If They’re From the Resettlement Complex, Keep Your Distance

"That felt awesome! Those spoiled rich kids just had it coming. Did they really think Whitewood County was their playground?"

Ken Feng burst out laughing, his voice full of satisfaction.

"Aren't you worried your dad will find out and drag you home for a beating?" Evan Lin looked at him with an amused smirk.

"If he wants to beat me, so be it. Even if I get a thrashing, it’s worth it!" Ken patted his chest and let out a breath. "Honestly, when I saw you swinging that stool leg at him, I almost wanted to jump in myself."

"Those guys have been causing trouble every day since they came to Whitewood. Max Ma’s been cleaning up their messes, and honestly, they just look down on all of us here—they think we’re just a bunch of broke losers."

Talking about this, Ken’s face grew indignant—clearly he’d had his share of run-ins with them these past few days.

"This money..." Hank Chu held the bank card, still a bit hesitant.

A hundred thousand yuan was way too much for him—just holding it made his hands sweat.

"Just take it. They called it medical expenses, but honestly, it’s not even enough." Evan reassured Hank, and after a few moments of hesitation, Hank finally accepted it.

"Evan, you were seriously cool just now!"

"Totally! Did you guys see everyone’s faces? They looked like they’d just swallowed a bitter melon."

"And they kept calling us hillbillies and troublemakers, but this time Evan really put them in their place!"

The group of Whitewood No. 1 High students walking behind were all fired up, animatedly talking about what had just happened, their faces lit with excitement.

Some of them could barely wait to get back and brag to their friends and classmates.

"Those guys aren’t easy to deal with. I heard Max Ma say that Leo is supposed to be really tough. Do you think he’ll come looking for trouble again soon?" Ivy Deng asked, a little worried.

"He wants to stir up trouble? He’d better have the skills for it." Evan shook his head.

Every blow Evan landed on Leo was subtly breaking down his muscle structure. Evan’s control was razor-sharp—within a month, Leo’s muscles would completely necrose and he’d be bedridden for life.

Call it poetic justice—using his own methods against him.

After all that drama, nobody felt like hanging around the resort anymore. Ken suggested they hit up the new KTV in Whitewood instead, and everyone agreed right away.

Inside KTV, while everyone was singing, Ivy Deng kept trying—intentionally or not—to get close to Evan, but he never really responded, leaving her a little disappointed.

Ken was busy chatting with Mandy Yu, even calling her and singing to her over the phone at KTV.

After everything that happened, Amelia Jiao seemed to have set her sights on Hank Chu, who fought for her. But Hank’s attitude toward Amelia was now a bit distant, almost cold.

After singing, it was already past eleven at night.

Ken arranged for Hank Chu to walk Amelia Jiao home alone, and for Evan Lin to walk Ivy Deng.

In Ken’s eyes, Hank still liked Amelia, so he helped put them together. Ivy, though a bit aloof before, was pretty and well-built, and since Evan was still single, Ken tried to match them up.

But if Ken knew that the girls interested in Evan now were all way more outstanding than Ivy, he might rein himself in a bit.

Let’s go, I’ll walk you home.

Evan didn’t refuse Ken’s suggestion; he didn’t feel like saying much more.

Ivy nodded, got up, and left the private room with Evan.

They walked along the county town’s small path, the cold wind blowing. It was already winter, and the streets of Whitewood were nearly empty. The orange streetlights gave everything a lonely glow.

How did you do on the Hundred-City Joint Exam this time?

Ivy Deng walked beside Evan Lin. With so many people around earlier, she hadn’t had a chance to talk quietly with him.

"Pretty well," Evan nodded.

Have you thought about which university you want to attend?" Ivy turned her head, quietly looking at Evan beside her.

She didn’t know why, but this time Evan seemed more pleasant to look at than before—and, somehow, a lot more handsome.

I haven’t really thought about it yet. I’ll decide when the time comes." Evan shook his head, his tone casual.

Hearing this, Ivy thought maybe Evan really was just as people said—brilliant at math, but not so strong in other subjects.

Otherwise, when Ivy asked, he probably would’ve said he wanted to go to Huaqing or Yanjing—one of those top universities.

But if that’s the case, then the gap between us isn’t so big.

Ivy quietly thought this to herself, unconsciously letting out a sigh of relief.

As they walked, the streetlights stretched out their shadows, flickering along the road.

Whitewood County was always a poor little town, and this road quickly came to an end.

When they reached South Cypress Gardens, Evan stopped walking.

This is as far as I go. You head in by yourself.

Evan glanced at Ivy. She nodded, then walked inside.

She walked ten or so steps into the complex. It was quiet inside, and halfway in, Ivy turned to look back—only to see the empty front gate.

There was no one there.

Ivy went home, unlocked the door, and changed into her slippers.

She hadn’t even had a chance to catch her breath when Flora Huang, in pajamas, strode in from the balcony, her face full of questions: "Ivy, who was that boy who just walked you home?"

Was it Max Ma or Jason Jiang? Both those boys are pretty good.

Flora Huang looked at her expectantly.

"It wasn’t them," Ivy shook her head.

Flora suddenly frowned as if she’d thought of something. "Just don’t let it be a kid like Hank Chu, one of those families who just moved into the Resettlement Complex. You can be regular friends, but don’t get too close, or you’ll end up suffering for it!"

Flora looked a little disgusted.

Most of the people living in the Resettlement Complex were from the old shantytown.

Their families mostly weren’t well off, so Flora never really liked them.

"Sort of," Ivy hesitated.

"Sort of? What do you mean sort of! If they’re from the Resettlement Complex, you can be normal friends but absolutely don’t get too close!" Flora scolded. "I’ve told you this before, Ivy! Why don’t you ever listen?"

"It was Evan Lin," Ivy sighed, getting annoyed by Flora’s nagging until her head was buzzing.

"Evan Lin?" Flora was stunned for a second, then stepped forward, face lighting up. "If it’s him, that’s fine."

"You have no idea—his mom, Joy Zheng, is tutoring now and makes tens of thousands a month! They even live in a villa now!"

"I’m not happy about her stealing my students, but that doesn’t affect your relationship with Evan. Ivy, this time your mom is totally supporting you!"

"And Evan’s future? Who knows, but he definitely won’t be doing badly. Maybe he’ll even make a few hundred thousand a year!"

The more Flora talked, the more excited she got. Ivy practically had to cover her ears as she escaped to her room.

She used to look down on Evan, but now, it’s probably the other way around.

Thinking about Evan’s cool, distant attitude tonight, Ivy felt a strange sadness, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.