The girl’s arm was fair-skinned yet far from delicate—supple, toned, reminding me of judo-practicing tomboys.

She moved fast. Amid the flat-top thug’s agonized scream, his hand twisted into a grotesque angle—definitely broken. His two buddies roared, “What the hell are you doing?!”

They lunged. She was faster. Shaking off that filthy hand, she spun and slammed a solid punch into the bald thug’s gut. The flat-top collapsed, clutching his broken hand and wailing. The bald one dropped to his knees, retching.

The third thug—flamboyant hairstyle and all—hesitated a split second before lunging again. That pause cost him. Her high kick shot up; *thud*. A front tooth went flying.

I looked up just in time. Ah… saw nothing. Thank goodness—denim shorts.

Wait. What was I even thinking?! Panties?! Now?!

She turned. Her neat ponytail swayed past my eyes, radiating quiet heroism.

“You two okay?”

A strikingly cool girl—especially with that martial aura making her seem larger than life. I glanced down. Xu Wei clutched my shirt hem, hiding her face. The poor little girl was utterly frozen with fear.

“We’re fine,” I said with a slight smile. “Thank you.”

Ugh. Shameful. She saved us, and I was *still* wondering about her panties…

“Call the police! My hand’s broken!” wailed the thug on the floor.

The noodle shop owner snapped out of it and blocked the door. “You’re not leaving! Who pays the medical bills then?”

I didn’t even look at him. Just spat lightly on the ground. *Selfish little man. So annoying.*

Good and bad exist in every walk of life… Auntie Zhang from the dorm was way nicer. Sigh.

Truth was, we weren’t running anyway. These days, bumping into someone gets you blamed—let alone blood drawn and a snapped wrist. A police station visit might actually help.

“Shh, it’s okay,” I murmured to the trembling girl in my arms. “All over now. Let’s find an officer.”

…

“They claim you assaulted them unprovoked. You claim sexual harassment,” the officer said, adjusting his cap. “Correct?”

All six of us sat “having tea” at the station.

“Yes,” I replied, keeping Xu Wei shielded behind me.

He jotted notes, then turned to the single-ponytail girl beside me. “And you? Did they harass you too?”

“No,” she answered honestly.

“Then why attack them? They say *you* caused the serious injuries,” he said, eyeing her slender frame in disbelief. “True?”

She wasn’t petite, but undeniably willowy—long legs, a waist like a willow branch. He’d seen the thugs’ state: one wrist fractured, one with stomach bleeding, one missing three teeth.

Three big, burly guys… beaten black and blue by this slender girl.

“I was standing up for what’s right,” she said plainly.

“So you *saw* them harass these girls?”

“No.”

“Then how’d you know it was righteous to step in?”

“Did it need judging? Bullying cute girls? Obviously thugs. And their faces screamed ‘delinquent’!”

I wiped my brow silently. *Oh no.* Honesty’s good… but wow, that’s *too* blunt.

The officer hesitated. “Complicated. Outcome-wise, you’re at a disadvantage. No witnesses. They deny harassment. You admitted contact was minimal—just hand brushing hand. Their injuries? Very real.”

I stayed quiet, just watching. Nothing left to say now.

“Here’s this,” the lanky officer offered. “State your ages. Might help frame the case… y’know.”

I got it. Cases involving young girls get strict handling. But the problem was—

I sighed softly. “Nineteen.”

“…” He blinked, then turned to Xu Wei. “You?”

“Six… sixteen…” she stammered.

He studied us—two girls whose looks didn’t match our ages—with a complicated glance. “I’ll check the other side. Heads-up: this is tricky. And even though you’re an adult… we’ll still need your parents.”

“Why?” I gasped.

“You’re not carrying much cash, right?” He sighed. “Given everything… likely ends in private settlement. Meaning *you* cover the medical bills.”