Chapter 86 The Malevolent Birthday Star (First Update)

Dafei Mountain is the tallest in the county, with an elevation nearing two thousand meters. The mountain path was lively, full of hikers ascending its slopes. Of course, wealthy folks like Liu Yutong who merely wished to stroll would usually ride the cable car, reaching the summit in less than ten minutes.

It was one of the county’s most famous tourist spots, with many people barbecuing, picnicking, and gathering with their families atop its heights. Minghan and his companions chose to hike, a journey that required at least two hours of climbing. Yet, surrounded by three lovely women, it was certainly a small pleasure in itself.

The lengthy trek passed swiftly amidst laughter and conversation. By the time they reached the summit, Zheng Yuan had already started the fire for their barbecue. Security on the mountaintop was stringent; after all, one spark could spell disaster. Charcoal was strictly forbidden, and only electric grills were allowed.

Seeing Minghan arrive, Da Xu waved a large grilled wing in his hand. “Minghan, come try my cooking—chef extraordinaire!”

Ying Huanhuan beside him looked unimpressed. “That kebab you made earlier was burnt black, and you still dare boast about your skills?”

Da Xu was a bit embarrassed. “It was an accident, pure accident.”

Everyone burst into hearty laughter.

Zheng Yuan and Da Xu were the chefs for this outing. Yuhang took a few bites and remarked, “I think I’ll have an upset stomach today.”

The skills of the two were rather poor; their barbecue was barely edible.

The girls all looked dissatisfied, quietly sipping their drinks.

“Why don’t we go buy some ready-made food? Like marinated snacks, duck bones and such…” Huang Ying suggested, not wanting to descend the mountain with an empty stomach.

Minghan and Yuhang volunteered for the task.

Walking along the path, Minghan asked Yuhang, “Did you tell her about the contract?”

Yuhang shook his head. “I really don’t know how to bring it up—it feels strange. And the contract says we can’t date. How am I supposed to explain that to Huang Ying?”

Minghan sighed. High school was a time when hormones ran high, but they couldn’t cross the line.

“Yuhang, right now we’re unknown, so it doesn’t matter. But if we gain even a little fame, the company will definitely restrict your contact with girls.”

Yuhang understood, but he couldn’t bear to tell Huang Ying about it. Yuhang was reserved, and Huang Ying was his source of joy. Whenever she shared interesting stories, he felt warmth inside.

“Let’s wait and see! Maybe we’re just cannon fodder for Qianyang, haha…”

There were many convenience stores on Dafei Mountain, but only one sold marinated and ready-made foods. These items had to be stocked daily and were inconvenient to supply.

When Minghan reached the marinated snack shop, he saw Liu Yutong. He and two friends were picking out snacks.

Spotting Minghan, Liu Yutong’s gaze flickered with mockery. “What’s the matter? Your barbecue failed?”

Minghan replied coolly, “None of your business.”

Normally good-natured, Minghan swore, surprising Yuhang. Who was this guy? Did he have some deep grudge with Yuhang?

“Impressive,” Liu Yutong sneered. “Shopkeeper, I want all the marinated snacks.”

The shopkeeper was embarrassed. “Young man, you can’t possibly eat all that yourself. Why not share with the other hikers?”

Liu Yutong was blunt and aggressive; he pulled a wad of cash from his wallet—about two thousand yuan. “I’ve got money, so I’ll do as I please. What, you won’t sell?”

The shopkeeper, timid by nature, saw Liu Yutong’s fierce demeanor and generous spending. Knowing he couldn’t afford trouble, he apologized to Minghan, “Sorry, we’re sold out for today.”

Yuhang wanted to get angry, but Minghan pulled him back. “We’re civilized people.”

Liu Yutong was even more infuriated by this and blocked Minghan’s way. “What do you mean by that?”

“If you don’t understand, take notes and ask your literature teacher later,” Yuhang retorted rudely. After all, with his brother’s birthday, it seemed there was always a noisy fly buzzing nearby.

“Kid, you’re pretty cocky!” Liu Yutong was annoyed and wanted to settle things with force.

Minghan sighed. Here he was, a scholar, about to resolve matters with fists—a bit helpless, but rather exciting too.

Quick as lightning, Minghan threw a punch, leaving Liu Yutong stunned.

Liu Yutong had always bullied the weak and feared the strong, backed by two underlings. He’d only pick on those he thought were easy targets, but would resort to words when facing someone tough. He hadn’t expected Minghan to strike without so much as a warm-up.

“You, you, you…”

“I, I, I… What about me? Are you mute?” Minghan mocked.

“Guys, get him!” Liu Yutong called to his underlings.

Normally they’d follow Liu Yutong, enjoying good food and drink, and might bully someone weak. But Minghan was tall and strong, and both were intimidated.

“Boss, as long as the mountain remains, there’ll be firewood to burn. Let’s retreat for now!”

That angered Liu Yutong even more. “You’re scared? Spouting proverbs to act cultured? What’s the point of keeping you around?”

His two underlings, seeing their boss unwilling to give up, turned to run. “Boss, I just remembered I have an English class this afternoon.”

In a flash, the two vanished, leaving the three of them bewildered.

Liu Yutong looked at Minghan, swallowed hard, and pointed to the marinated snacks behind him. “How about I share some with you?”

Minghan laughed heartily. “Just a little will do for us.”

There were dozens of pounds of marinated snacks on the ground. Minghan politely took about half a pound, then handed it to Liu Yutong. “These are for you.”

Liu Yutong was stunned. He’d expected Minghan to take so little and wanted to urge him to take more. Yet now, half a pound was for himself—not even enough to fill the gap between his teeth!

Feeling wronged, Liu Yutong said, “This is robbery. I’m calling the police.”

Minghan looked at him oddly. “Brother, you’re not old enough to have a driver’s license, are you? And you dared to drive up here—do you have a death wish?”

Liu Yutong had wanted to threaten Minghan, but was instead threatened himself. He suddenly felt like crying; he’d never been humiliated like this before.

Watching Liu Yutong’s lonely figure recede among the trees, Minghan said to Yuhang, “I feel like I’ve gotten a lot worse.”

Now they had more marinated snacks than they could possibly eat.

Minghan made a call. “Tell all the guys to come over—we’re emptying out the snack shop.”

When everyone arrived and saw the heaps of marinated food, their jaws dropped. With Yuhang exaggerating the story, everyone looked at Minghan with a peculiar expression.

“Minghan, my heart aches. I always thought you were a kind and innocent kid!” Da Xu declared dramatically.

Deng Qingqing agreed, “Minghan, you’re a beast in human guise.”

Minghan shrugged. “Boss, I brought you so many free snacks, and this is how you treat the birthday boy.”