Chapter 400 - Underground Boxer (1/2)

In the following few days, a rumor that originated from nowhere spread through the entire Xihai No. 3 High School.

It triggered an outbreak of gossip that occurred in private:

“Woah, who would have expected that new guy Touki to be doing that kind of part-time job?”

“Yeah, how else would he be getting paid so much, if he doesn’t sacrifice that handsome and strong body of his?”

“He earns more than 300 dollars every night, only to be completely out of sorts the next day in class. He has to supplement his body with loads of protein and nutrients during lunchtime to sustain his monstrous physical strength.”

“I thought only girls would do such a part-time job. Who’d have known that guys could do it as well? but having a durable body is a must.”

“Tsk… Just thinking about it makes me sick. But Touki is tall, handsome, and muscular. He really does have what it takes to earn a load from that job.”

“I wonder what street is Touki working on? I have a little itch in my heart to go and try out Touki’s abilities, hehehe…”

…

About half a month later.

After completing his usual basketball training, Li Dong, who had finally realized that he was shrouded by a strange atmosphere, halted two students after school and found out something rather fascinating.

“This rumor…is unbelievably sinful.”

Li Dong opened his mouth wide as a few things finally became clear for him.

“This is why Satoshi hasn’t come to talk to me these past few days, and has subconsciously avoided me when she sees me.

“Ordinary friends, whom I could normally schmooze and share a few words with, have distanced themselves from me. Almost none of them are willing to talk to me.

“On the court, except for president Shenli, none of my teammates will pass the ball to me, unless I snatch it from them myself.

“I can also vaguely feel people pointing fingers at me from behind my back and hear the sound of them giggling at me.”

But unfortunately, none of these things affected Li Dong. After all, players rarely pay attention to the NPC’s views and ideas.

But if things have been going on for a while, and everyone is looking at you with a weird glare, it is highly difficult to ignore them completely. Even Li Dong detested such an atmosphere.

Hence, he held two students back and threw some questions at them.

And the upshot of this…

After learning the truth of those rumors and becoming fully aware of what the others were gossiping about, Li Dong had the urge to chop down certain people with an ax.

“Damn!”

Li Dong clenched his fist.

But he reacted too late this time around. The rumor had already spread across the Xihai High School and was already known to all. Even if he were to track down the rumormonger and order him or her to apologize and deny the rumors, it wouldn’t do him any good.

The amount of energy necessary to refute a rumor was an order of magnitude bigger than the energy to produce it.

Therefore, compared to hunting for the rumormonger, who would most certainly deny the claims, the utmost priority now was to refute the rumors and regain his innocence. Otherwise, he could not stay in this school for long in the midst of such an atmosphere.

…

During the break between classes.

The people in the class gathered around in circles and began discussion.

Denen Satoshi, who sat in the first row, couldn’t resist glancing at the back corner of the classroom: Touki was sleeping.

She looked miffed, thinking, “Are you not defending yourself at all? Or is that really the truth?”

“Feifei, you seem to have no interest at all in Touki right now?” Ishinaka Mei said. “Didn’t you say that he’s your toy?”

“The fact is obvious, isn’t it?” Shangguan Feifei said faintly. “If someone stood up and denied the rumors when it had just come out, or at least tried to defend him before it was too late, perhaps he could have gotten everyone to trust him and kept his personal image. Sadly, Touki didn’t do anything, stayed silent all the way, and allowed the rumors to ferment. This, in fact, is an admission by silence.

“I have no hopes for this kind of toy, sigh…” Shangguan Feifei shook her head regretfully. “After all, I am a fine lady who hopes to marry into a noble family. I must refrain from interacting with those filthy things.”

“What if…Touki was framed?”

A mosquito-like voice sounded, but it clearly drummed in the ears of several girls.

They went idle for a second.

Denen Satoshi.