Chapter 525: Encountering a Classmate Again

Liu Yutong had never imagined that after fiddling with the badge for so long without noticing anything amiss, Gao Min would immediately spot something new.

“So it needs a specialized key? Sis, you mean there might be something hidden inside?”

“It’s possible.”

Gao Min nodded slightly, drawing on her experience in law enforcement. “This type of design is typically used to protect extremely important items—like a specialized chip or some kind of coded message. The fact that it requires a specialized key to open also suggests its contents are quite valuable.”

“Moreover, this kind of design usually can’t be forced open. It likely has a self-destruct mechanism inside. If you try to break it by force, you’ll destroy whatever’s inside.”

“Of course, we might also be overthinking it. There could be nothing inside at all.”

Liu Yutong nodded thoughtfully, though she had a premonition that it wasn’t empty—something was definitely hidden inside.

This mainly stemmed from information she had seen in her previous life.

Only what exactly was hidden inside remained unknown.

But at least now she knew the item was worth keeping.

Just then, a server arrived with piping hot steamed knife fish, and its tempting aroma instantly filled the air.

Liu Yutong put away the badge and picked up her chopsticks. Once the dish was on the table, she first served a piece of fish to Gao Min. “Sis, try this. The knife fish here is delicious.”

Gao Min didn’t stand on ceremony. She picked up the fish and took a bite.

“The fish is tender and practically melts in your mouth. It’s really quite good.”

“Right?”

The two ate and chatted.

Liu Yutong had originally planned to take her sister shopping tomorrow and see some of South City’s attractions, but Gao Min declined. She wanted to solve the case as soon as possible.

That was consistent with her usual style.

Liu Yutong could only say they’d do it next time. As she lifted her teacup, her gaze drifted past the glass window and she suddenly froze.

“What’s she doing here?”

Gao Min followed her line of sight.

There, at an open-air bar stall not far away, a young girl in a cheap suit skirt and heavy makeup was struggling to sell beer to passersby.

“You know her?”

Liu Yutong nodded. “Yeah, she’s my high school classmate. But at this hour, shouldn’t she be back at school? She’s still working a part-time job.”

Gao Min: “Lots of students work part-time jobs these days to support themselves. Don’t make a big deal out of it.”

As she said this, she subconsciousively glanced at her sister sideways, thinking to herself: Not everyone is a prodigy like you, achieving financial freedom in your first year of university with a net worth in the billions.

Liu Yutong had no idea what her sister was thinking. If she had, she might have retorted, “What makes you think you’re so much better?”

“The thing is, I find it a bit strange.”

“Just last week, I saw her working at a café in the University District. Now tonight she’s here at the night market selling beer. Doesn’t that mean she’s working at least two part-time jobs?”

“Really? From what you’re saying, your classmate is quite diligent. Attending classes during the day and working two jobs—maybe her family’s not well off?”

“She’s from a working-class family, but I don’t think that would drive her to push herself this hard, would it?”

Before she could finish, two rough-looking men staggered up to Fang Yaqiong. One of them reached out and grabbed her arm.

“Hey little girl, have a few drinks with us! We’ll buy whatever you’re selling!” said a buzz-cut youth reeking of alcohol. His hand was already wandering to Fang Yaqiong’s waist.

Fang Yaqiong pushed him away in alarm. “Sir, please let go. I’m just here to sell beer. I don’t drink with customers…”

This response displeased the two men.

“Stop playing innocent!”

“Dressed like that, standing here—aren’t you just waiting for men to hit on you? Don’t be ungrateful!”

“Exactly. What decent girl sells alcohol in the middle of the night? You’re obviously selling yourself, so quit pretending!”

The buzz-cut youth yanked her into his arms. “Have a few drinks with us tonight and you’ll be well compensated.”

Fang Yaqiong refused to comply, struggling desperately. “Let go of me! I’m not… Let go!”

Seeing that soft tactics weren’t working, the buzz-cut youth resorted to threats. “Let me tell you straight—this bar is under my brother’s protection. You’d better behave…”

Before he could finish, a furious roar erupted from nearby.

“I’ll fuck your grandmas! Let go of her!”

A handsome young man with dyed yellow hair charged over like an enraged lion and landed a vicious punch on the buzz-cut youth’s cheek.

With a crack, the buzz-cut youth clutched his face and collapsed, screaming. Two of his teeth went flying.

“You motherfucker, you dare hit us!”

The other thug raised his fist and smashed it toward the yellow-haired youth’s head.

The buzz-cut youth recovered and grabbed an empty bottle from a nearby table, launching his own attack on the yellow-haired youth.

The three immediately became embroiled in a brawl.

“Watch out!” Fang Yaqiong cried out in alarm.

The yellow-haired youth clearly had some fighting experience and a ruthless streak. He held his own against two opponents.

He first dodged the buzz-cut youth’s attack while simultaneously seizing his wrist and twisting it hard. The buzz-cut youth howled in pain, the bottle dropping and shattering. Then he grabbed the other man’s neck, drove a knee into his abdomen, and followed with an elbow strike to the back that sent him sprawling.

The entire fight lasted less than a minute. Both thugs were soon lying on the ground, wailing.

“Get lost! If I see you again, I’ll cripple you!”

The two thugs scrambled away from the scene without even leaving behind a threatening word.

Only then did the yellow-haired youth turn to face the shaken Fang Yaqiong. Instinctively, he reached out to touch her face.

“You okay?”

Fang Yaqiong wiped away her tears haphazardly. Instead of thanking him, she pushed him away forcefully. “Who asked you to fight? Can’t you solve problems without violence for once?”

“They were bullying you!”

“I could handle it myself. Do you have any idea the kind of trouble you’ll bring down on yourself? Tiger’s been looking for you, and now you’ve gotten into another fight…”

“I don’t care anymore! If he comes, he comes. At worst, I’ll fight him to the death!”

At his words, Fang Yaqiong’s eyes filled with pain and disappointment. “Lin Bin, look what you’ve become. Fighting, brawling, running with gangs. You weren’t like this before! You disappoint me, you know that?”

Lin Bin’s temper flared. “I’m not like this? Then what can I do? Can I go back? I’ve been expelled from school. I’ve been to prison. Can I pretend none of it happened? You tell me!”

“Tell me!!!”

Fang Yaqiong looked at Lin Bin, who was like a wild beast on the verge of losing control, and was rendered speechless.

In the end, she said nothing. She turned and walked back toward the stall, ready to continue selling drinks.

But as soon as she picked up the tray, Lin Bin suddenly swatted it from her hands.

“Didn’t I tell you? No more part-time jobs at night. Why won’t you listen to me?!”

Fang Yaqiong’s own anger ignited completely. She looked up at him sharply. “Why should I listen to you?! Lin Bin, who are you to me? My boyfriend? We broke up ages ago! What right do you have to tell me what to do?!”

“I…” Lin Bin was at a loss for words.

“Or is it because we used to be high school classmates? Because you’re now an expelled student and a small-time thug with a record?”

“Lin Bin, what can you do now besides fighting and causing trouble? You can’t even support yourself, and you want to control me? With money you extorted from those girls? I find it disgusting!”

“Fang Yaqiong! Say that again, you bitch!” Lin Bin stepped forward aggressively, his tall figure nearly enveloping Fang Yaqiong completely.

“I said I find it disgusting! I’d rather smile and sell alcohol here than take your dirty money!”

Lin Bin’s facial muscles twitched as rage completely consumed his reason. He raised his right hand and swung it toward Fang Yaqiong’s face.

Fang Yaqiong didn’t flinch. She just stared at him.

But the slap never landed.

Not because Lin Bin held back, but because a powerful hand gripped his wrist tightly.

The owner of that hand was Yun Cheng.

Before Lin Bin and Fang Yaqiong could even react, a familiar voice came from behind Yun Cheng.

“Hitting women?”

“Lin Bin, I haven’t seen you in a year. You’ve really made something of yourself.”

……………..

PS: Spent the whole afternoon working on the outline, writing and deleting, over and over. Then a bunch of relatives showed up at home, so I only managed to write one chapter. Don’t wait up.