“Brother Jufeng, do you know that beautiful reporter?”
As they walked back to military training, the crowd surged like a tide. Diao Ke voiced his curiosity.
Through their interactions over the past couple of days, Jufeng found Diao Ke to be quite a boastful person, always brimming with curiosity about any excitement, with a significant portion of his personality being showy.
Jufeng smiled slightly and replied, “What luck do I have? I just delivered a package for her once. Why, are you interested in her?”
Cai Fanshuang and Tong Bailong also cast questioning looks at Diao Ke upon hearing this. Diao Ke blushed and said, “How could I possibly be worthy? Don’t you all know who she is?”
Faced with the confused gazes of the other three, Diao Ke continued, “Have you heard of the ‘Five Sisters Group’?”
“Isn’t that the globally popular girl idol group—Sister Five?” Cai Fanshuang exclaimed in astonishment.
“Exactly. That beautiful reporter is one of them—Sister Dai, Lu Qijia. She’s also the leader of the group. Hey? Why aren’t you two surprised?” Diao Ke hurried to catch up with Jufeng and Tong Bailong, expressing strong dissatisfaction at their lack of awareness.
“I’m not really into the entertainment industry,” Jufeng said with a calm smile.
“Can she help me get a job?” Tong Bailong awkwardly scratched his head with his broad hand, nearly causing Diao Ke to faint from disbelief.
…
The military training was monotonous for everyone; the only difference was how each person coped with it. For Jufeng and Tong Bailong, who were naturally skilled in martial arts and had undergone some unique training by chance, it felt more like a leisurely morning jog. However, for most others like Diao Ke and Cai Fanshuang, whose life experiences were not as “martial,” that afternoon seemed to echo the old saying.
Time dragged on painfully.
So by the time evening training ended, most people were exhausted. Hastily eating dinner, they returned to their dorms and collapsed onto their beds, unwilling to get up. Only two oddballs like Jufeng and Tong Bailong still had the energy to deliver packages.
After picking up a shipment that was one and a half times larger than usual from a transfer station, Jufeng handed over the extra items to Tong Bailong and instructed him, “These are from some nearby districts. Here’s a map for you; it’s not far. You should be able to finish it on foot. Once you’re familiar with the route, I’ll buy you a bicycle; that’ll make things easier.”
Tong Bailong excitedly took the package, thanked Jufeng, and began his courier career.
Jufeng watched the large figure leave, a smile spreading across his youthful face.
Night quickly enveloped the beautiful district, and before anyone knew it, the entire university town suddenly lit up. The streetlights flickered on, and neon lights intertwined, creating a breathtaking scene.
Jufeng skillfully finished his courier work and returned to the meeting spot he had arranged with Tong Bailong. To his surprise, he found the big guy had already been waiting there for a while. It seemed this giant had an undeniable talent for the courier business.
Feeling that it was still early, Jufeng suggested to Tong Bailong, "How about we grab a drink? I can introduce you to a friend who’s an old-timer in the courier industry."
Tong Bailong's face lit up with joy at the suggestion, ready to agree, but then he seemed to hesitate and awkwardly declined Jufeng's kind offer.
"I... won’t go. I have military training early tomorrow. You go ahead."
Jufeng noticed the change in Tong Bailong's mood and quickly realized what was bothering him. With a slight smile, he put an arm around the broad shoulders and said firmly, "Come on, I’ll treat you!"
……
The popular outdoor eatery near Huan City University was well-known, especially in September when the salty sea breeze mixed with the fragrance of wild grass, often causing students passing by to linger.
Jufeng brought Tong Bailong to this place, casually ordering three bottles of beer and some snacks before they started chatting about everyday life.
Appropriate exchanges often help deepen mutual understanding, and as a result, Tong Bailong's trust and sense of belonging towards Jufeng grew stronger.
"Brother Jufeng, when is that person you wanted to introduce me to coming?" Tong Bailong asked.
"Oh him? He’s probably busy flirting with girls. Look, Cao is here!" Jufeng stood up and waved at someone in the distance. Tong Bailong turned to see a strong and handsome young man approaching.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting! Wind, let me introduce you; this is your brother Tong Bailong."
The newcomer was none other than Xue, a young man who had been immersed in the courier business for quite some time. Xue was known for being straightforward and sociable. He sat down next to Tong Bailong, opened a bottle of liquor, and took a hearty swig, exuding a sense of camaraderie.
As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. Seeing Xue's bold drinking style, Tong Bailong felt an immediate fondness for this stranger who had just introduced himself as "brother."
Jufeng looked at this kindred spirit with a smile and introduced him to Tong Bailong, saying, "Tong Bailong, this is the person I told you about. He’s an experienced veteran in this field, so make sure to seek his advice."
Although Jufeng was being polite, Xue understood the underlying message. He could tell that Jufeng was looking out for this somewhat naïve giant, which piqued his curiosity about Tong Bailong.
"Hello, brother."
There were no formalities or embellishments; this was what made Tong Bailong so appealing to Jufeng.
"This afternoon, Feng sent me a message introducing a strong ally to me, and I assume that must be you, Brother Tong. Truly fitting of your name—Person of Distinction. From now on, we’re all friends here. Let’s look out for each other; feel free to speak up if you need anything."
Tong Bailong's rugged personality made him feel an instant connection with Xue. The two quickly bonded over drinks.
After several rounds of drinks, the trio prepared to leave but were unexpectedly blocked by a group of unruly individuals.
"You must be Xue," said a gang of young people with colorful hair and mismatched clothing. Each one held either a bottle or some makeshift weapon like chairs or tables, their demeanor intimidating. Many patrons around them quietly slipped away, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire if a fight broke out.
Xue's gaze swept over the obviously unsavory group and he couldn't help but scoff internally. The courier business wasn't particularly lucrative these days, but competition was fierce. By introducing a couple of new faces to share the pie, he had surely displeased many.
Especially since his rates were fair, which threatened many people's income. Naturally, those whose interests were harmed would be unable to contain their frustration and would step forward aggressively.
"I am indeed Xue; however, do we know each other?" he replied confidently as he stepped in front of Jufeng and Tong Bailong to meet the leader's gaze. The atmosphere grew tense.
Jufeng sensed that the situation was not looking good and discreetly signaled Tong Bailong. The two had coordinated well during their military training, so Tong Bailong immediately understood Jufeng's intent.
Seeing Xue's unyielding demeanor, the leader suddenly burst into laughter and turned to his followers: "This guy has some guts! Looks like he won't shed tears until he sees the coffin!" The last remark was directed at Xue in an unexpected manner.
Before he could finish speaking, the young man suddenly swung a beer bottle at Xue's head. It was clear that this person was experienced in fighting and struck with great cunning. Although Xue had been on guard, he was momentarily caught off guard.
At that critical moment, a hand appeared out of nowhere, blocking the bottle just an inch from Xue's head, gripping it firmly as it came crashing down.
The hand belonged to Tong Bailong, who had acted on Jufeng's signal. Tong Bailong stopped the descending bottle, while Jufeng moved in from the side and delivered a knee strike to the assailant's abdomen, causing a scream to echo around the food stall.
"Ah!"
The reaction from the group across was swift; seeing their leader injured, they charged forward en masse. However, against Jufeng and Tong Bailong, they were no match. Jufeng held back from striking too easily, but Tong Bailong's massive hands were more than enough to send them sprawling like leaves in an autumn wind. In an instant, more than a dozen of them were left unable to stand.
Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the leading young man gritted his teeth against the pain in his abdomen and staggered to his feet. He threatened Jufeng and the others, "Fine, just wait! If I can't deal with you, someone else will take care of you. Just wait for your corpses!" With that, he led his group in a hasty retreat.
It was a classic case of bluster masking weakness. Watching the group flee in panic, Tong Bailong prepared to chase after them but was stopped by Jufeng's raised hand.
Jufeng slowly walked back to Xue's side and said apologetically, "Sorry for causing you trouble."
Having known Xue for a few days now, Romain understood that he wasn't someone who sought out conflict. He had heard some rumors suggesting that Xue had helped some university students find courier jobs, which had likely ruffled some feathers and led to this confrontation. For Jufeng, these matters were easy to see through; he himself had benefited from Xue's help, which is why he felt compelled to say something.
Of course, if he didn't consider Xue a friend at heart, he might have chosen a different way to handle the situation.
Perhaps with money.
However, friends shouldn't talk about money.
At this moment, Xue was still in shock over Jufeng and Tong Bailong's skills when he finally snapped back to reality upon hearing Romain's apology.
He smiled slightly and replied, "It's nothing. We were just looking for legitimate work; why should we yield to their threats? Although I haven't read much, I know that one shouldn't be cowed by intimidation. Don't worry; if they dare come back again, you can teach them another lesson."
What was supposed to be a brief meeting was delayed by this unexpected incident. After saying their goodbyes to Xue, Jufeng and Tong Bailong returned to their dormitory at school. On the way back, Tong Bailong suddenly said to Jufeng, "You're a good person; you're even better." This made Jufeng burst into hearty laughter.
One night passed without incident, and the second day was filled with the monotonous military training that offered no new insights for Jufeng. The Young Master An had not shown his face since his first defeat; it seemed that Tong Bailong's strike had truly caused him significant pain.
However, at noon, an unexpected visitor found Jufeng. He did not eat in the cafeteria, but instead gave a brief instruction to Tong Bailong before leaving the school.
Gui Pin Xuan, the most famous five-star hotel in the university town. Jufeng inquired about a private room at the front desk and then headed straight there.
As soon as he entered, a smiling face appeared in his view, quickly standing up to give Jufeng a hug, then joyfully exclaimed.
"Crazy! Long time no see!"
(To be continued)
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