Chapter 9 The Crown Prince and Young Master Lin

At the entrance of Haizhou No. 1 High School, a large crowd of students had already gathered, thick as a swarm, occupying half the road. Each of them wore a hostile expression, clearly there to stir trouble.

Among them stood Pan Hao, his nose wrapped in gauze. At this moment, Pan Hao looked every bit the lackey, standing beside a tall, burly boy. The tall boy wore a gold chain around his neck, his attire screaming nouveau riche.

This boy was Zhao Hu.

Zhao Hu was infamous at Haizhou No. 1 High as a troublemaker—captain of the school's sports team and notorious for his ruthless fights. Since enrolling, he had injured at least a dozen classmates, with several suffering serious wounds. Zhao Hu dared act so brazenly partly because his family was wealthy and could afford compensation, but more importantly, his mother was the head of the school's discipline office and doted on him. No matter how serious his misdeeds, she smoothed things over, allowing Zhao Hu to run rampant and unrestrained.

Passing students, seeing Zhao Hu and the scale of the gathering, knew he was about to explode again—some unlucky soul was bound to suffer.

“Keep your eyes peeled, don’t let that kid get away!” Zhao Hu barked at Pan Hao and the others, cigarette dangling from his lips, full of swagger.

“Tiger Bro, there he is, look!” Pan Hao exclaimed, pointing toward the school gate in delight.

Zhao Hu glanced over and saw from afar “his woman,” Xu Xier, laughing and joking with a boy.

“Damn it, flirting with Xier right in front of me? Courting death!” Zhao Hu tossed his cigarette and strode toward the pair, exuding righteous anger. Pan Hao and the dozens of students followed close behind.

“Brat, daring to chase after my woman—you must have a death wish…” Zhao Hu growled as he reached out to grab Lin Le’s neck.

But in the next instant, when he saw the boy’s face clearly, Zhao Hu’s eyes widened and he froze on the spot.

“Lin… Young Master Lin…” Zhao Hu stammered.

Lin Le looked at Zhao Hu, “You…”

It seemed Lin Le struggled to recall Zhao Hu’s identity before he spoke with a calm air, “Long time no see, Little Dog…”

Pan Hao and the others, who had come ready to beat Lin Le, were left bewildered by the scene unfolding before them.

What was happening? Did Tiger Bro know this guy?

And what was “Little Dog” supposed to mean?

The infamous Tiger Bro whom no one at Haizhou No. 1 High dared provoke, was called “Little Dog” by Lin Le.

Lin Le wasn’t fabricating. Three years ago, this Zhao Hu had been a mere nobody to him, barely memorable. Though Zhao Hu’s family was well-off, compared to Lin Le and the other heirs of wealthy conglomerates, he was worlds apart.

Back then, Zhao Hu shamelessly tried to squeeze into Lin Le’s circle. Even when the rich kids nicknamed him “Little Dog,” he accepted it eagerly, yet was still scorned and ostracized.

Lin Le could hardly believe that someone as insignificant as Zhao Hu had become the feared Tiger Bro of Haizhou No. 1 High.

Zhao Hu, too, was stunned. The transfer student Pan Hao accused of stealing Xu Xier turned out to be none other than Young Master Lin!

He vividly remembered how Lin Le had been the center of attention among the elite, while he himself had been invisible, not even worthy of a glance.

Even now, despite his rise, Zhao Hu felt deeply inferior before Lin Le, which was why he immediately addressed him with respect.

Now, Zhao Hu finally understood why proud Xu Xier suddenly grew so close to a transfer student. Years ago, when Zhao Hu struggled to join the elite, he knew Xu Xier cared most for Lin Le.

He could only watch, envious, as his goddess joked and flirted with Lin Le like sweethearts, pretending to be happy for them.

Then, the Lin Group collapsed, and Young Master Lin fell from grace overnight, becoming penniless, while Zhao Hu’s family rose in the void.

Zhao Hu thought he could finally replace Lin Le, win Xu Xier’s favor, and perhaps one day marry this beauty, merging the Xu family business with his own.

But never did he expect the very man he sought to surpass would reappear before him—the one he once idolized and resented.

With money and beauty within his grasp, only to be snatched away by this wretch, Zhao Hu was unwilling to yield.

“Damn, so it’s you—Young Master Lin!” Zhao Hu sneered.

“Which Young Master Lin?” Pan Hao asked, confused.

“Who else? The one whose family went bankrupt, whose parents divorced, who fled out of town to escape debts!” Zhao Hu exposed Lin Le’s past, intent on humiliating him.

“You mean the Lin Group of old?” Pan Hao was shocked.

The surrounding crowd gasped. Three years had passed, yet the glory of the Lin Group lingered in their memories, as did the legendary Young Master Lin, revered in every school across Haizhou.

No matter how they tried, they couldn’t reconcile the humble, thrift-shop-clad student before them with the dominating prince of Haizhou’s schools.

“No way—Young Master Lin reduced to this?”

“This is hilarious!”

The crowd erupted in laughter.

The thought of humiliating a once-celebrated figure thrilled them.

“Yeah, who’d have guessed the illustrious Young Master Lin would become so shabby? Can’t even afford third-rate brands, dressed in flea market clothes—what a joke! Should I give you some money for decent clothes?” Zhao Hu said, pulling out a wad of cash and stuffing it into Lin Le’s collar.

The crowd roared with laughter.

Lin Le shook his head wearily, not angry, only finding their antics tiresome.

“Zhao Hu, haven’t you caused enough trouble?” Xu Xier snapped, unable to bear it any longer.

“Hey, Xier, don’t be mad. I’m just playing with Young Master Lin,” Zhao Hu replied, grinning.

“Shut your filthy mouth! We’re not that close! Just seeing you disgusts me—petty and arrogant!” Xu Xier retorted.

The lackeys were stunned, and the distant spectators snickered.

Zhao Hu often boasted about his close relationship with Xu Xier, and everyone believed she was his girlfriend. But now, with Xu Xier’s outburst, the truth was clear—it was all Zhao Hu’s wishful thinking.

“Xu Xier, do you really think he’s still Young Master Lin? He’s nothing but a debt-ridden pauper now! Don’t let him fool you!” Zhao Hu shouted.

“I’ll choose who I’m with, and I don’t need an outsider’s opinion!” Xu Xier replied crisply.

The crowd snickered again.

“You…” Humiliated, Zhao Hu’s face flushed with anger.

“You really don’t know how to appreciate kindness!” Zhao Hu raged, losing control in his embarrassment and reaching to strike Xu Xier.

“Ah!” Xu Xier screamed in fright.

Lin Le reacted swiftly, shielding Xu Xier in his arms. Before Zhao Hu’s hand could land, Lin Le seized his wrist, halting him completely.

“It seems you’re determined to cause trouble today, aren’t you?” Lin Le’s voice was calm.

Zhao Hu snorted, eyes blazing, “That’s right! I’m here to teach you a lesson, you penniless wretch! What, you gonna bite me?”

Lin Le smiled faintly, replying, “Sorry, I never eat shit…”