Chapter 81: Guo Qingyuan's Regret

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When Qin Anyi once again stepped onto the campus of Changqing No. 1, he suddenly felt as if he’d crossed into another world. It was nearly time for morning self-study, so the students streaming through the school gates were many, most of them hurrying along, paying little heed to those around them. Only a handful noticed Qin Anyi standing in a daze by the entrance, and soon whispers began to ripple outward, spreading like a plague.

Thanks to Guo Qingyuan’s relentless efforts, Qin Anyi’s reputation at Changqing No. 1 now rivaled that of Wang Yiran. In this age of information, it was all too easy to find a photo of Qin Anyi, so plenty of people recognized him. However, the so-called violent crime case Guo Qingyuan had trumpeted was quickly debunked within days by police officers dispatched to dispel the rumors, informing all students in Changqing City that Qin Anyi had been falsely accused, released, and that appropriate compensation would be provided.

Such a reversal left the students of Changqing No. 1 flustered. When everyone was reacting to what they believed to be the truth, only to discover it was a lie, the shock was enough to leave them speechless. Being so publicly deceived stirred a sense of outrage in each of them.

Ignoring the whispers and pointed fingers around him, Qin Anyi stepped inside, feeling at ease. When his life’s path was filled with goals requiring struggle and effort, he always found himself brimming with energy.

He walked all the way to the teaching building and saw Guo Qingyuan standing at the entrance, his face ashen. Qin Anyi raised his hand in a relaxed greeting.

A gentleman seeks vengeance for ten years; a petty man does it from dawn till dusk. Frankly, being a petty man was more comfortable, and Qin Anyi never considered himself a gentleman. Thus, his greeting was tinged with sarcasm, mocking in tone.

"Qin Anyi! Don’t get cocky! You think the matter is settled? I swear, that smug look you wear will soon crumble! Don’t underestimate how complicated things are within the system! You’re far from winning yet!" Guo Qingyuan roared in a low voice.

The nearby students instinctively kept their distance from the two. The teaching building had three entrances; Guo Qingyuan blocked only the one closest to the school gate, so the other two were freely accessible. Though many were burning with curiosity, seeing Guo Qingyuan’s grim expression, they dared not blatantly eavesdrop. For now, Guo Qingyuan still held considerable sway within Changqing No. 1.

After all, the political struggle among the upper echelons of Changqing City hadn’t yet become fully public. Although insiders saw the outcome as obvious, what was presented to the public was merely that the city’s biggest underworld boss had been arrested and was under intense interrogation.

"Guo Qingyuan, I always thought you were smart—how can you be so adorably foolish at times?" Qin Anyi shot Guo Qingyuan a contemptuous glance and continued, "If you still naïvely think you have a chance to reverse the situation, then frankly, your stupidity knows no bounds. On the other hand, if you realize there’s no hope and are just trying to pressure me with words, the only word I have for you is childish."

"Qin Anyi! I admit I underestimated you this time! And with those two self-important fools, you managed to succeed by sheer luck! But mark my words, there won’t be a next time! I, Guo Qingyuan, will make sure you regret everything you’ve done! One day, I’ll stand before you again and watch you kneel and beg for mercy!" Guo Qingyuan spat out each word, his eyes burning with an implacable hatred, as if wishing his words could wound Qin Anyi deeply.

Qin Anyi burst out laughing, his voice ringing, startling the students who had slowed their steps to listen. "Guo Qingyuan, there’s no such thing as luck in success. Every so-called coincidence has a necessary cause behind it. If you don’t understand this, you’ll never get another chance."

"And besides... Guo Qingyuan, your reasoning is seriously flawed." Qin Anyi tapped his head in a mocking gesture. "I never intended to provoke you. It’s you who, again and again, refused to back down, constantly attacking me. Unfortunately for you, I’m a steel wall, and you’ve broken your legs against me. Arrogance always leads to downfall; you’re the best example."

As he spoke, Qin Anyi patted Guo Qingyuan’s shoulder. "Self-awareness is precious. Overestimating yourself or underestimating your enemy only leads to ruin."

Without waiting for Guo Qingyuan’s response, Qin Anyi strode into the teaching building.

Guo Qingyuan stood frozen, his gaze suddenly vacant. For a moment, he deeply regretted his decision to target Qin Anyi. If only he hadn’t acted so impulsively, perhaps things would be entirely different now. If, from the start, he’d treated Qin Anyi with utmost caution and not hastily devised a plan to deal with him, if he’d paid more attention while executing his scheme, if he hadn’t underestimated Qin Anyi and committed such a fatal mistake, if he’d gone all out from the first move...

But alas, there are no "ifs" in this world.

Guo Qingyuan shook his head vigorously, his confusion replaced by a venomous hatred. What’s done is done; regret is useless now. He knew well that in the past week, the forces drawn in by Qin Anyi’s case were overwhelming. If all those powers could be wielded by Qin Anyi, even if his father emerged unscathed, they would never pose a threat to the other side. Now, with the situation so obvious, his father would likely not escape prison...

Guo Qingyuan understood clearly: he was finished. His entire family and all the influence he could muster were finished as well.

Yet he was unwilling to accept it—his bitterness drove him to confront Qin Anyi, hoping that words could bolster his fragile pride, only to humiliate himself further.

Who exactly was Qin Anyi?

Calming himself, Guo Qingyuan realized a grievous error: he’d always assumed Qin Anyi was just an ordinary kid, with a background as pure as a virgin’s body. All investigations pointed to this. Yet how could someone ordinary draw in a string of heavyweights, including the secretary of the Changqing Municipal Committee?

One wrong move, and the whole game was lost...

Guo Qingyuan clenched his fists, then relaxed them. He didn’t look back at the teaching building but strode toward the school gate.

Soon enough, his father would be implicated in the largest criminal case in Changqing’s history. Then, Guo Qingyuan would no longer be able to attend Changqing No. 1. Rather than be driven out, he’d rather leave on his own.