Chapter Thirty-Two: "Break His Leg"

Chapter Thirty-Two: "Break His Leg"

Chen Xiao hesitated for a moment, realizing he had indeed been following her, and managed a wry smile. “I’m sorry. But I mean no harm... It’s just that you look so much like a girl I once knew.”

Xiao Qing gazed into Chen Xiao’s eyes. Her expression revealed that she wasn’t actually angry; after a few seconds of silence, she nodded. “Ah, this trick again.” She glanced at him. “Are you going to tell me next that this girl named Phoenix, whom you mentioned, is someone you’re deeply in love with? Is this how all the boys here try to win a girl’s heart?”

“Uh... no,” Chen Xiao replied, his smile awkward. “Actually, I only met her once. I’m just a bit curious about her.”

“Oh, I see.” Xiao Qing nodded, her eyes calm and unreadable. “Is this how you always approach girls?”

“That’s not what I meant.” Chen Xiao rubbed his nose and sighed. “I know you won’t believe me. But even if you aren’t Phoenix, I’m certain you must be related to her somehow. The resemblance is uncanny!”

With a casual motion, Xiao Qing swept a lock of wind-tousled hair from her forehead, her gaze softening a little. “Alright, I’ll tell you one more time: I am not this Phoenix you speak of. I’ve never even heard the name.”

She paused and almost smiled. “But I am curious. Is there really another girl in this world who looks exactly like me? If you ever meet her, please introduce us.”

As Xiao Qing was about to leave, Chen Xiao couldn’t help but ask, “I’m sorry, but... the boy surnamed Xu you mentioned earlier—is it Xu Yifan?”

Xiao Qing frowned. “How do you know?”

Chen Xiao smiled, raising his hand to point at the car beside her—the very BMW Z8 that Xu Yifan usually drove.

“Xu Yifan is a good friend of mine. Today he was driving a Volvo and told me he’d lent his car to a teacher who’s been instructing him in martial arts.” Chen Xiao pursed his lips in a slight smile. “You’re clearly skilled, and you happen to be driving Xu Yifan’s car. I just hadn’t expected you to be a student at our school. I’ve never seen or heard of you before—are you new here?”

She must be new—if there’d been such a stunning girl at Kade Academy, word would have spread long ago!

“Yes, I just arrived yesterday and completed my transfer paperwork this morning.” Xiao Qing regarded him with a touch more warmth. “You’re his friend? Then perhaps you can tell me something.”

“Er... what is it?” Chen Xiao’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that this girl and Xu Yifan...?

“The Xu family and mine are old acquaintances. I only agreed to tutor him out of respect for his family. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t bother with such things. But as I’m new in K City, his family helped arrange my school transfer. Besides, Xu Yifan kept pestering me, saying there was a martial arts master in school he’s never managed to beat over the years—he’s been trounced time and again. I don't know how many beatings he’s taken... I relented and agreed to teach him a few things,” Xiao Qing said with a faint smile. “But I have my own matters to attend to in K City, so I don’t have much time to instruct him. Still, to repay their favor... I thought, since he’s learning martial arts just to get revenge on that guy who’s bullied him for years, I might as well take care of it myself—teach that guy a lesson and break a few of his bones while I’m at it.”

Chen Xiao was stunned.

Wait... someone has been fighting Xu Yifan for years, always beating him badly... countless times over the years...

Why does this sound so familiar? Could it be... me?!

Of course! It must be that Xu Yifan, wanting to become her pupil, invented this tragic story to win her sympathy, knowing she wouldn’t otherwise agree! Given his personality, this was certainly the case!

“You... you’re planning to find that guy and give him a good thrashing?” Chen Xiao asked with a bitter smile, rubbing his nose.

“Yes,” Xiao Qing replied, somewhat exasperated. “Unfortunately, I haven’t found him. I’ve checked all the martial arts clubs at this school, but I haven’t seen anyone stronger than Xu Yifan. They’re all useless.”

Thank goodness you haven’t found him!

Chen Xiao forced a smile. Xu Yifan’s lie! If Xiao Qing, ignorant of the truth, found him, he’d be doomed. Judging by her earlier display of skill, he was definitely no match for this seemingly delicate girl.

“Uh... have you considered that Xu Yifan might have lied to you?” Chen Xiao asked cautiously. “Perhaps he just wanted to become your student, so he made it all up...”

“I detest being lied to,” Xiao Qing replied evenly, as if it were nothing extraordinary. “If I find out he’s deceived me, I’ll break one of his legs.”

What?

Best to say nothing more!

But this was a dilemma! If the truth wasn’t revealed, Xiao Qing would be after his own bones; if it was, Xu Yifan would lose a leg...

Chen Xiao hurriedly changed the subject. “So, you just arrived in K City?”

Xiao Qing’s entrancing eyes fixed on him, silent for a long moment before she sighed. “I know this might be presumptuous, but... classmate, I truly have no interest in you, so please—” She frowned, at a loss for words. “I’m not very good at rejecting people, but I think you understand what I mean. I’m not interested in any other boys right now.”

Chen Xiao blushed. “Sorry... um, are you and Xu Yifan...?” He caught himself halfway through—the idea was absurd. If Xiao Qing were really Xu Yifan’s girlfriend, she wouldn’t have threatened to break his leg—and she certainly hadn’t been joking.

“No,” Xiao Qing almost laughed, finding his suggestion a bit ridiculous. After a moment’s thought, she added, “I’m already engaged. I came to K City to find my fiancé.”

Fiancé? Was that even possible? If she’d said boyfriend, that would be one thing, but fiancé? Xiao Qing looked even younger than he was—seventeen or eighteen at most—already engaged? What kind of era was this?

Chen Xiao couldn’t help but smile. “Honestly, I’m not trying to pester you. No need to make up such a story to turn me down. I think you’ve misunderstood me—I’m not trying to pursue you, it’s just that you look so much like...”

“I’m not lying. I never cared for lies,” Xiao Qing replied with a faint smile.

Chen Xiao believed her immediately.

Her tone and demeanor left no doubt—she wasn’t joking.

“I just find it odd. You’re so young, yet you’re getting married?” Chen Xiao sighed.

“No,” Xiao Qing shook her head firmly. “I came here to find my fiancé because I want to tell him I don’t wish to marry him and persuade him to dissolve the engagement. I don’t know where he is, so I’ll have to search slowly.”

You’ll search... slowly?

“...” Chen Xiao was speechless. After a moment, he gave a wry smile. “You’ve never met your fiancé? Still, I think it won’t be easy. You’re such a beautiful girl—any man would be reluctant to part with you.”

Xiao Qing almost smiled. “That’s not something I’m worried about.”

“Uh... what if he refuses to break off the engagement?”

“If words can’t convince him, I’ll use my fists,” Xiao Qing said lightly. “I’m very skilled at ‘persuading’ people.”

At that moment, her half-smiling expression was so like Phoenix that Chen Xiao couldn’t help but be transfixed...

(Note: There will be a second chapter tonight. However, since today is Sunday and for the sake of the weekly rankings, the second chapter will be updated a bit later—right at midnight. But it will be a long one, equivalent to two regular chapters! Please come and support the book at midnight and cast your votes for next week's ranking!)