Chapter 26: She Was as Humble as a Dog

"And besides, you seem to have quite a few knights in shining armor, don't you?" he scoffed softly.

Gu Shiyan strode ahead.

Luo Xing remained rooted in place, stunned for a moment.

She hurried after him, wanting to ask what exactly he meant by those words. But then she stopped. After all, her affairs no longer had anything to do with Gu Shiyan.

Why bother asking? Even if she got an answer, would she really need to explain herself to him?

Between her and Gu Shiyan, there should be nothing more than mutual indifference.

The final exam ended.

It was already five o'clock.

Luo Xing was cornered on a narrow path behind the teaching building.

"Do you need something?" Luo Xing looked at the four tall boys opposite her.

One of them had a tattoo on his face, garbled English letters.

He looked like trouble, but Luo Xing couldn't recall ever offending them.

"Luo Xing, don't you remember me?" The boy in the middle wore a torn denim jacket and had three or four skull-shaped earrings in his ear.

Just looking at him made Luo Xing uneasy.

"I—I don't think we've met."

Her back pressed against the cold tiled wall, her fingertips unconsciously fiddling with the gaps between the tiles.

"No need to be nervous, I'm not going to do anything to you." He spat out his chewed gum.

It just happened to land on Luo Xing's white sneaker.

She felt a wave of nausea at the disgust.

He said he wouldn't do anything, but his actions proved otherwise.

But facing four boys, she certainly wasn't foolish enough to scold him for littering like he had no manners.

"This is still school," she reminded him, hinting that there were people around and he shouldn't try anything.

"At this hour, everyone's rushing home after exams. Do you really think anyone will notice you?"

...

Gu Shiyan leaned lazily against the door frame, occasionally watching the people leaving.

He'd left his exam room earlier; Luo Xing's was just next door.

Walking along the corridor outside, he could see through the open door: Luo Xing sat in the last row, head bent over her paper, pen scribbling furiously, sometimes frowning and biting her pen.

Gu Shiyan glanced at his watch. Could she really be this slow?

When he left, Luo Xing had already handed in her paper.

Even if she went to the restroom, she shouldn't take this long.

His gaze fell on the back door, which led to a narrow path and, beyond that, a small grove.

With the holiday approaching, hardly anyone went there anymore.

Gu Shiyan watched the ticking second hand.

He strode towards the back door.

"Why are you pretending to be so pure? Weren't you all smiles, chasing after Gu Shiyan before?"

"Give me back my phone!"

"What, going to call your boyfriend?" The four of them surrounded her, forming a solid wall.

"Let her call—maybe he won't even answer," snickered the boy on Luo Xing's left.

"Luo Xing, just a kind warning: boys like Gu Shiyan, those rich sons, they're only playing with you."

The boy leaned in close, "You don't actually think he really likes you, do you? Guys like that have seen it all. Once he's had his fun, you think there's any real feelings between you?"

Luo Xing didn't answer, not even looking at him.

Through the gaps, she caught sight of Gu Shiyan.

She couldn't explain why, but a wave of relief washed over her.

She thought she was saved.

But Gu Shiyan just stood there, unmoving.

He'd clearly seen her, yet his face showed not the slightest change.

A dull ache pressed against her heart; she couldn't even breathe, her breath stuck in her nose, stinging and itching.

It was as if he was waiting for her to humble herself and beg.

Even those eyes, usually overflowing with warmth, were now dark, cold, and seemed to say only two words:

"Beg me."

Suddenly, she understood: never reach for what isn't yours.

Or you'll only end up wounded.

She bit her lip, saying nothing, her lips pressed so tightly they turned pale.

The boy reached out to touch her face. "So, stop pretending to be pure..."

"You don't really think you're some big deal, do you? I tried to add you and you refused?"

He pinched her cheek, enjoying the softness beneath his fingers.

Luo Xing's features were usually bright and stunning, but now her gaze on him was as sharp as a blade.

She spoke evenly, "I'm nothing special."

With that, she lightly placed her hands on his shoulders.

Gu Shiyan's eyes narrowed, the breeze rustling the dry leaves at his feet. He stepped forward, the crunch breaking the silence.

He walked towards Luo Xing, step by step.

The boy grabbed her hand, pleased that she seemed to be cooperating. "Turns out you were just pretending to be obedient, huh? But I like that..."

"Ah—!"

The boy in front of Luo Xing doubled over, clutching his groin and howling in pain.

Luo Xing had always appeared meek and powerless; no one expected her to strike without warning.

"You looking to die? You dare hit people?"

The boy next to her raised his hand to strike.

But a strong grip seized him.

"Who are you calling dead?" Gu Shiyan's hold was unyielding.

The veins in his arm stood out as he twisted the attacker's wrist toward his elbow, his gaze turning ruthless.

His forearm tensed, the veins bulging under his skin.

"Let go, let go!" the boy groaned in agony, bending over in pain.

Luo Xing snatched her phone back from the boy's hand.

The other three boys, recognizing Gu Shiyan, clenched their fists.

Luo Xing's hands trembled, but she firmly dialed the police.

Noticing this, one boy's eyes flashed with panic. He lunged at Luo Xing, intent on grabbing her phone.

But Gu Shiyan's heavy punch rendered his efforts futile, the blow landing hard enough to draw blood.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Luo Xing slipped past them and stood firmly behind Gu Shiyan.

The remaining three exchanged a look, a hint of ferocity in their eyes.

Without hesitation, they attacked Gu Shiyan together, fists whistling through the air.

Luo Xing didn't hesitate. She turned and ran, steadying her shaking voice as she reported the situation in detail to the police over the phone.

By the time the police arrived, Gu Shiyan had already subdued the three boys single-handedly.

They clutched their bruised bodies, eyes filled with terror and resentment.

Luo Xing let out a heavy sigh of relief, her palm sweaty around her phone.

As Gu Shiyan approached, she took two steps back.

If she didn't have to explain things to the police, she would have left already.

Gu Shiyan grabbed her hand, his gaze fixed intently on her.

"Have you lost your voice? Couldn't you call for me? You'd rather be bullied than ask for help!?"

She knew perfectly well that all she had to do was give in a little...

"Or do you think you're tough enough to beat them on your own?"

Gu Shiyan squeezed her arm. "You can't even call my name, is that it?"

Luo Xing didn't resist; perhaps she no longer had the strength to.

"Gu Shiyan, I never thought... you could be this kind of person... So this is how it is..."

Her lips trembled, sorrow reddening the tip of her nose.

So this was the man she had liked for four years, treating her with such indifference!

Her four years were nothing but a joke.

A secret, silent joke locked in her heart—and it was laughable indeed!