To think that a prince charming like this had taken the initiative to pursue Su Qing. As her best friend, Wang Cai’er was naturally delighted for her.
If Su Qing could marry Luo Zhao someday, she would not merely have nothing to worry about in terms of food and clothing. She would be able to enjoy endless wealth and glory!
A man like him was practically the most sought-after bachelor in all of Qing City, and he was young and handsome to boot.
Wang Cai’er thought that compared with a man like this, Lin Fan was nothing but a clump of mud on the ground, while Luo Zhao was a great roc soaring through the heavens.
Su Qing, however, shook her head without hesitation. “Senior Luo, I appreciate your kindness, but there’s already someone I like.”
Luo Zhao cast a sidelong glance at Lin Fan. “Is that who you’re talking about?”
Su Qing’s face flushed, and she hurriedly shook her head. “Of course not!”
Luo Zhao smiled faintly. “Perhaps you still don’t understand the situation. If you refuse to be my girlfriend, I’m afraid the person you like won’t be able to leave safely today. You’d better think it through. If you really like him, then becoming my girlfriend would be the best thing you could do for him.”
Su Qing’s face immediately filled with hesitation when she heard that. He was right!
If she refused Luo Zhao today, someone like Lai Xiaolong would probably make it impossible for Lin Fan to leave safely.
She did not believe Lin Fan could beat Lai Xiaolong either. Even if Lin Fan had knocked Lai Xiaolong to the ground before, Lai Xiaolong would not be coming alone this time.
Lin Fan suddenly spoke up. “Senior Luo, don’t you think it’s a little dishonorable to force someone to be your girlfriend like this?”
Luo Zhao turned to look at Lin Fan, faint disdain in his eyes. “You should be grateful. Today, I’m the only one who can save you.”
“Is that so? Then let’s see whether anything happens to me today.” Lin Fan laughed and stepped forward, lightly tapping Su Qing on the forehead. “What’s wrong? Are you really considering becoming this kind of person’s girlfriend? Come on. Nothing’s going to happen to me.”
With that, Lin Fan took her by the wrist and walked around Luo Zhao toward the school gate.
Xu Dong and Wang Cai’er hurried after them.
The surrounding crowd erupted at once.
“What was Su Qing thinking? She actually turned Senior Luo down.”
“Exactly! That’s Senior Luo we’re talking about. If Senior Luo confessed to me, I’d accept him on the spot.”
Even the boys who liked Su Qing could not help feeling sorry for her.
“That Lin Fan can’t compare with Senior Luo at all. The campus beauty Su is really being foolish.”
“Yeah. If the campus beauty Su dated Senior Luo, we could accept losing to him. But losing to someone like Lin Fan? I can’t swallow that.”
Luo Zhao stood where he was, watching Su Qing walk away, and smiled. If Su Qing had agreed to him just like that, he might have found it rather boring. Instead, the spirited Su Qing he saw now only made him like her more.
“Su Qing, whoever I, Luo Zhao, take a fancy to will be mine.”
“Lin Fan, Lin Fan.”
Su Qing followed behind while Lin Fan held her hand. She hurriedly said, “Why don’t I agree to Luo Zhao for now? Once we get past Lai Xiaolong, I’ll break up with him?”
Lin Fan shook his head. “Once you agree to someone like that, do you think you’ll be able to break up with him so easily? Don’t be foolish. I, Lin Fan, haven’t fallen so low that I need a girl to protect me.”
“B, but what about Lai Xiaolong?” Su Qing said.
Lin Fan had already spotted several people outside the school looking in their direction with unfriendly expressions.
They were clearly not dressed like students either.
Lin Fan stopped where he was, and Wang Cai’er and Xu Dong finally caught up.
Wang Cai’er said, “Qingqing, you’re really being foolish! How many people dream of being pursued by Senior Luo and never get the chance? Yet you actually turned him down!”
Su Qing frowned at Wang Cai’er. “Cai’er, I told you, I don’t want my feelings controlled by power or influence.”
“You… I really don’t know what to say to you!” Wang Cai’er scratched her head. “How are you two planning to get past Lai Xiaolong now? Have you thought about that?”
Su Qing furrowed her brows, then said, “There’s always a way out. We’ll take it one step at a time.”
Lin Fan said, “Xu Dong, you and Su Qing should go back first. I’ll leave by myself.”
“You’re going alone?” Su Qing frowned.
Lin Fan smiled. “Since Luo Zhao is pursuing you, whether you accept him or not, Lai Xiaolong will show him some respect and won’t do anything to you. As for me, you don’t need to worry.”
“Brother Fan, do I look like the kind of person who runs away when he sees trouble?” Xu Dong stepped forward. “I’m standing with you.”
“I’ve already told you, nothing’s going to happen to me,” Lin Fan said. “It’s settled!”
With that, Lin Fan turned and ran out through the school gate. There was no point trying to reason with them. He would have to shake them off instead.
Before long, Lin Fan plunged into the crowd.
“Lin Fan!”
Su Qing and Xu Dong hurried after him, but with the area outside the school packed with people at dismissal, they soon lost sight of him.
Su Qing’s eyes grew slightly red. “Lin Fan!”
What Lin Fan was doing felt no different from throwing his life away in Su Qing’s eyes. How could she not be frantic?
Outside the school, the unfriendly-looking men saw Lin Fan run out and flee into a nearby alley.
The group hurried after him.
Lin Fan glanced at the people following him and smiled. With his speed, he could easily have shaken them off, but he deliberately slowed down and let them keep up.
It was better to settle everything at once. That way, he would not have to deal with them blocking his way every day in the future.
There was a river near No. 1 High School. Below the embankment was a stretch of grass formed when the river receded, and a basketball court had been built there as well. Students often came to play basketball after school, while young couples came to spend time together.
Lin Fan ran all the way to the basketball court and stopped.
When he turned around, he saw five men approaching from behind. Each of them was tall and powerfully built, and behind them came Lai Xiaolong.
Lai Xiaolong was wearing his school uniform and walking slowly. When he saw Lin Fan standing on the basketball court, a broad smile spread across his face.
“Why did you stop running?” Lai Xiaolong walked over at an unhurried pace and entered the basketball court. The five men following behind him were no ordinary thugs.
They were men who had fought alongside Lai Qiye in his early days. No one knew how many injuries they carried between them.
All five were around thirty years old. Following behind Lai Xiaolong, they radiated an intimidating presence. The fierce, battle-hardened air surrounding them was more than an ordinary student could withstand.
Lin Fan stood where he was with his hands in his pockets. “You only brought this few people? I thought Young Master Lai would call in several carloads.”
Lai Xiaolong said, “I know you’re trained and have practiced some martial arts, but these men are enough to deal with you.”