Wong Xiaofang covered the receiver and looked at Xu Yi. "Xiao Yi, Brother Wong from the Literature and Arts Department says he heard you're back and wants to treat you to a meal. But I think the real reason is that Brother Wong has a junior who also wants to be an exchange student. This meal is probably their way of paying for your experience."

Previously, both Wong Xiaofang and Xu Yi had been members of the Literature and Arts Department, but they had since left the student union upon entering their third year.

Xu Yi paused, then mused for a moment. "Alright, tell him yes. Besides, it's been a long time since I've seen them."

Brother Wong was a fourth-year and not in the same major as Kang Dehui. As far as she could remember, the two of them had nothing to do with each other. And since it was near campus, it should be fine.

"Okay!" Wong Xiaofang nodded and messaged Brother Wong—Wong Jie—back.

「」

At half-past nine in the evening, a freshly showered Xu Yi and Wong Xiaofang left their dormitory. The barbecue joint they'd agreed to meet at was about two hundred meters outside the main gate of Tianhai University.

When Xu Yi and Wong Xiaofang finally arrived after navigating a few twists and turns, they expected to see a group waiting. But unexpectedly, Wong Jie was the only one there.

"Senior, are you the only one here so far?" Xu Yi didn't find it particularly strange. Even though they'd agreed on nine-thirty, it was normal for people to be late.

What struck her as odd, however, was Wong Jie's strange tone. "Yeah..."

Wong Xiaofang, however, suspected nothing and pulled Xu Yi to sit down. After taking a seat, Xu Yi kept her eyes fixed on Wong Jie.

With a teasing tone, Wong Xiaofang said, "Senior, aren't you graduating in June? Why are you still bothering to ask about the exchange student program for a junior? Long-distance relationships are tough!"

But Wong Jie just nodded absentmindedly, as if waiting for something. "Yes, I'm interning now..."

Seeing this, Xu Yi's surprise turned to alarm. Something is definitely wrong! What kind of answer was that? She glanced at Wong Xiaofang, who also looked stunned. She could also tell something was off about Wong Jie.

A sense of dread washed over Xu Yi. She quickly pulled on Wong Xiaofang, who had barely settled into her seat. "Senior, Xiaofang and I forgot the gifts we brought for everyone. You wait here for the others, we'll be right back."

She had to get out of there!

However, Wong Jie just gave an ugly smile and said nothing. A group of people was slowly approaching from behind them.

At the head of the group was Kang Dehui, wrapped in bandages, his face a mask of pure malice.

Xu Yi's face changed drastically as she snarled, "You conspired with this bastard to set us up?"

How could she not have seen that Wong Jie was tricking them?

A chill shot through Wong Xiaofang's bones. She and Xu Yi were doomed.

"Don't make it sound so ugly," Kang Dehui sneered. "Brother Wong is simply enacting justice. Why wouldn't you cooperate with me, you slut?"

Wong Jie silently stood up and moved to stand behind Kang Dehui.

"Don't worry, Brother Wong. Cooperate with me this time, and there will definitely be a position for you in the Kang Family's corporation," Kang Dehui said triumphantly, though the pain in his arm made his speech somewhat incoherent.

"Thank you, Young Master Kang," Wong Jie said quietly, then hastily retreated and left the barbecue joint. He didn't even dare to glance at Xu Yi.

"Heh." A flicker of disappointment crossed Xu Yi's eyes before she gritted her teeth. "You're scum. What right do you have to say anything?"

"Scum?" Kang Dehui's face darkened. "I was kind enough to give you a chance to get close to Young Master Li of the Li Family, and you threw it back in my face? Then you let that pretty-boy brother of yours beat me up? What the hell gives you the right to call me scum?!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, several burly men stepped out from behind him, sneering as they closed in on Xu Yi.

Xu Yi's expression changed drastically. She quickly pulled Wong Xiaofang back, but the barbecue joint had long since been filled with Kang Dehui's men.

Fear gripped Wong Xiaofang's heart, but she still managed to shout, "Aren't you afraid Xu Yi's brother will come after you?!"

"Come after me?" Kang Dehui's eyes narrowed slightly. "He's offended so many people, he can barely protect himself. You think he's in any position to cause me trouble?"

Kang Dehui recalled how the Li Family had sought him out that afternoon, and a surge of smugness washed over him. That arrogant pretty-boy Xu Ke was doomed to die! When he found out that Xu Ke had offended the Huang Family, the Ye Family, and even a Long Capital Alliance Elder, he was both shocked and elated. He was shocked that Xu Ke was such a fierce person, daring to confront so many powerful figures. But he was delighted that Xu Ke had so many enemies, which meant he no longer had to worry about getting his revenge! Originally, he had been worried that if a family as powerful as the Li Family had to bow to Xu Ke, how could the Kang Family possibly help him get even? But now, with a Long Capital Alliance Elder standing against Xu Ke... What did he have to fear?!

「」

Hearing Kang Dehui's words, Wong Xiaofang's face turned grim. With Xu Ke not here, there was absolutely no one to stand up for them. At that thought, Wong Xiaofang was filled with regret. If only they had just stayed in the dormitory tonight!

Honestly, neither Xu Yi nor Wong Xiaofang had expected Kang Dehui to be out and about tonight after being so severely injured at noon.

"What exactly do you want?" Xu Yi gritted her teeth, staring at Kang Dehui. In this situation, escape was impossible. With so many eyes on her, trying to call the police or notify Xu Ke was impossible.

Kang Dehui sneered, "What else? Just finishing what we couldn't do at noon."

As soon as he said this, the surrounding men all broke into lewd laughter.

"HAHAHA..."

The laughter turned Wong Xiaofang's and Xu Yi's faces pale and made them shudder with fear. They couldn't imagine the miserable fate that awaited them if they really fell into Kang Dehui's hands...

Xu Yi did her best to suppress her terror, her voice sharp. "This has nothing to do with Xiaofang! Let her go! Whatever you want, direct it at me!"

Xu Yi knew that in this situation, she couldn't drag Wong Xiaofang down with her. This was her feud with Kang Dehui.

Wong Xiaofang looked panicked and was about to speak, but she was cut off by Kang Dehui's applause.

"CLAP. CLAP. CLAP..."

In a mocking, singsong voice, Kang Dehui said, "How touching! What a fine display of sisterly love. Since you want to handle this all by yourself, I'll certainly satisfy you. Besides, this Wong Xiaofang is ugly enough to make a man lose his appetite. Let's not have her spoil everyone's fun."

At his words, the surrounding men roared with laughter. Some even whistled, casting contemptuous looks at Wong Xiaofang.

Meanwhile, Kang Dehui thought to himself that he needed to let one of them go to act as a messenger to Xu Ke anyway. Otherwise, he couldn't fulfill the orders from Elder Lin and the Huang Family. Besides, if no one told Xu Ke, how could he show off how awesome he, Kang Dehui, was?

"Xiaofang, go!" Xu Yi urged, looking at Wong Xiaofang.

Refusal was plain on Wong Xiaofang's face, her eyes turning red. The mockery didn't matter to her, but how could she abandon Xu Yi? She was the one who got Xu Yi into this mess!

"If we both stay, it's a dead end! Go, tell my brother..." Xu Yi said, urgently pushing Wong Xiaofang.