Chapter 79: The Fool Who Longed to Play the Hero

Cat, still drowsy and half-awake, instantly snapped open his sly eyes at the mention of a beautiful woman. Following his buddy’s pointed finger, a glint flashed in his gaze—the look of a hunter spotting prey—his mind already made up.

“Well, well, I have to say, you really do have an eye for this stuff,” the bald man licked his lips with a leer, nodding to the buzz-cut man beside him. “But you’re right, this chick is truly something else. She’s a hundred times better looking than the one I picked up at Monroe Bar last night!” There was a hint of praise in his voice.

The two were accompanied by another man, his jaw marked by a long, knife-given scar—a savage look on his face. Yet at that moment, he stared unblinkingly at Liu Ruoyi, drool pattering to the ground from the corner of his mouth. He looked every inch the quintessential brute lecher—crude, uncouth, and utterly without class.

“So beautiful, so beautiful!” Scarface muttered dreamily, as if in a trance.

“Watch yourself, man! Have some decency!” The bald man kicked Scarface on the backside.

Scarface snapped out of it, reluctantly tearing his gaze away. He was about to curse, but, catching the bald man’s glare, he instead grinned sheepishly. “Cat, with our kind, who cares about appearances? Why not just go up and hit on her? With your skills, it’s a done deal. Just don’t forget your brothers if you get lucky—let us have some fun too. We’re not picky; even the leftovers are fine.”

“Exactly, Cat. Today we’re counting on you! But with you leading, it’s a sure thing,” the buzz-cut man chimed in.

Emboldened by their flattery, Cat suddenly felt a little light-headed. He slipped on his black T-shirt, embroidered with a red skull, and barked at the two, “Hurry up and get dressed! Damn, you think those tattoos of yours are all that? Cool or not, you don’t want to scare her off before we even start!”

The two quickly threw on their clothes and swaggered after Cat, moving in on Liu Ruoyi.

“Hey, classmate, are you waiting for someone?” Cat tried to compose himself, aiming for a cultured, gentlemanly air.

Liu Ruoyi startled at his approach, retreating two steps in alarm. “What… what do you want?” she asked nervously.

Cat was a little taken aback. He’d always been proud of his image and rarely failed with women—weren’t girls these days all into the cool and handsome type? Why did just a few words from him put this one so on guard?

He shot an angry glare at his two companions, blaming them for Liu Ruoyi’s reaction. In his mind, it was definitely Scarface and the buzz-cut man’s lecherous looks that had scared her off.

“Don’t be afraid, little sister, we’re not bad people!” Cat forced a gentle smile, doing his best to look harmless. But his eyes kept drifting to her chest, inwardly marveling at her curves.

If only he hadn’t spoken—his words only made Liu Ruoyi more frightened. The mention of “bad people” set off alarm bells in her timid heart. She glanced warily around and continued edging away.

“What do you want? I’m waiting for a friend—he’ll be here soon!” The thought of Long Fei warmed Liu Ruoyi’s heart, but after a quick look around, she didn’t see him anywhere. Instead, she noticed classmates avoiding her direction, taking detours to steer clear.

Clearly, almost everyone recognized these three thugs who roamed the university grounds. Even the few freshmen who didn’t know them were warned by their friends. Everyone felt a pang of anxiety for Liu Ruoyi, but no one dared intervene.

“It’s nothing, really. I just wanted to make friends. Could I borrow your phone to jot down my number? We could call each other, maybe go clubbing sometime?” Cat desperately wanted to add, “or get a room together,” but held back—he was playing the nice guy, even if he was anything but.

“No!” Liu Ruoyi tried to step aside, only to realize she’d been edged into a circle by the three men. Growing anxious, her brows furrowed. “What do you want?”

“What do we want? Nothing, just to make friends,” Cat replied, his tone souring. Liu Ruoyi’s reaction was killing his confidence. If they weren’t in public, he’d have gotten physical already.

“Yeah, Cat just wants to be friends. Don’t act so high and mighty. Do you know who runs these streets?” the buzz-cut man sneered.

“I don’t want to be friends. Please let me go!” Liu Ruoyi stammered, her fear evident.

The three men closed in. Cat reached out with his rough hands, aiming to grab her arm—an excuse, really, to cop a feel. They didn’t dare do anything worse in public, but a quick grope wouldn’t go amiss. With so many students watching from afar, Cat felt he had to save face.

But before Cat’s hand could reach her, another hand smacked it away.

“Hey, man, keep your hands to yourself,” said a young man, even better looking than Cat, stepping to Liu Ruoyi’s side. Though his face was tense, he stood his ground.

Cat froze. Damn, a hero trying to save the damsel? That should be his role. And worse, this guy was beating him to it. No, he couldn’t let this pretty boy steal the show—what if the girl started liking him?

Cat, ever the experienced player, analyzed the situation. This guy was not only better looking, but a stranger too. Cat was getting angrier by the second—wasn’t it enough to be handsome? Why did he have to come meddle and spoil Cat’s game? Wasn’t that just asking for trouble with the Green Gang?

Because, as it turned out, Cat was a member of the Green Gang. Judging by his daily activities, he was probably one of the lowest-ranking lackeys. Still, in this part of the city, the Green Gang ran the show—and so did Cat, in his own way.

“Hey, man, who are you?” Cat, knowing better than to judge by appearances, decided to check before making a move.

Seeing Cat’s tone wasn’t as aggressive as expected, the newcomer’s courage grew. Glancing at the anxious Liu Ruoyi, he felt even more justified—he had to do the right thing. “I’m a student here, of course,” he declared.

“You’re new around here, aren’t you?” Cat signaled to his two companions.

“I’m a freshman. See, I’m just a regular guy. But let me warn you—this is broad daylight. You better not—” The young man didn’t get to finish.

Cat didn’t give him the chance to introduce himself. Damn it, just a freshman with no connections, daring to mess with him? Did they really think Cat was a pushover?

Cat was no pushover. As soon as he struck, his two cronies joined in. Scarface, true to his vicious look, was especially ruthless, kicking the fallen student so hard he nearly rolled several meters. The buzz-cut man was quick to follow up with more violence.

The young man was floored before he could react, fists and kicks raining down. He’d never expected Cat, seeming so civil a moment ago, to turn so savage. These guys were the scum of the earth, beating someone in broad daylight.

Clearly, this boy was naïve, and not particularly bright either—otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so foolish. But all he could do now was curse them silently, cry out for help, and shield his still-handsome face. He’d dated plenty of girls, been chased by more, all thanks to his looks. He’d rather take a beating anywhere else than have his face ruined—his face was more important than his life!

The worst of his countrymen’s flaws were on full display: nearly a hundred students witnessed the scene, but not one stepped forward. Of those, at least sixty were men. The security office was just inside the main gate, yet the guards were nowhere to be seen—likely hiding inside, pretending not to hear.

Only Liu Ruoyi called out repeatedly, but she also had to dodge as Cat pressed in, emboldened by the crowd’s indifference. He was more determined than ever to grope her, leering as he moved in.

With the gate at her back, Liu Ruoyi had nowhere to run. Cat’s hand was already reaching for her chest. Though gentle by nature, she wasn’t about to let herself be bullied—she used both hands to swat Cat’s paw away.

This only excited Cat further. He laughed, “Well, well, a feisty one! I like it. Come on, sweetheart, I just don’t believe you’re really that well-endowed—did you stuff something in there? Let me see for myself. One touch, I swear I’ll leave you alone. Really, I’m just curious!”

Shameless. Utterly shameless!