Chapter 47

Seeing the four menacing soldiers, the few bullies, who were cowards at heart, turned pale and trembled like sieves where they stood.

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

"Big brother, don't, don't hit me," Bao Ge cried, clutching his cheek.

"The police station has already dealt with it, we were just playing around," the tattooed boy explained in a low voice.

"It's not my fault, I didn't do anything," the other three begged pitifully.

Hao Shuang, seeing the scene before him, was so scared he almost wet his pants. What kind of person was Chu Tianshu? Even his father didn't dare to touch him, and now he had even brought a group of soldiers.

He shook his head and tried to sneak away in the dark, but just as he took a step back, Ning Xin saw him.

"Stop," Ning Xin shouted. She pointed at Hao Shuang and said to Ma Li, "He tried to take advantage of me and asked me to drink with him."

"Is that true?" Ma Li asked in surprise. "This kid is really bold."

"Ma Li, you're really stupid. If the situation wasn't urgent, would I have called my mom?" Ning Xin scolded Ma Li with a stern face.

Ma Li chuckled, but then pointed at Hao Shuang and ordered, "Bring him over."

Immediately, a soldier rushed over and dragged Hao Shuang to Ma Li.

"Do you know who she is?" Ma Li asked with a stern face.

"No, I don't know," Hao Shuang stammered.

"Today, I'll make you know," Ma Li suddenly struck, slapping Hao Shuang across the face.

Hao Shuang let out a惨叫, his body spinning, and red marks immediately appeared on his face.

"Do you know now?" Ma Li asked with a cold smile.

"I know, I know," Hao Shuang said, covering his mouth.

Slap! Another backhand.

"Do you still dare to tease her after knowing?"

Hao Shuang fell to the ground and didn't dare to make a sound.

"Report, are you satisfied?" Ma Li saluted Ning Xin and asked loudly.

"Alright. What about those hooligans?" Ning Xin pointed at Bao Ge and the others.

"Xiao Qiang, make them slap themselves," Ma Li ordered.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

On the quiet street, a series of crisp sounds echoed.

"That's better," Ning Xin smiled and asked in a low voice, "Brother Ma, did you come out with your people without your dad knowing?"

Ma Li shook his head and whispered, "No, I overheard your call to your mom and called Xiao Qiang and the others to come over."

Ning Xin giggled, waved to Ma Li, and pointed at Chu Tianshu, "Come, let me introduce you to a friend. Chu Tianshu."

Ma Li's eyes sparkled as he sized up Chu Tianshu and asked with a grin, "Boyfriend?"

Ning Xin glared at him, blushing, and pouted, "What are you talking about? He's my senior."

She then pointed at Wei Shijie, "There's another one, Wei Shijie, also my senior."

"Hehe. So you're both seniors. My apologies." Ma Li shook hands with Chu Tianshu and Wei Shijie.

"Brother Ma, thank you for coming to help," Ning Xin said politely.

Ma Li flattered, "Hehe, a long road tests a horse's strength."

Ning Xin rolled her eyes and said disdainfully, "Go, don't take credit. If it weren't for Senior Chu, I would have been teased by these guys."

"Senior, thank you," Ma Li saluted Chu Tianshu, clearly sincere.

"No need to be polite, we're all friends. Protecting a junior is a duty," Chu Tianshu said, forming a good first impression of Ma Li, finding him a man of character, a standard soldier, and a trustworthy big brother.

"Alright, for that, I'll be your friend!" Ma Li raised his eyebrows and shook Chu Tianshu's hand again.

On the other side, Xiao Qiang shouted, "Princess Ning, what should we do with these guys?"

"Senior, you decide," Ning Xin looked at Chu Tianshu, "Make them pay for what you suffered."

Hao Shuang's face was swollen, looking pitifully at Chu Tianshu, secretly relieved that Han Li hadn't had the chance to hurt him.

Bao Ge crawled over, fell at Chu Tianshu's feet, and begged, "Big brother, please spare us."

Chu Tianshu gave Hao Shuang a cold look.

Hao Shuang lowered his head, not daring to meet Chu Tianshu's eyes.

"Let it go, they didn't do much to me," Chu Tianshu didn't want to hold a grudge against Hao Shuang and the others.

Ma Li kicked Hao Shuang and scolded, "Hurry up and thank Senior Chu."

Hao Shuang stood up, bowed slightly to Chu Tianshu, and mumbled, "Thank you, thank you."

"Hao Shuang, don't bully others anymore. Do you understand? No matter how tough you are, there's always someone tougher," Chu Tianshu added, "Don't bother Liu Chunna again, got it?"

Hao Shuang mumbled.

Ma Li kicked him again, "Loudly, didn't you hear?"

"I understand," Hao Shuang's voice was louder, secretly cursing, "Dare to touch your woman? I'd be asking for death."

"Go, for Senior Chu's sake, I'll spare you today," Ma Li kicked Bao Ge.

The boys helped Hao Shuang up and ran away, their pants wet.

Watching the miserable backs of the boys, Xiao Qiang and the other four soldiers still felt unsatisfied, angrily cursing, "If anything happened to Princess Ning, we'd have to cripple these bastards."

"Right," Ma Li turned to Chu Tianshu, "No one can bully us from the compound."

"Compound?" Chu Tianshu was a bit puzzled.

"You didn't know?" Ma Li looked at Chu Tianshu in surprise, then at Ning Xin.

Ning Xin smiled and shook her head.

Wei Shijie quickly explained, "Old Chu, they grew up together in the military compound." As he spoke, Wei Shijie looked envious, regretting that his father had joined the North Lake District Armed Forces too early to marry his mother, or he would have been a child from the compound too.

Chu Tianshu suddenly understood.

Ma Li, Ning Xin, and the others were all children who grew up in the military compound, their parents comrades-in-arms, and the children lifelong friends, sharing a special bond, similar experiences, and backgrounds, which formed the foundation of their mutual support in society.

He took a closer look at Xiao Qiang and the others who came with Ma Li. They were of different ages and builds, with Ma Li the oldest and strongest, clearly their leader. Xiao Qiang looked younger than Ning Xin, his uniform without shoulder badges, and his movements and demeanor suggested he wasn't a regular soldier.

Ning Xin laughed, "Xiao Qiang, you're wearing your dad's old uniform again?"

Xiao Qiang tugged at the hem of his uniform, embarrassed, "I left in a hurry and grabbed the first one I found. Princess Ning, still pretty handsome, right?"

"Hehe, what's the use of being handsome? You'll still get your butt kicked when you get home," Ning Xin said, making Ma Li and the others laugh.

Ma Li, Ning Xin, and the others chatted and laughed together.

Chu Tianshu quietly asked Wei Shijie, "Who is Ning Xin? Ma Li and the others seem to be afraid of her."

Wei Shijie glanced at Ning Xin and said, "Her father is the deputy commander of the Qingyuan Military District."

No wonder Wei Shijie had been so submissive to Hao Shuang in the bar, he was genuinely worried about Ning Xin's safety. Not only would his father not forgive him, but Ma Li and the others would tear him apart.

Chu Tianshu watched Ning Xin and the others from a distance and smiled.

Ning Xin felt they were talking about her and walked over, "Senior Wei, what are you and Senior Chu saying about me?"

"Nothing," Wei Shijie laughed awkwardly and ran over to Ma Li to chat.

Chu Tianshu looked at Ning Xin and smiled without a word.

Ning Xin tilted her head, looking at Chu Tianshu playfully, "Why are you looking at me like that? Are you curious?"

"Yes, what did you do after you ran out? I thought I'd have to suffer tonight," Chu Tianshu said.

"Hmph," Ning Xin tossed her head, her ponytail swinging, looking incredibly cute. "I called my mom."

"Your mom? She's quite capable, handling the police and mobilizing the military. Impressive," Chu Tianshu teased.

Ning Xin lowered her voice, "My mom called my dad's old comrade in the city bureau."

"Oh, do I have that much influence? Why would your mom listen to you?"

"Hehe," Ning Xin blushed, her hands fidgeting in front of her, and said softly, "I told her you're my boyfriend."

Chu Tianshu laughed, "I'm your boyfriend? You're so young, your dad would beat you."

"Hmph, he never beats me."

"Right, you're your parents' good girl. How could you have a boyfriend at such a young age?"

"Am I young? I'm not a little girl anymore," Ning Xin straightened up, displeased.

Chu Tianshu glanced at her. Ning Xin wasn't wrong; her body was well-developed. But in his eyes, she was more like a cute and playful little sister. He teased, "What kind of logic is that? Not being a little girl means you must have a boyfriend?"

Ning Xin rolled her eyes, "What's wrong with you? Ma Li and the others are crazy to be my boyfriend, but you don't even care. I'm so angry."

"Haha, little sister, you're so funny."

"I don't care. If my mom asks, I'll still say that."

"Aren't you afraid I'll sell you out and make you count my money?"

"Go ahead and try to sell me," Ning Xin laughed, "But you have to sell me to a handsome guy like you."

"Stop joking."

"I'm not joking. What, are you already taken?"

"Not yet."

"Then do you think I'm too ugly?"

"No, you're very pretty," Chu Tianshu smiled at Ning Xin.

"Then why are you looking at me with such a strange look?" Ning Xin stared at Chu Tianshu.