It had only been two days since he hadn’t returned home, yet Li Chun already knew where Cai Ji was staying. Most likely, Meng Yang had told him.

In those entire two days, no one from the Cai family had asked about him—not even once. As if, unless they needed money, he simply didn’t exist as a family member.

Cai Ji gritted his teeth and replied with a single word:
[Got it.]

At noon, he left school and headed to the internet café. The lights inside were dim, filled with clouds of smoke from addicted teens, and the air reeked of instant noodles.

Li Chun was seated in his usual spot. His hair, dyed blonde, had black roots growing out. It looked like it hadn’t been washed in days, greasy and clinging to his scalp. When he saw Cai Ji, he sneered and flicked some ash off his cigarette deliberately.

As Cai Ji sat down beside him, Li Chun grabbed his hair and shook his head violently.
“So? That rich kid’s villa nice and comfy? Soft bed? Eating gourmet meals every day?”

Cai Ji kept his head down and said nothing. His silence instantly annoyed Li Chun, who, without warning, tried to slam Cai Ji’s head into the desk. Cai Ji instinctively braced his hands against the table, but Li Chun was too strong. Just as Cai Ji braced for impact, a large hand reached over and firmly caught his forehead.

“If you like smashing heads so much, why don’t you smash your own?” Zhao Changfeng’s voice rang out.

Li Chun turned his head and saw the nearly 1.9-meter-tall Zhao Changfeng looking down at him with an intimidating gaze. The oppressive presence made Li Chun instinctively loosen his grip.

And just from the way Zhao Changfeng caught Cai Ji’s head, Li Chun could tell he wasn’t a match. He clicked his tongue and backed off.

Zhao Changfeng tossed a plastic bag onto Cai Ji’s desk.
“Skipping lunch to come play at an internet café? Impressive.”

“Thanks,” Cai Ji mumbled, head still down.

Zhao Changfeng dragged out a chair on the other side of Cai Ji and sat down boldly, turned on the computer, and started playing a casual tile-matching game, showing no intention of leaving.

Li Chun glanced at Cai Ji and growled through clenched teeth, “So you found yourself a backer now?”

Cai Ji didn’t respond. He simply placed his phone on the desk and opened the plastic bag. Inside was a bowl of chicken and mushroom rice. The rich aroma made Li Chun’s stomach growl even louder.

After all, the card Cai Ji had left at home had already been drained clean by him and his dad. They’d have to wait until next month’s living allowance came in before they could spend again.

Last night, Li Chun had only eaten instant noodles. Same this morning. Watching Cai Ji quietly eat his meal, Li Chun grinned with a mouthful of nicotine-stained yellow teeth and mocked, “Look at you, delicate and pampered. Must be nice having a rich boy keep you.”

The next second, Zhao Changfeng shot a cold look his way.
“Is your mouth a sewage tank? Why does it smell so bad?”

Li Chun snorted and took out his phone, ready to call a few thugs to back him up. But at that moment, Cai Ji’s phone on the desk lit up. A message flashed across the screen:
[Sheng City Bank] Your account ending in 0334 has received a deposit of RMB 200,000.00. Available balance: RMB 200,005.00.

Li Chun froze, eyes glued to the screen. He mentally counted the zeros three times to confirm it really was two hundred thousand. For a moment, he nearly lunged for the phone.

But Zhao Changfeng was right there—and he couldn’t win a fight.

Cai Ji looked up, and the moment he saw the text message, he quickly stuffed the phone into his pocket and glanced at Li Chun in panic.

Li Chun pretended not to have seen anything and stared at the screen, continuing his game.

Cai Ji was too nervous to eat. He barely got halfway through before putting the lid back on the food.

Zhao Changfeng spoke up, “Done eating? Then let’s head back to the classroom for a nap.”

Cai Ji looked at Li Chun, who gave a twisted smile.
“Go on, then.”

Like a prisoner pardoned, Cai Ji quickly followed Zhao Changfeng and left the café.

As soon as they were gone, Li Chun fished the leftover rice out of the trash and devoured it. While eating, he called his stepfather.

“Hey, Old Cai, check the card we use for Cai Ji’s allowance. What’s the last four digits? 7826? Old Cai, listen—jackpot! That little bastard secretly opened a new account. There’s 200,000 yuan in it! I bet he’s trying to run! We’ve got to figure out how to get the money out!”

The two of them were giddy, like they’d just won the lottery.

That night at 9:30, after evening study, Xiao Gao drove Jiang Ruotang, Zhao Changfeng, and Cai Ji home.

Cai Ji took a deep breath and reached for the car door.

Jiang Ruotang and Zhao Changfeng wanted to say something—maybe “You can still back out now” or “Be careful”—but once the words reached their lips, they felt meaningless.

Some battles, Cai Ji would have to fight on his own. No one could do it for him.

As soon as he stepped through the front door, he saw his father, stepmother, and Li Chun sitting in the living room. Their eyes lit up when they saw him.

His stepmother greeted him warmly.
“Cai Ji, have you eaten? Want me to make you some noodles?”

Cai Ji kept his head down and quickly walked to his room.
“No need… I just came to grab something. My classmate is waiting downstairs. We planned to study together. I won’t be sleeping here tonight.”

Watching him walk away, Li Chun shot a look at his stepfather—as if to say, “See? He’s trying to take the money and run.”

Old Cai’s temper flared. He stormed into the room, grabbed Cai Ji by the hair, and dragged him into the living room.

“You little shit! You secretly opened a new account, didn’t you? Said you needed your ID for some exam nonsense—just to open a bank account! I should’ve kept your ID so you couldn’t pull this kind of crap! Tell me—who gave you the money? What are you planning to do with it? Lie to me again and I’ll kill you!”

Li Chun added, “Why are we wasting time? Beat him, and he’ll talk. It’s only been a few days and he’s already acting up!”

The stepmother chimed in with fake concern.
“Cai Ji, look—don’t turn your back on your family over some money. If you give us the card and the password now, I’ll help calm your dad and brother down.

But if you act ungrateful, don’t blame them for getting rough. And I won’t be the one driving you to the hospital.”

Cai Ji looked at Old Cai and shouted, voice hoarse with emotion:
“I’m your son! Why do you always treat me like this? You’re my dad—not Li Chun’s! Do you even remember who you are?”

“I’m Cai Chuan, and I don’t have a traitorous brat like you! Should’ve killed you last month when I kicked you! Now your bones have healed and you think you’re tough? That damn woman gave you money to run, didn’t she? Dream on. You’re my son. Your money is my money! Hand it over, or I’ll break your bones!”

Li Chun laughed.
“You hear that? Got money now, and you think you don’t owe Dad anything? Hoarding it and trying to sneak off—who do you think you are? Time for a lesson!”

Cai Ji glared at him.
“You don’t even have the same last name as me! Do you know who you are? What right do you have to spend the money my mom gave me? My grandparents are coming to Sheng City to be with me! I’m eighteen now—I can leave! That money isn’t for you!”

“If not your money, what’s my mom getting out of marrying your dad? His income? His bedroom skills?” Li Chun jeered.

The stepmother snapped, “Li Chun, stop spouting nonsense! Just make him hand over the money!”

Li Chun grinned. “Relax, Mom. Let me light a cigarette and give him a nice scar.”

“You dare? If any of you touch me, don’t even think about getting a cent!” Cai Ji shouted. “I left the card at school. If I go back for it and show up with bruises, I’ll show my teachers and classmates!”

“Oh? Getting bold now, huh?”

Li Chun snatched Cai Ji’s bag and dumped out everything—papers, pencil case—but found no card ending in 0334.

While they were searching, Cai Ji discreetly nudged a black pen hidden in his clothes under the sofa with his heel.

Sure enough, after finding nothing in the bag, they began searching his body—still no luck.

They finally believed the card was truly hidden at school.

“Little bastard really knows how to hide stuff,” Li Chun spat.

“I’ll go with him tomorrow to get the card. Then we’ll withdraw the money.”

Just as Old Cai raised his hand to hit Cai Ji, a knock sounded on the door.

Xiao Gao’s voice came from outside:
“Cai Ji! You packed your stuff yet?”

The whole room fell silent.

“Cai Ji? Did they hit you again? If you don’t open the door, I’m calling the police!”

His voice rose an octave, and even the neighbors began peeking out their doors.

The stepmother nudged Old Cai. “Go open the door and get rid of him! What if he does call the police?”

“What’s there to be scared of? I’m his dad—I have every right to hit him!”

Even so, Old Cai opened the door. Seeing the young man outside, he barked, “Who the hell are you? What are you doing at my door?”

“I’m the driver for one of Cai Ji’s classmates. I came to pick him up.” Xiao Gao’s voice was cold.

“He’s my son! He’s been running around for two days. I should be calling the cops on you for kidnapping! Get lost!”

BANG! The door slammed shut.

From outside, Xiao Gao shouted,
“Cai Ji, if you show up injured tomorrow, our family will call the police for you!”

Cai Chuan cursed and kicked the door. “Damn nosy busybody!”

Li Chun added, “So you really did find yourself a backer, huh?”

He moved to burn Cai Ji with his cigarette, but the stepmother stopped him.

“Don’t leave any scars. That guy outside sounds like someone with connections. If he really reports us, and we don’t even get the money, it’ll all backfire!”

Li Chun gritted his teeth, glaring at Cai Ji.

Cai Ji shrank back in silence.

Thanks to Xiao Gao’s warning, Old Cai and Li Chun didn’t lay a hand on him that night. Instead, they just kept watching him.

The two were so excited about getting their hands on the 200,000 yuan, they couldn’t sleep.

As he drank, Cai Chuan muttered,
“Two hundred grand… Who would’ve thought that bitch had so much money? Must’ve told the brat to run away with it. Good thing we caught him!”

Li Chun chuckled.
“With Cai Ji in our hands, we don’t have to worry about money ever again. If that bitch doesn’t pay up, we’ll just beat him and call her while we do it. She might cough up fifty grand or more!”

“Haha, now that’s a plan I can get behind!”

Cai Ji lay silently in bed, listening to their fantasies—all of it recorded by the pen hidden under the sofa.

The next morning, before dawn, Old Cai and Li Chun dragged Cai Ji to school. As soon as the school gates opened, they shoved him into the classroom from both sides.

Li Chun rummaged through Cai Ji’s desk until he finally found the card, taped with transparent tape to the top inside panel of the drawer.

“Little bastard really knows how to hide stuff.”

“What’s the password?”

“My mom said if you find out the password, she won’t put any more money in the account. If you want the money, I have to withdraw it myself.”

Cai Ji was firm. Li Chun nearly hit him again, but Old Cai held him back.

“Not here—it’s school. Wait till we have the money.”

To prevent Cai Ji from escaping, even the stepmother came along. The three of them escorted him to Sheng City Commercial Bank.

When the bank opened, they pinned Cai Ji between them in front of the teller window.

Cai Ji glanced at the teller—a seasoned employee who frowned at the crowd around the window.

“Withdrawal,” Old Cai said, tossing over the card and ID. “Check if there’s 200,000 yuan in there. We want it all out.”

The teller looked at the card and ID and then asked Cai Ji,
“Is this your card?”

“Yes,” Cai Ji nodded.

“To withdraw 200,000 in cash, you need to make an appointment,” the teller said.

Old Cai snapped, “Then transfer it! To this card!”

He threw in his own card.

“One moment. Mr. Cai, please fill out this remittance form,” the teller said, handing a slip to Cai Ji.

Cai Ji filled it out and passed it in.

The teller glanced at it, then calmly called out,
“Supervisor, authorization please.”

The supervisor glanced at the form and said to Cai Ji, “Sorry, sir, this is an interbank remittance. This form is incorrect.”

After speaking, he tore off several new forms and handed them to Cai Ji.

“Damn it! Why is this so troublesome?” Old Cai grumbled impatiently.

The supervisor smiled and reminded him, “Mr. Cai, please take your time. No rush. If there’s even one small error, it’ll need to be rewritten.”

Cai Ji slowly began filling them out. Seeing the pile of paperwork, both Old Cai and Li Chun were getting increasingly irritated. Li Chun’s mother, who had been sitting in the waiting area, also walked over to ask how much longer it would take.

“Hurry up! Are you stalling on purpose?” Li Chun leaned down and was about to pinch Cai Ji’s arm hard, but when he noticed the teller looking at him, he had to let go.

After about seven or eight minutes, Cai Ji handed the forms over.

The teller checked them carefully, then picked one up and said, “Mr. Cai, sorry, this character for ‘two’ is written incorrectly. Please fill it out again.”

At that, Old Cai couldn’t hold back and gave Cai Ji a hard slap on the head. “You even mess this up? Are you stupid? All these years of schooling for nothing?”

The teller spoke up, “Sir, this is a bank. There are surveillance cameras above. Please watch your behavior.”

Old Cai swallowed his anger and watched Cai Ji continue writing.

Another two or three minutes passed. Cai Ji submitted the corrected forms again, and the teller began verifying them.

Li Chun was getting more suspicious. He slammed his hand on the counter and shouted angrily, “Hey! Are you doing this on purpose? What the hell is taking so long? You can’t withdraw, can’t transfer. What kind of scam bank is this?”

“Sir, this is 200,000 yuan, not 2,000 or 20,000. It needs to be reported and authorized. I’m just following procedures. Also, this business is under Mr. Cai’s name. May I ask who you are? Unrelated individuals are not allowed at the service window.”

“You…”

Just then, a police car stopped at the entrance. Three officers entered, and the security guard immediately pointed, “It’s them! They’re forcing this young man to withdraw money!”

Old Cai and Li Chun finally realized what was going on.

On one of the forms Cai Ji had submitted earlier, he had written the word “report to police,” which is why the teller kept giving him new forms and stalling, giving the police time to arrive.

“You colluded with the bank to call the cops? I’ll beat you to death!” Old Cai raised his fist, but one of the officers grabbed his wrist immediately.

Old Cai struggled violently, cursing and trying to kick the officer.

“Attempting to assault an officer, are you?!”

Before the words finished echoing, Old Cai was slammed to the floor, his back pinned under a knee, and the click of handcuffs echoed loudly in the bank lobby.

Li Chun shouted, “What are you doing?! He’s my brother! We’re just here to help him with a bank transaction!”

Then he lunged at Cai Ji, trying to grab his hair.

Cai Ji quickly hid behind the officers, pulling up his sleeve to reveal burn scars from earlier.

“Uncles, please help me! They beat me every day! They’re forcing me to withdraw the living expenses my mom sent me! If I don’t give them money, they’ll kill me! I have proof! I got a medical exam!”

Cai Ji’s trembling voice and tears moved everyone. Even the bank teller and security guard looked deeply sympathetic. Onlookers waiting in the lobby began pointing fingers and scolding.

“Heartless scumbags!”

“I saw it—his arms are full of scars!”

“Even a tiger doesn’t eat its own cubs. This family is worse than animals!”

Old Cai, furious, shouted from under the officer holding him down, “He’s my son! It’s my right to beat him! Even if I beat him to death, it’s nobody’s business! And you dare call the cops on me?! I’ll break every bone in your body!”

Li Chun realized something was off and tried to run, but when a cop grabbed his shoulder, he panicked and punched the officer.

“Assaulting an officer again?!”

The officer flipped him over with a shoulder throw, drove a knee into his back, and handcuffed him on the spot. Li Chun nearly vomited from the impact.

“You little bastard, you set us up! Think this is over? When I get out, I’ll kill you!”

Just as the stepmother tried to flee, Cai Ji shouted, “She’s with them too!”

She stumbled at the door and was caught as well.

All three kept cursing wildly.

“The police beat us!”

“Mind your own business!”

“You can’t tell a father he can’t beat his own son!”

They even let out pig-like screeches in the lobby.

There hadn’t been many customers earlier, but now curious passersby gathered outside. Some students even pulled out their phones to record the family’s disgraceful behavior. The security guard explained the whole situation, leaving the crowd fuming.

The three were shoved into the police car. Even there, they were uncooperative, shouting about how family members should share money, and that it was a son’s duty to financially support his father.

Police followed Cai Ji back to his house, retrieved the recorder hidden under the sofa, verified his medical records, and pulled up surveillance from the internet café, confirming that this family had treated him worse than animals.

Old Cai kept swearing, saying it was just a slap or two, like he used to beat his ex-wife, and that signing a few papers would get him out.

The officer rolled his eyes and told him bluntly: this wasn’t “discipline,” and it wasn’t just domestic violence anymore.

Their actions constituted extortion and abuse, with solid evidence. Since the amount involved was 200,000 yuan—legally considered “a huge sum”—they were looking at three to ten years in prison plus fines.

What’s more, the victim had made it clear: he refused to forgive them.

Old Cai and Li Chun were dumbfounded. How had this turned into extortion?

They argued desperately, claiming they were family and just asking for money from their son.

Old Cai yelled, “He’s my son! His money is my money! He was born to support me!”

The officers couldn’t take it anymore. They played the recordings out loud.

“You beat your son to get money? Threatened his mother on the phone by beating him so she’d send funds?”

Old Cai freaked out, demanding to see Cai Ji and shouting that if he didn’t forgive him, he’d beat him to death.

“Sit down and shut up—”

The cops exchanged glances and sighed. There was no saving this guy.

As for Li Chun, a known thug with a record, he wasn’t worried at first. But when the police showed him months of surveillance from the café showing repeated abuse, his confidence crumbled. All of it was timestamped—and back then, Cai Ji hadn’t even turned 18.

Li Chun panicked. During questioning, he even admitted that he had taken money from Meng Yang to pressure Cai Ji into cheating—something that was immediately reported to Guangyao High School.

Teacher Song Qinghe’s investigation could finally be concluded. The school issued a demerit to Meng Yang, banning him from competitions for the rest of the semester. This meant missing critical athletic recruitment opportunities.

As for Cai Ji, since he was the victim throughout, he wasn’t punished. In fact, Teacher Song even praised him in front of the class for standing up against violence, calling him a role model for his classmates.