I'm Nothing Like Him (A Bit Less Today, Will Make Up for It Tomorrow)

"He definitely isn't looking for me to settle a score."

"As for what you just said..."

"He beat up one of my lackeys?"

"Him?"

"Zhao Dahu did that?"

Lin Yu's face was full of disbelief. How could that guy—who once wouldn't even throw a punch when Lin Yu held his hand and forced him to—suddenly have such a change of heart?

...

Could it be because of his grandfather's passing?

A possibility flashed through Lin Yu's mind.

Just like that trash-picking bastard, who stopped caring about anything after losing the only family he had left in the world.

"Yeah, yeah, it was him."

Gu Yue nodded vigorously, then added sheepishly:

"He went all out—slapped the guy so hard he flew into a wall."

"Rumor has it the guy was dazed for hours, didn’t recover for several classes."

"Why did he do it?"

"Do you know the reason?"

Lin Yu asked curiously.

"No idea."

Gu Yue shook her head at first, then hesitated before adding uncertainly:

"Maybe the guy said something to him?"

"I’m not really sure."

"Oh, right."

"Hey, Long-ge, why are you so sure he isn’t here to cause trouble for you?"

Gu Yue blinked, puzzled.

"He’s definitely not here to cause trouble. Just like you—you’d never come after me, so neither would he."

Lin Yu declared with absolute confidence.

After all, he’d just done Zhao Dahu a huge favor a couple of days ago. Same as when he’d helped Gu Yue teach those purple-haired punks and their gang a lesson. That kind of debt? Zhao Dahu should be falling over himself to thank Lin Yu, not picking a fight.

While Lin Yu brimmed with certainty, Gu Yue wasn’t having it.

Just like me?

How could he be like me?

I don’t cause trouble for you because I like you—does that mean he likes you too?!

At that thought, Gu Yue pouted unhappily and muttered under her breath:

"He’s nothing like me..."

"Huh?"

"Not like you?"

"What’s the difference?"

Lin Yu pressed, baffled.

"..."

Gu Yue glared at his clueless expression, then snapped in frustration:

"There just is!"

"Okay, but what exactly is the difference?"

Lin Yu kept pushing.

"..."

Gu Yue’s cheeks puffed up in anger before she finally exploded:

"Figure it out yourself!"

"Got two eyes but can’t see a thing!"

After shouting, she stormed off in a huff, not even looking back.

Lin Yu stood frozen, stunned by the first scolding he’d ever gotten from Gu Yue. By the time his slow brain caught up, she was already ten meters ahead.

Watching her retreating figure, his eyes widened in utter shock.

"What the hell?!"

"Gu Yue!"

"You’ve got some nerve now, huh?!"

"Talking to me like that?!"

"You asking for a beating?!"

Lin Yu roared, clenching his fists as he charged after her.

"Ahh!"

"Help!"

Hearing his rapid footsteps closing in, Gu Yue dropped the act. She shrieked and bolted like a startled rabbit...

...

After a full day of mind-numbing classes, Lin Yu slung the tattered single-strap bag over his shoulder and trudged out of school, body and soul utterly drained.

Less than a hundred meters from the school gates, Lin Yu looked at Zhao Dahu, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, and asked weakly:

“What’s up?”

Zhao Dahu nodded. He unzipped his jacket slightly, reached inside with his large hand, and pulled out a rectangular cloth bundle.

Carefully unwrapping it, a shade of red that brought instant delight to anyone who saw it appeared in his palm.

“Brother Long, here’s the rest of the money. Returning it to you.”

Zhao Dahu extended the stack of bills toward Lin Yu.

Lin Yu stared at the cash in Zhao Dahu’s hand and couldn’t help but ask, exasperated:

“Why didn’t you just transfer it to me through your phone? Why go through the trouble of coming all this way?”

Zhao Dahu scratched his head and replied with simple earnestness:

“My grandpa told me before he passed—you don’t thank your benefactor just over the phone.”

“Especially someone who’s done you a huge favor.”

“You’ve got to say it face to face—that’s how you show sincerity.”

“Otherwise, it’s disrespectful to the person who helped you.”