Just as Xiao Tian was about to step into Class 3-C, a rough voice called out behind him.
"Toilet Boy Xiao Tian—stop right there!"
He froze. The cruel nickname hit him like a slap. Anyone would feel angry or humiliated, but Xiao Tian only felt sadness. He didn't have the luxury of fighting back. In this school of elites, he was just a poor kid trying to survive. How pitiful...
Turning around, he saw a group of boys walking toward him, their expressions smug and threatening.
"Who are you?" he asked, confused.
"Heh... you don't need to know that," one sneered. "We just need to know—are you Xiao Tian, the so-called 'Toilet Boy'?"
"I am," he replied without hesitation.
"Oh? Then you should already know why we're here," said another, grinning.
Xiao Tian's chest tightened. He didn't like where this was going. He glanced around, hoping for a way out, but they had already surrounded him.
"I... I don't know," he stammered, trembling.
"It's good you don't," one of them laughed. "Our Young Master has summoned you."
In elite institutions like D.A.V. High, it was common for students from poor backgrounds to endure humiliation. Power ruled everything here—and Xiao Tian had none.
"W-Which Young Master?" he asked, anxiety rising in his voice.
"Young Master Jiang," one of them said proudly, chest puffed out like he'd just announced royalty.
(Bootlickers, Xiao Tian thought bitterly. So proud of someone else's name.)
"It's your honor to be summoned by our Master," another added mockingly, and the group laughed together.
"Ah... Young Master Jiang?" someone nearby overheard and gasped. "Poor Xiao Tian, he's done for."
"He really messed with one of the Four Young Masters?" another whispered. "What a shame..."
Some students looked on with pity, others with amusement. Human nature could be ugly.
Young Master Jiang was one of D.A.V.'s infamous "Four Rulers"—wealthy, untouchable, and feared across the school. Their influence even extended into the city.
"What did I do?" Xiao Tian asked weakly. It felt like his world was collapsing around him.
"You don't get to ask that," one of them snapped. "Just come quietly."
They dragged him out of the building and toward the student parking lot—a special zone for the rich and powerful.
There, he saw a flashy pink Nano car parked like it owned the place. Sitting on the hood was a fat boy around his age, dressed in expensive clothes. He wore tinted Fast Track sunglasses, his dyed brown hair slicked back. A samosa was in one hand, a packet of chips in the other. His lips glistened with oil.
A textbook spoiled brat.
"Master Wen, we brought him," said one of the lackeys, throwing Xiao Tian onto the ground.
"Master Wen?" Xiao Tian muttered in confusion. "Wasn't it Master Jiang—"
Before he could finish, a kick slammed into his stomach.
"Master Jiang is not someone filth like you can talk about!" the lackey snapped.
Xiao Tian groaned, clutching his side in pain. He couldn't believe his luck.
Master Wen stepped forward, looking down on him. "Do you know what crime you've committed?"
Xiao Tian blinked. What had he done? "I... I don't know," he replied honestly.
Thud! Another kick—this time from Master Wen himself. Despite his size, it packed weight. Pain shot through Xiao Tian's ribs, but he didn't scream.
"Do you know who I am?" Wen asked, eyes narrowing.
"I... don't know," Xiao Tian said again, teeth clenched.
"You—!" Wen's face twisted in anger. He spat a mouthful of half-chewed food onto Xiao Tian's face. Disgusting. Humiliating.
But Xiao Tian said nothing.
"I'm Wen Lie! Say it!" Wen shouted.
"I... don't know you," Xiao Tian repeated.
Smack! A harsh slap left a bright red mark across his face.
"You useless rat!" Wen roared. "Who did you bump into in front of your classroom?"
Xiao Tian thought hard... then he remembered the cold slap from earlier—the girl.
"Su Han," he murmured, his voice shaking.
"Right. Su Han," Wen said. "And what did you do to her?"
"I... I slipped. I didn't mean to..." he stammered.
"Slipped?! Do you even know who she is?"
How would I know? Xiao Tian thought bitterly, but he stayed quiet.
"She's Master Jiang's woman!" Wen yelled. "And you dared touch her? Now do you see your mistake?"
Xiao Tian's stomach turned. He nearly vomited blood—but instead, he coughed up everything he'd eaten that day... straight onto Wen Lie's clothes.
(Good timing, he thought bitterly.)
Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Wen launched a series of furious slaps. His hand hurt from the effort—after all, he had never worked a day in his life.
"Master... please forgive me," Xiao Tian pleaded on his knees, face battered, eyes watering.
"Forgive you?" Wen barked. "You think begging works?"
He raised his foot and pointed to his designer shoes. "Clean them."
"Master, please..." Xiao Tian begged, shaking.
"I said clean them!" Wen roared. "You worthless lowlife!"
Xiao Tian couldn't do it. His pride, though trampled, still held firm. He lowered his head, silent.
"You asshole!" Wen snapped. "Lackeys! Beat him. Take whatever he has."
"Yes, boss!" they shouted.
Xiao Tian tried to run—but there were too many of them. Eight boys beat him mercilessly, kicking and punching until his face was swollen and bleeding.
From his pockets, they pulled out ₹200 and an old silver ring.
"Master, please... that ring was from my parents. The money's for my grandma's birthday..." he whispered.
Wen Lie sneered. He pocketed both items and turned away.
"Throw him near a gutter. Clean this mess," he said, climbing back into his pink Nano.
"Yes, boss," the lackeys replied in unison.
They carried Xiao Tian a kilometer away, behind the school, to the dumping yard. A place reeking of trash and waste. Stray dogs, cats, and birds circled. One even spat on him.
Filthy. Broken. Forgotten.
It was nearly 7 p.m. before Xiao Tian finally stirred awake.
To be continued in Chapter 4…