Who Can Compete? A First-Year's Rise to the Top

[School gangsters] + [old-school hoodlums] + [always get even] + [scheming]

When sixteen-year-old Wu Dong walked into No. 3 High School, all he wanted was to get through high school in peace. But a kick to the chest in the bathroom and protection money slapped across his face pushed him to the other side of the rules. When the top student’s glasses shattered on the ground, he understood one thing: around here, weakness earns no respect.

He joined forces with his childhood friend Lei Dalei, who was bullied just like him, and brought in the resentful Wang Hao and the calculating Zhao Kun. A group dismissed as troublemakers quietly took shape. They knew nothing about the codes of the underworld. They only held to the simplest principles: don’t start trouble, but don’t back down; don’t bully others, but don’t let anyone bully you.

Starting with homemade, inconspicuous paper sticks, they challenged the “Seven Protectors” who ruled their grade, fighting in the only way students could. Through one clash after another and one confrontation after another, they built a reputation against the odds and forged a bond by standing together.

But the real storm came from outside the school. When the club of Li Chuang, a professional thug, came crashing down with all the viciousness of the criminal world, and betel-nut spit mingled with humiliation hit his face, Wu Dong finally realized that this road was far more dangerous than he had imagined.

“My name is Wu Dong. Dong, as in east. If you think you’re tough enough, come find me in Class 3 of the first year.”