Fear

Lin Che turned into the stairwell and was about to head upstairs.

But then he heard voices from around the corner. In the dim space, he could just make out a few furtive figures.

Probably some delinquent boys hiding in the stairwell to smoke...

Lin Che didn't want to get involved, so he was about to leave.

But...

He heard a familiar name in their conversation.

"Damn it, Luo Xue actually turned down my confession!"

The voice was full of anger. Lin Che listened closely and recognized the speaker as the rich second-generation who had confessed to Luo Xue during PE class!

It seemed that being rejected by Luo Xue in front of so many people...

Had dealt a serious blow to the rich kid's pride, and he was furious!

Lin Che stopped and hid behind the stairwell, wanting to hear what would happen next.

"Yeah! Forget the school—even in this whole city, who doesn't know Young Master Song?"

"Whenever people hear the name Young Master Song, girls throw themselves at him. That Luo Xue really doesn't know what's good for her!"

"Exactly! She dared to turn down Young Master Song. We have to teach Luo Xue a lesson!"

These guys were clearly Young Master Song's lackeys.

"She definitely needs to be taught a lesson!" The rich kid they called Young Master Song spoke in a vicious tone.

"We can't make a move during school hours. Keep an eye on Luo Xue for me. The moment she's alone, make sure you keep her there..."

"Heh heh heh~"

As if he were afraid no one would realize he was up to no good, Young Master Song even imitated a storybook villain and let out an evil "heh heh heh" laugh!

Lin Che heard every word of their conversation!

Lin Che's heart skipped a beat.

Luo Xue had to stay after school to clean the classroom.

That meant she'd be alone in the classroom.

If Young Master Song and his gang made their move then...

Luo Xue would be in danger!

When school let out...

Lin Che and Gu Yilan headed home together as usual.

But as soon as they left the school gate, Lin Che put on a look of alarm.

"Oh no! I left my homework at school. I need to go back. You go on ahead, Yilan, or you'll miss this bus!"

There was no way he could drag Gu Yilan into something like this.

So Lin Che made up an excuse to send Gu Yilan on her way, then ran back to school by himself.

The setting sun outside cast a golden glow over the desks and chairs in the classroom.

In the quiet room, the only sound was a broom scraping across the floor.

And...

A girl cursing.

"Su Yumei, that stinking bitch! She's so petty!"

"Stealing my man is one thing, but she even made me stay behind to clean!"

"Ugh, this is so annoying!"

A beautiful girl with twin ponytails was cleaning the floor, her face full of frustration.

Luo Xue knitted her brows as she looked at the tiles. It was as if she could see Su Yumei's bewitching face in every single one.

She poured all her anger into the broom, scrubbing the floor with all her might.

"Oh, isn't that Luo Xue?"

The classroom's back door opened.

As soon as Young Master Song heard that Luo Xue had stayed behind, he hurried over.

When he saw that she was alone in the classroom, a smile immediately spread across his face.

"Luo Xue, I know girls can be shy, so you probably felt embarrassed accepting my confession in front of everyone..."

Young Master Song clasped his hands behind his back and gestured to his lackeys outside the door, telling them to wait.

"So I made a point of waiting until after school..."

"Now it's just the two of us. Accept my confession, Luo Xue. Be my girl!"

Young Master Song forced a lovesick smile.

But that greasy smile only made Luo Xue sick.

"Why don't you just die?"

Luo Xue looked at Young Master Song as if he were insane.

"If you're done, get lost! Don't dirty the spot I just cleaned!"

Luo Xue glared at the place where Young Master Song had stepped. A dirty footprint now marked the spotless floor. Her brows drew together, and fire seemed to blaze in her slightly upturned eyes!

"Luo Xue! I love it when you get angry! Please punish me!"

Young Master Song looked infatuated!

"Are you crazy? If you like being punished, go home and ask your mom!"

"You! Don't you dare bring up my mom!"

An image of a beautiful, mature woman appeared in Young Master Song's mind. He both feared and respected his strict mother.

Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, he suddenly flew into a rage!

"Getting upset, are you? Looks like someone's a mama's boy!"

Luo Xue covered her mouth, her eyes curving as she gave him a mocking smile.

"Don't you dare bring up my mom!"

Fuming, Young Master Song gestured to his lackeys outside with the hands behind his back.

"Luo Xue, I was going to give you a chance. If you'd just become my girlfriend, I wouldn't even mind being your dog!"

"But you refused to listen and chose the hard way! So I'll have to use a more forceful approach!"

Young Master Song's face twisted into a menacing grin.

Then he waved his hand.

A few more delinquent boys filed in through the classroom door.

They had dyed blond hair and tattoos. One even had an eyebrow piercing. Though they wore school uniforms, it was obvious they were thugs from outside the school!

They stood behind Young Master Song, looking every bit like his lackeys!

"Song Mu! You're disgusting!"

Luo Xue's anger was about to spill over!

She stared at the floor with her beautiful eyes wide.

The group of delinquents had barged into the classroom, leaving dirty footprints all over the floor.

She'd just finished cleaning it!

"Haha, regretting it now?"

Song Mu saw Luo Xue looking down and imagined the humiliated expression on her face.

Then he gave a "heh heh heh" laugh.

"Brothers, grab her!"

The delinquents slowly closed in on Luo Xue.

No matter how bold Luo Xue usually was, she was starting to panic!

She backed away until she was finally cornered.

"Song Mu, do you even know what you're doing?!"

"Of course I do! Hahahaha!"

Song Mu grinned viciously while his lackeys stood ready to make their move.

Luo Xue was truly panicking now.

She usually kept a low profile, and to fit in with ordinary people, she didn't bring bodyguards to school.

She hadn't expected to end up in danger today!

She swung the broom wildly, keeping the delinquents at bay for the moment!

But as time passed, she could feel her strength ebbing away.

Her swings grew slower and slower.

"Lin Che..."

Maybe... whenever Luo Xue needed help, the one who appeared was always Lin Che.

On the bus, Lin Che had protected her in his arms.

At the Comic Exhibition, Lin Che had helped her win first place.

Now that she was in danger, Lin Che was the first person she thought of!

And right then!

A shadow appeared. He raised a chair and smashed it over Song Mu's head!

The delinquents who had been closing in on Luo Xue panicked when they saw their boss get hit!

They could afford to lose the girl, but if Song Mu got hurt, they'd have to pay for it!

The delinquents hurried to help Song Mu up from the floor.

Blood covered Song Mu's face as he glared at the boy who had suddenly burst in.

"Lin Che, you've got some nerve!"

Song Mu's eyes bulged with rage. What angered him even more was that...

The moment Lin Che appeared, Luo Xue threw herself into his arms!

Fear

"Waaah~ Lin Che..."

Luo Xue clung tightly to Lin Che, her warm tears quickly soaking through his chest.

Since Luo Xue only came up to his chest, when she cried against him, the tears could only soak that part of his shirt.

"Can you two stop making out right in front of me?"

Song Mu's eyes nearly bulged out of his head!

The wound on his head was agony.

Luo Xue was the goddess of his dreams, but now she was leaning in someone else's arms!

An inexplicable sense of humiliation spread through Song Mu.

The pain in his heart was even worse than the pain in his head!