MDPWU Chapter 6

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Zhou You watched as Tong Tong walked downstairs. The smile on his lips faded.

He hadn’t really been able to smile lately. There was a fire burning in his heart.

That fire had started to spark when his dad pointed at his nose and said, "You have to follow the path I’ve planned for you."

By the time he fought with the family bodyguards and ran away from home, that fire had fully ignited.

But after he ran away, his dad didn’t send anyone to bring him back. He didn’t even call him once.

His act of rebellion had no audience. He felt like his dad was just toying with him. That made him furious.

The fire in his heart became a dud, neither able to explode nor extinguish.

Just sitting there, suffocating him.

His phone kept ringing over and over—it was his sister calling. Annoyed, Zhou You impatiently silenced the phone once again.

Some kind of emotion was spreading inside him, following the relentless ringing.

He figured he had to find a way to put out this fire. Otherwise, he knew it would get to him.

Irritated, Zhou You instinctively reached into his pocket for a lollipop—only to remember he hadn’t stocked up since running away.

After feeling around for a while, his hand finally pulled out a crumpled flyer.

Do you want beautiful muscles?

Do you want a strong physique?

Do you want a successful life?

Then come to Han Dao Boxing Gym!!

What a flashy piece of junk. Zhou You frowned at it for a while before finally spotting the address at the bottom.

Some guy had stuffed this into his hand on the street yesterday.

When he saw the words "boxing gym," it felt a little familiar, and he’d thought about checking it out once his arm healed.

But he couldn't wait anymore. His patience was running thin, and his good temper was about to crack.

Even with an injured hand, nothing could stop him from wanting to blow off steam in a boxing gym.

He used to have his own boxing gym, but it shut down after only a few years.

The reason? One time, his dad came to watch one of his matches.

Zhou You had thrown a punch so hard that his opponent flew back against the ropes, sending a spray of spit flying.

His dad just so happened to be standing ringside, mouth open in excitement—only to take a full hit of spit right in the face.

After that, he shut down the gym.

To this day, his dad still unilaterally believed he did it on purpose.

Getting out of the car, Zhou You checked his surroundings. The place wasn’t far from the small apartment he was staying in.

He could even walk here in the future.

The boxing gym was on the second floor of a clubhouse, looking big and professional.

As soon as he stepped in, a slick-haired guy came over with a smile. "Brother, here to build some muscle?"

"Just here to hit something." Zhou You was barely holding back his anger and didn’t feel like talking much.

"Have you done boxing before? Do you know much about it?"

"I just want to hit something." Zhou You’s tone hardened.

"Brother, you—"

Zhou You swung his shoulder bag off and shoved it into the guy’s arms, yanking open the zipper.

He grabbed a handful of cash, looking completely impatient. His voice was firm. "Sort it out. I just want to hit something."

"Hey! No need to be so polite, brother!" The slick-haired guy’s eyes immediately changed, quickly accepting the money. "The locker room’s to the left. Get changed, and I’ll take you to the training area."

Zhou You walked toward the locker room, rubbing his temples as he casually scanned the gym.

After changing in the lounge and wrapping his hands, he followed the slick-haired guy into the training area.

He stood in front of a speed bag and started a basic warm-up.

"You interested in this, brother? The speed bag helps with hand-eye coordination. Even pros have trouble controlling it." The slick-haired guy, assuming Zhou You was just a rich kid playing around, started coaching him. "Let’s start with the heavy bag. That builds power."

Zhou You ignored him. After warming up, he tapped his gloves together and stepped back.

Lowered his head slightly.

Standing in front of the heavy bag, a fire ignited in his eyes.

All of a sudden, the round, smooth speed bag started to twist, morphing into his dad’s face.

His dad, cigar in his mouth, shouting at him: "You must follow the path I’ve set for you!"

Screw that!

Zhou You swung his fist—smashing it right into his dad’s face.

He’d wanted to do this for a long time.

The dull, continuous sound of punches filled the air, the speed so fast that the wind whistled through.

The slick-haired guy instinctively took several steps back, stunned.

At this moment, Zhou You saw only his target. As he channeled his strength into his punches, the tension he’d been carrying for so long finally started to unravel.

His punches got faster and faster. His eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Since he had an interest in boxing as a kid, he had been trained almost professionally.

His mom even hired several champion boxers to spar with him. At his fastest, he could throw over 200 punches per minute.

Not exactly world-class, but enough to make an impression in this relatively amateur boxing gym.

The slick-haired guy completely shut up. He no longer tried to coach, just quietly stood on the side, handing over towels and water.

After finishing his warm-up, Zhou You moved to a hanging heavy bag and went at it relentlessly, hitting it over and over until his bandaged forearm started to ache.

Only then did he remember the doctor’s warning. He frowned, breathing heavily, and slowly came to a stop.

"Not going anymore today, big bro?" The slick-haired guy handed him a towel, automatically switching to a more respectful tone.

"Yeah." Zhou You took the towel and wiped his head. "Next time I come, I’ll look for you. You did a good job."

"Got it!" The slick-haired guy looked almost honored to be acknowledged.

It wasn’t until Zhou You had walked away that he suddenly realized—wait, I’m a boxing coach, not some attendant for a young master.

The gym’s shower area was spacious and empty. As the hot water poured over him, Zhou You let out a long breath.

After showering and changing, his phone rang in his pocket.

Zhou You pulled it out, about to hang up, but when he saw the name on the screen—

He paused.

After a moment of silence, he sat down, leaning his head back against the cold tiled wall.

He picked up the phone. “Mom.”

“Ran away?” Yan Qing’s voice was hoarse from years of smoking.

“Yeah, a few days ago,” Zhou You said.

“Your dad’s been busy chasing after me lately, hasn’t had time to deal with you,” Yan Qing said. “Have fun.”

“I’m not playing around,” Zhou You replied.

There was a brief silence on the other end. “No matter how much you resist the path your father set for you, you can’t go around injuring the family’s bodyguards. Make sure to apologize to them. And do you realize how far the South is? I support you pursuing the life you want, but what you’ve done is irresponsible. I’m very disappointed.”

Zhou You furrowed his brows tightly. He wanted to say a lot, but in the end, he couldn’t say a single word.

“Do you know what your only choice is now?” Yan Qing’s voice was cold. “Before you find the path to your own life, you must first take a responsible one.”

“How do you expect me to be responsible?” Zhou You asked.

“Mingde High School starts today. I’ve sent you the homeroom teacher’s number and class details,” Yan Qing decided instantly. “You need to hurry. It’s almost 10 o’clock—you’re already late.”

“Being late isn’t a good student’s habit.” Before hanging up, Yan Qing chuckled.

The call ended.

The towel draped over Zhou You’s shoulder slipped to the ground. His mother rarely smiled, and every time she did, things turned out terribly for him.

He wasn’t afraid of his father, but his mother’s words were not to be ignored.

His father was simple and brutal—his methods were nothing more than three things: scolding, beating, and then tossing him abroad under heavy surveillance, followed by grueling physical training.

None of that really fazed him.

But his mother was different. Her punishments were terrifying—worse than death.

Zhou You bought ten large steamed buns from a breakfast stall, hijacked a cab, and raced toward his new school in a life-or-death rush.

_

Tong Tong got on the bus to school. After just two stops, he suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of panic.

For some reason, he recalled that strange dream. Normally, dreams were vague and blurry by the time he woke up.

But this one was different—too clear. Though he couldn’t see anyone’s face, he remembered everything that happened.

The transfer student who arrived in his dream. The transfer student offering him a steamed bun, asking if he wanted one. The transfer student forcefully kissing him. The transfer student saying they had secretly liked him for a long time… The transfer student saying, “Let’s break up.”

Tong Tong closed his eyes and replayed the dream, immediately feeling like he needed oxygen.

Lost in thought, he missed his stop at the school gate. He wasn’t exactly eager to report to class, so he just stayed on the bus and took an impromptu city tour.

By the time the bus passed by the school again, it was already past nine.

Tong Tong got off and jogged toward the school entrance, only to spot a group of about ten people standing or squatting near the gate from a distance.

The leader was a tall, lean guy with his jacket tied around his waist, revealing a tattoo on his arm. His sharp brows had two distinct scars, making him look intimidating.

But he was sucking on a lollipop.

Definitely strawberry-flavored, Tong Tong thought, his eye twitching. He immediately turned around, ready to leave.

“Tong Tong!” Zhuang Qian’s voice cut through the traffic noise.

Tong Tong froze, his expression darkening.

“Get over here!” Zhuang Qian shouted.

Tong Tong didn’t move. He even considered running, gripping his backpack straps tightly.

If the mountain won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain.

Zhuang Qian and his group instantly charged toward him.

Knowing he was doomed, Tong Tong’s eyes darted around before he suddenly ran toward Zhuang Qian and threw his arms around him, wailing, “Qian Qian!”

Zhuang Qian’s raised fist halted mid-air. “What’s wrong?” he asked hurriedly.

“The cab driver who brought me here took a detour on purpose and wouldn’t let me out—that’s why I’m late!” Tong Tong put on his most pitiful act, pressing Zhuang Qian’s head against his chest, holding him down tightly.

He was banking on making Zhuang Qian oxygen-deprived enough to muddle through this situation.

“What was the license plate? I’ll have my uncle detain him!” Zhuang Qian yelled, struggling for breath. “Wait, can you loosen your grip a little?”

Seeing that he wasn’t about to get beaten up, Tong Tong slowly released him.

The other guys laughed as they surrounded him.

“Hey, I heard your family went bankrupt?” One of them, Brother A, slung an arm around his shoulder, sneering.

“Yeah, his family went broke last month. My dad was so happy when he heard the news, he got wasted!” Brother B said excitedly.

“What’s with that face? Who are you mad at?” Brother C scowled. “At least you had wealth to lose! I’ve been working part-time just to survive—do you look down on me? Have you always looked down on me?”

Tong Tong: “……”

Clutching his chest, he suddenly found it hard to breathe.

“Enough, Tong Daiyu, stop acting like a tragic heroine,” Zhuang Qian yelled. “It’s just bankruptcy. You’ve been dramatic for a whole month already.”

“What time is it?” Tong Tong suddenly asked.

“Exactly 9:30,” Zhuang Qian replied.

“Who’s our new homeroom teacher?” Tong Tong swallowed nervously.

Everyone fell silent.

Zhuang Qian grabbed him and bolted toward the school. “Crap! It’s the Black Mountain Demon! He’s the new homeroom teacher for the humanities class!”

The Black Mountain Demon was a legendary figure in their school. A multi-role authority who served as homeroom teacher, discipline director, and head of student conduct.

His signature move: “Get out!”

By the time they dashed into the classroom, the Black Mountain Demon had been standing there for a while.

With a wooden pointer behind his back, he gave them a sidelong glance and took a deep breath before roaring, “Get out!”

Zhuang Qian sighed. “We haven’t even stepped in yet…”

“Stand by the door!” Director Li glared at them before continuing his announcement. “Where was I? Oh, right. We have a new transfer student in our class. He’s from the faraway city of Harbin. His grades aren’t great, but he’s an honest kid. I don’t want anyone in this class forming cliques or bullying him…”

Tong Tong was stunned when he heard that there was a new transfer student in class. His mind immediately started racing back to the dream he had last night.

A transfer student??

No way...

His eyes widened in shock as he quickly replayed the dream in his mind.

A transfer student joined their class, and that student handed him a bun, asking if he wanted to eat it…

Just as he was recalling this, a boy sprinted down the hallway and dashed straight into their classroom with impressive accuracy.

"Mr. Li, right?" Zhou You gasped for breath, glancing at his watch. He had arrived just in time, as per his mother’s orders.

He let out a sigh of relief.

Hearing that voice, Tong Tong’s heart skipped a beat. He squeezed his eyes shut, unable to face reality.

He started cursing in his mind.

"You’re Zhou You?" Director Li asked with a smile. "I waited for you in the office for quite a while. What took you so long?"

"I'm not familiar with the roads here. Really sorry about that," Zhou You replied smoothly, spinning a lie on the spot.

"Alright, everyone, let's give a warm welcome to our new classmate!" Director Li took the lead in clapping.

However, the students showed no enthusiasm. Their faces remained indifferent, and not a single one of them made a sound. Instead, they just stared blankly at the new student.

The new student was wearing a black tank top, with medical bandages wrapped around his arms.

His head was shaved close, and he wore a pair of boots. His features were sharp and rebellious, and his height towered over everyone in the class.

He looked like the kind of person who would cook them all in a pot if they didn’t welcome him—without adding any green onions.

The students, seemingly indifferent, were actually frozen in fear.

Zhou You felt a little hurt by their reaction.

He decided to use his cheerful and friendly personality to build connections in this faraway southern city.

"Hello, everyone! My name is Zhou You—Zhou as in travel, and You as in roam. I'm very happy to join such a serious yet lively, united yet friendly class!" Zhou You flashed a bright smile. "I hope everyone will take care of me and help me out. Let’s work together to create a wonderful and loving class community! Of course, if anyone needs anything, feel free to ask me. I love cleanliness and enjoy doing chores, so I’ll take care of all the classroom cleaning from now on!"

The entire class fell into dead silence. Their mouths hung open in shock.

They felt like they were being threatened in some strange and unspoken way.

A few students in the back row immediately sprang into action, rushing to the storage room at the back of the classroom. They grabbed brooms and mops and began cleaning on the spot.

There was no way they were letting the new student handle the cleaning. It felt like if he even saw a speck of dust, they might get beaten up.

"Did you all hear that? Look at Zhou You! You should all take him as an example!" Director Li was thoroughly pleased with Zhou You’s speech.

With a wave of his hand, he pointed out a seat for Zhou You and signaled for him to sit down.

But to everyone's surprise, Zhou You turned around and walked toward the door instead.

With a look of excitement, he pushed his way through the crowd and pulled Tong Tong out.

Tong Tong immediately covered his face and tried to back away.

"Hey! I thought I saw you when I ran past! It really is you! What are you doing here?" Zhou You, still feeling wounded by the cold reception from the class, wagged his imaginary tail in excitement upon seeing a familiar face.

Tong Tong cursed in his heart, desperately trying to dodge him. But then his eyes landed on the bun in Zhou You’s hand.

A chill ran down his spine.

Don’t give it to me. Don’t give it to me. Don’t ask me. Don’t ask me.

Tong Tong wanted nothing more than for the dream to not come true.

He absolutely did not want to eat that bun.

"Want some?" Zhou You grinned, raising the bun.

It was like an alarm had suddenly gone off in Tong Tong’s brain. His lips trembled as he started imagining himself exploding into a firework in the sky.

"Come on, it’s still warm." Zhou You pushed the bun toward his mouth.

Crap.

Tong Tong thought.

He did not want to kiss this idiot.

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