Truly Real

“I…”

Xiao Wang tried to resist.

He did not want to lose face in front of a boy who looked younger than himself.

Even now, he was making one final desperate attempt to hold on.

In his heart, he absolutely refused to submit.

But then—

Crack!

A clear and brittle sound rang through the entire corridor.

It was sudden.

Too sudden.

Sharp enough to make one’s scalp numb.

In the very next second, a piercing pain surged from the joints of Xiao Wang’s finger straight into his brain.

“AAAHHH!!!”

Xiao Wang let out the loudest scream of his life.

That scream became the perfect accompaniment to the crisp sound of his dislocated finger.

“Help!

Help me!!

Sister Ye!

Save me!!”

No matter how miserably he cried out, no matter how heart-rending his voice became, under the control of that emotionless young man, Xiao Wang appeared completely powerless.

He could not even make the slightest meaningful resistance.

His body trembled from pain, his face twisted pale, and tears nearly spilled out.

Xiao Wang’s screams finally snapped Ye Nuan back to reality.

She shouted toward the young man who had appeared out of nowhere.

“What are you doing?!

Let go of him!

Stop right now!

I’m calling the police!”

The young man slowly raised his head and looked at Ye Nuan.

There was no vicious murderous intent in his eyes.

No savage rage.

No madness.

Only calmness.

Only composure.

Only a strange steadiness that seemed forged through countless years.

“If you wanted to call the police, you should have done it when he provoked me.

That would have been before I made my move.

Calling them after I’ve already acted is pointless.”

He spoke in a level tone.

“As for him, his finger is only dislocated.

It is not broken.

Nothing serious.”

Then his gaze shifted toward the screaming Xiao Wang.

“However… if he keeps shouting like this, then I can’t guarantee what happens next.

I dislike noisy people.”

…

Ye Nuan stood frozen.

What kind of person was this?

She had traveled to many cities.

Worked many jobs.

Met every kind of man and woman imaginable.

Smooth talkers.

Violent drunks.

Wealthy young masters.

Fake gentlemen.

Real criminals.

Even self-proclaimed Ability Users.

But she had never seen someone who could act so arrogantly while remaining so calm.

That was the absurd part.

He was still so young.

Was she living inside some fantasy novel?

Some TV drama?

How could a teenager carry himself like this?

Unless… he really was an Ability User?

“I was wrong!

I was wrong, alright?!

I won’t do it again!

Please forgive me, big brother!!”

Whatever Ye Nuan was thinking, Xiao Wang had clearly understood the situation faster than she had.

Pain was the best teacher.

He no longer dared to struggle.

No longer dared to act tough.

No longer cared about pride.

He honestly admitted fault on the spot.

Ye Nuan did not interfere.

Truthfully, she did not know how to interfere now.

The young man had already made one thing clear—this conflict had not been one-sided.

Xiao Wang’s filthy mouth and aggressive attitude were the real spark.

And more importantly… the young man held complete control over the situation.

She simply watched.

The boy gave a small nod.

There was no triumph on his face.

No smugness.

No ridicule.

Not even the slightest trace of contempt.

As if this outcome had been inevitable from the beginning.

As if it was not worth celebrating at all.

“Mhm.”

Then he released Xiao Wang’s hand and stood up casually.

Xiao Wang instantly hugged his crooked finger, tears streaming down his face.

He looked pitifully toward the young man.

“Bro… can you put it back for me?”

The young man looked at him as if he were stupid.

Then shook his head.

“Are you insane?

Do you think this is a television drama?

You think I can just grab it and fix it in one move?”

He pointed toward the exit.

“Go out.

Turn left.

Find an old bonesetting doctor.

If you delay any longer, it’ll set like that permanently.”

“I… I… AHHHH!!”

Xiao Wang screamed even louder.

Half from pain, half from fear.

Supporting his injured hand, he stumbled away in panic.

Then he began running.

Faster and faster.

Soon he vanished down the corridor like a frightened stray dog.

Ye Nuan stared blankly as the young man slowly turned around to face her.

Thinking about everything she had just seen, a bizarre thought suddenly rose in her mind.

Should… she apologize too?

“You’re Ye Nuan, right?”

Instead, he spoke first.

Ye Nuan froze.

Instinctively, she took half a step backward.

“I… am.”

The young man nodded.

“Of course you are.

I already asked around.”

“Then why did you ask me?!”

Ye Nuan nearly choked on anger.

Her beautiful eyes widened.

Even the ends of her carefully parted hair looked ready to curl upward in frustration.

Then she saw him smile faintly.

It was a calm smile.

A smile that looked strangely old-fashioned on such a young face.

Yet somehow… it was comfortable to look at.

“I asked out of politeness.

Otherwise I’d need to invent some other opening line, and that would be awkward.”

He paused.

“I’m Xia Chen.”

Ye Nuan folded her arms.

“This meeting is already awkward enough.

Xia Chen… who exactly?”

“The one who called you earlier today.

You told me to come immediately for an interview.”

He said it in the same calm tone.

Only then did Ye Nuan suddenly realize.

This was that underage-sounding boy from the phone?

The one Lu Xi had recommended for part-time work?

Wait.

Hold on.

“You’re the one Lu Xi introduced?”

Xia Chen nodded.

“Yes.”

“Then… wait a minute.

What exactly is your relationship with Lu Xi?

If I remember right, she teaches at Zhijiang No.1 High School.”

“Yes.”

He answered lazily.

“I think I’m her student.

Anyway, there’s no special relationship.

I came here to work.”

Ye Nuan’s eyes widened again.

She looked him up and down.

No matter how she looked, he was just a student.

A ridiculously handsome, strangely composed student—but still a student.

“You must be joking.

You’re a high schooler.

Do you even know what kind of place this is?

And you still came?”

She pointed around angrily.

“Do you know how much trouble it would cause if you’re underage?

Do you know how serious that is?”

Her tone softened slightly afterward.

“You’re still young.

You should be studying properly.

And now you’re trying to work part-time in this industry of all places…”

She sighed.

“I’m not scolding you.

I just feel bad inside.

You should seriously think about your future.”

Xia Chen quietly looked at her for two seconds.

Then he said one sentence.

“I’m not underage.”

Ye Nuan nodded instantly.

“Good.

Then we’ll begin training immediately.”

Xia Chen stared at her in silence.

Ye Nuan blinked back with a perfectly innocent expression, her large eyes full of false sincerity.

For the first time since arriving, Xia Chen was speechless.

After a long pause, he only said two words.

“Truly real.”