Chapter 31: A Brutal Beating for Commander Guo!

Huang Jingjing frowned the moment she saw the newcomer. "Guo Shuai, how many times do I have to tell you? Do not call me Jingjing! And I certainly didn't ask you to come find me."

"Hey, Jingjing, what are you saying? Everyone knows how I feel about you," Guo Shuai replied. He then glanced at Chu Nan, his expression turning gloomy.

When his eyes landed on Jiang Yuwei standing nearby, a flash of astonishment crossed his face. He had thought Huang Jingjing was already ethereal and refined, but he hadn't expected this girl to be even more beautiful. However, judging by her clothes and demeanor, he knew she was not someone to be trifled with; her family must be either wealthy or influential.

While Guo Shuai liked women, he knew clearly which ones he could pursue and which ones he could not. A girl like that, whose attire and temperament were leagues ahead of the others, likely had backing he couldn't afford to offend. But Huang Jingjing was different. Her parents were simple, honest farmers, and her father had even broken his leg. Guo Shuai knew this because Huang Jingjing’s father used to work for his own father, a construction site foreman. No worker dared to cross his father.

This had led to Guo Shuai’s delusions about Huang Jingjing. If not for her brother, whom he somewhat feared, she would have been his long ago. Even so, he didn't believe she could escape his grasp. Women were simple; as long as you were thick-skinned and willing to spend money, what kind of girl couldn't you pursue?

"What feelings? I’ve already told you I have no feelings for you. Can you please stop bothering me?" Disgust was written all over Huang Jingjing’s face.

"Hmph? Bothering you? I’ve told you, as long as you agree to marry me after graduation, my family is willing to provide a hundred-thousand-yuan dowry to pay for your father’s leg surgery. Do you want to just watch him become disabled?!"

"You! What kind of nonsense are you spouting? Who wants your money, and who would marry you? Go away, I don't want to deal with you!" For some reason, Huang Jingjing felt an intense irritation at this guy pestering her. Usually, she would just run away, but with Chu Nan here, she felt uneasy; she didn't want him to misunderstand.

"Go away? Go where? I’ll follow you wherever you go until you agree to be my girlfriend!"

"You!" Huang Jingjing’s eyes reddened. She said indignantly, "Fine, you won't leave? Then I will!" She turned to Chu Nan, "Chu Nan, I'm sorry, I... I have to go."

Chu Nan, expressionless, pulled her behind him. "Where are you going? I’ll deal with this piece of social trash."

"Your name is Chu Nan, right? What the hell is your problem?!"

"Smack!" Without a word, Chu Nan slapped him across the face. "Try insulting me again."

The slap left Guo Shuai stunned. Not just him, but Jiang Yuwei and Huang Jingjing were also shocked, as they hadn't expected Chu Nan to resort to physical violence—this was school, after all! Jiang Yuwei, however, was thinking about something else: just what was the relationship between Chu Nan and Huang Jingjing that he would go so far for her?

"You dare hit me? I’ll kill you!"

Guo Shuai was furious and lunged with a kick toward Chu Nan’s stomach. In fact, the moment he prepared to lift his leg, a flicker of surprise crossed Chu Nan's eyes, as he had "seen" this kick five seconds before it happened.

Chu Nan didn't dodge. He moved back slightly, raised his hands, and caught the other man’s leg. With a swift, deft motion, he threw Guo Shuai to the ground, landing him squarely on his backside. Chu Nan used a technique to ensure he wouldn't hit his head; he wanted to teach him a lesson, not kill him.

As Guo Shuai hit the floor, Chu Nan pinned him down. "Apologize to Huang Jingjing."

"Go to hell!"

"Smack!" Chu Nan slapped him again. "Huang Jingjing is my friend. If you bully her, you’re messing with me. I’ll ask you one more time: are you going to apologize?"

"I said go to—!"

"Fine, let’s see how stubborn you can be."

"Smack! Smack! Smack!"

"Chu Nan, stop, please stop." Huang Jingjing was both moved and anxious. Seeing Chu Nan fight for her showed he cared, but this would have negative consequences for him.

"Guo Shuai, right? Do you realize your behavior constitutes sexual harassment? If you don't give an explanation today, you’ll be thrown in jail!"

"You... who are you trying to scare? What did I even do?!" Chu Nan had slapped him so hard his speech was slurred.

"Stop! You two brats, how dare you fight under my nose!"

A middle-aged voice rang out just as Huang Jingjing tried to pull them apart. It was Wang Ping, the Dean of Academic Affairs, known as "The King of Hell." He was notorious for his harshness toward students who fought—he’d kick them first and ask questions later. Because of his reputation, no one in school dared to cross him.

Seeing the scene, he rushed over and kicked Chu Nan. Chu Nan had "seen" this kick coming too, but he didn't dodge, knowing it was a blow he had to take to avoid further trouble.

"Chu Nan! Are you okay?" Huang Jingjing rushed over to check on him, ignoring Guo Shuai, who was also nursing a bruised backside.

"Speak, what is going on here?"

"It’s this guy! He beat me up for no reason!" Guo Shuai pointed at Chu Nan, his face swollen.

"Teacher, it’s not his fault! He was harassing me, and Chu Nan stepped in to help..." Huang Jingjing said, her eyes red and her voice pitiful.

"Bullshit! Who harassed you? Who can prove that?!" Guo Shuai retorted.

"I can," Jiang Yuwei, who had been quietly watching, suddenly spoke up. "Teacher, just now, this person said that if Huang Jingjing didn't agree to be his girlfriend, he would follow her everywhere, even to the restroom!"

"What? Is that true?" Wang Ping’s face darkened. He had a daughter in middle school; if she were harassed like this, he would skin the perpetrator alive!

"Bullshit! I never said I’d follow her into the restroom!"

"So everything else is true then?"

"I..."

"Shut your mouth!" Wang Ping barked, then turned to Huang Jingjing. "You tell me. Is it true?"

Huang Jingjing teared up. "Yes..."

"Fine. What’s your name? Come with me to the Academic Affairs Office, and call your parents!"

"I... Director Wang, I really didn't follow her into the restroom! This woman is framing me! They’re ganging up on me, please don't call my parents!"

If his parents found out he was caught harassing a girl, it would be a disgrace. Although his father supported his pursuit of Huang Jingjing, he had warned him not to use force.

"Whether you were bullying her or not, we’ll discuss it in the office!" Wang Ping turned to Chu Nan. "You come too. I saw you fighting."

"Alright," Chu Nan said calmly. He knew he wouldn't face serious repercussions; at worst, it was mutual combat, and he had acted to stop harassment.

Finally, Wang Ping looked at Jiang Yuwei. "Student, would you mind acting as a witness?" He was quite polite to her; he remembered that when she registered, the Principal himself had come to greet her. Though he was arrogant with ordinary staff, he knew how to treat those held in high regard by the top brass.