Ch. 4: Time To Be A Hero!

'On one side is Chen Fan, the other is my best friend. Who should I choose?' Jiang Churan pondered after being put in the spotlight by Yang Chao. After a few moments, Jiang Churan hadn't found an answer yet.

In the original story, she chose Zhang Yumeng because she disliked the original protagonist. However, the current Jiang Churan was different. Although she hadn't realized her feelings yet, she was partial to Chen Fan. This caused her to want to defend Chen Fan. However, she didn't want to offend her bestie and her boyfriend.

'So, she can't make up her mind, huh? I suppose she has developed well since our first meeting on the day I came here,' Chen Fan thought after seeing Jiang Churan's conflicted look.

The others were also aware of Jiang Churan's indecision. Yang Chao had a twitching eyebrow while Zhang Yumeng seemed anxious when they saw that. They didn't expect Jiang Churan to be this confused; they thought that Jiang Churan would choose them over Chen Fan.

At this moment, this matter had made them forget that Yang Chao's friend had hit the male staff. Well, everyone but Chen Fan.

"Ranran? You won't leave, right?" Zhang Yumeng suddenly asked and gave Jiang Churan a pleading look.

Jiang Churan was shaken by her best friend's look, but she was still indecisive. She unconsciously turned her head to Chen Fan. Inwardly, she was unsure why Chen Fan's permission matters for her.

When Chen Fan saw Jiang Churan's pleading gaze at him, he decided to speak up. "Honestly, it's better if we leave. These idiots are causing problems, yet they act like they won't face any consequence. So what if your parents run a five-star hotel? It's not like you're the president's son that nobody can offend. What if your recklessness offends someone you shouldn't offend?"

Xu Rongfei looked calm as always, but she silently agreed with Chen Fan's words. Meanwhile, Jiang Churan, though looking conflicted, also agreed with his words but kept her opinion to herself.

Those who support Yang Chao, including Zhang Yumeng, were offended by Chen Fan's words. However, Yang Chao was affected the most; he gnashed his teeth as he felt that Chen Fan underestimated him too much. It made him feel frustrated.

"Humph! Chen Fan, you're looking down on my darling too much! Even if we get into a problem, darling's father will bail us out easily!" Zhang Yumeng said crossly before turning to Yang Chao. "Right, darling?"

"Of course!" Yang Chao responded and put on a cocky smirk. He felt better after his cheap girlfriend stroked his fragile ego.

'These brats are delusional,' Chen Fan thought in amusement and resignation.

Then, Chen Fan turned to Jiang Churan. "Well, today is your best friend's birthday. You should go to celebrate with them. If something happens, I'll rush to your side. Meanwhile, I will stay in the lobby and wait until you are done."

Jiang Churan still looked conflicted after hearing Chen Fan's words but she made up her mind when Zhang Yumeng squeezed her hand and gave her a pleading look. Then, she gave Chen Fan a grateful look and a nod.

After that, Chen Fan walked off to the entrance to the toilet. As he walked off, Jiang Churan looked at his back with an unwilling look because she wanted him to go with them as well.

"Ranran, let's go!" Zhang Yumeng held Jiang Churan's hand and pulled her away.

Jiang Churan turned her head to her best friend and nodded, but she suddenly saw a lot of men in black approach her group and become anxious.

'Why did I suddenly feel that I should listen to Chen Fan to leave this place?'

After thinking that, she unconsciously glanced at Chen Fan, but he had disappeared into the toilet.

…

*Why don't you go with them, darling? You know that there's a lot of suspicious people in the room they're heading to, right?*

Chen Fan received Tang Hongyu's telepathic message after he entered the bathroom near the entrance. Tang Hongyu was watching everything with her Divine Sense, and so far, she was not impressed by what she'd seen from Yang Chao and his friends.

*I know. But, that was the opportunity that my intuition told me,* Chen Fan finally replied.

After that, Chen Fan and Tang Hongyu watched what was happening in King's Hall with their Divine Sense.

*That Yang Chao is too hopeless, darling. Can't he see that he's in big trouble? I can't believe that Zhang Yumeng is so stupid to have a boyfriend like that idiot! I think that it'll be better for Ranran to stop playing with them!*

*Alas, there's no cure for idiocy, dear. At least, that Xu Rongfei isn't bad.*

*Well, I think that Little Feifei is the only good friend my daughter has. My impression of Zhang Yumeng has lowered after seeing this.*

They keep watching via Divine Sense as Yang Chao made a fool of himself, thinking that his parents who ran a five-star hotel could help him out of any situation. However, he and everyone were shocked when they discovered the identity of the boss of the men in black that brought them there. Zhou Tianhao, someone who had some influence in both the light and dark sides of the city.

After that, the situation escalated fast. Chen Fan and Tang Hongyu watched Yang Chao's blond-haired friend get beaten up by Zhao Tianhao's people. And then…

*Darling!* Tang Hongyu transmitted an anxious telepathic message.

*Don't worry, dear. I'm here. Nothing bad will happen to Ranran. Have more faith in your man.* Chen Fan tried to ease Tang Hongyu's anxiety.

*I haven't rushed there yet because I have faith in you! But, how long will you wait?*

Tang Hongyu had become anxious after Zhou Tianhao showed an interest in the girls. She even checked Zhou Tianhao's thoughts and discovered what he planned for the girls. Let's say, her worry as Jiang Churan's mother wasn't baseless; after all, mothers would become anxious when their daughters were threatened with a r*pe.

*I will wait for the last moment.*

*What?!*

*This is an opportunity to win Ranran's heart fast. Don't worry, I won't let Ranran get hurt. Well, she will be slightly traumatized but not hurt. I'll even help her to get over her trauma as quickly as possible, so you can't stop worrying.*

Tang Hongyu was silent for a few moments before transmitting her reply. *Fine. I'll believe in you. But, please, don't let my daughter get sullied. Promise me, darling.*

*I promise with my life,* Chen Fan replied firmly.

Then, they watched silently as the best fighter of Zhao Tianhao, an ex-prisoner with a big and muscled body and a bald head named Biao, manhandled Jiang Churan.

*That skinhead! I'm gonna kill him!*

It was the first time Chen Fan sensed Tang Hongyu's murderous intent. He hadn't seen her when she snapped at Jiang Haishan.

Nevertheless, back to the drama in the King's Hall; Jiang Churan had offered herself for the sake of her ungrateful friends. Other than Xu Rongfei, the rest, even Zhang Yumeng, immediately fled without a second thought. It was obvious that they cared for their safety more than that of Jiang Churan who had sacrificed herself for their sake.

*Darling!*

Tang Hongyu called out to Chen Fan through telepathy with unbridled panic when Zhou Tianhao started molesting Jiang Churan. Since Jiang Churan was being held by Biao, she could only struggle helplessly. At this moment, Jiang Churan's face was filled with despair and tears were falling down her cheeks.

*I know!* Chen Fan replied as he left the toilet. *It's time to be a hero!*

But, before that, he showed himself in front of the fleeing cowards plus one future wife.

Chen Fan dared to do that because he was influencing Zhou Tianhao to hold back his desire to sully Jiang Churan. Regardless, he walked to them casually and pretended to be confused when he met them. "Miss Xu? What's going on? Why are you guys leaving in a hurry? Where's Ranran?"

Chen Fan's voice made Xu Rongfei, Zhang Yumeng, and Yang Chao stop on their tracks while the rest kept rushing out.

"Chen Fan?! Ranran is left in the King's Hall! She left behind so Zhao Tianhao, a powerful and influential person in this city, would let us go! Could you do something to help her? I don't want Ranran to get hurt!"

Without using mind-reading or empathy, Chen Fan knew that Xu Rongfei was really concerned about Jiang Churan's safety.

On the other hand, Zhang Yumeng and Yang Chao couldn't look at Chen Fan's face because they were ashamed. When they saw Chen Fan, they recalled his words before they left the group.

Indeed, they were too cocky before. Chen Fan's prophetic words had become true in the end; they had offended someone they shouldn't offend, and when one of them stayed behind for their sake, they only cared for themselves and fled without a second thought.

To rub salt on the injury, Chen Fan turned to them and gave them a deadpan. "I told you so!"

Chen Fan's words made them flinch. They felt their face become hot as if they got slapped.

Chen Fan turned in the direction of the King's Hall and was about to walk off, but Xu Rongfei suddenly grabbed his outfit with her free hand; her other hand was held by Zhang Yumeng.

"Where are you going?"

"To save Ranran," Chen Fan simply replied to Xu Rongfei.

"Humph! What can you do?" Zhang Yumeng, who harbored resentment from being taken down a peg by Chen Fan before, said to him in a condescending tone and look.

"At least, I can do something, not running away like a coward who leaves behind her best friend to her doom! Humph! Some best friends, you are!"

Chen Fan shot back, and Zhang Yumeng's eyes turned red and moist because Chen Fan's words stung like a bitch.

In addition, she couldn't refute him because it was true; she'd forsaken her best friend for her own safety.

"Chen Fan, you—" Yang Chao tried to defend his girlfriend but froze up when he got Chen Fan's sharp look. He began sweating when he sensed the horrible feeling that he'd experienced before.

'It's really him! How did he do this? What is this?' Yang Chao asked himself in fright.

Since Chen Fan couldn't keep subtly influencing Zhou Tianhao's mind to hold back from raping Jiang Churan without making it look odd, he quickly headed to the King's Hall and left behind a worried yet hopeful Xu Rongfei, a sobbing Zhang Yumeng, and Yang Chao who's petrified in fright.