Xia Meng really wanted to resist the pressure and refuse to cooperate, but unfortunately, staying silent wasn’t going to help.
At first, they hadn’t suspected anything, but once doubts arose, given Gong Zhaoxi’s family’s control over such venues, it didn’t take long for the truth to come out.
They even obtained photos of the group entering the club that day. Looking at the six people in the pictures, Zhong Chen and the other two felt dizzy with rage, their entire bodies trembling.
Zhong Chen pointed at the curly-haired one in the photo. “So this is the so-called ‘curly hair looks good while dancing’?”
Xiao Yun stared at the silver-haired figure, his gaze darkening. “Silver hair and shy, huh?”
Gong Zhaoxi fixed his eyes on the buzz-cut guy. “Outgoing personality, loves motorcycles.”
“Great, just great. That bastard’s few words were enough to make us think these were girls.”
Then, all three of them remembered Xing Jiale’s explanation back then.
Gong Zhaoxi reacted the fastest. He stiffened and pressed Xia Meng, “Then what about the dancing, the swing, the fruit sashimi platter?”
Xia Meng laughed awkwardly. “Well, just some little games while singing, you know?”
Zhong Chen cursed, “Forget it. This girl’s not honest. Let’s just grab those three idiots and question them directly.”
With their appearances and one of their contact details, finding them would be a matter of minutes.
Xia Meng’s expression changed, and she tried to sneak away to warn her friends.
But Xiao Yun swiftly blocked her. “Where do you think you’re going? You’re coming with us.”
Gong Zhaoxi waved something in his hand. “I’ll be confiscating your phone for now.”
For the rest of the afternoon, the other three were nowhere to be seen at school.
No one thought much of it—they’d always done as they pleased anyway.
After school, Shen Ying suggested going to see a movie. There was an animated film she’d been wanting to watch but hadn’t had the chance.
Xing Jiale initially proposed watching it at his place—he had a private home theater.
But Shen Ying said she wanted to stroll around after the movie, so Xing Jiale naturally didn’t object.
For a special-effects-heavy film, an IMAX theater was the obvious choice. Shen Ying had already bought tickets in advance, securing the best seats right in the center.
By the time they picked up the tickets, bought popcorn and sodas, there were only a few minutes left before the movie started.
The film had been out for a while, so attendance was low, and since it wasn’t a weekend, the theater was nearly empty—only a handful of people, including Shen Ying and Xing Jiale.
But since Shen Ying had chosen prime seating, the other patrons’ tickets were also clustered around them.
When the two entered, the surrounding seats were already occupied. The theater was dark, playing pre-show safety ads.
As Xing Jiale led Shen Ying to their seats, he noticed the two people sitting on either side were tall, their long legs stretched out arrogantly.
One of them even deliberately tripped him as they passed. Xing Jiale frowned in annoyance but didn’t bother confronting them.
He glanced at the person—wearing a cap, a mask, and 3D glasses—but in the dim light, he couldn’t make out any features, so he dismissed it.
Throughout the movie, Shen Ying enjoyed herself. The film was excellent—great plot, stunning visuals, and a meaningful message. She left satisfied.
But Xing Jiale had a far worse experience. That day, he got a firsthand lesson in the varying levels of etiquette in public theaters.
Over the course of the hour-and-a-half runtime, his seat was kicked repeatedly from behind, each time harder than the last. At first, it seemed accidental, but soon the kicks carried clear provocation.
Xing Jiale nearly snapped several times, but seeing Shen Ying engrossed in the film, he bit his tongue and endured it, not wanting to ruin her mood.
By the time the credits rolled and the lights came on, his anger had reached a boiling point.
He stood abruptly and turned to glare at the person behind him. “You had fun kicking my seat, huh?”
The person looked up, removed his 3D glasses, and replied in a mocking tone, “Yeah, too bad it was just the chair. Would’ve been better if I could’ve kicked you directly.”
Xing Jiale’s words died in his throat—because the person sitting behind him was none other than Gong Zhaoxi.
At the same time, the two people beside them took off their caps and masks, staring at him. “Two whole hours and you didn’t recognize us. Must’ve been really into your date, huh?”
Xing Jiale knew he was in trouble, but in his mind, escaping these three idiots would be a piece of cake.
So he replied coolly, “It’s just a movie. No need to make such a big deal out of it.”
Then he looked at Gong Zhaoxi. “What’s with that look? You guys were the ones who asked me to escort her after school and keep an eye on her activities.”
The moment he said it, Zhong Chen and the others jumped to their feet, furious. “What ‘keeping an eye’? We just meant for her safety!”
They quickly turned to Shen Ying to explain, “That’s his own twisted interpretation. We’d never disrespect your freedom like that.”
Then they glared at Xing Jiale, infuriated by his underhanded tactic to shift the focus.
The three closed in, their voices low and dangerous. “No wonder you’ve been butting in every time we tried to interact with her lately.”
“All that crap about fairness and the bigger picture—you were just covering your own tracks.”
Gong Zhaoxi was practically grinding his teeth. “So when you sold me out, it wasn’t for some bullshit ‘brotherly concern.’ You were scared I’d take your spot, weren’t you?”
Xiao Yun added coldly, “I really thought you were different—someone we could trust. But I was wrong.”
Xing Jiale did feel a twinge of guilt. If these three were talking like this, they must’ve already uncovered most of the truth.
So, faced with their accusations, he had no choice but to double down.
First, he mimicked Gong Zhaoxi’s shamelessness from before, addressing Zhong Chen and Xiao Yun: “I just wanted Zhaoxi to experience the same pain you two went through.”
Then he turned to Gong Zhaoxi. “And you—you never even dated her. What right do you have to judge me?”
Gong Zhaoxi sneered. “At least I was the ‘almost-boyfriend.’ If it weren’t for the parents interfering, I would’ve been official.”
“What are you? Some sneaky rat, worse than those three underground pretty boys—at least they were upfront about it.”
Xing Jiale smirked. “So you’ve already dug up those three, huh?”
“Then you should know I’ve been shielding you from countless potential threats.”
“Without me, you wouldn’t be standing here acting all righteous, ganging up on me.”
“I’ve plugged all the holes for you. Otherwise, I guarantee the number of people you’d have to confront today would be endless.”
Xiao Yun’s voice was icy. “I trusted you, and you betrayed me—for the third time.”
Xing Jiale snapped back, “Trust? Give me a break. The day Zhaoxi got caught, he just threw me under the bus in desperation, and you immediately called to interrogate me.”
Gong Zhaoxi’s anger flared at the mention of that day. “You dare bring that up? Was I wrong?”
“While I was getting beaten up, you were enjoying what should’ve been mine.”
His eyes burned with fury. “You’re not even human.”
Finally, Xiao Yun said coldly, “Jiale, there’s nothing left to say.”
"The words you used to lecture the three of us are still fresh in my mind. You said you'd rather die than end up like us, yet now you’ve become exactly what you once despised."
"Turning back is still an option. The choice is yours."
Xing Jiale let out a bitter laugh, glaring at the three of them. "If I had a fucking choice, would I be cornered by you three right now?"
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He turned to Xiao Yun. "You remember what I said. I was holding my ground—until you three got involved."
Then his gaze shifted to Gong Zhaoxi. "You think I stole your chance? Do you have any idea what I went through during that time?"
"Every day, she had leverage over me, forcing me to go home with her, making me dance to her tune. And my so-called best friends? They pushed me straight into hell."
"Did I have a way out? A choice? The moment I resisted, she had a hundred ways to make me suffer."
Xing Jiale’s voice trembled with frustration, his own downfall leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
Yet the other three stared at him, their eyes burning with envy.
Gong Zhaoxi roared, "You bastard, stop humble-bragging! I’m fucking jealous!"
Zhong Chen and Xiao Yun reacted even more directly, each grabbing one of Xing Jiale’s arms. "Let’s take this to the bathroom."
Gong Zhaoxi cheered them on from the sidelines, urging them not to go easy on him.
But he didn’t follow. The moment the three disappeared from sight, he spun around and marched back to Shen Ying.
Lowering his voice, he asked, "Tell me—that day you invited me to ‘paint,’ was it really just painting?"
Gong Zhaoxi pressed on, "I don’t care. That was supposed to be my turn, but Jiale stole it. You owe me—"
Before he could finish, Xiao Yun yanked him away, having doubled back to drag him off.
By the time the four emerged from the bathroom, each bore fresh bruises. Xing Jiale had it worst, but the other three weren’t unscathed.
Clearly, their three-way interrogation had devolved into an all-out brawl.
Acting as if nothing had happened, they picked up Shen Ying’s backpack and said, "Let’s go. We’ll walk you home."
They piled into Zhong Chen’s luxury limousine. The moment the doors closed, Zhong Chen sneered, "This car’s been tainted. I should scrap it."
Xing Jiale shot back, "Funny, I just remembered something."
"After Xiao Yun’s scandal broke, didn’t someone tell us to cut him off?"
"Then it was Gong Zhaoxi, and finally me. But now? Suddenly, no one’s rallying the troops to ostracize anyone. What’s the matter—realized you’re the odd one out?"
Gong Zhaoxi burst out laughing, only to be silenced by Zhong Chen’s glare.
Zhong Chen’s eyes darkened as he studied Xing Jiale. After a long pause, a cold smile curled his lips. "You think you’re ahead of the rest of us, don’t you?"
There was a reason Zhong Chen, that bastard, was the leader of their group. When it came to critical matters, he was ruthlessly perceptive—and decisive.
Sure enough, he turned to Shen Ying and said, "Do you want his 500 million? I’ll call his parents."
"But someone this delusional isn’t worth keeping around."
Xing Jiale’s eyes blazed with fury.
Zhong Chen, however, remained eerily calm. He glanced at the other two. "This isn’t just about Jiale. You two are next."
"This is the second major line you’ve crossed. Don’t be surprised when your families step in."
Gong Zhaoxi gasped. "Are you insane? Dragging our parents into this helps no one. You think you’ll escape unscathed?"
Zhong Chen smirked. "Of course."
