Chapter 153 Protect Me

Xu Fei walked out of the breakfast shop, feeling a bit uneasy. After all, Lin Fang's situation was somewhat tied to him; if she ultimately failed to return home, he, Xu Fei, would bear a share of the responsibility.

Self-blame.

Tormented by this emotion, Xu Fei walked with his head lowered.

Just as he was making his way along the street toward the casual labor market, a pair of shoes appeared right in front of him.

"Hey, pal, what are you daydreaming about? Did you really think we wouldn't recognize you just because you kept your head down?"

Xu Fei looked up and saw that it was the very same customers who had tried to pick a fight with him back at the breakfast shop.

"Where are you off to?"

"Who cares where he's going? He's not going anywhere today. Come on, why don't you come and chat with us?"

As he spoke, one of them reached out and grabbed Xu Fei by the collar.

"What are you doing?"

Xu Fei instantly seized the man's wrist and, with a slight twist, leveraged it backward.

"Ouch, damn it!"

With his wrist locked backward, the man immediately cried out in pain. Xu Fei gave a forward push, sending the man stumbling back several steps until he crashed into a utility pole.

"He hit me! Why are you guys just standing there watching?"

Feeling aggrieved, the man yelled at his companions.

"Ha, ha, ha! You're just completely useless. You can't even handle a guy like this?"

"If you're so great, why don't you try? Can't you see this kid knows a trick or two?"

Prompted by this shout, the rest of the men surrounding Xu Fei suddenly realized the situation.

Back at the breakfast shop, if Xu Fei hadn't reacted quickly, anyone else would have caught that knee straight to the face. Anyone taking a blow like that would have struggled to stay on their feet, yet Xu Fei had evaded it entirely, even after taking a punch beforehand.

"Knows a trick or two, does he?"

At that moment, several of them lunged at once, grabbing Xu Fei firmly from all sides.

"Kid, aren't you quite the fighter? Go on, try moving now!"

"What are you waiting for? Get over here and exact some revenge!"

Holding Xu Fei tightly, the group shouted at their companion crouching by the utility pole.

The man sneered at the call, took a running start, and charged forward. Just as his foot was about to land squarely on Xu Fei's body, a loud shout rang out from behind them.

"Stop right there!"

The assailant was startled to an abrupt halt.

"Who the hell is that? Damn it, almost sprained my ankle!"

Muttering curses, he turned around to look.

Approaching from behind were two young men dressed in green military uniforms. They looked sharp and spirited, wearing green military caps, though their jackets lacked any insignia. Still, judging by their upright posture and the way they carried themselves, the two were clearly veterans of military service.

"What the hell? Who do you think you are?"

Interrupted by the pair, the man who had tried to kick Xu Fei was already furious. Seeing that they were just a couple of young punks made his anger flare even higher. He strode forward, raising his hand to strike the speaker.

Before his palm could descend, however, his arm was intercepted in a firm grip. With fluid agility, the young soldier slid close to his side, stepped forward, and executed a swift, concise body check.

The man felt his heel clip against something, instantly throwing off his center of gravity. His head snapped backward.

Thud!

It was a solid, uncompromising takedown.

Stars swam before his eyes as he hit the pavement. Clutching his head, he groaned on the ground for a long time, unable to get back up.

"You bastards!"

Seeing one of their own go down, the remaining cohorts let go of Xu Fei and rushed straight at the two young soldiers.

Yet Xu Fei could tell at a glance that these two youths were extraordinary; the move executed just moments ago was unmistakably the result of rigorous military training.

Sure enough, before the thugs could even lay a hand on them, they were effortlessly brought down one by one.

Watching them writhe and groan in pain on the ground just like the first man, Xu Fei smiled and shook his head.

"Thanks, guys. Do we know each other?"

He stepped forward and immediately extended his hand to shake theirs.

"We could say we do."

"Could say?"

Xu Fei was completely baffled by the cryptic reply.

"Actually, we are acting on orders."

"You mean someone ordered you to protect me?"

The two young men nodded in unison.

That only made Xu Fei even more bewildered. When on earth had he crossed paths with someone powerful enough to command active-duty soldiers?

"Could you tell me specifically who sent you, so I can at least..."

One of the young men smiled and waved a hand dismissively at Xu Fei.

"As for that, you'll just have to wait until the day you meet our superior, and let him tell you himself."

With that, he straightened up and delivered a crisp military salute to Xu Fei. The other did the same.

The two then turned on their heels and marched away in unison, their paces perfectly aligned.

Xu Fei was left completely in the dark.

Just who could it be?

Meanwhile, seeing the two young soldiers walk far away, the men on the ground finally scrambled back to their feet.

Their attitudes toward Xu Fei had entirely shifted.

"Brother, please, be the bigger man and forgive our transgression. The few of us were just messing around with you earlier."

"Right, right! Look, Er Pang and all of us are old acquaintances here; we're practically friends."

"Of course we are!"

Xu Fei waved a hand, too lazy to listen to any more of their empty flattery.

"You saw it yourselves. From now on, don't throw your weight around just because you outnumber people. Oh, right, about that dinner tonight..."

"No dinner, brother! You can rest assured, a hundred and twenty percent. We guarantee we won't bother Xiao Fang ever again."

"Yes, yes, we swear it!"

Xu Fei watched as these grown men raised their hands before him, looking utterly solemn and earnest as they made vows and oaths. He almost chuckled.

"Very well, it's settled then. As for you lot, feel free to keep going to the breakfast shop as usual. Let me tell you this: Lin Fang—well, Xiao Fang, as you call her—she's going to leave that breakfast shop sooner or later."

"I knew it! Looking at that young lady, she didn't seem like an ordinary person. She must just be out here experiencing how the other half lives, right?"

"Exactly! If she were just an ordinary girl, how could anyone possibly look that gorgeous?"

Xu Fei waved dismissively.

"Alright, I've said my piece. Do as you see fit."

"Understood."

"You can leave it to us."

Seeing the matter resolved, Xu Fei put his hands behind his back and swaggered away from the group toward the casual labor market.

Behind him, the men let out a collective sigh of relief.

"Who do you suppose that guy really is?"

"Who is he? Do you even need to ask? Didn't you see those two soldiers?"

"I'll bet that Xiao Fang is the daughter of some high-ranking official."

"Damn it!"

The more they thought about it, the more frightened they became. Fortunately, they hadn't actually gone through with that dinner; had they really eaten it, there was no telling how things would have ended.

Meanwhile, Xu Fei arrived at the casual labor market. He found a spot, wrote his service sign on a piece of cardboard, and sat down on the ground.

Only then did his thoughts drift back to the two young soldiers.

Why on earth were they protecting him?