Yang Yi walked out of the A City police station, a profound lightness settling over him. The cold light that had been in his eyes had vanished, replaced by a rogueish, swaggering smile; the man before them was a complete stranger to the one who had entered moments before.

“Hmm, looks like Fatty was efficient. Just in time!” Yang Yi muttered to himself, then turned and headed back in the direction of the school.

Meanwhile, inside the boys' dormitory at No. 1 High School, the atmosphere was as tense and hot as ants swarming a griddle.

Lin Fatty paced nervously, while Ye Xiaohou appeared utterly composed, though his heart was churning just as anxiously. Only Xu Ming remained remarkably laid-back, as if the phone call he’d made was guaranteed to be effective.

“Damn it, Third Brother, it’s been so long! Why hasn't the Boss come back yet? Are you absolutely sure he’s fine?” Fatty asked anxiously. For Fatty, who had grown up alongside Yang Yi, having his brother locked up at the station was unbearable. His worry was entirely understandable.

“Second Brother, don’t worry!” Xu Ming sounded less confident than his words suggested. Though his demeanor was relaxed, he was deeply tense inside. If something unexpected had happened, his timely phone call might not have been enough.

Ye Xiaohou narrowed his eyes, paused for a moment, and then suggested, “Look, instead of us just waiting here, why don’t we just go down to the police station and pick up the Boss?”

“Yes, great idea.” Hearing Ye Xiaohou suggest this, Lin Fatty immediately agreed.

“Let’s go! Second Brother, we’re heading out!”

“Where are you three going?” Just as the three anxious figures were about to bolt from the room, a familiar voice drifted in from outside the door. Hearing it instantly washed the frantic look from their faces, replacing it with sheer excitement.

“Yi Ge!”

“Boss!”

“Are you okay?”

All three blurted out the question simultaneously, overwhelmed with emotion.

“Heh heh, not dead yet,” Yang Yi said with a warm chuckle, seeing how much these three good brothers cared for him.

“It’s good you’re alright,” the others breathed out.

“A scare, but no harm done,” Yang Yi replied.

At this point, Lin Fatty suddenly moved toward Xu Ming and said, “Third Brother, thank you. If it hadn't been for you, I’m afraid if things had gone wrong, my Yi Ge would really be finished.”

“Finished, what the hell are you talking about, Fatty? Are you asking for a beating?” Yang Yi shot him a look, but instantly froze. What did Fatty mean by that?

“Fatty, what are you saying?”

Xu Ming was already immensely relieved to see Yang Yi safe, but a flicker of bitterness crossed his face as he heard Fatty’s words of thanks.

Lin Fatty turned back to Yang Yi and grinned, “Yi Ge, the only reason you walked out of that police station safely is all thanks to Third Brother. If it weren't for him, you wouldn't have gotten out so early.”

“What?” Yang Yi stared at Xu Ming in astonishment.

“Heh, Second Brother, you don’t need to put it that way,” Xu Ming managed a strained smile.

“Third Brother, now you have to tell us, right? What you were talking about earlier—the Boss is out now,” Lin Fatty asked, sounding intensely curious about Xu Ming.

“Sigh, looks like I can’t keep this hidden for long,” Xu Ming let out a low, drawn-out sigh. Instantly, Lin Fatty, along with Yang Yi—leaving out the now-calm and collected Ye Xiaohou—found themselves completely hooked by Xu Ming’s gravity.

“The truth is, I am the heir to the Xu family, one of the Four Great Military Families of the South…!” Xu Ming said, his expression bitter. He didn't seem proud of his prominent lineage; rather, it felt like a burden.

“The Southern Military Family, the Xu heir?” Yang Yi and Lin Fatty exclaimed, losing their composure.

“Heh, is that scary?” Xu Ming knew his background was formidable. Since childhood, his only friend had been Ye Xiaohou. Growing up together, he’d had no one else to turn to outside their circle. Because of his family’s status, people either approached him with ulterior motives or were too intimidated to befriend him, leaving him with virtually no friends. Now, having the rare chance to study at this school as an ordinary person, and even gaining two real brothers, he didn’t want to lose them because of his towering family status. That’s why he’d seemed both fearful and excited when Yang Yi had declared himself his friend. (Haha, satisfying! The small early foreshadowing is finally unveiled, brothers, did you see it? Did you guess it during the canteen scene? If you guessed it, I’ll send you a picture of a beauty, hehe!)

Yang Yi seemed to read Xu Ming’s turmoil instantly. His expression flattened, turning almost cold as he approached Xu Ming and stated, “You are currently not worthy of my thanks. Moreover, if you continue to be afraid, you are even less worthy of being my brother.”

At these words, Lin Fatty beside him, and even Ye Xiaohou standing by the door, paused momentarily. After a thought, they seemed to understand why Yang Yi had said that, and they quietly stood aside, remaining silent.

Only Xu Ming’s face drained instantly, but he recovered swiftly, catching the last sentence Yang Yi had spoken. He fell into deep thought, pondering.

Yang Yi glanced at him, then turned his head toward Ye Xiaohou. “I suspect you have something to tell me too. Based on the look in your eyes the first moment I caught you, I guess you aren’t simple either, Fourth Brother. Isn't it time you spoke up?” (Another thread pulled!)

“Boss, from the moment I first laid eyes on you, I knew you were extraordinary. I didn't expect you to see right through me too. For that, I apologize first. I can’t reveal too much yet, but I can give you one hint: there’s a certain establishment in Jiangnan!” Ye Xiaohou said with a slight smile.

“Oh, haha, you really think highly of me, don’t you!” Yang Yi laughed casually, but inwardly, a tidal wave was crashing. A brother from the Southern Military Region, and someone connected to 'an establishment in Jiangnan’—good heavens! Yang Yi could barely comprehend that two of his trusted underlings turned out to possess such formidable backgrounds.

“But Boss, you must be hiding things from us too, right? Shouldn't you tell us now?” Ye Xiaohou teased with a mischievous grin.

“Damn it, I’m just a rogue, nothing to hide from you guys!” Yang Yi thought dismissively toward Ye Xiaohou.

“Stop pretending, Boss. Spill it, I’m really looking forward to it!” Ye Xiaohou watched Yang Yi with a playful smile.

At that moment, Xu Ming, who had been deep in contemplation, finally spoke up, asking, “Boss, I want to know too!”

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