Chapter 52: Guardian’s Reputation
by xennovelMurmurs drifted over from a distance.
Xie Bingran stood silently, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.
Suddenly, a tall, broad-shouldered boy approached, his expression a bit hesitant as he spoke up:
“Bing Ge…”
He was muscular, wearing the First High School volleyball team uniform, though Xu Chen didn’t recognize him.
He glanced at Xu Chen and added, “Chen Ge.”
Xu Chen looked surprised.
Could he be one of Bing Ge’s juniors? He’d never seen him before.
“I’m in Grade 2, Class 1. I’m Wang Liang.
You might have forgotten, Bing Ge, but last year in Grade 1 you helped me out once…”
Xie Bingran glanced at Wang Liang, said nothing, then nodded slightly.
Xu Chen smiled—so he was one of Bing Ge’s little fans who owed her a favor.
“My Bing Ge is ever so righteous,” everyone in the school world knew she had a reputation.
Many wrote her and her crew off as delinquents, but her actions proved otherwise…
Xu Chen thought for a moment, then said,
“Wang Liang, could I ask a favor?”
“Anything you need, Chen Ge. I’ll help if I can.”
“Bing Ge’s running in lane six soon. I’m worried someone might block her path.”
“No problem. We just finished practice. I’ll grab a few teammates to guard the lane and keep people from cutting in.”
“Thanks!”
Wang Liang replied, bowed slightly to Xie Bingran, then turned and left.
Xu Chen teased,
“Bing Ge sure has star power!”
Xie Bingran’s eyes stayed cold, but she was too lazy to respond to Xu Chen.
At that moment a sturdy, dark-skinned girl stepped forward. Her face was pitted with acne scars, and she tilted her head at Xie Bingran:
“Xie Bingran?! Weren’t you expelled…? Why are you still here?”
She wore tight sports shorts and yellow spikes—clearly a track athlete.
Xie Bingran looked up at her but didn’t reply. A flash of disdain passed through her cold, gloomy eyes.
This athlete was Tian Chaorui, once the big boss of First High School, leading a pack of junior delinquents.
But after Xie Bingran rose to power, Tian Chaorui lost her spotlight.
Later she got into trouble and was handled by Bing Ge’s crew, so she’d been forced to keep her head down.
When she heard Bing Ge was expelled, Tian Chaorui had been one of the happiest.
Coincidentally, Tian Chaorui was here for the girls’ 100 meters, warming up nearby.
In fact, she was First High’s top female sprinter.
She was said to be the only “National Level One Athlete” on the track team and had already secured a spot at a sports college in the provincial capital.
Xie Bingran ignored Tian Chaorui, hands in pockets, silent as ever.
Tian Chaorui sneered, her acne-scarred face full of provocation and contempt.
Once Xie Bingran lost everything, Tian Chaorui had risen to the provincial college early—no wonder she was so arrogant.
Tian Chaorui turned to Xu Chen, sizing him up with a wicked grin:
“Which class is this handsome guy from? Let’s be friends…”
…
Xu Chen was speechless.
He glanced at Tian Chaorui’s bulky frame and scarred face, feeling a little spine-chilled.
He didn’t know her name, but mentally dubbed her “Big Brawler.”
Suddenly Bing Ge’s voice cut in coldly:
“He’s mine.”
Xu Chen: “…”
He looked back at Xie Bingran.
Hmm…
Fierce yet somehow sweet.
Tian Chaorui froze for a moment, then snorted in contempt.
“You wolf dog Xie Bingran, protecting your food now?!”
Her scarred face twisted into a vicious sneer.
Xu Chen frowned as the air around them grew colder.
“Wolf dog Xie Bingran” was one of Bing Ge’s many nicknames.
Unlike “Righteous Bing Ge” or “Heartbreaker Leader,” “Wolf dog Xie Bingran” carried clear hostility.
Once Xie Bingran truly established herself at First High, few dared utter it.
Yet Tian Chaorui had just spoken those words right to her face…
Behind Tian Chaorui, two other sturdy girls stepped up, flanking her.
Xu Chen’s face darkened as he watched.
He found these high school delinquents’ posturing childish and absurd.
But Tian Chaorui’s malice was too blatant.
Xu Chen worried Bing Ge might lose her temper…
He glanced at her and saw she still leaned against the wall, emotionless, hands in pockets.
But Bing Ge’s calmness only infuriated Tian Chaorui further.
The greatest insult was being ignored.
Tian Chaorui narrowed her eyes and walked forward, chin raised—clearly spoiling for a fight.
Just as a needless conflict seemed about to erupt, Xu Chen stepped between them.
Tian Chaorui sneered:
“The once-glorious Bing Ge now hides behind a pretty boy?!”
At that moment, several tall, broad figures appeared and stood in front of Xu Chen and Xie Bingran.
Xu Chen looked up—it was Wang Liang, accompanied by three or four teammates.
All over six feet tall and muscular, two of them from the basketball team.
Wang Liang showed no fear, his voice booming:
“Tian Chaorui, you wanna challenge Bing Ge? You got the guts?!”
…
Xu Chen was speechless.
Those over-the-top lines really exposed high schoolers’ juvenile bravado.
Bullying with a side of cuteness.
Fine, high school feuds were best left to high schoolers’ hotheaded speeches.
As a reincarnated adult, Xu Chen didn’t need to join in.
Even he couldn’t concoct such a dramatic line himself.
Reading it aloud would probably feel awkward.
Xu Chen glanced at Xie Bingran.
She stood hands in pockets, expression icy.
Well… her fierce-cute look was kind of endearing.
Tian Chaorui hesitated, clearly backing down.
But too proud to show it, she snorted and said:
“We’ve got races today—I don’t have time for your nonsense… Just you wait!”
Xu Chen peeked from behind, feeling embarrassed for her.
Tian Chaorui glared one last time, then stormed off.
Wang Liang turned back and grinned, calling out, “Bing Ge!”
His teammates echoed, “Bing Ge!”
Xie Bingran remained silent, then nodded coolly.
Xu Chen smiled wryly.
Bing Ge really had quite the reputation here…
“You guys get going now.”
A voice called out from behind them.