Watching Ye Chen, who seemed to have been scared stiff, Ma Chao grew even prouder.
"Hmph, let me show you what happens when you mess with Lord Ma."
Ma Chao roared mid-air, stomped hard, and slammed his foot toward Ye Chen's chest.
He could already picture how humiliating Ye Chen would look when sent flying.
At the thought, a smug grin spread across his face.
"As expected of Ma Chao—so fast!"
"Ye Chen's done for; after this kick he'll be stuck in Hospital for days."
Seeing Ma Chao's foot about to land, many timid girls even shut their eyes.
Ye Chen's lips curled. To onlookers Ma Chao's kick seemed unstoppable,
but before Ye Chen's God-tier Combat Technique it was riddled with openings.
Just as the foot neared his chest, Ye Chen calmly twisted aside and easily dodged.
Almost simultaneously he hooked Ma Chao's ankle with his wrist and yanked inward.
Ma Chao's face changed drastically; his right foot was still on the ground while his left was violently pulled outward by Ye Chen.
"Rip…"
The sound of fabric tearing rang out.
Ma Chao did a full split; a drilling pain hit him, and in the blink of an eye sweat covered his face.
Losing balance, he propped his hands on the floor, face contorted in a painful split.
Ye Chen beamed at him: "Hey, Bro Chao, your flexibility's pretty good!"
"Flexibility's pretty good?"
"Good your sister!"
"I've pulled a groin!"
After a long pause Ma Chao managed to lift his head and rasp, "I'm not feeling well today; count yourself lucky. We'll call this match for now—another day."
With that he tried to stand, but Ye Chen casually pressed on his shoulder.
"Rip!"
Another fabric tear followed.
"Another day won't do; we haven't settled who wins." Ye Chen looked concerned as he placed his hand on Ma Chao's shoulder, but hidden force flowed through his palm.
Ma Chao grimaced in agony.
"I—I admit defeat today, all right!"
The agony of a pulled groin forced Ma Chao to beg for mercy.
Only then did Ye Chen release him: "Fine. Since you lost, remember your promise."
With that, Ye Chen turned away unruffled: "Huh, I didn't even break a sweat and it's over—boring."
Every classmate was stunned.
They'd expected a spectacular fight.
Even without flashing blades of a wuxia film, it should've been fists meeting flesh.
The stage was set, the mood built—and it ended just like that?
If they'd known, why come to the Playground? Could've settled it in the Classroom.
Gritting his teeth, Ma Chao hissed at Ye Chen, "Just you wait."
Then he twisted toward the sidelines and barked at his lackeys, "Fatty, Monkey, what are you standing there for? Get me to the infirmary—my leg injury's flared up!"
Two boys hurried over, hoisted Ma Chao, and rushed him toward Infirmary Zone Two.
Ye Chen glanced at Ma Chao's retreating figure, a teasing smile on his face.
"Leg injury? Probably not the only thing…"
"A leg injury, yet he's clutching his crotch—what is he, from the 'Groin-Guard School'?"
Ye Chen walked up to Xu Liang.
"All right, Ma Chao won't bully you again. Against guys like him you can't chicken out or show fear."
Xu Liang nodded gratefully. "Thanks, Brother Ye."
"Mm, tonight Teacher Ye's Little Class is open again—come listen."
Teacher Ye's Little Class?
Beside them Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo blushed faintly.
If no one else was around, Ye Chen's rules were bearable—but with Xu Liang present?
Suddenly Li Sitong's lips curved in a mischievous smile.
"Teacher Ye, does Student Xu Liang have to follow the Little Class rules too?"
Ye Chen: "…"
Pfft—Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo burst into giggles.
Xu Liang stood bewildered. "What are they laughing at?"
Xia Yingluo asked curiously, "By the way, what happened to Ma Chao just now?"
The moment the words left her mouth she regretted them.
Hadn't Ma Chao just said it was a leg injury—why ask such a silly question?
So stupid.
Ye Chen chuckled: "Ma Chao? Yeah, he's hurt—but exactly where is hard to say."
"Oh."
Xia Yingluo had also heard that ripping sound; her face flushed scarlet and she lowered her head.
Evening fell, and Ye Chen's study bustled with activity.
His desk was rectangular.
Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo sat on one side; Ye Chen and Xu Liang on the opposite.
Ye Chen first explained some problems, then tailored a test paper to each of their strengths.
Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo bent their heads over the questions.
Xu Liang was exceptionally earnest and diligent.
Back then both he and Ye Chen were academic disasters.
One ranked 41st from the bottom, the other 39th—true brothers in failure.
They hit it off, always hanging out together.
Internet cafés, peeking at pretty girls by the school gate, copying homework—together.
But in the second half of the year Xu Liang suddenly studied like mad, leaving no time even for Ye Chen.
Only now did Ye Chen realize Xu Liang's improvement came from seeing his mother's hardship.
Mother Xu worked days and delivered water till eleven at night.
After Xu Liang's father had an accident the family owed huge debts; Mother Xu toiled to save University tuition for her son.
As Xu Liang put it, if Mum worked so hard for him, how could he face her if he didn't give his all?
While Ye Chen was lost in thought, Li Sitong tossed him a paper ball.
He unfolded it: "Remember—Xu Liang must obey class rules too!"
In his mind Ye Chen pictured Xu Liang gazing tenderly at him and saying, "Da—…"
Holy crap—what a demonic scene.
Ye Chen couldn't help shuddering.
He glanced at Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo; both were giggling with heads lowered.
Those two girls were openly mocking him.
But with Xu Liang present Ye Chen couldn't go too far.
The two girls were outrageously cocky—practically soaring to the sky.
On the surface Xu Liang worked on problems, but inside he was bitter.
He even regretted coming for Ye Chen's tutoring.
He knew Ye Chen's relationship with Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo wasn't ordinary.
We're bros—why couldn't you leave me one?
Fine, don't give me one—but you make me swallow dog-food!
Studying is hard enough; now I have to eat double dog-food—how tragic.
Actually, compared with usual Little Classes, the trio was already restrained.
Basically, apart from explaining problems they said nothing else.
Yet Xu Liang could still taste a strong flavor of dog-food.
Ye Chen's trio didn't notice, but Xu Liang saw everything clearly.
The two girls would sneak glances at Ye Chen, pass notes, and exchange flirty looks.
Xu Liang felt a sour pang in his heart.
He figured he was superfluous—yeah, call me Xu Duoyu!
At first Xu Liang could endure it.
He lowered his head, pretending to see nothing.
But the three went too far and actually started laughing.
Sure enough, once your bro gets a girlfriend, all that's left is heart-stab!