Some things were obvious to those with eyes to see.

The worst part? The person themselves remained utterly unaware of their mistake.

The girl currently lashing out in a frenzy was clearly one of them.

Standing beside Hu Ming, Xia Xiaoxi couldn’t help but fume. That girl had insulted the auntie—fine. But now she was physically attacking her? That was completely unacceptable!

No one in the crowd moved to help. Xia Xiaoxi’s brows knotted in frustration. She quickly rolled up her sleeves, ready to step in.

Just as she was about to act, Hu Ming reached out and stopped her.

“What are you doing?”

“Helping! Can’t you see she’s yanking the auntie’s hair?”

“Is it appropriate for someone of your position to get involved? If your identity gets exposed, you’ll face far worse trouble than this.” Xia Xiaoxi’s heart burned with righteous fury, but her approach was recklessly bold.

In this digital age, tracking someone down was terrifyingly easy.

This incident would surely make the news. Phones were already raised everywhere, recording.

Hu Ming stayed put precisely to avoid such complications.

Watching Xia Xiaoxi’s urgent expression, he sighed inwardly.

The auntie struggled fiercely as the girl yanked her hair, spewing venom: “The law can’t touch me! If I had a knife, I’d kill you!”

The crowd condemned the girl, yet no one stepped forward.

Such was the reality of society today.

“What do we do then? Just watch her get beaten?!” Xia Xiaoxi bit her lip, worry plain even behind her sunglasses.

A soft sigh came from beside her. The boy pulled a mask from his pocket and slipped it on.

“Wait here.”

With that, he strode forward.

Amidst the chaos, two hands suddenly yanked the fighters apart.

The auntie froze, then looked up at Hu Ming.

“Auntie, step back for now.”

His words made her scalp throb anew. Her already fragile hair felt torn out in clumps by that lunatic.

She shuffled aside, hissing through clenched teeth.

Hu Ming gripped the girl’s wrist. Behind his glasses, his eyes turned icy.

Facing the crowd, his voice cut sharp and cold:

“Why are you cursing and hitting an auntie? What do you hope to achieve?”

“None of your damn business! Who asked you?!”

The girl was completely unhinged—like a rabid dog snapping at anyone nearby.

She wrenched her arm free, fingers hooked into claws aimed at Hu Ming’s face.

“Watch out!” Xia Xiaoxi cried.

But the next moment stunned everyone.

Hu Ming delivered a swift kick to her knee. A shriek tore from the girl as her leg buckled, dropping her to one knee. Before she could react, a powerful kick sent her flying.

She screamed, tumbling across the ground before crumpling into a fetal position, clutching her stomach.

Hu Ming adjusted his glasses, utterly composed.

Sirens wailed. Police arrived swiftly.

After brief questioning, they understood the situation. Stern-faced, they cuffed the girl. Then they turned to Hu Ming.

“You’ll need to come with us for further questioning.”

Xia Xiaoxi, lost in the crowd, hadn’t expected this.

She started forward to explain for him—but Hu Ming’s sharp glare pinned her in place.

He clearly didn’t want her involved. Yet she’d pushed him into this. He shouldn’t bear the consequences alone.

Guilt crashed over her. But just as quickly, she made a decision.

...

Video evidence existed. The girl remained violently unhinged at the station, lashing out at anyone who approached—exactly like someone who’d escaped from a mental institution.

After a short interrogation, the police released Hu Ming.

He didn’t care about the girl’s fate. This counted as doing a good deed, after all.

A silvery moon hung in the sky, gentle and serene. Its soft light bathed the earth below.

Warm streetlights glowed over quiet, peaceful streets.

A light breeze brushed past as Hu Ming stretched, exhaustion washing over him like a tide.

He’d been drained after his workout earlier. Then tutoring Kangxin before leaving home. Now two fights—though both were one-sided beatdowns.

Today’s biggest gain was meeting Xia Xiaoxi. Early contact would benefit him.

More importantly, his actions tonight would surely earn her goodwill. When she eventually met Han Shuyi, his impression on her wouldn’t be so poor.

That was why he’d stepped in.

Troublesome? Yes. But worth it.

Hu Ming shoved his hands into his pockets, about to call a cab. A tap on his shoulder made him turn.

A policewoman pointed toward a figure sitting on distant steps.

Neat bangs framed a smooth forehead. Glossy black hair spilled over her shoulders, hiding all but the tips of her ears. Her chin tucked into her coat collar. Mask and sunglasses sealed her identity tight.

“She’s been waiting ages,” the officer murmured. “Says she’s waiting for a friend. Yours?”

Hu Ming’s expression remained unreadable, but he nodded firmly.

He walked over. The girl sat curled up, a paper bag cradled on her knees. Her head rested against it, eyes closed, breathing steady and soft—lost in sleep.

*She waited this long?*

He’d assumed she’d left.

The summer breeze was gentle. The girl looked deeply at peace.

“Hey. Xia Xiaoxi. Time to go home.”

“Hmm?”

At the voice she’d hoped to hear, her eyes fluttered open. A blurred figure swam into view.

He waved gently, as if calling her spirit back.

Slowly, clarity returned. The boy’s face sharpened before her.

His lips quirked up in a faint, warm smile.

“A girl sleeping alone out here is dangerous. Let’s get you home.”