Qing Kuang

he scariest people were the ones with talent and passion.

 

All the way to the end of practice, Kou Chen could barely get past Huo Ran’s defenses. 

After briefing everyone about today’s practice, Huo Ran waved them all off: “That’s the end of practice.”

“Ah—” Along with everyone else, Kou Chen moved his arms and sighed.
He picked up his jacket and took out his phone.

Three missed calls from Kou Xiao.

And a bunch of voice messages. 

He played the last one.

“You’re dead! Why are you not picking up any of my calls? You’re dead!”

He immediately called Old Yang, and he picked up quickly: “Hello?”

“Where’s my sister?” Kou Chen asked. 

“Went to find a knife to stab you with.” Old Yang said.
“What’s wrong with you? Calling us here and then not picking up.
She thought something happened to you, so she went to talk to security.
Said she’s here to bring you some extra clothes.”

“Did she get in?” Kou Chen asked.

“Yeah, she just did.” Old Yang said.
“What happened over there?”

“I’ll call her, I was at practice and didn’t look at my phone.” kou Chen glanced over.
Huo Ran was walking over worriedly. 

“Practice?” Old Yang was confused.

“I’ll tell you later.” Kou Chen hung up and looked at Huo Ran.

 

“Those guys must be waiting for us on the way.” Huo Ran said.
“Might I ask where your mafia friends are?”

“Come on.” Kou Chen called Kou Xiao as he walked. 

“Kou Chen you’re dead!” Kou Xiao picked up.
“Where are you?!”

“Go straight and wait for me at the building on the right, I’ll be right there.” Kou Chen said.

Huo Ran turned to him in shock.

“Go straight and it’s the building on the right.” Kou Xiao had absolutely no sense of direction, so she repeated that to the person with her.
“Okay.
Let me say this first, don’t start any fights, you’re at school.” 

“When have I ever called you to fight for me?!” Kou Chen said.

“Yeah right, who was the one that taught those brats a lesson when they were chasing you around in primary school?!” Kou Xiao said.

“…Wait for me!” Kou Chen sighed.

  

The third years’ building wasn’t that far from the gym, it only took two minutes to get there.
He saw them waiting under a tree, just in time for the bell to ring.

“They’re the ones you called?” Huo Ran asked.

“Mhm.” Kou Chen nodded, glancing at them.
There were four guys, not including Kou Xiao.
Although Kou Xiao, that woman could count as half a man in terms of fighting strength.

“If I’m not mistaken…” Huo Ran looked over, “There’s a woman?” 

“Don’t underestimate women.” Kou Chen said.
“There’s gotta be another woman to deal with Li Jiaying in case she wants to join in.”

“…If I’m also not mistaken,” Huo Ran turned around, “Isn’t that your sister?”

Kou Chen walked forward with a serious expression, but he couldn’t help but laugh: “Your vision is pretty good.”

“Are you crazy? Why would you call your sister?” Huo Ran said.
“Who are the other guys? Your brothers?” 

“When gangs are involved,” Kou Chen said.
“You have to look serious.”

 

 

Kou Xiao stood underneath the tree, watching everyone exit the building.
The teachers left first, followed by the listless students.

Kou Chen didn’t explain anything when he called her, but from what she’s seeing, he probably got into a conflict with a third year. 

“It’s them, right?” A guy beside her, Big Mouth, asked.
“The ones that keep looking over here, do they not know your brother called us?”

“Probably.” Kou Xiao crossed her arms, looking at the girl that was leading them over.
“What a surprise, isn’t Fuzhong a top school? How come there’s such an arrogant little lady?”

“It’s easier to stand out in a crowd of good kids.” Big Mouth said.

“That’s true.” Kou Xiao said. 

The girl stopped a meter or two away, glaring at them with the few guys.

“Where’re you from?” A guy opened his mouth, “What are you doing here?!”

Kou Xiao and the others didn’t say anything, staring at the students.
After a good amount of time, she said: “Fuck off.”

The atmosphere turned tense. 

“Go get security.” The girl said.

“Yeah, call security, and let them know all the shit you’ve been up to while you’re at it.” Big Mouth didn’t really know what they did, but it can’t have been anything good, so saying that was fine.

“You’re the people Kou Chen called?” Someone finally realized.

“You’re here!” Kou Chen called out to them from a few meters away. 

He didn’t know any of them apart from Kou Xiao.
They didn’t look very proper, but not like typical gangsters either.

If it isn’t for his sister, she’s pretty reliable for this sort of stuff.

“What do you need us for?” One of the guys turned to him and spoke like they were familiar, “We were just out drinking.”

“I dunno.” Kou Chen jerked his head in Liu Yu’s direction.
“They told me to do it.” 

“What?” Zhou Haichao looked at him in shock.

“Weren’t you the one that said it?” Kou Chen laughed, “That if no one comes tonight, I’m dead?”

 

“Damn.” The guy started laughing, walking to Zhou Haichao and patting him on the shoulder.
“Kids these days sure have guts now.”

“Get off!” Zhou Haichao yelled. 

“Shut up!” He grabbed him by the shirt and said, “You think you’re so cool just by wearing some sunglasses? Pft!”

His voice was a bit hoarse, but you could hear the force behind it.
The kind that could crush a walnut in one hand, and not the paper thin kind.

Zhou Haichao immediately went quiet.

“Now,” He said.
“I’ll wait for you at the gates.
If I don’t see you in half an hour, you’re fucking dead.
I’ll kill you today, I’ll kill you tomorrow, and I’ll keep it up until you graduate!” 

At that, they all turned and headed towards the main gates.

Kou Xiao glanced at Li Jiaying as she passed by: “What are you looking at?”

Li Jiaying obviously didn’t want to admit defeat, but she still looked away with a hmph.

“Come on, let’s go eat.” Kou Chen nudged Huo Ran. 

Huo Ran glanced at Li Jiaying’s group, before walking off with Kou Chen.

 

Kou Xiao and the others walked quickly in front of them, without turning back to talk to them.
Kou Chen, on the other hand, strolled along leisurely.

“Are we eating with them?” Huo Ran asked. 

“Nah, they’ll go off by themselves.” Kou Chen said.
“Let’s go get gravy noodles.”

“…I’m begging you, let’s get something else.” Huo Ran said.

“You can pick then, the cafeteria isn’t open today.” Kou Chen said.

“They’re leaving just like that? Didn’t they tell Zhou Haichao to meet them outside?” Huo Ran asked. 

“No way,” Kou Chen looked at him, “Are you dumb? There’s no way they’re going?”

“Huh?” Huo Ran was confused.

 

“Look at them, if they really had the balls to go out then they would’ve left already.” Kou Chen pointed behind him.
“I bet they’ve already gone off to the haunted building, we can probably see them climb over the fence.”

Huo Ran didn’t say anything, and he looked behind him: “Fuck.” 

There really wasn’t anyone behind them.

“You’re such a good student, no experience at all.” Kou Chen sighed.

“I’m not really… Much of a good student.” Huo Ran said.
His grades were always average, and he was in Humanities as well.
If he were in the Sciences, his ranking would’ve dropped by ten places.

“I’m not talking about your grades, your grades aren’t that much better than mine.” Kou Chen said. 

“A lot better than yours actually.” Huo Ran said.

“You’ve lost to me twice now.” Kou Chen said.

“What?” Huo Ran didn’t understand what he was talking about.

“One at the haunted building,” Kou Chen said.
“And one right now.
I’m counting.” 

Huo Ran felt a bit helpless, but his attention was still on the guys Kou Xiao brought, so he didn’t fight him on it.

“Who are those people?” He asked.

“Dunno.” Kou Chen thought about it.
“Probably waiters or chefs at the hotel she works at?”

“What?” Huo Ran stopped. 

“I’m just guessing.” Kou Chen said.
“She knows a lot of people.
She’d even called up an internet cafe manager, a technician, a local neighbourhood security squad…”

Huo Ran was speechless.

“Anyways, they don’t have to actually start a fight, it’s mostly just to scare people.” Kou Chen said.
“There’s no need to call them for an actual fight.”

From that point, Kou Chen and Kou Xiao must be real siblings.
The kind that could find each other even in a sea of people. 

Huo Ran watched as Kou Xiao and her gang disappeared around the gates, and he turned to ask Kou Chen: “So you’re just gonna give Liu Yu and them that money?”

“Just you wait.” Kou Chen narrowed his eyes, “Watch how I’ll get it back, dollar by dollar.”

 

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