Scoring over 600 points in the gaokao yet choosing an ordinary vocational college—could you believe it?
If someone had told Qi Wei before that a student with such high scores would pick a vocational school, he would’ve thought it was a joke.
Anyone with a shred of common sense would never make such an absurd decision.
Yet now, the ironclad truth was staring him right in the face.
The records pulled by his subordinates showed that Liu Yutong had applied to a completely unremarkable vocational college in Bright Pearl City—one with no admission threshold, where even the lowest scorers could enroll.
Qi Wei had briefly wondered if someone had tampered with her application.
But the moment he recalled what he’d witnessed at the KTV, that thought vanished.
This girl might look well-behaved, but her actions were anything but.
First, she’d boldly marched into the police station with a group of ex-convicts to check their records. Then, she’d led a fight at the dam, seemingly prepared from the start, leaving no trace of her involvement.
Now, she’d brought a crowd several times larger to the KTV, ready for another brawl—though again, no concrete evidence tied her to it.
Each incident proved one thing: this girl was rapidly descending into darkness, expanding her influence and territory at a terrifying speed.
Qi Wei knew exactly whose business that KTV was. He’d been monitoring the shadowy forces behind it for years, waiting for the day he could uproot the entrenched criminal network plaguing the county.
But before he could gather enough evidence to act, a new power had emerged.
And in his eyes, this new faction was even more troublesome than Niu Ben’s crew.
Niu Ben’s gang, though well-connected and dominant in the county, acted like typical thugs—arrogant, reckless, and incapable of restraint.
Qi Wei was confident that, given time, he could build a case to take them down.
Liu Yutong, however, was a different story.
During the dam incident, she’d already displayed an unsettling grasp of the law.
When handing over evidence, she’d effortlessly quoted relevant statutes, her tone cool and assured—not only absolving herself but even bypassing the usual procedure of giving statements at the station.
The whole process had been seamless, flawless.
Now, not only was she well-versed in legal matters, but she’d also hired a dedicated legal consultant.
What was she planning?
Was she trying to cloak her criminal empire in legitimacy?
Her 600-plus gaokao score only deepened Qi Wei’s unease.
Students who scored that high were rarely ordinary.
Hard work might get you into the 500s and a decent university, but breaking 600 required more than effort—it demanded talent and intellect.
As an experienced cop who’d cracked tough cases and even taken bullets, Qi Wei knew the most dangerous criminals weren’t the brutish ones.
The real threats were the highly intelligent, meticulous schemers with sharp counter-investigation skills—exactly the kind Liu Yutong was shaping up to be.
She could’ve attended top-tier universities, yet she’d chosen a vocational college crawling with delinquents.
And after tonight’s display—her command over a small army of thugs—Qi Wei couldn’t shake the fear that Wushui County might soon crown a new underground queen.
"Throwing away a bright future for this life? What a headache." Rubbing his temples, Qi Wei debated whether to meet her privately, to talk some sense into her.
It wasn’t too late for her to turn back.
Just then, his phone rang.
The moment he answered, Qi Wei shot to his feet, unable to hide his excitement. "Professor, you’re in Wushui County?"
————
Outside the KTV, Chu Yang adjusted his collar and turned to leave.
"Hey, not staying for dinner?" Yun Cheng called from behind.
Chu Yang paused but didn’t look back. "No. I don’t dine with gangsters."
With that, he walked away.
As a recently discharged soldier, Chu Yang’s sense of justice still ran deep. He had no patience for underworld types, even if Yun Cheng seemed decent.
Now that he knew Liu Yutong’s identity—that young girl was actually the leader of this crew—he wanted nothing to do with them.
Though they called her "Young Miss," their deference made it clear: she was their boss.
Yun Cheng watched him go, regret flickering in his eyes.
He’d hoped to recruit Chu Yang. With him around, the Young Miss’s safety would be better secured.
Yun Cheng was confident in his own skills, but he couldn’t be everywhere at once. When Ma Da and the others ran into trouble, he had to step in.
Chu Yang’s addition would’ve changed that, freeing Yun Cheng to focus solely on protecting Liu Yutong.
From the moment he first saw her, Yun Cheng had felt an inexplicable urge to shield her.
He’d never met a girl with eyes so bright—like moonlight, mesmerizing.
That fleeting smile she’d given after dealing with Liu Hao’s group still haunted him.
Truthfully, Yun Cheng had no interest in power, gangs, or money. He was a simple man.
But after everything that had happened, he couldn’t deny it: he just wanted to stay close to her.
Even if it meant standing silently in her shadow, watching over her—that would be enough.
"Yun Cheng, you really wanted him to join, didn’t you?" Liu Yutong’s voice snapped him from his thoughts.
Startled, he nodded. "Yes, Young Miss. He’s skilled. He could’ve been a valuable asset. But… he clearly isn’t interested."
Liu Yutong chuckled softly, her gaze turning cryptic. "No rush. There’s always time."
"Let’s go."
With that, she headed toward the hotel.
Back inside, she immediately gathered her inner circle to outline their next moves.
"Ma Da, pick a few reliable men to infiltrate Niu Ben's demolition crew. Remember, no matter what they do, you are not to participate. I only need evidence."
"Yes, Miss Liu."
"Yun Cheng, assign more people to keep an eye on our restaurants. I'm afraid they might cause trouble later. Also, send people to eat at a few designated restaurants and hot pot shops every day—see if you can gather any information. If anything happens during this time, report to me immediately."
"Understood, Miss Liu!"
"......"
Liu Yutong continued assigning tasks while carefully recalling all the information she had about Niu Ben and his gang, ensuring no detail was overlooked.
In the past, she might have avoided provoking Niu Ben, a local bully, choosing instead to take her earnings and startup capital to Bright Pearl City to expand her business.
But now that they were enemies, she couldn’t just sit back and wait for trouble to come knocking.
As a lawyer, ever since her university days, she had lost count of the cases she’d studied.
Many of them had taught her one crucial lesson: never rely on luck.
Once the arrangements were nearly complete, Liu Yutong turned to Zhao Tianyi and said, "Tianyi, instruct them on how to gather evidence. Make sure nothing goes wrong."
"Of course, Miss Liu!" Zhao Tianyi adjusted his glasses, a confident smile flickering across his face.
With everything settled, the room fell silent, save for the soft tap of Liu Yutong’s fingers against the table.
Her gaze swept over everyone present as she spoke in a calm yet firm voice, "This matter concerns our future. I expect every one of you to give it your all—don’t let me down."
"Understood!" the group replied in unison.
Liu Yutong nodded, a faint smile touching her lips. "Alright, that’s all for today. Get some rest—we start tomorrow."
