"Xiao Han, let's call the police!" Chen Zihan said urgently.
"No!" Xiao Han immediately shook his head and said, "Since it's an issue of the streets, then we should settle it with the street rules."
"Haha, interesting!" Black Vest suddenly looked at Xiao Han with great interest and said, "Kid, if you can defeat me, I'll let you go this time. How about it?"
"Really?" Xiao Han was overjoyed upon hearing this. If he had to face more than ten of them alone, it would definitely be tough, especially since he also had to protect Chen Zihan. Now that the other party had issued a challenge, Xiao Han was naturally thrilled.
"Of course!" Black Vest smiled slightly.
"Alright!" Xiao Han nodded and said, "It's a deal."
After speaking, Xiao Han took off the backpack from his back and handed it to Chen Zihan. However, Chen Zihan's face was pale, and her eyes were filled with fear. Chen Zihan was the studious and obedient type, a top student at school, and she had never encountered such a situation before. She was instinctively scared and fearful.
"Good kid, you've got guts!" Black Vest flicked his hair, and flicked the cigarette butt away with his finger.
More than ten people formed a circle, leaving the space in the middle for Xiao Han and Black Vest.
If he was facing just one person, Xiao Han was fully confident that he could beat the opponent. With his special abilities, Xiao Han had become much more self-confident, not only react quicker but also move faster and more agilely.
Black Vest clearly looked like someone who exercised regularly, with very solid muscles on his arms, which indicated that his burst power must be extraordinary. Therefore, Xiao Han decided to use speed combat and absolutely could not clash head-on with the opponent. With the opponent's burst power, if he took a punch to the head, he'd likely be out of action very quickly.
"Xiao Han, be careful!" Chen Zihan shouted urgently.
"Don't worry." Xiao Han turned back and gave Chen Zihan a confident smile. That smile reassured Chen Zihan quite a bit. Holding Xiao Han's backpack, she kept chanting inwardly, "Xiao Han, come on, you must be okay."
Although Chen Zihan didn't hear that one sentence she was hoping for, she had already been completely attracted by Xiao Han. The boy in front of her was so incredible. A month ago, he was a boy bullied and humiliated by others. But one month later, he had become so astonishing. As for what was astonishing about him, Chen Zihan couldn't quite remember in the moment.
The two were ready to fight, and the Black Vest man had already taken his stance. He squatted down in a horse stance, his hands in a pose that seemed ready for combat.
"Kid, you go first," the Black Vest man said.
"Fine!" Xiao Han didn't hesitate.
As he spoke, Xiao Han rushed forward, moving rapidly.
The pupil of the Black Vest man constricted; he realized that Xiao Han was a tough cookie. Having such quick skills meant that he was no easy opponent. Black Vest hastily retreated several steps. Xiao Han's first attack didn't succeed. His right foot suddenly kicked against the ground, scraping a black mark on the concrete surface.
"Die!" Xiao Han roared.
He soared into the air, his fist smashing down towards Black Vest with force.
"Nice try!" Seeing this, Black Vest crossed his arms, blocking Xiao Han's strike.
Although the strike was fierce and nimble, Xiao Han's strength was still not quite on par with his opponent. Black Vest easily blocked Xiao Han's attack.
"Now it's my turn," Black Vest clenched his fists.
After Xiao Han landed, he immediately sensed trouble. At this moment, the opponent's fist was already swinging hard towards him. Xiao Han quickly used his arm to block.
Thump!
A muffled sound followed. After that punch, Xiao Han staggered back several steps. The muscles in his arms swelled up from the impact. In that instant, Xiao Han almost cried out in pain but he knew he could not, for screaming would mean losing half the battle in morale and would also worry Chen Zihan.
"Xiao Han!" Chen Zihan's heart-wrenching shout came.
"I'm fine." Xiao Han steadied himself and took a deep breath. Just now, he had been a bit too complacent, thinking his special abilities made him unbeatable and overlooked that his opponent was a master of strength.
"Not bad, you didn't fall after taking one of my punches!" Black Vest chuckled coldly.
Xiao Han didn't reply but intently watched the movements of his opponent. Black Vest slowly walked towards Xiao Han. Just as they were about two meters apart, Xiao Han suddenly understood and darted forward like an arrow from a bow. Black Vest clearly wasn't able to react in time.
Xiao Han leaped like an arrow released from a bow, using the powerful centrifugal force, his right foot suddenly kicked towards the opponent's neck.
Wham!
That kick landed right on the opponent's neck, and Black Vest immediately collapsed to the ground, rolling a few times.
Hisss...
The scene fell into a chill.
"Boss!" Three or four people rushed up immediately.
"Damn, get him!" Many shouted.
"Stop!" Black Vest, holding his neck and tilting his head, said, "He won!"
"Boss!" The crowd, looking fierce and malevolent, said, "This brat actually dared to hit you!"
"We had an agreement in advance!" Black Vest waved his hand and then said to Xiao Han, "You can go."
Xiao Han took a deep breath; the move he just utilized was something he'd learned from TV. In that instant, Xiao Han found himself imitating it uncontrollably—and it was a success. Although it drained a considerable amount of his energy, at least it allowed him to successfully break free.
"Xiao Han, you were amazing," Chen Zihan ran over quickly and hugged him.
To be honest, for a good girl like Chen Zihan, witnessing such a scene for the first time today was genuinely startling. Xiao Han held Chen Zihan, burying his face in her hair. He took a deep breath, and the faint fragrance gradually calmed the restlessness in his heart.
"Let's go!" Xiao Han said.
"Mhm!" Chen Zihan nodded.
Xiao Han slung his backpack over his shoulder, glanced back at the opponents, and took Chen Zihan's hand.
This was the first time he had held Chen Zihan's hand, and she seemed shy. But she didn't refuse. Instead, she held onto Xiao Han's hand tightly.
Five or six people blocked Xiao Han's path, each looking menacingly at him.
Xiao Han did not show weakness either and said coldly, "Let us through!"
His tone left no room for doubt, and it carried a hint of ferocity.
Chen Zihan looked at Xiao Han in astonishment. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would never believe that Xiao Han could have such a domineering presence, such a manly side. He was not afraid of the more than ten people facing him, even though they were armed with weapons, showing no hint of retreat.
What kind of man does a woman like? Not only must he be handsome, but he must also provide a sense of security. For a pure girl like Chen Zihan, money was not important at all. Xiao Han's assertiveness and manliness had deeply attracted her.
The group of five or six stared at Xiao Han for a moment before sheepishly clearing a path.
Walking hand in hand, Xiao Han and Chen Zihan slowly made their way through the encirclement and then left the alley.
Watching the two leave, the gang appeared very reluctant to accept defeat.
"Boss, are we really letting them go just like that?" a man holding a Steel Knife asked coldly.
"What else?" replied a man in a Black Vest.
"How are we going to explain this when we get back?" the underling asked.
"We'll explain it as we need to!" the Black Vest man retorted, adding, "Liao Zhijie is such a joke for providing the wrong intelligence. Didn't he say Xiao Han was a pushover? It looks to me like he's tough. I could even take him down!"
"Right!" The rest of the group immediately responded: "Boss is the provincial Sanshou third-place winner, and this kid managed to knock him down. He's definitely skilled."
"No kidding, that last move had me stunned."
The gang murmured amongst themselves.
The Black Vest man, with a cigarette in his mouth, watched Xiao Han's fading figure, a sinister smile creeping on his lips. "Xiao Han, we'll meet again."
...
Exiting the alley, Xiao Han quickly led Chen Zihan into the mall and then out through the back door.
"Xiao Han, are you okay?" Chen Zihan asked anxiously.
"Don't worry, I'm fine," Xiao Han shook his head, "I'll take you home!"
"Mhm," Chen Zihan nodded.
Chen Zihan's electric scooter was parked in the mall parking area. After retrieving the scooter, Xiao Han rode it while Chen Zihan sat at the back.
Xiao Han rode swiftly, weaving through the crowd. Chen Zihan sat behind him, side-saddle, one hand on the handle, and the other on Xiao Han's shoulder. The electric scooter carried them both through this bustling and colorful city.
Chen Zihan felt shy. This was her first time sitting behind a boy and also her first time being so intimately close to one.
The summer night brought a gentle breeze that was flirtatiously refreshing.
"Xiao Han, how do you feel about this exam?" Chen Zihan asked curiously.
"Pretty good," Xiao Han laughed.
"That... are you confident about taking second place?" Chen Zihan quickly asked.
"No problem," Xiao Han nodded, "But, you promised me that if I got the second place, you would forgive me, and you'd also..."
"Also what?" Chen Zihan hurriedly asked.
She certainly hadn't forgotten her own promise, but she felt embarrassed to have it spoken out loud, so she immediately interrupted Xiao Han. However, the clueless Xiao Han hastily added, "You said you would reward me with a kiss."
"You!" Chen Zihan's face instantly turned red. For an eighteen-year-old girl, this was something overwhelmingly embarrassing. Biting her lip, her eyes sparked with flames: "You bad guy!"
"Ha ha..." Xiao Han burst into laughter.
Chen Zihan's arms quietly wrapped around Xiao Han's waist; she leaned gently against his back, her cheeks against him.