"How could you say that?" Qiu Mingli frantically waved his hands. "If it weren't for you, I'd still be penniless and hunted by debt collectors."

"Now I have a job and my life is stable—what's not to like?"

Xu Ke gave a wry smile. Qiu Mingli is just trying to console himself. The whole mess with Shan Lan only happened because Yang Qing goaded her into targeting me, and I just fought back. By then, Qiu Mingli was long out of the picture, just working as the mailroom manager... He's only being dragged into this and ending up like this purely because he got implicated by association...

What Xu Ke didn't know was that he wasn't just implicating Qiu Mingli, but also Xu Yi. But if not for Xu Ke's violent reaction when Xu Yi was kidnapped—a reaction so intense he nearly killed Lin Zhongtian—and the fact that Tang Yingchang now never left Xu Yi's side, her situation would likely be just as bad.

"You should find another job, Teacher!" Xu Ke finally said. It's not worth staying here if you have to struggle this much.

But Qiu Mingli's expression changed. "No, I can't..." If I leave, won't Tianhai University target Xu Ke?

"Why not? Can you keep doing this kind of work?" Xu Ke pressed.

"Well..." Qiu Mingli struggled to invent a reason. "I've spent many years here, after all."

Noticing Qiu Mingli's evasive gaze, Xu Ke keenly sensed something was wrong. He grabbed Qiu Mingli's arm and demanded, "What exactly is going on? Are they forcing you to do this work?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

His face clearly shows he's being forced. I can't just let this go.

"No, I just... I don't want to leave..." Seeing his ruse was about to be exposed, Qiu Mingli steeled himself. "But if you really want me to go, then... I'll find another job..."

If Xu Ke keeps asking, he'll end up in a direct confrontation with Tianhai University. I'd better just ask for a job change myself. Maybe that can salvage the situation.

Xu Ke was taken aback. Why the sudden change of heart?

"Help me look for a job that suits me. Otherwise, I can just go back to my hometown," Qiu Mingli urged, not giving Xu Ke a chance to think.

Xu Ke paused for a moment before replying, "I'll find something for you. There are jobs everywhere. But you need to go resign with the administration right now."

"Okay!" Qiu Mingli quickly agreed.

Xu Ke frowned, wanting to ask something else. Seeing Xu Ke's frown, Qiu Mingli grew even more anxious and quickly changed the subject. "By the way, your relationship with the Ye Family is so bad. Why are you with Ye Feng?"

This finally managed to divert Xu Ke's attention.

Xu Ke rubbed his nose. "I... I asked him to take me to Sui City."

He couldn't say it outright; the main reason he'd asked Ye Feng to take him to Sui City was that a group of people wanted to kill him. If Qiu Mingli knew I was risking my life to go to Sui City, his heart probably couldn't take it...

"Then why... are you like this...?" Qiu Mingli trailed off, gesturing toward Xu Ke's heavy makeup. If he's really just helping, why the disguise? It was so heavy I didn't even recognize him at first glance.

"It's a long story..." Xu Ke became evasive.

Now it was Qiu Mingli's turn to sense that something was off about Xu Ke. He wanted to press him for answers, but Tianhai University's car didn't give them the chance.

Tang Yingchang sent a message, "Mr. Xu, please come quickly. We're ready to leave!"

As if seeing a lifeline, Xu Ke quickly said, "Teacher, their car is here. I have to go. After you resign, just come find me directly. I'll arrange everything."

"Go on, go on," Qiu Mingli nodded hurriedly.

Xu Ke turned and left.

Qiu Mingli sighed as he watched Xu Ke walk away.

***

After finding Ye Feng, Xu Ke got straight into the car. With Xu Ke posing as Ye Feng's bodyguard, no one would dare cause them any trouble. This time, to avoid revealing Xu Ke's identity, Ye Feng had specifically chosen the campus shuttle bus, which meant the three of them had to sit together in the back row.

"Third Young Master Ye, you're not taking your private car?" one of the people getting on the bus asked with a smile.

"Those private cars are cold and sterile," Ye Feng said with a grin. "I find them lonely. It's much more lively here with everyone."

The man laughed. "Third Young Master Ye, you truly are down-to-earth and friendly." He remembered that time he'd tried talking to Ye Chong, only to be completely ignored.

Ye Feng nodded with a smile. "You flatter me."

Staring out the window, Xu Ke chimed in, "Indeed, so down-to-earth. And so helpful, too. I hope Third Young Master Ye continues to embody this spirit in the future."

"Xu Ke, you'd better shut up." A vein bulged on Ye Feng's forehead.

Just then, Xu Ke saw Xie Jinhua getting into an Audi through the window. It was obviously a VIP car. But even as he climbed into the luxury vehicle, his expression was still ugly. The humiliation Ye Feng dealt him must still be stinging.

"Let me ask you something," Xu Ke said casually.

Ye Feng refused to cooperate. "I'm not answering..."

Unfazed, Xu Ke continued, "Why did the Xie Family come to Tianhai University? Wouldn't it be better for them to expand their influence at universities in Sui City?"

Xu Ke had heard of the Xie Family's influence. They were a dominant power in Sui City. He knew that unlike Tianhai with its six families, Sui City had only two superpowers: the Xie Family and the Bai Family. All the other clans and the Martial Alliance simply groveled in their shadow. Take the recent martial arts selection tournament, for example. If Wong Ting hadn't requested a change of personnel specifically to intercept Xu Ke, he would have inevitably faced a prodigy from either the Xie or Bai Family. There would have been no other choice. That alone spoke volumes about the two families' strength.

"Their influence in Sui City is already enormous. If they were to extend their claws into the educational sector there, do you really think the authorities would turn a blind eye?" Although Ye Feng had said he wouldn't answer, he replied anyway.

Xu Ke was taken aback. "That's true. So the authorities just ignore it when they reach into Tianhai University?"

A knowing, cynical smile touched Ye Feng's lips. "It's because our six major families are here. The higher-ups want to use us as a tool to keep the Xie Family in check."

"I see," Xu Ke said, understanding dawning on him. With us here, no matter how powerful the Xie Family is, they can't turn Tianhai University into their personal domain. What would that do to the prestige of the other major families?

With that question answered, Xu Ke was already starting to think about how to deal with the Xie Family.

Targeting Qiu Mingli was just their way of getting revenge for Shan Lan. Since they're willing to do that, it's inevitable they'll eventually come after me. In that case...

Xu Ke took a deep breath.

If I know they're going to come after me sooner or later, it wouldn't be going too far to make the first move, would it? The first person to take down should be Xie Jinhua. To avenge Qiu Mingli.