After an Infinite Flow Player Retires

Chapter 104 (Extra 6 – School Life AU 1)“Hey, did you hear about it? The new transfer student seems to be Ji Xuan’s older brother.”“Seriously?”“But they don’t share the same surname?”“I heard they’re not actually related. Families like those are often pretty complicated.”Small suppressed whispers swept through the classroom like a gust of wind. Alongside the excitement for gossip, it spread around with some half-truths.…...”Staying away is probably for the best.”At this moment, the door to the classroom opened.The classroom suddenly fell silent.A tall young man stood at the door. With a loose white uniform hanging from his slim frame, he looked a lot taller than people the same age as him. His presence was difficult to overlook.He looked good. His light brown hair shone a honey-like light under the afternoon soon and his eyes were a similar amber colour. At this moment, those beautiful eyes of his were slightly narrowed as he scanned around the classroom.The other classmates averted their eyes awkwardly.The young man retracted his gaze and went over to sit down by a window.The classroom became rowdy again, as if the silence from earlier had never happened. The current hustle and bustle however contained a hint of hypocrisy.The young man was calm. He didn’t look affected at all.Various eyes fell onto him. They were clearly looking at him with assessment.----Ye Jia, Ji Xuan’s rumoured half brother.And so, on just his first day here, he had turned into a major topic of discussion.As the focus of everyone’s attention, Ye Jia…..was unconcerned.His family was indeed quite complicated. The matters with the older generations were a mess. Ye Jia himself didn’t care for it much and he had already become self-sufficient at a young age so he was rarely home and wasn’t very close with his family. Naturally, he also hadn’t met this younger brother of his more than a few times.He could only….somewhat recall a young boy’s face.He couldn’t even remember the boy’s appearance.If it wasn’t because he had caused a bit of a commotion at his previous school and was forced to transfer here as a result, Ye Jia felt that he probably wouldn’t have any association with this so-called younger brother of his for the entirety of his life.He didn’t care about that person’s reputation and he also couldn’t be bothered worrying about it.Bridges are bridges, roads are roads.The boring rumours will soon fade with the passage of time.Ye Jia calmly reached out and flipped open his workbook.*On the school grounds.A tall young man stood with his back against the wall and one of his legs half bent. His face was hidden under the shadows only revealing his defined jawline. He wasn’t wearing his school uniform. In his pale hands that looked almost sickly, he held a thin cigarette that slowly burned.A thin trail of smoke rose into the sky.Several people surrounded him, either sitting or standing. They were chatting quite frivolously at this moment and were completely unconcerned that class was on.They were similarly discussing the new transfer student.……“He looks pretty good and he’s also a study tyrant. All the girls in class are talking about him.”“Dammit. There are originally not that many girls to begin with, this just makes it harder for us.”“Brother Xuan, if you don’t like the sight of him, why don’t we….?”“Is there any point in asking? Of course he wouldn’t like the sight of him! Even if Brother Xuan doesn’t say anything, we should be more proactive! Tsk, that damned newbie….”The person they were talking to didn’t say anything the entire time.But at this moment, he suddenly raised a foot and kicked one of them.The other person was caught off-guard. He fell onto the ground with his face twisted with pain. He looked fearfully at the young man hidden in the shadows.The other person’s voice was low and hoarse. Although it was hard to tell what his current mood was from his tone, the others couldn’t help but feel scared.“Watch what you’re saying.”The people standing around immediately fell silent.They exchanged shocked looks with each other.W-what’s going on?*A week after transferring here, the rumours slowly died down.Ye Jia finally saw his so-called younger brother.The other party was in the middle of a fight.It was a group fight.In the narrow alleyway, seven or eight delinquents wearing uniforms belonging to another school surrounded the tall young man.Ye Jia was on his way home with his bag slung over one of his shoulders.He casually glanced at the group of people in the narrow alleyway and his footsteps couldn’t help but come to a stop.Although his memory was fuzzy, the moment he saw him, Ye Jia was able to recognise the other party.Perhaps it was because of his eyes.Ji Xuan’s eyes were a pitch black colour, much like the dark night sky, but at certain angles, it sometimes shone an eerie scarlet light.Perhaps it was due to his features too.After all these years, Ji Xuan had changed considerably. His features had become sharper and his brows and nose much more defined. He however still retained a slight resemblance to his younger self.…..The young boy with beautiful features and sickly pale skin.His long forgotten memories reawakened, Ye Jia was in daze for a moment.And because of this momentary state of distraction, the others in the alleyway noticed his presence.“Hey! Who’s there?!”“Huh? Check out his uniform….”“What is this? You two know each other?”At the end of the alleyway, Ji Xuan raised his eyes and looked over.Ye Jia’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.He didn’t show it on his face, “…..Not really.”“Then get lost! Don’t just stand around here alright? If you continue hanging around, I’ll dig your eyes out….”Before that person could finish his threats, Ji Xuan’s fist smashed into his face.Ye Jia could even hear the sound of knuckles hitting against the person’s face.That person cried out in pain and stumbled back a few steps.Ji Xuan lightly flexed his hand, “I’m still here. Don’t get distracted.”With him throwing the first blow, a round of fighting soon started in the alleyway.The sounds of fists hitting flesh, bones breaking, as well as screams and curses echoed through the alleyway.Ye Jia stood at the entrance.….This has nothing to do with him.He should leave now or he wouldn’t be able to catch his bus.He raised his eyes and looked into the alleyway.A scarlet light moved about in the depths of the young man’s pitch black eyes. With some bloodstains on his face, he looked quite scary.He was after all someone who had single-handedly defeated several people.Although he was completely capable of fending for himself, he was hit in the back with wooden sticks a few times due to their sneak attacks. Ji Xuan didn’t make a single sound but his eyes turned more dangerous.Ye Jia sighed.He placed his bag down at the entrance to the alleyway.The one who had asked if the two of them knew each other charged at Ji Xuan from behind with a metal pipe but before he could hit his target, a strong force grabbed his collar and pulled him back.The sudden force caused his eyes to bulge. He weakly stumbled back.The metal pipe fell to the ground with a clatter.That person held his painful throat whilst coughing heavily and looked back, only to see the brown hair and amber eyed young man standing calmly behind him. He finished his sentence from earlier with the setting sun behind him, “….But it’s not entirely the case either.”Half an hour later.Several people stumbled and limped out of the alleyway.Ye Jia’s breathing was a little heavy but he wasn’t hurt.He flexed his slightly stiff arms and proceeded to brush his hair back with his fingers.Ji Xuan had at some unknown point in time walked over to his side.Ye Jia suddenly realised that although the other party was younger than him, he was much taller. When he stood next to him, his shadow was big enough to completely envelop him.Feeling a little uncomfortable, he took a step back.The other party didn’t move any closer.Ji Xuan looked at the other party thoughtfully, “You’re pretty good at fighting.”Ye Jia vaguely grunted.“Just helping those in need.”Ji Xuan’s eyes stirred but he didn’t speak.“What about those people?” Ye Jia pointed in the direction where the others escaped and glanced at Ji Xuan, “What’s going on with them?”“Robbery.” Ji Xuan responded concisely.…..There are people who would dare rob you?Ye Jia raised a brow in disbelief but he didn’t say anything.“Are you hurt?” Ji Xuan asked.Ye Jia shook his head. He took in Ji Xuan’s appearance.The injuries on the other party looked worse than his and there were even knife wounds on his arms and wrist that were still dripping with blood. He was in quite a sorry state.Ye Jia retracted his gaze.He asked, “You want to go to the hospital?”Ji Xuan glanced at his injuries indifferently, “No need.”“……Alright.” Ye Jia accepted it without much concern. He then proceeded to go back to the entrance of the alleyway and pick up his bag, “Go home early.”A force pulled his bag backwards.Ye Jia, who was caught by surprise, looked back.He saw Ji Xuan holding one of the bag straps. Ji Xuan looked at him, “Take me in?”Ye Jia furrowed his brows.“….Why?”It’s not like you don’t have a home to return to.And even if worse comes to worse, this young master will surely have plenty of places he can go to that are much better than his rented space.Ji Xuan pointed at his injuries, “Can’t go back like this.”Ye Jia’s brows knitted together even more tightly, “…..But you still need to go back.”Ji Xuan commented casually, “They don’t care if I’m back or not.”His tone was calm but it also sounded….a little pitiful.Ye Jia’s eyes stirred.He pursed his lips, “Then you can stay at a hotel.”Ji Xuan wiped off the blood from his lips with the back of his hand, “My wallet was stolen.”Ye Jia, “I can lend...”By now, the sky had mostly darkened. He stood at the division between the light and dark with a dark alleyway behind him and the streetlight shining down from above. His pair of dark eyes were firmly fixed onto Ye Jia.“…...Ge.”The young man called out. His voice was still youthful but it was a little hoarse because his voice was changing.There were injuries on his face and his clothes were also stained with blood.He looked like a kicked puppy.Ye Jia swallowed back down the words he was about to say.He looked at Ji Xuan with a frown before snatching away the bag in his hands and sighing.“Follow me.”*Standing at the entryway, Ji Xuan scanned around the room.The rental was very small, with only one bedroom and one living room, but it was clean and organised.Ye Jia was at this moment taking out a pair of slippers. The lights shining down from above made his hair look very fluffy and his loose uniform revealed a part of his defined collarbones.Ji Xuan changed his shoes and entered Ye Jia’s place.Ye Jia took out a small first aid kit.He pointed at a chair, “Sit.”Ji Xuan obediently sat down and rolled up his sleeves as instructed.His arms were slender but firm, with well defined muscles.His self-healing ability was good and, because the injuries weren’t that bad in the first place, they were no longer bleeding.Ye Jia helped disinfect his wounds and patched him up.Although he did it with great efficiency, he wasn’t very gentle.Ji Xuan hissed in pain.Ye Jia looked up at him, “Hurts?”Ji Xuan let out a small ‘en’.Ye Jia used even more force, “Then don’t get into fights.”Very soon, he was done.Ye Jia stood up and opened the fridge, “Hungry?”He paused for a moment and added, “It’s leftovers from lunch.”Ji Xuan raised his head and looked at the young man standing not far away, “You made it?”Ye Jia was stunned for a moment. He didn’t expect the other party to be more concerned about this over the fact that they were leftovers.He quickly returned to his senses and answered, “Yes.”Ji Xuan nodded without hesitation, “Okay.”Ye Jia looked at the other party with assessing eyes.The younger brother he hadn’t met in many years was sitting at the dining table at this very moment. Although his face was still youthful, one could already see defined features belonging to an adult man developing. He looked back at Ye Jia without a change to his expression, looking very calm.Something didn’t seem right.But….he couldn’t pinpoint exactly.The sky was getting darker.Ye Jia carried out an extra set of blankets and placed it onto the sofa, “You sleep here.”“Okay.” Ji Xuan answered obediently.Ye Jia didn’t have much experience attending to people. He paused for a moment and asked, “Do you need a change of clothes?”Ji Xuan raised his head, “Do you have any?”Faint light flashed past the depths of his eyes.Ye Jia took out a shirt and pants from his wardrobe. When he gave it to Ji Xuan, he scanned his body with his eyes and was a little hesitant. “It might be a little small but this is all I’ve got.”Ji Xuan reached out and received it. At the same time, his hot fingers brushed against Ye Jia’s slightly cold fingers, “It’s okay.”Seeing that the other party had already taken it, Ye Jia could no longer take it back.He nodded and returned to his room, closing the door behind him.Before the door could close, Ji Xuan called out after him.“Ge.”Ye Jia’s footsteps stopped. He turned and looked back.The young man smiled at him, “Goodnight.”Ye Jia’s fingers curled. He retracted his gaze, let out a low ‘en’ and closed the door behind him.In the dark.Ji Xuan laid on the narrow sofa, unable to stretch his long arms and legs out.He looked towards the closed bedroom door.Although he couldn’t see him, he could clearly feel the other person’s presence.Very clearly, very distinctly.Ji Xuan lowered his head and buried his head in his shirt, taking in the smell.The faint smell of soap as well as the warmth from the sun.And also, an almost undetectable fresh scent belonging to the young man.His eyes stirred. The scarlet in his eyes became more obvious.Looks like his plan was successful this time.Gege has always had a soft heart.He has always been like this.*A few days later.As usual, Ye Jia sat in his seat, going through his workbook without much interest.Suddenly, the classroom fell silent.Ye Jia heard the classmate next to him gasp.His actions stopped, “?”What’s going on?The head teacher is here?Ye Jia looked up in confusion and directed his gaze towards the door.A tall young man was standing there. There were no expressions on his defined face but his strong presence brought about a sense of oppressiveness. He was able to instantly draw everyone's attention.Ji Xuan made his way into the classroom.The classroom fell even more silent.Everyone watched in shock as Ji Xuan approached Ye Jia’s desk.Wait a minute….what’s going on?Why did Ji Xuan, that dangerous guy, suddenly….?At this moment, the class representative suddenly remembered the rumours about the two brothers not getting along. He was so nervous, his entire body was stiff and cold sweat formed across his back. He silently stood there with his eyes firmly fixed on Ji Xuan, ready to run out and call the head teacher over the moment something happens.The others were similarly holding their breaths. They were all very nervous.…..Ji Xuan stopped before Ye Jia’s desk.He placed the bags he was holding onto his desk.Ye Jia hesitated for a moment before receiving the bag.He looked inside.The bag contained the clothes he had lent the other party last time. It had already been cleaned and was neatly folded.As for the other bag…..Breakfast??It was rich in variety and gorgeously packaged. Just from the look of it, it was clearly nothing cheap.Ye Jia was surprised. He didn’t know how to react.Ji Xuan sat down in the seat in front of Ye Jia.“Return gift.”He supported his chin with one hand and looked at the other party with his pitch-black eyes, “Have you had breakfast yet?”“………”The classroom was completely silent. It was so quiet, one could even hear a pin dropping.The class representative who was ready to run out and call for the head teacher stood in place in shock. No one in the classroom expected this kind of development. They all looked at them with dumbfounded looks.Are we dreaming?What….w-what’s going on?