The moment those words left his mouth, someone in the crowd snorted with laughter.

Clearly, you needed gaming experience to catch Hu Ming’s jab.

Even if they didn’t get it, seeing everyone’s reactions made Lu Guifang’s cheeks burn crimson—as if slapped hard across the face.

Her feigned heart trouble now felt all too real.

"Hu Ming, that’s enough!"

A low voice cut through from beside him.

Hu Ming turned to Zhao Wei, the man who’d stayed silent until now, staring at him with unreadable thoughts.

Zhao Wei stepped forward.

"That’s your mother. Even if she’s wrong, you shouldn’t speak to her like that."

"People treat me like dirt, and I should still smile for them?" Hu Ming arched a brow, his grin turning razor-sharp. "Do you enjoy getting slapped after shoving your face forward? If so, forget I said anything."

He shrugged, utterly dismissive.

Han Yunxi’s lips parted slightly. She’d never seen her brother—usually so quick to anger—wield words like this.

Hu Ming’s voice stayed calm, but others heard. Many nodded: *If someone tramples you to smear your name, who the hell would grin and take it?*

A few overly pious voices condemned him, earning only eye-rolls from classmates.

Zhao Wei froze, words stuck in his throat.

Lu Guifang, who’d slumped like a lifeless chicken moments ago, suddenly surged upright beside Han Shuyi. She launched into a torrent of curses at Hu Ming.

But her fury crumpled against his indifference.

Han Shuyi’s expression tightened. He wanted to ditch this madwoman—she was mortifying. Yet he was trapped on this stage, unable to step down.

Hu Ming stood with hands on hips, watching Lu Guifang like she was a fool. Her face flushed deeper under his gaze.

She raised her hand to strike him—

"Slap me," Hu Ming’s icy voice stopped her mid-motion, "and I’ll sue you into ruin. If I don’t, I’ve lived my life for nothing."

Their eyes locked.

In his dark, deep pupils lurked danger—a lion coiled in shadow.

She shrank back. Not from his threat. From his eyes.

The air turned to ice.

Ye Qiuxue moved to disperse the students, ready to end this farce—when she spotted a figure rushing toward Hu Ming from behind.

Sun Zhe! The boy from yesterday!

Dressed head-to-toe in black, hood pulled low, a silver flash glinted on his sleeve.

Ye Qiuxue’s pupils contracted. "Watch out!" she screamed.

Too fast. Everyone watched helplessly. Even the old security guard stood frozen.

*Students don’t stab students!*

The instant Ye Qiuxue shouted, Sun Zhe knew his plan was exposed.

The knife slid from his sleeve into his palm. He lunged.

But impossibly, Hu Ming had already spun around—

—and leaned *into* the blade!

*Perfect.*

Sun Zhe’s eyes turned feral, face twisting with murderous intent.

He tried to wrench the knife deeper—

—but it wouldn’t budge.

Screams erupted. Only Sun Zhe knew the truth: he hadn’t pierced Hu Ming’s skin.

Before he could react, a fist filled his vision.

-----HU MING’S POV-----

He’d noticed Han Shuyi’s shifting gaze long before Ye Qiuxue’s warning.

When she shouted, he’d already pivoted—only to feel a shove from behind.

*Crap.*

The knife tip pressed against his thin shirt. Millimeters from flesh.

Rage surged. He seized the attacker’s wrist, halting the blade.

Then he drove his fist into Sun Zhe’s face. Before the boy could fall, Hu Ming grabbed his arm and wrenched it backward.

*Crack.*

The silver knife clattered to the ground.

A pig-like squeal tore through the air.

Sun Zhe lay pinned, tears and snot streaking his face. "I’ll kill you! For Su Liu!" he sobbed.

Madness. Only a madman would do this for someone else.

Han Litian snapped out of his shock first. "What are you waiting for? Grab him!"

His roar jolted the crowd. Students had never seen real campus violence—this wasn’t normal.

Security guards rushed forward, pinning Sun Zhe. Their eyes lingered on Hu Ming.

No hesitation. No wasted motion.

If the attack was a test, Hu Ming’s answer was brutal efficiency.

Staring at Sun Zhe’s twisted arm, everyone shivered.

Hu Ming stood, icy eyes locking onto Lu Guifang.

Only then did she jolt back to reality. She jabbed a finger at him, shrieking:

"You troublemaker! If you die, what about me and Shuyi?!"

Her mouth opened for more—

—until Hu Ming’s palm cracked across her face.

He swatted her like a midnight mosquito.

Her cheek swelled instantly, crimson blooming across her skin.

She stared up at him, dazed.

His eyes blazed—not with heat, but with fire that would reduce her to ashes.