Chapter 42: I Heard Someone Wants to Take Me Down

"The fat guy in the back, you think shadowboxing is funny, do you? I’ll give you something to laugh about in a moment."
Chen Fan covered his mouth and glanced around. To be honest, there were quite a few fat guys in the group.
"The one with the belt on backwards—yes, you, the fat guy. I want you out of line in ten seconds. Ten, nine, eight..."
Chen Fan looked down in alarm and realized his belt really was on backwards. He couldn’t help but admire the instructor’s sharp eye.
"Reporting, Instructor! Chen Fan, member of the Military Boxing Formation, stepping out of line. Awaiting orders." Chen Fan stifled his laughter with one hand, the other raised in a respectful salute.
"Follow my command. Face everyone. Turn left." The instructor adjusted the brim of Chen Fan’s cap, still holding a belt in his hand. Chen Fan dared not move on his own and obediently followed orders.
With a stern face, the instructor commanded, "Now, loudly tell everyone what you were just laughing at."
"Huh? That might not be such a good idea. We shouldn’t air our dirty laundry," Chen Fan blurted out, but couldn't help laughing again.
The instructor pressed him, "When I tell you to speak, you speak. If you don’t, you can forget about boxing today; you’ll be running laps until training ends. Wasn’t it hilarious? Hiding in the back, laughing so hard your pants are about to fall off."
Seeing he was getting himself into trouble, Chen Fan replied in a negotiating tone, "Alright, but don’t blame me for saying it."
"If it’s not funny, for every person here who doesn’t laugh, you’ll run an extra lap. No upper limit."
Chen Fan suddenly felt immense pressure. He cleared his throat, then, imitating a commercial announcer, shouted, "Yuanfish University! Yuanfish University Accounting School’s Wei Youlong, who fancies himself a ruthless heartbreaker, two-timing with countless girls, leaving a mountain of romantic debts! He’s run off with his rolling suitcase, and there’s nothing we can do. Bottled Heaven-and-Earth No. 1 from 1982, Armani’s exclusive ‘Forgive Me’ cap, custom Apple phone cases, all originally worth tens of thousands—now just nine ninety-nine each! All only nine ninety-nine! Wei Youlong, you scoundrel, who do you think you’re fooling?"
"Pfft—hahaha!"
The field erupted in thunderous laughter, so loud it drew the attention of other formations training nearby.
The instructor tried to maintain composure, "Quiet, quiet. Fatty, I’ll let you off this time. Back in line and continue training."
"Yes, Instructor." Chen Fan could tell the instructor was struggling not to laugh, the vegetable stuck in his teeth now squeezed to the edge of his lips.
With that outburst, Wei Youlong’s name instantly became infamous. Chen Fan was sure that in a few days, Wei Youlong would be the talk of the school.
"Hey, you’ve got a knack for this, but it’s missing a bit of flair," Hua Tianyi shot Chen Fan a look and gave a brief review.

Chen Fan shrugged, "It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing. I’m no pro."
"Those two fat guys in the back, still laughing? Step out and run two laps. I want you to laugh the whole way, mouths open—no exceptions."
"Yes, Instructor." Hua Tianyi replied cheerfully and ran out of line, his hearty laughter soon echoing across the red rubber track.
...
"Warning: entering a danger zone, recalculating route for you."
Possessed by a bear’s instincts, Chen Fan slowed his pace and surveyed the crowded campus road, but sensed no immediate danger.
"This is so frustrating. The enemy hides in the dark while I’m in the open. Always sneaking around wastes so much time." Chen Fan sighed and veered off onto a smaller path.
"What now? He didn’t come this way. Should we follow?" He Wei put the brick back into the flowerbed and covered it with some dirt.
Qin Peilin put away his Nokia and said, "Dragon’s orders were clear: find a chance to ambush him, teach him a lesson so he’ll stop being cocky. The path he’s taking is pretty empty—if we follow, he’ll spot us immediately."
He Wei scoffed, "Lucky for him. We’ll have plenty of chances. One night when he’s heading back to the dorm, we’ll jump him in the dark and smash him with a brick. He’ll be bedridden for weeks."
Qin Peilin lit a cigarette. "A few stitches and he’ll be fine. If we go too far and get caught, we’ll be expelled."
He Wei snatched the cigarette and took a deep drag. "We’re not even students at this crappy university. I never wanted to go to that bottom-tier college anyway—the tuition’s outrageous and there aren’t even any pretty girls, just a bunch of Jurassic Park rejects."
Qin Peilin lit another cigarette. "Easy money, though. A few swings with a brick and we get a thousand—enough for half a month’s worth of dishwashing."
He Wei tossed the half-burnt cigarette into the flowerbed, exhaling smoke. "Let’s go find our crew. I want this done tonight."
Qin Peilin considered, "He’s probably headed off campus. Let’s follow him and scout out some good ambush spots."
He Wei sneered, "Such a hassle. I’d rather just rush him head-on and get it over with. Save everyone the trouble."
Meanwhile, Chen Fan made it safely off campus and headed to a familiar barbecue shop to meet a familiar face.
"You came alone?"

Li Peijun looked up and, seeing only Chen Fan, buried his head again. His plate was littered with chewed-up skewers.
"Hey, hey, I’m treating and you’re eating like there’s no tomorrow!" Chen Fan grabbed a chair from the next table, sat down, and ordered a few skewers for himself.
Li Peijun gave Chen Fan a disdainful look. "Where’s Xu Ying? Hiding your beauty away from your brothers? You know what I’m like. Got a photo? Let me see."
Chen Fan leaned on his hand. "What are you talking about? Xu Ying and I are just friends. Not what you think. I’m not that kind of guy."
Li Peijun teased, "Tsk, you’re still the same—so old-fashioned and uptight, no wonder the elegant ladies never throw their handkerchiefs your way. No surprise you end up wandering among the forgotten graves."
"What kind of twisted metaphor is that? Honestly, I have a bad feeling Wei Youlong might send someone after me. I’m anxious and can’t eat or sleep," Chen Fan retorted, grabbing a grilled squid skewer and shoving it in his mouth.
"Come on, what’s there to be scared of? Wei Youlong’s all bark and no bite. At worst, you’ll get roughed up by some thugs. A few stitches and you’ll be good as new."
Chen Fan fixed his gaze on Li Peijun, "You know Wei Youlong that well?"
Li Peijun shrugged. "He’s the poster boy for Yuanfish's spoiled rich kids. I’d heard of him back in high school."
Chen Fan let out a laugh. "Didn’t expect him to be loaded."
"Wei Youlong’s family is well-off, but his parents are strict. He doesn’t get much pocket money and spends big, so he often buys knockoffs. Too bad his taste is terrible," Li Peijun revealed, and Chen Fan listened with relish.
"Your social circles are really something," Chen Fan remarked.
"Don’t worry, nothing will happen. Wei Youlong still needs to keep his reputation on campus; it won’t get out of hand," Li Peijun reassured, mouth full of greasy barbecue.
"I hope so. That’s what I’m counting on," Chen Fan replied, sipping a glass of cool water to cleanse his palate.
"Warning: danger approaching..."