After Ye Qingli quit the Youth Association, Xiao Yu also quit. The difference was that he didn't even say a word—he just stopped showing up.
Naturally, people started gossiping. Some said Xiao Yu stopped coming because he was afraid after hitting Huang Xu. After all, when they visited the hospital that day, Huang Xu's parents were there too—the woman sitting with an elegant posture, the man in a suit leaning by the window, clearly successful people.
Yet they hadn't pursued charges against Xiao Yu, which baffled everyone. Counting the first day of freshman orientation, this was the second time their sunny, cheerful son had been beaten to a pulp by that despicable thug, yet they still let him return to school as if nothing happened. It didn't add up.
Maybe Xiao Yu's family background was even more impressive than Huang Xu's.
A group gathered to speculate. Some said Xiao Yu's father was in the underworld; others claimed he was the CEO of some major company, loaded with money—like the world's richest man.
The guesses were all over the place.
Huang Xu walked in just in time to overhear. Only those close to him knew about his relationship with Xiao Yu, so the rest could only guess. They caught sight of him from the corner of their eyes and nudged the speakers, abruptly ending the sensitive topic.
The sudden silence was suspicious. Someone cleared their throat and asked Huang Xu with a smile, "Minister Huang, why are you out of the hospital so soon? Studies come second; your health is what matters."
Huang Xu pulled up a chair and sat down, looking up at the group with a smile. "Thanks for the concern. I'm fine now. I guess working out regularly pays off—I'm tough. Saying thanks over the phone feels insincere, so I ordered some bubble tea; it should be here soon. Thanks for visiting me in the hospital last time."
As expected, a cup of tea bought their loyalty. They waved modestly. "Oh, you didn't have to order tea! You're too kind."
"That's our Minister Huang—handsome and noble-hearted."
"Exactly. But heaven has no eyes. If I had been there, I would have beaten that bastard Xiao Yu to a pulp."
"Haha, you're full of crap," said one of the guys' roommates. They'd been together for so long that roasting each other was normal. Not only him, but even Huang Xu thought the same. The guy was all skinny arms and legs; if Xiao Yu's bull strength came at him with one punch, he wouldn't even know how he died.
Of course, Huang Xu couldn't say that. He just played along with a smile. "Ah, if only you'd been there. But what's done is done. It's been days now; no need to dwell on it. I appreciate your concern. See, I've moved on, so don't stay angry on my behalf."
"No wonder everyone says you're a good guy. You didn't even press charges after being bitten by a mad dog for no reason," the guy said with a sarcastic laugh. "Xiao Yu only has a few girls who like him. Us guys can't stand him—he doesn't have a shred of human decency."
"Yeah," they chimed in.
Huang Xu was overjoyed inside. Those two beatings were worth it. Now Xiao Yu was like a rat in the street, despised and hunted by everyone.
And according to Xiao Qu, he had already cut ties with Xiao Yu. His mother had started a new family abroad and had another child, refusing to take him with her.
He curled his lips and slowly shook his head. For a moment, he didn't know whether to laugh at Xiao Yu's pitiful state or his pathetic life.
...
Xu Qingsong noticed that Xiao Yu had changed.
He had been observing him lately. Xiao Yu no longer spent money like water—no expensive restaurants, no new clothes. He even stopped joining the guys' gatherings. It was strange and out of character, making everyone think something had possessed Xiao Yu.
When this rumor reached Xiao Yu's ears, he just rolled his eyes and said nothing.
At first, Xu Qingsong thought he was just annoyed by the noise and joked that he was already on a health kick at his age. But the more he thought about it, the more something felt off. Tracing back, the change seemed to start the day he returned from Gu Cheng.
Finally, after relentless questioning, Xiao Yu, annoyed by his persistence, told the truth.
"So you mean you're on your own from now on?" Liu Xu asked tactfully. He didn't dare ask why his father had been so heartless, nor why his mother had abandoned him after having another child. Those words were thorns stuck in Xiao Yu's heart, and speaking them would only hurt him more.
"Yeah."
Xiao Yu lay on his bed, checking his bank account. He had a little over a hundred thousand yuan left.
Xiao Qu never lacked money. He might have ignored his son all these years, but he had given him plenty of money, at least doing one decent thing. Xiao Yu knew it was only to avoid gossip.
But now that they had cut ties, it meant he would no longer call Xiao Qu "Dad," nor would Xiao Qu provide him with the same material comforts. From now on, it was every man for himself—like two curves that would never intersect, growing further apart.
Sometimes Liu Xu wanted to confront Xiao Yu's parents, ask them what they were thinking. If they didn't want children, why have them? Were they brought into this world just to feel indifference?
He turned around, leaning against the windowsill, and sighed, trying to console Xiao Yu. "Ah, it's no big deal. If you're cut off, you're cut off. We're brothers. As long as we have something to eat, you'll never go hungry."
His serious expression was kind of funny, and Xiao Yu couldn't help but laugh. "You're treating me like a beggar?"
"Look at you. I'm being serious. Don't be so flippant."
"Forget it. Keep it for yourself. I don't want it."
Xiao Yu rolled over, facing the wall, pulling the blanket over his shoulders like a big, puffy zongzi. Xu Qingsong hadn't said a word the entire time. He knew Xiao Yu would refuse. The guy was too proud to take a cent from them, even if he had to collect trash on the streets.
Xu Qingsong shook his head helplessly. The pity in his eyes only dared to show when his back was turned.
Xiao Yu was completely unaware of this. Though he wasn't desperately short on money yet, he knew he had to do something.
After gym class in the afternoon, instead of going back to the dorm with Xu Qingsong and Liu Xu, he headed out of school and went to a taekwondo gym in the city center.
He had learned taekwondo before. Back then, he was just looking for a way to relieve the pressure at home. After a few years, he got his black belt and stopped. The other day, he passed by the gym and saw they were recruiting coaches. He thought he'd try his luck, see if he qualified, since he'd mostly be teaching kids.
The owner was a woman who looked about his age. She smiled and walked over to shake his hand when he entered. Xiao Yu reached out. "Hello."
"Hi, hi! You're the one who added me on WeChat this morning, right?"
"Yes."
Xiao Yu's WeChat profile picture was dark, and he rarely posted on Moments. The woman had listened to his voice messages several times, thinking he might be a voice actor. In her experience, guys with nice voices often didn't look great.
But when she saw him, he was incredibly handsome. Her eyes brightened, and she smiled radiantly. "I'm the owner of this taekwondo gym. My name is Xu Nuo. And you?" She remembered his WeChat name was just a blank symbol.
"Xiao Yu." He twitched the corner of his mouth, pulled back his hand to touch his face, then put it in his pocket.
It was a natural gesture, and Xu Nuo didn't find it odd. She rolled her eyes and asked, "You're a college student, right? Why the sudden urge to become a coach?"
"I need money." Xiao Yu said without changing his expression.
Xu Nuo hadn't expected that answer. She took a step back, scanning his outfit: tall, long-legged, broad shoulders, narrow waist, wearing a black bomber jacket, camouflage cargo pants, and puffy shoes she didn't recognize—but from the craftsmanship, they definitely weren't cheap.
She looked up with a smile. "Are you just making up an excuse?"