C19 Lick It Clean

"Wang Ping, you!" Hsu Danian was taken aback.

"Oh, let me introduce you. This is my boyfriend, Liu Qi, the heir to the Liu Corporation," Wang Ping boasted.

"Wang Ping, is this the fatso who's been bothering you, the toad lusting after swan meat?" Liu Qi sneered at Hsu Danian.

"Yes," Wang Ping confirmed without a second thought.

At her words, Hsu Danian's expression darkened to its limits. He had no issue with Wang Ping moving on after their breakup.

But the fact that she had found someone new so quickly, and was now parading him in front of Hsu Danian to add insult to injury, was a bitter pill to swallow. This was the woman he had once admired.

Hsu Danian wasn't angry, just profoundly sad, mourning his past poor judgment.

"Anyway, I'm here to give you a heads-up. Liu Qi's family has extensive business ties with Zhu Jian's family. If you don't want to end up like Ye Luo, beaten and unable to recover, you'd better plead with Liu Qi. Who knows, he might take pity on you and put in a good word," Wang Ping said with a smirk.

"Yeah, Zhu Jian and I are pretty tight. My word carries weight. But if you want my help, it all depends on how sincere you are," Liu Qi added, then casually extended his right foot.

"Oops, looks like my brand-new shoes got a bit dirty. How about this? In consideration of Wang Ping, why don't you clean them for me, Fatty? Then I might just speak on your behalf," Liu Qi offered with a grin.

"What did you just say?" Hsu Danian slammed his hand on the table, rising to his feet, barely containing his urge to lash out at Liu Qi.

But before he could act, several towering students approached, clearly Liu Qi's entourage.

"Tsk tsk, some people are just trash, resorting to brute force for everything. How are you any different from an animal?" Liu Qi taunted.

"Hsu Danian, think it over. If you refuse to clean Liu Qi's shoes, Ye Luo might never return. And it won't just be him suffering—you'll be out of luck too, and you can kiss your days at Linhai University goodbye," Wang Ping gloated. She had been reprimanded by Hsu Danian several times the night before and had been stewing in her resentment. Today, she was determined to settle the score.

Hsu Danian, already seething with rage, felt his anger subside when he heard that Ye Luo might never return.

"Are you serious? If I shine your shoes, will that really help Ye Luo?" Hsu Danian asked through clenched teeth.

"Help Ye Luo?" Liu Qi scoffed. "Shining shoes is a favor because of Wang Ping. It's for you, not Ye Luo. That alone wouldn't be enough to help him."

"Then what do you want?" Hsu Danian pressed, his teeth still gritted. He knew Ye Luo all too well. As an orphan, without assistance this time, Zhu Jian could indeed ensure Ye Luo never returned. For his dear friend, he was ready to endure the indignity.

"How about this? Lick my shoes clean. If I'm satisfied, maybe, just maybe, Ye Luo can come back. Hahaha," Liu Qi laughed boisterously.

It wasn't just Liu Qi; many students watching the spectacle joined in the laughter.

"Fine, I'll lick them clean. But you better keep your word and help Ye Luo. If not, you and I will have unfinished business," Hsu Danian declared, squatting down, ready to lick Liu Qi's shoes.

But as Hsu Danian bent over, Liu Qi swiftly lifted his foot and slammed it onto Hsu Danian's head, pinning him to the ground.

"Hahaha, you actually were going to do it, you fat fool. But even if you're willing, I can't stand your foul breath," Liu Qi taunted, then glanced at Wang Ping. "Satisfied now?"

Wang Ping nodded, a rush of satisfaction washing over her as she watched Hsu Danian flattened on the ground like a dead dog.

"Now that you're pleased, we'll be on our way," Liu Qi said, reaching out and giving Wang Ping's behind a firm squeeze, eliciting a coy protest from her.

"Liu Qi, you son of a bitch, screw you!" Hsu Danian realized he'd been played. He sprang up and lunged at Liu Qi.

But he was quickly restrained by several of Liu Qi's lackeys.

Liu Qi turned and delivered a merciless kick to Hsu Danian's chest, "You're nothing but trash. Take a good look at yourself before you try to negotiate with me."

As he spoke, Liu Qi spat contemptuously at Hsu Danian. "Beat him until he can't get up," he commanded.

His lackeys, eager to please, began to pummel Hsu Danian with their fists.

"Bang!"

Bracing himself for the onslaught, Hsu Danian clenched his eyes shut, expecting pain. Instead, he heard a muffled grunt and felt nothing.

He opened his eyes to a stunning sight: Ye Luo was standing protectively in front of him, and the thug who had been swinging at him was sprawled out three meters away.

"Ye Luo, how... how did you get back?" Hsu Danian exclaimed, his voice tinged with relief. He had been convinced that Ye Luo was locked away and unable to return, which was the only reason he had stooped to licking Liu Qi's shoes.

Ye Luo had just arrived at the teaching building with Ann Xin when he witnessed the scene in the corridor. His rage was palpable, surpassing even the fury he felt facing Zhu Jian the previous night.

Liu Qi turned to Ye Luo with a sneer. "So you're Ye Luo? I didn't expect you to make it back. I underestimated you. But what does it matter? You dare to lay a hand on my people..."

"Slap!"

With a swift motion, Ye Luo's slap sent Liu Qi flying several meters, leaving him crumpled on the ground, unable to rise.

In the wake of stunned silence, Ye Luo advanced, placing his foot squarely on Liu Qi's face and grinding it in with force.

"Did you hit my brother? Did you make him lick your shoes?" Ye Luo's voice was icy with menace. If not for the school setting, if not for the fear of alarming Ann Xin, Liu Qi might well have been a dead man.

The onlookers were astounded by Ye Luo's ferocity.

Ye Luo's confrontation with Zhu Jian the previous night had been in the dark, at the school gates, witnessed by few. But this was different—this was a brazen, daylight assault in the school corridors, causing an uproar.

People scrambled to inform the teachers and summon the principal.

Ignoring the shocked stares, Ye Luo kept his foot on Liu Qi's face and turned to Hsu Danian. "Danian, how did he hit you? It's your turn. If you won't do it, I will."

Ye Luo felt compelled to act because Hsu Danian's recent behavior had genuinely moved him. The fact that Hsu Danian was willing to debase himself by licking Liu Qi's shoes for Ye Luo's sake stirred a deep sense of emotion within him.

Ye Luo considered introducing Hsu Danian to the realm of cultivation and imparting to him a technique for spiritual practice.

However, cultivation isn't beneficial for everyone; it demands significant courage, daring, and fortitude. If Hsu Danian lacked the nerve to seek vengeance himself, Ye Luo was ready to step in on his behalf. But in that case, Ye Luo would refrain from teaching him the ways of martial cultivation, as such a temperament is ill-suited for the discipline.

Engaging in martial cultivation isn't always advantageous, especially for someone lacking in mettle and bravery. Ye Luo understood all too well the adage that an innocent man bears no sin, but possessing a jewel invites transgression.