Chapter 22 Gambling

When Lin Qingxu woke up, it was dark outside.

The bedside lamp has dim light and warm colors.

The person next to him was leaning against the headboard, the bright blue light from the computer screen reflected on his profile.

"Awake?" Kan Zhao asked.

"Yeah." Lin Qingxu hugged his waist: "Aren't you asleep?"

"Slept for a while." Kan Zhao gently rubbed Lin Qingxu's hair hanging on the pillow with his fingertips.

At the end of the quarter, major projects are coming to a close, and new ones are being planned. With AI currently gaining popularity, the company has naturally embraced the trend, allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to develop AI-driven gaming projects.

Things like balancing short-term deliveries shouldn't be something he needs to do, but Qiao Yang's marriage has recently experienced a sudden change, and he hasn't been able to come to work.

He was the one who was clamoring for a divorce before, and now he is the one who doesn't want to get a divorce, looking like he's going to die.

Now Kan Zhao has to work overtime to do his part.

Kan Zhao didn’t know what Qiao Yang was trying to do. Was he looking for an excuse to skip work?

Lin Qingxu was watching TV series next to him with headphones on.

The hour hand quietly and stealthily moved another degree.

"Are you hungry?"

“A little.”

Kan Zhao closed the computer.

He lowered his eyes to look at Lin Qingxu and played with her hair: "What do you want to eat?"

"Noodle soup?"

Kan Zhao inherited his cooking skills from Fang Yun. When they lived together in their sophomore year, Kan Zhao was always moody, and sometimes Lin Qingxu really thought that if it weren't for his delicious cooking and baked desserts, she would definitely go back to the dormitory without hesitation.

Kan Zhao took out some seasonal vegetables from the refrigerator, washed them, and cut them into pieces. Then he poured oil and water on them...

"I want more vegetables." Lin Qingxu made a request while standing aside.

"Less salt, more cilantro, no soy sauce, more oyster sauce, less chili..."

She took a bag of macadamia nuts from the kitchen cupboard, peeled them, and ate a few, chewing them.

She fed Kan Zhao some more: "I want some more cookies."

When the water boils, Kan Zhao puts the noodles into the pot.

He sighed, "Lin Xiaoxiao, don't act like a spoiled child."

*

Time goes back to the second year of high school.

"Kan Zhao, someone's looking for you."

The classmate at the door helped shout inside.

Kan Zhao was copying the finished paper from the student behind him and ignored him. It was the next English class, but he had apparently forgotten that the English teacher had assigned homework last time.

The class bell rang. Seeing that Kan Zhao didn't seem to be coming out, the girls outside had to pick a lucky person at random and ask them to pass the gift in.

Qiao Yang happened to pass by.

He took the thing and put it on Kan Zhao's desk. He glanced at the packaging and couldn't help but say sourly, "Handmade chocolate, and it's in the shape of a heart." He reached out to take a few pieces to taste.

It was taken away by one hand.

The back of his hand turned red, and Qiao Yang retracted his hand: "Damn, you don't want to eat it, so what's wrong with me trying a few pieces?"

Kan Zhao ignored him and threw the thing into the table.

Qiao Yang was furious and immediately complained to Lin Qingxu next to him: "Kan Zhao accepted gifts from other girls. Lin Qingxu, please control him."

Lin Qingxu looked at him with a puzzled expression, feeling that Qiao Yang's words sounded very ambiguous.

Although premature love is not good, but: "That is his freedom."

"Go back, kid. The Chinese teacher will be here soon," she reminded.

"Depend on."

*

We have physical education class on Wednesday afternoon.

Since the last midterm exam, classes have been taken up one after another. It is rare that the physical education teacher is not "sick" this time.

After the class was assembled, the teacher asked the students to run two laps around the playground and do warm-up exercises, and then dismissed them for free activities.

After finally being liberated, almost all the boys in the class rushed to the basketball court.

They found an empty space and drew lots to form teams. Kan Zhao and Zhou Yu were in the same group.

The sound of the basketball hitting the ground soon filled half of the playground.

This time, Kan Zhao and his team were playing a competition, and whoever scored the highest would win. Kan Zhao and Zhou Yu worked together very well, with Zhou Yu guarding and disrupting the opponent's main force, while Kan Zhao's continuous changes of direction would confuse the opponent's defenders.

He faked a behind-the-back pass and then turned around to shoot a jump shot, with the basketball drawing a perfect arc.

Hollow into the net.

"Holy crap! That's awesome!" Zhou Yu shouted excitedly.

Kan Zhao twitched his lips. He casually wiped his sweat, his black hair wet and sticking to his forehead, making his expression even more unruly.

"Substitute, substitute." Qiao Yang walked forward with an indignant look on his face. "That's not fair! Substitute Kan Zhao with us. He's on the school team. Wouldn't be beating us like chickens?"

"Everyone has been arranged. How do you want to change? No."

"Then transfer one of your team to ours."

Just as Qiao Yang and Zhou Yu were making a fuss, someone suddenly kicked the basketball hoop hard, and the entire backboard began to shake.

A few people from the physical education class swaggered onto the court.

The leader was called Fang Hao, the one who had been thrown down in the cafeteria for making dirty jokes about girls.

"Get lost! This half is ours." Fang Hao stepped on the rolling basketball and looked at Kan Zhao provocatively. They had clearly been at odds with each other since the last incident.

Kan Zhao glanced at them, his hand still pouring water, obviously not taking them seriously.

After drinking the water, he walked over slowly and stopped half a step away from Fang Hao.

He was two centimeters taller than Fang Hao. At this moment, he lowered his head slightly, his eyes full of contempt as if he was looking at something dirty.

"Wasn't the lesson you received last time enough?"

As the class monitor, Zhou Yu was naturally more diplomatic. Although he didn't like these people who came with bad intentions, he still hurried over to smooth things over: "Fang Hao, our physical education class isn't over yet..."

"What the hell does it have to do with me?" Fang Hao pushed Zhou Yu away.

Zhou Yu was caught off guard and fell back, but was saved from falling by Kan Zhao who held him with one hand.

"What the hell?" He stood up straight and looked at the people around him in disbelief.

So domineering?

Suddenly, Kan Zhao sneered, and in the blink of an eye, the ball that Kan Zhao was playing with was thrown directly towards Fang Hao.

Fang Hao was unable to dodge and was hit on the forehead. He was furious, his face livid: "Kan Zhao, don't be so arrogant!"

Kan Zhao was too lazy to pay attention to him.

Seeing that he was being ignored, Fang Hao became furious and took a step forward, trying to regain the ground he had lost last time.

The other party lowered his eyes and said sarcastically, "Where is your master? Why didn't you tie up your dog that was barking everywhere this time?"

*

After the PE teacher dismissed the class, Lin Qingxu and Ruan Yanyan went to the canteen to buy some water. She wasn't very active, so she returned to the playground, looking for a shady spot to sit and wait for the class to end.

The basketball court I passed by was the only way back. I heard some noise there, as if there was an argument.

Ruan Yanyan saw Qiao Yang's figure at a glance, but she didn't care much about him. It was just that Qiao Yang's fluorescent clothes were particularly eye-catching among the black, white and gray.

"Qingxu, look over there."

Lin Qingxu followed the direction Ruan Yanyan pointed and saw the figures of their classmates.

Ruan Yanyan walked over and grabbed a girl she was familiar with from her class and asked, "What's wrong? Why are you arguing?"

"I don't know. I just got here."

The English class representative next to him glanced at Lin Qingxu and said, "It seems that Kan Zhao and his friends were playing basketball here. Then the students from the sports class came over and said they took over their territory."

"What the hell? Wasn't there anyone there at first?"

"Who knows? They showed up halfway through the class and asked us to move."

*

"What the hell are you talking about?" Fang Hao glared at him.

Kan Zhao read every word.

"stupid."

"force."

"You!" Fang Hao's face turned pale and blue as he rushed over. Naturally, everyone in Class 1 couldn't just sit there and watch, so they all surrounded him.

The two groups of people were pushing and shoving each other.

A sharp whistle cut through the air.

"Stop it!" The physical education teacher ran over quickly, his face ashen.

Lin Qingxu followed behind. When the physical education teacher arrived, she quietly disappeared back into the crowd.

"What's wrong?" Ruan Yanyan asked her quietly.

Lin Qingxu said softly: "It's okay."

If a group conflict like this breaks out, the leader must be found. I don't know what the punishment will be, but he will definitely be scolded first.

The teacher would find out about this sooner or later, so she might as well go find him first. Language is subjective, and given Lin Qingxu's usually gentle personality, the physical education teacher naturally listened to her side.

He scolded the two groups: "What's going on? Who allowed you to fight?"

Fang Hao immediately lowered his fist and put on an aggrieved expression: "Teacher Zhang, our class needs to train, but they're occupying the field and won't let us."

Qiao Yang retorted angrily, "We were here first, but they insisted on taking the place!"

The PE teacher swept a stern look over everyone. "Fang Hao, lead your class to run ten laps around the playground. Kan Zhao, continue with your classes, but be united."

He glared at Fang Hao in particular, "If you do that again, you'll be punished."

The students in the gym class left, grumbling unwillingly. Before leaving, Fang Hao glared at everyone in the class and mouthed, "Just wait and see."

This matter is indeed not over.

There are two physical education classes a week, and there are always people who "reserve seats in advance" every time. Several basketball courts in the school are busy, and badminton, football, etc. are also rented out in advance.

You don't even have to think about it to know that it was Fang Hao and the others who did it.

Just ask their classmates.

——Last time you occupied the venue in advance and didn’t let us play, so why can’t we occupy the venue ourselves?

"Hoodlum behavior." Ruan Yanyan was indignant.

"Who are you scolding?" Fang Hao, who happened to be passing by, heard it.

Ruan Yanyan stepped on the treadmill and rolled her eyes at him.

Fang Hao was already dissatisfied with Class 1, and his anger was rising. He pointed at Ruan Yanyan and said, "You, come down."

Ruan Yanyan's temper also flared up, "Why? Your family owns this school?"

"Our class has taken this seat. If you know what's good for you, get out of here."

"Teacher Zhang said that the use of the venue must follow the class schedule. Now is the time for our class to use it." Lin Qingxu said from the side.

Fang Hao looked at Lin Qingxu.

Ruan Yanyan said, "Before, our class was too lazy to bother with you, but now we need to use the venue here, so please leave."

The words were indeed polite, but to Fang Hao, they meant, who do you think you are? I didn't care about it before because I looked down on you. Now get out of here.

He didn't know Ruan Yanyan, but he certainly knew Lin Qingxu, who was beside her. The person who walked with Kan Zhao every day. Damn it. The school was always checking for premature love affairs, so why didn't they check for them? Did Kan Zhao's dad just donate a few buildings and then stop doing it?

He couldn't do anything to Kan Zhao, so how could he be helpless against this seemingly weak nerd?

Blinded by hatred, Fang Hao didn't care about anything else and was just worried that no one would help him vent his anger.

He stretched out his hand to push the ignorant girl in front of him.

"Fang Hao."

The voice rang out in the gymnasium, and it did not come from Kan Zhao.

Fang Hao paused, but he was unable to retract his action in time.

Kan Zhao was just passing by. The school milk tea shop had a new product, so he and Qiao Yang went to buy some and brought back two cups. When she entered the gymnasium to look for Lin Qingxu, she saw Fang Hao making a move on her.

His movements were faster than he thought, and he quickly blocked Lin Qingxu's way. He grabbed Fang Hao's fist with one hand and flexed it backwards.

The voice was cold: "You dare to touch her?"

"Fuck, let go." Fang Hao's face turned pale, and fine cold sweat kept pouring down his forehead. He tried to pull his hand back, but found that it didn't move at all.

It was as if I heard the sound of bones breaking.

Someone came leisurely.

A tall figure stood against the backdrop of the basketball court. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his well-defined forearms. He slowly approached, his outline gradually outlined by the sunlight. His lips were pressed into a straight line, and a silver earring in his left ear gleamed with a cold gleam.

Fang Hao's face was twisted in pain, his knees weak and he was about to kneel down. When he saw the person coming, he felt like he had seen a savior.

"Brother Qi, save me."

Qi Ke glanced at Fang Hao, expressionless. His gaze passed Kan Zhao and locked onto Lin Qingxu's face. It lingered only for a moment before drifting away.

Afraid that Kan Zhao would be punished for fighting, Lin Qingxu gently tugged at the hem of Kan Zhao's clothes.

Kan Zhao snorted coldly and pushed Fang Hao away. He glanced at Qi Ke and said, "Watch your dog."

Fang Hao knelt on the ground in pain.

Qi Ke took out a pack of paper from his pocket and threw it to Fang Hao: "Wipe it off, it's so embarrassing." His tone was nonchalant.

Who is Qi Ke? A renowned school bully at South China University. His academic record is unknown, as he consistently submits blank papers. It's said he was admitted to South China solely because of his uncle, who is a school trustee. He doesn't bully teachers or classmates, but he seems difficult to get along with.

It was said that his family was involved in gangs, and that he had stabbed, hit, and used guns before...

It sounds ridiculous, but he must have something special to be the school bully.

Seeing that Qi Ke had arrived, the group of people who were originally just watching the show gathered around, just like the confrontation with the physical education class a few days ago.

"Since you all like to be heroes," Qi Ke curled his lips, "why not take a big gamble?"

"At the campus art festival next month, whichever class places higher will have to promise the other class a favor."

It just so happened that their class teacher talked to him a few days ago about the cultural performances in the next two weeks, and complained that the students in the class had no enthusiasm to go on stage, so he asked Qi Ke to think of a solution.

After all, classes one and two and the sports class usually don't rank high. Qi Ke dared to take such a gamble, so Zhou Yu had to wonder if there was some trap.

The monitor hasn't spoken yet.

"Are you scared?"

The two light words aroused Qiao Yang's competitive spirit: "Let's bet!"

Tian Shen beside him also said: "I'm not afraid of you!"

He turned to the class and said loudly, "Since someone is offering it to us, there is no reason for us not to accept it, right?"

"Yes!" the whole class shouted in unison, with great enthusiasm.

"Our class is kind-hearted and we won't AoE everyone in your class. If you lose, how about Fang Hao and that so-and-so from your class go up and do a girl group dance during the principal's speech on Monday?" Qiao Yang looked determined to win.

Qi Ke suddenly laughed, which made Zhou Yu feel uneasy.

"We'll see."