Ye Qiu suddenly realized he couldn't quite understand Tang Guo. Her personality had too many facets.
Was she the domineering and willful young lady who took pleasure in bullying him?
The rebellious female rogue who constantly spat out words like "old lady" and "great aunt"?
Or the fallen angel now, with a cold face and ruthless methods, teaching these guys a lesson?
Or perhaps there were other sides to her he didn't know about? Someone sang, "Leave inferiority to yesterday, a girl must transform at eighteen, watch my seventy-two changes." Ye Qiu felt Tang Guo had more transformations than Jolin Tsai herself.
Watching Tang Guo, who was forcing the lecherous man from the train to apologize to him, Ye Qiu just stood by smiling. He neither intervened nor cheered. Actually, he didn't like such verbal punishments. If Tang Guo hadn't suddenly appeared, the men would have faced a brutal physical beating instead.
Physical pain was real pain; a grudging apology had no real effect. If apologies were useful, why would we need thugs?
But since she was willing to get involved, he stayed out of it, curious to see how she would handle the villains for him.
Since arriving in Beijing, Ye Qiu had been deliberately suppressing his personality. He positioned himself as an observer, watching others. Observing and understanding Tang Guo, Shen Mounong, Lin Bao'er, and everyone he interacted with. People who act without understanding anything often don't live long.
"I'll say it one more time. Apologize." Tang Guo's impatience was evident.
"Apologize my ass. Brothers, strip this woman for me. I'll cover the medical expenses." Pi Libing, squatting on the ground, roared in pain from Tang Guo's kick. His face was contorted, much like Wang Bo's had been when Ye Qiu knocked him down with the same move.
"Who dares to touch her?" Seeing the group getting restless, a tall, burly man who came with Tang Guo shouted. "Stay the f*** down."
Fearing for Tang Guo, the man quickly approached. The men and women with him also came over, standing behind Tang Guo to protect her. Lin Bao'er even gave Ye Qiu a sly smile, plotting something mischievous.
"What's going on, what's going on?" Zhou Tao had been inside the restaurant chatting with today's duty manager. Being a local, his father held a relatively influential position in this area. When he leveraged his father's authority for free meals and drinks, people gave him face. This was the most upscale student restaurant around, and he frequented it, well acquainted with the owner and manager.
He thought he'd stall for twenty or thirty minutes, let Pi Libing take the person out for a beating, and that'd be the end of it. Unexpectedly, things changed. The kid had backup now, and another group was confronting them. He had no choice but to step in.
Seeing the square-faced, burly man, Zhou Tao's heart sank. He realized he was in trouble now.
"Haha, it's a misunderstanding. We've come to know each other through this. How about this: I'll cover today's meal, and we all go back inside to eat happily. How's that?" Knowing the other side was powerful, Zhou Tao dared not be biased. He aimed to diffuse the situation to avoid trouble.
"Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding? Make him apologize. Do you think I'd care for your meal?" Tang Guo glanced at Zhou Tao, pointing at Zeng Wenlong.
"Do as she says," the square-faced man said sternly.
"Yes, yes." Zhou Tao didn't even realize his attitude had turned obsequious. Nudging Zeng Wenlong's waist, he said, "Hurry up, what are you waiting for? Apologize."
Though Pi Libing lay on the ground, he was aware of the situation. Hearing Zhou Tao suddenly change sides, taking all the blame and demanding his cousin apologize, he was displeased. Turning to speak, Zhou Tao kicked him in the butt, making him fall face-first.
Bang!
Zeng Wenlong knelt on the ground in humiliation, his eyes filled with tears, choking out an apology to Ye Qiu, "I'm sorry."
Ye Qiu looked coldly at the man kneeling before him, without a hint of sympathy. This was a world of survival of the fittest. If he were just an ordinary student, if Tang Guo hadn't stepped in, it would be him kneeling in humiliation now. You can pity the weak, but never pity your enemy.
Ye Qiu said calmly, "If you refuse to be a good person, you should at least have the ability to be a bad one. Unfortunately, you don't."
Zeng Wenlong's face went pale, his mind buzzing, unable to comprehend anything. He didn't even register Ye Qiu's words.
Ye Qiu didn't trouble him further and called Yang Le and Han Shuang to go inside for their meal.
Yang Le was about to remind Ye Qiu to thank the "heroine saving the hero" when the heroine herself spoke first.
"Ye Qiu, stop right there," Tang Guo said coldly.
Ye Qiu stopped, looking calmly at Tang Guo standing before him.
"Remember, you belong to me now. You can discard your dignity, but you must defend mine. If a person discards their dignity, what's the point of living? Next time you encounter such scoundrels, beat them hard for me." Tang Guo's words were filled with a gangster-like vibe, but upon reflection, they made sense.
"From now on, no one is allowed to bully you." Tang Guo said.
Ye Qiu was stunned. Why was this woman suddenly so concerned about him? From childhood to now, the only one who defended him was that old man. He didn't expect this woman, who usually disdained him, to say such words.
Before Ye Qiu could savor the warmth in his heart, Tang Guo added, "Of course, only I can bully you."
Realizing how ambiguous her words sounded, as if flirting with a lover, she felt shy. Yet she acted even more annoyed with Ye Qiu, snorting coldly, and led the way into the restaurant.
The square-faced man studied Ye Qiu for a moment, nodded expressionlessly, and followed Tang Guo inside.
Lin Bao'er ran up to Ye Qiu, giggling, "Brother-in-law, did you see? Sister Tang is so good to you. From now on, only she can bully you."
Seeing Ye Qiu's stunned expression, Lin Bao'er laughed and followed them in. Her ample chest bouncing, captivating the hearts of many young men filled with youthful hormones in the September air of Beijing.
To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/GnU613H6xm8