Three options! Do I have to choose one?
I feel like you’re making things difficult for me again.
Director Mei eventually gave a flick of her small hand and tossed the report to Chen Jixian.
The Director opened it, chose the most reckless of the three plans, and threw it back to Director Mei. "Execute the plan."
Director Mei and Marcus let out a long sigh of relief.
Darkray walked home from school in a sullen mood. Suddenly, a maglev car WHOOSHED to a stop in front of him. Chen Gu rolled down the window. "I’m going to deal with that White-Haired Liu. You in?"
Darkray perked up instantly, rushing into the car without a moment’s hesitation. "In, definitely in!"
Chen Gu started the car, asking, "The two of us might not be enough. Who else do you think would dare to go?"
Darkray quickly listed a few names. Soon, Chen Gu had gathered everyone in the car and was discussing his plan. "If White-Haired Liu can frame Mao Yisheng, then we can frame him too."
Darkray howled in approval. "Right! Let’s knock him out, stuff a big bag of DP on him, and then dump him at the police station’s doorstep!"
Several military students cheered in agreement. "Make sure it’s a lot of DP, a few kilograms, so that bastard never gets out!"
"Exactly! Let’s bury him!"
Darkray was quite pleased with his brilliant idea. "Bro Chen, what do you think?"
Chen Gu nodded slowly. "Not bad, a good scheme. Now, we have one problem, Darkray. Do you have a few kilograms of DP?"
"Of course not. How would I have that stuff?"
Chen Gu asked again, "Then, may I ask, O resourceful Darkray, what shall we use to frame White-Haired Liu?"
The group of military students: "..."
Chen Gu shook his head. Darkray’s eyes lit up as another idea quickly struck him. "Then let’s knock him out, find a few prostitutes, strip them and him, and take pictures of them together! If White-Haired Liu refuses to clear Mao Yisheng’s name, we’ll spread the photos online!"
"That’s a good plan," Chen Gu praised. "But what if he simply won’t back down, even if you release the photos? Can you get the prostitutes to testify that White-Haired Liu solicited them? If not, he’ll just seem promiscuous to the outside world. That guy might even brag about handling multiple partners, claiming it shows his extraordinary prowess."
Darkray was stumped again. Prostitution was illegal in the Confederation; prostitutes couldn’t possibly testify.
Pressed by Chen Gu’s questions, Darkray grew agitated. "Why don’t you ask me if I can find prostitutes? Are you already convinced I can? On what grounds do you so subjectively judge my character? Bro Chen, I never thought you saw me this way!"
"My fragile soul is deeply hurt, truly!"
Chen Gu, exasperated by his antics, rolled his eyes and scolded, "Idiot! Just do as I say!"
Liu Zhekang followed his usual routine of extra practice at school that day. After finishing, he showered, changed, and headed home. Just as he reached a narrow alley outside the school, he saw someone blocking the path ahead. When he glanced back, several others had cut off his retreat.
Chen Gu stood nonchalantly at the alley entrance, hands in his pockets. If I just had a cigarette dangling from my lips, my portrayal of a school-gate punk would be perfect, he thought. He couldn’t help but muse, Why does every school have an alley nearby, seemingly designed for troublemakers to ambush people?
White-Haired Liu had already spotted Darkray. With a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes, he said, "What, want to fight me? Go on then, Darkray. I really underestimated you. I thought that little thing in your pants had been chopped off long ago, but it turns out you still have some guts."
Darkray, seething with rage, was about to erupt but was restrained by a look from Chen Gu.
Chen Gu walked over, his superb acting perfectly capturing the demeanor of a school bully. "Mao Yisheng is my brother. I have to take care of his affairs."
"You want their publicly-selected student spot? Easy."
Chen Gu snapped his fingers, and an electronic check flew out. Liu Zhekang glanced at it, and his breath caught in his throat—it was for a full three million Starshields! Even though he had recently come into some money, the total sum he had acquired didn’t exceed thirty thousand Starshields.
"This money is enough for you to live very comfortably, even if you don’t go to university," Chen Gu continued. "Think about it. What can you really do with a publicly-selected student spot? Slave away for four years, then graduate and find a job paying five thousand Starshields a month? How many years would it take you to earn this much?"
"I’ll make a bet with you. If you win, all this money is yours, and I’ll stay out of Mao Yisheng’s business."
"If you lose, you’ll obediently have those little bitches go testify and get Mao Yisheng cleared for me!"
Chen Gu took a step forward, cornering Liu Zhekang. "Well? Do you dare?"
Liu Zhekang glanced at the check, his breathing growing heavy.
"Who are you? You’re not a military student. I haven’t seen you before," he asked.
"My name is Chen Gu. If you follow news about Lubei regularly, you should know me."
Liu Zhekang understood. "So, it’s you."
Chen Gu smirked. "What, scared?"
Liu Zhekang chuckled dryly. "Alright, I’ll take your bet!"
"Very good!" Chen Gu clapped, throwing Liu Zhekang’s earlier taunt back at him. "I really underestimated you. I thought that little thing in your pants had been chopped off long ago, but it turns out you still have some guts."
Darkray was visibly elated. Bro Chen is incredible! So skilled with his hands, and his verbal sparring is just as sharp!
Liu Zhekang pointed ahead. "To the dojo."
Liu Zhekang frequented this Anfield Martial Arts Dojo. Once inside, he quickly spoke with the owner and arranged for a training space.
Liu Zhekang and Chen Gu entered the ring. Chen Gu still wore an arrogant expression, standing casually. Liu Zhekang, however, was serious. He warmed up thoroughly and then adopted a professional fighting stance. "Come on!"
Liu Zhekang was confident in taking the bet because he knew of Chen Gu’s victories against Zhao Junzhi and Liu Shichan.
But so what? Zhao Junzhi dominated Lubei thanks to his father’s influence. As for Liu Shichan, being a girl, no one ever truly fought her seriously.
Liu Zhekang was different. He came from an ordinary family and had average grades. He had realized early on that his future lay in a military academy. Thus, ever since starting school, he had diligently practiced various combat arts. He had even won three youth combat championships.
In his mind, the probability of defeating Chen Gu was over ninety percent. However, a skilled fighter never underestimates an opponent in the ring. Therefore, facing Chen Gu, Liu Zhekang was prepared to use his full strength, just as one would even when hunting a rabbit.
Of course, there was another reason: the three million Starshields. Liu Zhekang had to ensure victory. He had recently experienced the power of money and found the check for three million utterly enticing. He had to secure it, no matter what.
Chen Gu disdainfully beckoned him forward with a hooked finger.
Liu Zhekang shouted, crossing his hands to feign an attack and confuse his opponent. He threw probing hook punches to his left and right, but his real move was a twist of his waist and hips, launching a fierce Spartan kick straight ahead!
However, his waist only twisted halfway before it locked up.
Both of his wrists were caught in Chen Gu’s hands, gripped like iron pincers! Then, right before his eyes, Chen Gu flashed a "horrific smile" and delivered a vicious headbutt squarely to the bridge of Liu Zhekang’s nose!