CM - 67

Zhou Shu-rong felt much better in the afternoon, but since Shen Ting-wen had already gotten her leave, she didn’t stay at school. She went to the hospital to see Zhou Xi-you, and then headed to the gym.

After school, Shen Ting-wen called her and followed her to the gym. The first thing he said when he saw her was, “Does it still hurt?”

His words made a lot of people’s minds wander, including the fitness trainer nearby, who coughed several times and made an excuse to leave: “You two chat.”

Zhou Shu-rong didn’t look at Shen Ting-wen, “It didn’t hurt anymore when I left.”

Shen Ting-wen saw that she looked much better and stopped worrying, “Then I’ll give you a ride home later.”

Zhou Shu-rong looked at him, “No need.”

“Why not?”

Why? With Shen Ting-wen, if she let him drive her home, he would definitely try to come inside. Once inside, he would get up to no good, and she wouldn’t be able to resist.

Shen Ting-wen looked a little hurt, “You never need me, which makes me feel like a useless boyfriend.”

“There you go again. It’s not like I don’t have feet. Do I really need you to drive me?” Zhou Shu-rong got off the stationary bike and took a sip of water, “But you’ve brought up a valid point. I can do everything myself, so what’s the use of having you?”

“You shouldn’t think that. I’m definitely of some use. For example, when you miss me, I can... just like last night...”

Zhou Shu-rong stood on her tiptoes and covered his mouth, “Just shut up!”

Shen Ting-wen held her wrist and kissed her palm, “Just like last night, I can hold you.”

Zhou Shu-rong’s ears turned red. The thought of last night made her feel uncomfortable all over. She leaned in close to Shen Ting-wen and whispered, “Don’t talk about that!”

Shen Ting-wen asked her, “So, do you need your boyfriend?”

Zhou Shu-rong was grinding her teeth, “Yes!”

“Then will you let me drive you home?”

“Yes!”

Shen Ting-wen reached out to wipe the sweat from her forehead. Before he could say anything else, a group of people walked over—the same people who had waited for Zhou Shu-rong by the pool last time.

They didn’t look particularly menacing, but everyone who saw them knew they were up to no good.

Shen Ting-wen didn’t speak first, wanting to see what they were going to do.

The leader of the group asked Zhou Shu-rong, “Didn’t you say you have AIDS? You have AIDS and you’re at the gym? Aren’t you afraid of infecting others?”

Zhou Shu-rong’s voice was flat, “Does that have anything to do with you?”

“No, it’s just that your deceptive behavior isn’t very nice. We want to teach you a lesson so you can understand your problem.” As the man spoke, he toyed with a lighter, and his actions sent shivers down people’s spines.

The group of them, some wearing cheap boat shoes, fake AJs, and counterfeit Supreme, with thick gold chains of questionable authenticity around their necks, looked exactly like the stereotypical troublemaking youths who hang around school gates.

Zhou Shu-rong had seen these types of people near several campuses. They would help female students carry their bags for no reason, just to get their social media information.

Shen Ting-wen also had a certain amount of influence at school. While he couldn’t be called a bully or a gang leader, his name would still strike fear into anyone who wanted to fight, as they had seen his skills before.

But there was a fundamental difference between him and this group of people. He didn’t wear fake goods, and no matter how rebellious he was, he took his studies seriously and never sought pleasure in showing off.

This was the influence of his family. He could be a slacker and not study hard, and his parents would still pave the way for his future. If he couldn’t make it in the country, he could go abroad. In the international student community, he would still be the kind of person people instinctively wanted to curry favor with.

Even if he regressed, his way of thinking would still be ahead of most people. As long as he ‘returned to the right path,’ he would still be a patriarch.

There was no comparison because there was no way to compare.

No matter how arrogant and powerful these guys felt at the moment, they were people Shen Ting-wen could easily deal with.

Zhou Shu-rong didn’t want to waste her breath on them, “No need to teach me a lesson. You guys don’t have anything to teach me anyway.”

The leader of the group didn’t think so, “If you had said you didn’t want to add us, we wouldn’t have forced you, but what’s with the lying? Do you think we’re being clingy and desperately want your social media?”

Zhou Shu-rong took off the headband tied around her head, glanced around, and seeing that there weren’t many people, she said to them, “Aren’t you?”

The man looked at his friends, looking incredibly surprised, “You bitch, has no one ever told you that acting so arrogant will get you a beating? You think we don’t hit women?”

Shen Ting-wen didn’t let Zhou Shu-rong say anything else. She had said enough for the day, and she wasn’t feeling well. She couldn’t speak anymore. He stepped in front of her, facing the group directly, and said in a calm, quiet voice, “Go on, say that again.”

The guys laughed, “Oh my god, you scared me. A knight in shining armor? Which big brother are you from?”

Shen Ting-wen didn’t waste any more words. He kicked the leader, and at the same time, grabbed Zhou Shu-rong’s arm, pulling her farther away to get her out of the way.

The leader stumbled a few steps and was caught by his friends. While they were still reacting, the gym manager and a few trainers came over and stood between them.

The manager couldn’t afford to offend either side, so he kept trying to mediate. The leader, who had now recovered, was not having it. He yelled, demanding that Shen Ting-wen kneel before him. His friends echoed his demands.

Their voices were loud, and the gym was filled with their shouts.

Shen Ting-wen couldn’t stand to hear them say a single word about Zhou Shu-rong. He pushed the gym staff aside, grabbed the leader by the collar, and pulled him in front of Zhou Shu-rong, “Apologize.”

“I’m not fucking apologizing! I’ll fuck your mom!” The leader wasn’t powerless, but Shen Ting-wen had him by the arm, leaving him unable to move his body, only his mouth.

Shen Ting-wen slapped him in the face, “Apologize.”

“I’ll apologize to your mom! What, do you think I’m scared of you?”

A second slap: “Apologize.”

The leader fought back, grabbing Shen Ting-wen’s arm and trying to kick him.

The gym staff tried to break them up. Two people pulled on each of them, and they were finally separated.

But Shen Ting-wen wasn’t having it, and neither was the other guy. One demanded an apology, and the other demanded that someone kneel.

The leader spat on the floor. His eyes were bloodshot, and he kept licking his teeth. His fake clothes trembled along with his muscular body. He looked so furious that it seemed if he didn’t eat Shen Ting-wen alive, he wouldn’t live to see the next morning.

Shen Ting-wen didn’t make any threats. He just kept repeating the same two words: “Apologize.” But it was terrifying enough. At least, Zhou Shu-rong had never seen him like this before.

The gym couldn’t afford any trouble. They said that if neither party would back down, they would call the police. That’s when the leader’s arrogance began to fade. He pointed at Shen Ting-wen and threatened him, “You just fucking wait.”

Shen Ting-wen didn’t let him leave. How could he leave without apologizing?

He was willing to take a hit to get a win. He didn’t care if the police were called, but this jerk had to apologize. He had been too vulgar, and Shen Ting-wen couldn’t accept it.

The leader seemed to be very afraid of being taken to the station. Though extremely unwilling, he finally apologized to Zhou Shu-rong, but not without a threat, “I’ve apologized. Can you at least tell me your school, class, and name? Don’t tell me you’re too scared to, only to act tough here as a gym member.”

Shen Ting-wen didn’t hide anything, “Guoda High School, Shen Ting-wen.”

The guy memorized it, “You just wait!”

Once the group was gone, the gym manager came over to apologize. They knew what was more important. Between people who bought tickets for a single swim and people who paid for a year’s membership at once, they were definitely on the side of the annual member.

Shen Ting-wen had nothing to say to them. He turned to Zhou Shu-rong and asked, “Ready to go?”

Zhou Shu-rong was no longer in the mood to work out.