Kai was a fool to think that his cousin had mellowed down in such a short amount of time.

    A lot has changed since then—definitely.

    Rui was now in Huolan High and was the water boy of the Guardians. He praised the players like they were the ones who breastfed him. For a moment, Kai thought he found a group of people who would help him feel that sense of belongingness he always lacked. However, he was the same annoying person who loved to prey on the weak.

    Minyu pursed his lips and looked down at his lap.

    "Sorry about that," he said. "I'll get going now."

    However, Kai didn't permit that to happen. If, back then, he tolerated what was done to him, now, he couldn't watch another person in a similar situation go through the same things.

    He felt it was his duty to do so as he was granted a new life.

    Rui rolled his eyes. "Whatever," he muttered. "I was just telling the truth."

    With that, he turned to walk away, leaving Minyu and Kai behind. For a moment, the two of them were silent as they watched Rui trudge to the bench of the Guardians.

    "Do you know him?" Kai asked, wanting to know more.

    Minyu scratched the back of his neck and nodded. "Yeah," he said. "He's the water boy of the Huolan Guardians. He also happens to be my classmate."

    "Oh, that's unfortunate," Kai muttered. "Can you tell me more about him?"

    Minyu pursed his lips, wondering if he should say such things to Kai.

    "Why…are you curious, though?" he hesitantly asked.

    Kai cleared his throat. "Because we're friends," he chimed as an excuse.

    Minyu smirked and shook his head. "We only met today—for a couple of minutes."

    "I know," Kai said. "You just remind me of someone I know."

    Minyu chuckled. "I hope that's a good thing then."

    "It is," Kai said. "So, are you willing to share? I don't like that guy already."

    Minyu sighed and nodded. "Well, it's the same old inferior high school boy who projects his insecurities on others. Honestly, I don't pay him much attention since I feel that he's pitiful."

    "What do you mean?" Kai asked.

    "Well, he's always sucking up to the basketball team. He doesn't have his own identity aside from sucking up to popular people. He doesn't have any friends. He's not excelling in school," he continued. "He doesn't have anything going on for him aside from being a water boy of the Guardians."

    Kai smirked. That sounded a lot like Rui.

    "He doesn't…do these things at school, right?" Kai asked.

    "What? Insulting me?" Minyu asked.

    Kai softly nodded.

    Minyu smiled and shook his head, taking Kai by surprise. "Nah," he said. "I mean, he casts me dirty looks, but that's the least of my worries. I have my friends with me, so I don't mind him that much."

    "Friends?" Kai asked in disbelief.

    "Hmm," Minyu hummed. "I mean, even my girlfriend—"

    "Girlfriend?" Kai exclaimed, taking Minyu by surprise.

    This dude had a girlfriend?

    Minyu looked at Kai with one eyebrow raised. "Umm, why?" he hesitantly asked. "Do you think I'm not capable of having those?"

    Kai's eyes widened, and he frantically shook his head. "No, no," he chuckled nervously.

    Minyu narrowed his eyes at Kai. "I think that's what you mean."

    Kai shook his head once more. "No, it's really not that," he said. "I'm just…surprised that people at Huolan High are acting like that," he muttered.

    Minyu's expression softened as Kai continued.

    "I just heard they're not that great of a school at upholding student rights and fighting against discrimination," he continued.

    Minyu smiled in amusement. "It seems like you know a lot about our school."

    Kai scratched the back of his neck. "I apologize for earlier. I didn't mean for it to come out that way." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Nah," Minyu said. "I get it now. You're right. Huolan High is known for that reputation. However, a lot has changed since the past year."

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    "What do you mean?" Kai asked, growing more curious.

    Minyu smiled. "Well, something happened that made the school hold more accountability over the actions of their students. I used to dread coming to school before, but because of that person, I can finally comfortably study and have fun."

    "It's unfortunate what happened to him, but I'm very thankful. I hope he knows he made such a big difference in our school."

    Kai's eyebrows furrowed as he internalized what Minyu had said.

    He continued speaking, with Kai appearing absent-minded.

    He wasn't talking about…that guy, right?

    "Still, the basketball team and the other clubs that bring prestige to the school are given lighter repercussions, so sometimes, they continue to act as they please."

    "However, it's already a big step compared to what Huolan High was like before."

    "I see," Kai muttered. He was about to ask more about the 'guy,' but Minyu's name was called from afar.

    "Yo, Minyu! What's taking you so long?"

    A small group of friends waved Minyu over, all with smiles on their faces. One of them was a petite girl with cute eyes, and she looked at Minyu like he had saved the world in his past life.

    "That must be his girlfriend," he muttered.

    "I'm heading to my friends," Minyu said, turning to Kai for the last time. "Thanks for helping me out there! I thought you were a douchebag at first because you were so handsome, but you're actually really kind."

    "I appreciate it, man," he smiled before waving goodbye.

    Kai merely nodded with pink cheeks. He didn't know if he should take that statement as a compliment.

    With that, Minyu wheeled himself over to his friends, and Kai walked away from the court.

    When he arrived at where his friends were, they quickly asked why Minyu was with someone like Kai Guo.

    "You met him?"

    "Holy crap! Did you get his autograph?"

    "Is he more handsome up close?" his girlfriend asked.

    Minyu chuckled and nodded, making his group of friends to sigh in amazement.

    "Waah, that guy will be unstoppable once he becomes more popular. Pro teams are going to be scrambling to get someone like him in their teams."

    Minyu smiled as his friends continued to rave about Kai Guo.

    At first, he felt that their difference would be too much. However, as they conversed, Minyu realized that they had more things in common than he had expected.

    And for that reason, despite being part of Huolan High, he hoped that the Shizi Dogs would beat the Guardians.

    "Maybe it would deflate their ego a bit," he muttered.