Chapter 74

Chapter 74 - A Sharp Counterattack

A group of tall young men, led by Meng Yongyan, had barricaded the entrance to Room 101.

“Ye Hao, do you actually enjoy being a coward?”

“He's nothing but a coward. Yongyan waited for him for an hour yesterday, and he didn't have the guts to show up.”

“Exactly.”

“Ye Hao is so faint-hearted. Yongyan didn't even intend to beat him up; he just wanted a friendly spar. Yet, he was too scared to even open the door.”

“I've never encountered someone so spineless in all these years.”

Overhearing the boys' taunts, Yuan Gaoxing couldn't contain himself any longer. He burst through the door, brandishing a stool, and yelled, “Jerks, are you proud of yourselves?”

Xiao Laoshi, witnessing the confrontation, stepped out wielding his own stool.

Zheng Xiaolong hesitated briefly before deciding to join them.

“Who are you calling out?” Meng Yongyan asked, his tone icy.

“I'm talking to you,” Yuan Gaoxing retorted, locking eyes with Meng Yongyan.

“You've got nerve,” Meng Yongyan acknowledged with a sarcastic thumbs-up. He then pulled out a steel pipe from his sleeve and swung it at Yuan Gaoxing.

A hit from the pipe would surely leave Yuan Gaoxing bloody and wounded.

Yuan Gaoxing froze, shocked that Meng Yongyan would actually dare to aim for his head.

Did Meng Yongyan not fear the possibility of jail time?

But just as the steel pipe was about to make contact with Yuan Gaoxing's skull, a figure dashed in with the speed of lightning, seizing the pipe.

“Do you realize the consequences if this steel pipe hits him?” the man demanded, glaring at Meng Yongyan.

“So, Ye Hao, you've finally decided to stop being a coward,” Meng Yongyan sneered maliciously.

With a cold laugh, Ye Hao wrested the steel pipe from Meng Yongyan's grasp and swung it at his head.

Everyone present was taken aback.

”I've reported the incident for you. Now, let's have a talk,” Ye Hao said, gripping the steel pipe with a calm demeanor.

Meng Yongyan remained silent.

“Have you lost your ability to speak?” Ye Hao taunted, then struck Meng Yongyan's cheek with the pipe. Meng Yongyan spat out three teeth along with a mouthful of blood, his cheekbone swelling visibly.

Clutching his mouth, Meng Yongyan's whole body shook as he felt the pain deep in his bones.

“Answer me!” Ye Hao demanded, lifting the steel pipe once more when Meng Yongyan failed to respond.

“Don't,” pleaded Meng Yongyan, visibly frightened.

“If you had spoken up sooner, you wouldn't have been on the receiving end of this steel pipe,” Ye Hao said, tapping the pipe on Meng Yongyan's shoulder. “You're a real piece of work, not knowing when you're well off.”

Ye Hao's words struck a nerve with Meng Yongyan, his nails digging into his own flesh in agitation. But upon catching Ye Hao's icy stare, he was rendered speechless.

“If you're going to try to corner me, you better have the skills to back it up,” Ye Hao declared, sending the most vociferous boy flying with a swift kick. “You're making a scene over a minor injury. It's disgraceful.”

The rest of the boys fell silent, too afraid of Ye Hao's retaliation and ashamed of their behavior.

Ye Hao said nothing more and stood his ground, waiting. About five minutes later, the sound of sirens filled the air, and more than twenty police officers stormed into Ye Hao's dormitory, led by Zhang Cheng.

Zhang Cheng was taken aback by the sight that greeted him. Ye Hao had been merciless.

”What happened here?” Zhang Cheng inquired, directing his gaze at Ye Hao.

“Officer, he assaulted us with a weapon,” blurted out Meng Yongyan, only to be abruptly cut off by Zhang Cheng. “I didn't ask you to speak.”

Ye Hao explained calmly, “We had a prior disagreement, and he brought over a dozen friends to blockade my dorm door. I got a call from my roommate and rushed here. As soon as I got to the door, I saw him swinging a club at my roommate's head with full force. My roommate wouldn't have stood a chance. Was I wrong to intervene?”

“That's an act of valor,” Zhang Cheng acknowledged.

“But Officer, even if it was an act of valor, he continued to beat us after the fact,” Meng Yongyan complained bitterly.

“There were twelve of you, including yourself. If I hadn't fought back, I would've been killed,” Ye Hao stated firmly.

“This falls under self-defense,” Zhang Cheng concluded. “Do any of you have witnesses or evidence?”

“I can testify,” Yuan Gaoxing chimed in immediately.

“You're one of the involved parties; you can't serve as a witness,” Zhang Cheng replied gently.

“I have a video,” Ye Hao announced, his gaze settling on Tang Pianpian amidst the crowd.