Urban Seduction: Housewives Club Chapter 1 The Fragile Youth

The sun beat down relentlessly, keeping the atmosphere sweltering even though it was already September. It was barely past 9:00 AM, yet the heat had already become stifling. A motorbike coasted slowly toward the gates of Wanghai City's First High School. The rider was a girl of fifteen or sixteen, possessing a beauty so striking it could take one's breath away. She wore the standard First High School uniform; while the dated style should have been dull, it only highlighted her stunning figure more effectively than high-end couture. A radiant smile lit up her face as she chatted with the passenger on the pillion seat.

Seated behind her was a boy, also clad in the school uniform. With his delicate features, he might have been mistaken for a girl if not for his masculine uniform and short hair, though his handsome face carried a more rugged edge than his companion's.

“Bro, do you think we’ll have a new teacher this time?” the girl asked, turning her head slightly as she slowed the bike while passing through the school gates.

The boy thought for a moment before answering, “I don’t think so. The teachers at this school usually stick with the same class for all three years, right? Why? Are you worried that your favorite teacher, Ms. Yu, will leave?” He let out a small chuckle.

The girl pouted at her brother’s teasing. The teacher he mentioned, Ms. Yu, had been their homeroom teacher during their freshman year. Their bond was so close that the girl often stayed at the teacher's dormitory instead of going home after school. The boy frequently joked that they were lesbians, a comment that usually earned him a playful swat from his sister.

As they neared the teaching building, the girl’s sulking vanished. “Bro, you get off here and wait for me. I’ll park the bike and join you, and then we can go back to the classroom together,” she instructed.

The boy nodded and hopped off. As he glanced up, he spotted several rough-looking students watching him with hostile eyes. He instinctively stepped to the side.

This boy was Ye Fei, known by the nickname Yemanren (Brute Man). In terms of social standing in Wanghai City, he was effectively the crown prince. His late father had been the leader of the city's underworld. Despite his passing, his father’s old associates remained loyal and treated Ye Fei’s family with immense deference. His mother managed a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, but his aunts were even more formidable: one was the Mayor of Wanghai City, and the other served as the Commander of the Special Forces in the Wanghai Military District. Following his father's death, his uncle took over as the head of the underworld. His three other aunts were also powerhouses in their respective fields. Though they occasionally clashed with his mother, they all absolutely doted on him.

Ye Fei’s prestigious background was common knowledge at school, and normally, no one would dare provoke him. However, Ye Fei refused to act like a typical Young Master. He never relied on his family’s influence. Even when facing severe bullying, he insisted on handling matters himself. Consequently, the school's delinquents eventually began to target him.

“Hey, Brute, you’re here early today. Missed us, huh, after a whole summer without seeing us?” a purple-haired ruffian sneered, leading a group to encircle Ye Fei. Another boy with a shaved head chimed in, “What’s this? Did your sister bring you here again? You really are useless, can’t even ride a bike on your own, need your sister to bring you. Have you got today’s protection fee ready?”

Ye Fei was unfazed by the confrontation, his expression remaining neutral. He quietly pulled several hundred-yuan bills from his pocket and handed them to the shaved-headed boy. “You better leave now,” he said calmly. “My sister went to the bike shed; she’ll be back soon.”

Recognizing that Ye Yunqi had indeed just headed toward the shed, the group grabbed the cash and retreated quickly. Unlike her brother, Ye Yunqi was not someone to be trifled with. She was essentially the queen of the school, armed with impressive martial arts skills and a fierce protective streak. Most troublemakers on campus had tasted the weight of her fists at some point. Those who knew the twins often joked that their mother must have swapped their genders at birth.

Seeing the thugs departing, Ye Yunqi hurried to her brother’s side. “Bro, did they bother you?”

Ye Fei laughed softly. “How could that be? With you around, even they wouldn’t dare.”

“Hmph, they wouldn’t dare to try me either!” Ye Yunqi snorted with pride. “But whenever I see those bad students, I just want to give them a beating.”

Ye Fei offered a faint smile. “Let’s not bother. Actually, they’re quite pitiful. Their current state is either due to unfortunate family circumstances or the influence of those bad movies. Deep down, they’re not really bad. I once saw the guy with the shaved head helping a disabled person. And when they bully others at school, it’s not out of malice, just a way to seek attention and be noticed.”

“I see.” Ye Yunqi nodded, her expression softening. “Alright, I won’t bully them anymore. By the way, brother, you spent this whole vacation training at Auntie’s place. I didn’t get to ask you yet, did it have any effect?”

“It should have had some effect,” Ye Fei admitted with a self-deprecating smile. “My strength has improved a bit. I can now barely lift a 30-kilogram barbell, which I couldn’t even budge before.”

Thirty kilograms? I could lift that with one hand, Ye Yunqi thought. However, she kept the thought to herself. She knew that despite his gentle exterior, her brother was very proud. She didn't want to hurt his feelings, so she simply smiled. “Impressive! If you keep this up, I might not stand a chance against you.”

Ye Fei, who had been highly intelligent since he was a child, saw right through her white lie. He gave a helpless smile and started walking toward the teaching building.

Observing her brother’s tall but frail silhouette, Ye Yunqi felt a wave of guilt and sympathy. She felt ashamed of how she used to tease and bully him. Her perspective had shifted during the summer after a comment from her mother. Having missed her brother while he was away, she had joked about wanting to beat up the "brute" again. Her mother had responded with a joke, suggesting his physical weakness was because Ye Yunqi had stolen most of the nutrients while they were in the womb.

The young girl took the jest to heart. The idea that she was responsible for his frailty filled her with a sense of duty. She made a silent vow to protect him forever and ensure he never faced injustice again.

Ye Fei’s physical stamina was indeed poor. Their classroom was located on the fourth floor, and the six short flights of stairs were a genuine struggle for him. He was forced to stop and rest midway before reaching the top. Ye Yunqi followed closely, her anxiety mirroring his physical struggle, yet she refrained from helping. she understood that his pride would never allow him to accept assistance for such a simple task.