Chapter 82: If You Have the Guts, Come Fight Me

The driver had barely stepped out of the car when Yan’er Zhai followed, though she slipped into a different alleyway. This alley was quite deep; after running twenty-some meters, Yan’er heard angry shouts and mocking laughter coming from around a corner.

“Didn’t we warn you just days ago not to go near Miss Zhai? You don’t know how to learn your lesson, do you?”

“Look at yourself—do you really think you’re qualified to stand beside Miss Zhai?”

“Hah, you think just because you’ve got a pretty face you can sponge off the Zhai family?”

“With that pathetic look, you’re only fit to be a pretty boy in some nightclub!”

More abusive words followed, too vile to repeat. Yan’er, furious, charged forward.

She saw five or six thuggish men cornering Liyao Bai, cursing and hitting him with every insult. Liyao wore a numb expression, silently enduring their abuse.

“Stop it!” Yan’er shouted, her voice crisp and authoritative, drawing everyone’s attention.

The moment Liyao saw her, he panicked. “What are you doing here? Leave now!”

“Tsk, who said you could speak?” The tallest one, with a scar on his face, cuffed Liyao on the back of the head.

Yan’er yelled, “Don’t you dare hit him!”

“Who the hell are you, little girl?” The tall one sneered. “Is this pretty boy your boyfriend?”

Clearly, they didn’t realize that the very person they kept mentioning was standing right before them. But this was no surprise; they were only hired thugs. They’d heard of Miss Zhai, but none had ever seen her face.

“I don’t know her!” Liyao hurried to distance himself. What was this foolish girl thinking, coming here alone to play the hero?

But Yan’er shouted back, “That’s none of your business! Let him go, or I’ll call the police!”

The tall one snorted. “Go ahead, call them. See who arrives faster—the cops, or our fists.”

“You!” Yan’er hadn’t expected such brazen arrogance.

“Stay out of this, it’s not your concern!” Liyao tried to urge her away.

Yan’er refused to leave. “You, a bunch of grown men, find it fun to bully someone weaker? If you’ve got guts, fight me instead!”

The group was stunned into silence.

Did they mishear? So, they shouldn’t bully the weak, but it was fine to fight her?

“You must be out of your mind, little girl,” a short man laughed. “Go home and play.”

“That’s right! If our ‘Strength Brotherhood’ didn’t have a rule against hitting women, we’d have thrown you out long ago…”

“What a shame, such a pretty girl wasting herself on this pathetic pretty boy!”

Their jeers continued as they prepared to vent their anger further on Liyao. Yan’er, desperate, blurted, “If you won’t fight me, you’re the real cowards!”

That set the tall one off. “You brat, just itching for a beating, aren’t you? Don’t blame us for—”

Before he could finish, Liyao suddenly slammed into him, breaking through the circle and grabbing Yan’er by the wrist, dragging her away at a run.

Yan’er, stunned, let herself be pulled along. Behind them, the thugs yelled and gave chase.

“Stop right there!”

“Brat, if we catch you, you’re both dead!”

Liyao didn’t dare slow down for a second. But just as they burst out of the alley, two lookouts blocked their path.

Liyao shielded Yan’er behind him, his heart pounding.

“You really must have a death wish…” The tall leader motioned for his men to advance.

Suddenly, two sharp thuds rang out—two men were sent flying.

Yan’er cheered with delight, “Gao, you’re finally here! Beat them up!”

Old Gao, the driver and bodyguard, wore a thunderous expression. His young mistress was truly incorrigible! Distracting him and running off to provoke this gang—was she seeking excitement, or testing his skills?

The tall thug quickly realized Old Gao was no ordinary man and, reading the situation, beat a hasty retreat with his followers.

Yan’er praised her driver, “Gao, you’re amazing! I knew you’d come in time.”

Gao said nothing. If she praised him any more, he might just quit on the spot.

No sooner had she finished speaking than Liyao silently turned to leave. Yan’er quickly grabbed his hand.

“Liyao, are you badly hurt? Let me take you to the hospital…”

“No need.” Liyao pulled his hand away and made to leave.

Yan’er rushed to block his path. “Did those men hurt you before? Why didn’t you call the police?”

Liyao didn’t answer. Yan’er grew angry. “If you let yourself be bullied in silence, they’ll only get worse!”

“This is my problem,” Liyao said coldly. “It has nothing to do with you.”

“How can you say that? They beat you up because of me—how can you say it’s nothing to do with me?” As she spoke, tears began rolling down her cheeks.

“Why are you crying?” Liyao was at a complete loss—nothing unnerved him more than a girl crying.

“Because you got hurt!” Yan’er’s regret was overwhelming.

She’d felt wronged when Liyao avoided her, but now, knowing he’d been bullied on her account and never said a word, she blamed herself deeply.

“It’s me who was beaten, not you. Why are you so upset?” Liyao truly didn’t understand girls.

Even Old Gao couldn’t watch anymore. “Are you stupid, kid? My young lady is worried about you—can’t you see?”

“Don’t call him stupid!” Yan’er bristled at the insult, defending Liyao.

Liyao’s heart was a jumble of emotions.

He was moved by Yan’er’s concern, but wasn’t it because of her that he was being targeted? Though he didn’t really blame her, he didn’t want his life thrown into chaos because of her.

Being beaten wasn’t what mattered to Liyao. He and Luomei had spent a year or two in an orphanage, and being bullied by older kids was commonplace.

What truly weighed on him was that his research project had been halted!

“Yan’er, you don’t need to worry about me,” he said. “Just stay away from me.”

“Liyao, I—” Yan’er wanted to tell him she liked him and didn’t want to stay away, but he was already walking off without a backward glance.

Liyao trudged back to his apartment, exhausted. As soon as he entered, he found his elder sister sitting calmly in the living room, watching him.

After a moment, she asked, “You’re hurt?”

Liyao hung his head.

Luomei pressed, “Who did this to you? And why?”

She’d been so busy lately, she barely had a moment to herself and knew nothing of Liyao’s troubles.

“It’s nothing. I’ll handle it,” Liyao replied, not daring to tell his sister the truth.

Luomei worked for the Nangong family, who had always been at odds with the Zhai family. Lately, her hatred for the Zhai family had only grown.

If she found out he’d been beaten because of Yan’er, he’d be in for a scolding at best; at worst, she’d do something drastic.

Luomei knew her brother was strong-willed, and his gentle temperament had a stubborn streak. Since he didn’t want her interference, she decided to let it go for now.

“The Nangong family’s in a bit of turmoil these days. Keep an eye on Miss Nangong at school,” Luomei instructed.

Liyao immediately asked, “Is Jingjing in danger?”

“Hard to say,” Luomei said thoughtfully. “Just keep watch. If things get dangerous, don’t get involved—do you understand?”

The Nangong family had shown them great kindness, but she had only one brother. She didn’t want anything to happen to him.

With her doing everything she could for the Nangongs, that was enough.