Chapter Seventy-Two: Journey to the Depths

First County No. 1 High School. Campus supermarket.

“Is everyone ready? If you are, let's go!” Stone shouted upstairs.

Today was the day they set off for Shenzhen, a trip planned well in advance.

Stone himself had driven over to pick up Lu Kun and the others, taking them to Fengyang first, where they would catch a train to Shenzhen.

“All set, all set, coming down right now,” Lu Kun replied. He hadn’t packed much—just a clean change of clothes and some food for the journey.

“Wait for me! Don’t leave without me!” Liu Shixun called from above.

The kid had actually packed his things early and even managed to squeeze in a nap. It wasn’t until he came downstairs that he realized he was still wearing slippers and had to run back up to change into proper shoes.

“Hi, Brother Kun!”

The twins, Cheng Yuan and Cheng Hao, greeted Lu Kun in unison, their faces so serious it was almost comical.

The contrast between their stern expressions and youthful faces was just too adorable.

“Brother Kun, let us handle these,” the two immediately helped Lu Kun load his bags into the trunk.

Lu Kun was a bit taken aback. Why were these two dressed like some kind of gangsters?

Dressed head to toe in black, with indigo dragon tattoos on their arms, their hair slicked back with gel, and sunglasses on even though it was already evening.

“Wow, you guys look awesome!” Liu Shixun exclaimed in awe at the twins’ getup.

Lu Kun: “…”

Are young people these days really all this dramatic?

“Hey, are you two coming to Shenzhen with us?” Liu Shixun’s eyes sparkled.

Since getting to know Lu Kun, Liu Shixun had made it a habit to call everyone “brother,” but seeing these two, who looked even younger than himself, he felt oddly buoyant.

“Uh…” The twins exchanged confused looks.

Why did this skinny, delicate kid look at them with that strange expression? It was a look more suited to a man staring at a beautiful woman.

A chill ran down their spines.

“Yeah.” As the younger brother, Cheng Hao was less composed than his brother Cheng Yuan. He gave a heavy grunt to show his displeasure.

Unfortunately, Liu Shixun, clueless as ever, either didn’t get it or didn’t care.

In his mind, these twin brothers were nothing like the fierce, intimidating types who usually followed Lu Kun.

Now, in high spirits, Liu Shixun circled the twins twice, clicking his tongue in admiration.

Then...

He stretched out a mischievous finger and poked at the tattoo on Cheng Hao’s arm.

And then...

Bang, bang, bang!

“I’ll beat you to death, you pervert!” Cheng Hao promptly kicked Liu Shixun, sending him flying.

Lu Kun covered his face.

He’d seen this coming a mile away.

Thankfully, Stone intervened just in time to stop the twins, or there surely would’ve been bloodshed.

Oh, right, there was already bloodshed.

Two streams of blood poured from Liu Shixun’s nostrils.

Devastated, Liu Shixun wanted to cry. Why? Why? Why am I always the one who gets hurt?

Lu Kun patted him on the shoulder, “Are you trying out for the death-defying clown act or something?”

The twins might have baby faces and look soft, but once you fought them, you’d know what true despair meant.

Once in the car, Liu Shixun sat in silence, battered in both body and spirit.

Lu Kun decided he’d better cheer him up.

He couldn’t let the kid get so discouraged after just one incident.

He knew full well that Liu Shixun was Liu the Skinflint’s darling, his Achilles’ heel. If anything happened to the boy, Liu the Skinflint would come after him with everything he had.

“Hey, Shixun, why are you so intent on coming with me to Shenzhen? Don’t you usually like tagging along after your cousin?”

Lu Kun reached into his pocket for his cigarettes, intending to light one, but remembering they were in the car, he quietly put them away.

“Go ahead, it’s fine,” Stone said, rolling the window down.

“No need, I’ll wait— we’re almost there,” Lu Kun replied with a smile.

Hearing this, Liu Shixun felt even more aggrieved. He pursed his lips and muttered, “My cousin went to Beijing without me. He’s such a jerk!”

Lu Kun: “…”

Why did that sound like the lament of a jilted lover? Abandoned, even.

“Why’d your cousin go to Beijing?” Lu Kun asked, puzzled.

“He said he wanted to check out the universities first, then decide which one to apply to,” Liu Shixun replied, clearly unimpressed.

Lu Kun: “…”

Forget it, the world of geniuses was beyond him.

“What university is he planning to apply to? The exam results aren’t even out yet,” Lu Kun said, then caught the disdainful look Liu Shixun shot him.

He suddenly realized.

Right, back then, you had to estimate your scores and apply first—unlike in the future, when you could wait for your results.

Lu Kun coughed to cover his embarrassment.

“So, you still haven’t told me which university your cousin wants to get into,” he redirected.

“I don’t know. That’s why he’s checking out colleges first,” Liu Shixun replied, bored, his head tilted as he stared into the rearview mirror.

…

The Cheng twins remained stone-faced and silent throughout, exuding an icy aloofness.

Screech.

The car pulled up outside the train station.

“Phew—finally here,” Lu Kun exhaled in relief.

He didn’t have to carry his own luggage; the twins handled it for him.

“Well, I’ll head back then. Call me if you need anything,” Stone said, giving Lu Kun’s shoulder a light pat.

“Drive safe on your way back!” Lu Kun reminded him.

…

Liu Shixun, clutching a large bundle, gazed around curiously like an eager little explorer.

“Hey, stop gawking and follow me—this way,” Lu Kun tugged his sleeve, bringing his attention back before he could wander off.

“Brother Kun, look at that building! How do they build them so tall?” Liu Shixun marveled, pointing at a distant tower.

Lu Kun glanced in the direction he indicated and saw a building about twenty stories high.

He was unimpressed; after seeing skyscrapers with a hundred floors in the future, this was nothing special.

“That’s nothing. Wait until you see Shenzhen—you’ll understand what real skyscrapers are.”

“How tall are they?”

Lu Kun didn’t answer directly, which only made Liu Shixun more curious. Even the perpetually stoic twins raised their eyebrows.

Clearly, though they’d seen a bit of the world with Stone, the twins were still largely unfamiliar with the outside world’s grandeur, and their curiosity was no less than Liu Shixun’s.

Lu Kun led the three of them onto the crowded train.

He had bought soft-sleeper tickets—more expensive, but clean, comfortable, and with far less chance of running into any unsavory incidents.