"Hey, idiot! Wake up!" Xiao Hua's voice pierced the morning silence like a siren from hell.
"How many times have I told you not to call your brother an idiot?" their mother scolded, tapping her daughter's head lightly.
"Is he not one though?" Xiao Hua grumbled. "He's crazy and still needs his little sister to wake him up."
Upstairs, Chen Yi groaned, rolling around in bed like a sack of rice. After a long yawn, he finally sat up, ran his fingers through his messy hair, and dragged himself to the bathroom. Brush teeth. Shower. Uniform on. Zombie mode complete.
"Mom, help me with my tie," he said, holding it out as he shuffled into the kitchen.
Xiao Hua looked up from her cereal and sneered. "Seriously? You still need Mom to do your tie? You're not five."
Their dad came down the stairs, smirking. "Tell him, Xiao Hua. Grade 11 and still acting like a toddler."
"Oh please," their mom snapped, handing him a sandwich. "You're calling him a kid, but I still have to wash your dirty plate."
"That's different," their dad said with a chuckle. "You're my wife."
His laugh died in his throat the moment he caught her glare.
Meanwhile, Chen Yi walked over to his sister, grabbed her bowl of cereal, and started eating it.
"Mom! Look at him!" Xiao Hua cried, trying to snatch it back. He dodged effortlessly.
"Chen Yi," his mom began, ignoring the cereal war, "you're starting at a new school today. Be careful, make some friends. And if anyone bullies you, tell a teacher or your dad. They'll help."
"Why tell the teacher?" Xiao Hua said with a straight face. "Just stab them in the neck with a pen."
Her mom smacked the back of her head. "Is that what a child should say?!"
"Yes, but don't tell him to kill them in public," their dad added nonchalantly. "He should do it in private. No witnesses. That's how you protect yourself."
Smack!
"You're the one teaching them that?!" their mom yelled.
"I'm just saying—some lessons can't be reported. Some have to be learned."
Chen Yi just laughed, grabbed his bag, and walked out the door. "My family is insane," he muttered under his breath.
---
On the bus, he stared out the window as the city blurred past. The closer they got to the school, the more chaotic things looked—groups of students chatting, some alone with headphones, a few girls in skirts way too short, boys with outrageous hair colors getting scolded by a teacher. A couple zoomed past on a motorbike, the girl clinging to the guy while a teacher sprinted after them, screaming.
Chen Yi chuckled. So this is my new school, huh?
The bus pulled up. He got off and walked toward the building. The hallway was a circus—boys skateboarding, the school prefect yelling at everyone to get to class, students loitering around lockers. It felt more like a market than a place of learning.
He found his classroom, opened the door, and instantly, all eyes turned to him—then quickly returned to their own chaos.
Girls gathered in cliques talking about bands and boys. A few argued about makeup, claiming they looked like K-pop stars. A boy mocked them and got chased around the class. Others read quietly while a group of boys smoked near the window. Some threw crumpled paper at a girl reading in the front row.
Chen Yi quietly slipped into an empty seat. His deskmate was passed out on the desk, drooling slightly.
Then the teacher walked in.
A few students scrambled to sit properly, but most didn't bother. Some stared blankly at the board, others fought to keep their eyes open. One student openly napped while the teacher droned on about algebra, not even noticing.
Chen Yi sat back in his chair, watching the madness unfold.
Welcome to the jungle, he thought.
---
After class, Chen Yi walked to the cafeteria. If the hallway was loud, this place was ten times worse. Boys laughing like they owned the world, some throwing food, some shouting across tables like they were in a marketplace.
Then, suddenly, the noise dropped.
A girl walked up to another girl sitting alone at the corner, quietly eating.
"Poor Mei Ling, all alone. Need company?" the girl said, her voice sweet but laced with poison as she leaned closer.
Mei Ling ignored her and kept eating like she didn't exist.
The girl's smile vanished. With a scowl, she grabbed Mei Ling's hair and smashed her face into her tray.
"Don't you want to eat, pig? Eat now!" she screamed, pushing her face deeper into the food.
Mei Ling struggled, the girl then shoved Mei ling back, Mei ling clean the food from her face with a calmness that made it worse. She didn't cry. She didn't scream. She just stared .
"Stay away from my man or I'll make your life a living hell, got it?" the girl roared grabbing Mei ling hair, furious that Mei Ling wouldn't react.
"Always bullying someone, Hua Jin. Afraid of the strong, so you go after the weak," another girl stepped forward, pulling Mei Ling away.
And who told you I'm afraid of hua Jin said as she fold her hand
"Why don't you do this when An Ming is around, huh? You only act tough behind her back."
"Who says I'm afraid of that bitch?" Hua Jin snapped disgusting you think I'm scared of an ming the only thing she knows is how to Open her leg and act Innocence I don't blame her though she learned from her mom.
"Please. An Ming doesn't have to spread her legs—her strength and beauty speak for her. But you? You're still crawling after guys like a dog in heat. Is that why you're so jealous of her? You man which you cant keep and you blame others .
An ming beat you up did she not I remember she punched your fake nose out of place,wanna bully us because you can't beat her?"
Hua Jin raised her hand to slap her.
"An Ming…" Mei Ling suddenly whispered.
Hua Jin turned fast—eyes wide, lips trembling. She saw no one. The cafeteria watched in silence.
"Very good. Very good," Hua Jin muttered before storming out.
"Don't help me next time. I'm not An Ming's follower," Mei Ling said flatly and picked up her tray.
"She's doing it for your sake," the other girl, Xin Fei, replied softly. Then she turned toward everyone still staring. "Eat your damn food. Or do you want me to shove it down your throat?"
The silence shattered as people quickly looked away and got busy with their food.
Chen Yi blinked.
First day and this place already feels like a war zone.
After eating, Chen Yi headed back to class but stopped when he heard noise coming from a hallway leading to the old school basement. He glanced around—nobody else seemed to notice. Or maybe they were ignoring it.
He sighed.
If Xiao Hua were here, she'd slap me for poking my nose into things that don't concern me, he thought. One day I'm gonna get into real trouble...
He paused, then rolled his eyes.
Why the hell am I thinking about that brat? Disgusting. It's my first day. What's the worst that could happen?
He turned and walked toward the sound.
---
In the basement...
Two boys were pummeling another boy—bloodied, barely conscious, slumped against the wall. A third guy smoked casually, while another filmed it with a phone, laughing.
"You think you can mess with us and walk away, you dick?" the red-haired guy sneered, punching the bloody boy again. "Xu Haoran, should I call you brave or just plain stupid?"
"I dropped from Rank Ten to almost being someone's bitch!" Tian Yu growled, throwing the cigarette down and grinding it with his foot. "All because of your little stunt. I had to give my shares—all of them—to my boss! You think I'll let that slide?!"
He stomped on Xu Haoran's face, again and again, grinding his heel into his skull. Xu Haoran's scream echoed across the cold cement walls.
"Stubborn people need permanent lessons," Tian Yu hissed, pulling out a switchblade. He crouched, face inches from the trembling Xu Haoran.
"Time to leave a scar—"
"HEY! What the hell are you doing?!" Chen Yi shouted, storming into the basement.
They froze.
Tian Yu turned, brows raised. "Who's this?"
"Let him go! Or I'll call the teacher!" Chen Yi snapped.
That earned a round of laughter.
"Teacher? Wow. You're fresh meat, huh?" Tian Yu scoffed, picking his ear lazily. "Still thinking adults save you in here? Cute."
Xu Haoran's bloodied voice cracked out: "Help me… please…"
Tian Yu's foot whipped forward with a sickening crack—Xu Haoran's chin snapped sideways, teeth flying. Blood splattered the floor.
Chen Yi's heart stopped. Then fury took over.
He charged.
The red-haired guy stepped in to intercept, his leg swinging—Chen Yi ducked, the kick grazing his hair. He slid in low, drove his shoulder into Red-Hair's gut, sending him sprawling into a crate.
Another guy rushed—Chen Yi grabbed a broken mop leaning against the wall, spun it, and cracked it across the guy's arm. The sound of bone meeting wood echoed.
Someone behind him yelled. Chen Yi turned just in time—Tian Yu's blade slashed toward his face. He twisted, the tip grazing his cheek.
Pain flared. But he didn't back down.
"You little bastard—" Tian Yu lunged again, this time aiming for his stomach.
Chen Yi caught his wrist with both hands, twisted it with all his strength—Tian Yu shouted as the knife clattered to the ground. Chen Yi headbutted him.
Tian Yu stumbled back, dazed. Chen Yi picked up the knife.
"Try again," Chen Yi said, blood dripping down his face.
Tian Yu blinked rapidly, staggering from the headbutt. His lip was split, and for the first time, his smug composure cracked.
"Kill him!" he shouted hoarsely.
The remaining two thugs—one nursing a bruised wrist, the other still clutching his recording phone—charged.
Chen Yi flipped the knife in his hand and tossed it aside.
He didn't need it.
The first thug lunged, aiming to tackle him. Chen Yi sidestepped and sent a brutal elbow to the side of his jaw, following it up with a knee to the gut. The thug coughed and collapsed, wheezing.
The other guy—shaky, smaller—swung his phone like a weapon.
Chen Yi ducked, grabbed his shirt, and used the kid's own momentum to slam him headfirst into the basement pillar. He dropped like a sack of laundry, the phone skidding across the ground and shattering.
Tian Yu growled and ran forward again, this time fists flying.
Chen Yi dodged left, then right—letting Tian Yu's punches graze his shoulder, his ribs. He didn't flinch.
He was still holding back.
Tian Yu tried to grab him, but Chen Yi spun behind him and kicked the back of his knee. Tian Yu dropped with a grunt.
Chen Yi crouched beside him, grabbed his collar, and yanked him up just enough to whisper in his ear:
"You act like you own this place. But I see a scared mutt pretending to bark."
Tian Yu snarled and threw a wild punch—Chen Yi caught it, twisted it until his wrist cracked, then shoved him flat to the floor.
"Stay down."
Tian Yu rolled over, face contorted in rage—but he didn't get up.
Chen Yi turned to Xu Haoran, who was curled up in pain, his face barely recognizable.
"You still breathing?"
Xu Haoran coughed. "Barely. But yeah."
Chen Yi bent down and helped him up, slinging Xu's arm over his shoulder.
From behind, Tian Yu groaned.
Chen Yi looked over his shoulder, eyes cold. "If you even think about standing again, I'll bury you under this school."
Tian Yu didn't move.
The basement was silent except for Xu Haoran's ragged breathing.
, Xu whispered, "thanks for helping me "
Chen Yi didn't answer. He just looked back at the chaos below and muttered:
"Guess I really picked the wrong hallway."
[END OF CHAPTER ONE]
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