C8 – I Am Trash
No sooner had the homeroom teacher stepped out of the classroom than the students swarmed around Qin Hongyu and Bo Miaojiao.
“Qin, I’ve always known you’re no ordinary guy. You’re destined for great things—just don’t forget your old pals when you make it big!”
“I’ve been saying all along that you and Miaojiao are perfect for each other. Everyone’s got to believe it now!”
“Ji Buyu thinks he can compete with you? His Battle Spirit Bloodline is nothing but a product of his family’s money spent on elixirs. He can’t hold a candle to your natural talent!”
Even the students who used to snub Qin Hongyu were now eager to rub shoulders with him. Qin, however, just offered a smile, saying little. Years of disdain and mockery had steeled him against both praise and scorn.
The fair-weather friendships of his classmates brought him no joy, and he felt no need to flaunt any sense of superiority.
His attention, though, shifted to Ji Buyu, who was trying to sneak out amidst the chaos. Qin cut through the crowd and strode over to him.
“Looks like you’ve forgotten something,” he said, clapping a hand heavily on Ji Buyu’s shoulder, making him jump.
“I’ll transfer the two thousand yuan to you later with my phone. I haven’t forgotten,” Ji Buyu stammered, attempting to shake off Qin’s grip. To his dismay, his shoulder might as well have been in a vise, immovable under Qin’s hold.
“How can this skinny kid be so strong?” Ji Buyu wondered in astonishment.
Unbeknownst to him, Qin had been working odd jobs since junior high, often hauling heavy loads, which had built his robust physique. His recent awakening of the Battle Spirit Bloodline had only amplified his already considerable strength.
Ji Buyu, on the other hand, despite his bulky frame, had relied on spirit medicine rather than exercise, leaving him no match for Qin’s power.
“The two thousand yuan is a given,” Qin said, his grip unyielding, “but it seems you’ve forgotten our wager.” His voice was cool and firm.
“A bet? What bet? I have no idea…” Ji Buyu brazenly claimed.
“Really? You’re certain you don’t know?” Qin Hongyu’s brow furrowed as he suddenly tightened his grip.
“Ouch!” Ji Buyu couldn’t take it anymore, wincing in pain and breaking into a cold sweat. He hastily pleaded, “Alright, alright, I’ll write the sign, okay?”
The recent fire had drawn students who were on their way home for dinner back to the scene. Upon returning, they were greeted with a sight that left them stunned.
“What in the world is happening here?”
“I missed whatever caused that fire, but coming back was definitely worth it!”
“Ji Buyu is supposed to be the big shot of our school, yet here he is getting thrashed by Qin Hongyu, who’s always so unassuming. This is intense!”
“Looks like Qin Hongyu is a force to be reckoned with, someone we shouldn’t mess with!”
These students, mostly teenagers, naturally loved a spectacle. Seeing the normally unobtrusive Qin Hongyu effortlessly dominate a campus celebrity, they momentarily forgot all about heading home for dinner.
It was only after this that Qin Hongyu released Ji Buyu, allowing him to return to his classroom. Under Qin Hongyu’s watchful eye, Ji Buyu found a small blackboard and scrawled “I am trash” across it in awkward, crooked letters before sheepishly hanging it around his neck.
Then, amidst the murmurs of the onlookers, he dashed off to the sports field with a look of dejection, stripped off his shirt, and began to sprint wildly around the track.