Shen Zhi’s voice was not particularly loud. He was always a man of few words, and when he could act, he definitely wouldn’t waste time talking. Originally, two groups of people were on the verge of a fight, and at this moment, Shen Zhi calmly uttered two words, not raising his voice.

But this could be considered a provocation, enough to trigger the anger on the other side.

Someone on the other side had just stepped forward, intending to respond, but the tough guy with the crew cut, who had been the most aggressive earlier, surprisingly remained calm.

The tough guy with the crew cut was obviously a bit older, and he looked like he had some street smarts. He wasn’t as quick to anger as his buddies when he heard those words, but instead, he stared at Shen Zhi’s face, sizing him up.

When Xia Jiangming had called him “Brother Zhi” earlier, he was somewhat surprised.

Upon getting a clear look at Shen Zhi’s face, he finally recognized him.

The tough guy with the crew cut, named Xue Ding, had been a troublemaker since junior high. He knew a lot of people, not only in his own school but also in various other schools in the area, especially those with some notoriety. If someone else had been here today, he wouldn’t have been so worried.

But it was Shen Zhi, and that made him uneasy.

The reason he knew Shen Zhi was that he had gone to the same ordinary junior high school that was commonly referred to as “Vegetable Market Middle School.” The student body there had low entry barriers and varied student qualities. This school was not far from the prestigious Ninth Middle School, where Shen Zhi studied.

While there wasn’t any deep-seated enmity between the two schools, Ninth Middle School was a top school in the city, and its students tended to look down on students from other schools, especially those from places like “Vegetable Market Middle School.”

Arrogance comes with the territory for top students, after all. But they were all teenagers, and none of them were inclined to take things lightly, so the students from Vegetable Market Middle School were equally resentful of them. Over time, there were occasional clashes between the two schools. In particular, the students from Ninth Middle School were generally well-off, and they seemed better dressed and better provided for than the others.

In contrast, some of the troublemakers at Vegetable Market Middle School didn’t come from well-off families and spent their days enjoying themselves, and their parents couldn’t afford to give them a lot of money.

Incredibly, they came up with a plan to hang around at the entrance of Ninth Middle School. They targeted students who wore designer clothes and looked innocent, and they either extorted money from them under the pretense of making friends or resorted to physical aggression.

Over time, many Ninth Middle School students fell victim to their schemes. Even if some students had the courage to report them to teachers, the troublemakers always managed to evade capture. Furthermore, even if they were caught, the next time they would track down the snitch and beat them up.

Shen Zhi was one of the “fat sheep” they had targeted. As a new transfer student, he had been picked out because his family had a luxury car for drop-offs and pick-ups, and his designer shoes, recognized by the knowledgeable kids, cost over 8,000 yuan. He often went to school alone.

On the day they decided to confront Shen Zhi, Xue Ding had been delayed for some reason. When he arrived, a few of his buddies were already engaged in conversation with Shen Zhi. One of them got impatient and reached for Shen Zhi’s backpack.

The young man, who had been looking down, suddenly changed his expression at that moment.

He grabbed the guy’s collar with his hand and, without hesitation, slammed him into the wall at the entrance to a narrow alley. The thud of the back of his head hitting the wall made onlookers shiver, and a faint smile crossed Shen Zhi’s face.

His once-clear and handsome eyes now exuded a fierce and sinister look.

Shen Zhi had been relentless in his attack, and the other guy hadn’t had a chance to retaliate. He was already covered in blood. When Shen Zhi threw him into a nearby trash can as if he were disposing of trash, the guy joined the pile of garbage that couldn’t fit into the full trash can. It was only then that the others in the group reacted.

Originally, it had seemed like an easy task for a few people to take on.

However, these guys typically relied on their numbers, and they weren’t actually skilled fighters. Moreover, Shen Zhi had fought ruthlessly, going for the kill. They had never encountered this kind of determination.

In the end, Shen Zhi was the only one who walked away from the fight that day. The others lay on the ground for a while before the police arrived and took them away.

Despite being involved in the fight from start to finish, Shen Zhi had never shown up, and rumors spread that his family’s wealth and influence had easily smoothed things over.

To this day, Xue Ding still remembers Shen Zhi’s expression on that day.

And he remembered the only thing Shen Zhi had said from start to finish on that day: “Who gave you permission to touch my things?”

This battle had made Shen Zhi famous among several schools in the area.

Ninth Middle School is a prestigious school with well-behaved students, but many of them have been bullied by the troublemakers from Vegetable Market Middle School. So when Shen Zhi emerged in this situation, he, a second-year junior high student, became the leader of the entire Ninth Middle School.

Later, when someone asked the Ninth Middle School students for money, they would mention Shen Zhi’s name, making the other party think twice.

Xue Ding hadn’t expected to run into Shen Zhi again after all this time. Can you imagine how uneasy he felt deep down?

His buddies had a previous run-in with Xia Jiangming, who seemed like the kind of kid from a wealthy family. They spoke impolitely, and the two groups clashed.

In all likelihood, neither side had the upper hand in that previous confrontation, so they arranged this fight now, preparing to bring in their respective leaders to reclaim their pride.

Xue Ding didn’t know about the connection between the other side and Shen Zhi, but when it came down to it, he couldn’t back down.

Xue Ding cleared his throat and said, “Zhi-ge, your buddy is a bit out of line, but since he’s your guy, as long as he apologizes to me, we can resolve this peacefully today.”

As someone who had witnessed Shen Zhi’s rise to fame through a single battle, Xue Ding knew Shen Zhi’s strength very well. He wasn’t foolish, and now he found himself pinned down here with his buddies watching.

So he decided to find a way out for himself. As long as the other side apologized, that would suffice.

Shen Zhi had originally been standing at the back of the group. He was really tall, and even from the rear, he stood out, giving the impression that he was the leader of the pack. Xue Ding’s words were clearly directed at him, and those around him cooperatively made way for Shen Zhi, allowing him to step to the front.

He walked to the very front, raising his eyelids halfway and gazing across at the other side, making a soft sound of agreement.

The young man’s voice still carried a sleepy laziness, but it was clear and particularly pleasant. “Did you talk this much before you got beaten up?”

Xue Ding: “…”

The people around: “…”

This nonchalant tone and the words themselves were just asking for a beating. At first, both sides were like powder kegs, ready to ignite at any moment. But Shen Zhi not only lit the fuse but also poured gasoline on it. One of the other side’s younger guys couldn’t hold back any longer and, without waiting for his big brother to speak, angrily charged forward.

This young man had a particularly handsome appearance, and when he charged, it looked like he was taking flight, throwing a punch mid-air.

In the car, Ji Ran had been shocked to encounter Shen Zhi’s situation earlier, but now finally, someone had taken action, and it was a direct challenge to Shen Zhi. Ji Ran quickly came to her senses and shamelessly leaned against the window, watching the show.

However, the scene she had anticipated did not unfold.

The young man had a genuine stance, and he swung his fist effectively in mid-air. But before his fist could land, Shen Zhi took a step forward and kicked him in the waist.

This kick immediately altered the direction of the guy’s flight, sending him flying backward several meters.

A person of that size being kicked and flying several meters like a sandbag was just astonishing.

Shen Zhi had been excessively ruthless. Even from a distance, Ji Ran could hear the dull impact when the guy hit the ground.

Just thinking about it made her wince.

Shen Zhi raised his hand, gently pinched his other hand’s wrist, and yawned inappropriately. “Who’s next?”

Tsk, tsk, this tone was too humiliating, and anyone who could endure it was truly something.

So, the two groups of teenagers in their rebellious phase finally turned the night into chaos, punching, kicking, and throwing their youthful enthusiasm into the mix.

In the midst of this brawl, there was a mix of various curses being shouted, creating complete chaos.

Ji Ran was lying by the car window, watching Shen Zhi become the most relaxed person on this chaotic battlefield. Perhaps initially, when he had kicked that guy and shocked everyone, no one dared to pick a fight with him. When two guys wanted to attack him, Ji Ran watched as he first kicked away the one in front of him and then turned to deliver a punch to the face of the guy behind him.

The guy who got punched in the face knelt down, holding his face.

After that, no one dared to provoke him anymore.

In the midst of this chaotic circle, he could stand on the side, relaxed and composed.

Until he turned his gaze towards the car, his eyes fell on Ji Ran. Her posture while watching the show was quite comfortable. Besides, even though it was evening and there was no sun, the temperature was still quite high in the summer, so the car should be pretty cool inside.

Soon, Ji Ran watched as a person approached.

Shen Zhi didn’t immediately get into the car; instead, he inclined his body slightly, brought his head closer to Ji Ran, and his eyes revealed a scrutinizing look. “You?”

Shen Zhi was asking why she had gotten into his car.

But when Ji Ran saw the young man in front of her up close, her mind went momentarily blank. She had thought that her rebirth was the biggest shock from fate, but she hadn’t expected that one different choice in her life would allow her to encounter her lifelong enemy ahead of schedule.

Shen Zhi. In her previous life, after Ji Ran returned to China and entered the investment banking field, this name had never ceased to ring in her ears. She had even competed with Shen Zhi on several occasions. He not only snatched projects from her but also overshadowed her in every aspect.

In the world of investment banking, he was a male god who ranked first in an unofficial vote, with a noble and restrained demeanor. His handsome face turned heads, and some even said that his face was his VIP pass for cooperation.

Countless elite investment banking women had secretly given their hearts to him.

Ji Ran had seen Shen Zhi countless times in his tailor-made three-piece suits, looking noble and restrained. But now she was seeing him for the first time as a young man, full of youthfulness and fierceness.

Fortunately, Shen Zhi’s face didn’t display the cold and aloof demeanor he had just shown.

The young man had a tall and slender figure, and even when he was slightly hunched over, his long legs still appeared quite impressive. Ji Ran remembered the scene earlier when he kicked someone and sent them flying.

As he gazed at her, his eyes weren’t cold, and they curled slightly at the corners. His jet-black eyes were filled with a hint of curiosity.

Normally, his skin was somewhat excessively pale, resembling the complexion of a vampire who had never seen daylight. However, the soft light from the dim streetlamp above cast a delicate gloss over his skin, making it look like it was coated in a thin glaze.

His entire aura had softened.

Ji Ran wasn’t fooled by this surface illusion. She recalled the ruthlessness with which Shen Zhi had attacked the others just moments ago. After a brief pause, she tilted her head slightly and said softly, “I’m sorry; I got in the wrong car.”

Well, it was the truth. Though she was somewhat reluctant to admit it, she didn’t plan to provoke Shen Zhi recklessly while she hadn’t completely figured out the balance of power between them.

She had the kind of exquisite and pure appearance that exuded an air of beauty when she was calm and appeared especially well-behaved. It was incredibly beguiling.

Her voice was soft and gentle, and after she finished speaking, there was a brief two to three seconds of silence. Finally, Shen Zhi gave a response. He let out a soft chuckle, his voice slightly hoarse as he laughed.

“Heaven forbid, how can someone make such a mistake?”

Ji Ran thought he didn’t believe her, so she put her hands on the edge of the car window and leaned in slightly. She looked at him with a somewhat solemn expression and said, “Little Brother.”

She called him that, thinking of explaining again that she had genuinely boarded the wrong car. Besides, her phone was out of battery, and she couldn’t contact her driver.

However, when Shen Zhi heard her address him as a “brother,” he raised an eyebrow, subconsciously leaned closer to her, looked at her with a hint of amusement, and playfully quirked his lips. He responded leisurely, “Hmm?”

Ji Ran had originally been wondering what was behind his response until the young man uttered in a nonchalant tone, “You’re calling me ‘brother’?”

He had even automatically omitted the word ‘little.’

When Ji Ran heard that statement, she felt as if she had turned to stone. She suddenly realized that the term “little brother” had a completely different connotation ten years ago, unlike ten years later. How was she going to explain this to Shen Zhi? The words “little brother” were just a polite term, similar to calling someone “handsome” on the street—a common, ordinary expression.

Shen Zhi didn’t wait for her to respond; he straightened up and looked back, then opened the driver’s door. “Let’s go.”

Ji Ran was momentarily stunned, and her gaze shifted to the ongoing brawl in the distance. Was he just leaving these people?

But Shen Zhi had already shown her with his actions that he was really leaving, as he had already started the car.

Shen Zhi glanced at his wristwatch. Five minutes had passed. He had told Xia Jiangming that they shouldn’t linger in a fight, so he started the car, ready to leave.

Suddenly, the faint sound of sirens could be heard in the distance.

The car had slowly started moving forward, and Ji Ran had also heard the sirens. She hesitated for a moment and then asked softly, “Are we just leaving like this?”

“Do you want to go to the police station with them?” The young man in the front seat replied in a low tone.

But at this moment, the teenagers in the fight had also heard the sirens, especially Xia Jiangming, who was running towards them, shouting frantically, “Brother Zhi, wait for me.”

However, the car on the side of the road didn’t wait for him to reach it and sped away, leaving behind a cloud of exhaust.

“Your home address,” the young man in the driver’s seat said in a bland tone.

Ji Ran was slightly taken aback and asked, “Why?”

Shen Zhi seemed to hear something amusing, and he lifted his head to glance in the rearview mirror at her. “You didn’t get into the wrong car. I’m taking you home now.”

“Helping others is a traditional virtue in China; no need to thank me.”

Ji Ran: “…”

So, Ji Ran provided an address and sat quietly in the back seat without saying anything. While waiting at a red light, Shen Zhi’s gaze inadvertently fell on her through the rearview mirror. The young girl in the back seat was sitting obediently. Because she was wearing denim shorts, her slender and fair legs were exposed.

Suddenly, the girl’s voice from the back seat flashed through Shen Zhi’s mind.

Young man.

Damn, her voice was really pleasant and soft.