The afternoon sun filtered through the high windows of the International Division, casting long, geometric shadows across the pristine desks. The atmosphere here was worlds away from the local division; the air was cooler, and the hum of a high-end HVAC system replaced the rhythmic whirring of ceiling fans.
In the International homeroom, the teacher—a tall man with a crisp British accent—clapped his hands to draw attention. "Class, settle down. We have a late addition to our cohort. Most of you from the local circles already know him, but let's be official. This is Gu Wei."
Gu Wei stood up beside the teacher. He had ditched the military fatigues for the International Division's sharp navy blazer, which fit his broad shoulders perfectly. He gave a relaxed, magnetic smile that seemed to charm half the room instantly.
"I'm Gu Wei. I've spent the last few years in London, but Shanghai is home. Glad to be back."
As he took his seat near the center of the room, he was immediately swamped with hushed questions from his new classmates. Unlike the rigid hierarchy of the local division, the International students moved with a polished, casual confidence. Wei opened his leather-bound notebook, his pen moving with fluid grace as he jotted down notes from the lecture. He looked perfectly at peace, laughing softly at a joke from the student beside him, seemingly oblivious to the storm he had left behind in the other wing.
Several hallways away, in the local Senior High Grade 10-A classroom, the environment was suffocating. This was the heart of the "War."
The teacher was lecturing on advanced functions, her voice a steady drone against the scratching of pens. But the real communication was happening through the air.
On the left side of the room, the "Striver"sat in a defensive block. Jiang Min sat at the very front. Her back was a straight, rigid line, her pen flying across the paper with aggressive speed. She wasn't looking back, but her jaw was set so tight it looked like stone. Behind her, Zhao Feng and Han Dong were glaring across the aisle, their eyes narrowed into slits every time a member of the Student Council moved.
On the right side, the Gold Circle sat with an air of cold, practiced superiority. Le Mei sat in the middle row. She looked like a portrait of serenity, her eyes focused entirely on the chalkboard, her notes a masterpiece of neat calligraphy. Only the slight, rhythmic tapping of her left foot betrayed her internal state.
Gu Hang, sitting two rows back, watched the entire scene like a spectator at a tennis match. He saw it all: the way the air seemed to vibrate between the two groups.
His eyes landed on Chen Bo. Bo wasn't even pretending to take notes. He was slumped in his chair, his face a mask of dark, smoldering fury. He kept glancing at the empty seat where Wei would have sat if he were in the local division, then darting his eyes toward Min with a look of pure loathing. Bo's fingers were white-knuckled around his pen, clicking it repeatedly—click, click, click—a sound of a ticking time bomb.
Hang leaned back, a sense of dread pooling in his stomach. The "Neutral Party" was currently three buildings away, enjoying a lecture on Global Economics, while here in the trenches, the "Big Brother's" appearance had only made the divide deeper.
The bell finally rang, a shrill sound that signaled the end of the first day of Senior High.
As the students flooded out of the main gates, heading toward their private cars or the subway station, the social divide became physical again.
Gu Hang didn't head for the exit. Instead, he hurried across the courtyard to the International Division building. He stood near the glass-walled entrance, pacing in tight, frantic circles. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, and his brow was furrowed in deep thought.
"The lunchroom was just the beginning," Hang thought, his eyes darting toward the stairs. "Bo is on a warpath, Mei is acting like a shy bride, and Min... Min looked like she saw a god. If Wei doesn't handle this carefully, this school is going to burn down before the first week is over."
He looked up just as Wei emerged from the building, looking relaxed and carrying his leather satchel over one shoulder, completely unaware of the storm his cousin was currently projecting.
The moment he spotted Gu Wei stepped out with his satchel, Hang lunged forward.
"Now you have to handle it!" Hang hissed, his hands gesturing wildly. "The big mess you created!"
Wei remained unruffled, a calm contrast to Hang's spiraling anxiety. "What happened? Calm down a bit, Hang."
"The cafeteria incident!" Hang whispered, glancing around to ensure they weren't overheard. "You bowed to the Strivers, Wei. Do you think Bo will just let that go? I watched him all through the final period. He was vibrating with rage. He's going to do something reckless; you know his personality."
Wei didn't look surprised. Instead, a small, knowing smile played on his lips. "I know. Don't worry. Let's go and meet them."
The two cousins walked toward the main gate but stopped short, ducking behind a large stone pillar as they spotted the "Gold Circle" gathered near the exit.
Jia was looking down at her shoes, her usual bubbly energy replaced by a heavy silence. "What's wrong?" Shanshan asked, placing a hand on her arm.
"I just feel guilty," Jia admitted, her voice small. "Brother Wei had to apologize and bow for us on his very first day. It feels... wrong."
The rest of the council nodded solemnly, their faces etched with regret. But Chen Bo let out a sharp, jagged laugh that made the others flinch. "Don't feel sad," he sneered, his eyes dark with a vengeful fire. "I've already made a move. They're going to pay for making Brother Wei humble himself."
The group stopped dead. Zhang Hao grabbed Bo's shoulder. "What did you do? Tell us."
Le Mei stepped forward, her expression hardening into a mask of cold authority. "Bo. What did you do?"
Bo gave a chillingly casual shrug. "I called some people. They're going to 'take care' of the Strivers on their way home. Just a little scare to make sure they never look us in the eye again."
Behind the pillar, Hang shot Wei a frantic "I told you so" look. Wei's eyes narrowed, the playfulness vanishing from his face as he listened.
"Are you crazy?" Hao shouted. "How could you do that?"
"Call them off," Mei commanded, her voice like a whip. "Call them immediately, Bo!"
"They deserve it!" Bo barked back. "For years, I've held back because you were 'dealing' with them, Mei. But today they crossed a line. They embarrassed Wei-ge. I won't stop it."
Mei took a sharp breath, her mind racing. She changed her tactic, her voice dropping to a low, urgent tone. "Do as I say, Bo. If Brother Wei finds out about this, he will be devastated. You know his personality—he hates violence, and he values his integrity. If you do this in his name, he will never forgive us."
Bo froze. The mention of Wei's disappointment hit him harder than any threat. He thought of the way Wei had tapped Min's head—they clearly had a history. If Wei found out Bo had ambushed his "acquaintance," the consequences would be permanent.
"Fine," Bo grumbled, pulling out his phone with a shaky hand. "I'll stop it."
A collective sigh of relief swept through the Gold Circle as Bo made the call. Behind the pillar, Wei looked at Hang and offered a small, triumphant wink, as if to say, See, Everything is fine.
Wei and Hang stepped out from the shadows just as the Striver approached the gate. Jiang Min was walking her bicycle, her eyes brightening instantly when she spotted Wei.
"Wei!" she called out, a genuine, shy smile breaking through her usual exterior.
The Gold Circle spun around, startled. The two groups stood just feet apart at the school gates. Wei, with Hang in tow, walked toward the center of the gathering, standing between the two warring factions once again.
The Strivers looked at the Gold Circle with deep suspicion, while the Gold Circle looked at Wei with a mixture of guilt and awe. The air was still thick with tension, but as Wei reached the middle, he looked at Min and then at Mei, his presence acting as a bridge in the golden afternoon light.
Gu Wei stepped into the empty space between the Gold Circle and the Strivers, his presence instantly commanding the area. Gu Hang trailed behind him like a nervous shadow, his eyes darting between the groups, his mind racing: "What is he doing now? He's walking right into the fire."
Wei stopped, his hands casually tucked into his pockets, a genuine and bright smile lighting up his face.
"Everyone," Wei's voice was clear and melodic. "Today is my first day back in Shanghai. To celebrate, I've booked out the local internet cafe for the entire evening. It's a private party."
The Gold Circle members shared a look of immediate joy. This was the Wei they remembered—extravagant and fun. But Wei didn't stop there. He swept his gaze across the Striver , his eyes lingering for a second on Jiang Min.
"Everyone present here is invited," Wei added, his voice sincere. "Please, honor me by accepting my treat."
The silence that followed was deafening. The Strivers looked at the Gold Circle with deep suspicion; the Gold Circle members tightened their jaws, their expressions clearly screaming, "Why them?"
"We'll be there," Jiang Min blurted out. She didn't hesitate for a second, a defiant but happy smile breaking across her face as she looked at Wei.
The Strivers gasped in unison. Before they could protest, Le Mei stepped forward, her chin tilting upward in a regal display of grace. "We will also come," she said, her voice cool and steady.
Mei and Min's eyes met across the pavement. For a fleeting second, the "Goddess" and the "Warrior" shared a look of mutual annoyance, a silent spark of competition over who would be the better guest. Wei simply smiled, enjoying the friction.
Hang leaned in, whispering frantically into Wei's ear, "What is the plan, Wei? "You just wait and see," Wei replied, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
The Striver Alliance huddled together,Feng, Lu, Dong, and Ling exchanged frantic, wide-eyed looks. They turned as one to look at their leader, Jiang Min . Min wasn't even listening to them; she was looking at Wei with a radiant, dazed smile that they had never seen in nine years of friendship.
"Should we go?" Dong whispered, scratching his head. "I mean... he seems like a genuinely good person. He apologized for his friends, after all."
Ling nodded shyly, her eyes darting to Wei's handsome face. "I think it's okay."
"It's a trick," Feng hissed, his eyes narrowed. "Rich kids always have a trick."
Lu looked at Min, then back at the group, her expression hardening with protective resolve. "Look at her. Min is clearly hooked. If we don't go, we look like the bad guys, and she'll definitely go anyway. We have to go—if only to protect our leader from whatever the Gold Circle is planning."
The Strivers nodded in unison, reaching a silent agreement. They retreated from their huddle and stepped toward Wei. Ling, fidgeting with the strap of her bag, looked up at Wei with a worried expression.
" Gu Wei... my parents... they'll scold me if I'm late to home," she said softly.
Feng and Dong stepped up beside her, trying to look tough despite their hesitation. "And we have a lot of homework to finish," Feng added, crossing his arms. "We can't just play all night."
The Gold Circle members smirked, thinking they had won on the grounds of responsibility. But Wei's smile only deepened.
Wei's smile didn't fade; it only grew warmer, more reassuring. He looked at the three of them as if he had already solved their problems before they even spoke.
"Don't worry about that," Wei announced loudly. "I've already contacted all your parents. They've agreed to let you stay out late for a 'cultural exchange' evening."
The entire crowd froze.Hang nearly choked on his own breath, whispering harshly, "When did you do that? I've been with you all day!"
Wei leaned back, his eyes dancing. "I'm lying," he whispered back with a soft laugh.
Hang's face turned a translucent shade of panicked white. "Wei! If they find out, we're dead!
"That's why you're here, Hang," Wei said, his tone suddenly firm but playful. "You have the school directory on your phone. Start calling, start texting, and make it happen. I'm entrusting the logistics to you."
Hang stood there, mouth agape, realizing he had been played. He looked at the groups, then at Wei's retreating back as he started leading the way. With a groan of pure frustration, Hang pulled out his phone and began typing at lightning speed.
"Alright, everyone!" Wei called out, waving a hand. " Let's go!"
The two groups, still wary and shooting glares at one another, began to move in a jagged, uncomfortable procession behind Wei. Mei walked on his left, her movements elegant and silent; Min walked on his right, her bicycle clicking rhythmically beside her.
Wei looked at the two girls, then at the trailing groups, and felt a sense of immense satisfaction.
At the Convenience Store
The sliding glass doors of the 24-hour convenience store hissed open, swallowing the two groups into an aisle of neon lights and the hum of refrigeration. The Gold Circle and the Strivers stood in a jagged, awkward cluster, their expressions a mixture of bafflement and suspicion.
Gu Hang looked around the aisles of instant noodles and brightly colored chip bags, his brow furrowed. "Wei, what are we doing here? I thought the plan was the internet cafe?"
Gu Wei didn't stop walking. He reached out, his hand landing firmly on Hang's shoulder with a playful squeeze. A slow, teasing smile spread across his face.
"You can't have a celebration without fuel, Hang. We aren't going in empty-handed." Wei turned to the entire group, his voice warm and inviting. "Everyone—grab your favorite snacks and drinks. Don't look at the prices. Everything is on me."
For a second, the rivalry was forgotten in the face of free snacks. The tension snapped as the teenagers scattered into the aisles.
Feng, Lu, and Dong moved through the beverage section like a tactical unit, whispering fiercely about the merits of different sodas. Meanwhile, Bo, Jia, and Shanshan occupied the premium chocolate aisle, their movements refined and deliberate.
Deep in the third aisle, surrounded by towers of colorful potato chip bags, Ling was bent low, her eyes scanning the bottom shelf for her favorite dried plums. She was a picture of concentration, her brow furrowed and her lips pursed.
Around the corner came Zhang Hao, his mind absent-mindedly fixed on finding spicy crackers. He didn't see her. She didn't see him.
Thud.
The impact was sharp. Ling's small frame recoiled, her heels sliding on the polished linoleum. As she began to tilt backward, a silent gasp escaped her lips. But the cold floor never met her.
Hao's reflexes, honed by years of sports, kicked in. His hand shot out, his fingers locking firmly but gently around Ling's forearm, while his other hand instinctively braced her back. He pulled her toward him to stabilize her, leaving them frozen in a slanted, precarious embrace.
At that exact moment, the dying sun bled through the front windows, casting a long, liquid-gold beam straight down the aisle. The light caught the stray hairs around Ling's face and deepened the amber in Hao's eyes.
For three long seconds, the store disappeared. Hao looked down, his breath hitching as he realized how soft her expression was when she wasn't scowling at the "Gold Circle." Ling stared up, her heart drumming a frantic rhythm against her ribs, her eyes locked onto his sharp jawline.
Hao suddenly realized where his hands were. He let go as if burned, his face erupting in a violent shade of crimson. He stepped back, nearly tripping over a display of instant noodles.
"Are you... are you okay?" he stammered, his hand flying to the back of his neck, his fingers twisting the fabric of his collar. He couldn't look at her, his gaze darting toward the ceiling tiles.
Ling nodded frantically, her face feeling like it was on fire. She turned her back to him, her fingers trembling as she reached for a bag of snacks on the very top shelf. She stood on her tiptoes, jumping slightly, her fingertips barely grazing the plastic.
Hao watched her from the corner of his eye. "What is wrong with me?" he muttered under his breath. But his body moved before his brain could protest.
He stepped up directly behind her. Ling felt the sudden warmth of his presence, his shadow completely enveloping her. Before she could turn, his arm reached up right past her ear. She froze, her breath catching as she felt the faint scent of his cologne.
Hao grabbed the bag with ease. He didn't pull back immediately. He looked down, and for a split second, their faces were inches apart. Ling's heart felt like it was going to leap out of her chest. With a jerky motion, Hao handed her the snack.
Ling snatched it, her head bowed low, and bolted toward the next aisle without a word. Hao stood there, a dazed, stupid smile creeping onto his face. "Cute," he whispered to the empty shelf. Then, his eyes went wide. He slapped his own forehead. "Wake up, Hao! She's a Striver!"
At the refrigerated section, the atmosphere was far less romantic. Le Mei reached out a gloved hand toward the last bottle of imported peach tea.
Snap.
Jiang Min's hand darted in like a cobra, snatching the bottle just inches from Mei's fingers. Min didn't even look at her; she simply tucked it under her arm with a triumphant smirk and began to walk away, her shoulder "accidentally" slamming into Mei's with enough force to make the Goddess stumble.
Mei's eyes flashed with a cold, predatory light. She didn't scream. She didn't call for help. She stepped forward, her movements fluid and sharp, and delivered a heavy "bash" back, her hip knocking Min into a display of bread rolls.
"You're in the way," Mei hissed, her voice a low, dangerous vibration, and snatching a different snack right out of Min's other hand.
"Oh? I thought the 'Distant Goddess' didn't eat processed sugar," Min fired back, her eyes narrowing into slits. She lunged forward, grabbing a handful of Mei's perfectly styled hair.
"Let go!" Mei gasped, her own hand flying up to catch a clump of Min's ponytail.
The two most powerful girls in the school were suddenly a mess of tangled limbs and hushed vitriol. They scuffled in the narrow space, shoulders bumping, fingers tugging at hair, their faces distorted with a nine-year-old rage.
"Your group... is a nuisance!" Mei whispered, tugging harder.
"Your council... is a joke!" Min gritted through her teeth.
"Mei? Min? Are you guys ready?". Gu Wei's voice drifted over the aisles, calm and melodic.
The transformation was instantaneous. Mei smoothed her hair and adjusted her collar in one fluid motion. Min tucked the snacks under her arm and offered a bright, innocent beam. When Wei arrived with Gu Hang , he found the two "Queens" standing side-by-side, looking like two lifelong best friends enjoying a shopping trip.
"Ready?" Wei asked, looking between them with a knowing glint in his eye.
"Let's go!" they said in perfect unison, casting one final, icy glance at each other before following him to the counter.
At the billing counter, the counter was buried under a mountain of snacks. Wei stepped forward, adding a few specific items he had picked out himself: a vintage brand of white rabbit candies, a specific type of spicy seaweed, and a rare strawberry soda.
Jia looked down at the pile, her eyes widening. She poked Shanshan and Bo. "Wait... Wei-ge, these are all our favorites."
Wei smiled, a soft, genuine look of nostalgia on his face. "I remember. You guys used to fight over these when we were children. I figured some things shouldn't change."
The members of the Gold Circle stood in stunned silence, their hearts softening. Even Bo looked away, his jaw tightening as he tried to hide how touched he was. In the middle of the neon-lit store, for just a moment, they weren't the "Gold Circle" or "Student Council"—they were just kids again.
In the Internet cafe
The VIP room of the "Cyber-Dragon" Internet Cafe was a neon-drenched sanctuary. In 2012, League of Legends was the undisputed king of Shanghai's gaming scene. The room was filled with the rhythmic clack-clack-clack of mechanical keyboards and the blue-tinted glow of widescreen monitors reflecting off the faces of the two rival groups.
Gu Wei stood at the center, swiveling a ceramic bowl in his hands. Gu Hang stood beside him, whispering through gritted teeth, "You're really doing this? You're mixing the oil and the water?"
Wei ignored him with a wink. "Listen up! In this bowl are the names for our Duo-Tag Tournament. 2v2 matches, mid-lane only. The winning duo gets two front-row tickets to the Jay Chou 'Opus' Concert."
The room erupted. In 2012, those tickets were gold. Jiang Min felt her heart race. "If I win, I can go with Brother Wei,' she thought, her eyes burning with determination. Le Mei didn't say a word, but her fingers tightened around her mouse.
Wei pulled the slips one by one. The room went silent as the pairings were announced:
1. Min & Hao, 2. Ling & Mei, 3. Shanshan & Feng, 4. Dong & Lu, 5. Jia & Bo, 6.Hang & Wei
"Let the games begin," Wei announced, his voice full of mischief.
Gu Wei and Gu Hang were the heart of the room. Instead of sitting behind their own screens, they moved through the aisles like seasoned hospitality pros.
Hang was the life of the party. He zipped between chairs, popping open cold cans of soda with a satisfying hiss and sliding them onto coasters next to the players. "Stay hydrated, heroes! We need peak performance for those concert tickets!" he joked, bumping shoulders with Han Dong and making the stoic Striver crack a rare grin.
Wei followed behind him, carrying a large tray of the snacks they had just bought. He didn't just serve; he observed. He leaned over Lu's shoulder, noticing his character was struggling in the bottom lane.
"Lu, don't retreat yet," Wei whispered, his voice calm and steady. He pointed a long finger at her screen, indicating a hidden bush. "Wait for the cooldown. If you strike now, you'll catch them off guard. Trust your partner."
Wei's tactical advice was like a cheat code. He moved from station to station, providing "Big Brother" guidance to both sides, effectively bridging the gap between the Strivers raw instinct and the Gold Circle's calculated play.
The room was no longer divided by social status, but by the frantic energy of the game.
Gu Hang and Lu were an unexpected riot. Hang wasn't playing to win; he was playing to entertain. "Watch this, Lu! The legendary 'Hang-Maneuver'!" he shouted, accidentally running his character into a wall. Lu burst out laughing, his usual serious expression melting away.
Nearby, Jia and Bo were surprisingly synchronized. Usually, Bo was too arrogant to listen to anyone, but Jia's bubbly encouragement seemed to work on him.
"Bo-ge, now! Use your ultimate!" Jia cheered, her eyes glued to the screen.
Bo smirked, his fingers flying across the keys. "Consider it done." When they secured a "Double Kill," Jia let out a squeal of delight and grabbed Bo's arm. Bo didn't pull away; he actually laughed, looking genuinely relaxed for the first time all day.
Wei stood at the back of the room with a tray of open White Rabbit candies, watching the scene unfold. He caught Hang's eye across the room. Hang gave a subtle thumbs-up, a silent gesture that said, 'The plan is working.' The Striver group began to look at Wei differently. As he handed Feng a juice box and gave him a quick tip on how to counter an enemy spell, Feng looked up and realized Wei wasn't looking down on them.
He was genuinely invested in their fun. "He's actually a good person," Feng thought, nodding his thanks.
The "war" shifted from the schoolyard to the digital battlefield.
Mei and Ling sat side-by-side. Surprisingly, they were the most sensible. Mei gave calm, calculated orders, and Ling followed them with surgical precision. They functioned like a well-oiled machine, calling a silent truce for the sake of the win.
Across the aisle, Shanshan and Feng were a disaster.
"You're feeding! Move to the left!" Shanshan shrieked, her face flushed with "cute" anger.
"I'm trying to protect you! Stop rushing in like a princess!" Feng barked back.
They spent the first ten minutes scolding each other, but as the match intensified, their rhythm changed. Feng began to instinctively shield Shanshan's character, and Shanshan started timing her spells to his movements. They began to rely on each other, their bickering turning into a synchronized harmony.
Meanwhile, Wei and Hang didn't play seriously. Wei spent most of his time moving between the chairs, serving drinks, opening snack bags, and cracking jokes to ease the tension. He was the conductor of the room, turning a bitter rivalry into a shared memory.
The Final Showdown
The semi-finals were a bloodbath. Mei and Ling faced off against Min and Hao.
The rivalry between the two Queens peaked here. Mei and Min played with a ferocity that terrified the boys. They weren't just playing for tickets; they were playing for the "Right to Wei." However, Hao and Ling kept catching each other's eyes across the monitors. Remembering their moment at the convenience store, they both found themselves hesitating, going easy on one another with flustered smiles.
In a shocking upset, Mei and Ling lost. Min cheered, though she looked slightly upset that she had defeated her "Goddess" rival so harshly.
The grand final: Min & Hao vs. Shanshan & Feng.
It was a fierce, high-stakes match. The rest of the groups gathered behind them, the tension so thick it was palpable. Feng's hands were a blur on the keys, and Shanshan was leaning so far into the monitor her nose almost touched it. Their cooperation was flawless—a Striver and a Gold Circle member moving as one.
"VICTORY!" flashed across the screen.
In the heat of the moment, Shanshan and Feng turned to each other and high-fived, their fingers interlocking for a few seconds too long. The realization hit them at the same time. They both turned away instantly, faces burning red, coughing to hide their embarrassment.
Wei stood up, clapping loudly. He handed the shimmering concert tickets to a dazed Shanshan and Feng.
"Congratulations to our champions," Wei said, holding up a can of juice like a toast. "Thank you all for coming and making this a night to remember."
As the groups walked out of the neon-lit cafe into the cool night air, the atmosphere had shifted. The Strivers looked at Wei, finally realizing he wasn't just a "rich kid"—he was the glue they didn't know they needed.
Wei turned to them with a brilliant, parting smile. "Once again, thank you. And just so you know... from tomorrow onwards, I'll be eating lunch with all of you. See you tomorrow."
He gave a casual wave and disappeared into the night with Hang.
The two groups stood frozen on the sidewalk. The "Lunch Announcement" was a bombshell. If Wei sat with both of them, the war was effectively over—or at least, it had to be hidden.
Mei stepped forward, her eyes cold but her voice steady as she looked at Min. "Now you guys know what kind of person Brother Wei is. In front of him, we don't fight. If you have a problem, you can come to me directly."
Min stepped up, her bicycle clicking as she stood toe-to-toe with the Goddess. A small, stubborn smirk played on her lips. "It's a deal then."
They exchanged one last, lingering glare—not of hatred, but of a shared, complicated understanding—and led their respective groups away into the Shanghai night.