Saturday afternoon at exactly two o'clock, Lin Chen stood in front of Speed Net Café. Through the glass doors, a thick stench of cigarette smoke drifted out, mixed with furious keyboard clatter and game sound effects, like a cloud of grime. Taking a steadying breath, he pushed the door open.
Right away, he spotted Chen Hao waving from a window seat. Next to him lounged Zhao Kai, legs crossed, playing on a brand-new Sony handheld console. The silver-gray shell gleamed even in the dim light.
When Zhao Kai noticed Lin Chen walk in, his lips curled in mockery. "Well, if it isn't Boss Lin. Didn't bring your little sticker stall with you?"
Lin Chen ignored him and went straight to sit by Chen Hao. Nervously, Chen Hao shoved a bottle of Coke toward him, his knuckles white against the plastic, his voice tight. "C-Chen, sit down, I already booted up the computer for you."
Lin Chen took the Coke but noticed how Chen Hao's eyes kept dodging, never daring to meet his gaze. Under the table, his legs trembled faintly.
Zhao Kai snapped his console shut and deliberately slammed his shoulder into Lin Chen's. Pain shot through, but Zhao Kai only smirked and waved the handheld in his face. "Know how much this baby costs? Twenty-eight hundred yuan. You'd have to sell fifty-six hundred stickers to afford it. That's what, half a month's slog?"
Around them, a few gamers turned to watch, laughing and chiming in.
"Twenty-eight hundred? Damn, I could buy a whole stack of games with that!"
"Classic. That's the difference between broke nobodies and the rich."
Chen Hao ducked his head even lower, scratching nervously at the table edge. "Kai, don't… don't say that. Let's just play."
"Why not?" Zhao Kai shot him a glare before swiveling back to Lin Chen, voice rising with arrogance. "Listen, Lin Chen, Su Wanqing's mine. You better stay the hell away. You see the dresses she wears, the pens she uses? All imported. What can you offer her? Don't embarrass yourself—broke nobodies don't get to chase goddesses!"
Lin Chen's fingers clenched hard around the mouse, knuckles pale. He knew Zhao Kai was baiting him—if he lashed out, he'd fall right into the trap. Taking a deep breath, he shut down the game screen, rose smoothly to his feet, and said coolly, "I don't have time for your nonsense. I've got math to go over with Su Wanqing."
"What's the matter? Hit a nerve? Running away already?" Zhao Kai leapt up, blocking his path. "Didn't you act tough just now? Why so quiet all of a sudden?"
Lin Chen met his glare with icy calm. "I don't waste time on clowns. Move." His gaze was sharp, unyielding. For a moment, Zhao Kai faltered, instinctively stepping back.
Without another glance at him, Lin Chen turned to Chen Hao. His voice softened. "Chen Hao, we grew up together. I never thought you'd stand with him against me."
Chen Hao's head jerked up, guilt clouding his eyes. His lips parted, but no words came. He dropped his gaze again, silent.
Lin Chen sighed inwardly, then walked out of the café.
The instant he pushed through the door, afternoon sunlight poured over his face—bright and warm, a stark contrast to the smoke and chaos inside. He drew in a deep breath, and the suffocating heaviness in his chest eased. Pulling out his phone, he shot Su Wanqing a quick message: Safe. Zhao Kai's all bark, no bite.
Barely two minutes later, her reply popped up with a smiling emoji: Knew you'd handle it! I just packed up my books. Meet me at the library? Let's review composite functions today!
Lin Chen's lips curved as he typed back: On my way. Be careful on the road.
Heading toward the library, the sun stretched his shadow long. But in his chest, unease churned—Zhao Kai wouldn't swallow today's humiliation. His next move might be even dirtier. And Chen Hao's silence… was it fear, or had he truly chosen to betray him?
Back inside the café, Zhao Kai's face twisted as he slammed the console onto the table. "Useless! I told you to play along. If we'd pushed Lin Chen into throwing a punch, the security guards would've dragged him out by now!"
Chen Hao flinched, shoulders hunched. "K-Kai, I… I couldn't. Lin Chen didn't even do anything wrong. Going after him like this feels… wrong."
"Wrong?" Zhao Kai's sneer was icy as he grabbed Chen Hao by the collar. "You forget who saved your ass last time you got bullied? You think you can ditch me now? Newsflash—next week's sports meet, you're signed up for the 1500-meter. You're gonna make sure Lin Chen crashes and burns. Or you can forget about surviving at this school."
Chen Hao's face went white as paper. He knew Zhao Kai's threats were real. Trembling, he nodded. "O-Okay… I'll do it. I'll help at the meet."
Satisfied, Zhao Kai released him, clapping his shoulder with false cheer. "That's better. Screw Lin Chen over, and I'll make sure nobody dares lay a finger on you again."
Chen Hao kept his head low, lips pressed tight. He didn't respond. Inside, his heart sank like a stone—he knew he'd just shoved his childhood friend onto the opposite side, and himself into a dead end.