MCFEM C4

Chapter 4: He Actually Has the Potential to Become a Yandere Law-Enforcement Maniac…

Once again, a silence stretched so long it was suffocating.

Ding Ziyu wasn’t sure what exactly was going on, but by now, he already regretted being the one to start this whole mess.

He had thought that picking a fight with that blockheaded study god would not only curry favor with Young Master Nie but also allow him to settle a personal grudge.

But he never expected Gu Yang to suddenly insert himself into the situation.

What on earth was going on? Wasn’t that ancestor supposed to be so cold and indifferent that he wouldn’t spare a glance even if someone were to jump off a building right at his feet?

It was over. Completely over. Everyone knew Nie Ying and Gu Yang were famous for not getting along. Even if those two clashed, neither would come out much the worse for wear. But the unlucky shrimp caught between them would definitely be him.

The sweat on his forehead hadn’t even had time to drip down when Gu Yang’s faint gaze already landed squarely on him.

“He dirtied your shoe?”

“…Yes.” Ding Ziyu forced himself to respond.

“This shoe costs ten thousand?” Gu Yang asked again.

The words were spoken in a calm tone, but for some reason, Ding Ziyu suddenly felt a strange wave of humiliation wash over him. His head stayed bowed, his heart pounded wildly, and he clenched his teeth without daring to make another sound.

When no reply came, Gu Yang pulled out his phone. “Payment code.”

“…Wh-what are you trying to do?” Ding Ziyu stammered.

“Compensate you for your shoe, of course.” Gu Yang lifted his head, the corner of his lips quirking upward. “What? Or do you still want me to lick your shoe clean?”

That sentence made Ding Ziyu’s face turn ashen. Even if he were given a million guts, he would never dare let Gu Yang lick his shoe. In his panic, he actually opened up his own payment QR code.

As he transferred the money, Gu Yang couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed.

Honestly, he had really wanted to play out one of those novel scenes where the rich young master smacks someone with a stack of cash. Unfortunately, he hadn’t brought that much cash on him.

Only when the notification of funds received chimed did Ding Ziyu finally realize the kind of stupid mistake he had just made.

No matter how broke he was, he should never have accepted Gu Yang’s money.

Stiffly turning his head, he saw in horror that Nie Ying’s expression had turned thunderously dark.

What was going on? Everything since just now had been far too strange. It was as though those two had already communicated on some channel he couldn’t access, leaving him completely clueless about what had triggered Nie Ying’s fury.

Ding Ziyu was on the verge of tears. Trapped between two colossal Buddhas, he didn’t even dare make a peep.

He might not have known, but the students of Class Eleven, who were still watching from the sidelines, understood perfectly well what was happening.

They foresaw the impending clash.

This wasn’t the same as the previous encounters. In the past, Gu Yang would at most throw out a few sarcastic remarks. But this time, he was directly provoking at point-blank range—even though he himself wasn’t aware of it.

Nie Ying would definitely strike, wouldn’t he? That violent maniac.

The smile had already faded from the class monitor’s face. He pushed aside the people in front, preparing to step in at the right moment.

But under everyone’s gaze, Nie Ying did not do what they had all expected. Instead, he slowly bared his teeth in a chilling smile, his eyes glacial, as though he were not looking at an equal human being at all but rather at some decorative object.

“So many people are watching, I won’t hold it against you,” he said through gritted teeth. “But in a few days, I’ll personally pay the Gu family a visit. Then we’ll settle this properly.”

With that, he left straightaway, without sparing anyone else another glance.

Only after this living Buddha had finally departed did everyone breathe out in relief.

“Scared me half to death. With the way Nie Ying was looking just now, I thought he was going to throw a punch right on the spot…”

“And he just left? I even had my melon seeds ready. That’s all I get?”

“By the way, what was Gu Yang’s inner monologue supposed to mean? Did anyone understand it?”

“I—I only caught something about ‘loving to death and back’ or whatever…”

“What? Gu Yang likes Song Yinxing? Loves him to death and back? For real?”

“Are you guys only listening to half of what’s said? That’s not it. What Gu said was that if he gave Song just a little push, the guy would end up loving him to death and back.”

“No way, is Gu Yang really that narcissistic?”

“That’s not it. There were a few other lines earlier. They don’t connect properly…”

Yu Bai scratched the back of his head. Everything had happened so fast, so densely packed, that even he couldn’t keep straight what he’d heard before and after.

“I heard something about being made into a snake-faced freak?”

“Emm… is it possible that Gu really fell in love with Song Yinxing at first sight? He thinks that guy is like some pure lotus, natural and unpretentious, while the rest of us—including everyone present—are just snake-faced little demons!”

“Damn, so that means Gu Yang keeps cursing us with that face of his? He really looks down on us that much? For the record, this is my mother-given face! Slander. Pure slander!”

“Tagging @TaroCoconutJelly—your phrasing remains as consistent as ever.”

“I think right before that he said something about a ruined future…”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“Wait—don’t tell me that if Song Yinxing refuses to fall in love with Gu Yang, then Gu would use the Gu family’s power to completely destroy his life?”

“You mean one of those overbearing young master strong-arm love stories that Green River always has?”

The thought that one of their classmates might actually have the potential to turn into a yandere law-enforcement type left the Class Eleven students speechless.

Holy crap, that insane?

Yu Bai stroked his chin, replaying the scene in his head. “That Song-whatever guy’s name sounded familiar though…”

“Are you stupid? Song Yinxing is that grade’s number one,” Ying Jiayi said with disgust. “He got in here as the top scorer in the entire city’s high school entrance exam. Even I know that much.”

“Wow, that’s pretty badass.”

Yu Bai tossed out the comment half-heartedly. He never cared much for grade-toppers anyway—after all, they weren’t even on the same track as him. But once Gu Yang’s name was added into the mix, Song Yinxing’s value in their eyes instantly skyrocketed.

God, what kind of divine figure must he be, to actually make Gu Yang, that iron tree, blossom?

After the group finished being collectively stunned, they finally realized Gu Yang had once again slipped away.

Wait—

When Gu Yang left, it seemed like he had taken Song Yinxing along with him.

Since Gu Yang liked Song Yinxing, was he planning to do something to him in private?

Yu Bai muttered under his breath, “Could it be that he’s going to… you know, right here on the spot…?”

Smack.

“Of course not.” The class monitor placed a hand firmly on Yu Bai’s shoulders, smiling brightly as he applied just a hint of pressure. “Because our school prohibits underage romance.”

Feeling a strange pressure weighing down on him, Yu Bai broke into a cold sweat. “Class monitor, mighty as always… truly our school’s walking moral standard.”

“It’s getting late, dismissal is soon. Don’t block the way here any longer, or other classes will laugh at us.” The monitor glanced at his watch. “I’ll go find Ah Yang. The rest of you head back to class.”

Though reluctant to miss out on the excitement, the others didn’t dare go against the monitor’s authority, so they unwillingly filed back.

—Gu Yang, who had just arrived behind the small grove of trees behind the teaching building, stopped in his tracks. He leaned casually against a tree, raising his brows leisurely as he looked at Song Yinxing, who had silently followed him this whole way.

He had to admit, that gaudy book cover had given him such a strong preconceived notion that it was only now, with Song Yinxing standing right in front of him, that he realized the guy was nearly half a head taller. His figure was on the cusp of surpassing adolescence, still slim but tall enough to cast a shadow that completely enveloped him.

“What is it?” Gu Yang asked.

Song Yinxing remained silent for a long time, his obsidian eyes dark and unfathomable as they fixed on him. Only then did he finally speak: “I’ll definitely repay the money. Besides that, I also owe you one. How do you want me to pay it back?”

If not for this person stepping in, he could hardly imagine how today would have ended.

“You owe me?” Gu Yang repeated, his tone carrying a playful lilt as he tossed the words back. “Then how do you want to repay me?”

“…Do you have anything you like?” Song Yinxing pressed his lips together.

“If I had to say, then… stocks with potential, real estate in good locations…” Gu Yang actually gave it some thought. His gaze drifted over Song Yinxing’s stiff expression as he raised a hand to lightly tap his chin. His voice stretched out languidly, sliding down until it caught on the tie of his shirt collar. Then, as if suddenly remembering, a trace of laughter so faint it was barely perceptible flickered through his words: “…Oh, right, and pretty gemstones too.”

Song Yinxing silently looked at him.

Gu Yang couldn’t hold it in anymore and broke into outright laughter. He laughed so hard he nearly bent double, unable to straighten his back. Whatever it was, something had struck his funny bone. He slung an arm around Song Yinxing’s neck, using him for support.

“Don’t make that face. I was just joking. It’s not like I’m short on money.” Seeing that Song Yinxing’s expression was still frozen, Gu Yang casually tapped his cheek with the back of his hand. “Forget it, you don’t have to repay me.”

Song Yinxing was forced to lower himself to match his height, but he didn’t falter further. Instead, his voice was hoarse as he asked the question weighing on his mind: “Why… did you help me?”

At last, Gu Yang had laughed his fill. He released him and said, “Because it’s interesting. This is simply destiny’s arrangement.”

It was far too interesting. If this world weren’t a novel, if Song Yinxing weren’t the protagonist of this tragic story, Gu Yang would never have had the chance to glimpse so many marvelous scenes.

Compared to Gu Yang’s lack of personal space and bizarre words, Song Yinxing seemed more like a cold machine, his eyes cast down.

“Ah Yang.” From around the corner of the teaching building, a figure appeared. No one knew how long he had been standing there. The class monitor smiled as he spoke: “The dismissal bell’s already rung. We should be going.”

The smile faded from Gu Yang’s face. He withdrew his arm from around Song Yinxing’s shoulders and turned toward the corner.

“Oh, and.” The monitor gave Song Yinxing a faint smile. “As for today’s incident, I’ll handle it fairly. You’ll have an explanation.”

Gu Yang yawned as he walked past. “Let’s go.”

The monitor nodded politely at Song Yinxing, then left together with Gu Yang.

Song Yinxing gazed intently at the departing back. The elongated shadow finally cut off as it turned into the corridor, but the sticky, clinging gaze seemed to pierce straight through the wall.

Only after a long while did he finally let out a mocking laugh.

…Fairly, huh.