going!"

Zhaoyu slowly turned around, his heart racing. He pointed upstairs with trepidation and said, "I...I'm going back to my room."

"Go to whatever room, come over here and listen together with me!"

Well, Zhao Yu admitted it. After all, his father was the one who spoke up as his son. When he filled out the new student information form, he provided fake home phone and his father's cell phone numbers. The reason he wrote a true home address is because he never thought the teacher would actually come to his house. He was simply careless.

He tossed his schoolbag on the floor, threw the remaining two ice creams into the trash can, and then threw himself heavily onto the sofa, making a pretense of attentively listening, as if waiting for what Zhao Yu would say.

Zou Jing glanced at the student sitting beside him and then at the parents of the students across from him, smiling and saying, "Actually, I don't have any other business here. I just wanted to make sure nothing happened to the child in case he didn't go to school. It's good to see that he is safe."

Mouth full of nonsense, Zhao Yu glanced at the class leader with a sidelong gaze and hummed nonchalantly, as if reciting lines: "Thank you, teacher. I will definitely attend school on time from now on, ensuring that you won't need to worry anymore."

After just taking the call, You Gang said, "I usually don't pay much attention to him and make the teacher worry. If my son You Zhaoyu causes any trouble at school, please don't hide it from me. Let me take care of him."

Hearing his dad say this, Zhaoyu's heart tightened. He was really afraid that this idiotic teacher would reveal all the times he had skipped class and gotten into fights in less than two months since school started. He, like his dad, was also waiting for Zou Jing to speak.

Zou Jing hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "No, he's been performing quite well recently. If he causes any trouble in the future, I will let you know."

Yu Gang immediately burst into laughter, nodding repeatedly and saying, "Alright, alright, alright."

Twenty minutes later, Zou Jingwan politely declined the invitation from someone who had just suggested having dinner together and got up to leave. Following his father's instructions, You Zhaoyu escorted the guest to the entrance.

After Zou Jing stepped out of the entrance, he stopped and turned around, saying, "Go back."

Zhaoyu stood there with one hand in his pocket, wearing a scornful expression on his face. "Don't think that by not completely exposing me, I will remember your kindness, let alone expect to be influenced by you."

"I'm just worried that you'll get beaten up."

Yu Zhaoyu sneered and laughed, "My father's control over me is an absolute principle. Even if I die, it's none of your business, outsider."

Zou Jing didn't quite understand the child's thoughts, so he didn't say much. He turned around and continued walking, while the person behind him spoke in a tone that made him very uncomfortable.

"Teacher, please be extremely careful on your way. There are many private cars in this area, and there are also many unreasonable people."

Ever since hanging up Principal Lin's phone call, Lin Jinglei knew he would face scolding when he returned home. He had been standing in his uncle's study for half an hour and had only just stepped out when Tang Shanma called.

"Jing Lei, is Tang Shan with you? He hasn't returned home since school and his phone has been switched off."

Tang Shan has recently been playing music with a group of like-minded young people. He's afraid to let his family know, so he deliberately turns off his phone. Lin Jing Lei responded, "Auntie, Tang Shan is with me. We are having dinner here. Don't worry, he might go back later."

Lin Guodong pushed open the door and grabbed the guy who had just hung up the phone. He said, "Is Tang Shan here? Are you lying effortlessly? Let me emphasize one last time, if you cause more trouble, I will have your mom come and take you away!"

After listening, Lin Jinglei bit his lip and forcefully pulled his uncle's hand away. Without even changing his shoes, he ran out the door. Just before closing the door, he heard his aunt complaining about his uncle.

"Why did you say such things to him!"