Volume One: High School Days Chapter Fifty-One: Wang Chen Arrives Just in Time

"He Xun?" Liu Sheng wanted to confirm again, so he asked. Tang Xin nodded, then tugged at Liu Sheng and said, "Let's go. I don't want to stay here tonight."

Ren Xiadong stepped forward and said to Liu Sheng and Tang Xin, "Who cares who he is! I’m going to beat him up first. That arrogant prick thinks I need his invitation?"

"Don’t! Let’s just leave," Tang Xin said timidly, afraid Ren Xiadong might do something rash.

Liu Sheng knew that, even though he was wealthy, there were still people he couldn't afford to cross. After a moment's thought, he took out his phone and called Wang Chen.

"Liu Sheng? Calling me this late—did you get into trouble?"

"I wanted to ask you about something, about the He Corporation."

"Why are you interested in that? The He Corporation is just a lapdog of our North-South Group. They look good on the surface, but behind the scenes they're begging us for help. If it weren’t for us, they would have gone bankrupt ages ago!"

"Do you know He Xun?" Liu Sheng asked.

"Of course I do. He’s always kissing up to me—I don’t even want to acknowledge him. What, did he mess with you?"

"Not a big deal, just a little conflict."

"Where are you? I’ll come over right now and teach him a lesson!"

After hanging up, Liu Sheng sent Wang Chen the address and finally felt at ease.

He returned to Ren Xiadong and Tang Xin. "It’s fine now. So, how should we deal with him to vent our anger?"

Tang Xin hurriedly said, "Please, let’s not make a scene. We really can’t afford to provoke him. Let’s just go."

"I’m not leaving. I’ve hated his face since I got here. Don’t try to stop me—let me at him first. You two follow after!" Ren Xiadong was about to go after He Xun but Liu Sheng pulled him back.

Tang Xin, heart pounding in terror, breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Liu Sheng restraining Ren Xiadong.

But just as she relaxed, she heard Liu Sheng say, "Young Master He, I think it’s time for that slutty girl at your side to give us a little show—a sexy dance to liven up the party. Since you’re the host, you ought to make everyone happy, don’t you think?"

The room fell silent. Everyone knew Liu Sheng was in deep trouble now. To speak to He Xun like this—he was courting death!

Tang Xin hurried to He Xun and said, "Sorry, he’s drunk. I’ll take him away right now."

"Stop," He Xun said coldly.

Everyone looked on, eager for the drama to unfold.

He Xun continued, "Do you know who you’re talking to? Today, you’re not leaving unless you break an arm!"

"Please, let him go. He’s just a kid—he doesn’t know any better," Tang Xin pleaded.

He Xun’s girlfriend walked over, sneering, "You think you deserve to watch me dance? Do you even know whose woman I am?"

She raised her hand to slap Liu Sheng, but before she could, his hand shot out and gripped her arm. He squeezed hard, and she shrieked in pain.

He Xun grabbed a wine bottle from the table and charged at Liu Sheng, but Ren Xiadong blocked him and shoved him aside.

"One thousand per person—beat these two to death for me!" He Xun shouted.

Spurred on by He Xun’s words, the crowd surged toward Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong.

Liu Sheng released He Xun’s girlfriend, ready to teach He Xun a lesson about respect.

At that moment, Tang Xin stepped in front of Liu Sheng and shouted, "Let them go! I’ll do anything you want—just let them go!"

He Xun yelled, "Fine! Give us a sexy dance, and I’ll let them go!"

Without hesitation, Tang Xin took off her coat. "I don’t know how to dance."

As she removed her coat, the crowd’s eyes lit up.

He Xun said, "Then don’t dance. Strip naked and let everyone have a feel. Then I’ll let them go."

Tang Xin burst into tears. "Why do you all have to bully me?"

Just as she was about to take off her shirt, Liu Sheng grabbed her hand. Ren Xiadong looked at Liu Sheng, who nodded. He pulled Tang Xin behind him and declared, "I won’t stand by and watch the women around me get humiliated again!"

With Liu Sheng’s nod, Ren Xiadong vaulted over the table and tackled He Xun, who was sitting in a booth, pummeling him with his fists.

The others rushed to help He Xun, but anyone who got close was either blocked or knocked down by Ren Xiadong.

In reality, Liu Sheng was using his special ability. Whenever someone was about to land a hit on Ren Xiadong, Liu Sheng would speed up time for himself, dash over, and kick them away before they could attack.

Tang Xin was truly terrified. "He Xun won’t let us go."

"Are you scared?" Liu Sheng asked.

"I am, but what’s done is done. I’m willing to face it with you."

Seeing Tang Xin’s resolve, Liu Sheng felt a lump in his throat. He never expected a girl he’d only just met to stand by him in a crisis.

While Ren Xiadong was unleashing his fury, the nightclub’s security guards finally arrived, pulling Ren Xiadong off and pinning him to the ground.

The head of security approached He Xun. "Mr. He, how should we deal with this one?"

He Xun took the baton from the security chief and walked toward Ren Xiadong, raising it to strike him.

Liu Sheng wanted to use his power, but Tang Xin, terrified, clung to him, holding him back.

As He Xun was about to bring the baton down, Wang Chen’s voice rang out: "Stop!"

He Xun dropped the baton at once and hurried over to Wang Chen, fawning, "Brother Chen, what brings you here?"

Seeing that Ren Xiadong hadn’t been beaten, Liu Sheng breathed a sigh of relief. He said to Tang Xin, who was still holding him, "Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, nothing will happen."

Tang Xin let go and nodded at Liu Sheng.

"Let my brother go!" Wang Chen barked.

At his command, the security guards released Ren Xiadong, who got up and slapped each guard in the face. "You did a good job—this is your reward!"

"Is he Brother Chen’s friend?" He Xun asked respectfully. The He family’s business depended entirely on Wang Chen’s family. He Xun dared not defy him.

Wang Chen slapped He Xun hard. "You think I came here this late just to play with you?"

Then he walked over to Liu Sheng and Ren Xiadong.

"Ren Xiadong, are you alright?"

Ren Xiadong shook his head to show he was fine.

Wang Chen turned to Liu Sheng, "Liu Sheng, you decide how to handle this tonight."

Liu Sheng looked at Tang Xin. "They’ve bullied you all this time. Now, it’s your turn—do whatever you want."

Wang Chen noticed the light in Tang Xin’s eyes and pulled Liu Sheng aside. "Not bad! She’s gorgeous. Is she your new girlfriend?"

Before Liu Sheng could explain, Wang Chen went on, "Poor Liu Meng. But that’s alright! I’ll take care of her from now on. Thank you for giving me this chance, Liu Sheng."

The commotion had silenced the nightclub. All eyes were on Liu Sheng’s group.

Just then, a crisp slap echoed. Liu Sheng looked over to see Tang Xin slapping He Xun’s girlfriend.

"That’s payback for what you did to me!" Tang Xin declared. She glanced at the crowd. "Do you remember how you all used to bully me? That’s left a shadow over my whole life!"

"Tan Xin, we only did it because He Xun told us to—we had no choice!" the others protested.

Liu Sheng rushed to Tang Xin, whose emotions were beginning to spiral, and took her hand. "Tell me how you want to vent your anger. I’ll help you."

Ren Xiadong chimed in, "Me too!"

Liu Sheng could tell Tang Xin had been through darkness; otherwise, she wouldn’t be so unstable now. He felt a surge of pity for her, even though he didn’t know what had happened.

Wang Chen, no fool himself, could easily see that Tang Xin had suffered much at He Xun’s hands. He stepped up and gave He Xun two hard slaps.

Tang Xin wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and said, "Today, I can finally hold my head high. I don’t have to be afraid of you anymore. I won’t make things difficult for you, but that doesn’t mean I’ll ever forgive you! You left me in darkness for too long. I won’t cause trouble in the future, but if we meet again, treat me as a classmate, not your plaything!"

At that moment, Ren Xiadong turned to He Xun’s girlfriend. "Well, sister-in-law, can you dance for us now?" Then he shouted to the DJ, "DJ, music!"

Terrified, He Xun’s girlfriend was forced to climb onto the table and, trembling, strip and dance.

Tang Xin grabbed Liu Sheng and headed for the exit. Ren Xiadong and Wang Chen followed, leaving He Xun staring helplessly at his girlfriend, bewildered, still unsure who he had offended.

Seated in Wang Chen’s car, Liu Sheng suggested, "How about a drink?"

"Uncle Liu, find a nearby restaurant that’s still open," Wang Chen told his driver.

After driving around for a while, they found a 24-hour diner.

Wang Chen sent his driver home and reminded everyone to be careful as he left.

After two cases of beer, Tang Xin finally spoke. "Liu Sheng, you’re friends with President Wang of the North-South Group, so who exactly are you? I realized today you’re not ordinary, and neither is Ren Xiadong."

Wang Chen replied, "Tang Xin, right? Just call me Wang Chen from now on. You’re my benefactor now—if you ever need help, just ask."

Hearing Wang Chen speak to her like this, Tang Xin felt both flattered and surprised. "Benefactor? You all are my benefactors."

Wang Chen thought Tang Xin was Liu Sheng’s new girlfriend and probably didn’t know about Liu Meng, so he explained, "Liu Sheng and I go way back. I’ve only ever been in one fight, and he was the one who led me into it."

Hearing this, Liu Sheng thought of Xiaoya again. Noticing Liu Sheng’s sudden somberness, Ren Xiadong quickly tried to change the subject. "Tang Xin, what exactly did they do to bully you?"

Tang Xin’s expression darkened, matching Liu Sheng’s.

"Never mind, forget I asked. I was trying to lighten the mood, but now we’ve got another living corpse at the table. Come on, Wang Chen, let’s drink."

After Ren Xiadong and Wang Chen had finished their drinks, Tang Xin took a bottle and downed it in one go. Setting the empty bottle down, she said, "They all slept with me."

The three men, including Liu Sheng, were stunned into silence.