Since today was free time and military training would start tomorrow, a lot of new students used their spare time to either familiarize themselves with the campus or enjoy a little revelry.
We had already eaten, so we stayed in the dorm and started chatting.
“We’re all in the same dorm. Calling each other by name feels too formal. Let’s decide the rankings by age!” Lu Sen suggested.
“I don’t mind,” I replied casually, though I had a feeling that Lu Sen had no good intentions with this idea.
Hao Shuai also nodded. Diao Sinan chuckled and said, “I’m definitely the youngest and the least knowledgeable. I’ll be the fourth.”
Lu Sen suddenly frowned and corrected Diao Sinan, “If you’re the youngest, then you should be called Little Four, not just Fourth!”
Little Four? That sounded imposing, though Diao Sinan was clearly much taller than him.
Lu Sen turned to Hao Shuai and asked, “What month were you born in?”
“July,” Hao Shuai replied with a faint smile.
Lu Sen coughed twice and announced with excitement, “I was born on February 18th, so I’ll be the eldest in this dorm!”
“Um, I think I owe you an apology,” I said, pretending to feel guilty as I addressed Lu Sen.
Lu Sen froze at my words and asked, “What? Are you going back on your word?”
“Not at all,” I replied with a smile. Lu Sen relaxed at this, but then I added, “I’m sorry because I was born on February 17th.”
“Damn it! You’ve got to be kidding me!” Lu Sen jumped up in frustration.
I crossed my legs and looked at him smugly. “What? Are you the one going back on your word now?” Then I shouted deliberately, “Second Brother!”
Hearing me call Lu Sen that, Diao Sinan burst into laughter. “Second Brother, huh? Second Brother!”
“What’s wrong with being Second Brother? I’m still your senior, and you dare talk to me like that? You’re asking for trouble!” Lu Sen said as he started tickling Diao Sinan, who quickly begged for mercy.
While they were horsing around, I took the chance to chat with Hao Shuai. “Third Brother, you haven’t told me where you live. When we have some time off, let’s grab a drink.”
Hao Shuai hesitated for a moment before smiling and saying, “Near Dongzhimen, but let’s skip the drinking.”
The NAGA Upper Court near Dongzhimen was a well-known affluent area in the capital. Hao Shuai’s background was looking more and more like my protection target. Could it really be him?
But then again, wealthy people also lived in places like Ziyu Villa and Chaoyang Park. Since I didn’t know where Qin Shousheng lived, I couldn’t conclude that Hao Shuai was my target based solely on his residence.
Damn it! Qin Shousheng was being annoyingly secretive. How was I supposed to protect my target if I didn’t even know who it was? Did he not trust me? If so, why spend so much money on building me a training base?
“Boss?” Hao Shuai’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. Seeing that I had returned to reality, he asked, “Boss, what were you thinking about?”
“I was just thinking about how quick you are to call me Boss,” I replied playfully.
Hao Shuai chuckled. “You’re older than me, so it’s only natural to call you Boss.”
“Hey! Lu Sen is bullying Little Four. As his older brothers, what should we do?” I asked Hao Shuai, nodding toward the scene.
Hao Shuai smirked. “Of course, we help our little brother teach him a lesson!”
“Smart!” I laughed heartily as Hao Shuai and I pinned Lu Sen down.
Once Diao Sinan escaped the tickling, he smugly looked at Lu Sen and said, “What’s wrong with calling you Second Brother, huh? Second Brother!” He tickled Lu Sen in revenge.
“Stop bullying me!” Lu Sen wailed, but none of us paid him any attention.
After a bit of fooling around, night fell.
Lu Sen glared at us like a wronged wife, sighed dramatically, and headed to the bathroom.
“Boss, do you think Second Brother is really upset?” Diao Sinan asked timidly.
I smiled. “Upset? Not a chance!”
“Don’t worry; your Second Brother has a big heart!” Lu Sen said as he brushed his teeth, foam dripping from his mouth.
“Don’t spit foam on my desk!” Hao Shuai exclaimed anxiously, worried about his desk getting dirty.
“Second Brother, brush your teeth outside!” I said, pretending to act superior.
Lu Sen froze, then exaggeratedly cried out, “The heavens have no eyes! Why must I, such a noble man, endure this suffering?”
“You asking for a beating? Either go to the bathroom or head outside. Your choice!” I laughed, feigning exasperation.
Lu Sen snorted and stormed off. “Fine! This young master won’t stoop to your level!”
Just then, Lu Sen came running back from outside, hurriedly wiping the foam from his mouth before climbing onto his bed.
“What’s the rush? Are you being reincarnated or something?” I teased.
“Shh!” Lu Sen gestured for silence, looking like he was about to say something. Suddenly, with a loud *bang*, the dorm door was kicked open.
Lu Sen quickly hid under his blanket, pretending to sleep.
“Where’s that guy from earlier? Get him out here!” The man who had kicked the door open shouted angrily. Behind him stood five or six men, all with fierce expressions.
“Get out! Don’t you know to knock before entering?” I glared at the man and snapped.
The man flinched but was about to retreat when someone behind him stepped forward and pointed at me. “How dare you talk to Young Master Zhou like that!”
“I won’t say it twice—get out!” I said coldly. I didn’t make a move, knowing Lu Sen must have provoked them. Starting a fight when we were at fault wouldn’t be wise.
“What’s with the attitude? Do you even know who you’re talking to?” Another man sneered, stepping closer.
I stood up, smiling disdainfully. “Oh? You want to fight?”
My height seemed to intimidate him as he instinctively stepped back.
Swallowing hard, he softened his tone. “We’re all civilized people. We’re not here to fight, just to seek justice.”
What a joke! They came in all high and mighty, but now that they were scared, they suddenly wanted to act civilized?
“Why are you afraid? There are seven of us, and we can’t handle one guy? If anything happens, Young Master Zhou will cover for us!” another person encouraged the group.
Young Master Zhou straightened his clothes and declared arrogantly, “In this capital, my words carry weight! Just beat him up!”
Hearing this, the group regained their confidence and approached me.
Just then, Hao Shuai stood up and addressed Young Master Zhou. “Young Master Zhou, quite the impressive display of authority!”
Young Master Zhou turned at the voice. When he saw Hao Shuai, he stuttered, “H-Hao… Young Master Hao!”
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