Chapter 44: A Little Too Fearless

Without Yan Rong’s approval, Ji Feiyang and I had to keep our relationship quiet.
One day, we were strolling hand in hand through Beishan Park when we ran into Sun Wenyuan and Ma Shaoqi.
They were still together?
How remarkable.
For a moment, we all stopped, regarding one another with mutual displeasure.
“Feiyang! Fancy running into you here.”
Sun Wenyuan’s sugary voice gave me goosebumps. Then she gave a little laugh, pretending to be ladylike.
If Ji Feiyang hadn’t been there, the sound of her voice alone would have earned her a murderous glare.
And if it came to fighting, she wouldn’t stand a chance anymore.
Zhou Guo had taught me several moves. I was no longer the old Tang Yijun.
One shoulder throw would take care of her. No more childish rolling on the floor and pulling hair.
Wait.
What was she doing?
My eyes flashed towards her.
Without the slightest hesitation, Sun Wenyuan linked her arm through Ji Feiyang’s.
The angrier I looked, the happier she smiled.
And him?
He didn’t seem bothered at all. He almost looked as though he was enjoying it.
Why didn’t he push her away?
I turned my glare on him.
“You two are here as well,” he said to Sun Wenyuan with a smile.
He hadn’t even noticed the look I was giving him.
Outrageous.
I found the fleshiest part of his arm and pinched hard.
“Ow! Tang Yijun, what are you doing?”
I snorted.
“You’re getting more unreasonable by the day.”
“Don’t you know she’s famous for being spoiled?”
Sun Wenyuan sounded astonished.
“Are you really dating? Feiyang, surely that can’t be true?”
He gave an awkward smile.
“Yes, we’re together. What of it? Have we murdered someone? Burned down a house? Robbed a bank? Since when is it your business?”
Sun Wenyuan hid behind him, pretending to be frightened.
“Look. She’s going to hit me again.”
Only then did I notice my fists were clenched.
Yes, I was furious. But I hadn’t actually decided to hit her.
Old habits.
“Tang Yijun, stop reaching for your fists every time.”
“Mind your own business!”
I rushed forwards and pushed Sun Wenyuan away.
“Stay away from Ji Feiyang.”
“Careful, Wenyuan!” Ma Shaoqi cried. “Don’t get hurt.”
“Ma Shaoqi, shut your mouth.”
One hand planted on my hip, I pointed fiercely at him with the other.
He obediently fell silent.
When I turned back, Ji Feiyang was rubbing his forehead.
“Does your forehead itch?”
He sighed.
“You’re giving me a headache.”
Then he turned to the others.
“We’ll be going. Enjoy yourselves.”
He pulled me away.
Once we were well clear of them, he said, “Could you try not to start an argument every time you see someone?”
“Who says I wanted an argument? Didn’t you see what she was doing?”
I copied Sun Wenyuan, clutching his arm in both hands.
He burst out laughing.
“You jealous little thing. That was enough to set you off?”
“From now on, no other woman gets to drape herself over you. Especially Sun Wenyuan.”
“You…”
He tapped my head.
“I’ve known Wenyuan since she was little. She’s like a younger sister. You’re jealous of that too?”
“I’m jealous of everything.”
“What a headache. How are we supposed to get through life like this?”
Seeing his pained expression, I asked, “Are you starting to dislike me?”
“Here we go again.”
“You’re not allowed to dislike me.”
“All right.”
“Am I annoying sometimes?”
“Definitely.”
I felt a vein throb in my forehead.
“Look. Angry again. Like a little rooster with its feathers up.”
He was teasing me.
Still, I knew how easily I lost my temper.
“Ji Feiyang, what do you like about me?”
This time, I was serious.
“Well, I don’t know…”
He made a show of thinking.
“Looking at it carefully, there doesn’t seem to be much to like.”
My fist clenched.
“Going to hit someone again?”
“I’m asking seriously.”
I lowered it.
“Let me think.”
He considered the question for a while.
“No. Nothing comes to mind.”
“Ji Feiyang!”
He quickly moved out of reach of my fist.
“I knew you didn’t really love me.”
My voice caught.
He’d never told me what he loved about me.
Now he couldn’t think of anything.
All at once, my confidence vanished.
Sun Wenyuan was right. I was a spoiled young woman.
He shouldn’t love me.
“A moment ago, you were ordering everyone about,” he said, still teasing. “Now you’re crying.”
I sniffed.
Two trails of tears ran down my face.
“I know there’s nothing about me worth loving. I know I have a bad temper. I’ve caused you so much trouble…”
“Silly girl. I was joking. You’ve taken it seriously.”
His smile faded.
“Then tell me. What is there about me that you love?”
“Love doesn’t need a reason. Haven’t you heard that?”
“Really?”
“Really.”
That answer was satisfactory enough.
I smiled through my tears.
He wiped them from my cheeks.
“Look at you. Tears at a moment’s notice.”

We were leaving Beishan Park and about to get into the car when a shout rang out.
“Stop him! He’s stolen my bag!”
Looking towards the voice, I saw a scruffy young man snatching a pretty woman’s handbag.
How dare he?
I ran after him.
“Hey! Tang Yijun!”
Before Ji Feiyang could stop me, I’d darted across the road.
“Stop! Stop!”
The thief was fast.
He ducked into a quiet alley, and I followed.
After running some distance, we entered a deserted lane.
Suddenly, he stopped and turned towards me with a nasty grin.
He was asking for a punch.
My fist clenched, ready to give him one.
“Brave little girl, aren’t you?”
“I’m not afraid of anything,” I said scornfully.
Except Yan Rong, I added silently.
“I can handle her myself.”
That didn’t seem to be directed at me.
I looked left.
Nobody.
Right.
Nobody.
Behind me—
When had that shifty-looking young man appeared?
“So you’ve got help. Very nice.”
I kept my voice calm while my mind raced.
What would I do if they both came at me?
“Help? I can deal with you on my own. Start begging. Call me sweetheart, and perhaps I’ll let you go.”
“You must be joking. Show some respect.”
“Well, well. A little spitfire.”
The thief lunged.
I put all my strength into it.
He thought I would punch first.
That was the feint.
My right foot drove into his stomach, followed by a lovely punch.
Zhou Guo’s lessons really worked.
He howled.
The man behind me rushed in.
I seized his arm.
A swift movement, a heavy thud—and he was on the ground.
“She knows martial arts!” the thief yelled.
“Yijun!”
Ji Feiyang ran into the alley.
“Run!”
The two thieves fled in opposite directions.
For a moment, I couldn’t decide which to chase.
Ji Feiyang caught me.
“You’re still going after them? Do you realise how much you worry people?”
“What’s there to worry about?”
I was bursting with pride.
“Two against one, and I beat them both. Ji Feiyang, I can take on two people by myself…”
The more I said, the more excited I became.
He picked up the crumpled handbag from the ground and handed it to me.
“Come on. Give this back to its owner.”
I hesitated.
“What’s wrong?”
“My hand hurts a little.”
He took it.
The back of my hand was red and swollen.
Physics said forces acted both ways.
Punching the thief meant my hand had taken a hard impact too.
Ji Feiyang rubbed it gently.
“Serves you right. Perhaps next time you won’t show off.”
“It hurts!”
“Don’t rush off on your own again. Tell me first. Understand?”
“And if I tell you first, my hand won’t hurt?”
He nodded.
“What a liar.”
I laughed despite myself.
“At least I’ll be there to protect you. I won’t let you get hurt.”
“Ow. It really hurts!”
He looked rather too pleased with himself.
“Serves you right.”