It must be said that Ye Chuan's verbal skills were quite impressive—just a few words had Huang Haotian fuming to the point of turning red.
Seeing the other man's face flush with anger, Ye Chuan sighed and feigned concern.
"You alright? Feeling unwell? I can recommend a good veterinary hospital. Mention my name for a 5% discount."
A veterinary hospital?
Huang Haotian glared at Ye Chuan. Wasn’t this just outright calling him an animal?
And on top of the insult, Ye Chuan had the audacity to look so genuinely concerned. Huang Haotian felt sick to his stomach.
"Your mother—"
"Such ingratitude. I show concern, and this is how you repay me? Tsk." Ye Chuan shook his head in disappointment. "Guess there really is a difference between humans and beasts—some just can’t be civilized."
If not for the fact that he was no match for Ye Chuan, Huang Haotian would’ve lunged at him right then. As the school bully, he was used to being the one dishing out humiliation, not enduring it.
"You’ve got quite the sharp tongue. I’m genuinely curious how you managed to take down so many members of our Taekwondo Club."
Only then did Ye Chuan notice the muscular man standing beside Huang Haotian.
After sizing up Jin Zhengxi, Ye Chuan suddenly recalled the "trouble" An Shiyu had mentioned.
This was it?
Didn’t seem like much of a problem.
"You’re the former president of the Taekwondo Club?" Ye Chuan asked.
"That’s right." Jin Zhengxi smiled faintly, pleased that Ye Chuan recognized him. After all, he had once been the national runner-up in Taekwondo—no small feat.
"Oh, I almost raised my hand in excitement." Ye Chuan replied dryly, barely bothering to curl his lips.
Jin Zhengxi: "?"
But Ye Chuan didn’t seem particularly interested in the Taekwondo Club’s affairs. Glancing at Jin Zhengxi, he added lazily, "Here to sign up for a beating? Five thousand per person."
"Wasn’t it just a thousand?!" Huang Haotian immediately protested. Just a few days ago, the price had been a fraction of that.
Since when did beatings come with inflation?!
Ye Chuan spread his hands innocently. "I get tired too, you know. And since you’re all coming at me together, I can offer a group discount for the beatdown."
Despite the murderous glares from the Taekwondo Club members, Ye Chuan remained utterly unfazed, as if their stares meant nothing to him.
Or maybe he just didn’t care.
"No need. I’ll handle this alone." Jin Zhengxi chuckled at Ye Chuan’s arrogance. "A registration fee, huh? Too bad you won’t live to spend it."
"None of your damn business." Ye Chuan rolled his eyes. "Can’t pay? Then scram."
These guys were clearly here to pick a fight, and Ye Chuan had no intention of being polite.
Jin Zhengxi’s smile faded. He took a deep breath. "Damn it… Huang Haotian, give him ten thousand!"
Huang Haotian froze. Why him again?
He was already broke.
The debts he owed were staggering, even with monthly installments. Worse, his family had caught wind of his gambling habits and cut off his allowance entirely.
Under Jin Zhengxi’s intimidating glare, Huang Haotian had no choice but to turn to the other club members—only to find them all avoiding eye contact, silently pleading poverty.
Desperate, Huang Haotian gritted his teeth and said to Ye Chuan, "You dare make a bet with us?"
"What kind of bet?" Ye Chuan was surprised Huang Haotian would even suggest it.
"I…" After mentally calculating his remaining loan limits across all apps, Huang Haotian declared, "I’ll put up a hundred thousand! You match it! Winner takes all!"
Ye Chuan raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were broke?"
This guy had lost everything last time—where was he getting money now?
A walking ATM? Huang Haotian, you’re really determined to cough up gold, huh…
Ye Chuan was starting to like him.
"You think I’m as poor as you? A single ask from my family is more than you’ll ever earn in your life." Huang Haotian sneered.
"Ooooh~" Ye Chuan clicked his tongue mockingly.
"Alright, big spender. How about two hundred thousand?"
Huang Haotian’s face twitched at the figure, but he forced a smirk. "Fine! Two hundred thousand is nothing to me. But do you even have that much? You can’t even afford meals without women paying for you."
Hearing Ye Chuan agree to the bet, Luo Xi leaned in and whispered, "Chuan, I have some savings—I can give it all to you."
Ye Chuan gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before pulling out his phone.
At the sight of Ye Chuan’s budget-brand phone, Huang Haotian scoffed—until Ye Chuan flashed his account balance.
Over four hundred thousand.
"Where the hell did you get that money?! Didn’t you mooch off girls for meals?!" Huang Haotian demanded. How could this penniless loser have over four hundred grand?!
"If I didn’t let girls treat me, how else would I save up? Now, show me your money." Ye Chuan grinned.
Huang Haotian’s face darkened.
He had nothing.
Was he supposed to show Ye Chuan his loan limits?
That would just make him a complete joke.
"My money’s in the bank. I don’t have online banking. Doesn’t matter—I can get it when needed." Huang Haotian bluffed.
"If we’re betting, we need a reliable mediator, right?" As he spoke, Ye Chuan seemed to recall the perfect candidate.
…
"Oh, you want me as the mediator? Sure." Ten minutes later, a short-haired girl appeared on the scene.
An Shiyu glanced between Ye Chuan and the Taekwondo Club members before flashing a peace sign. "No problem. One thousand fee."
As the granddaughter of the school’s board chairman, An Shiyu was more than qualified for the role.
"I’ll cover the fee." Ye Chuan transferred two hundred thousand to An Shiyu first, then gestured for Huang Haotian to do the same.
"I…" Huang Haotian hesitated.
"Huang Haotian, what’s the hold-up? Don’t you trust me?" Jin Zhengxi frowned when Huang Haotian didn’t move.
"N-no, bro! Just… stomachache. Be right back!"
With that, Huang Haotian bolted, leaving everyone bewildered.
Was he about to explode?
Roughly twenty minutes later, Huang Haotian returned with a grin. "Much better. Two hundred thousand, right?"
"Borrowed it?" Ye Chuan asked.
"What—no! I just withdrew from my fixed deposit!" Huang Haotian snapped.
Ye Chuan shrugged.
Huang Haotian then transferred the two hundred thousand to An Shiyu.
Once the money was secured, Ye Chuan turned to Jin Zhengxi.
"Alright, how are we doing this?"
"Free combat." Jin Zhengxi took a deep breath.
"Anything goes. Fight until one of us goes down."