NOVEL WEB Chapter 10 - Refuse to Apologize!
For a top-tier talent like Yuwen Ba, physical wounds might heal easily, but the scars on the soul were far harder to mend.
In front of hundreds of students at the school gates, Lu Lixing had been brought to his knees by Yuwen Ba. For Yuwen Ba, the disgrace was immeasurable, a stain that no amount of blood could cleanse.
Sha Xiufen, having rushed to the scene, stood by the hospital bed, her face mirroring the dark scowl of the injured Yuwen Ba. She hadn't anticipated Yuwen Ba seeking out a confrontation with Lu Lixing, let alone that Lu Lixing would come out on top.
Had she not seen it with her own eyes, Sha Xiufen would have struggled to accept the truth. How could Lu Lixing, a bottom-ranked student from an ordinary class, overcome a prodigy from the elite class? The Lu Lixing she knew surely didn't possess such prowess.
“Senior Brother Ma, I share the blame for this incident. I'm truly sorry,” Sha Xiufen offered her earnest apology to Yuwen Ba. Despite her superior talent and strength, Yuwen Ba was a confidant of Zhang Tu, and as Zhang Tu's girlfriend, she felt compelled to show Yuwen Ba due respect.
Yuwen Ba, initially dismissive upon hearing Sha Xiufen's apology, managed a forced smile out of consideration for Zhang Tu. “You're not at fault. I simply let my guard down and paid the price. Rest assured, it won't happen again.”
His words were laced with venom, and his face twisted with malice. Indeed, there would be a next time, and he wouldn't let Lu Lixing off lightly. Before, he had intended only to break Lu Lixing's legs as a lesson, but now he envisioned breaking all four of Lu Lixing's limbs—or rather, all five.
Only such extreme measures could quell the burning resentment he harbored for Lu Lixing.
Witnessing the raw hatred etched on Yuwen Ba's face, Sha Xiufen understood that he would never let this go; revenge against Lu Lixing was inevitable. And as she thought of Lu Lixing, a flicker of annoyance crossed her mind. Why did he always seem to court trouble?
“Take care and rest up, Senior Brother. I'm heading out.”
Sha Xiufen said her goodbyes to Yuwen Ba and walked away.
Yuwen Ba watched her retreating figure, her graceful silhouette, and let out a cold, mocking laugh. Under his breath, he muttered, “She's nothing but Young Master Cheng's toy, yet she fancies herself the future Young Madam of the Zhang family.”
Sha Zhenghao was feeling a whirlwind of emotions. He was also quite disheartened. The complexity stemmed from his surprise at how strong his childhood friend had become, strong enough to take down Yuwen Ba, the notorious tough guy. The sadness came from knowing Yuwen Ba's vengeful nature; he wouldn't take this defeat lying down. Lu Lixing was in for a rough time facing Yuwen Ba's inevitable backlash, and as Lu Lixing's close friend, Sha Zhenghao knew he'd be caught in the crossfire. Despite this, Sha Zhenghao had no intention of running away. Standing by Lu Lixing as his loyal brother, he might not be up for throwing punches, but taking a few hits together was no big deal.
“What's got you lost in thought over here?”
Lu Lixing, emerging from the school gates, spotted Sha Zhenghao under the tree, lost in a daze. With a smile, he teased, “What, got spring fever? Daydreaming about your goddess?”
Snapping out of it, Sha Zhenghao looked up at the grinning Lu Lixing and raised his thumb in approval. “You killed it, bro! You've really made a splash this time. By tomorrow, the whole school will be buzzing about how Yuwen Ba, the bully from the Advanced Class, got taken down by a nobody from the Regular Class. You're about to become a legend!”
Lu Lixing flashed a cheeky grin. “So, want me to include you in the story? When they ask, I'll say we did it together. That way, you, Young Master Wang, can get a taste of the spotlight too.”
“No way,” Sha Zhenghao quickly gestured with his hands and shook his head vigorously, “I'm not cut out for that kind of fame.”
Seeing that his good buddy Sha Zhenghao hadn't shunned him for stirring up trouble with Yuwen Ba, Lu Lixing was genuinely elated. His earlier remarks were just in jest; he had no intention of spreading rumors—it simply wasn't necessary or worthwhile. After all, Yuwen Ba was nothing more than a minor player.
“Come on, brother, I'm taking you out for some skewers,” Lu Lixing said cheerfully. The extra cash from running errands today meant they could treat themselves to a decent dinner.
When Sha Zhenghao heard Lu Lixing's offer to foot the bill, he didn't hesitate. “I'm in for two hefty skewers to make up for the fright you gave me today!”
As Lu Lixing and Sha Zhenghao were about to head out, a tall figure in a pleated skirt stepped in their path.
“Lu Lixing, you're coming with me,” Sha Xiufen demanded, her gaze stern and face expressionless.
Sha Zhenghao gave Lu Lixing a sly nudge and a conspiratorial wink. While others might be clueless about Lu Lixing's history with Sha Xiufen, as Lu Lixing's close friend, he was well aware. Sha Xiufen's sudden appearance could mean something exciting was afoot.
What Sha Zhenghao didn't realize was that Sha Xiufen was now Zhang Tu's girlfriend and had already vowed to cut ties with Lu Lixing.
Confronted by Sha Xiufen, Lu Lixing pressed his lips together and asked, “What do you need me for? If it's not urgent, let's skip it—I've got plans to hit up the barbecue with Sha Zhenghao.”
Sha Xiufen's brow furrowed at his response. “You're still in the mood for skewers? Do you really think you're unbeatable just because you outsmarted Yuwen Ba? Listen up, you're no match for the prodigies in the Important Class. If you don't want Yuwen Ba's retaliation, you'd better come with me now and apologize to him! If you show a bit of sincerity, I can assure you he'll leave you alone from here on out.”
Watching Sha Xiufen's self-righteous display of concern, Lu Lixing felt anything but warmth or gratitude. Instead, a sense of annoyance crept in. With a forced smile, he addressed Sha Xiufen coolly, “An apology seems unnecessary. If he's out for revenge, then let him come. You don't need to worry about me, and I certainly don't need your concern. We agreed to go our separate ways, and that's what we should do.”
“You're clueless about what's good for you!”
Sha Xiufen's anger flared at the sight of Lu Lixing's dismissive demeanor. She had meant well, yet she hadn't anticipated such a reaction from him!
As for Sha Xiufen's humiliation and rage, Lu Lixing was indifferent. The Sha Xiufen before him was a far cry from the girl he once knew. The pure, cheerful, kind, and endearing young woman who had once captured his heart was long gone.
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