C7 I Can't Afford to Offend

"Hsu Danian, what did you just say? Say it again if you're brave enough!" Wang Ping was seething with anger. She couldn't believe that Hsu Danian, who was usually so submissive and compliant towards her, had the audacity to speak to her like that because of Ye Luo.

"I told you to shut up! Ye Luo is my brother, and I won't allow you to speak about him that way!" Hsu Danian took a deep breath, his tone firm. However, it was clear from the worry etched on his face that he understood the gravity of his words and the inevitable divide they would cause between him and Wang Ping.

"Wow, Hsu Danian, feeling courageous now, are we? Who do you think you are? If you hadn't been groveling at my feet like a desperate little puppy, do you think I would have given you the time of day? Without me, you're just as worthless as Ye Luo—nothing but trash. And now you suddenly want to play the loyal hero and yell at me? Let me make myself clear: if you don't cut ties with Ye Luo today, you can forget about ever being in my presence again!" Wang Ping pointed accusingly at Hsu Danian as she scolded him.

Hsu Danian's face turned an ashen color. He could tolerate Wang Ping's insults towards him, but her constant disparagement of Ye Luo was too much, and he was enraged.

"Danian," just as Hsu Danian was about to retort, Ye Luo spoke up, "I can handle this. You don't need to get involved. Just go back with Wang Ping."

"Pfft, you think you can handle it yourself? Delusional," Wang Ping snorted dismissively.

"What are you talking about, Ye Luo? We're brothers. How could I possibly stand by and not help when you're in trouble? It's just a fight—I'm ready for it," Hsu Danian replied, forcing a weak smile.

"Oblivious till the very end, Hsu Danian. You want to die alongside him? Fine by me. Consider this the end of our relationship. From now on, stay out of my sight. Oh, and maybe after today, there won't be an 'us' to see," Wang Ping sneered.

"Then leave—now!" Hsu Danian retorted, his anger reaching a boiling point.

"You... Fine, be that way. Just remember not to come begging to me on your knees like a dog later!" Wang Ping snapped and stormed off. She had no desire to be part of Hsu Danian and Ye Luo's suicidal pact.

Wang Ping had barely lifted her foot when a rush of footsteps surrounded them. Suddenly, a group of more than twenty people charged in, aggressively encircling Ye Luo and his group.

"Ye Luo, you're quite good at hiding, aren't you? I've been looking for you for the longest time," Zhu Jian taunted, licking his lips with a cruel smirk.

As the bully of Linhai University and the son of a school board member, he couldn't let the humiliation of being kicked by Ye Luo go unpunished. Breaking Ye Luo's legs seemed the only way to settle the score.

Ye Luo faced Zhu Jian and the encroaching crowd with a mocking smile. In his previous life, such a confrontation might have filled him with fear, but now, he only felt disdain.

"Zhu Jian, haven't you tormented Ye Luo enough? Why go overboard?" Hsu Danian took a deep breath and stepped in front of Ye Luo. He believed he was a better fighter than Ye Luo, but even he knew they were in for a beating, outnumbered as they were.

Zhu Jian was surprised by Hsu Danian's boldness. He hadn't expected anyone to dare confront him on Ye Luo's behalf.

After a brief look at Hsu Danian, Zhu Jian's attention turned to Wang Ping, who stood aside with a grim expression. He recognized her; her family's business was quite successful and had some connections with his father.

"Wang Ping, are these your friends?" Zhu Jian asked.

Though domineering, Zhu Jian was not without sense. If they were indeed Wang Ping's friends, he was prepared to be somewhat accommodating for the sake of their mutual interests.

"I don't know them. I was just passing by when that idiot told me to scram. Whatever you're dealing with, Zhu Jian, it has nothing to do with me. But frankly, I think it's only right to teach a lesson to those who lack both ability and sense," Wang Ping spat bitterly.

She was used to Hsu Danian's subservience, but today he had shouted at her for Ye Luo, even telling her to get lost. This was intolerable for her. She longed to see Hsu Danian and Ye Luo beaten down by Zhu Jian—that would be the only way to soothe her fury.

Upon hearing Wang Ping's definitive words, Hsu Danian's cheek visibly twitched. He didn't expect her to throw her full support behind him and Ye Luo, and he could have forgiven her for staying out of the fray entirely. However, her resolute stance and even her encouragement of Zhu Jian's retribution pained him deeply. After all, she was someone he had once—and still—deeply loved and cherished.

"That's great. Then step back—you wouldn't want to get splattered with blood," Zhu Jian sneered.

Wang Ping glanced briefly at Ye Luo and Hsu Danian before stepping aside, intent on witnessing their defeat and pleas for mercy.

"Alright, break Ye Luo's legs. And if this fatso doesn't come to his senses, take him down too," Zhu Jian ordered, waving at the group of twenty or so men.

"Zhu Jian, this is a school. How can you so brazenly break the law and attack fellow students?" Hsu Danian exclaimed in desperation.

"Heh, you know this is a school, but what you don't understand is that this is my school, not yours. Here, I make the rules. Get them!" Zhu Jian proclaimed.

The mob, wielding wooden sticks and baseball bats, surged toward Ye Luo and Hsu Danian, eager to show off in front of their leader, Zhu Jian.

"Damn it, if I'm going to die, I'm going to die fighting," Hsu Danian muttered, steeling himself to fight back. But suddenly, an arm stopped him, and he saw Ye Luo move like lightning, weaving through the oncoming attackers.

Piercing screams soon filled the air, reminiscent of pigs being slaughtered.

Within mere seconds, to Hsu Danian's amazement, all the attackers had fallen. More than twenty people lay on the ground, screaming in pain, each clutching a hand or a foot.

The scene was now still, with only Ye Luo, Hsu Danian, Zhu Jian, and Wang Ping left standing.

Ye Luo remained composed in the face of their shock. Since these individuals had intended to incapacitate him, it seemed only right that he should do the same to them.

He walked over to Zhu Jian, giving him a piercing stare. "You wanted my legs, right?"

"I..." Zhu Jian's legs trembled uncontrollably. He was struggling to grasp the situation. How could more than twenty men be taken down in less than a minute? Was this some kind of bad dream?

"Ye, Ye Luo, you're aware of my status. If you dare touch me, your future at Linhai University, not to mention throughout Linhai, will be... Ah!!!"

Before Zhu Jian could finish his warning, he let out a harrowing scream. Ye Luo had struck his left knee, crushing the kneecap. Zhu Jian collapsed to the ground in agony.

Without hesitation, Ye Luo raised his foot to Zhu Jian's other leg. Zhu Jian had planned to break both of Ye Luo's legs, so it was only fitting that Ye Luo should consider doing the same. Anything less would be insufficient.

"Stop!"