It's Getting Lively

After walking with Gu Yue for a while, Lin Yu suddenly remembered something.

Damn it!

He still hadn’t repaid the money he owed that police officer!

Thinking back to that officer, Lin Yu felt nothing but gratitude. If it weren’t for him stepping in to help, Lin Yu had no idea what kind of mess he’d be in right now.

It also dawned on him why the officer interrogating him that night had been so hostile—laying traps in both obvious and subtle ways, firing one leading question after another. Clearly, someone had put him up to it.

Not that it was surprising.

For someone of the third female lead’s social standing, pulling strings like that would’ve been child’s play.

Luckily, he’d run into the officer handling Xia Muzhu’s case. The man knew Lin Yu and understood his character.

Not only had he gotten Lin Yu out of trouble, but he’d even lent him a hundred bucks for a taxi ride home.

With that in mind, Lin Yu parted ways with Gu Yue, flagged down a cab, and headed straight for the police station.

At the station, after giving Police Officer He’s name, Lin Yu waited in the reception area.

Officer He, a man in his forties, soon appeared. Lin Yu handed him the hundred yuan he’d prepared in advance and thanked him:

“I really owe you for what happened that day.”

Officer He took the money and pocketed it with a nod, skipping the pleasantries and cutting straight to a stern warning:

“You’d better not act so impulsively in the future.”

“This time, you got lucky—she’s not pressing charges. Otherwise…”

He trailed off, shaking his head with a sigh before phrasing it delicately:

“You’d be in serious trouble.”

Lin Yu understood the implication and nodded sheepishly.

“I know, I know.”

“I won’t let something like this happen again.”

He shut his mouth there, keeping the next thought to himself:

‘Next time I run into a streak of bizarre bad luck, I’m locking myself at home. Won’t even glance if two old ladies start brawling on the street!’

While mentally grumbling, Lin Yu caught a key detail in Officer He’s words. His eyes lit up as he asked:

“Officer He, when you said she’s not pressing charges, does that mean I don’t have to compensate her?”

Officer He nodded.

“You got off easy, kid.”

“Originally, the victim’s family was dead set on making you face legal consequences—didn’t even want the money.”

“But then the victim herself called to drop the charges, so the matter’s settled.”

“You should know, this could’ve gone either way. If they’d pushed it, those bruises on her neck could’ve had you facing attempted murder charges!”

“If you’ve got time—”

“Actually, no.”

“Make time. Bring a gift, go see her, and apologize properly.”

“At the very least, show some gratitude.”

Listening to this, Lin Yu fell silent.

He wasn’t sure whether to mention that he’d already run into the victim again—and even cursed her out twice.

“Understood, Officer He.”

Swallowing his complicated feelings, he thanked the officer once more before leaving.

On the way home, Lin Yu frowned, unable to shake how utterly illogical everything felt.

In a word:

Weird.

Weird beyond belief.

Weird in a way that defied all logic.

Weird enough to give anyone a headache.

The third female lead was weird.

That whole ordeal was weird.

Even her handling of the aftermath was weird.

Rubbing his temples, Lin Yu decided not to waste brainpower on it.

Since she didn’t seem interested in retaliating, he might as well talk to her openly.

See what’s really going on in her head.

Come to think of it, the third female lead had been pretty bizarre in the original hentai manga plot too.

Even after the original protagonist (a scumbag) raped her and pulled the classic blackmail move—threatening her with nude photos—someone with her wealth could’ve easily made him disappear.

Yet she’d inexplicably submitted.

Tsk.

Makes no damn sense.

Aside from the third female lead issue, seeing Officer He reminded Lin Yu of another matter—that psycho who’d nearly ruined Xia Muzhu.

Time to arrange a little procedure for him.

Not a hard task; Li Yuan had connections in prison.

Could ask him to—

Wait.

Lin Yu stroked his chin, reconsidering.

Better not involve Li Yuan. The old fox was already struggling under the Fire Scorpion Gang’s pressure. Asking for a favor might rope Lin Yu into being his lackey.

This job was better suited for Black Tiger, the Black Blood Gang’s second-in-command.

The guy’s not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Easy to fool—

Wait, no.

Easy to manipulate—

Eh, whatever.

Point is, he’s more reliable than Li Yuan for this.

Calling Black Tiger, Lin Yu wasn’t surprised when the big oaf agreed immediately—no strings attached.

With that minor issue resolved, Lin Yu took a cab home...

...

The next morning at the school gate, Lin Yu watched students whispering in shock, their faces alight with gossip. His mood instantly lifted.

Starting the day with juicy drama?

Hell yeah.

Eagerly, he headed toward the crowd—only to notice something off.

The moment they spotted him, their grins and gasps morphed into awkward grimaces.

They nudged each other, one after another, until the entire group wore the same strained expression.

By the time Lin Yu reached the edge of the crowd, they’d all clammed up, necks tucked in like they feared him—yet their eyes sparkled with suppressed laughter.

Lin Yu recognized this scene with eerie familiarity.

Damn it!

This was exactly how he’d acted around the original protagonist when gossiping!

First, the guilty look of someone caught snooping, then the barely-contained snickers while sizing up the drama’s main character.

That’s me right now!

Surrounded by their mocking stares, Lin Yu didn’t bother beating around the bush. He grabbed a familiar face—the pink-haired man—hooked an arm around his neck, and steered him toward the school building.

“Spill. What’s the gossip about me this time?”

“N-nothing about you!”

The pink-haired man forced a stiff smile, trying to play dumb.

Lin Yu pinched the soft flesh at his waist.

“Out with it!”

“Ow! Okay, okay!”

“It’s about last night!”

“Let go, Boss Lin!”

With a scoff, Lin Yu released him. Rubbing his sore side, the pink-haired man grinned obsequiously.

“Nothing major, just… y’know. Last night’s thing.”

At this point, he gave Lin Yu a thumbs-up, half-teasing and half-envious as he said:

"Damn, Brother Long, you’re really something. You’re pretty much set for life now."

So it was about this after all?

Lin Yu couldn’t help but facepalm.

Of course—how could something like this not get attention and gossip?

Ugh!

After spending half his life watching the drama unfold for others, he never thought he’d become the drama himself one day.

Damn it!

This sucks!