Beating someone for the first time
A vast stretch of low, dilapidated houses appeared even more rundown against the backdrop of towering skyscrapers. At the entrance of an alley in this area, a flashy sports car was parked. A handsome young man stood with his legs crossed, leaning against the car door, his hands in his pockets, and his shoulder-length hair gently swaying in the morning breeze.
From the depths of the alley, a child rode a bicycle. Upon seeing the youth leaning against the car at the alley's entrance, the child froze. The screech of bicycle tires against the ground resounded as the child gripped the brakes tightly, one foot planted on the ground, staring intently at the youth with a mix of surprise and a hint of undisguised joy.
"Kate, you didn't expect to see me waiting here, did you?" the young man said with a smile. He thought to himself: Stunned, huh? Seems like striking this pose for over half an hour was worth it.
"Alex, how did you know I live here?" Kate asked.
"Put your bike away. From today, I'll be your chauffeur and guardian," Alex replied with a mischievous grin.
"Alex, you..." Kate blushed, giving Alex a reproachful look before turning her bike around and riding back.
Watching her graceful figure on the bicycle, Alex silently vowed: Kate, from today, I will cherish and love you, never allowing you to suffer any grievances.
A few minutes later, Kate walked out of the alley. Alex opened the car door with a welcoming gesture. Kate stopped in front of the door, blushing, and said to Alex, "There's one condition to you being my chauffeur."
"What condition?" Alex asked, puzzled.
"You have to do it for a lifetime," Kate whispered before getting into the car.
Alex was so taken aback by Kate's words that he forgot to close the door, standing there grinning foolishly at Kate and nodding repeatedly.
"If you keep dawdling, I'll get out," Kate pouted.
"Okay, okay, we're leaving right away," Alex said joyfully, closing the door for Kate and then getting into the driver's seat to start the car.
"Alex, you still haven't told me how you knew I lived here," Kate asked.
"Your address isn't a secret. Every boy in school knows it," Alex joked.
Seeing Kate's embarrassed expression, Alex continued, "You didn't let me take you home last night, so I had to come pick you up this morning."
The Lamborghini's 1001-horsepower engine roared to life, and in less than ten minutes, they arrived at school. The car doors opened, and Alex and Kate emerged together, immediately attracting everyone's attention.
"Isn't that our school's top student, Kate from senior year?" a boy exclaimed in disbelief, rubbing his eyes.
"That guy is amazing! He managed to win over the girl every boy dreams of. I want him to be my mentor," another boy said, staring at Alex in admiration.
Alex and Kate, the golden couple, walked into the school building amid countless astonished glances.
To stave off boredom during class, Alex had brought a handheld computer with wireless internet access. While his classmates struggled with their studies, he was engrossed in the virtual world.
Just as Alex was enjoying an online novel, a soft voice that could melt steel spoke beside him, "Alex, class is over. It's time for lunch."
"Class is over already? Time flies when you're reading a good novel. I almost forgot about my Kate," Alex said, scratching his head apologetically.
"I'm treating everyone to lunch at the nearby hotel today," Alex said, turning to Ben and Jack before taking Kate's hand and leading her out.
The classmates watched the couple walk out, hand in hand, their eyes wide with astonishment, nearly popping out of their sockets. "Unbelievable, truly unbelievable," Ben and Jack said in unison before eagerly following them out.
Kate followed Alex, head down and face flushed, resembling a newlywed bride. Under the curious stares of onlookers, she dared not lift her head, her mind a blank slate, unaware of how she managed to exit the school building.
As Alex led Kate out of the school gate, five menacing thugs blocked their path. Feeling Alex suddenly halt, Kate looked up, her heart tightening at the sight of the five men. She instinctively gripped Alex's arm with her other hand. Alex turned to her and gently said, "Kate, don't worry about me. Watch how I handle them."
The five men ogled Kate for a while. A scar-faced man swallowed and sneered, "Kid, lend me your girl for a few days, and I'll let you go today."
Alex glared coldly at the scar-faced man, his expression growing darker.
Meanwhile, across the street at KFC, Sam watched everything unfold through the glass with a vengeful gaze, his face ashen. He clutched an empty drink bottle tightly, imagining it was Alex. To his two lackeys, he said menacingly, "Watch carefully. This is what happens to those who cross me."
"Alex is finished. Sam is always the strongest at our school, no, in H City," the lackeys fawned.
At the school gate, Alex squeezed Kate's hand and instructed Ben and Jack, "Make sure nothing happens to Kate." He then turned to face the scar-faced man, disdainfully saying, "If you want my friend, let's see if your fists are strong enough."
"Damn it, I'll cripple you today, and you'll see how hard my fists are," the scar-faced man roared, throwing a punch. Alex watched the approaching fist with a sneer, raising his own fist to meet it. Their fists collided with a sickening crack and a howl of pain. The scar-faced man crouched, clutching his mangled hand, screaming in agony. "Stab him to death!" he bellowed to his men.
The four henchmen, initially stunned, drew knives from their pockets and lunged at Alex. Two aimed for his chest, and two for his back. The two aiming at his chest suddenly found their wrists immobilized as if caught in a vice. Alex's eyes flashed coldly as he twisted their wrists, eliciting cries of pain as they fell to the ground. Meanwhile, the knives from the men behind were inches from Alex's back. Kate screamed, "Alex! Watch out!"
Alex, aware of everything behind him, bent at the waist and squatted down, sweeping his right leg back with force. The two attackers, missing their mark, were struck in the calves as if hit by steel rods, collapsing to the ground in agony. Within a minute, the five burly men were incapacitated. The onlookers regarded Alex with admiration.
Alex straightened up, looking at the injured men, and said coolly, "Tell Sam to send someone better next time."
The scar-faced man spat, "You're tough, but you've crossed the Iron Wolf Gang. You're as good as dead." He waved to two black car parked nearby. The drivers helped the injured men into the cars, and they drove off, tails between their legs.
Kate ran to Alex, her face full of concern, tears welling in her eyes. "Alex, I was so worried about you," she cried, burying her face in his chest and sobbing softly.
"My dear Kate, I'm fine," Alex soothed, gently patting her back, feeling warmth in his heart and tears in his eyes.
"Boss, sis, while you two are getting all cozy, we're starving," Jack complained.
"Kate, let's go eat. We don't want these two starving to death," Alex said with a smile.
"You scared me to tears; you owe me a big meal today," Kate pouted, linking her arm with Alex's as they joked and walked towards the nearby hotel.
At KFC, Sam's face turned from ashen to livid as he watched Kate and Alex enter the hotel. He stood abruptly, smashing the mangled drink bottle to the ground, cursing, "Useless fools! My uncle must be blind to send such useless thugs."
Sam's lackeys shrank back, fearing they'd become his next targets.
At a private room on the hotel's second floor, Alex shook his head as he watched Ben and Jack devour their food. Half of the ten dishes on the table were already gone.
"Alex, what if those guys come after us for revenge?" Kate asked worriedly.
"Don't worry, Kate. You've seen your husband's strength. If they come, I'll cripple them," Alex said confidently.
"Who's my husband? You're always talking nonsense," Kate mumbled, blushing.
Jack, who had been silent, finally put down his chopsticks and swallowed hard before saying, "The leader of the Iron Wolf Gang is Sam's uncle, William. He's also the chairman of Aurelius Real Estate in H City and has done plenty of bad things under the protection of his mayor brother."
Ben paused, wiping his greasy mouth, and added, "The worst part is Sam's behavior at school. He's bullied many pretty girls, and their parents, afraid of his family's power, have kept quiet. If it weren't for sis's strong influence, Sam would have already used his dirty tricks."
With a loud crash, Alex shattered the glass in his hand. "If he dares lay a finger on Kate again, I'll make sure the Sam family disappears from the face of the earth," he vowed darkly.