66. A Hero Saves the Maiden

"Yan, are you sure we don’t need to go over and help?" Ma Yunan watched the scene unfolding at the school gate, both nervous and excited.

This was the classic hero rescuing the damsel scenario!

Sister Min was truly something else. Even when facing a burly man who might raise his hand at any moment, her presence was formidable.

But that man had just swung with real force—if he actually hit Sister Min, wouldn’t that be a huge problem?

Seeing Bai Jinyan shake his head, Ma Yunan pressed on, "Are you really sure? If we just stand by and watch, won’t she be mad when she finds out?"

Bai Jinyan sighed. "If we go over now, that’s when she’ll be mad..." He nodded toward the row of unfamiliar, well-dressed men standing diagonally across from them. "Her family is here already. They won’t let her suffer any loss."

"Her family?" Ma Yunan looked curiously at the group Bai Jinyan indicated. "Which one?"

"All of them. Assistants and bodyguards."

Assistants... and bodyguards...

Ma Yunan fell silent.

Meanwhile, the head of the bodyguards, growing impatient after being prompted several times, finally spoke up.

"Assistant Pan, are we really not going over?"

Assistant Pan watched the situation on the field nervously and, at the question, turned and muttered under his breath.

"Going over now would be suicide! Can’t you see Miss is holding back her anger? If you stop her from venting it on someone else, do you want her to take it out on us?"

"Uh..."

That actually made sense...

"Keep your eyes on that man. If he makes any move, get in there—absolutely don’t let him lay a finger on Miss!"

"Yes, sir!"

...

Guo Yang’s expression was so dark it seemed ready to pour rain. Except for the time he’d had to swallow his pride to propose to that wretched woman years ago, no one had ever dared speak to him like this.

He’d clawed his way to his position for years—no more bowing and scraping, no more lowering himself. Now others vied for his favor.

Work and life had both been smooth sailing, with only one source of irritation: the money-losing daughter his ex-wife had left behind, constantly getting in his way and causing trouble!

Now, some wild little brat he didn’t even recognize dared to speak to him like this?

She had no idea how high the heavens were!

---

Still, Guo Yang clung to the last shred of reason. It was, after all, a public place, and there were plenty of people around secretly filming with their phones. Disciplining his shameless daughter was one thing. But if he hit someone else for no reason and it blew up online, cleaning up afterward would be a real headache.

Swallowing his anger, Guo Yang said, "You’re young, so I’ll let it slide. Where are your elders? Call them out here. I want to see how your family raises someone like you!"

Chen Ruomin was about to reply when her sleeve was tugged twice. She turned her head and saw Guo Jingyuan looking at her with deep concern.

"I appreciate your kindness, but..." Guo Jingyuan whispered to Chen Ruomin, quietly revealing another aspect of the man’s identity, her worry evident. "You’ll only bring trouble to your family. For someone like me, it’s not worth it."

Chen Ruomin gently pulled her sleeve free from Guo Jingyuan’s grasp, choosing not to answer her.

She turned to Guo Yang, her voice cold. "Talking to you should be my assistant’s job. Standing here is already wasting my time, and you think you’re entitled to speak to my family? Where do you get the nerve to make such demands?"

The insolence!

Guo Yang could stand it no longer. He raised his hand, preparing to slap her again.

So what if there’d be trouble cleaning up after? This wretched girl had to be taught a lesson! And her family, too!

Chen Ruomin didn’t even flinch.

The moment Guo Yang’s hand went up, the bodyguard team, who’d been watching his every muscle movement, surged forward. One seized his raised right arm, another grabbed his left and twisted it behind his back, a third pressed firmly against his forehead, and the rest formed a solid wall between Guo Yang and Chen Ruomin.

On the other side, for the first time, Guo Jingyuan tried to resist her unreasonable father’s violence. She rushed forward, hands raised, aiming to shield Chen Ruomin before Guo Yang could strike.

But Guo Yang’s hand never landed as expected. Instead, she collided with the hard back of a bodyguard, nearly losing her balance.

Bai Jinyan, too, darted forward at once. He turned his back to Guo Yang, shielding Chen Ruomin tightly in his arms, ensuring that no matter from which direction Guo Yang’s hand fell, it would only strike his back, never touching her.

The sudden appearance of more than a dozen men was so startling that the bystanders, who’d been watching for entertainment, were left gaping.

"My god, this is intense!"

"I don’t care, I’m posting this video online. This is just too cool!"

Gao Tang, who had only taken half a step forward, retreated back into the crowd, a look of regret on his face.

"I wanted to play the hero, but it seems I didn’t even get a chance to go on stage."

...

"Are you alright?" Seeing the Chen family’s bodyguards arrive in time, Bai Jinyan finally released her from his embrace.

"What could possibly happen to me?" Chen Ruomin managed a calm expression, though she felt a touch of sweetness inside.

Bai Jinyan didn’t call her out on her obvious bravado. He patted her hair, about to let go, when a flicker of movement in the crowd caught his eye—it was Gao Tang, hiding among the people.

---

His eyes narrowed, and his gesture instantly changed. Instead of releasing her, he wrapped his arm around Chen Ruomin’s waist, standing by her side.

Chen Ruomin was taken aback. Why did Bai Jinyan’s actions now feel... odd? Almost as if he were staking a claim?

She nudged him lightly. "You’re kind of cramping my style here..."

Bai Jinyan raised his eyebrows, but said nothing. He gave her a gentle squeeze and whispered by her ear, "I’ll be right here, waiting for you."

"Mhm."

Chen Ruomin nodded, then stepped forward to steady Guo Jingyuan, who was still dizzy, and signaled for the human wall in front of her to part.

"Still want to hit someone?" she asked, smiling at the tightly restrained Guo Yang.

"Let me go!" Guo Yang struggled, his face flushing with anger.

Chen Ruomin waved for the bodyguards to release him. Yet, as soon as he was free, Guo Yang tried to move again, and, as expected, was stopped a second time by the bodyguards.

"Can’t you behave yourself? Hitting people is really disgraceful," Chen Ruomin said sincerely.

Guo Yang glared at her, grinding his teeth, but dared not make another move. Instead, he turned his gaze to Guo Jingyuan.

"Are you just going to watch them treat your father like this? Get over here! You little—" His words were abruptly cut off as a bodyguard quickly covered his mouth.

"I don’t like foul language either," Chen Ruomin said, shaking her head.

Furious, Guo Yang pushed away the bodyguard’s hand, but could only vent his anger at Guo Jingyuan.

"Get over here!"

Guo Jingyuan flinched and walked over with her head bowed.

This time, Chen Ruomin did not stop her.

"I’ll deal with you when we get home!" Guo Yang muttered through clenched teeth, shoving Guo Jingyuan. "Come home with me!"

Guo Jingyuan followed behind, expression blank. Just as the two were about to leave, a devilish voice rang out from behind.

"Wait."

Instantly the bodyguard team closed in.