Chapter Three: Childhood Friend Shi Kexin
The moment Yan Tian laid eyes on the girl, he was struck by her breathtaking beauty.
Her long hair, dyed a rich wine-red, cascaded down, contrasting sharply with her dazzlingly fair skin under the morning sun. Her flawless features, delicately arched brows, and rosy lips curved into a triumphant smile that was irresistibly alluring.
Her figure was nothing short of perfect. Long, slender legs drew the eye, made all the more striking by her choice of attire in this season—a miniskirt that revealed half of her full thighs and a pair of snow-white calves.
Yan Tian had a habit when assessing girls: first, he looked at their figure; second, their clothing; and only last, their face.
A poor figure rendered even the most beautiful face meaningless. Clothing that was untidy or lacking in taste could make the best figure appear vulgar. Of course, tasteful attire didn’t necessarily mean expensive designer brands; it was about the harmony of colors and styles.
Even the simplest clothes, if clean, fresh, and cleverly matched to a person’s physique and temperament, could perfectly express a woman’s charm and elegance.
Once these two conditions were met, appearance was not absolutely critical. A woman with above-average looks, a good figure, and tasteful attire naturally possessed an irresistible allure.
This girl before him was undoubtedly the pinnacle of perfection.
Her outfit was simple yet flawless: a pure white, tight-fitting wool sweater paired with a white miniskirt, complemented by white mid-calf leather boots. Amidst all this white, a bright yellow decorative belt at her waist added a splash of color. Paired with a red sports car, the combination of the beautiful woman and the luxurious vehicle formed a breathtaking tableau.
Her figure, dress, and looks were in perfect harmony, and combined with her smug expression and the mischievous gleam in her clear, contrasting eyes, she exuded beauty, grandeur, and just a hint of capriciousness.
When Yan Tian confirmed that this girl was calling him in an intimate, teasing manner, he was astonished.
“This little beauty, the first to ever truly stun me, Feng Shao, and the only one to earn my sincere praise as ‘top-notch’—she actually recognizes me, Yan Shao?”
Not only was Yan Tian surprised; every student at the school who saw the girl was equally amazed.
Especially the lovestruck boys who had been staring fixedly at her. When they heard her calling Yan Tian, known as the school’s laziest student, their looks towards him were filled with unmasked jealousy and hatred.
“You’re calling me? You are…” Yan Tian hesitated as he approached the girl.
The girl pouted angrily. “How dare you not remember me! You big dummy Yan Tian, you complete idiot! I warn you, if you don’t remember me within ten seconds, I’ll never talk to you again!”
Yan Tian studied her carefully, suddenly feeling her brows and eyes were vaguely familiar. He seemed to recall a girl like her from deep within his memory—a girl named Liu Rongyan—but that was a small child.
His heart jumped as he suddenly remembered the last night he spent with that little girl.
...
“Look, a shooting star! Make a wish quickly!”
“I’m moving to the United States tomorrow. Once I’m gone, there will be no one to protect you. You have to be smart.”
“When I leave, will you miss me?”
“Just don’t ever forget me…”
...
Suddenly, the delicate innocence of the little girl transformed into the charming, mature face of the girl before him.
Yan Tian smiled, finally recalling who she was.
---
Before he could utter her name, a tall, handsome young man in a white suit approached, holding a bouquet of radiant roses and wearing a smile as bright as the sun.
No one knew where this dashing youth had come from. At first, all eyes at the school gate were fixed on the girl, but when this young man appeared silently, a stifled murmur and eager swallowing could be heard among the crowd.
The jealous gazes of the female students shifted entirely to this young man, whose looks were akin to a prince from a fairy tale, their eyes burning with intensity.
The handsome youth stopped in front of the girl, his broad, tall back blocking Yan Tian’s view.
He gave the girl a formal gentleman’s bow, then gently offered the flaming red roses, softly saying, “Miss, my surname is Gao, given name Qian Duo. I am nineteen years old and unmarried. My father, Gao Qisheng, is the Vice President of the Qiangsheng Group, with a total asset value of five billion US dollars. I was utterly captivated the moment I first laid eyes on you. May I ask your name? Please accept these flowers as a token of my sincere admiration. By the way, are you betrothed? If not, I would like to invite you to meet my father so our families can arrange a date for our engagement…”
“Slap!” A crisp sound echoed as Yan Tian’s palm struck Gao Qian Duo’s nape.
Caught completely off guard, Gao Qian Duo stumbled forward, while the girl skillfully kneeled him in the forehead.
A dull thud followed as Gao Qian Duo fell backward, foaming at the mouth, unconscious.
Yan Tian and the girl moved in seamless coordination. After their success, the girl raised her hand and clapped against Yan Tian’s. Their palms met with a sharp slap, their movements practiced as if rehearsed a thousand times.
Yan Tian glanced at Gao Qian Duo, who by then had already set up a canopy.
Looking ahead, Yan Tian saw five burly men dressed in black rushing down from a Mercedes, hastily running toward them.
“Get in!” Yan Tian commanded, leaping onto the sports car.
The girl swiftly opened the door and jumped in, immediately igniting the engine and driving the car away amidst swirling dust, leaving behind a string of bright, tinkling laughter.
“Remember me now?” The girl raised her eyebrow and shot Yan Tian a glance, her eyes seductive and almost bewitching.
“It’s more accurate to say you finally remembered to look at me, Shi Kexin,” Yan Tian said calmly.
The girl was none other than Shi Kexin, Yan Tian’s childhood companion. Eleven years ago, when Yan Tian was six and Shi Kexin seven, she emigrated to the United States with her family. At first, their families kept in touch by phone, but shortly after Yan Tian’s parents disappeared, the Yan family fell into decline and lost contact with the Shi family.
“Are you mad at me?” Shi Kexin suddenly looked a little forlorn. “It’s not that I didn’t want to keep in touch, it’s just…”
“That the world is cold and indifferent, and the Yan family’s ruin made you no longer worth the Shi family’s attention, huh?” Yan Tian’s tone was detached, his expression cold, but inside a fire burned.
Anger.
“No, it’s because my parents didn’t tell me your phone number! You know, I was little then, and I didn’t remember your number. I wanted to write but no one told me your address…” The once spirited girl now sounded slightly aggrieved, whispering, “Besides, didn’t I come back just now to see you?”
“Hmph, I’m not worthy. I, Yan Tian, am a poor, powerless boy; how could I deserve the attentions of a lady from the Shi family?” Yan Tian sneered.
Strictly speaking, Yan Tian was somewhat extreme in temperament, which was understandable. Losing his parents at a young age and growing up in a broken home would leave any child with some personality flaws.
“Yan Tian, if you keep talking like that, I won’t talk to you anymore!” The girl finally got angry, but even with her brows furrowed, she looked charming in a way that overwhelmed Yan Tian.
“Well, well, after eleven years, the little tomboy I knew has grown into this,” Yan Tian thought to himself, though he refused to relent. “Don’t talk to me, then. Who cares? Hmph, think of me, Yan Tian—handsome, elegant, the star of countless beauties. Why would I care about you, a little girl? I don’t know who told me not to forget her, or who said they’d always remember me and call me every day, or who promised when we grew up they’d…”
At that moment, Yan Tian suddenly fell silent, gazing silently at the rapidly passing street scene.
“Come on, keep talking!” Shi Kexin teased slyly. “Whoever said they didn’t care, I really can’t believe it. A big dummy who claims not to care remembers every word from childhood so clearly… hmph.”
“Tch,” Yan Tian scoffed, muttering, “Arrogant woman.”
---
“All right, don’t be mad, okay?” Shi Kexin looked at Yan Tian pitifully. “I came back to keep my promise, didn’t I?”
Yan Tian’s heart skipped a beat, and that nameless anger inexplicably dissipated. Still, he said coldly, “Forget it. Can we really take childhood promises seriously?”
“Who says not?” Shi Kexin said proudly. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. You say harsh things, but inside you must be delighted.”
Yan Tian curled his lips, neither admitting nor denying, but changed the subject. “I heard the culture in the US is quite open. You’ve been there for eleven years. Are you still a virgin?”
“You...” Shi Kexin angrily pounded him once. If she weren’t driving, she might have beaten him up entirely. “Are you speaking human language?”
“I’m just concerned about you,” Yan Tian said earnestly. “You’ve been gone so long, and yet you haven’t found anyone to give your pure body to—I find that hard to believe.”
“What about you?” Shi Kexin retorted, not letting him off the hook. “You always boasted about chasing many beauties. Have you already conquered many?”
Yan Tian smiled bitterly. “I’m not that lucky. My family fell, I’m penniless and powerless. What woman would look twice at me?” He stared gloomily at the windshield.
Realizing she had touched a sore spot, Shi Kexin fell silent. After a long pause, she quietly said, “Sorry, I was just talking nonsense. You... you’ve changed. You used to be timid and always needed me to protect you, but you were never so sentimental or weak.”
Yan Tian smiled. “Forget it. It’s not your fault. I wasn’t really like this. After you left, especially after my parents disappeared, I had to be strong. But seeing you again brings back memories.”
Shi Kexin stuck out her tongue playfully. “Yeah, you used to follow me around, getting bullied by kids, and I always stood up for you!” Proudly, she recalled how, since kindergarten through elementary school, Yan Tian’s small stature and timidity often made him a target, and she, older by one year, would always defend him.
Yan Tian laughed. “Things are different now. I’ve become strong. You said you came back to fulfill an old promise, right? Then let me protect you from now on!”
“You wish!” Shi Kexin giggled. “With you like this, I’ll still have to protect you.” She turned her head and gave Yan Tian a teasing glare.
Just as Yan Tian was about to retort, his expression changed. “Watch out!”
Shi Kexin looked ahead and saw a large container truck suddenly cutting in from a side alley, braking hard and blocking the main road completely.
She slammed on the brakes; the tires screeched sharply as the car stopped just over ten meters before the truck.
“Reverse!” Yan Tian ordered. Before Shi Kexin could fully grasp the situation, the truck’s rear doors swung open, and a dozen burly men in camouflage workwear, armed with wrenches and steel pipes, leapt out, charging toward them.
Shi Kexin reacted quickly, immediately reversing. But barely twenty meters back, three cars led by a Mercedes blocked the lane behind them, trapping them.
Ten men in black suits jumped out of these cars, flanking the camo-clad men, setting up a pincer trap.
“Damn it, I knew the Gao family wouldn’t let this go!” Yan Tian growled. “Turn off the engine, stay inside! Damn, I didn’t expect to have to protect you so soon!”
Almost thirty men surrounded Shi Kexin’s BMW.
Yan Tian sneered, preparing to leap out with a cool pose, but as he reached for the door, he felt a sudden tug on his collar, yanked backward, and fell onto the car seat.
Shi Kexin’s face turned pale as she gripped his collar tightly. “Yan Tian, I—I told you I’m here to protect you...” she said urgently, opening the door and jumping out, standing in front of the car.
She shouted at the approaching men with a stern voice, “What do you think you’re doing? Blocking traffic in broad daylight? Do you have any respect for the law? I warn you, don’t come any closer, or I’ll call the police!”
Yan Tian watched her back with a mix of amusement and emotion as she courageously confronted the snarling men.