The evening air carried a faint chill as Zhao Yifen strolled past the institution's entrance, hands tucked in his pockets. He had been craving something luxurious for dinner—something to celebrate the day's progress.
That plan, however, came to an abrupt halt when he noticed a commotion near the street.
A well-dressed businessman (Zhou Mingcheng) had a tight grip on a young woman's (Chen Rui) wrist, his fingers digging into her skin as she flinched in pain. Her expression was strained, her body slightly turned away, as if trying to retreat without provoking him further.
Yifen narrowed his eyes. Another entitled bastard throwing his weight around.
The woman suddenly yanked her arm free and, without hesitation, ran straight toward him. Her body trembled as she clung to his arm, her voice pleading.
"Please… help me."
Yifen's posture remained relaxed, but his eyes sharpened as he glanced between her and the man approaching. The businessman's expression twisted in irritation, adjusting his expensive cufflinks as if Yifen's presence was nothing more than an inconvenience.
A slow, mocking chuckle escaped his lips.
"Who do you think you are? A knight in shining armor?"
His tone dripped with sarcasm, as if the very idea was laughable. Taking a step closer, he exuded the confidence of a man who was used to getting his way.
"Walk away before you regret it."
Yifen tilted his head slightly, his smirk lazy but unreadable.
"Shining armor? That's a bit dramatic. But I get it—you're used to people looking the other way. Guess today's not your lucky day."
The businessman's eyes darkened at the casual defiance.
"Listen, kid. There's a way to handle things. This is between me and my secretary. No need for outsiders."
His tone turned slick, almost convincing, as he turned his gaze to the woman.
"You're really making a scene over nothing? You'll ruin your career over this."
Yifen watched her expression tighten, the hesitance creeping in. The bastard knew exactly where to hit—fear.
Yifen exhaled lightly and took a step forward, closing the distance between them. His voice dropped a fraction, his tone calm but laced with something far more dangerous.
"If you care about your reputation, walk away. Because the next time you open your mouth, I won't just shut you up with words."
For the first time, the businessman's confident mask cracked.
A few onlookers had gathered, whispering among themselves. Yifen could see the hesitation flicker in the man's eyes. If he pushed forward now, it could spiral into something messier than he intended.
The businessman clicked his tongue, straightening his suit as if brushing off the situation.
"Tch… You have no idea who you're messing with."
His voice was tight, but Yifen knew the battle was already over.
With one last sharp glare at the woman, he scoffed and turned away, walking off with his pride barely intact.
A New Ally?
Yifen let out a quiet breath as the tension faded. He guided the woman to a nearby bench, taking out a napkin from his pocket and handing it to her.
"Take a breath. What happened?"
She hesitated, staring at the napkin as if grounding herself before speaking.
"I… I work for him. I'm his secretary."
Her voice was soft, almost reluctant.
"I'm nineteen. Just graduated and applied for the job. I thought it would be a great opportunity, but…"
Her hands curled into fists.
"He's been inappropriate for weeks. Subtle at first. But today… today he went too far. He tried to force himself on me. I—I slapped him."
Her voice cracked slightly, but there was no regret in her eyes—only anger.
"That's when he got aggressive."
Yifen leaned back slightly, exhaling. So that's why he was so pissed. His ego took a hit.
"You did the right thing."
Her eyes flicked up to meet his, uncertainty lingering in her gaze.
"But… he's powerful. He has connections. If I go against him, he could ruin my career before it even starts."
She bit her lip, frustration and helplessness warring in her expression.
Yifen smirked slightly.
"And? You think you're alone in this?"
Chen Rui blinked.
"People like him only win when no one stands up to them."
There was something about his tone—an unwavering confidence that made her pause.
A flicker of something different passed through her expression.
"…Then what should I do?"