Urban Seduction: Housewives Club Chapter 1 The Fragile Youth

The sun beat down relentlessly, keeping the heat intense despite it being September. Even though it was barely past 9:00 AM, the temperature was already becoming oppressive. At the gates of Wanghai City's First High School, a motorbike rolled slowly toward the entrance. A girl of roughly fifteen or sixteen years old sat at the handlebars, her beauty so striking it was almost suffocating. She was dressed in the standard First High School uniform; while the dated style should have been dull, it only highlighted her perfect figure more effectively than high-end fashion ever could. A radiant smile lit up her face as she spoke with the passenger on the pillion seat.

Sitting behind her was a boy also clad in a school uniform. Aside from his male attire and short hair, he was so handsome he could easily be mistaken for a girl, though he possessed a distinct masculine charm that mirrored the girl's stunning looks.

"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. Usually, teachers at this school stay with the same class for the full three years, right? Why? Are you worried that your favorite, Ms. Yu, will leave?" He let out a small laugh.

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

After her brief moment of sulking, the girl noticed they were approaching the teaching building. "Bro, hop off here and wait for me," she told him. "I'll go park the bike and meet you, then we can head to the classroom together."

The boy nodded and climbed off the bike. As he looked up, he spotted several rough-looking students watching him with hostile eyes. He instinctively stepped to the side to avoid them.

This boy was Ye Fei, though he was nicknamed 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 underground forces. Even after his passing, his father's subordinates remained loyal and treated Ye Fei's family with immense respect. His mother managed a multi-billion-dollar corporation, but his most powerful relatives were his two aunts: one was the Mayor of Wanghai City, and the other was 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 titans in their respective fields. While they didn't always get along 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 wasn't like other spoiled Young Masters. He refused to rely on his family's power. Even when subjected to severe bullying, he dealt with it alone. Consequently, the school's delinquents eventually began to target him more frequently.

"Hey, Brute, you're here early. Did you miss us over the summer break?" a purple-haired ruffian sneered, leading a small group to encircle Ye Fei. Another boy with a shaved head chimed in, "What's this? Did your sister drop you off again? You're pathetic—can't even ride a bike yourself, you have to be chauffeured by a girl. Do you have today's protection fee ready?"

Used to these encounters, Ye Fei remained calm. Without changing his expression, he reached into his pocket, pulled out several hundred-yuan bills, and handed them to the shaved-headed boy. "You should leave now," he said quietly. "My sister is at the bike shed; she'll be here any second."

Having seen Ye Yunqi head toward the shed earlier, the thugs grabbed the money and didn't linger. They retreated quickly because Ye Yunqi was not to be messed with, unlike her brother. She was essentially the queen of the school, armed with impressive martial arts skills and a fierce temperament. Most of the school's troublemakers had tasted 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 depart, Ye Yunqi ran over to her brother. "Bro, were they bothering you?"

Ye Fei laughed softly. "How could they? With you around, they wouldn't dare."

"Hmph, they better not!" Ye Yunqi snorted with pride. "Every time I see those punks, I just want to give them a good thrashing."

Ye Fei gave a faint smile. "Let it go. They're actually quite sad. Their behavior is usually the result of bad family lives or watching too many movies. They aren't truly evil. I once saw that shaved-headed guy helping someone with a disability. When they bully people at school, it's usually just a desperate cry for attention."

"I guess so," Ye Yunqi replied thoughtfully. "Fine, I won't hit them anymore. By the way, brother, you spent the whole summer training at Auntie's place. I haven't asked yet—did it work?"

"It seems to have helped a little," Ye Fei said with a bitter smile. "I’ve gotten a bit stronger. I can finally lift a 30-kilogram barbell, which I couldn't even move before."

Thirty kilograms? I could do that with one hand, Ye Yunqi thought. She kept the comment to herself, knowing that despite his frail appearance, her brother was very proud. She didn't want to hurt his feelings. Instead, she smiled and encouraged him, "That’s amazing! If you keep it up, I might not be able to beat you soon."

Ye Fei was highly intelligent and saw right through his sister's white lie. He offered a helpless smile and started walking toward the building.

As she watched his tall but fragile frame walk away, Ye Yunqi felt a wave of guilt and pity. Thinking about how she used to tease him in the past made her want to slap herself. Her perspective had changed during the summer after a joke her mother made. Having missed her brother while he was away, she had joked about wanting to "beat up the brute" again. Her mother had jokingly remarked that his physical weakness was likely because she had taken all the nutrients for herself while they were in the womb.

A young girl's heart is easily swayed, and that joke had deeply affected Ye Yunqi. She felt responsible for his condition and vowed that she would protect him for the rest of her life, ensuring he never faced another injustice.

Ye Fei's physical health was indeed poor. Their classroom was located on the fourth floor, and the six short flights of stairs were a major ordeal for him. He had to stop halfway to catch his breath before finally reaching the top. Ye Yunqi followed closely, feeling more stressed than he was, yet she didn't offer to help. She knew her brother's pride would never allow it.