Chapter 14

Xu Yao was stunned as Wen Liang roughly pushed her away and chased after the girl. A surge of inexplicable anger filled her chest. She naturally had no feelings for the foolish Wen Liang. As a princess who had been pampered and cherished all her life, it was only natural that she would look down on the immature boys of her age. However, this did not mean she could tolerate such an insult from him.

After all, today on the bus, Xu Yao had been quite friendly. While you don't have to be overly grateful for kindness shown to you, you should at least show some corresponding politeness.

Very well, you little fool, you've provoked me!

Xu Yao stomped her foot hard, bit her lower lip, and just as the bus doors were about to close, she squeezed through the gap and jumped off, causing a chorus of gasps from the passengers. The driver, still shaken, wiped his forehead and shouted out the window, "Whose kid is so unruly? Damn, it's a girl... damn, she's even pretty. Forget it!"

There was a chorus of disapproval from the passengers.

Wen Liang followed Tan Xue into the Phoenix Jewelry Store. Although it was a small branch on Mingdu Road with an area of about 50 square meters, it was luxuriously decorated, exuding an aura of opulence. If your pockets were cleaner than your face, you might need to take a few blue pills before entering. A girl on the other side of the store sat idly behind the counter, not even lifting her head when they entered.

Tan Xue turned and saw Wen Liang, feeling even more curious but still very polite. "Sir, we are closing in five minutes. If you need anything, please come back tomorrow."

Wen Liang opened his mouth but didn't know how to start. Should he say, "I see a dark spot on your forehead, indicating a recent disaster"? He would be lucky not to get thrown out...

Tan Xue gestured for him to leave, and Wen Liang scratched his head, thinking that since they were closing, nothing would happen today. He could come back tomorrow and maybe find a solution.

Just as he was about to leave, Xu Yao burst in like a gust of wind, circling around Wen Liang and sneering. Wen Liang spread his hands helplessly and teased, "Nowadays, debtors are the ones in charge. If you don't want me to eat that ice cream, can't I just not eat it? Is it necessary to chase me like this?"

"Pah!" Xu Yao gave him a look of disdain. "I saw you following this sister, acting very suspiciously. I came to see if you were up to something! Let me tell you, one thing at a time. If you don't eat that ice cream, it's not going to happen. Twenty sticks, I want to see you eat them all!"

Wen Liang was speechless. So, losing twenty ice creams and not showing any change in expression, you were just waiting for me! "Let's go, let's buy them now! If I'm afraid of you, I'll have grown twenty-four ribs for nothing!"

His words were full of bravado. Xu Yao, who had been too lazy to bother with him, couldn't help but mock, "The Bible says women have twenty-four ribs, and men have one less. Are you planning to become a woman?"

Tan Xue chuckled again, immediately covering her mouth. She hadn't forgotten the strange scene today, which had all started with her laugh on the bus.

"Good one, you're quite the scholar!" Wen Liang rolled up his sleeves, revealing his bare shoulders. "I can't argue with you without taking off my shirt... The Bible says God took a rib from Adam to create Eve, which only means Adam had one less rib than Eve. Does the Bible say their descendants will always be like that? Classmate, believing everything you read is worse than not reading at all. You'll read yourself into stupidity..."

With Wen Liang's experience from two lifetimes, he had no real interest in arguing with a little girl in public. He just wanted to use this opportunity to pass the five minutes Tan Xue had mentioned, so he could watch her close the store and leave, giving him some peace of mind.

Xu Yao was left speechless by Wen Liang's sophistry, wrinkled her nose, and turned to leave. Just as Wen Liang was about to follow, a man in a green canvas shirt walked in, brushing past Xu Yao.

The man was in his thirties, with a long face, pale and beardless, small but sharp eyes, and neatly dressed, though his clothes were slightly faded. But it wasn't impossible for such a person to buy jewelry. In these times, whether it was a girl's menstrual cycle or the weather forecast on CCTV, from the number of times a child wet the bed to long-term life goals, nothing was reliable. For all they knew, he could be a wealthy coal mine owner.

Hmm? Wen Liang's eyes suddenly focused. Under the man's loose canvas shirt, there was a noticeable bulge, with a sharp tip and a curved body.

Tan Xue blocked the man's path and said politely, "Sir, we are closing. Please come back tomorrow!"

The man glanced at Wen Liang and Xu Yao, his voice hoarse. "There are still people here. Why, are you not doing business with the poor?"

Tan Xue smiled kindly. "Sir, you're joking. These two friends are just leaving..." Wen Liang seemed to confirm her words, grabbing Xu Yao's hand and, before she could get angry, whispered in her ear, "Danger! Get out of here!"

He pushed Xu Yao out the door and shouted, "They're closing, and you're still making a fuss about buying a necklace. Women are really damn troublesome!" He then walked up to the man, pointed to a necklace behind the counter, and signaled to Tan Xue, "I was just looking at this one. Bring it to me. Damn, even if it's expensive, I have to buy it."

The man's hand had already slipped into his coat when Wen Liang approached. Hearing this, he visibly relaxed, his right hand sliding out of his coat. Wen Liang's heart was in his throat. He was almost certain that Tan Xue had been stabbed to death by this man. Everything had happened so suddenly today, with no preparation. Worse, there was still Xu Yao outside, who was unaware of the danger. If she got hurt, it would be unimaginable... Now he could only hope that Tan Xue would understand his hint and leave this extremely dangerous situation.

Tan Xue hesitated, and Wen Liang inwardly cursed. Just as he was about to push her to the counter, she said, "You didn't look at anything just now..."

The next scene made Xu Yao, who had been in a daze since being pushed out, gasp in shock. Tan Xue's words seemed to be a code. As soon as she spoke, Wen Liang lunged forward, punching the man's left temple. From the speed and force of the punch, Xu Yao knew that if it hit, the man would either die or fall into a deep coma.

The man pulled out a three-foot-long, sharp, curved knife from his coat and, without dodging, stabbed directly at Wen Liang's chest!

"Ahh!"

"Be careful!"

Xu Yao, Tan Xue, and the female clerk who had just looked up all cried out in alarm.

This was the first time Wen Liang had faced danger so directly. Although compared to the storms he would face in the future, this was the least technical and least significant, it was the most direct and rapid test for the reborn teenager, who had no connections, no capital, and no support.

It was just a moment, a matter of life and death!