Nangong Ruihui saw Mu Yao again on the school’s athletic field.

The next class was Wang Chuanqi’s P.E. lesson, and Mu Yao, who actually enjoyed P.E., had arrived early.

Mu Yao looked like he had absolutely nothing to do with the word “sports.”

That didn’t mean he disliked exercise, though. As a boy, he should at least have some physical strength. Otherwise, being unable to carry his future girlfriend would be too embarrassing.

Mu Yao’s standards for a future girlfriend were “very high.”

She only needed to look half as good as him in women’s clothing. Otherwise, standing together would be painfully awkward.

That single requirement already eliminated more than half the girls at the academy.

In the end, it was only a joke. What mattered most was whether two people got along. Once you truly met someone you liked, every rule and requirement would become meaningless.

“Boss, that chick’s been really popular around the academy lately. I heard she used to be a model. She’s also been hanging around the student council president recently.”

A skinny boy pointed toward Mu Yao, who was sitting nearby and watching the others play basketball.

“I’ve never heard of her. The student council president? What a load of crap! I’ve hated that pretty boy for a long time. He’s nothing but a pretty face.”

The vicious-looking leader spat on the ground and flicked away his cigarette butt.

“Come on. Let’s go take a look. I wasn’t interested at first, but hearing she’s close to that pretty boy really pisses me off.”

There were three of them. By then, they had already approached Mu Yao with unfriendly expressions.

Mu Yao recognized one of them—the man in the middle. He was the same person who had crossed paths with him beneath the stadium stands on his first day.

It wasn’t that Mu Yao judged people by appearance.

That man simply looked too horrifying. He could’ve acted in a zombie movie without makeup. Shine a green light on him, and the look would be perfect.

“Hello. May I ask what you want?”

Even though he was frightened, Mu Yao still asked politely. It was obvious they had come for him. They were already blocking his way.

“Of course. We’ve got a few-billion-yuan project to discuss with you. If negotiations go well, it could become a tens-of-billions project.”

The leader grinned.

“Oh, right. I forgot to introduce myself. My name’s Yang Xu.”

“A few-billion-yuan project? What’s that supposed to be?”

“Come with us and you’ll find out. Actually, Skinny Monkey, you tell her. That way, this little bitch won’t start screaming later.”

Yang Xu turned his head and waved a hand.

The next scene nearly made Mu Yao throw up.

The boy called Skinny Monkey clenched one hand into a fist, then shoved the index finger of his other hand into it. The lecherous grin on his face became something Mu Yao would never forget.

It was revolting. What kind of people were they?

“I’m not going anywhere with you!”

The other two had already started dragging Mu Yao away.

Mu Yao clung desperately to the railing behind him and refused to let go. He was certain now. These men were bad people.

“Well, aren’t you stubborn? Looks like I’ll have to teach you a lesson.”

Yang Xu reached toward him.

Mu Yao made a split-second decision. He released the railing and snapped one leg upward, kicking Yang Xu squarely in the chin.

“Damn, you’ve got some bite!”

Yang Xu touched his teeth. One of his front teeth had been knocked loose by the kick.

He flew into a rage.

Back in middle school, he had been the school’s top bully. Forget hitting him—anyone who dared speak badly about him would be cornered that very night.

Yet today, a girl had kicked him in the face. He couldn’t let that humiliation stand.

Three years ago, when Mu Yao had still been Long Xueer, the company had arranged for him to study basic self-defense for several days.

Now, that training was finally useful. The kick belonged to the fundamentals of taekwondo.

Mu Yao’s legs were extremely flexible, with naturally elastic ligaments. He could do the splits as easily as breathing.

Kicking Yang Xu in the chin had been a basic move. If he hadn’t been nervous, he might even have left a shoe print on Yang Xu’s face.

Yang Xu gave a cold smile and began plotting something vile.

A girl cared most about her reputation. If he reached into Mu Yao’s clothes and touched her in front of everyone, she would probably suffer terribly.

At that thought, Yang Xu’s tooth suddenly stopped hurting.

He wanted Mu Yao to experience the humiliation of being violated in public.

Mu Yao was helpless now. Two lackeys had restrained his arms and legs, leaving him unable to move.

It seemed he could only watch helplessly as they did something like that to him.

A boy being treated this way was simply too strange and abnormal!

Ahhhh—no, don’t!

Mu Yao slightly closed his beautiful eyes and kept shrinking backward.

He could even feel Yang Xu’s breath against him.

If he were molested, how could he ever face anyone again?

Would Nangong Ruihui… think he was dirty afterward?

I’m finished.

Mu Yao closed his eyes completely.

The difference in strength was impossible to overcome. There were too many of them. Several more men from Yang Xu’s group seemed to be coming over.

There were seven or eight of them in total. He couldn’t escape.

“Hey! You pieces of trash over there! Do you think Yingshengya Academy is your own backyard? How dare you lay a hand on my desk mate?”

A sudden gust of wind swept across the field.

Nangong Ruihui arrived just in time, his face dark.

His impossibly cool words sent Mu Yao’s admiration skyrocketing like a rocket.

That was so cool!

Mu Yao quickly regained his senses, though, and shouted anxiously at Nangong Ruihui.

“Ruihui, get out of here! Go call a teacher!”

Mu Yao didn’t want Nangong Ruihui to get hurt. Yang Xu had too many lackeys, and one person couldn’t turn the situation around.

The fact that Nangong Ruihui had come was already enough.

Nangong Ruihui smiled.

“Leave? Where would I go? Yao Yao, you really are dazzling. You’ve only been at the academy for a few days, yet you’ve already received such ‘distinguished treatment.’”

“…Are you complimenting me?”

“I’ll explain later. Let me deal with these pieces of trash first.”

“Hurry and leave! Can’t you see several more people are coming this way?!”

Mu Yao was growing frantic. Nangong Ruihui clearly wasn’t listening to him.

“I see them. It’ll be a little difficult. Don’t worry about me. Just take care of yourself.”

Yang Xu was delighted.

“Speak of the devil, and he appears. Brothers, one of you go deal with this pretty boy. What does a ninth-dan red belt in judo amount to? I’m a world boxing champion!”

Yang Xu had never believed the claims made by the girls who admired Nangong Ruihui.

A judo red belt? How was that possible?

Besides, fighting outnumbered opponents was only an ideal situation.

Even if Nangong Ruihui really had some skill, Yang Xu wasn’t worried. Once he was humiliated, perhaps the student council president’s seat would change hands.

The wheel of fortune always turned. Maybe Yang Xu could become student council president himself.

Meanwhile, Nangong Ruihui would be despised to death by all the girls who admired him.

The one who stepped forward first always got targeted.

In Nangong Ruihui’s eyes, these little punks were utterly pathetic.

He drove his fist forward with power from his waist. The first man charging at him was sent flying four or five meters before landing on the ground in a sitting sprawl.

Everyone froze.

No one dared to underestimate Nangong Ruihui anymore.

Mu Yao’s mouth had already fallen open, and he couldn’t close it.

Following Maria’s example of virtue, Nangong Ruihui had no such thing as retreat in his dictionary.

Retreat was something cowards did.

He had promised Mu Yao that no one would bully her at the academy.

Once he gave his word, he would keep it.

“So, how about all of you come at me together? This president’s in a hurry.”