"Um?"
Su Ming stood there in disbelief, watching Chen Fan leave Wang Yue behind without so much as a proper goodbye. His mind was spinning.
"System, what's going on?" he demanded.
<
Su Ming groaned. "Can you be serious for a moment? Why didn't Chen Fan stay to protect the heroine and deepen their relationship after saving her? Why did he leave immediately? That's not how this trope is supposed to go!"
The system let out a simulated sigh. <
"What expression? I can't see her face from all the way over here!" Su Ming snapped. His completely average human senses were no match for the situation.
<
"...She's suspicious of the protagonist?" Su Ming muttered, stunned into contemplation.
<
Su Ming ignored the jab and began pacing in frustration. "Why would she be suspicious? Does this mean Chen Fan's protagonist halo is broken?"
<
The so-called "protagonist halo" was a cheat-like phenomenon that ensured the protagonist's path was smoother than anyone else's. It worked by creating an "intelligence reduction aura" around the people the protagonist interacted with, subtly influencing them to behave in ways that benefited the protagonist. Normally, in a scenario like this—where the protagonist saves the heroine from danger—the gangsters would escalate the situation, calling in reinforcements and older generations to challenge him, giving him opportunities to showcase his strength. Meanwhile, the heroine, influenced by the halo, would inevitably be filled with gratitude and admiration, believing wholeheartedly in the protagonist's selflessness and bravery.
But without the halo functioning properly, the outcome could diverge wildly. Su Ming thought back to what had just transpired. For normal people, situations like this often lead to skepticism, he mused.
A saved person might question the motives behind their savior's actions. Was it a setup? Did the savior have ulterior motives? Was he just someone with a grudge against the gangsters who happened to help as a byproduct? Without the halo, Wang Yue wasn't compelled to ignore these possibilities and instead, quite naturally, considered all the options—leading her to a subtle wariness.
The system chimed in again, <
Su Ming let out an exasperated sigh. "If his halo really is broken, this is going to be a mess. Isn't this supposed to be his big moment to establish trust and admiration with the heroine?"
<
Su Ming rubbed his temples, muttering to himself. "So, what's next? Is he going to fumble every interaction with her from now on?"
Su Ming stood there, speechless. This storyline is spiraling out of control...
Before Su Ming could come up with a countermeasure for the situation, something unexpected happened that left him slack-jawed. From the corner of his view, he saw a group of gangsters—around eighteen of them—approaching Chen Fan. Some carried wooden sticks, others brandished knives, their intentions clear. Among them were three familiar faces, their pale complexions betraying a lingering fear: the three men from earlier.
"This... this damn idiot squad. They really came back?" Su Ming muttered, caught between disbelief and amazement at their sheer stupidity.
"Didn't they see him knock them down like bowling pins earlier? What on earth are they thinking?"
Then a thought struck him, and his expression shifted to one of cautious hope. "Wait... does that mean the protagonist halo isn't broken?"
As this bizarre series of events unfolded, Su Ming's confusion only deepened. Is this the work of the halo or just plain idiocy on their part?
Chen Fan, walking away with a faint trace of irritation lingering on his face, paused and glanced back when he sensed the oncoming group of gangsters. Their heavy steps and loud, threatening shouts made them impossible to miss.
"Yo, boy! You're finished!" shouted one of the gangsters as they closed in. His eyes gleamed with malicious glee, clearly emboldened by the numbers behind him. "We'll beat you to a pulp, and then we'll let you watch while we play with that woman in front of yo—"
Before the man could finish his disgusting sentence, Chen Fan blurred into motion. With lightning speed, he closed the distance between them and delivered a devastating punch square to the gangster's face. The sickening crack of bone was accompanied by the man's tooth flying out of his mouth, blood spraying as he crumpled to the ground like a broken doll.
The rest of the gang froze in place, their bravado evaporating in an instant. Even Wang Yue, who had been about to shout a warning for Chen Fan to run, stood rooted in place, momentarily stunned by what she had just witnessed.
What followed could only be described as a one-sided massacre. Chen Fan moved like a storm, his fists flying with precision and unrelenting force. Each strike landed on a gangster's face, leaving them bleeding and toothless. One by one, they dropped to the ground, writhing in pain, their bravado and weapons forgotten.
When the last of them fell, clutching his shattered jaw, Chen Fan didn't stop. Drawing on the internal energy he had cultivated in the mountains, he infused his strikes with a subtle poison. The poison was not fatal, but its effects were devastating. Over time, it would strip these men of their physical strength, leaving them weak, frail, and incapable of harming others ever again. Their physical capabilities as men would wither into nothingness, and they would live the rest of their lives as shadows of who they had once been.
Chen Fan looked down at the groaning pile of bodies at his feet, his expression as calm as still water. From their words and demeanor, it was clear to him that these men were beyond redemption. Their lust for violence and cruelty made it likely they would harm others in the future if given the chance.
Let this be their karma, he thought as he turned away from the broken, pitiful gangsters.
Wang Yue, still standing at a distance, watched the scene unfold with wide eyes. Her heart was pounding in her chest, a mix of awe, fear, and gratitude overwhelming her. She had never seen anything like this—a man who seemed more like a god of retribution than a human being. But one thing was clear: Chen Fan was not someone to be trifled with.
As Chen Fan walked past the groaning gangsters on the ground, Wang Yue made the decision to follow him, calling out to him as she passed by the defeated men. Just then, the same voice appeared in her mind again.
[It's truly eye-opening, watching a bunch of idiots rush headfirst into their own demise.]
[Well, they deserved it. Even without the protagonist's intelligence-reducing aura, they clearly belong to the darker side of society.]
[Forget them, though. I'm curious—has the protagonist's halo activated again, making the heroine fall for him? The plot seems to be following its usual course.]
[Bet the heroine's about to throw herself at the protagonist, her guilt and admiration growing with each heroic gesture.]
[Seems like the birth of a devoted 'licking dog' is happening right before my eyes.]
Wang Yue winced at the voice in her head, feeling a sudden pang of frustration.
'You're the real "licking dog,"' she thought bitterly. 'And your whole family too.'
She ignored the voice's vulgar remarks, deciding to focus on the man in front of her.
"Wait!" she called out to Chen Fan.
Hearing her, he paused, but didn't turn to look at her.
Wang Yue felt a slight sense of relief wash over her. She pushed aside her confusion about the voice and focused on Chen Fan. She jogged a little to catch up, feeling winded from the run while holding her painting tools.
When she finally reached him, she stopped just behind him and, without hesitation, bowed nearly 90 degrees.
"I'm sorry for my attitude earlier," she said, her voice filled with sincerity. "And... thank you."
Chen Fan glanced behind at her bow, surprised by the gesture. After having taken down the gangsters, his anger had mostly faded, and he understood her perspective. But it would be a lie to say his irritation had completely vanished. He patiently waited for her to finish speaking.
The silence between them stretched, and Wang Yue, unable to see his face because of her position, grew anxious. She could feel him facing her now, though, and the awkward tension lingered.
"Um... can you... say something?" she stammered, clearly nervous.
"Do I need to?" he replied flatly.
Wang Yue's face flushed as she struggled for a response, her heart sinking as the silence stretched on.
The tension hung in the air like an unspoken challenge. Wang Yue, still bowing deeply, began to feel beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Her face flushed, partly from the effort of carrying her painting tools and partly from embarrassment. The silence from Chen Fan felt heavier than the painting set slung over her shoulder.
"Um… I mean, no… but…" Wang Yue stammered, unsure of how to respond to his bluntness. She straightened her back slightly, glancing up at him nervously. Her beautiful face was tinged with both guilt and frustration.
Chen Fan, who had been watching her with a calm yet slightly amused expression, finally let out a small sigh. "You've already apologized and thanked me. What else do you want me to say?"
His tone wasn't harsh, but it carried a weight of indifference, as though he considered this entire interaction unnecessary. He had long since dismissed his earlier irritation and didn't think much of her cautious attitude. In his mind, the matter was over the moment he dealt with the gangsters.
Wang Yue's lips parted as though she wanted to retort, but no words came out. The voice in her head decided to fill the silence instead.
[Haha, this is gold! The protagonist is playing it cool while the heroine is stumbling over herself. Classic development!]
[Oh no, look at her face! She's dying inside. Will she break down and beg for his forgiveness? Or will she awkwardly stand there like a penguin?]
Wang Yue clenched her fists at her sides, her forehead throbbing even harder than before. If I find you, voice, I swear I'll— But her inner rant was interrupted when Chen Fan's voice cut through her thoughts.
"Was that all you wanted to say?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. His tone wasn't cold, but it was clear he didn't want to linger here.
Wang Yue took a deep breath, steeling herself. "No," she replied firmly. "I also wanted to thank you properly. You saved me, and I owe you for that. So… if there's anything I can do to repay you, just let me know."
Her words were sincere, and her tone carried a trace of determination. She wasn't used to owing anyone anything, let alone someone who had risked himself for her.
Chen Fan blinked at her, slightly taken aback by her sudden shift in demeanor. He studied her for a moment, noting the resolve in her eyes. The awkwardness and guilt were still there, but it was overshadowed by genuine gratitude.
"Repay me?" he repeated, tilting his head slightly as if considering her words. "There's no need for that."
"But—" Wang Yue began, only for Chen Fan to cut her off with a dismissive wave of his hand.
"I didn't help you because I wanted something in return. I helped because I wanted to," he said simply. "That's all."
His straightforwardness left Wang Yue speechless. She stared at him, trying to come up with a response, but her thoughts were muddled. The voice in her head, of course, had no such problem.
[Ah, the protagonist strikes again with his selfless chivalry! Look at her—she's completely flustered! This is where her admiration deepens. She's already halfway into his harem!]
"SHUT UP!" Wang Yue suddenly blurted out, her frustration finally boiling over.
Chen Fan frowned, slightly confused by her sudden outburst. "Excuse me?"
Realizing what she'd just done, Wang Yue's face turned beet red. "Ah! No, not you! I mean—uh—never mind!" she stammered, waving her hands frantically as if trying to physically erase her words from the air.
Chen Fan stared at her for a long moment before letting out a small chuckle. "You're a strange one," he muttered under his breath, turning to walk away again.
Wang Yue stood there, mortified, as he left her behind once more. The voice in her head, of course, wasn't going to let her live this down.
[Oh, that was priceless! You told him to shut up! Now he probably thinks you're crazy. Well done, heroine. Well done.]
Wang Yue groaned, burying her face in her hands. What have I gotten myself into?