What should one do when facing danger?

Some say you should cry for help when encountering criminals, but most people’s minds go blank in sudden situations.

They know they should call for help, scream, or run away.

But their brain can’t command their body, becoming frozen, letting fear take control – this is how most people react. If Xia Xiao Lan were truly just a high school student, she would certainly have been too frightened to speak.

But she wasn’t!

Recognizing the danger, she desperately twisted her arms while shouting “Ge Jian’s” name.

As she twisted, that foot lost its grip, and someone’s vicious kick grazed past her arm.

Ge Jian, following about ten meters behind, hadn’t expected any incidents right at County No. 1 High School’s entrance.

When Xia Xiao Lan was knocked down by the suddenly appearing bicycles, Ge Jian initially thought it was an accident. He pedaled hard, watching several young men hurry to help Xia Xiao Lan up, then heard her cry of pain.

When she called his name, every hair on Ge Jian’s body stood up – Miss Xia was in danger!

The sturdy Forever bicycle became a weapon as Ge Jian hurled it, instantly knocking down the two nearest attackers. Ge Jian ran fast, his explosive power immediate. After clearing the path, he saw someone pressing down on Xia Xiao Lan’s shoulders while another raised his foot to stomp on her arm… How could such a delicate arm withstand a grown man’s deliberate stomp?

Ge Jian’s flying kick struck the stomper’s back!

Another punch hit the man holding down Xia Xiao Lan’s shoulders!

Another attacker stumbled backward in fear, and Ge Jian’s fist found his stomach, his eyes blazing with fury.

Earning such high wages from Xia Xiao Lan monthly, yet she nearly came to harm under his watch. Senior Li’s countless warnings before leaving for Pengcheng filled Ge Jian with shock and anger. He showed no mercy, and in the blink of an eye, all five attackers lay on the ground.

Wherever he struck, groans and cries of pain followed.

Sun Tian was stunned – she had merely called out to Xia Xiao Lan when several bicycles crashed into her.

Then came Xia Xiao Lan’s cry, Ge Jian’s intervention, and Sun Tian belatedly ran over with stiff legs, sweating anxiously.

“Xiao Lan, Xiao Lan, are you hurt?”

Xia Xiao Lan’s face had turned pale with pain.

Sun Tian was at a loss while Xia Xiao Lan carefully moved her hands – painful yes, but no fractures… With the college entrance exam approaching, her hands were crucial!

“Miss Xia, let me take you to the hospital!”

Ge Jian dropped the pretense of being Xia Xiao Lan’s relative, seeing she was injured.

The hard fall had scraped both her arms, exposed in summer short sleeves. Her right elbow dripped blood, and both arms were red and swollen from being stepped on – the contrast with their former delicate whiteness was frightening.

Ge Jian wanted to flay these attackers alive, but Xia Xiao Lan’s injuries took priority.

“It’s okay, let me sit for a moment.”

Xia Xiao Lan shook her head with effort, knowing not to stand too quickly after falling.

She rested for perhaps a minute or two before standing with Sun Tian’s help. Moving her hands and feet, she couldn’t pinpoint which hurt more – everything seemed to hurt. Her knees were scraped, her waist twisted – those bicycles had crashed into her mercilessly.

Bicycle accidents weren’t usually this violent – they had deliberately crashed into her!

“Ge Jian, they did this on purpose, don’t let them escape.”

Sun Tian’s eyes brimmed with tears as she insisted on taking Xia Xiao Lan to the hospital. Because the crash site was close to the school entrance, Sister Huang noticed the commotion, and several people rushed over to help. With so many people around, Xia Xiao Lan was safe, so Ge Jian nodded and dragged the fallen men aside.

Since Miss Xia hadn’t mentioned calling the police, he would interrogate them himself.

The men howled as Ge Jian grabbed them:

“Don’t hit us, it’s all a misunderstanding!”

“It was just an accidental collision, how can you hit people?”

“Who are you… ah, ow, ow!”

How could what his eyes witnessed be false?

Those hands pressing Miss Xia’s shoulders had used such force, likely leaving marks visible under her clothes. Ge Jian dragged them toward an alley: “I won’t hit you, just keeping you from blocking the road.”

The alley was quite visible, not yet during lunch rush hour. Sister Huang’s mother-in-law approached, pointing at their new storefront:

“The back, there’s space in the back.”

Spacious enough to hold several people without issue.

No point discussing the law with elderly people – such old ladies were legally illiterate and unreasonable, acting entirely on impulse.

That’s why Grandmother Xia despised Xia Xiao Lan, her mind was not easily changed.

That’s why Sister Huang’s mother-in-law simply liked Xia Xiao Lan – the girl was sweet-spoken, and mainly because she had helped their family!

Ge Jian saw this was perfect, tossed the bicycles aside, and dragged the men to the former “Zhang’s” backyard despite their protests. He efficiently tied them up, gagged them, locked them in the back room, and then retrieved his bicycle to catch up with the others.

Sun Tian and Sister Huang’s group had just reached the hospital entrance with Xia Xiao Lan.

Most crucial was ensuring Xia Xiao Lan’s hands weren’t seriously injured – bypassing disinfection and cleaning, they went straight to examining her arms.

“No signs of fracture, but if you’re worried, let’s take an X-ray.”

Through manipulation detected no fracture, Xia Xiao Lan cried in pain – possibly a hairline fracture. Soft tissue contusions were certain, with scraped knees and elbows. The doctor suggested X-rays, and Xia Xiao Lan agreed it would be more reassuring. That first stomp had been vicious – if she hadn’t moved her arm, that foot would certainly have broken her wrist.

Her writing hand, no less.

Unlike those overpowered novel heroines who secretly practiced left-handed writing just waiting for crucial moments!

If her right hand was disabled, forget everything else – she truly couldn’t take this year’s college entrance exam. Whether the 1984 math exam questions would be identical was beside the point; postponing to next year would delay many of her plans! Her promise to reunite with Zhou Cheng in Beijing would be unfulfilled.

Xia Xiao Lan liked having plans for everything, and when those plans were disrupted, having determination but lacking ability… she must be feeling quite anxious.

They took X-rays first, then the nurse disinfected and cleaned Xia Xiao Lan’s wounds.

The X-ray results came quickly, and the doctor’s assessment, as he shook the film, was disheartening:

“Your right hand has a hairline fracture. It can’t be moved recently – we should put it in a cast.”

Before Xia Xiao Lan could react, Sun Tian burst into tears:

“…Doctor, can she still write? She has the college entrance exam in a few days! She ranked first in Feng Xian City’s science stream practice exam – please, you must find a way!”

First in the practice exam?

The doctor looked sympathetic while reluctantly explaining: “With this type of fracture, the injured area cannot be moved. The body has natural healing abilities, but the healing process takes time.”

For the bone crack to heal properly would certainly take more than two or three days – depending on the fracture’s severity and individual physical condition, usually two to three months.

And it was her right wrist – how could she take the exam? Three consecutive days of writing so much, what would become of her wrist?!