The expected stinging pain of corrosion did not come. Instead, as she closed her eyes, a pair of large hands firmly gripped her arms, followed by gasps of astonishment from the onlookers.
Xia Qingyu opened her eyes to meet a pair of eyes filled with suppressed anger.
Xia Qingyu froze for a few seconds before incredulously calling out the name of the owner of those eyes: "Nie Qingkong?"
How could it be Nie Qingkong? How could he...?
"Qingyu, are you alright?" Xia Qingtian also felt a surge of lingering fear; even she hadn't reacted in time.
"I, I'm fine." Xia Qingyu finally shifted her gaze from Nie Qingkong's face, shook her head at Xia Qingtian, and then looked at Nie Qingkong: "And you?"
Nie Qingkong ignored Xia Qingyu and glanced back at the liquid stain on his shoulder.
He smelled alcohol, so the sulfuric acid and such were likely a bluff.
It was just ordinary white liquor.
The man who had attempted to escape by diverting attention had failed. He was pinned to the ground by burly bodyguards. As he struggled, something fell from his pocket.
One of the bodyguards saw this, picked it up, and after a quick look, sneered and walked towards Xia Qingtian: "This fell from him."
"A student ID?" Xia Qingtian flipped it over. "Z Broadcast Hosting Arts Academy, second-year student Zhu Hai. Well done! Second year and already divorced with children? Are you even twenty? Where did you get the marriage certificate?"
Upon hearing Xia Qingtian's question, the young man named Zhu Hai's face flushed with embarrassment and then turned pale.
"Take him back and interrogate him thoroughly. Once everything is clear, send him directly to the police station for provoking trouble, malicious defamation, and damaging personal reputation," Xia Qingtian instructed.
"Yes." Following Xia Qingtian's orders, the bodyguards promptly bundled the man into a minivan.
As the vehicle drove away, Yu Qian's face in the crowd turned deathly pale.
She couldn't believe her eyes.
At such a dangerous moment, Nie Qingkong had actually stepped in front of Xia Qingyu!
What if the person had really thrown sulfuric acid?
A wave of grief washed over Yu Qian. She couldn't understand what was so special about Xia Qingyu that two people were flocking to her!
"Yu Qian, what do we do?" The girl beside Yu Qian had an even more troubled expression.
How was this person caught? Would he expose them?
"Yeah! We told you not to do this ages ago!" The girls who had initially agreed were now anxious.
They couldn't imagine the consequences if Xia Qingtian found out they were involved.
"What's the panic?" Yu Qian said sternly, her face hardening. "I used a fake number and a fake identity. As long as you don't expose yourselves, no one can trace anything back to you!"
Hearing Yu Qian's words, the other girls quieted down, but their guilty expressions were so obvious it was hard not to notice.
Xia Qingtian naturally noticed this as well. She gently patted Xia Qingyu's back and said, "I have a few more things to attend to. Please treat your friends to a drink first, and I'll pick you up later." After saying this, Xia Qingtian smiled faintly at Nie Qingkong, "Little handsome guy, thank you just now."
"It's nothing," Nie Qingkong replied with his signature gentle smile.
Xia Qingtian bid farewell to Li Xiaozhong and Shi Xingwu, then turned and walked into the school, seemingly to investigate something.
After Xia Qingtian left, the other students gradually dispersed. Shi Xingwu quickly walked up to Xia Qingyu and exclaimed, "Wow, that was so scary! I really thought that guy had sulfuric acid!"
Having said that, Shi Xingwu nudged Nie Qingkong's shoulder. "Are you okay? You look so frail, like a boiled chicken, but you were so manly at the crucial moment! Not bad! I approve!"
"Heh." Nie Qingkong just gave a dry laugh, his gaze sweeping over Li Xiaozhong, a hint of disdain in his eyes.
What did Xia Qingyu see in this weakling who couldn't help at all when trouble arose!
Li Xiaozhong noticed Nie Qingkong's stare and found it somewhat inexplicable. Was he looking down on him?
"Let's go, I'll treat you to drinks, thank you for your help," Xia Qingyu said, looking up.
"I didn't help much, so I won't join the fun. It's getting late, I need to get back to the martial arts school," Shi Xingwu said with a smile, glancing at his watch and waving his hand.
"I won't go either, I'll wait for my sister," Li Xiaozhong also politely declined. "Just contact me if anything comes up."
"Alright." Seeing that both Shi Xingwu and Li Xiaozhong had refused, Xia Qingyu finally turned her gaze to Nie Qingkong, her expression a little complicated. "Then, let's go."
Nie Qingkong glanced at Li Xiaozhong again, thinking he was sensible.
Then, the two walked towards a beverage shop near the school.
Xia Qingyu remained quiet for most of the way. It wasn't until they stood at the counter of the beverage shop that Xia Qingyu turned to ask Nie Qingkong, "What do you want to drink?"
"Lime Freeze Tea, three parts sugar," Nie Qingkong said, looking at a large poster with "New Product" on it.
"One Lime Freeze Tea, three parts sugar, one Angelic Black Tea with Milk Cap, half sugar, one Taro Boba, half sugar, hot Taro Boba Milk Green with extra boba, double taro paste," Xia Qingyu ordered and then took out her phone to pay.
After receiving the drinks, Xia Qingyu handed the Lime Freeze Tea and a straw to Nie Qingkong. "Here, thank you today."
Nie Qingkong took the drink, the corners of his mouth curving up slightly.
"I'm leaving now, goodbye." Xia Qingyu, holding the other two milk teas, turned to leave.
"Hey! You're just going like that?" Nie Qingkong sounded incredulous.
He had always been the one for whom others would willingly die without regret. Today, he had stepped in front of Xia Qingyu at all costs!
Was this girl really planning to dismiss him with a ten-dollar drink?
What a heartless girl!
"Then..." Xia Qingyu blinked and asked, "What else do you want to drink? How about a dessert? Shall I buy you a slice of cheesecake?"
"I..." Nie Qingkong was taken aback. This was the first time he had been speechless.
Was it these things he lacked?
If he wanted such things, he could open global chain stores at any time. Did he need Xia Qingyu to buy them for him?
Seeing Nie Qingkong's reaction and noticing that people nearby were already looking over curiously, Xia Qingyu said to him, "Let's talk outside."
With that, Xia Qingyu immediately turned and walked out of the beverage shop. Nie Qingkong, somewhat annoyed, followed her.
He wanted to see what Xia Qingyu had to say!
Unconsciously, they arrived at the small park where they had chatted before. The sun was setting again.
Reaching the park, Xia Qingyu turned to Nie Qingkong and thanked him again. "Thank you for today. If there's anything I can help you with, please don't hesitate to ask. I... I owe you a favor."
Upon hearing Xia Qingyu's words, Nie Qingkong couldn't help but let out a scoff. He stepped forward, looking into Xia Qingyu's eyes, and said, "My favors are not that easy to repay."