After the school sports meet, Ye Wen walked out of campus as usual. That familiar urban SUV was parked right by the school gate.

“What’s this? I told you not to pick me up here,” Ye Wen said, eyeing Wang Hui leaning against the car door.

“Master’s orders. Things have been unstable lately—he worries for your safety.”

“Is this really necessary? It’s right at the school gate.” Ye Wen waved a hand. She understood her father’s concern. Wang Hui was just following orders; insisting he stay away would put him in an awkward spot. She knew better than to push. “Forget it. Let’s go.”

Wang Hui smiled his thanks and opened the car door for her.

*A young lady without airs.* Wang Hui genuinely liked this easygoing miss. Her thoughtfulness just now had warmed him.

Wenlan Academy wasn’t a prestige school yet. Students got in on merit, so few were wealthy—those with money either failed the entrance exams or chose better schools.

The city did have a private elite academy.

Across the street, Qiu Yi bought two packs of spicy strips from a small shop. He happened to see a white-dressed figure being ushered into a car by a man who looked like a bodyguard.

*Ye Wen…* Qiu Yi stared blankly as the SUV drove off. Like most boys, he loved cars. This rugged model cost nearly two million yuan—a fortune to him.

*Truly a rich man’s daughter.* Qiu Yi sighed. Someone like her was out of his league… Yet he really liked her. *What exactly do I like about her?* He turned away, lost in thought…

*Thud!* Head down, Qiu Yi crashed into a tall, burly man. He looked up quickly. “Sorry. My bad.”

“Huh? ‘Sorry’ is all?” The thug had garish dyed hair and a cigarette dangling from his lips. “You dirtied my shoes. Pay up—or lick ’em clean.”

Qiu Yi glanced behind him. Three or four similarly flashy thugs stood there. *Extortion.*

“I’ve got no money…” Qiu Yi fumbled in his pocket, holding out a few coins—change from the spicy strips. “Only this.”

“Bribing a beggar?” The tall thug slapped the coins from his hand. Qiu Yi crouched to pick them up.

“Search him!” the thug ordered.

*Damn it.* Qiu Yi cursed inwardly. How had he wandered into this alley? He wanted to run, but his legs cramped, frozen in place.

The thugs roughly patted him down, then yanked off his backpack and dumped its contents.

“Boss, no cash. Just a camera.”

“Damn. Poor bastard.” The tall thug kicked Qiu Yi’s knee. He stumbled, falling to his knees.

“Haha! Boss, he’s shaking!” another thug jeered.

“Gutless trash.” A kick to Qiu Yi’s rear sent him sprawling face-first. He kept his head down, trembling.

“Let’s go. Take the camera—at least it’s worth something.”

Hearing they’d take his camera, Qiu Yi finally lifted his head. Hands braced on the ground, he pushed himself up slowly.

“What’s that look for, punk? Not happy?” The tall thug kicked him down again. “Wanna fight?”

“G-give back… my camera…” Qiu Yi gritted his teeth, rising. He tried to sound tough, but his legs shook uncontrollably.

“Sure! Lick my shoes clean, and *maybe* I’ll think about it.” The thug laughed. His buddies joined in, howling.

“Give… it back…” Qiu Yi clenched his trembling fists, voice quivering.

“Get lost. Don’t block my way.” The thug shoved him. Qiu Yi instinctively threw a punch—but it was easily blocked.

“Playing hard to get? Beat him!” A fist slammed into Qiu Yi’s face, knocking him flat. The others piled on.

Qiu Yi covered his face, tears of shame welling in his eyes.

“Stop!” A sharp cry cut through the air. A girl in a white dress rushed from the corner, her silhouette haloed by the setting sun—sacred, towering.

Wang Hui had driven onto the main road when Ye Wen spotted thugs beating a student in uniform. She’d made him stop immediately.

The thugs froze, then leered.

“Oh? A schoolgirl? Coming out to play with us?”

“Haha! Boss goes first—we’ll take turns after!”

“Heh, she’s actually pretty!”

Seeing the student on the ground, seemingly unconscious, Ye Wen’s anger flared. She forgot her own frailty and charged, punching toward the tall thug’s face—but he caught her wrist easily.

He gripped her hand, leering. “Eager to please me already, sweetheart?”

Ye Wen’s face flushed—not with shame, but fury. Fury at her weak body. Fury at her reckless charge.

But she still had a move left. She kicked hard between his legs. He howled, doubling over and releasing her.

Another thug lunged for Ye Wen. She couldn’t dodge—his unwashed stench filled her nostrils as he closed in. Suddenly, a figure shot from the side. A high kick slammed into the thug’s face, followed by a punch that dropped him.

Wang Hui. He’d been delayed by an old lady asking directions. He’d arrived just in time.

“Damn it!” The tall thug pulled a spring knife and yanked Qiu Yi up. “Wanna fight? I’ll stab him!”

Ye Wen’s kick hadn’t disabled him long. He’d recovered fast.

*Qiu Yi?* The beaten boy’s face triggered a buried memory—a not-so-pleasant one from her own high school days. *This alley… it’s the same place…*

She owed that memory a debt. It had led her to the person who saved her then… Jin Jiahui. After that day, she’d gained something called courage.

*If I change history now… will Jin Jiahui still appear?*

But Qiu Yi’s life mattered more. The thug didn’t seem like a killer, but a stray stab could be fatal. Ye Wen’s mind raced. *What do I do?*

Then her eyes locked onto a lithe figure behind the tall thug.

*It’s you!*