Caught in a Trap

July 7.

Chen Fan got up before his alarm went off.

He got dressed and went out to wash his face and brush his teeth.

His dad hadn't come home from his night shift yet. His mom had gotten up even earlier than Chen Fan and was making breakfast in the kitchen.

After washing up, he sat on the steps by the door and stared blankly at the sky.

Honestly, even though he had prepared, Chen Fan was still a little nervous.

He worried that the Gaokao papers might be different.

What if the questions had changed?

What if Ruochu and I couldn't get into the same university?

"Son, breakfast is ready."

His mom's voice came from inside, pulling Chen Fan out of his thoughts.

Chen Fan stood and brushed the dirt off his backside.

He took a deep breath.

"There's no point thinking about that now."

"I just have to go for it."

Back inside, his mom brought out a bowl of noodles.

Two poached eggs and a sausage sat on top.

Chen Fan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Ever since he was little, his mom had made him a bowl of noodles before every exam.

So many years had passed that he had almost forgotten what her cooking tasted like.

Chen Fan wolfed down the noodles, seemingly enjoying his meal, but his mom looked nervous beside him and couldn't eat.

Seeing this, Chen Fan smiled and reassured her.

"Mom, don't worry. Your son definitely won't let you down this time."

Li Jinqiu smiled.

"I believe in you."

"Mom, just go to work after breakfast. You don't need to take me there."

Li Jinqiu widened her eyes. "How could I not? I already asked for the day off yesterday."

But Chen Fan insisted, "You really don't need to. Just go about your day."

"If you all come along to see me off, I'll only get more nervous."

Seeing that her son was serious, Li Jinqiu couldn't help asking, "You really don't need me to take you?"

"I really don't."

After quickly finishing his noodles, Chen Fan went back to his bedroom and picked up the document pouch for his exam.

"Mom, I'm leaving."

Li Jinqiu immediately grew nervous and hurried to remind him.

"Don't be nervous. Read the questions carefully. Skip the ones you can't answer for now, and check everything thoroughly when you're done..."

As his mom kept fussing over him, Chen Fan wheeled his bicycle out through the courtyard gate.

"Mom, don't worry. Your son will definitely get into a university this time."

He waved after saying that.

"I'm off."

Chen Fan's exam venue was First High School, a little over half an hour away by bicycle.

He left an hour early so he could get used to the surroundings once he arrived.

When he reached the gates of First High School, he found them already packed with parents seeing their children off.

It seemed that when it came to the Gaokao, all parents were the same.

Chen Fan found somewhere to park his bicycle, picked up his document pouch, and prepared to enter the school.

Just then, a young man suddenly ran up to him and handed him a note.

"Someone told me to give you this."

Chen Fan froze.

Before he could ask anything, the young man had already run off.

Looking puzzled, he unfolded the note, only to freeze after a single glance.

There was just one sentence on it.

"Su Ruochu is in trouble. Come to 14 Nanyang Road immediately."

Ruochu was in trouble?

Panic gripped Chen Fan, and he instinctively wanted to rush over.

But reason quickly made him stop.

Who had written this note?

How did he know Su Ruochu was in trouble?

And how did he know I knew Su Ruochu?

The whole thing reeked of a setup.

There was a little over half an hour left before the exam began.

Chen Fan wanted badly to ignore it, turn around, and enter the school.

But Su Ruochu's safety was at stake.

Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance it was true.

Chen Fan didn't dare take that risk.

So, after barely a moment's hesitation, he turned around and ran toward the address on the note.

Nanyang Road wasn't far from First High School, roughly three intersections away.

Chen Fan reached Nanyang Road, panting, and began checking the addresses one by one.

He finally found the sign for number 14.

Only to discover that it was an old alley.

Without hesitation, Chen Fan strode inside.

The alley was quiet, without a soul in sight.

After walking some distance, he found that the path ahead ended in a dead end.

Thud.

A dull sound came from behind him.

Chen Fan spun around and saw seven or eight young men emerge behind him.

Each held a club or steel pipe, staring at him with malicious intent.

It really was a trap.

Chen Fan showed little surprise and demanded in a low voice.

"Who are you?"

The red-haired leader held a baseball bat, deliberately tapping it against the wall again and again.

"You're Chen Fan?"

"Someone paid us to break one of your arms."

Chen Fan suddenly sneered.

"It was Huang Hu, wasn't it?"

"That's none of your business. They pay, we do the job."

As Chen Fan spoke, keeping them occupied, he tucked his document pouch into the back of his waistband and covered it with his shirt.

His Gaokao depended on those documents. He had to protect them.

"Do you know what day it is?"

"There are police cars patrolling all around here. If this gets out of hand, none of you will get off lightly."

The redhead showed no fear at those words.

Instead, he burst out laughing.

"Trying to scare me with the cops?"

"I'm not that easy to scare."

"Here's a word of advice, kid."

"Let me break one of your arms, and you might still make it to your exam."

"If you dare fight back, then sorry... you probably won't get to take it at all..."

Chen Fan glanced around and reached down to pick up a filthy beer bottle from a corner.

"Don't worry. I won't shout."

As he spoke, he smashed the bottle against the wall beside him, breaking off the bottom.

Then he took off his school uniform jacket and, right in front of the thugs, slowly wrapped it around his arm, binding his hand to the beer bottle.

The men opposite him visibly froze at the sight.

"Boss..."

"Fuck, what are you waiting for? Get him!"

The redhead stopped stalling, gave the order, and charged at Chen Fan with his men.

True to his word, Chen Fan didn't shout. Instead, he walked straight toward them.

Thwack!

In their first exchange, a club struck Chen Fan's shoulder, making his whole body dip.

But he quickly swung his arm back.

With a wet slash, the broken bottle cut across the redhead's face.

"Aah..."

The redhead screamed instantly.

"Fuck! Kill him! Kill him..."

His men immediately surrounded Chen Fan, who swept the broken bottle toward them.

"Come and try it if you're not afraid to die!"

Sure enough, that single shout really did intimidate the thugs.

Behind them, the redhead stood up, clutching his face, his hand covered in blood, and cursed furiously.

"Idiots! He's just one guy! What the fuck are you scared of?"

At those words, before they could move, Chen Fan charged first.

Thwack!

After managing to slash two of them, Chen Fan was ambushed from behind, a club smashing into his head.

Blood spurted out at once.

Chen Fan staggered and nearly fell.

His head rang with a relentless buzzing.