FSGOR Ch22

Ning City Third High?

Wasn’t that the school where his former secretary’s younger brother was enrolled?

The thought surfaced without warning, and Chu Xuyu’s expression darkened. He grabbed the receipt and left the bar.

As soon as he stepped outside, the night wind sobered him up. The streets were bustling with people, but there was no trace of the boy in the school uniform.

That feeling—too familiar. It was like he’d been played by that little scammer all over again.

Frustrated, Chu Xuyu called his assistant to pick him up, even though he hadn’t had much to drink.

The assistant who arrived was Simon, a veteran from the secretary department. A Cambridge graduate of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean descent, Simon often chatted with Judy about cute trinkets and hobbies.

Seated in the back, Chu Xuyu rubbed his temples, not even sure how to begin asking what he suspected.

Usually, he didn’t even drive himself, so Simon was a little flattered to be called. He kept glancing at the rearview mirror, concerned. “President Chu?”

“Do you need to go to a hospital?”

His boss looked awful. Unlike the perceptive Judy, Simon was a bit tactless and actually suggested he might have food poisoning.

Chu Xuyu: “?”

Simon gave a sheepish smile. “Guess I overreacted. But, uh, would you like some music to help you relax?”

“Play something.”

Who would’ve guessed—Simon’s playlist was entirely made of anime songs. From Uchiage Hanabi to IDOL, not one track was something Chu Xuyu would normally listen to. To him, it all sounded like noise.

With his temples throbbing, the irritated CEO finally asked, “What does ‘KIRA’ mean in your anime circle?”

Simon was surprised. “President Chu, you’re into anime too? Everyone knows—KIRA is Kira from Death Note! His alias!”

Chu Xuyu demanded he speak plainly, and Simon gave him a quick rundown of the plot: a brilliant college student who appeared harmless and charming, but secretly operated as a world-famous executioner under the codename KIRA.

He added that the anime carried strong revenge themes, with KIRA seeing himself as a righteous punisher of evil.

Chu Xuyu grew more annoyed with every word: “…”

That brat was definitely a little demon.

He asked sharply, “If a high school student uses that as a username, what does it mean?”

Simon casually answered, “Probably just some cringey kid in their edgelord phase. Why do you ask, President Chu?”

“No reason.”

Chu Xuyu didn’t ask further. The luxury car drove through the quiet streets of the old district. Everything felt still.

Suddenly, the GPS navigation voice spoke up. Chu Xuyu looked up and saw the gate of a school and a few academic buildings in the darkness.

—It was Ning City Third High, which he had specifically requested they drive past.

The car continued on, passing crabapple-lined streets. Under the streetlights, the petals glowed with vivid color—full of life.

Then—

Simon, still focused on the road, casually remarked, “I think Judy lives around here.”

Chu Xuyu’s gaze sharpened. He tapped his finger lightly on his knee and asked in a calm, unreadable tone, “You still in touch?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Simon smiled. “I saw her last week. She treated me to a fancy little cake. She looked a lot better.”

Chu Xuyu recalled the fatigue Judy had shown toward the end of her time as his secretary. He’d assumed she’d simply recovered her health after resigning.

“It wasn’t her health,” Simon continued, eager to make conversation now that the boss was speaking to him. “She just got mixed up with a really awful guy.”

“A real scumbag.”

“…?”

Chu Xuyu looked surprised. He hadn’t expected that his former secretary had been in a relationship at all.

The information was disorganized and unconfirmed, but it inevitably reminded him of his own recent experience. He turned toward the window, and a ridiculous idea crept into his mind.

***

Morning.

Sunlight spilled into the bedroom. The curtains swayed gently, passing across the corner of a desk—where last night’s newly-won figure now sat.

Jiang Tian, having gone to bed late, was woken by a noisy commotion in the living room. He jolted up like from a nightmare.

“Who let you into my house?!”

It was his sister’s furious voice.

A sense of dread crashed over him. He leapt out of bed, pulled open the door, and rushed into the living room.

And just as he feared—a most unwelcome guest had arrived. The man he’d only seen in photos, the scumbag, was now standing right there.

The man was a few centimeters shorter than Jiang Tian. Upon seeing the boy step out of the bedroom, his face filled with surprise. “This must be Xiao Tian, huh?”

His eyes carried a strange glint of interest, which immediately infuriated Jiang Tian. He stepped forward and glared at the seemingly refined man. His voice was cold: “Get out. Now.”

Yang Xiantong’s gaze briefly flicked over Jiang Tian’s body before returning to his ex-girlfriend. With a sigh, he played the victim card: “Xiao Jing… can’t we talk this over?”

Jiang Jing, clearly furious, tried to shove him, but she was no match for him physically.

Seeing this, Jiang Tian strode forward with a frosty expression, stepping between his sister and the scumbag, shielding her. “You’re not welcome here. Don’t you understand words?”

Upon hearing the youth’s crisp, pleasant voice, Yang Xiantong’s reaction shifted—he didn’t show anger, but instead a trace of dazed amusement. Even nostalgia.

He had taken leave from work just to see Jiang Jing one more time, but he hadn’t expected her younger brother to be home too.

Even more unexpected—this younger brother was handsome, athletic, with sharp features and a commanding presence. He was exactly the type that dominated the gay dating scene.

Though Yang Xiantong tried to keep his thoughts hidden, the way he stared at Jiang Tian couldn’t be disguised. Both siblings looked visibly disgusted, as if they’d swallowed a fly.

Jiang Tian, usually polite and reserved, didn’t hold back. He grabbed the man’s arm and forcibly dragged him out. “Get lost.”

Yang Xiantong, caught off guard, didn’t even have time to be angry. All he could think was that this young man was nothing like the “bookish, quiet” image Jiang Jing had painted.

He’d thought Jiang Tian was a mild-mannered nerd—not this athletic and intimidating.

He’d originally intended to sit down for a civil conversation. But faced with the fierce rejection from both siblings—especially Jiang Tian, whose strength was alarming—he was literally thrown out the door, which was then slammed and locked behind him.

In the hallway, a neighbor poked their head out at the noise.

Yang Xiantong, flustered, quickly straightened his clothes and forced a polite smile. “Sorry to disturb you.”

“Just a minor argument with my girlfriend.”

But the neighbor looked him up and down with clear suspicion.

She was familiar with the Jiang siblings—Jiang Jing was known to be gentle and calm, not someone prone to confrontation. After one look at Yang Xiantong, she shut her door without another word.

As soon as the door shut, the smile on the man’s face vanished instantly.

Inside the apartment, had the soundproofing not been so good, Jiang Tian might have heard the man’s last line and rushed out to refute it—maybe even beat him up on the spot.

Jiang Jing was in terrible shape. She clutched her chest, breathing deeply, clearly shaken by the scumbag’s sudden appearance.

Jiang Tian was entirely focused on his sister—he had no mental space left to care about the uninvited trash. He quickly helped her sit down on the sofa and poured a cup of warm water to help her calm down.

Once she seemed less reactive, he walked over to the door, peered through the peephole, and confirmed the hallway was empty. The elevator was running—the scumbag had left.

When he returned, even before he could ask what had happened, Jiang Jing had already covered her face, choking back sobs.

“Jie.”

He crouched in front of her with a tissue box in hand, speaking softly. “What happened?”

It felt like they’d returned to three months ago—like nothing had changed at all. In fact, it had somehow gotten worse.

Jiang Tian felt guilty. Why hadn’t he handled this better? Why had his sister been hurt again?

Her breath trembled as she wiped her tears. “It’s nothing. I just ordered food delivery, and when I heard the doorbell, I thought it was the delivery guy.”

Jiang Tian’s hand clenched into a fist. He hadn’t expected the scumbag to show up at their door. Rage surged inside him. He hated that he hadn’t punched that man out while he had the chance.

But more than that, he and his sister hadn’t needed to say it aloud—they both knew just how disgusting the man was. That seemingly refined and professional man… the look he gave Jiang Tian earlier was no different from the predatory glances from overly made-up men at the bar.

“Jie.”

Jiang Tian took a deep breath, trying not to burden his sister further. His tone softened. “Why did he suddenly show up? What did he say to you?”

Jiang Jing’s breathing hitched again, but then, strangely, she let out a laugh. “Almost forgot.”

“I just remember thinking—my little brother’s grown up. The way you stepped in just now, I thought you were going to shake his brain loose.”

Jiang Tian blinked, a little embarrassed, but the tension finally began to ease. “Jie, you’re joking again…”

Seeing him acting like her sweet younger brother again—with that familiar gentle contrast—Jiang Jing laughed through her tears.

The two of them were used to supporting each other. Their emotions gradually settled. Jiang Jing had him sit beside her and began to explain why the scumbag had come.

As expected, the man’s family background far surpassed theirs. Regardless of how things had turned out, marriage and heirs were always the plan. He had come to request a peaceful breakup, offering compensation—but on the condition that she never reveal his sexual orientation.

In short: a hush payment.

Jiang Tian shot to his feet, startling his sister. But instead of going downstairs to fight the man, he walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.

He looked down at the man opening the door of his luxury Benz, the veins in his hand bulging. “He’s going to keep hurting people.”

His voice was low but full of anger. Normally, he was calm and indifferent, so much so that even Jiang Jing paused in surprise.

“We can’t let him keep lying.”

Her voice was firm, just like when she had told off the scumbag earlier. She refused to be complicit in his lies.

“I’ve already given him enough dignity. I didn’t even tell the people on our engagement list the real reason we broke it off—and now he dares threaten me?”

Gritting her teeth, Jiang Jing declared, “If he pushes me any further, I’ll fight back. I won’t let him scam another innocent person like he did me.”

Hearing this, Jiang Tian turned back to her, eyes full of determination. He looked ready to go to war. “Jie.”

“I support you.”

“And I’ll protect you.”

In that moment, Jiang Jing froze. Her eyes shimmered with tears as she realized—her little brother had truly grown up.

No matter what, they would always be each other’s greatest ally—the irreplaceable treasure left behind by their parents, helping them face life’s challenges together.

This incident was a signal.

Because the scumbag had come uninvited to harass his sister, Jiang Tian was now certain: this man was no good, and if he showed up once, he’d show up again.

He would prepare accordingly. His sister wouldn’t meet that man alone again. If he returned, they’d call the police. And if Jiang Tian was home, he would be the one to confront him. If it came down to a fistfight, there was no doubt who would win.

The current strategy: remain calm, take the initiative when necessary, never retreat. And if the scumbag entered the dating scene again to scam more women, they’d expose everything he’d done.

After calming Jiang Jing down, Jiang Tian watched her take her wellness supplements and then contacted Lu Qiao and Zhao Yuanhao.

The two of them rushed over immediately. They’d originally planned to meet later that day after afternoon practice at the food street, but now it was just a few hours early.

Jiang Tian cooked a few dishes at home and stayed close to his sister, trying to be her emotional anchor.

Jiang Jing hadn’t yet blocked the scumbag’s number—and sure enough, he sent an “apology” text. In reality, it was just disguised harassment.

Lu Qiao had had enough. He picked up the phone and launched a verbal nuke on the guy, his battle mode at full blast. The outburst moved Jiang Jing so much that she ordered extra food for the boys: pizza, fried chicken, burgers, and Coke.

Many hands make light work—with everyone chiming in and encouraging her, Jiang Jing finally felt comforted, and even Jiang Tian’s tension gradually eased.

Nowadays, society had the law on their side. That scumbag wouldn’t dare act too recklessly. Whatever happened next—they weren’t afraid.

After eating their fill, Jiang Tian reminded his sister to rest well at home and to call him if anything came up. Then he and his friends changed into their team uniforms and headed back to school to prep for tomorrow’s soccer match.

***

Meanwhile.

Chu Xuyu, who had always lived a disciplined life, actually stayed up late for once after returning home from the bar.

After all, he had gotten entangled with a certain little troublemaker—a three-month online romance, only to be dumped on a whim.

Ever since then, his friends had been teasing him mercilessly, saying he was this close to losing his mind.

He was supposed to head to the office for a meeting, yet the suited CEO drove his Bentley in the complete opposite direction—toward the old city district instead of the East where his office tower was.

It couldn’t be more deliberate.

And he knew—he was far too obsessed with that little scammer.

The weather was warming up.

Chu Xuyu turned down the car’s A/C—he disliked the artificial cold—and cracked the window just slightly.

A gentle breeze drifted in, carrying the light fragrance of blooming crabapple blossoms.

In the car, an old Cantonese song was playing—sung by a famous Hong Kong star. The voice was magnetic and paired perfectly with the subtle black-tea aroma of the air freshener in his luxurious Bentley.

As he listened to the song, Chu Xuyu took a deep breath, leaning into the leather seat and relaxing slightly for the first time in a while.

The song was titled “Afternoon Tea”, the same as his online handle. He’d loved the song since his student days, and back then he understood the lyrics as reflecting the fleeting, fast-food nature of modern love.

He had always believed that love wasn’t a necessity in life—not even seasoning. He had been focused on his career, never met someone who truly moved him, and had no interest in settling.

But this time… things were different.
And he couldn’t explain why that little brat had stirred him up so much, or why he was now so unwilling to let go.

Buzz—

A phone notification chimed.

Chu Xuyu answered via voice command. On the other end was Shen Yan, just landed overseas after attending Fashion Week, who asked, “So? Have you found him yet?”

Chu Xuyu replied lazily, “Didn’t expect a busy man like you to still care about me.”

Shen Yan paused, then laughed meaningfully, “Please. Even I wouldn’t dare write a movie script this dramatic. What kind of brat had the guts to play you like that?”

Chu Xuyu snorted lightly. The traffic light turned red, and he stopped at the line.

Leaning his elbow against the window, still relaxed, he casually replied, “All I know is—he’s definitely a high schooler.”

“?!”

Shen Yan’s curiosity was piqued. “How do you know that?”

Chu Xuyu glanced at the blooming crabapple trees by the road and allowed himself a small smile. “Because… everything I was assuming before was wrong.”

“…Can you please be clearer?”

Chu Xuyu ran his fingers over the steering wheel, his touch gradually tightening—as if squeezing the back of that little liar’s neck. “I have a guess.”

“But I’ll need to see him in person to be sure.”

“…?”

Shen Yan had no idea what he was talking about and asked if he was at least headed to work.

“I’m making a detour. Gonna drive past my former secretary’s place.”

The light turned green. Chu Xuyu stepped on the gas, heading toward Jiangbin Road, a location Judy had once casually mentioned.

The shimmering river by the road looked like a fallen galaxy, and his mood slightly lifted.

“She has a younger brother studying at Third High,” he said flatly.

Shen Yan was even more confused. “And what does her brother have to do with anything?”

Chu Xuyu exhaled slowly, his tone suddenly laced with danger. “I hope he has nothing to do with this.”

Otherwise, too many coincidences would feel suspiciously intentional. He didn’t even bother to explain more, worried his friend would think this whole thing sounded insane.

Still driving, Chu Xuyu recalled bits of what Judy had once said. They were fragmented memories, but clear in his mind:

Her brother’s name was Jiang Tian. He was eighteen. A top student at Ning City Third High. Already admitted into a top university.

A dangerous glint flashed in Chu Xuyu’s eyes. He didn’t need more proof—his instincts had never felt more certain.

As he passed Third High again, though it was a weekend, the campus gates were bustling.

The GPS marked a nearby food street. That jogged something in his memory. And so, in a rare turn, his luxury Bentley slowly entered a narrow alley, stopping outside a barbecue shop that had just celebrated its third month in business.

The restaurant was obviously a student-priced place. Outside was a promo sign that read:
“Like our post 66 times and get a free Coke!”

Chu Xuyu’s expression turned dangerous: “…”

He suddenly remembered the time he saw that post. The little scammer must have shared it briefly on his Moments, then deleted it too quickly—he never got the chance to confirm it.

Parking by the curb, Chu Xuyu, dressed in an expensive designer suit, stepped into the humble food street—drawing whispers from nearby pedestrians.

The BBQ shop owner was stunned. He nearly stopped breathing, assuming some government official had arrived to inspect the health standards of his little eatery.

“G-Good evening, sir.”

Seeing the man in expensive attire walk straight toward him, the owner nervously wiped his hands on his apron. “Is there… something we need to fix?”

Despite his obvious elite background, Chu Xuyu addressed the nervous owner politely, “Sorry to intrude. May I ask something?”

“Do students in soccer uniforms often come here to eat?”

The owner froze for a few seconds before realizing what he meant, then nodded earnestly, “Yes, yes! All the time!”

“Our BBQ is really popular with the school’s soccer team.”

“Whenever they come, they order a whole table of food—every single time…”

Chu Xuyu narrowed his eyes. He remembered the exact date and asked if a group of high school soccer boys had visited that day.

But the shop owner was too busy day-to-day to remember specific dates. He just said that the shop was packed during its early days and couldn’t be certain.

Chu Xuyu nodded and thanked him for the info—then casually asked for his contact details.

Once the owner realized this elegant customer might be an investor, he nearly passed out from excitement, thanking him profusely.

Not fond of owing favors, Chu Xuyu exchanged a few polite words, then left and drove toward the Happiness Port housing complex.

Traffic near schools was slow, but his adrenaline was spiking. He could feel it—he was getting closer to the truth.

As he slowed by the residential area near Third High, his gaze was suddenly drawn to a group of high school boys exiting a side gate.

And his breath caught.

Leading the group was a sharp-eyed youth in a soccer uniform, a football tucked under one arm, with handsome features and a calm demeanor.

He was speaking to his friends, his gaze cast downward. Even from a distance, Chu Xuyu felt like he could see the boy’s thick lashes and expressive, soulful eyes.

A wave of heat surged through his chest, as if something inside was being set ablaze.

The young CEO’s fingertips trembled. He instinctively pulled at his not-too-tight collar, yet still found it hard to breathe.

“…”

Even after the youth disappeared in his rearview mirror, Chu Xuyu’s mind had room for only one thought:

Why does my little sweetheart even look exactly like my type?