The Taming of the Ruffian Hero

There was a small bar called Jifu Bar near Jifu University. It preferred to use some old songs from the 1980s as the background music. Sometimes, it would also play some American country music, blues and jazz.

Zhao Yuan and Zhang Dong kept drinking until Zhang Dong got tipsy and bent over the table. Zhao Yuan asked in a deep voice. “Is there anything between you and Wenxi?”

Zhang Dong was tipsy, but his mind was still clear. He told Zhao Yuan about his past and what he had done to Lin Wenxi.

About nine years ago, Zhang Dong’s parents had managed to transfer him from a middle school in Inner Mongolia to another one in Central China, since they believed that their son could receive a better education in the new school. Beyond their expectations, Zhang Dong had much difficulty with his lessons in the new school and gradually gave up his studies. He skipped classes, made friends with street hooligans and often got into fights with the bad boys. Later, when he was in grade 9, his parents got a divorce. Repeated frustrations made him feel emotionally and physically exhausted.

One night, when he was wandering alone on a street after a fight, he saw a lovely boy.

Under the street light, he saw the boy step into a dark alley while carrying a schoolbag on his back. Shortly after that, the boy quickly ran out of it and found someone to ask directions. He walked ahead, but somehow he returned to this street again after a moment. He walked into the alley again and quickly ran out while angrily slamming his own head. He took out some scotch tape and a few paper strips. He stuck the paper strips to leave marks while walking and humming a tune. Zhang thought, “This boy is really adorable.” He looked up at the cloudless sky and the bright moon.

Suddenly, he wanted to play a prank on the boy. Once the boy stuck a strip, he would sneakingly tear it off. Soon enough, the boy got lost and returned to the street again.

He felt anxious. He gritted his teeth and plucked up his courage to run into the dark alley again. Zhang Dong knew that it was a dead-end alley.

Under the moonlight, he saw the face of the boy. He looked pure and untroubled like an angel. Suddenly, he had an inexplicable impulse. He followed that boy, and his heart began to throb. He quickly caught up with the boy and forced himself on him. The boy screamed. He grabbed his neck and covered his mouth. The boy kept struggling, which made him feel even more excited. When he raped the boy, he gently pinched his smooth spine with his thumb and forefinger. When the boy was exhausted and when he was soaked with sweat, he left that boy on the spot and fled.

After that, Zhang Dong ran away from his home and then got transferred to another school. He felt lucky that he had escaped punishment. He joined the army before graduation from his high school. He studied and worked hard in the army. Due to his academic and military achievements, he got recruited by a military university ahead of the time. This year was his junior year of university. He nearly forgot about what he had done 6 years ago.

Beyond his expectations, he met this boy again. On the first day of the military training, Zhang Dong recognized the boy in the crowd at a glance. He looked at him and smiled bitterly. This boy was much taller than before, and his cheeks were not chubby anymore. Now he had a chiseled jawline, and he wore his hair in a 3-7 pomade style instead of wearing them short.

He still remembered the adorable smile of the boy, but now he discovered that this boy was exceptionally silent and cold. He seldom smiled or looked happy. Zhang Dong felt regret and wondered, “Why does he become such a person? Is it because of what I did to him years ago?” He tried to get close to the boy and make it up to him but seldom got such a chance until the wilderness training began. To his disappointment, he found out that it was probably too late to make up for his crime.

“I even dared not to give him artificial respiration. I was afraid of tarnishing him. I’m dirty...” Zhang Dong muttered.

After hearing Zhang Dong’s story, Zhao Yuan punched Zhang Dong heavily in the face. Zhang Dong wiped the blood off his nose and said smilingly, “I’ll take care of it. This is none of your business.” The two of them left the bar, without noticing that the waiter had placed under their table a little black box gleaming with a green light when refilling cups for them.

Zhao Yuan thought of what Lin Wenxi had said during the psychology class. When the teacher asked them to use a sentence to comment himself or herself, Lin Wenxi said, “I have an extremely proud soul and an abject body.” f𝓇𝘦e𝑤𝘦𝚋𝒏૦ѵℯ𝒍.c𝐨𝒎

He thought of how Lin Wenxi kept using the coldest water to wash himself.

He could not imagine how Lin Wenxi had stepped into the cold fountain and walked back to the dorm in the chilly weather. He could not imagine him have such a hard time at home. He wondered, “They say that a pitiable person certainly has something to be despised, but Wenxi is such a nice person. During the military training, he peeled the wild fruit for everyone and practiced alone in the gym for the team. Sometimes, he was a little naughty. He sneakingly exchanged the beds on the first day we met and played pranks on me during the military training. But, I still can’t find a reason to despise him. Why does such a nice person have to suffer such misery?

Zhao Yuan went to find Lin Wenxi and asked him to go out without explaining anything. Lin Wenxi immediately came out with him without hesitation. At that moment, Zhao Yuan felt as if he was an accomplice with Zhang Dong.

When they came to a secluded corner of the campus, Lin Wenxi still did not look hesitant. The moment he saw Zhang Dong, his face changed, and tears welled up in his eyes.

“Wenxi, just give Zhang Dong a chance,” Zhao Yuan said flatly and left. He had to leave this to Zhang Dong.

Lin Wenxi turned around and wanted to leave this place as soon as possible. free𝒘ℯ𝗯𝙣𝗼ν𝑒𝗹.𝒄o𝒎

“Lin Wenxi, attention!” Zhang Dong commanded solemnly. Upon hearing that voice, Lin Wenxi could not help but think of what had happened between them near the Yinshui River. Back then, Instructor Zhang had forced him to march toward the rushing river until he bravely voiced his thought.

“Unfortunately, he’s not Instructor Zhang anymore. He’s just Zhang Dong.”

With this in mind, Lin Wenxi stood upright, turned around and slightly bowed to Zhang Dong. He waved his hands and walked away without saying goodbye.

He heard Zhang Dong chasing after him rapidly. When Zhang Dong caught up with him, he saw a shiny dagger in the soldier’s hand. He remained calm and looked at Zhang Dong quietly.

“Just do what you want,” Zhang Dong said and gave Lin Wenxi the dagger and a signed “life and death contract”. Lin Wenxi received the dagger and let the contract fall to the ground.

When he wielded the dagger, Zhang Dong could not help but tense up. He gritted his teeth and lifted his chest, ready to get wounded or even killed. The next moment, he was stunned, as Lin Wenxi used the dagger to cut his own arm. Blood oozed out and quickly covered the wound.

He covered the wound with his hand and took a step back. His face became pale because of the pain. He smiled coldly and cruelly at Zhang Dong.

“You helped me a lot during the military training, Instructor Zhang. Now I repay your kindness with this cut and don’t owe you anything anymore. I’m still Lin Wenxi and you’re just Zhang Dong. I’ll never forgive you in my life!” Lin Wenxi said while sobbing. With these words, he dropped the dagger and ran away.

Zhang Dong kicked the dagger into the garden and asked Zhao Yuan to come out.

“He’s injured. I’m not worthy of his forgiveness,” Zhang Dong patted Zhao Yuan’s shoulder and said. He smiled and got stuck for words. After a while, he strutted away without saying a word.

Zhao Yuan saw the blood-stained contract on the ground. He picked it up and read it while running away to find Lin Wenxi. He could not help but clench his fists.

He thought in surprise, “Zhang Dong really meant it when he asked Wenxi to kill him. He really wants to pay for his sin with his own life. With this contract, Wenxi who has not turned 18 yet won’t be charged with wounding with intent or murdering. But why was it Lin Wenxi instead of Zhang Dong who got wounded in the end?” Zhao Yuan went to the dorm and then to the university health center. When he arrived at the health center, he saw that Lin Wenxi had finished dressing his wound.

“Please rest assured. I won’t kill myself before Zhang Dong dies,” said Lin Wenxi.

Upon hearing that, Zhao Yuan just remained silent. He knew that no matter what he say, it would be wrong.

“Now, Zhao Yuan knows about this thing. He knows about it,” Lin Wenxi thought repeatedly.

He kept crying at night.