Chapter 132: Rising to Fame

The weather was pleasant at that moment, with blue skies and white clouds overhead, while a gentle breeze arrived unbidden. A refreshing coolness permeated the bamboo grove, where the lush, swaying branches danced like graceful nymphs—their movements elegant, blending the firm with the rounded, and the supple with the structured.

After sitting and listening to Lin Lie for a while, Lin Yu felt the refreshing chill from the ground grow more pronounced. He stood up, surveying Zhang Wei and his companions with keen interest.

Zhang Wei, having just been soundly beaten and bolstered by the arrival of Zhang Yang—a man he considered invincible—wore the smug expression of someone waiting to see his opponent get his comeuppance.

Observing them for a moment, Lin Yu said softly, "First-class people have ability but no temper; second-class people have both ability and temper; bottom-class people have no ability but a huge temper. Which category do you think you fall into?"

"I am, of course..." Zhang Wei instinctively wanted to claim he was a first-class person, but after a moment's thought, he realized he could not bring himself to say it.

His temper was certainly not small, and while he had some "ability," it was entirely concentrated on eating, drinking, and merrymaking. His greatest talent was simply being born into a good family and being Zhang Yang's cousin. According to the other party's logic, he was, by any measure, a bottom-class individual.

Those around Zhang Wei also began to ponder. Though they were unwilling to admit it, they felt that their group was, indeed, quite lackluster.

Watching the "children" lost in thought, Lin Yu found it quite amusing. He mused, "Children are just children; a single sentence can influence them. Regardless, you are still you. Whether you are first-class, second-class, or bottom-class, what does it truly matter?"

Before long, several white vans appeared at the entrance of the First High School, and over twenty men disembarked. The two guards, as was their habit, turned a blind eye. Once the group entered the campus, the guard Cheng Feng dialed the phone number of the principal, Xie Shi.

People entering the school to cause trouble was a grave matter. Cheng Feng feared he would be implicated, as he considered himself one of the guardians of the school.

"I am aware of this matter. It is not something you can interfere with. I will handle it; do not worry," Principal Xie Shi replied calmly after hearing the report.

Reassured by these words, Cheng Feng, who had been quite terrified, decided to see what these "gangsters" were up to. After instructing his colleague, he put on his coat and, feeling anxious, followed the group from a distance.

Soon, he discovered that the twenty-plus men were walking along the asphalt path toward the purple bamboo grove.

Since the morning exercises had concluded and the students were in class, the playground was deserted. Cheng Feng stopped following them and instead cut across the artificial turf of the soccer field, heading quickly toward the bamboo grove.

At the same time, the group led by Zhang Yang had reached the perimeter of the bamboo grove. Upon seeing about a dozen students inside—two of whom were clearly at odds with the others—Cheng Feng panicked. No matter which side this new group supported, the other side was bound to be brutally beaten. If blood were shed, it would be a major stain on the reputation of the First High School.

"This is going to be a disaster!" he thought. "I have to call the police." With that, he ran back to the guardroom and dialed 110.

Meanwhile, as Zhang Yang and his men stormed into the bamboo grove, Lin Lie felt a sudden, inexplicable panic. He felt that by defecting to Lin Yu, he had betrayed Zhang Yang.

Lin Yu, however, remained quite calm and natural, his hands in his pockets as he looked steadily at the leader, Zhang Yang. He recognized several men behind Zhang Yang who had participated in the seaside ambush that night, but he paid them no mind.

Zhang Wei, having suffered the most, had the strongest reaction. Seeing Zhang Yang felt like finding his backbone, and he unconsciously stood straighter. He began to babble incessantly about how the other side had bullied him, acted arrogant, and insulted Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang, dressed in a sharp white suit, paid no attention to him. He merely looked at Lin Yu and Lin Lie with an amused expression.

Having suffered a few hidden setbacks, he had learned much. He understood that people always had their limitations and that the goddess of luck could not stay with anyone forever, so he no longer acted solely on his own whims.

In just a short month or two, Lin Yu had grown into a figure Zhang Yang had to look at as an equal, or even look up to. It was impossible for Zhang Yang to be completely at peace with this, yet he truly admired the other man at times, for there were things Lin Yu had done that he himself could never achieve.

To slap the Municipal Party Secretary in the face for a girl—in his view, this was something only a madman would do. Yet, Lin Yu had actually done it, and to this day, he still attended school happily and spent his days in the company of two beautiful women. That in itself was a talent that transcended his peers.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yang dropped his sharp, aggressive demeanor and said, his voice as calm as still water, "Lin Yu, I think we have some fate between us."

"We do. But it is not a good one," Lin Yu replied coldly, not in the least bit nervous about the twenty thugs the other had brought.

"Shall we talk alone?" Zhang Yang asked.

At this moment, Zhang Wei interjected unwillingly, "Brother, he just beat me! You have to avenge me!"

"Go back to class. You are useless, causing more trouble than you solve!" Interrupted by Zhang Wei, Zhang Yang’s temper—typical of a wealthy young master—erupted.

Terrified, Zhang Wei felt a chill in his heart, fearing that if Zhang Yang became displeased, he would be abandoned entirely. He quickly signaled the group of sophomores to leave the bamboo grove.

"What was the name of the guy who was just with Lin Lie? He looks so familiar!" Zhang Wei asked as they walked out of the grove.

"That’s Lin Yu, who has been quite famous in the senior grade lately. A while ago, he represented the seniors in the speech under the national flag. After the speech, the school beauty, Yang Zhilin, even offered him a kiss!" someone replied.

"Lin Yu... that does sound familiar," Zhang Wei muttered, narrowing his eyes in thought.

A moment later, he suddenly shouted, "Damn it! He’s the one my brother said slapped the Municipal Party Secretary!"

"No wonder your brother brought so many people and still didn't dare to make a move!"

The group of school bullies felt a wave of shock and lingering fear. A tree's shadow and a person's reputation—to them, Lin Yu had already become a legendary figure who had ascended to the ranks of the gods.

Back in the grove, Lin Yu, the person in question, showed no arrogance. He simply gave Zhang Yang a soft reply and walked with him toward the playground.

Watching their retreating figures, Lin Lie and the group of wealthy sons and thugs who had come to support Zhang Yang realized that the realm those two inhabited was not one they could ever step into.

Lin Lie felt that Lin Yu’s presence was vastly different from two months ago. Whether in his temperament or the way he moved, he appeared increasingly restrained. He looked like someone who had practiced Tai Chi for a long time—his gait was light, yet steady.

Lin Yu had recently defied all expectations, soaring upward to become a top-tier scion in the eyes of the people of Bincheng. To Lin Lie, this was even more mythical than *Journey to the West*.