Peng Jie's Prey

Sometimes, when people are down on their luck, even drinking cold water can get stuck in their throat. Su Yuan was born in New China and raised under the Red Flag, but she wasn't a 100% atheist. In her opinion, human civilization was too insignificant compared to the vast, boundless universe, so small that our understanding of the universe could be ignored.

Then again, there's no such thing as idol-like mythical figures, but who can guarantee that advanced beings don't exist in another form?

There is a destiny in the unseen. Although this notion of destiny isn't popular in reality, it fits the situation perfectly here and now. What does it mean for joy to turn into sorrow, or for extreme happiness to lead to disaster? This world will show Su Yuan the truth: the world is beautiful yet cruel.

"What outside help? What are you talking about?"

Yang Xiaowei happened to be walking towards them and, overhearing their conversation, put on a gossipy expression.

"Xiao Wei, you're here just in time. We were just talking about Su Yuan. Look at her showing off, thinking everything will be fine just because Ye Hao is backing her up? Twisting the truth, haha! Today, we'll show her what it means to stand on your own two feet!"

Gao Jun felt Yang Xiaowei's appearance was too timely. As long as he sided with them, he wasn't afraid of Su Yuan and Ji Yehao twisting the truth?

"I wonder who's twisting the truth." Seeing Yang Xiaowei, this unexpected interloper, Su Yuan inwardly groaned. In her opinion, Yang Xiaowei, who seemed to thrive on chaos, was very likely to collude with Gao Jun. As expected, after hearing the situation from Gao Jun, Yang Xiaowei immediately sided with him. In his words, it was despicable for Su Yuan and Ji Yehao to "bully" Gao Jun.

Gao Jun, having gained an ally, immediately puffed up his chest. "Indeed, there is true friendship in the world! Xiao Wei, you've made me regain my faith in this beautiful and cruel world."

Yang Xiaowei nodded. "I think Gao Jun is right. We must teach Peng Jie a painful lesson! Do you know what Peng Jie's nickname is in the Economics department? 'Piano Prince'! Young, rich, and talented. How many naive girls have fallen into the abyss because they couldn't control themselves? It's heartbreaking to even think about it!"

"That's their own fault. They'll only learn their lesson after they've been hurt!" Although Su Yuan wasn't impressed by Peng Jie, she wouldn't be foolish enough to "pretend to be a girl" to save other girls. What's the point of being sold and still helping count the money? She didn't want to ask for trouble!

"How can you be so cold-blooded!" Gao Jun's righteous spirit burned fiercely. "As the Buddha said, 'If I don't go to hell, who will?' A responsible person should be willing to make sacrifices. If I had the means, do you think this act of saving people from suffering would fall to you, Su Yuan?"

"You're just looking for trouble!"

"Wrong! The Buddha also said, 'Saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda!' Grass turns green for the virtuous, flowers turn red for the good. Those who do good are invincible!!"

Yang Xiaowei clapped his hands. "Well said!!"

"...Therefore, those who do good should not be bound by trivial matters. As the saying goes: 'You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing your child, and you can't be a mother without sacrificing your chastity!'"

"Get lost, I don't have time to argue with you. If you want to be a mother, go be one yourself." Su Yuan didn't have time to bicker. She could see that Gao Jun was simply itching for a fight and wanted to argue with her.

"The prerequisite is that I have a child and chastity to lose." Gao Jun shouted from behind.

Su Yuan walked ahead quickly, holding her textbooks, ignoring Gao Jun's words. Ji Yehao and Yang Xiaowei exchanged knowing smiles and followed her.

Economics building, Economics Class 3 classroom.

"Brother Peng, I've found out. That Su Yuan is indeed a boy. I've asked several of her classmates, and they can all testify." The boy called Little Fatty walked up to Peng Jie and relayed the information he had gathered.

"Are you absolutely sure he's a boy?"

"Absolutely no doubt."

Peng Jie retracted his distant gaze, stroked his chin, and said with a deep expression, "Interesting. Unconventional, breaking free from oneself. Such girls are rare, and very refreshing."

Slightly stunned, Little Fatty didn't expect his boss to be so stubborn even with conclusive evidence and didn't know what to say. "Brother Peng, you need to think clearly. That Su Yuan is a boy!"

"No one will think you're mute if you don't speak. You say she's a boy, but have you ever seen such a beautiful 'boy'?"

If the people from Dorm 330 were present, they would have burst into laughter, because there are indeed such beautiful boys in the world. Just a few days ago, before Su Yuan transformed, she was a living example.

"He just looks a bit effeminate," Little Fatty mumbled.

Peng Jie shot his subordinate an unhappy glance, feeling for the first time that their golden partnership had a moment of discord. A flame flickered within him, because the woman he had set his sights on was repeatedly being called a boy. Although he wasn't entirely sure of her motives for pretending to be a "boy," and her "quirk" did reduce his competition to some extent, this misrepresentation still made him very uncomfortable.

He said coldly, "My affairs are none of your business."

Little Fatty immediately fell silent, thinking that since Brother Peng wouldn't turn back until he hit a wall, there was nothing more he could say. He hoped that Brother Peng wouldn't blame him for not warning him later.

However, thinking that the culprit who caused Brother Peng to distrust him was an "androgynous freak" who was neither male nor female, he felt as if he had swallowed a mouthful of rust.

Taking a deep breath, Little Fatty knew it wasn't the time to get angry. His father still relied on Peng Jie's father, and their relationship with Peng Jie absolutely couldn't be broken like this. He thought for a moment and said, "Since Brother Peng has decided to pursue that 'girl' surnamed Su... I think we need to strategize."

"Speak," Peng Jie said, narrowing his eyes.

"First is the issue of how to pursue her. Brother Peng is experienced and has fought many battles, so that's definitely not a problem. The other issue is how to stop others from pursuing her. I think since everyone thinks she's a 'boy,' we might as well let her continue to be a 'boy'!"

Peng Jie looked at his subordinate and strategist with some surprise. He mostly agreed with his words but felt a bit troubled, "This Su Yuan is too unique. My usual tactics for chasing girls don't seem to work on her."

"Uh, I'm powerless in this regard too, Little Fatty."

"Hmm, there will always be a way. I don't believe any girl has no weaknesses."

Peng Jie's confidence returned, and a faint smile appeared on his handsome face. His cool tactics were undoubtedly ineffective against Su Yuan, so he planned to switch to a different approach: gentle, considerate, understanding, benevolent, upright, and virtuous. One of these must work.

The only drawback was his own past notorious reputation. He regretted being too dashing in his youth! Having had over a dozen girlfriends had earned him a reputation, but it also put him in a difficult position now. Should he abandon subtlety and go for the dark, domineering, and persistent route?

"Brother Peng, from my observation, the biggest threat to you is the other three boys in Dorm 330. They live together all the time, and who knows when sparks might fly between them. We have to be wary."

"Right!" Peng Jie froze.

"Little Fatty, I have a task for you. Investigate immediately who Su Yuan is close to. In any case, do whatever it takes to break them up!!"

"Hehehe, don't worry, I'll complete the mission!" Little Fatty smiled triumphantly. The unscrupulous Peng Jie was the Brother Peng he knew. Chasing women was just for fun; why bother with so many calculations?

Of course, helping Brother Peng chase a "man" felt rather peculiar.

Time is like a runaway truck, leaving behind a trail of exhaust fumes, calmly disappearing from people's sight.

It was a physical education class. Seventy students from two classes were divided into boys and girls, taught by two teachers.

"What, three laps around the field to warm up?" When the robust physical education teacher announced the news, all the boys groaned.

This is a standard four-hundred-meter track. Running three laps equals twelve hundred meters. Warm-up? For them, lacking physical exercise, this distance would be enough to exhaust them completely.

"What's all the noise? Whoever doesn't want to run, stand out now, and I'll let you off the hook!" The P.E. teacher was burly, wearing a tracksuit, holding a teaching stick and a roster. Hearing the boys' shouts, his face immediately darkened.

A solemn atmosphere instantly filled the field. Seeing Ghost-Seer's fury, the boys below grumbled but no longer wailed. Everyone knew that if anyone dared to run into the muzzle at this moment, the consequences would be very severe. They remembered one time it was also running, and this teacher had said with the same "pleasant expression" that whoever didn't want to run could stand out, and he would be lenient.

As a result, a student did stand out, and his fate was naturally miserable. He still had to run, and on top of that, he was given the glorious task of cleaning the school gymnasium and several large sports fields. After that, no one dared to defy his wishes anymore.

Over thirty boys lined up in two columns and set off sparsely.

Su Yuan secretly found it amusing. College students, it was almost certain they lacked exercise, and complaining a few times was understandable. However, to whine to the teacher like a little bride was just ridiculous. Did the teacher really have to indulge you? Don't daydream.

These past few days, Su Yuan had started morning runs with Ji Yehao and Gao Jun. One or two laps were no problem, but running three laps as just a warm-up would be a bit overconfident. Knowing that complaining was useless, she had no complaints from the beginning.

"You, wait a moment." The teacher pointed at Su Yuan, telling her to stop.

"Teacher, is something wrong?"

The P.E. teacher nodded. "You don't have to run."

As soon as these words were spoken, not only did Su Yuan's eyes widen, but the boys next to her also wore expressions of surprise. A few students who were on good terms with the P.E. teacher immediately spoke up, "Old Gao, you can't treat people like this."

"You run yours!!" Glaring fiercely, the P.E. teacher, surnamed Gao, turned to Su Yuan, his expression calm. "Go to Teacher Liu's class later."

Teacher Liu was the P.E. teacher who taught the girls.

Su Yuan was still wondering when Teacher Liu walked over, wearing a white tracksuit and a whistle around her neck. Seeing Su Yuan, she sized her up, nodded, and said, "Come with me."