Subduing a Powerful Supporting Character

"What are you doing?"

Wu Lei eyed the young man warily, bracing himself for a beating.

"Nothing much. That blanket's all torn up—you're still using it?"

Jiang Yang said with a smile. In the original story, the reason Wu Lei was willing to follow Ye Fan for life was that Ye Fan avenged him, though that happened a year after the apocalypse.

By then, law and morality had long since collapsed, but Ye Fan's act of vengeance was a debt of rebirth to Wu Lei.

Now he was going to avenge Wu Lei too—not just that, but clear his name.

Hearing Jiang Yang's words, Wu Lei let out a bitter laugh. "A worthless life like mine—anything I cover with is the same!"

"Ten years in the slammer on a frame-up? Worthless life? Nah, you're more of a patsy!"

Jiang Yang didn't beat around the bush with Wu Lei. He cut straight to the chase, bringing up the frame-up—the scar that had haunted Wu Lei his whole life.

Sure enough, the moment "frame-up" left his mouth, Wu Lei changed entirely. A murderous intent flickered in his murky eyes.

"How do you know I was framed?"

"Who are you!"

Wu Lei grabbed Jiang Yang by the throat. He was certain he'd never seen this guy before—how did he know about the frame-up?

Back in the day, Wu Lei had offended some rich brat with connections and got framed into prison.

For ten years, he'd endured nothing but discrimination inside, and after getting out, society spat on him too. He was just a kid from an ordinary family—no way he could take on that rich kid.

What the hell? This guy's got some strength?

Jiang Yang's throat was in Wu Lei's grip. If he hadn't taken the Captain America Serum, he'd probably be out cold by now.

This guy's got some skill!

But grabbing someone by the throat right off the bat—that's a bit rude, isn't it?

Jiang Yang seized Wu Lei's hand and twisted it lightly. A grinding sound of bones echoed. Wu Lei's face contorted in pain as he stared at Jiang Yang in shock.

He hadn't wasted those ten years in prison—he'd been training, waiting for a chance at revenge. Yet after over a decade of effort, this scrawny young man had easily overpowered him.

"Surprised, aren't you?"

"My arm's not even half as thick as yours, so how come I can pry your hand off so easily?"

Jiang Yang grinned. "Wu Lei, Wu Lei—use your head before you act!"

The main reason Wu Lei got ten years was that he didn't think things through. Otherwise, he wouldn't have ended up inside in the first place.

"Who the hell are you? I've never seen you before!"

Wu Lei let go, his whole arm going numb.

"The guy who'll clear your name. If you want revenge, follow me!"

Jiang Yang didn't say much more. He turned and walked away. Wu Lei's obsession with revenge ran deep—he'd follow.

Sure enough, after Jiang Yang had gone about ten meters, Wu Lei caught up.

"How do you know about the frame-up?"

"Don't ask so many questions. I'll get your revenge and clear your name. From today, you're my bodyguard, deal?"

"No one in this city wants you, right? Stick with me, and I'll make sure you eat well and live well!"

Jiang Yang kept piling on the offers. Wu Lei didn't use his head, and Jiang Yang didn't need him to. What did a meat shield need brains for?

Wu Lei, trailing behind Jiang Yang, was silent for a moment, then nodded firmly. "Fine!"

Wu Lei had been out of prison for a year. Big cities were harsh, but with hands and feet, if you worked hard enough, you wouldn't end up a bum. It was his record that did him in—even a restaurant waiter job wouldn't take him.

So he had to beg. Now this young man was giving him a chance—why wouldn't he take it? Things couldn't get any worse anyway.

Back at the high-end hotel with Wang Lei, Jiang Yang handed Wu Lei a bank card with a hundred thousand yuan. By tomorrow, he wanted to see a brand-new Wu Lei.

After sending Wu Lei off, Jiang Yang checked the email Xiao Wan had sent him. The info matched everything he already knew.

Right now, Ye Fan was scrambling to find a summer job. A finance major—without family wealth or business connections, that degree was pretty useless.

Or at least, it'd make life tough right after graduation.

In the original story, Ye Fan didn't go home for summer break. He stayed in the school dorm.

And Ye Fan's first big break was also at school—a powerful Inherited Profession.

Inherited Professions were unique, one per person worldwide. In the original, this profession was the core of Ye Fan's rise.

"Might as well go all the way. Don't blame me."

Jiang Yang bought a small company and had it hire Ye Fan. He wanted a summer job, right?

Ten thousand a month, room and board included!

At this point, Ye Fan had no past-life memories. He was just an ordinary guy, couldn't resist the lure of money.

Within an hour of the hiring notice going out, the small company's manager reported to Jiang Yang that Ye Fan had already called several times, ready to move his stuff.

After hanging up, Jiang Yang smirked. Tang Ya had also sent word—she'd blown through all of Ye Fan's savings. And tomorrow, Ye Qingwei was scheduled for surgery. What would they do without the money?

Having recruited Wu Lei and with the heroine to meet tomorrow, plus Ye Fan pushed out of Linjiang University's vicinity, Jiang Yang's plan was already half-successful.

Next up was to retrieve an item.

In an ordinary dormitory at Linjiang University, his roommates had already moved out early. Ye Fan lay alone on his bed, replaying the interview with HR scene by scene, his whole body brimming with energy and drive.

"Ten thousand a month, room and board included—where else could you find a deal like this?"

"Tomorrow's the surgery for Qingwei, and I've just about saved enough."

Ye Fan opened his mobile banking app, carefully calculating his balance.

"Forty thousand. The surgery for Qingwei costs thirty thousand, leaving ten thousand. I'll spend eight thousand on a bag for Tang Ya, and keep two thousand for meals over the next two months!"

Ye Fan planned every cent, but when the app loaded, he froze.

What should have been a five-digit balance had shrunk to a single digit after the decimal point!

"How could this be?"

"Where's my money?"

Ye Fan shot up from the bed and started combing through the transaction history, only to find a string of bills that would make anyone faint.