CHAPTER 134: CHAPTER 121: GRATITUDE FOR SAVING A LIFE

Abiding by the principle that a clear conscience fears no shadows, and with the thought that he shouldn’t be afraid if he had done nothing wrong, Zhang Beixing cast aside all his concerns. He focused on the video on his computer, editing it swiftly and decisively.

Before long, he had edited two videos. One showed him shattering wooden stakes underwater, lasting thirty seconds, with the title: "Fist Like a Tiger, Hidden Force Subdues the Dragon! Twenty Years of Power in This Punch—Can You Withstand It?" The other was a video of him performing the Hidden Force version of the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade. The original video was over forty minutes long; even after Zhang Beixing edited it, it was still four minutes in duration.

Just as Zhang Beixing was about to create background music for these two videos, his phone suddenly rang, "Daddy, your son is calling! Daddy, your son is..." The ringtone interrupted his thoughts.

He glanced down and saw the caller was Lin Siqi. Seeing the caller ID, Zhang Beixing raised an eyebrow, somewhat puzzled. But considering she was calling at this time, he figured something might be up. He answered the call, tucking the phone between his shoulder and ear. Tilting his head, he adjusted the audio with one hand and said, "Hello? Sister Qi, what’s up?"

Lin Siqi’s voice, sounding a little conflicted, came through the phone. "Nothing much. I just wanted to ask if you’re busy right now. If not, would you mind swinging by the sports field? Someone’s looking for you."

"Looking for me?" Zhang Beixing made a curious sound.

He paused what he was doing and brought the phone to his ear. "Who is it?"

"It’s..." Lin Siqi had only uttered one word when an incredibly excited male voice burst through the phone, shouting, "It’s me! It’s me, Brother Zhang! Lin Pengfei! Lin Siqi’s... no, Sister Qi’s half-brother! You beat me up last month, remember me?"

Hearing this, Zhang Beixing’s eyebrows lifted slightly. He thought for a moment. Indeed, such an incident had occurred, and he had even warned the kid back then about his risk of developing cancer. But now, he had shown up at Shi University and was asking for him by name. This...

"I remember you. Shi University sports field, right? Wait for me, I’ll be right there!" Although he wasn’t quite sure why Lin Pengfei was looking for him, it wouldn’t hurt to go and see.

He hung up the call. Zhang Beixing saved all the running programs on his computer and then shut it down before heading to the Shi University sports field.

In no time at all, Zhang Beixing arrived. From a distance, he saw Lin Siqi at her stall, and Lin Pengfei standing beside her, wearing sunglasses and restlessly looking around.

Just as Zhang Beixing was watching them, Lin Pengfei spotted him. Their eyes met. Confirming this was the person he was looking for, Lin Pengfei immediately walked over.

Then...

"Brother, you’re truly my lifesaver! You saved my life!" When they were only a few meters apart, Lin Pengfei, his face flushed with even greater excitement, stepped forward, grabbed Zhang Beixing’s hand, and said emotionally.

Hearing these words, Zhang Beixing was momentarily surprised, then he roughly guessed why Lin Pengfei was reacting this way. It seemed his prediction, based on his past life’s knowledge, wasn’t wrong. A knowing smile appeared on his face as he asked, "Did you get checked out?"

"I did! Rectal cancer, early stage!" Lin Pengfei exclaimed. "If you hadn’t beaten me up that day, forcing me to go to the hospital for treatment and undergo some tests as well, I probably would never have found out!"

As Lin Pengfei spoke, he recalled learning about his condition from the doctor a month ago, and he couldn’t help but feel a lingering fear. Terrifying!

Who would have thought that a young, healthy, and energetic guy like him could be in such terrible physical condition? He was also lucky that his colon cancer was caught in its early stages; with current medical technology, it was completely curable. Otherwise, if it had been discovered just a year or two later, or even a few months later, he would have been untreatable. No matter how much money his family had, at best, it would only have allowed him to drag out his miserable existence in this world for a while longer. A treatment for the symptoms, not the root cause!

"So, do you still hate me?" Zhang Beixing asked with a smile.

At this, Lin Pengfei’s expression changed. He quickly waved his hands, saying, "Brother, what are you talking about, hate? You saved my life, you’re my savior! How could I bear a grudge against my lifesaver? Besides..."

Lin Pengfei started to say, ’Besides, you’re my brother-in-law,’ but considering his strained relationship with Lin Siqi, he ultimately swallowed the words.

Scratching his head, Lin Pengfei said, "Anyway, Brother Zhang, rest assured, I would never be ungrateful. From now on, whatever you say goes. If you tell me to go south, I won’t go north. If you asked me to climb a mountain of swords, I wouldn’t even bat an eyelid!"

Thumping his chest, Lin Pengfei earnestly expressed his sincerity to Zhang Beixing.

Seeing that the young man was thumping his chest so hard he nearly broke his own ribs, Zhang Beixing interjected, "Alright, alright, I know you’re not ungrateful. So, you came all this way to Shi University just to tell me this?"

If Lin Pengfei had made him come all this way just to hear this, Zhang Beixing would have felt like hitting someone. Couldn’t he have just said this over the phone? Didn’t he know Zhang Beixing was very busy?

Hearing Zhang Beixing’s words, Lin Pengfei shook his head. "Of course not. Besides expressing my sincerity and gratitude to you, Brother Zhang, I also wanted to invite you and my sister for a meal, to apologize to you both. I hope you’ll both give me this chance to apologize."

Lin Pengfei’s attitude was very humble as he said this. This wasn’t just because he respected Zhang Beixing and Lin Siqi. It was more so because his mother had inevitably found out about the trouble he’d caused a month ago. When she learned that Lin Pengfei had sent thugs from off-campus to find Lin Siqi, and later even hired a fighting champion to cause trouble for Lin Siqi and Zhang Beixing, she had given him a fierce scolding. She’d said things like, ’We live in a society governed by law, how could you do that?’ ’Are you trying to get yourself thrown in jail?’ ’She’s your sister, after all! Learn to be a decent human being before you go around doing things!’ and so on. Then, after Lin Pengfei recovered, she immediately made him come and apologize to Lin Siqi.

Seeing Lin Pengfei like this, Zhang Beixing walked over to Lin Siqi’s side and asked in a low voice, "What do you say?"

Zhang Beixing, for his part, was indifferent. Since Lin Pengfei had backed down and was willing to treat him to a meal, he would naturally go. Only an idiot passes up a free meal.

But for Lin Siqi... the matter between her and Lin Pengfei was more complicated. After all, they were half-siblings, sharing the same father. Although Lin Siqi had never met this shared father in her entire life, it didn’t change the fact that she and Lin Pengfei were from the same bloodline.

"What do you mean, ’what do I say’?" Lin Siqi said nonchalantly. "Lao Zhang, you don’t think I’d refuse, do you? Only an idiot passes up a free meal. Besides, that Lin man hasn’t come to see me in all these years.

"He should be the one feeling guilty towards me, not me feeling awkward about facing him.

"Besides, we’re just going out for a meal, it’s not like I’m meeting *him*. What’s there to hesitate about? Let’s go!"

Evidently, after a month, Lin Siqi had also thought things through.

Seeing her response, Zhang Beixing naturally had nothing more to say. He just said to Lin Pengfei, "Lead the way."

Then he and Lin Siqi walked side by side, following Lin Pengfei, their guide.

Before long, the trio left the campus, got into a Mercedes-Benz, and drove off.

To show his sincerity, Lin Pengfei chose the best restaurant in Shishi. The average cost was around five thousand per person. It was clear this guy was a bona fide nouveau riche.

Neither of them held back. They called the waiter over, got the menu, and proceeded to order with abandon. Zhang Beixing ordered wildly because someone else was footing the bill, and he genuinely ate a lot. If he didn’t order enough, he was afraid he wouldn’t get full. As for Lin Siqi, she was purely on a revenge spending spree!

After all, in a way, Lin Pengfei’s money was also her money. She hadn’t used a single cent of it growing up. Now that she had the chance, spending a bit more now wouldn’t be an issue, right?

Thus, Lin Siqi and Zhang Beixing launched a two-pronged attack. One ordered the most expensive dishes, the other ordered the largest quantities.

Lin Pengfei was completely unfazed by their clear division of labor. After all, as long as Lin Siqi was willing to acknowledge the family, with her way of doing things and business savvy, the Lin family’s fortune might very well end up in her hands. As for himself... Lin Pengfei had some self-awareness. He was fine with idling and waiting for handouts, but as for managing the family businesses, he had to admit he didn’t have the ability.

Therefore, seeing them order so much didn’t cause him any distress; on the contrary, he even wanted to encourage them to order more. After all, in a certain sense, the money Lin Siqi and Zhang Beixing were spending was Lin Siqi’s own money!

Just as the two were engrossed in ordering from the menu, DING-DONG! A clear notification sound came from Zhang Beixing’s pocket.

He took out his phone and saw a WeChat message from Chen Rourou. She said she had to go home for something and wouldn’t be coming to martial arts training that afternoon. Seeing this message, Zhang Beixing didn’t pay it much mind. He simply replied with an "OK," then ordered a few more dishes. Seeing that it was enough food, he finally stopped.

「Elsewhere, at Shi University.」

After taking a shower and changing into clean clothes, Chen Rourou sent Zhang Beixing a WeChat message saying she wouldn’t be coming to martial arts training that afternoon. After receiving his reply, she packed her things and went to the university gate.

These past few days, Chen Fenghua had been incessantly asking her about her progress with the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade. It was like a summons from the King of Hell, nagging her to death. She figured she had more or less mastered it. Believing it was better to get it over with quickly, she decided today was the day to make her triumphant return home!

So, Chen Rourou made a call, telling Chen Fenghua that she had successfully learned the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade.

Soon after, Chen Fenghua drove up to the gate of Shi University. Seeing Chen Rourou standing there waiting for him, even though she had made it clear on the phone, Chen Fenghua couldn’t help but feel excited. He hurried over to her, his face eager, and asked, "Rourou, are you sure you’ve mastered the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade?"

"Of course," Chen Rourou replied. "Dad, you’ve been pestering me every single day. If I didn’t master the Northern Sect’s Eight Pieces of Brocade soon, I think your nagging alone would have killed me."