"Help you fight?" Xiang Ri found himself torn between laughter and disbelief, his mind drifting to the note's cryptic content.
"Please, sir, I can pay you!" Seeing Xiang Ri's seemingly reluctant expression, Anaïs assumed his hesitation was refusal. She hastily pleaded, offering what she thought was a compelling incentive.
"Well..." Xiang Ri hesitated, lost in thought. To be frank, he had little interest in meddling in others' affairs. Yet, the mention of that "item" in the note stirred his curiosity, leaving him wavering.
"Xiang Kui, what's going on? Is she in trouble? Why don't you lend her a hand?" Ren Jun interjected. Although she didn't understand their French conversation, the foreign student's anxious demeanor made the young lady's sympathy overflow. Noticing Xiang Ri's apparent reluctance, she couldn't help but nudge him to assist.
"You really want me to help her?" Xiang Ri glanced skeptically at the willowy girl. "You do realize she's asking me to find some people to help her fight, right?"
"Huh?" Ren Jun blinked, clearly taken aback. Fighting? That was something the school punished severely. She was about to suggest finding a better resolution when she caught the irritating glint in Xiang Ri's eyes.
Her temper flared, and she swallowed her initial words. Adopting a casual tone instead, she said, "Then go help her fight! Aren't you supposed to be some amazing fighter yourself? Do you even need backup? Just help her out. After all, it's not easy for her to travel so far to study in our country..."
Before she could finish, Anaïs exclaimed in shock, "What! You're saying this gentleman is an expert fighter?"
"Of course!" Ren Jun replied offhandedly, only to pause and look at the foreign girl in astonishment. "Wait—you speak Chinese?"
"Yes, I learned it before coming to study here," Anaïs replied nonchalantly, brushing off the surprise. Her priority was resolving her current predicament. She pointed urgently at Xiang Ri. "You mean he's a skilled fighter?"
"Incredibly skilled! A real monster!" Ren Jun nodded emphatically, her eyes glinting with a peculiar light that was hard to decipher.
"But his hand..." Anaïs couldn't reconcile the image. The frail figure before her, with his slender build and heavily bandaged right hand, looked more like someone who often got beaten up rather than a fearsome fighter.
"That's no problem. The more injured he is, the stronger he fights," Ren Jun said, her lips curling into a sly grin.
At last, Xiang Ri spoke, his gaze resting on the willowy girl with suspicion. She seemed intent on creating trouble for him. Though he'd already decided to stretch his muscles, he cast her an odd look and quipped, "Girl, you're exaggerating, aren't you? If you want me dead, just say it outright!"
"How could you think that?" Ren Jun's face displayed a picture of innocence and aggrieved sincerity. "I'm just singing your praises to give her a clearer impression of you!"
Though her expression was solemn, Xiang Ri caught a fleeting glimmer of mischief in her eyes. It was obvious she was exacting revenge for his earlier deceit. By glorifying his abilities to the heavens, she was undoubtedly pushing the foreign girl to rope him in as her fighter—hoping he'd get a taste of his own medicine. This girl was ruthless!
Before Xiang Ri could respond, Anaïs had already grabbed his uninjured left hand, her voice trembling with excitement. "Sir, can you really help me?" she asked, her face alight with hope.
However, Anaïs didn't truly believe he was the formidable fighter that certain women claimed. In fact, her words merely implied she needed someone to gather a group of strong men to bolster her presence.
"That should be manageable," Xiang Ri replied modestly, though he was hinting that he could handle it alone.
"Oh, thank you so much!" Anaïs, oblivious to his undertone, assumed he intended to bring reinforcements.
"No problem. Let's go now," Xiang Ri said decisively. He preferred to resolve the issue swiftly, hoping to make it back in time for the second class. Perhaps he could even seize the opportunity to ask for his disciple's father's phone number.
"Now? Aren't you going to call for more people?"
"No need. Just the few of us will suffice."
"…" Anaïs was rendered speechless. Did he really think he could take on more than a dozen people alone? But there was no turning back now; the time she'd promised that scoundrel was almost up. Even if she wanted to gather reinforcements, it was too late. Besides, since he'd already agreed to help, it wouldn't be right to dismiss him now.
Fine, she thought. If it came to a fight, she'd just swallow her pride and leave with her people. With that thought, Anaïs said no more and led the way forward.
In a secluded grove on campus, a sneering, nauseating voice rang out:
"Ha! Ana, is this your so-called flower guardians?"
The speaker was an oddly grotesque man with asymmetrical eyes and a tiny red mole at the corner of his mouth. His rotting, yellow-and-black teeth made him even more repulsive. Surrounding him were seven or eight burly white youths, including one towering over two meters tall, built like a bear.
"That's none of your concern, Mr. Felodoro," Anaïs replied coldly, as if oblivious to his obnoxious tone. "I'm here to tell you this: Anaïs Blanc is not someone you can bully at will—not in Paris, and not here either!"
"Oh, my! I figured as much," the grotesque man sneered, his laughter growing louder. His gaze flitted mockingly to the man and woman beside her. "You're clearly no pushover—that much is evident from the 'guards' you've brought along. A cripple and a woman? Oh, Miss Anaïs, your boldness is truly impressive!"
"You..." Anaïs's eyes flared with fury.
The grotesque man relished her reaction and was about to mock her further when the towering bear-like man suddenly intervened. "Enough, Dibis. Let's focus on retrieving the item."
"Oh, Quik, my dear friend, I was merely indulging in a little jest before claiming our prize. Surely you wouldn't begrudge me that pleasure?" Dibis cast a glance at the bear-like man before turning back to the enraged Anaïs. "Miss Anaïs, you heard my friend. We're simply here to reclaim what is rightfully ours."
"I told you—I don't even know what you're talking about!" Anaïs shouted, her voice trembling with frustration.
"Oh, Miss Anaïs, your denial puts us in a difficult position. That item isn't something one can casually name, especially..." Dibis paused, his eyes drifting pointedly to the man and woman beside her. "...when there are others present."
Xiang Ri's gaze sharpened slightly. He recognized that Dibis's final sentence was spoken in Russian, a detail that brought to mind the author of the note. Could it be that this ghoul-like figure before him was the one behind it? If so, things were about to get very interesting!