The way you step on me is so clown-like

Orthopedic Hospital.

Lei Qi lay on the hospital bed, one leg already encased in plaster.

Coach Long sat beside him, accompanied by a woman in her thirties dressed like an office worker, her makeup thick and heavy.

"I entrusted my nephew to you, and this is how you let him end up?" Lei Qi’s aunt wiped her tears.

"How am I supposed to explain this to my brother? He left his son in my care, and now he’s crippled."

Coach Long looked like a helpless child, scrambling to reassure her.

"No, no—Lei Qi isn’t crippled. He just needs time to recover. He’ll be fine."

Lei Qi opened his eyes, exhaustion flickering in his gaze.

"Coach... will I really be okay?"

"Of course. You’re young. Broken bones heal fast."

"Then... what about Lin Mo? Has the school punished him?"

Coach Long fell silent.

Lei Qi’s aunt immediately smacked Coach Long’s shoulder hard.

"Speak up! Once we’re married, he’ll be your nephew too."

At this, Coach Long gritted his teeth.

"Lei Qi’s foot-stomping move isn’t exactly defensible, but that Lin Mo kid hit a teacher. No matter what, this won’t just blow over."

Though the slap mark on Coach Long’s face had faded, his words still came out slightly slurred.

Lei Qi’s aunt shot him a glare before turning back to her nephew, her face full of worry.

Coach Long could only think about how to approach the school administration. Even if they couldn’t expel Lin Mo, they had to get him a disciplinary record.

......

The next day, after morning exercises.

Fang Jun glanced around before sidling up to Lin Mo.

"I heard Lei Qi’s taken leave—his leg’s in a cast, staying at the orthopedic hospital."

"A fracture means he won’t be back in school anytime soon. But I’m more curious about that bald guy."

"Oh, him? I saw him today. He came to school like nothing happened."

Lin Mo didn’t care. He was already prepared.

He was just waiting for them to come to him.

What was the fun in making the first move? Watching his opponents stumble into their own downfall was far more entertaining, wasn’t it?

Sure enough, as soon as Lin Mo sat down, Chen Xiaoya walked in, Director Huang trailing behind her.

"Lin Mo, come with us."

Lin Mo nodded and held out his hand to Jiang Yunlu.

She pulled something from her bag and slipped it into his palm.

The two looked like undercover agents exchanging contraband.

Then, hands in his pockets, Lin Mo strolled out of the classroom.

Nearly the entire class watched him go, worried he might be in trouble.

Fang Jun immediately cornered Jiang Yunlu.

"You don’t seem worried at all. Must’ve made preparations, huh? Care to share?"

Truly the king of gossip. But Jiang Yunlu just shook her head. "Lin Mo said you’re a blabbermouth."

"Hey, come on! I might talk a lot, but I’d never sell him out. We fought off thugs together, remember?"

Meanwhile, in Class 7.

Xie Yuling looked up just in time to see Lin Mo leaving with Chen Xiaoya and Director Huang.

But she wasn’t worried. Lin Mo’s face radiated confidence, so she trusted the plan he’d mentioned the night before.

Most importantly, Lin Mo was a top student.

At school, academic excellence was its own kind of privilege.

Administrative Office.

Lin Mo wasn’t surprised to see Lei Qi in a wheelchair, nor the heavily made-up woman beside him.

That had to be Lei Qi’s aunt.

She wasn’t bad-looking—easy enough to charm a balding man like Coach Long.

Lin Mo stepped inside and eyed Lei Qi.

"Back so soon? Guess you’ll be back on the basketball court in no time."

Lin Mo’s philosophy? Kick a man when he’s down—especially if he’s already limping.

Lei Qi clenched his fists and snapped, "Lin Mo, don’t get cocky! You’re the one who broke my leg!"

Lin Mo couldn’t help but laugh.

"Oh, you mean when I jumped straight up for a shot, and you stuck your foot under me to trip me, but miscalculated so badly that I landed on your leg and snapped it instead? That?"

"You—!" Lei Qi choked on his words.

"How dare you! You hurt my nephew—don’t you have any remorse?" Lei Qi’s aunt stepped forward, shielding him.

Lin Mo smirked. "Oh? Then tell me—what exactly did I do wrong? Was it jumping straight up behind Lei Qi, luring him into trying to trip me?

Or was it filling in for an injured teammate?"

He stood up.

"The real mistake was Lei Qi’s own doing. He tried to cheat, and karma broke his leg instead. Now he’ll never play basketball again. Bad at studies, can’t even be a sports recruit—what a waste."

With that, Lin Mo ignored Chen Xiaoya and Lei Qi’s group, turning to leave.

Lei Qi’s aunt shouted, "Don’t you walk away! You owe my nephew an apology, or else—"

"Your nephew and your boytoy owe me an apology. Otherwise, I’ll post the game footage online and call the Goat City reporters over. Let’s see how the public likes a good backstabber."

Lin Mo grinned at Lei Qi. "You know what? The way you scrambled to trip me? Peak clown behavior."

Lei Qi’s face flushed red with rage.

Just then, Coach Long appeared out of nowhere, accompanied by a school administrator.

Top-tier high schools had multiple vice principals, and Lin Mo didn’t recognize this one.

After all, vice principals who didn’t teach were practically ghosts to students.

"Lin Mo, your actions caused a classmate’s injury. This matter must be addressed," Coach Long interjected.

"Who asked you to speak? Since when do you get a say?"

Lin Mo strode toward him.

"Aren’t you a P.E. teacher? Didn’t anyone teach you that sports come with inherent risks?

How’d you even get certified? Got a degree? A teaching license?"

His calm tone made Coach Long flinch back.

The vice principal spoke up gently, "Lin Mo, let’s not escalate. The school just wants a fair resolution regarding you and Lei Qi—"

"Save it. Let the law decide. Or should I call a reporter and let the court of public opinion weigh in?"

Lin Mo casually dropped onto the office sofa.

Chen Xiaoya, Director Huang, and the others were still standing, but he sat like he owned the place.

The vice principal’s face darkened instantly.

Even Director Huang was stunned—Lin Mo had just disrespected a vice principal to his face.

But Lin Mo didn’t care.

When you held all the cards, watching clowns dance was pure entertainment.

Finally, Coach Long snapped.

"Lin Mo! You disrespect authority, assault teachers—is this how a student should behave?"