Strange Life of a Cat

Hearing this voice, Jiao Yuan and his friends’ complexions changed. They could handle the people from Fifth Class, but this person… This person did not bode well.

At this point, the people from Fifth Class stopped being confrontational and quickly made way, with a few even attempting to escape. They didn’t dare offend this person, they had heard that some, for reasons unknown, had either been expelled from school or transferred out. They hadn’t expected to run into him here – their luck was terrible that day.

Zheng Tan, who had been observing the situation quietly from the side, noticed the mature-looking group approaching. They seemed difficult to handle. The Next Generation even if trying hard to act tough, still had a youthful air, while these guys… They looked like they were already part of society. Despite their young faces, their outfits made them seem much older. They were probably from a nearby high school, or perhaps already mixed up in society.

The guy who had spoken earlier crushed a cigarette under his foot and, with a chilling look in his eyes, said to Jiao Yuan and his friends, “Perfect timing. I was also hoping to have a good chat with you all!”

Zheng Tan could feel Jiao Yuan and his friends’ tension rise the moment these people appeared, even the always tough and fearless Fu Lei was all seriousness. Listening to the conversation that followed, Zheng Tan pieced together from bits and phrases that these people were connected to a problematic milk tea powder incident from a while back.

When Fu Lei called out the leader’s name, Zheng Tan recalled the individual from a text message he had sent to Little Luo. Jiao Yuan had mentioned before that of all the people involved in supplying that milk tea powder, this was the toughest one to handle. It was rumored he was involved in the underworld, and after the incident, the school claimed they had persuaded him to leave, but the reality was much more serious – he had been criminally detained, and there were whispers that several were sent to re-education through labor. Yet, here he was, standing in front of them, evidently someone with connections. According to what he himself had implied, he almost got in deep trouble and believed Jiao Yuan and his friends had a hand in it – how could he swallow such an insult?

As the situation appeared to escalate toward a fight, suddenly another voice interrupted.

“Excuse me for interrupting, but could you young friends please take your emotional exchanges somewhere other than here?”

The words were polite, but the voice carried a thick warning that brooked no refusal.

Zheng Tan looked over and saw a person dressed in a “Triumph” security uniform. Since “Triumph” had strict requirements for the appearance of staff, even a security guard combined with that uniform seemed quite authoritative. Not to mention, these people were hand-picked and trained by Ye Hao, and they didn’t take these middle school kids’ games seriously. With the recent opening, they couldn’t let these little brats fight here; it would reflect badly on the club’s reputation. Talks could arise about how terrible the security is around “Triumph,” and they could lose their jobs. Ye boss paid them high salaries not to stand around idly. These hot-headed kids with more energy than brains loved to cause trouble, bringing nothing but headaches to them.

The guy who had been acting tough wilted under the security guard’s gaze. Upon spotting the “Triumph” insignia on the latter’s chest, he hurried over, offering a cigarette with an apologetic smile, “Really sorry, we’re just leaving.” He could act tough with students who didn’t know any better, pretending to be “streetwise,” but he did not have the guts to stand up to the staff at “Triumph.” He knew all too well the kind of influential people behind “Triumph.”

The security guard raised his hand to refuse the offered cigarette, his face wearing a professional smile as he looked at the person offering it, “Thank you for your cooperation.”

Although the security guard was smiling, the perspiration on the forehead of the man offering the cigarette already started forming, his hand holding the cigarette shaking slightly. He felt completely intimidated by the security guard, whose smile seemed to chill him to the bone.

However, the man had no intention of letting Jiao Yuan and his friends off the hook. He signaled his cronies with his eyes to keep an eye on them and to “have a good chat” somewhere else later.