A punch missed its mark, and Hong Jiaxin threw another kick.
This time, Luo Yang didn't dodge, but blocked with his right arm, stopping her incoming foot, and immediately grabbed her ankles with both hands.
"Class president, we agreed not to resort to fisticuffs, yet here you are again," Luo Yang said with a smile.
Hong Jiaxin tried to kick with even more force,
her elbows resting on the armrest of the sofa, her feet paddling like they were on pedal boats, but she couldn't connect a kick with Luo Yang.
Struggling desperately to pull her foot back, but in vain; trying to kick Luo Yang, even more futile. Unwilling to admit defeat, she wanted to contest with him to the end, struggling fiercely.
"Class president, I'll let go, just don't kick me again," Luo Yang negotiated.
"Let go of me!" Hong Jiaxin said coldly.
As expected, as soon as he let go, she immediately bent her knee and kicked out with all her might, most likely summoning the greatest strength she ever had.
Luo Yang leaned forward to barely avoid her left foot, his right hand pressed against her left leg, pushing outward with force while his left hand held her right ankle, pushing it out and easily sidestepping her offense.
"Sister doesn't believe she can't hit you!"
Furiously flailing her feet without aiming for any precision, Hong Jiaxin declared.
"Class president, we agreed to talk nicely while sitting down, and you're lashing out again. I can't let go of you this time."
Before he could finish his sentence, Luo Yang's hands darted out like lightning, grabbing Hong Jiaxin's wrists and restraining her.
"Let go of me!" she demanded petulantly.
"Class president, I just let you go, and you tried to kick me again. I can't trust you this time," Luo Yang argued with a laugh.
A tomboy losing her temper, not so easy to cool down.
Luo Yang didn't loosen his grip, and Hong Jiaxin, pouting, warned, "If you don't let go, I'll kill you!"
Luo Yang knew if he let go, she'd certainly counterattack, so rather than a noisy tussle, it was more convenient to keep her restrained.
"Class president, calm down, take a seat first. I'll explain how to practice Shadow Fist," he coaxed, choosing a topic she was interested in.
"You're lying to me! I'm going to thrash you," Hong Jiaxin retorted, puckering her lips.
While the two were jesting, Luo Yang's cellphone started to ring.
"only you, can take me to get the Journey to the West..."
The phone was in his pocket. With his right hand still holding onto both of Hong Jiaxin's wrists, he freed his left hand to retrieve the phone.
"Let go of me!" Hong Jiaxin insisted.
"Class president, sit tight for a bit. I'll let you go after I finish my call," Luo Yang said with a chuckle.
Knowing if he let her go, she would pester him again, and he'd have to fend her off while taking the call, making it impossible to have a peaceful conversation.
He glanced at the caller ID and saw it was Teacher Su Suyun, guessing what she might want to talk about.
Upon answering, he only heard Teacher Su ask, "Luo Yang, didn't you say you would come to class this morning? Why can't I see you anywhere?"
Luo Yang responded, "Teacher Su, I'm on my way."
At that moment, Hong Jiaxin attempted to struggle free but couldn't.
"Why use so much force? You're hurting me," Hong Jiaxin complained as she tried to shake off his grip.
"Class president, if you stay calm, I won't need to hold on so tightly. But you keep moving around; how could I hold you without applying some force?" Luo Yang explained, still wearing a smile.
It was just a mundane conversation, but Teacher Su, on the other end of the phone, picked up an entirely different implication.
She promptly asked, "Luo Yang, what are you doing with Hong Jiaxin?"
Luo Yang answered, "Teacher Su, it's nothing much."
Teacher Su, finding his words evasive, said, "Are you two playing again? Are you at home right now?"
Although the speaker wasn't on, Hong Jiaxin could still hear Teacher Su's voice clearly and interjected, "Teacher Su, at my house. He won't let me get up and is handling me roughly."
Teacher Su advised, "Luo Yang, if Hong Jiaxin doesn't agree, then you shouldn't bully her. You all haven't been to class for a day, so I need to check on you. Where does Hong Jiaxin live?"
After she got the address, Teacher Su hung up the phone.
After the call ended, Luo Yang said, "Class president, I'll let you go. But you have to promise not to hit me."
Exhausted yet unwilling to concede, Hong Jiaxin retorted, "It's too late now! You refused to let go just now. Let's see how long you can keep holding onto my hand! I'm going to beat you up!"
She was generally cheerful, but occasionally stubborn to the extreme, becoming quite a handful when she was determined.
Teacher Su would be arriving soon, and he'd have to explain why they skipped class.