The Tragedy Caused by Three People Living Together

On the third night after Yahan was hospitalized, the young master of the Liu family was reportedly at a club when he accidentally took an overdose of low-quality aphrodisiacs. That night, he went so far as to engage in intercourse with multiple women, to the point of bleeding and fainting, rendering him a cripple from then on. This incident became a legend in Jianghai City. Many years later, some of the young masters who participated in the events of that night would recall Young Master Liu's prowess with great emotion. Even with the aid of drugs, they couldn't have achieved what he did that night, especially considering it was later confirmed the aphrodisiacs were of inferior quality.

When the news reached Yahan, the beautiful woman, still bedridden and weak, pursed her lips and couldn't help but laugh until tears streamed down her face. Several doctors were present. Seeing her laugh for three minutes straight, clutching her stomach and curling into a ball, they worried she might laugh herself to death. However, after this bout of suppressed laughter, Yahan seemed to regain some strength, and her recovery accelerated. It was an interesting turn of events that such laughter could actually heal.

After she recovered, neither the Zhang family nor the Liu family mentioned the engagement, and it was indefinitely postponed. Once well, Yahan returned to the aristocratic academy to continue teaching. However, her visits to the Ye Family Martial Arts School and the Liu family villa became more frequent. With the addition of a mature, yet childlike, older girl who liked to act mature in front of others, the days of the three young boys and girls became even more colorful and eventful.

On New Year's Eve that year, the four of them snuck out of their homes and listened to the bells usher in the morning of 1997 at the city center's Peace Square. As fireworks filled the sky, Yahan kissed Jiaming on the forehead and said, "Thank you." Jiaming wryly wiped away the faint lipstick mark on his forehead, and then the two joined Lingjing and Shasha in setting off fireworks.

The first half of 1997 was actually quite peaceful for the four of them. However, in society, the ongoing state-owned enterprise reforms, the shadow of layoffs, and the difficulties of re-employment had cast a real pall over a large number of people. By early June, as the high school entrance exams approached, these issues indirectly affected Lingjing.

The reason for this might be traced back to the aristocratic academy. The establishment of this school in Jianghai City had always received preferential treatment from various parties. After all, the people who funded the school were wealthy and well-connected, with strong teaching facilities and faculty. In terms of quality, it was superior to any other high school in the city, and consequently, the tuition fees were several times higher than any other school.

For prominent families like the Huang family and the Zhang family, a small amount of money was not an issue. Any children of the appropriate age within the family were naturally sent to the aristocratic academy. However, having money did not necessarily mean the students were intelligent, nor could even the best faculty guarantee that every student would get into college. To ensure a certain rate of university admissions, the education bureau had almost issued mandatory quotas. Every junior high school in Jianghai City could receive several guaranteed admission slots to the aristocratic academy, but these recommended students had to be outstanding in both character and academics and would be admitted free of charge. If the recommended students were truly exceptional, the aristocratic academy would also offer some benefits in return, a strategy of both coercion and incentive.

As a result, even schools like Xinghui High School, which integrated junior and senior high, had to select top students each year to support the aristocratic academy, their competitor. While some might have been unwilling, these slots were extremely coveted. On one hand, with the immense pressure of layoffs in society, allowing one's child to attend the best high school for free and be cultivated as a potential talent was a parent's greatest wish. On the other hand, the slot itself represented honor and recognition.

Lingjing, being one of the most outstanding students, naturally secured one of the few slots for this cohort. However, it was rumored that due to others using connections and giving gifts, the school administration actually rejected Lingjing. In fact, even if she had been rejected, while the social and economic climate had been unfavorable for the past two years, even affecting the Ye family's martial arts school business, Lingjing's family was not particularly short of money. What was frustrating was that during this period leading up to the middle school entrance exams, the bald disciplinary director who made this decision summoned Lingjing, Shasha, and Jiaming to his office and announced the decision after giving a convoluted explanation.

"Well, today, we've called the three of you here because the school administration has made a decision, and we need to inform you. Since a long time ago, we've received complaints from some students saying that the three of you were living together off-campus on weekends, which severely impacted school discipline and morality. The school initially didn't take it seriously. After all, the three of you have been friends since childhood, and while you're older now, we considered it normal for boys and girls to hang out together. We're not those old fogeys you see on TV, are we?"

"However, after our investigation, it seems this matter is indeed true. Alas, you... with two girls and one boy, the teachers are all heartbroken. You are ruining your own lives. Although the middle school entrance exams are fast approaching, as long as you are in school for one day, the school is responsible for you for that day. To prevent such incidents from happening again, the school has decided to give each of you a major demerit. Lingjing, your guaranteed admission to Sacred Heart Academy is also canceled. We hope you can understand the teachers' good intentions..."

As the bald man handed a school document to Lingjing with a serious expression, Lingjing lowered her head and remained silent. Shasha's eyes were practically spitting fire, while Jiaming just frowned. Lingjing didn't need that slot. If another student's family was in difficulty, she would have gladly given it up. But now, this bald man had gone too far.

Having been a disciplinary director for several years, this man's notorious reputation in the school was well-known: accepting gifts, bribery, perversion, and lust – everyone knew it. The news that some people had bribed him for the slots and that someone would be rejected had already spread like wildfire throughout the school. Yet, he had used such a reason to reject someone. Looking at the bald man, Jiaming immediately began plotting how to ruin him overnight. It was a simple matter, but before he could think of anything particularly ingenious, Lingjing suddenly slammed the document onto the desk in front of him and turned to leave.

Lingjing had always been known as a good student, a model child, in the eyes of others. But if one spent enough time with her, they would realize she also had rebellious and sharp edges. However, this was the first time she had openly expressed her dissatisfaction directly to a teacher.

Afterward, Shasha also left without a word. Jiaming shook his head, put his hands in his pockets, and followed behind them.

The three of them were not in the same class. Just moments ago, the shocking news of their cohabitation had been announced. At this moment, it was difficult for Jiaming to go over and comfort Lingjing. He returned to his classroom and buried his head in sleep. Not long after, a tremendous commotion erupted outside the door!

Running out of the classroom, several school security guards were rushing down from the teaching building. A crowd of students had already gathered outside the disciplinary office, where a scene of chaos was unfolding. Lingjing ran over from behind, "What's going on? I heard them say Shasha went to cause trouble..."

"No way..." Jiaming opened his mouth, then squeezed through the crowd with Lingjing. Seeing the two of them arrive, everyone consciously made way. Inside the disciplinary office, Shasha was wielding a baseball bat, relentlessly chasing the disciplinary director. Several teachers were hiding far away, while notebooks and exam papers flew everywhere in the office.

Shasha had started school late and repeated a grade, so she was already sixteen and had developed into a mature young woman. Coupled with her martial arts training, one or two ordinary strong men couldn't get close to her. The bald disciplinary director was being chased and beaten, yelping in pain. As Lingjing and Jiaming were about to rush in to stop her, the school security guards also arrived. The group rushed into the disciplinary office, shielding the disciplinary director while brandishing stools and brooms at Shasha.

Some of these men were retired armed police, while others were local thugs. Two of them took several hits but managed to force Shasha back. The disciplinary director, now safe, yelled from behind, "Catch her, she's gone crazy! Catch her!" As he was shouting, a figure suddenly rushed forward and knocked him to the ground with a stool. It was Jiaming, who usually appeared honest and introverted at school.

Seeing the conflict escalate, the students watching from outside became even more excited, pointing and chattering, creating quite a spectacle.

The two security guards in the back, seeing the disciplinary director being hit again, rushed forward to gang up on Jiaming. Another figure suddenly intervened, blocking one of them with one hand while simultaneously delivering a brilliant and textbook-perfect spinning kick that sent the other security guard flying. It was Lingjing, who was still seething with anger. In coordination with Lingjing's move, before the security guard Lingjing was facing could throw another punch, his arm was grabbed by Jiaming, who moved in. Simultaneously, he received a punch to the armpit, and felt sharp pain in his vulnerable abdomen and lower leg. After a series of clean and decisive Jeet Kune Do attacks, this man collapsed on the ground, unable to get up.

In the blink of an eye, two security guards were down. Jiaming clapped his hands, "The school's security needs to be strengthened." Lingjing, however, remained silent and walked towards Shasha, who was surrounded. The students outside had never witnessed such a live combat demonstration before. Recalling that all three had martial arts backgrounds, they began to cheer one after another.

******

Ah, regarding the characters' ages, I made a mistake during the initial setup, which is quite embarrassing... Please just consider that they started school a year later than they should have. On the new book charts, I finally managed to break into the top five today. Thank you all for your support. Unfortunately, I ended up skipping a chapter, which I apologize for. Anyway... as I keep skipping, you'll all get used to it^_^... Runs away with a pot lid over my head...

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