Pampered by the School Bully-Chapter 21 - 20. Sangzhi, I will protect you

Sunday had come, marking the return to school.

Evening self-study started at six thirty, and Pu Sangzhi usually stayed at home until six o’clock, having dinner before heading straight back to school.

"Mom, I’m heading to school now. Take good care of yourself at home. Don’t always focus on making money; make sure to rest plenty. Eat your meals on time without any delays, and don’t skimp on them either. Also, try to go out less."

Before leaving, Pu Sangzhi gave a litany of reminders to Chen Huifen.

She walked back and forth in the house with her backpack, triple-checking to ensure she hadn’t forgotten any chores before she peacefully prepared to leave.

Chen Huifen was still sewing shoe uppers, busy with her hands and not planning to see Pu Sangzhi off. "Xiaosang, stop dawdling. Hurry back to school. Everything is fine at home."

"Mom, I’m off then. The dishes are already washed. Remember to rest by ten and not keep going until twelve. You’ll hurt your back sitting for such long periods," Pu Sangzhi said, still with her backpack on, standing before her mother.

Chen Huifen couldn’t help but laugh, "Alright, I’m not a child. Why all the nagging? What’s there to worry about?"

"Mom, if anything bad happens at home, call my teacher right away so they can inform me," Pu Sangzhi insisted, standing firm like a sturdy pillar, going on and on.

Chen Huifen shook her head, smiling all the while, "Okay, I know. Now you’d better hurry to school, alright?"

Pu Sangzhi leaned in, hugging Chen Huifen, feeling truly reluctant to leave, "Then I’m really going now."

Chen Huifen smiled and nodded, "Go on, be careful on the road."

Not leaving until six, Pu Sangzhi finally managed to pull herself away from home.

Today was unusual because just as she opened the front door, she was startled by the sight before her, crying out, "Huo Feng!"

At that moment, Huo Feng was squatting on the low stone steps at her doorway, looking as if he had been there for a while. Hearing her voice, he stood up but staggered a bit, almost falling over.

"Hey..."

Huo Feng quickly steadied himself against the wall, greeting her while rubbing his legs, "My legs are a bit numb, just give me a moment..."

Seeing him, Pu Sangzhi should have been unimpressed, but seeing his pained expression from the numbness, she found it rather amusing.

For a moment, she couldn’t help but let her lips curl up slightly.

Huo Feng caught that subtle expression, and though in pain, he couldn’t help laughing, "You seem really happy today?"

Pu Sangzhi immediately straightened her face to stony seriousness, "Not at all."

Having said that, Pu Sangzhi turned and left.

"Hey, wait for me..."

Huo Feng quickly clapped his legs, now nearly recovered, and hurried to catch up with her.

Soon, the two of them walked one in front of the other, separated by a mere ten centimeters, heading towards school. The roadside greenery cast dappled shadows on them, a scene of fresh and beautiful youth.

Huo Feng watched Pu Sangzhi’s ponytail swishing gently from the back of her head, her figure clean and graceful. His heart skipped lightly, a young man’s thoughts running wild.

Huo Feng smiled slightly, speaking assertively, "Sangzhi, from now on I’ll take you home every week and pick you up after school."

Without turning her head, Pu Sangzhi rejected him, "No need."

Ignoring her response, Huo Feng added, "I’m planning to apply for Tsinghua. Don’t worry, I won’t expect you to date me in high school, but I want to be your boyfriend in college."

Listened to him, Pu Sangzhi found it very amusing, thinking, did he think getting into Tsinghua was that easy? Just saying it and it’s done?

Huo Feng continued, "Starting today, I, Huo Feng, will protect you. Within my sight, I won’t let any trouble come your way."

Pu Sangzhi didn’t respond and instead found him annoying, quickening her pace and running a few steps ahead.

She had just dashed past the greenery when a motorcycle suddenly burst forth from the left side of the pedestrian path!

Just as the motorcycle was about to hit Pu Sangzhi, in that split second, her elbow was grabbed and her body sharply pulled back, then with a roll, she crashed into a warm, fiery chest.

"Roar roar roar—"

The motorcycle whizzed past behind her, the noise echoing in her ears. It was then that Pu Sangzhi realized she had nearly experienced danger.

Pu Sangzhi took a deep breath, patted her chest, and felt a lingering fear.

"I said I would protect you."

Above her head, Huo Feng’s voice carried a tone of pride.

It seemed like he was boasting and feeling smug. His tone annoyed Pu Sangzhi, and his posture made her feel offended.

It was one thing to give her a hand, but to pull her into his arms and encircle her waist... Was this considered sexual harassment?

"Let go," Pu Sangzhi demanded, her face cold.

"Oh..."

This time, Huo Feng obediently obeyed and loosened his hold on her.

Because he had taken advantage, Huo Feng felt smug. He grinned, showing off a row of white teeth, his face bright with a springlike charm. Under the sunlight, his clean and handsome features shone brilliantly, giving off a youthful and carefree vibe. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

Pu Sangzhi faced his smile head-on. It was a vexingly smug smile, yet for a moment, it struck her heart.

Handsome...

That was the thought that flashed through her mind at that instant.

But this thought lasted only a moment before she consciously dismissed it. Pu Sangzhi took a step back, muttered a thanks in a soft voice, and then turned and walked away.

Huo Feng continued to follow her. His school bag slung casually over one shoulder and his hands in his pockets, he carried an easygoing, somewhat cool air.

Perhaps because Pu Sangzhi didn’t reject him outright. By default, this made Huo Feng cheer up. As he followed her, he kept speaking, "Sangzhi, give me three years. Although Tsinghua is hard, I’ll definitely get in. When I do, you’ll be my girlfriend. I, Huo Feng, will treasure you, pamper you. We’ll date properly and then get married."

Pu Sangzhi initially didn’t want to pay attention to Huo Feng, believing that his interest was just a fleeting passion which would wane after a while. But he was getting more and more ridiculous.

Unable to bear it, Pu Sangzhi turned and interrupted him, "Huo Feng, can you stop conjuring up so many scenarios by yourself? You can’t even get into Tsinghua, so why waste your thoughts?"

Huo Feng stepped forward and leaned in, causing Pu Sangzhi to instinctively cover the lower half of her face as she stepped back.

Pu Sangzhi’s words were dismissive of Huo Feng. Had it been anyone else, or even Huo Mingshan, Huo Feng would have told them off.

But since it was Pu Sangzhi who had said it, he didn’t want to lecture her. Instead, he even laughed, "Hey, are you looking down on me?"

Pu Sangzhi guarded her mouth, watching him warily, "It’s the truth."

Huo Feng was unconcerned, "Just wait and see. I’ll make it."

Pu Sangzhi, still covering her face, held up two fingers, "You? Can you make it into the top 20?"

"2..."

Instantly, Huo Feng choked, his face turning pale.

Top 20...

Huo Feng broke into a sweat, thinking to himself that there were 500+ students in his class...

But he couldn’t let himself look weak in front of Pu Sangzhi. He gritted his teeth and hummed, "Top 20, yeah, I can manage that. I just need to get serious... No problem."

Although he was putting on a brave front, his insecurity was too obvious. Pu Sangzhi was amused by his expression, seizing the opportunity to say, "Alright then. Let’s see if you can make it into the top 20 in this month’s exam."

Immediately, Huo Feng’s face reddened in anxiousness, "Hey! That fast? Do you think grades skyrocket that quickly? It has to be... it has to be a step-by-step process!"

Pu Sangzhi turned around, chuckling lightly, "Okay. You take your time climbing the steps, goodbye."

"Hey, hey... Top 400 okay?"

Huo Feng hurried to catch up, "Give me a chance, top 400. I’m definitely making top 400 this month’s test!"

"Deal? If I make it, you owe me a kiss?" Huo Feng seized the opportunity to up the stakes.