After Transmigrating, I Saved the Saintly Male Lead
o0o
Upon hearing such shameless words, Ji An’ce’s earlobes flushed red.
“Shut up!”
“Ge, I was just joking.”
Gu Hanzhou sat on the edge of the bed, lowering his eyes as he apologized.
“I’m sorry, don’t be angry.”
“I’m not angry!”
Ji An’ce’s cheeks burned as he recalled the embarrassing incident from earlier. He wanted nothing more than to bury his face in the blanket and never come out.
“Hurry up and go back to your own bed. Stop hogging mine.”
Ji An’ce yanked the blanket aside, trying to kick Gu Hanzhou off.
“Ge, I had a nightmare.”
Gu Hanzhou’s face was pale. “Maybe it’s because I’m in a new place. I’m not used to it yet, so I can’t sleep.”
Ji An’ce understood that feeling. Earlier, he’d also struggled to fall asleep because the bed felt unfamiliar.
But one thing puzzled him.
“Our beds are exactly the same, though. They’re both brand-new from the school. Is mine really that much more comfortable than yours?”
Gu Hanzhou shook his head.
“No.”
Ji An’ce was even more confused. “Then why do you insist on sleeping in my bed?”
Gu Hanzhou lowered his head, silent.
Under the warm orange glow of the nightlight, his pale jawline looked delicate.
Ji An’ce sighed.
Then an idea struck him. “How about this—you sleep in my bed, and I’ll sleep in yours. Would that work?”
“Ge… do you dislike me too?”
Ji An’ce was stunned.
“Huh?”
Gu Hanzhou murmured, “A lot of people dislike me.”
“Mom never liked me. She hated me from the moment I was born. She even thought I shouldn’t have been born at all.”
The corners of his lips pressed together in a faint, forced smile.
“If not for the law, I might not have survived this long.”
“People my age hate me too. Some only befriend me because they want something from me. I have to give endlessly, without boundaries, just to earn the right to be their friend.”
Gu Hanzhou lifted his gaze, staring intently at Ji An’ce.
“Ge, you’re the only one who’s ever truly cared about me.”
“I know I’m weak and twisted. It’s normal for people to dislike me.”
“But…”
His expression flickered with barely suppressed panic.
“Ge, do you dislike me now too?”
If someone as pure and kind-hearted as Gu Hanzhou could call himself 'twisted,' then no one in this world could truly be called good. Ji An’ce had no idea why he’d think that way.
“I don’t dislike you!”
Ji An’ce frowned, his tone firm. “Where did you even get that idea?”
Gu Hanzhou lowered his eyes, his entire demeanor steeped in sorrow. “Then why won’t you let me sleep with you? Isn’t it because you dislike me?”
“I—it’s just—”
Ji An’ce’s mind was a mess. He didn’t know how to explain this properly.
“Listen, ‘whether I sleep with you’ and ‘whether I dislike you’ have nothing to do with each other. Don’t mix them up.”
Gu Hanzhou’s lips thinned as he forced another smile. “Ge, you don’t have to explain.”
“I understand.”
Ji An’ce: “……” What exactly do you understand?!
Gu Hanzhou’s voice was rough. “I thought we were close enough that sharing a bed wouldn’t be a big deal.”
“I overstepped. I’m sorry.”
“It won’t happen again.”
Ji An’ce cut him off with a sigh. “Fine, fine. I won’t kick you out.”
“Stay if you want.”
He didn’t get why such a small thing had spiraled into this.
Sleeping together wasn’t a big deal anyway. They’d already done it at the rental place.
Now that they were in the school dorm, a few more times wouldn’t hurt.
The bed was big enough for both of them.
“Really?”
The sadness in Gu Hanzhou’s eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a glimmer of joy.
Seeing how quickly his mood shifted, Ji An’ce couldn’t help but wonder—
Had Gu Hanzhou been faking that pitiful act earlier?
But whether it was an act or not, it didn’t matter. He still felt for him.
After all, he genuinely saw Gu Hanzhou as family.
Ji An’ce teased, “Xiao Zhou, your acting skills are pretty good.”
A flash of surprise crossed Gu Hanzhou’s eyes.
He blinked, looking utterly lost.
“Ge, what do you mean? What acting?”
“Are you saying I was pretending just now?”
His voice cracked slightly, as if wounded. “Ge, I wasn’t lying to you.”
Seeing his hurt expression, Ji An’ce froze.
Had he misjudged him?
Had Gu Hanzhou not been acting after all?
If not, then his words had only rubbed salt in the wound.
Guilt surged in Ji An’ce’s chest.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”
“It’s okay.”
Gu Hanzhou’s smile was faint. “When I was eight, it was winter. There was a river in the suburbs of City A that hadn’t fully frozen. People would go there to swim or fish, but it was remote, so not many went.”
“One night, Mom took me there to swim. I was so happy—it was the first time she’d ever taken me out.”
Ji An’ce was horrified. “She took an eight-year-old swimming in a frozen river at night?!”
“What was she thinking?!”
Gu Hanzhou chuckled. “The water was freezing. After ten minutes, my bones ached from the cold.”
“When I climbed out, it was completely dark. I couldn’t see any buildings or people.”
Ji An’ce’s voice rose.
“Where was your mom?!”
Gu Hanzhou shook his head. “Even now, I don’t know where she went that night.”
Ji An’ce swore under his breath.
“Damn it!”
“She just left you there?!”
A pause.
“Yeah.”
“I waited for over two hours. When she didn’t come back, I searched for her. I walked miles through the mountains but never found her. It was snowing lightly, and I only had a thin jacket. Eventually, I collapsed from fever and hypothermia.”
“Luckily, a passerby found me unconscious and called the police. They took me to the hospital, so I survived.”
Had Ji An’ce looked closely, he would’ve seen the icy emptiness in Gu Hanzhou’s eyes.
But right now, his own hands were clenched so tight they trembled. Rage and horror coiled in his chest.
What kind of mother would take her eight-year-old son to a river at night, disguising it as an accident?
If Gu Hanzhou had died, no one would’ve suspected her.
His heart felt like it was drowning in ice.
Ji An’ce’s breaths came short, his limbs numb.
The novel had only briefly mentioned Gu Hanzhou’s childhood. He hadn’t paid much attention at the time, but he remembered the book mentioning that Gu Hanzhou’s mother had abused him.
He never imagined she’d tried to kill him.
Back then, Gu Hanzhou was just a child.
He’d gone out happily with his mother, only to nearly lose his life.
How would he feel when he grew up and realized the truth?
What kind of life could a child have when even his own parents hated him?
The ache in Ji An’ce’s chest threatened to spill over. His throat burned, desperate to offer some comfort.
But words failed him.
In the end, he stepped forward and pulled Gu Hanzhou into a tight embrace.
Sometimes, actions spoke louder than words.
“I’m sorry”
Gu Hanzhou laughed softly. “Ge, why are you apologizing? You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Ji An’ce didn’t answer.
If only he’d met Gu Hanzhou sooner. Maybe he could’ve made up for the pain.
If only he’d been there earlier.
“It’s okay.”
Gu Hanzhou’s voice was gentle as he comforted the boy holding him.
He nuzzled into Ji An’ce’s shoulder, his lashes lowering lazily. A faint, possessive gleam flickered in his eyes.
“The past doesn’t matter. From now on, I have Ge with me.”
A strange possessiveness flickered in Gu Hanzhou’s pupils. "Gege will stay with me forever, right?"
Ji An’ce’s voice was muffled. "Yeah, I’ll stay with you forever."
Recalling the original novel’s plot, while the male lead’s mother was cruel, his father was even worse. The harm he caused was no less than that woman’s.
Most parents would do anything to protect their children, never wanting them to suffer. But for Gu Hanzhou, those two scumbags were already doing him a favor by not causing him more trouble—protection was out of the question.
It was too tragic.
His poor son.
Ji An’ce’s nose tinged red as he solemnly patted Gu Hanzhou’s shoulder.
"I’ll protect you."
He sniffled, amber eyes glistening with unshed tears, heartache and tenderness swirling in his gaze.
"If you don’t mind… you can think of me as your dad from now on."
His expression was deadly serious as he thumped his chest in assurance. "I’ll treat you well! I’ll fill the gaps in your life with endless fatherly love!"
Gu Hanzhou’s face stiffened slightly.
He smiled. "Ge, what did you say?"
"Say it again."
Ji An’ce’s sharp instincts picked up on the sudden shift in atmosphere. He rubbed his nose.
"Nothing."
"Just joking, haha. You didn’t take it seriously, did you?"
The air fell silent for several seconds.
Ji An’ce felt a little awkward.
But after tonight, he was already immune to embarrassment. Nothing could break him now.
At least the suffocating gloom around Gu Hanzhou had dissipated. Ji An’ce finally relaxed—his joke must have helped a little.
It was late.
Sleepiness crashed over him like a wave. Ji An’ce yawned, bleary-eyed, and mumbled.
"Alright, be good and go to sleep now."
"Don’t think about unhappy things. Goodnight."
Propping himself up on his elbow, he tugged the blanket over himself and lay down.
Gu Hanzhou’s lips curved.
It seemed Ji An’ce had misunderstood the nature of their relationship.
As a good younger brother, it was his duty to correct his gege’s mistakes.
He leaned down slightly, fingers brushing the back of Ji An’ce’s neck.
"Ge, there seems to be a bug on you."
Ji An’ce jolted in alarm, grabbing his sleeve in panic.
"Get it off me, quick!"
"Don’t move, Ge."
Gu Hanzhou pinned his shoulders, pressing closer as his fingers slipped past the slightly open collar. "Tch, troublesome. It crawled inside."
They had both been sitting on the bed, so their positions were unavoidably intimate.
Now it was borderline suggestive—noses almost touching, breaths mingling.
Cool fingertips traced the pale nape of his neck, glimpsing smooth skin through the parted shirt.
Half-hidden, half-revealed—the most tantalizing kind of tease.
Gu Hanzhou’s eyes darkened, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
Shadows intertwined, light and dark painting stark contrasts across the boy’s body.
Every curve fit his desires perfectly.
Desire surged in Gu Hanzhou’s gaze as he sighed.
"Ge, there’s no bug."
"I must’ve mistaken something earlier."
Ji An’ce’s voice trembled.
"Are you sure?"
Gu Hanzhou chuckled. "Positive. It was probably just a shadow. My mistake."
Only then did Ji An’ce relax. But as his senses returned, he suddenly remembered his tough-guy persona.
A real man shouldn’t be afraid of bugs.
Clearing his throat awkwardly, he explained.
"I’m not scared of bugs."
"I just really hate them."
Amusement glimmered in Gu Hanzhou’s eyes.
"Yeah, I hate them too."
Lying down, Ji An’ce abruptly realized their position was… questionable.
Wasn’t this the classic drama pose before the leads tumbled into bed?
His ears burned red as he pushed against Gu Hanzhou’s chest.
"Get off me."
Gu Hanzhou obeyed.
"Okay."
Bracing his left hand on the mattress, he tried to rise.
"Ge, sorry—my hand went numb."
"I can’t get up."
"???"
Ji An’ce’s breath hitched, his ears flushing crimson.
Gu Hanzhou murmured, "Ge, why are your ears so red?"
Cool fingertips brushed the scorching-hot earlobe, toying with it teasingly.
Ji An’ce’s ears were sensitive—even the lightest touch sent shivers down his spine.
"Ahahaha—s-stop, that tickles!"
Ignoring him, Gu Hanzhou slid a hand under his waist, fingers tracing the delicate skin there.
"Let go! Quit messing around and get off!"
Ji An’ce laughed harder, cheeks blooming pink.
"I’m ticklish, hahaha!"
But the usually obedient male lead didn’t listen this time. Instead, his hands wandered everywhere.
Damn it.
Was Gu Hanzhou getting revenge on purpose?!
"Hahahaha—"
Ji An’ce was laughing so hard his abs hurt.
He’d never realized how many ticklish spots he had.
No matter where Gu Hanzhou touched, he couldn’t stop giggling.
Between gasps, Ji An’ce glared weakly.
"Y-you—hahaha—stop touching me!"
But with his amber eyes glistening and lashes damp, his glare held no threat—only an unconscious, alluring charm.
His lips were red, his skin flushed under the slightest pressure, blooming like roses.
Gu Hanzhou’s breath hitched, his heartbeat spiraling out of control.
Even Ji An’ce’s smallest, most oblivious actions shattered his restraint.
A pang of frustration rose in Gu Hanzhou’s chest.
Deliberately, he leaned close to Ji An’ce’s ear, voice hoarse.
"Ge, your skin is so fair."
Hearing the envy in his tone, Ji An’ce huffed proudly.
"Jealous?"
Completely unaware of the danger, he tugged his collar wider.
"Too bad. Ge was born this way."
Gu Hanzhou’s lips curled as warm breath brushed his ear.
The pale shell reddened. Ji An’ce squirmed away.
His face was flushed from laughter as he fanned himself. "Don’t get so close. It’s hot."
Gu Hanzhou’s gaze darkened.
Fair skin… perfect for certain things.
Desire swelled like a tidal wave, threatening to breach its dam.
The conflict between longing and reason tore at him, leaving his chest aching and his stomach coiled tight.
He stared down at the boy beneath him, searching for even a flicker of something more.
But Ji An’ce’s expression remained bright and unguarded, smiling up at him without a trace of hesitation.
His eyes were clear and pure—amber like starlight, filled with trust, faint reliance, and blazing friendship.
But not a shred of romantic affection.
Not even a hint of desire.
A midnight breeze swept in, carrying an inexplicable sense of threat. Ji An’ce’s back prickled.
Abruptly, Gu Hanzhou pushed himself up and away.
"It’s late. Sleep."
His tone was oddly cold.
But Ji An’ce, too drowsy to notice, yawned. "Yeah, we should."
"No more late nights. We’re health-conscious now."
Gu Hanzhou tucked the blanket around him. "Goodnight, Ge."
Ji An’ce mumbled, "Night. Sweet dreams."
His head barely touched the pillow before he was out like a light.
Gu Hanzhou listened to his steady breathing.
Eyes wide awake, he stared at the white wall, sleepless.
In the darkness, lush vines seemed to spread across the room, emerald tendrils climbing the walls—a scene that should’ve been vibrant.
But in an instant, the vines withered, green veins rotting to gray, dissolving into stagnant filth.
His chest tightened, restless agitation churning, bitterness seeping into his throat.
Pale moonlight spilled through the window, painting Gu Hanzhou’s expressionless face in cold silver.
Hallucinations surged—vivid, fractured.
Memories of his past life flickered like a grotesque film reel.
Malice took root.
Crimson spiders skittered across the floor, crawling up the bedsheets.
More poured from the door cracks, swarming the cabinets, the shoeboxes, the countertops. Sticky white webs stretched in shadowed corners.
Gu Hanzhou could see them clearly—their sharp fangs, their patterned shells, their spindly legs covered in white bristles.
He knew they weren’t real.
Spiders couldn’t infest a dorm room like this.
Closing his eyes, he steeled himself.
But when he opened them again, a massive spider dangled from the bed canopy.
Venom dripped from its maw. Eight blood-red eyes oozed crimson, its fangs bared as it spat.
"Sss—!!!"
The phantom burn of acidic venom seared his skin.
Gu Hanzhou clenched his eyes shut, body rigid.
Cold sweat drenched his back. A shrill ringing split his skull.
The darkness thickened into a suffocating net, strangling him.
Air grew thin in his lungs.
His throat constricted.
Oxygen drained from his chest.
He couldn’t breathe.
The dorm became quicksand, dragging him into the abyss.
Lips bloodless, fingers twitching, his entire body trembled.
Slowly, he inched closer to the warm boy beside him.
A trembling hand fisted the hem of Ji An’ce’s shirt, knuckles white, careful not to wake him.
Gu Hanzhou buried his face in the crook of his neck—clutching his lifeline.
Soft fabric, the scent of lemon, the sound of his breathing.
The phantom skittering of spiders faded.
Instead, cicadas hummed. Cars honked in the distance.
He was back in the living world.
No longer trapped in hell.
Gu Hanzhou exhaled shakily.
Nuzzling the warm skin, he sought comfort like a starved beast.
The hallucinations dissolved with time.
His gaze lingered on that pale, vulnerable spot.
The urge to bite down flared.
But reason won out.
Instead, he pressed a featherlight kiss there, barely a touch.
Careful not to wake him.
The illusions vanished. Peace returned.
Lying back, Gu Hanzhou hooked a finger around Ji An’ce’s pinky, marking his territory.
Warmth seeped into his veins as he watched the sleeping boy.
When would this hopeless love end?
Gu Hanzhou didn’t know.
He was drowning in despair, wide awake.
He didn’t sleep all night.
o0o
Late Night
In a secluded corner of the city, Liu Lifei wandered aimlessly down the street. His class teacher's missing phone had yet to be found, and suspicions were already falling on him. However, he had already sold the phone online, and there was no way to contact the buyer to get it back.
Liu Lifei kicked a nearby can with frustration, his expression filled with anger. Suddenly, an old man with a bare upper body and gray sweatpants emerged from the bushes.
The old man's ribs protruded like a skeleton, and he wore a black plastic bag over his head, obscuring his face. It was as if he was trying to hide his identity, perhaps out of shame for his appearance.
Liu Lifei took a deep breath, trying to suppress the rising smile on his lips. Apparently, his good looks were even attractive to a sixty-year-old man. Sighing, he thought to himself."I'm too handsome."
Just as the exposed old man was about to stumble towards him, Liu Lifei's expression turned to one of horror. Although he was good-looking, he had no desire to engage in a twilight romance with a perverted old man!
"Damn it, get away from me, you pervert!"
Liu Lifei's pupils constricted, and his body reacted before his brain could process the situation. He kicked the old man in the ribs, causing him to fall to the ground, writhing in pain.
Perverts like this deserved to be beaten up.
"You perverted old man! You exposed yourself in public! Don't you have any shame?" Liu Lifei's anger grew, and he kicked the old man with even more force, questioning, "Do you think you can defile my pure body?"
The old man with the plastic bag on his head cried out, "Xiao Liu, Xiao Liu! It's me!"
Liu Lifei kicked him again, scoffing, "Who are you? Don't try to claim kinship with me, I don't know any perverted old men!"
A shrill voice suddenly pierced through the air.
"I'm Teacher Tian!!!"
Liu Lifei paused his kicks, looking at the old man with a bare upper body in disbelief. He swallowed and asked.
"Teacher Tian? Is that you?"
"It's me!!!"
The old man shouted at the top of his lungs, "I'm Teacher Tian!!!"
Tian Junxiong clutched his waist in pain, his face contorted as he howled, "Ouch, you're going to break my old bones!"
Liu Lifei awkwardly pursed his lips.
"Sorry, I thought you were a pervert."
"Teacher Tian, why are you wearing a plastic bag on your head? I didn't recognize you at first glance."
Tian Junxiong removed the plastic bag from his head and covered the bruises on his waist, hissing in pain.
He cleared his throat awkwardly and said, "It's a long story. Let me find a place to talk about it."
"Xiao Liu, hurry up! Lend me a shirt!"
Liu Lifei hesitated, "Teacher Tian, I only have one thin shirt. If I give it to you, I won't have anything to wear."
Tian Junxiong frowned, disapproving, "It doesn't matter if you look embarrassed. You're just a student. I'm a well-known teacher in City A. Hurry up and give me your shirt!"
Hearing this, Liu Lifei felt a sense of unease. He too was worried about looking embarrassed.
Suddenly, he noticed a white shirt lying on the corridor, and it seemed like it would fit.
Liu Lifei rushed to the corridor, grabbed the white shirt, and proudly presented it to Tian Junxiong, saying excitedly, "Teacher Tian, how about you wear this shirt?"
Tian Junxiong hurriedly took the shirt.
When he unfolded it, he realized something was wrong.
It had a pink bow on the chest, a navy blue V-neck, and the hem was unusually short.
Liu Lifei was also stunned. How could it be... a sailor suit?!
And it was a particularly revealing one, with a bare midriff.
Tian Junxiong felt that the shirt looked a bit strange, but he didn't have time to worry about it.
The strange looks from passersby were one thing. More importantly, the temperature in City A was extremely cold at night, and his old bones were freezing. Although the shirt was a bit short, it was thick and could provide some warmth.
Tian Junxiong put on the shirt and walked down the street, noticing that the passersby were looking at him even more strangely, with a return rate of almost 100%.
Some of the men even looked at him with a particularly fiery gaze.
That night, many people witnessed a magical sight.
An old man wearing a revealing sailor suit jacket and old, knee-length gray sweatpants.
He was a true fashion icon of the times.
Tian Junxiong was completely unaware of this.
He was starving and decided to find a restaurant to eat.
Finally, he found a late-night restaurant.
When the restaurant owner saw Tian Junxiong wearing a sailor suit, even though she had seen many things in her life, it took her a minute to react.
The restaurant owner hesitated and said, "Hello, gentlemen. We are a legitimate business and do not provide special services."
Tian Junxiong was confused, "What? I'm here to eat! Who wants special services?!"
The restaurant owner looked at the oddly dressed old man and wiped the sweat from her forehead, "That's good, that's good. What kind of noodles would you like?"
Liu Lifei said, "I'd like shrimp lobster noodles with extra chili."
"I'd like a clear soup noodle," Tian Junxiong reminded him, "Xiao Liu, remember to pay, I don't have any money on me."
"Huh?" Liu Lifei's expression turned ugly for a moment, "Okay."
They found a table and sat down. Liu Lifei asked curiously, "Teacher Tian, how come you're out on the street so late and not even wearing clothes?"
Tian Junxiong opened a bottle of white wine. It was one he had grabbed from the counter earlier.
Liu Lifei felt a pang of pain as he watched the expensive white wine. It cost three hundred yuan a bottle.
Tian Junxiong took a big gulp of wine and sighed, "It's a long story. Let me start from the beginning..."
"The punishment has already come down?!" Liu Lifei was surprised.
Tian Junxiong took a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket and threw it to Liu Lifei, "Read the school's notice."
Liu Lifei unfolded the wrinkled white paper.
[Notice: Due to Mr. Tian Junxiong's embezzlement of public funds, despite repeated warnings, he has continued to make the same mistakes, insulting students' personalities. He has violated school rules, teacher ethics, and the law. After discussion by the Academic Research Office, it has been unanimously decided to dismiss Mr. Tian Junxiong from his teaching position. This notice is hereby issued as a warning to others.]
After reading the school's notice, Liu Lifei asked curiously, "Teacher Tian, isn't your father-in-law the headmaster? Can't he help you?"
Tian Junxiong took a hard swig of the bitter wine, a wry smile appearing on his face.
His face was pale from alcohol, and his cheeks were sunken, making him look like a dried-up skeleton.
"The reason I'm so miserable tonight is all thanks to my father-in-law and my wife."
Tian Junxiong took a swig of wine and cursed, "That yellow-faced woman at home can't stand me. She's ugly enough, but she can't even say a kind word. She doesn't do any housework, and I don't even get a hot meal when I get home every day."
Liu Lifei echoed his curse, "She's so lazy."
Tian Junxiong said helplessly, "That's right, she's so lazy. If it weren't for her father's power, I wouldn't have married her in the first place."
Tian Junxiong's eyes were glazed, and he said drunkenly, "I finally met a woman who understands me outside. She's my soulmate!"
"I just couldn't resist being intimate with her. It's human nature, what's wrong with that?!"
Liu Lifei agreed, "Yes, it's normal for men to have female friends who understand them. You've only made a mistake that all men make. It's no big deal. They're just narrow-minded."
Tian Junxiong patted his shoulder and said with a smile, "Xiao Liu, you understand me."
"My father-in-law and my wife found out about my intimacy with my soulmate, and they kicked me out of the house in the middle of the night."
"I was only wearing a pair of pants, not even a shirt. They kicked me out of the house in the middle of the night, and I had no money to buy clothes."
Tian Junxiong slammed his fist on the table, and the wine spilled onto the table. His face turned red, "I'm Tian Junxiong, a man with a face and a name. If I'm seen like this by people I know, I'll be embarrassed!"
"So I put a plastic bag on my head. That way, no one would recognize me."
Liu Lifei gave him a thumbs up and said sincerely, "That's a great idea, Teacher Tian. You're really thoughtful."
The restaurant owner walked over to them and said coldly, "Please leave my restaurant. I don't welcome cheaters here. And I don't welcome men who talk about cheating so openly and shamelessly."
Tian Junxiong was so angry that his chest was shaking, "We haven't even finished eating yet! Why are you kicking us out?"
The restaurant owner rolled her eyes, "I'm giving you free food anyway. I don't want to see you here."
She pointed at Tian Junxiong's nose and scolded, "You deserve to be kicked out by your wife! She's finally free from her misery!"
Tian Junxiong's veins bulged on his forehead, and he was furious, "Do you want to continue running your restaurant? Believe it or not, I'll report you!"
"Go ahead and report me!"
The restaurant owner dragged the two of them out, spitting with disgust, "Get out of here! You're such a bad omen!"
The restaurant door slammed shut in front of them.
The cold wind was biting, and the surroundings were pitch black.
Tian Junxiong and Liu Lifei's stomachs growled in unison.
Tian Junxiong was so angry that he was fuming, "That restaurant owner is crazy! What does it matter to her if I cheat? Why does she care?"
"Yes! She's simply too nosy," Liu Lifei said earnestly, "That kind of woman needs a husband to keep her in line."
"By the way, Teacher Tian, who sent the photos to your father-in-law? That person is truly despicable."
Tian Junxiong sighed, his head aching, "It must have been Gu Hanzhou. He's the only one I saw with the photos."
"Gu Hanzhou?!"
Liu Lifei asked in disbelief, "Gu Hanzhou sent them???"
"If it's him, then it's easy to deal with. I've been annoyed with him lately anyway."
Liu Lifei clenched his fists, his face showing a hint of malice as he promised, "Teacher Tian, don't worry, I'll definitely help you get revenge."
"I've known Gu Hanzhou for so long, I understand him well. He's timid and naive, can't even take care of himself, yet he tries to help everyone like some kind of saint. He's just a fool, he wouldn't dare fight back even if he was bullied."
"He set you up this time, you can't let him get away with it. I know some people, I'll get them to teach him a lesson. Gu Hanzhou needs to be taught a harsh lesson."
Liu Lifei didn't want to be Tian Junxiong's cash cow all night, so he made an excuse and quickly left, "I'll go contact my brothers, Teacher Tian, I'll take my leave."
Tian Junxiong's lips moved, recalling the darkness and malice that Gu Hanzhou had shown that afternoon.
He shuddered in fear.
Gu Hanzhou is a madman!!
Don't provoke Gu Hanzhou!!!!!!
He wanted to say something to warn Liu Lifei, but when he looked up, the person had already disappeared.
Tian Junxiong opened another can of beer, the bitter liquid filling his stomach.
It's over, it's really over this time.
His father-in-law turned against him, the school expelled him, and none of his old connections could be relied on.
But thankfully, no one knows about that most important thing yet. If that were exposed, even basic freedom would be a luxury.
Tian Junxiong drunkenly slumped down in the roadside bushes and fell asleep.
o0o
The next morning.
The nine o'clock alarm clock rang.
Ji Anche squinted and turned off the alarm.
He rubbed his sleepy eyes, stretched, and struggled to sit up in bed.
He saw Gu Hanzhou sitting quietly on a stool, holding a book and reading intently.
Ji Anche yawned and said drowsily, "Mmm... good morning, you're up early."
Gu Hanzhou's eyes remained fixed on the book, not looking at him.
Gu Hanzhou's expression showed a hint of alienation and indifference as his fingers turned the pages.
"Morning."
Ji Anche keenly sensed that the male lead seemed unhappy.
This sixth sense was inexplicable, but he still felt something was off.
At this moment, Gu Hanzhou received a call.
Liu Lifei's threatening voice came from the other end of the line, "Gu Hanzhou, is it fun to play tricks behind someone's back? If you have the guts, come out now. I'm waiting for you at Xinhua Bookstore on Tiyu Road. Let's have a real fight, or I'll look down on you."
Gu Hanzhou chuckled, "Alright."
He wanted to vent his anger too.
Hearing Gu Hanzhou agree so quickly, Liu Lifei was stunned. In his imagination, Gu Hanzhou should have been begging for mercy in tears.
But this was even better, he finally had a reason to beat Gu Hanzhou up.
Liu Lifei gritted his teeth and said, "Then hurry up, if I get there and don't see you, you'll be sorry."
Gu Hanzhou said softly, "Don't worry, I'll be there on time."
Hearing the conversation, Ji Anche lay on the soft bed, his amber eyes filled with sleepy moisture, "Are you going out?"
"What are you doing out so early?"
Gu Hanzhou's eyebrows and eyes curved into a smile, he said softly, "I've been under a lot of pressure from studying lately, I'm going for a run to relieve some stress."
"Okay."
Ji Anche reminded him, "Then remember to come back early."
Gu Hanzhou nodded obediently, "Ge, I know."
If you ignored the cold gleaming blade hidden in his sleeve, everything was no different from usual.
Gu Hanzhou's eyebrows and eyes were curved, his smile warm and bright.
"I'll be back soon."
o0o