Chapter 26

Li Ze glanced at the three, who suddenly appeared, frowning.

“Where did you come from? Mind your own business?”

“Are you all like that green tea b*tch, sticking together?”

Zhang Yue, a girl from the northeast with a temper, retorted directly.

“A foul mouth; if you can’t talk properly, shut up!”

Li Ze thought he hit a sore spot for someone else, smiling as if he deserved a beating.

“It’s obvious; hanging out with that b*tch is definitely not good stuff!”

Zhang Yue had long been irritated by his constant use of “b*tch,”  wondering what he ate to have such a foul mouth!

“Your uncle’s!”

Zhang Yue directly threw the bag of fried skewers in her hand at Li Ze, smashing him all over, with his clothes covered in oil stains and chili powder.

Behind him, the other three boys surrounded them, presumably his roommates.

Li Ze gritted his teeth and raised his head, his eyes wide open.

“Moth*fu*ker, stinky b*tch!”

“What’s the matter? You got a problem? Let’s fight then!”

The anger between the two was about to erupt, and it looked like they were about to start a fight.

Li Jiao and Su Linlin hurried over to pull Zhang Yue.

“Boss, calm down, calm down.”

“Yeah, why are you fighting with him? Let it go, let it go.”

Li Ze’s roommates didn’t want to escalate the situation, and they all advised.

“Forget it, Li Ze; they’re all girls.”

“Li Ze, just leave; stop causing trouble.”

“…………”

The people around, who had previously been understanding of Li Ze, now saw that he seemed to be gearing up to fight with girls, and they were all discussing it.

“Surely he’s not going to fight?”

“Fighting with girls, really?”

“Oh my, who’s in the right here?”

“…………”

Li Ze was humiliated successively by two girls, and one of them even threw something at him?

His roommates didn’t help him, and people around him were pointing fingers at him. At that moment, he was furious.

He grabbed one of the guys’ bags and started hurling it at people.

“Damn it!”

Zhang Yue got hit on the shoulder, and her inner fire ignited.

“If I don’t teach you a lesson today, you won’t know how to spell ‘death’!”

“Hey, hey, boss!”

“Boss, calm down, don’t fight!”

“Li Ze, what are you doing!”

“Li Ze, are you really going to hit a girl?”

“…………”

The scene quickly descended into chaos. The girls were pulling Zhang Yue, and the boys were pulling Li Ze. Both sides were tangled up, with various snack bags and fruits flying everywhere.

Li Jiao and Su Linlin each grabbed one of Zhang Yue’s arms and pulled her back forcefully, while Tang Yuran desperately tried to pull Zhang Yue back.

“Boss, stop it.”

“Stop fighting, let’s go.”

“Zhang Yue, let’s go.”

“Jiaojiao, Linlin, let me go; I have to cut that grandson today!”

Zhang Yue was already strong, and in her rage, she managed to drag all three of them along instead of them holding her back.

“Li Jiao, be careful!”

In the midst of pulling her, Tang Yuran suddenly saw a half-watermelon flying towards Li Jiao. It was about to hit her.

Her pupils dilated, and she hastily pulled Li Jiao back but exposed herself as the half watermelon came straight at her.

Meanwhile, Li Jiao, who had been pulled away, stumbled in the confusion, unsure who pushed her, causing her to lose her footing.

As she leaned over, thinking she was about to kiss the ground again, she suddenly felt herself being engulfed in a pair of cold but faintly fragrant arms, her nose hitting the hard buttons of a shirt.

Then, there was a “plop” sound, as if something had fallen to the ground.

For a long moment, she didn’t feel the watermelon hitting her. Tang Yuran opened her eyes to see a person standing in front of her, wearing a black T-shirt with a thin camouflage jacket, long and slender legs, and a tall and straight figure.

He tilted his head slightly, with a neat and clean black hairline, sharp eyes, and a faint look.

Tang Yuran’s heart skipped a beat as she stared blankly at him.

After a moment, those deep and profound eyes looked at her, his voice calm and cool.

“Are you alright?”

Tang Yuran shook her head, stuttering for once.

“I-I’m fine.”

Hearing her response, Zhang Jiuling lowered his head again, glancing at Li Jiao snuggled in his arms, revealing a tuft of fluffy hair with a stray strand swaying in the wind.

It gave off the same dazed aura as its owner.

“Li Jiao.”

Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded above her, cool and refreshing like water, somewhat akin to the evening breeze, carrying a hint of coolness mixed with the warmth of summer.

Li Jiao jerked her head up, her nose tinged with a touch of red from the collision.

The voice was soft and tender. “Instructor…”

The young girl looked up, her head tilted back. Somehow, her nose was now a little flushed, and her big apricot eyes were brimming with tears. She appeared like a child caught fighting by her parents—pitiful and vulnerable.

Suddenly, something seemed to stir in his heart.

Zhang Jiuling looked at her and called her name again.

“Li Jiao, did you fall?”

His voice remained cool, but with a closer listen, one could detect a subtle change, a softening.

Li Jiao foolishly shook her head, evidently still not fully aware of the fact that the instructor had arrived.

At his words, Zhang Jiuling raised his head and glanced at the group still entangled together over there.

In a cold tone, he reprimanded, “What’s going on!”

His stern face exuded a powerful aura.

The onlookers were all intimidated; goodness, why did it suddenly feel so chilly?

Zhang Yue and Li Ze also stopped. Looking at the man who appeared again out of nowhere, Li Ze said provocatively.

“Oh, unexpected,” he glanced at Tang Yuran in front of Zhang Jiuling, and sneered. “It looks like there are plenty of spare tires.”

Zhang Jiuling wasn’t wearing a military uniform, just regular clothes. Li Ze thought he was Tang Yuran’s assistant and blabbered on.

“What the hell, kid, let’s come together!”

The next moment, he heard Zhang Yue and Su Linlin shouting together.

“Instructor, hello.”

Li Ze nearly slipped and fell to the ground, looking at Zhang Jiuling, stuttering.

“I-Instructor.”

He was a freshman too; how could he not be afraid of the instructor?

But, but, but, was this guy really the instructor? He didn’t seem like one…

After changing out of his military uniform, Zhang Jiuling appeared more casual, wearing a thin camouflage jacket. Though he was still bearing some military elements, he looked much more relaxed.

Standing with his back to Li Jiao, the dim night blurred his usual sternness, like a figure sketched in an ink wash painting, simple yet elegant.

Li Jiao stood behind him, staring blankly, unconsciously biting her lip.

“Instructor, what are you doing here…”

“Hey, boss, what are you doing here?”

A clear voice sounded, and a man wearing a black short-sleeved shirt, carrying a watermelon, ran over.

Standing beside Zhang Jiuling, he looked around at the situation, with various snack bags and fruits scattered all over the place.

Furrowing his brows slightly, he said, “Boss, did you get into a fight?”

At his words, Zhang Jiuling turned his head, his bright, cold eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at the approaching man.

Speaking slowly, he asked, “What do you think?”

The man scratched his head, awkwardly smiling.

“Just kidding.”

After all, if this guy really threw a punch, someone might end up in the ICU and might not make it back.

Su Linlin explained on the side, “Sorry, Instructor, there was a misunderstanding between us, so we ended up arguing. It’s nothing serious.”

She looked somewhat annoyed; fighting like this was better not reported to the instructor. If he reported it to the school, they would all be in trouble.

Liuzi glanced at the mess on the ground and smiled.

“You guys made quite a scene with your argument, huh?”

Zhang Yue, Su Linlin, Li Ze, and his roommates, upon hearing that the person in front of them was an instructor, obediently lined up with their heads down, resembling primary school students in detention.

Liuzi probably got the gist of what happened after asking around.

Turning his head, he asked Li Ze, “Kid, which class are you in?”

His tone sounded relaxed, but as a military man and an instructor, even a casual remark carried some pressure.

Li Ze was sweating bullets but dared not hide anything, honestly replying, “Finance department, *** class.”

At his words, Liuzi raised an eyebrow.

“Mr. Chen’s class?”

“Alright, go back and wait for him to give you some tasks.”

“……”

After sending off those boys, Liuzi then earnestly lectured the girls.

“What’s the matter with you? Several girls, actually getting into fights with boys?”

“What if someone gets hurt?”

“You’re all young girls, why are you so audacious?”

“……….”

Su Linlin nodded repeatedly as she pulled Zhang Yue, starting a three-step apology routine: “Instructor, I’m sorry.” “Instructor, it’s my fault.” “Instructor, I won’t do it again next time.”

Like a mother scolding her children, Liuzi lectured them at length. When he looked up, he noticed that the crowd of onlookers had dispersed. The night market had returned to its bustling yet peaceful state.

Seeing the girls showing remorse, he had nothing more to say. Dryly, he reminded them, “Be more careful next time.”

Seeing that the matter was resolved, Zhang Jiuling also intended to leave. But as he lifted his foot to take a step, he suddenly felt a slight tug on the back of his clothes. Turning around, he looked back.

On his clothes, there was a delicate little paw holding onto the hem of his garment, trembling slightly…

It was the familiar chicken claw madness again.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, following that little paw upwards, meeting the fair and delicate face of the young girl, with dewy apricot eyes and long eyelashes blinking.

She pursed her lips slightly, as if making a significant decision.

Suddenly, she grinned, revealing a row of white teeth with two cute dimples at the corners of her mouth, filled with the sweetness of autumn and radiating a warm and inviting aura.

“Instructor, thank you for catching me just now.”

“Here, have this.”

With that, the young girl reached into the only remaining bag in her hand and pulled out a large, red apple, offering it to him.

“Instructor, please have the apple.”

As the dim evening descended, the lights from the stalls in the night market reflected in the young girl’s eyes, shining brightly and warmly.

Zhang Jiuling glanced at the red and vibrant apple, then looked up at Li Jiao.

Then he turned away, his expression calm.

“No need.”

“Be more careful next time.”

Li Jiao, feeling rejected, saw the light in her eyes dim instantly. She lowered her hand despondently and squeezed the red apple.

Moments later, she heard Zhang Jiuling’s cool voice again.

“Eat more chicken claws next time.”

“?????”

Li Jiao’s face was filled with question marks. What chicken claws?

Why does the instructor want me to eat chicken claws?

Before she could say anything else, Zhang Jiuling had already walked away. His figure was bathed in the warm yellow lights of the night market, softening his usual cold demeanor.

Li Jiao kept watching Zhang Jiuling’s figure until he was eventually engulfed by the bustling crowd of the night market. Holding the apple in her hand, she kept pondering over his words.

Why eat chicken claws?

Does the instructor think chicken claws are delicious, so he’s recommending them to me?

Oh, I get it now! Next time, I’ll treat the instructor to some chicken claws!

Behind Li Jiao, Tang Yuran also watched Zhang Jiuling’s figure recede into the distance.

Her hair was a bit disheveled, likely pulled during the scuffle just now.

She looked a little disheveled, her beautiful eyes, gazing in the direction of his departure, filled with obscurity and complexity, her thoughts swirling.