"Hello, may I have the pleasure of knowing you?"
"You, the beautiful young lady."
Fang Hao, with what he imagined to be a charming smile, stepped forward confidently.
Yet his appearance, far from pleasant, was grotesque enough to invoke unease—bordering on the macabre.
"Fang Hao, you'd best stop pestering An Ran."
"She already has a boyfriend," Shang Yanyan said sternly, stepping forward to rebuke him.
"Shang Yanyan, you'd better mind your own business.
If it weren't for your brother, do you think you'd dare speak to me this way?"
Fang Hao, clearly irritated by the interruption, turned back to An Ran with a shameless grin.
"Miss An Ran, is it? What a lovely name."
"I sincerely ask—would you accompany me on a date later today?"
"Get lost."
"I don't like you. You look like a toad."
Though fear stirred in An Ran's heart, she stood her ground, her petite frame as firm as a blade of grass rooted in the cliffs, ready to weather the storm.
Disdaining kindness, he asked for punishment.
The moment Fang Hao heard her rejection, his face darkened.
As the local tyrant, few had dared refuse him—until now.
But he wasn't foolish enough to coerce her outright in front of so many.
Instead, he chose another route—to take a small advantage first.
"Come now, An Ran. Say yes. I'll take you home, how about that?"
"Don't embarrass me. We're all acquaintances here, aren't we?"
He leaned closer with each word.
Then, under the guise of casual movement, his hand suddenly reached toward her chest.
"Shameless!"
Shang Yanyan cried out.
But it was too late.
The movement had been abrupt.
And with his rudimentary martial skills, no one could react in time.
A wicked gleam flashed in Fang Hao's eyes—his hand closing in fast.
Gasps filled the crowd. The girls shrieked and covered their eyes, unwilling to witness the horror.
The boys clenched their fists in fury, ready to rush forward.
Only one face bore a twisted smile—Xiao Li.
Her voice low, muttering, "Good… Good job..."
Just then, when it seemed inevitable—
A slender, fair hand caught Fang Hao's wrist.
"Who are you?"
An excruciating pain surged through his bones, making Fang Hao cry out.
He tried to pull free, but it was as if his arm were mired in a swamp—completely immobile.
His eyes met those of the man before him—handsome, composed. A cold sweat broke across Fang Hao's brow.
"Chu Yi, you finally came!"
An Ran, until now frozen in terror, rushed into his arms as though finding sanctuary in the divine.
"There, there. You're safe now," Chu Yi whispered, holding her gently. Then he looked at Fang Hao, eyes icy.
Fang Hao trembled, cold sweat pouring down.
After a few seconds of enduring the pain, he snapped, forgetting all pride:
"You morons just going to stand there?! Get him!"
"Why do I even feed you if you can't lift a finger?!"
"Yes, Boss!"
His lackeys snapped to attention, grabbing stools to rush in.
But just as they were about to attack, a shout thundered from the entrance:
"Let me see who dares!"
"Director!"
The thugs froze, eyes wide with fear at the sight of Li De.
Their arms dropped. The stools clattered to the ground.
"Rotten to the core! A disgrace to this school!"
"I've lectured so often on virtue, yet here stands a degenerate like you!"
Li De stormed in, his rage barely contained.
Chu Yi remained calm.
He knew the reality of the North Campus—power ruled here.
Just like the capital, where second-generation elites, armed with wealth and influence, reigned.
At best, these punks were minor troublemakers.
Setting those thoughts aside, Chu Yi stepped forward, his voice laced with mockery.
"Director Li, didn't I just entrust you to look after my sister?"
"And in the blink of an eye, she's almost assaulted."
"Tell me, do you think I'm just another spoiled rich kid?"
"N-no, Young Master Chu..."
"Please, let me explain," Li De stammered, beads of sweat rolling down.
He knew well the power backing Chu Yi.
Though Chu's father rose from nothing, his mother's family held high-ranking positions across the city.
If Chu Yi decided to return to his maternal roots, Li De's position would be in jeopardy.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Li De bowed hurriedly.
"Rest assured, Young Master Chu. I will give you a satisfactory resolution."
"Don't look so flustered," Chu Yi said with a faint smile.
"Why don't I take care of this matter myself?"
"You will?"
"Very well—please proceed," Li De said quickly, the relief evident on his face.
Chu Yi turned slowly, approaching Fang Hao.
"You're quite something."
"I'll admit defeat today. Do what you will with me. But know this—I work for Blade."
Fang Hao, still clutching his broken wrist, glared up with forced bravado.
"Blade, is it?"
"Let's see just how formidable your 'Blade' really is."
Of course, Chu Yi knew who Blade was—one of the early-stage villains, notorious for targeting the female lead and her best friend, only to be crushed by Ye Fan later.
Now, one of Blade's underlings dared invoke his name? Laughable.
Laughable beyond reason.
Did he, Chu Yi, need to show respect to someone even more insignificant than trash?
A cruel glint flickered in Chu Yi's eyes.
He lifted his foot—and stomped hard on Fang Hao's leg.
Crack!
His shinbone shattered audibly.
"My leg! My leg is broken!"
Fang Hao howled, drenched in sweat.
Chu Yi smiled coolly.
"That fragile? Surely not."
Then, he pressed harder, his sole grinding against the broken limb—delivering another wave of agony.
"You think I'm weak?!"
Fang Hao cried, tears streaming down his face.
He swung his fist at Chu Yi's temple, his last desperate move.
But his strike was clumsy and slow—no match for Chu Yi.
With one hand, Chu Yi caught his wrist again.
Another surge of force.
Crack!
His wrist snapped like dry twigs.
"Agh! The pain!"
"You think this is pain?"
Chu Yi slapped him hard across the face.
Stars danced before Fang Hao's eyes.
By the end of it, Fang Hao lay half-conscious, broken and barely breathing.
"You're finished," he croaked.
"If I die… you'll rot in prison."
Fang Hao knew his injuries were beyond repair. Even if he survived, he'd be crippled for life.
But if he could drag Chu Yi down with him, it would be worth it.
"You really think I'm that stupid?" Chu Yi chuckled.
"To cripple you in broad daylight without a plan?"
"You mean… you didn't?" Fang Hao whispered weakly.
"Just watch."
Chu Yi crouched beside him, placing a hand on his wrist.
A warm surge of internal energy flowed from Chu Yi's core into Fang Hao's meridians.
It danced through his body, healing injuries at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Within moments, the worst of Fang Hao's wounds were gone.
"How do you feel now?"
Chu Yi whispered, his breath cold against Fang Hao's ear.
"Y-you're a demon…"
Fang Hao looked up in horror, shivering.
The young man before him, handsome and calm, radiated a chill that pierced straight to the soul.
Now, Fang Hao truly understood—
Chu Yi hadn't come to fight.
He'd come to dominate.