Shībài zhě had already seen how bad of a day David has every morning. So, he decided to watch him closely and plan for the best possible training he can set for him. While Shībài zhě planned that, he also kept a close eye on David. He was in his senior year of high school which was also his last one as he would turn 18 soon. He seemed to mind his own business the entire day. He wouldn’t interact with others and only seemed to be focused on his studies. Shībài zhě knew that this was no way for someone to spend their last year in high school, even though they have to study for their college entrance exams, a little bit of fun is also important. Shībài zhě tried to interact with David in many different matters to make him happier. But it failed. David was not interested at all. He would rather spend his time studying and this is what he did even in the cafeteria.

During break time, David sat alone at a table studying while drinking some lemonade that he had brought with him, while Shībài zhě was looking out the window at the city of New York. He had always wanted to go to America but had never got a chance. While they were both busy, Henry entered the cafeteria along with a group of students who were wearing the uniform of the basketball team. Everyone’s attention turned towards them. Everyone except for David, who seemed to be busy with his studies and he chose to ignore them. Shībài zhě noticed that other than David, there were still a few more tables where the students were not paying attention to the basketball team. But out of them all, Henry only saw David not paying any attention to him. He whispered something to his friends. They smiled and started walking toward David. Shībài zhě noticed them before David could.

“Get up. You need to leave.” Shībài zhě said to David, pulling him to get up.

“What? Why?” David said, gathering his things and following Shībài zhě.

“Because of them.” Shībài zhě said, pointing at Henry and his team. David looked at them coming towards him with big grins on their faces. He did not seem bothered, but he followed Shībài zhě towards the door in the back of the cafeteria because he was pushing him.

While David was busy studying the entire day, Shībài zhě had been looking around the school and had come upon the school map and had even memorized it. Shībài zhě led David through doors and hallways to the ground outside, all the while looking back to make sure that no one was following them. Once out on the ground, Shībài zhě sat David on a bench just beside the basketball court while he looked around for Henry. Meanwhile, another team was playing basketball on the court.

“Ok. It’s all clear.” Shībài zhě said after looking around everywhere. David did not seem bothered by this and continued studying there and then. This further infuriated Shībài zhě. In his rage, he smacked the books out of David’s hand.

“What is wrong with you?” He said in anger.

“What do you mean?” David said as he got up in anger. “What is wrong with you? You spend the entire day bothering me while I’m studying and all of a sudden, you pushed me out of the cold cafeteria into this blazing sun.”

“What?” Shībài zhě had finally reached his limit after seeing David’s life the entire day. “There is nothing wrong with me. Other than what is happening of course. You are the problem.”

“And how is that?”

“Your family doesn’t treat you properly, and neither does anyone at this school. Yet, you spend the entire day smiling and saying that it is your responsibility. WAKE UP. You are an outcast everywhere and you working yourself to the bone will not change anything. How can you be happy?!”

Before David could answer, a basketball hit him in the face. Shībài zhě looked around to see if Henry was there. But this ball actually came from the court behind them. The players inside beckoned at David to pass the ball back. But as soon as he picked it up, Henry and his friends found him.

“Wow. Look at our little Davey, he’s all grown up with a ball in his hands,” Henry said. His friends laughed at the top of their voices. “He thinks that he can play basketball.”

A crowd had come around them due to the people following Henry. Shībài zhě waited for David to start stuttering and cowering again, but the anger that David had kept in the entire that day had just burst out towards Henry.

“Well, at least I know how to play and don’t use steroids to look buff,” David said in his rage.

Most people in the crowd laughed, while others further cursed David. Henry was infuriated. He had considered David to be someone to stomp on. To him, this was as if the prey stood in front of the predator.

“Do you think you're better than me?” Henry said, walking towards David, who had just realized what he had said. “Then why don’t have a 1v1 with me then. Right here, right …” The bell rang at that moment.

David looked relieved and was ready to gather his things and leave, but Henry grabbed him and said through gritted teeth, “After school. And don’t try to run.” With that, he left and the rest of the crowd dispersed, leaving David perplexed and Shībài zhě shocked.