He was tall, with a cold and hard appearance. He didn’t seem to smile much.

He wasn’t exceptionally handsome, but his looks were decent. However, anyone with eyes could tell he had just come from a construction site!

Most importantly, there seemed to be something wrong with his leg…

It didn’t look like a recent injury, but rather a chronic condition.

Song Huanhuan felt particularly distressed thinking about it. She poked her head out from behind the bed curtain, looking at Meng Ting sitting at the desk.

The delicate beauty’s skin, exposed in the late summer, was so soft it looked like water could be squeezed from it.

After a while, Song Huanhuan withdrew her head back behind the curtain.

The next day, while going to their Jurisprudence class, Song Huanhuan whispered to Mi Lei, “My mother used to say, ‘A poor couple faces a hundred sorrows.’ I know it’s better to advise reconciliation than separation, but I feel Meng Ting and her boyfriend are completely mismatched. He’s probably the type who didn’t do well in school, didn’t get into university, and now works at a construction site. I bet he can’t even afford to buy her a dress.”

Mi Lei glared at her, “What nonsense are you talking about? The most important thing in a relationship isn’t these things! True love is already hard to come by.”

“Well, don’t they need money to buy a house in the future? To raise children? Food, clothing, shelter – aren’t these all weapons that destroy love? It’s not like they can survive on love alone. Don’t tell me we’ll have to support Ting Ting and him!”

Mi Lei was at a loss for words.

Song Huanhuan felt no sense of achievement in winning the argument. She couldn’t bring herself to advise someone to break up just because the guy was poor.

She just felt melancholic. A beauty like Ting Ting could have any kind of boyfriend she wanted, couldn’t she?

As they finished their Jurisprudence class and were about to go for lunch, they encountered Qin Yang.

Qin Yang was driving a sports car and wearing sunglasses. His eyes lit up when he saw Meng Ting coming out with her books, “Meng Ting, there’s a new Western restaurant that just opened. Would you honor me with your company for a meal?”

“No,” Meng Ting replied, hugging her books and walking past his car towards the cafeteria.

Qin Yang jumped out of the car to block her path, “Hey, I heard it’s really good. Even if you won’t accept my pursuit, there’s no problem with having a meal as friends, right?”

The Law Department students who had just finished class all turned to watch this scene.

Qin Yang would pull this stunt every few days. Meng Ting would refuse him, and he’d be back again after a few days.

It had almost become a regular sight at the Law School.

Jiang Rong couldn’t help but laugh, “Qin Yang, don’t block our department flower. She has a boyfriend, how could she go to dinner with you?”

Meng Ting turned back, seeing Jiang Rong’s smug smile.

Song Huanhuan, who now found Jiang Rong very irritating, sneered, “Jiang Rong, you seem to be doing well in your new dorm. Your tail is up in the air again. I wonder if your new roommates know what you’re really like.”

“Are you threatening me? I’m just telling the truth. Yesterday, so many people saw Meng Ting’s boyfriend. He looked quite interesting, didn’t he?”

Qin Yang raised an eyebrow. He had thought Meng Ting was just making excuses before, but it turned out she did have a boyfriend, and many people had seen him.

Jiang Rong waved her phone, “Qin Yang, want to take a look?”

Of course, Qin Yang wanted to. He was curious to see which man dared to compete with him for a girl.

Jiang Rong handed over her phone, “I was eating yesterday and happened to run into them. I accidentally captured them in my selfie.”

The photo was indeed as she described. In the background of Jiang Rong’s selfie were Meng Ting and Jiang Ren.

Although the image quality wasn’t great, the beautiful girl smiling and raising a spoon was undoubtedly Meng Ting. The boy across from her wasn’t clear, but his clothes were very dirty, black clothes stained with cement – one look was enough to understand.

Qin Yang frowned as he looked at the photo. The back view seemed familiar… damn.

But he couldn’t recall where he had seen it before. The man in the photo certainly didn’t look like someone impressive. Qin Yang tossed the phone back to Jiang Rong and said to Meng Ting, “You like him so much that you won’t accept me?”

Jiang Rong couldn’t resist adding fuel to the fire, “Your boyfriend has a problem with his leg too, right? Tsk tsk, as expected of the department flower, has such a unique taste. Sorry, I didn’t notice you and your boyfriend in the photo earlier, I accidentally uploaded it to the forum.”

Song Huanhuan was so angry she was about to puff up like a pufferfish.

She turned to look at Meng Ting and was startled. It was the first time Song Huanhuan had seen Meng Ting angry!

Meng Ting took a few steps forward, “Give me your phone.”

Jiang Rong was also stunned for a moment, “Who do you think you are? Why should I give it to you?”

“Why? Because you’ve repeatedly taken photos without permission, showing your poor character. I like my boyfriend, what’s wrong with that? Is it normal to like scum like you instead? Are you worthy of mentioning him? Of insulting him? Your words disgust me.”

Meng Ting gritted her teeth, her eyes slightly red.

She didn’t like the look in people like Jiang Rong’s eyes at all.

That mocking, sneering gaze. Meng Ting was shaking with anger. She also hated Jiang Rong’s current behavior, capturing Jiang Ren at his most vulnerable moment. Her young man was so self-conscious about these things, only feeling at ease under the cover of night. Her heart ached terribly for him.

People were coming and going after class.

At the foot of the teaching building, Meng Ting said, “I’ll give you one last chance. Delete all the photos.”

“Why should I delete my selfies? Get lost!”

Meng Ting threw her Jurisprudence textbook, hitting Jiang Rong squarely on the shoulder.

Jiang Rong exploded too, rushing over to hit Meng Ting without thinking.

For Meng Ting, this was the first time she had ever fought, and it was happening at the foot of the university teaching building. This time was usually for lunch, but now everyone had come to watch the commotion.

Meng Ting had never fought before. Her long black hair was a mess, and she desperately wanted to beat Jiang Rong.

Song Huanhuan had disliked Jiang Rong for a long time too. She was quick-witted and, fearing Meng Ting might be at a disadvantage, pretended to try to break up the fight while sneaking in a hit on Jiang Rong.

Jiang Rong was nearly furious to death!

By the time Jiang Rong’s roommates reacted and pulled them apart, Jiang Rong’s ponytail was in disarray. Her shoulder hurt terribly!

Meng Ting touched her cheek; Jiang Rong’s nails had left a scratch mark, showing how much Jiang Rong hated her face.

The usually gentle and adorable department flower fighting – almost the entire Law Department found it unbelievable.

“Wait, wait,” Qin Yang stopped Meng Ting. He looked at the thin red mark on her face. The girl’s eyes were slightly red, but her gaze was bright and lively. Even though girls fighting shouldn’t look good, Meng Ting looked like a small kitten trying to act fierce, making her even more vivid. She was stunningly beautiful.

Ahem, and with that red mark on her face, she probably didn’t realize it gave her a kind of violated beauty.

Qin Yang said, “I didn’t mean it like that. I do like you.”

Meng Ting picked up her book, “You like me?”

“Yes!”

“My boyfriend,” her big eyes curved slightly, “would never let me be bullied while standing by and watching.”

Qin Yang was stunned for a long time.

He was extremely frustrated, “Come on, I just broke you two up, didn’t I? I can’t hit women, can I? Does that guy even hit women?”

If it were Jiang Ren, he would go crazy.

Meng Ting didn’t even look at him, walking away with Song Huanhuan.

Song Huanhuan was very satisfied, “I managed to kick her twice just now. It felt so good!”

Mi Lei had heard Meng Ting’s words and was now very curious about what kind of person could make the little fairy fight.

University wasn’t like high school; fighting incidents were rare, especially two girls fighting at a prestigious university.

This incident caused quite a stir. That afternoon, Meng Ting was called to the counselor’s office.

It was the first time in her life she had been called in by a teacher for violating rules.

The counselor said, “Tell me what happened.”

Jiang Rong gritted her teeth, “I accidentally captured her boyfriend in my selfie. Meng Ting tried to grab my phone. When I refused, she hit me with her book. She struck first, and I only retaliated because I was angry.”

“Meng Ting, what do you say?”

“She took the photo deliberately and refused to delete it. She had already taken photos of me without permission before and uploaded them online…”

Jiang Rong shouted, “You’re lying!”

The counselor asked Meng Ting, “Do you have any evidence that she took photos of you without permission?”

“My roommates all know about it.”

Jiang Rong sneered, “They’re your roommates, of course, they’ll speak for you. You’ve been excluding me for a long time now.”

“All right, Jiang Rong has a point. Even in court, related parties can be asked to recuse themselves. I’m aware of Jiang Rong’s previous room change. But it’s also not right for Jiang Rong to have photos of Meng Ting on her phone. You two fighting at the teaching building has created a very bad impression. The leaders have even called me in to talk about it.” The counselor pushed up his glasses, “I won’t give you demerits. You’re both young ladies who care about face, right? Just write a self-criticism report each and hand it in before school ends today. That’ll be the end of it. Reflect on yourselves well, and remember not to act impulsively no matter what happens.”

On the October afternoon, Meng Ting was the only one left in the classroom.

Jiang Rong had already written her report and submitted it. Meng Ting sat at her desk with a blank piece of paper, unable to write a single word.

Qin Yang had thought long and hard after lunch and came to see her, only to find her in this state.

The sunset light streamed in through the window. She had buried her face in her arms, looking pitiful and wronged.

Qin Yang wanted to comfort her. She was so well-behaved, probably never having written a self-criticism report before. He could even ghostwrite it for her.

However, just as Qin Yang took two steps forward, a young man entered through the front door.

The young man’s black hair was covered in a thin layer of sweat, and his white shirt outlined his muscular frame. His expression was cold, and when Qin Yang met his pitch-black eyes, his mind went blank for a moment.

He might forget anyone else, but he wouldn’t dare forget this guy.

Damn, it was Jiang Ren!

The most notorious second-generation rich kid in B City, the madman who didn’t even flinch when his head was bashed in! He finally realized why that back view in the photo looked so familiar! No way, Meng Ting’s boyfriend was Jiang Ren?

The down-and-out, crippled construction worker they had been talking about was Jiang Ren!

Qin Yang was used to throwing his weight around, but he knew Jiang Ren wasn’t a normal person! That one look from Jiang Ren made him feel terrible all over, “Ren… Brother Ren?”

Jiang Ren ignored him. The girl by the window raised her head when she heard “Brother Ren.”

Her eyes were rimmed with red.

Jiang Ren walked over without a word and pressed her small head against his chest, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here. It’s all right now.”

“Jiang Ren,” she said softly.

“Let me see your face.” He lifted her chin.

For a moment, Meng Ting saw deep and suppressed anger through his pitch-black, colorless pupils.

“It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt anymore,” she curved her lips, her voice sweet, “Why are you here?”

“Sun Yi said you got into a fight.”

“Who’s Sun Yi?”

“A professor at your school,” he said in a low voice, “How did you end up fighting?”

Meng Ting felt the unease of a child facing a parent. She lowered her long lashes, “Weren’t you supposed to go back to H City?”

“I’ll go back later.” He looked at the wound on her face, his expression still without a smile.

Meng Ting looked at him carefully, still not telling him why she fought, “I won, you know. Her shoulder hurts. I hit her several times, and Song Huanhuan kicked her a few times too.”

So we didn’t lose, okay?

He stroked her hair. His voice was hoarse, “Mm, Ting Ting is so capable.”

Meng Ting’s face flushed.

Qin Yang had long since run away, leaving only the two of them in the classroom.

Meng Ting felt that Jiang Ren’s mood was strange. She held his fingers with her small hand, “Are you angry?”

“No.”

But when she touched his fingertips, she was shocked to feel how hot they were. Just like that day outside the hospital, outside the old record store, when he kissed her for the first time in the rain. When he was ill and beat Chen Shuo badly.

He gripped her hand tightly.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Are you afraid of me?”

Meng Ting felt a bit dazed and shook her head.

“What do you want to do about Jiang Rong?”

Hearing her say Jiang Rong’s name, Jiang Ren wasn’t surprised at all. Instead, he smiled, “What do you think?”

Meng Ting swore she didn’t mean to, but at that moment, in that sunset, she saw a glimpse of the ruthless business tycoon from her previous life in the young man before her.

Cold, angry to the extreme, emotionally unstable, making her tremble slightly in fear. Familiar yet strange.

She knew Jiang Ren wasn’t quite normal, but today he seemed to be losing control.

Jiang Ren closed his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath to calm himself, “Be good, don’t be afraid. I won’t do anything to her.”

He curved his lips, “Ting Ting, let me see if you’re hurt anywhere else?”

She shook her head, looking at him suspiciously.

Jiang Ren picked her up and sat her on his lap.

Meng Ting found this position very embarrassing, even though there was no one else in the classroom. She couldn’t help but squirm, wanting to get down. Jiang Ren rested his chin on her shoulder, “You got angry for my sake. I’m very happy.”

Meng Ting said softly, “But you don’t look happy at all.”

“Because you got hurt.”

“It won’t happen again,” she said seriously, thinking back, “I’ve never fought before. Next time I’ll have experience.” She felt a bit happy at the thought of being able to win next time.

He chuckled softly, “You dare to have a next time?”

“Let me go first. I can’t leave school if I don’t finish writing the self-criticism report,” she said, not daring to move after brushing against the metal buckle of his belt.

“You did nothing wrong,” he said flatly, “You’re not allowed to write it.”

As long as he was alive, she could do no wrong.

Meng Ting lifted her gaze to his resolute chin; this man looked quite fierce.