Change

That night, Zhang Linghe slept peacefully.

It had been months since he had slept like that—without interruption, without exhaustion dragging his mind back to work. There were no dreams, just deep, silent rest.

Something rare.

Something unfamiliar.

Back in his school days, he had once lived a very different life.

He wasn’t a top student, but he worked hard. He wasn’t the smartest, but he never gave up easily. He had a few close friends—loyal ones who stayed by his side no matter what.

And because of his background…

No one dared to bully him.

He was the grandson of one of the richest families in the city.

A title that protected him.

But also trapped him.

Sometimes, he wished he had been born into a normal family. A life where people saw him for who he was—not for his name or status.

At home, he spent most of his time reading books.

Quiet. Focused. Alone.

But at school, he cared deeply about his friends.

They were his only escape from the expectations that followed him everywhere.

There was Hu Weichan—nicknamed “Bulldozer.”

Strong, loud, and always straightforward.

Then Gu Liang, known as “Caterpillar,” because the way he danced looked like his bones didn’t exist.

And David…

David was a transfer student from Indonesia.

They called him the “Chinese Poet.”

Not because he scored well—but because of his deep love for the Chinese language. Even though he barely passed the subject, his passion never faded.

And one more thing—

He never gave up.

David was also skilled in karate.

From the very first week, he had beaten up a group of bullies, proudly declaring, “I am the grandson of Bruce Lee!”

Whether it was true or not…

No one dared to mess with him after that.

But David had one unusual habit.

Every break time, without fail, he would run behind one person.

Their Chinese language teacher—

Mr. Hu Leichan.

“Yes, I know what you’re thinking,” Linghe would say back then. “He’s Bulldozer’s father.”

At first, the teacher liked David’s enthusiasm.

But over time, it became… overwhelming.

He couldn’t even drink tea peacefully without David appearing beside him.

“I love you, my Chinese teacher!” David would say brightly, appearing out of nowhere.

At home, Mr. Hu would sigh during dinner.

“Maybe I should just adopt David instead,” he once joked. “His love for our language is stronger than yours. Even his handwriting is better than yours!”

He looked directly at his son.

Before things could turn serious, Mrs. Li Jackie stepped in.

“Aiyah, stop scolding my son and let him eat,” she said, playfully glaring at her husband. “If you want to adopt David, go ahead—but don’t compare them!”

Hu Weichan simply nodded and continued eating, smiling quietly.

And then there was Ding Yunxi.

The “Mini Robot.”

A genius in mathematics.

Zhang Linghe wasn’t particularly good at studies, but Yunxi always helped him. His way of teaching was different—he turned formulas into stories, making everything easier to understand.

He was also the reason Linghe developed a love for horror and crime stories.

Together, they would stay up all night reading about killers, mysteries, and revenge.

“I already know the ending,” Yunxi would tease. “I read it before you.”

Zhang would glare at him. “If you spoil it, I’ll kill you!”

Then they would run across the corridor, laughing like kids, ending up in the canteen with iced milk in their hands.

That curiosity…

That obsession with crime and truth…

It stayed with him.

It was the reason he chose law.

The reason he became who he is today.

Zhang Linghe was normal—

Until he decided to win.