Nanya Secondary School
Under the spotlight of the ring, Xia Ziran stood tall and straight, like a meticulously carved white jade statue. He had done his homework for this "test." He had studied Wu Shi's past practice videos, her offensive habits, her defensive stances, even the subtle rhythms of her breathing, all by heart. A determined smile played on his lips, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's, locked onto the high school girl across from him. He was determined to win this match.
However, when Wu Shi actually stood opposite him, the impact of Xia Ziran's face far exceeded any imagination of an unknown male supporting role.
"System, are you sure this is the appearance of an unknown male supporting actor in this world? This model? It's simply hiding the male lead, okay?" Wu Shi's heart skipped a beat. God, this man... looks too unfair! If the crown prince Xiao Yuhuan of the previous world was as cold and handsome as a pine tree on a high mountain, then Xia Ziran in front of him is simply a huge contrast attack - a pair of round and innocent puppy eyes, eyelashes long enough to hold matchsticks, a straight nose, and natural cherry pink lips, all combined to form a standard "big-eyed cute girl" sweet appearance. But it happened! The eyes were arrogant, the posture was arrogant, and the whole body exuded an invincible aura of "I am the best in the world". This extreme contrast made Wu Shi, who was used to seeing handsome men, dazzled by the beauty for a moment, and his mind went blank for a few tenths of a second.
"Start!" The command cut through the air sharply.
Wu Shi was still immersed in the visual impact of "a cute girl's face with a domineering aura." Her ears caught the command, but her body was half a beat slower. Xia Ziran's eyes flashed, and without the slightest mercy, his fist, wrapped in a strong wind, hit Wu Shi's face like a cannonball! The fierce fist wind caused the hair on her forehead to fly. In a life-or-death situation, the body's instinctive reaction far exceeds consciousness! Wu Shi bent her waist backward at an incredible angle, exerting force with her heels. Like a slippery fish, she drifted back, dangerously close to the fist, perfectly avoiding this determined blow.
Cold sweat instantly soaked Wu Shi's back. She shook her head violently, forcing herself to wake up: This competition was her ticket to the Xia family, and it was also Xia Ziran's way of testing her strength! She had to understand the ways of the world—after all, the person opposite her was very likely her future boss.
Xia Ziran's attack missed, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but his attack became even faster! Fists, palms, and legs intertwined into an impenetrable attack network, each move was fierce and aimed directly at the vital points. He had studied Wu Shi's "routines" and was confident that he could predict her every move. However, reality dealt him a heavy blow. Wu Shi's figure on the ring was incredibly agile. She seemed to be dodging in a panic, but she was able to avoid it by a hair's breadth each time; she seemed to be barely blocking, but every time she made contact, she was able to cleverly remove most of his strength, causing his arm to feel numb. Xia Ziran became more and more frightened as the fight went on. His fierce attack was like a heavy punch hitting cotton, and was silently resolved. Sweat dripped down his chin, and he clearly realized: the high school girl opposite him in school uniform was unfathomable! She didn't try her best at all!
Wu Shi was also complaining in her heart. She had to maintain the appearance of being "strong but slightly inferior" while also ensuring that Xia Ziran's pitiful self-esteem was not damaged. After all, her job was at stake, and this was more difficult than a real fight. Every block she made was "just right" to look strenuous, and every dodge was "surrounded by danger." Occasionally, she was "forced" to counterattack once or twice, but it was never beyond Xia Ziran's tolerance. The two of them went back and forth on the stage, their figures intertwined, so fast that it was almost dizzying, and the dull sound of fists and feet colliding was endless. Time passed by minute by minute, and in the blink of an eye, they had been fighting for nearly an hour! Sweat had already soaked their clothes.
Just as Xia Ziran's strength began to noticeably decline, and Wu Shi was debating whether to "make a mistake" to give him a break, an anxious voice pierced the din of the ring: "Stop! Stop now! Mr. Xia, your health is at stake!" Xia Ziran's personal physician, Chen Mo, breathlessly rushed to the edge of the ring and forcibly stopped the bout. He nervously observed Xia Ziran's pale face and rapid breathing.
Wu Shi immediately took a few steps back as if "relieved", his chest heaving, breathing heavily, looking very tired.
Xiao Qingqiu jumped up like a nimble monkey, diligently wiped Wu Shi's sweat with a towel, handed her an energy drink, and skillfully massaged her tense arm muscles, muttering, "Sister! So handsome! But you're working too hard, aren't you? That pretty boy opposite... uh, who is that handsome guy? Is he worth your hard work?" She lowered her voice, a gossipy look on her face.
Wu Shi took a big gulp of water and gave her a cold look: "Nonsense! Do you think I'm happy? Do you know who is on the other side?" She gestured in the direction of Xia Ziran with her eyes.
Xiao Qingqiu shook his head blankly: "I don't know, is it very powerful?"
On the other side, Chen Mo helped Xia Ziran walk down from the ring and handed him water. His face was full of disbelief, and he asked in a low voice: "Mr. Xia, how do you feel? That Wu Shi... who is she? I've followed you for four years, and this is the first time I've seen someone who can fight with you to this extent!" He looked at Wu Shi with a curious look in his eyes.
Xia Ziran took the water, his Adam's apple rolling as he tried to catch his breath. He looked towards Wu Shi with a complicated expression, his voice barely audible, a hint of hoarseness and frustration: "I don't know." He truly didn't know. This girl was like a cloud of fog.
At this moment, Chen Mo, with his sharp eyes, suddenly pointed in Wu Shi's direction and exclaimed, "Hey! Boss, look? Why are they...they are waving the white flag?!"
Wu Shi quickly pulled out a wrinkled white cloth from the side pocket of her sweatpants (probably a spare towel for wiping her sweat?), raised it tremblingly and extremely "weakly", and shook it weakly in the air - a standard surrender signal!
The audience, who were about to leave, were stunned at first, then burst into even more enthusiastic cheers and applause! In their opinion, this was clearly Xia Ziran's absolute advantage in "defeating" his opponent! His undefeated legend continued!
Xia Ziran jerked his head up, just in time to see Wu Shi's "weak" hand holding the flag, and the sly glint in her eyes. A surge of fury, a feeling of being slighted and mocked, surged within him! His fingers tightened around the water bottle, the plastic creaking under the weight. She was clearly handling it with ease! How dare she... dare she save face for him in this way?! This was even more humiliating than defeating him outright!
However, the audience was filled with thunderous admiration, and beside him was Chen Mo, a loyal and concerned man. Xia Ziran's chest heaved violently, forcing himself to suppress the anger he felt. He couldn't lose his composure, couldn't break the "invincible" image he had built.
He forced himself to loosen his clenched fists, then slowly and calmly sat back down in his designated chair beside the ring, nodding slightly as if accepting his submission as a matter of course. But the tense jawline and the lingering gloom in his eyes betrayed the turmoil swirling within him. He enjoyed the audience's enthusiastic cheers, but his gaze remained fixed, as if fixed on the figure being "supported" off the stage by Xiao Qingqiu, still "weakly" waving a white flag.
The atmosphere at the post-match "reconciliation dinner" was as cold as an ice cellar. A dazzling array of delicacies lay spread across the vast round table, and fragrant Buddha Jumps Over the Wall still bubbled in the casserole. Yet, those seated around the table seemed frozen in an invisible chill. The air was so stagnant you could practically wring water out of it.
Wu Shi and Xia Ziran sat at the main and guest tables, separated by a rotating glass tray. Xia Ziran had changed out of his combat uniform for a well-tailored, dark casual outfit that accentuated his fair complexion. However, his delicate, almost demonic face was devoid of any warmth. He didn't pick up his chopsticks, simply leaning back slightly in his chair, his slender fingers tapping the tabletop intermittently. His gaze, calm as water, yet filled with a profound pressure, was fixed on Wu Shi. His gaze was as sharp as a scalpel, as unseen as a searchlight, as if to peel away all her disguises and penetrate her core.
Wu Shi felt uneasy under his gaze, the hairs on her back standing on end. She had just drafted a bunch of flattering remarks and beautiful words, but now, the silent pressure choked her throat, and she couldn't utter a single word. She could only sit there stiffly, trying to maintain a surface of composure, her eyes focused on her nose, her nose focused on her heart, pretending to be deeply interested in the plate of greasy braised pork in front of her. Time passed, and the only sounds in the private room were the sounds of Xiao Qingqiu working and the low hum of the air conditioner.
The only one who stood out from the icy atmosphere was Xiao Qingqiu. Like a tireless butterfly, he flitted around the table. He would fill Xia Ziran's expensive glass with red wine, then sidle up to Wu Shi, diligently helping her with vegetables and peeling shrimp, muttering, "Sister, eat more to replenish your energy." He barely let go of his wine glass, his demeanor betraying his determination to drink until everyone at the table was down.
The tense atmosphere was nearly frozen. Ultimately, Wu Shi couldn't withstand the overwhelming pressure of the gazes and surrendered. She cleared her throat, trying to break the silence, her voice slightly dry and flattering. "Hey... Bro, you were so handsome in the ring today!" She forced a genuine smile. "That skill, that aura! I'm truly in awe of you, truly convinced!"
Xia Ziran's eyebrows moved slightly, almost imperceptibly. There was no ripple in her beautiful "cute girl eyes". She just asked back lightly, her voice calm but with a cold and hard texture like metal: "Are you sure?" The three words were light, but they hit Wu Shi's heart like a heavy hammer.
Wu Shi's heart skipped a beat, and she secretly thought it was not good. This guy is not easy to fool! She gritted her teeth, smiled wider, and said in a firm tone: "Of course! It's absolutely true!"
To show his sincerity, Wu Shi quickly stood up, picked up the jug of freshly squeezed orange juice from the table, and carefully filled Xia Ziran's nearly untouched red wine glass with the clear juice. The orange-yellow liquid swayed in the clear crystal glass, forming a sharp and slightly comical contrast with the deep red wine next to it.
"Brother," Wu Shi held the juice cup in both hands, bowed slightly, and looked like a loyal servant who was willing to sacrifice his life for his country. He then put forward his core demand, "I, Wu Shi, dare not say anything else, but I will definitely be loyal! From now on, as long as you say a word, I, Wu Shi, will go through fire and water to serve you!" These words were spoken loudly, and his eyes showed incomparable sincerity.
Xia Ziran's gaze lingered for a moment on the unsightly glass of juice, then slowly shifted back to Wu Shi's face, etched with sincerity. The corners of his lips seemed to twitch upward ever so slightly, a curve that suggested a cold mockery more than a smile. He didn't touch the juice, but rather slowly pulled a thin, unmarked, pure white envelope from his inner suit pocket.
"Heh," he uttered an ambiguous hum, and with his slender fingers, he casually dropped the envelope onto the table in front of Wu Shi, making a soft "clack." The edge of the envelope reflected a cold, hard sheen in the light. "Doing your best?" He stood up and glanced down at Wu Shi, his beautiful eyes filled with a penetrating depth and a subtle interest. "Then let's see how hard you, a 'dog and horse,' can really work."
Before he finished speaking, he no longer looked at Wu Shi's reaction and turned around with a quick, decisive movement. The black-clad bodyguards who had been standing like shadows in the corner of the box immediately followed silently. The door to the box opened, and Xia Ziran disappeared outside, leaving behind only the lingering cold air and the lonely, overflowing glass of orange juice.
The smile on Wu Shi's face instantly fell, and she let out a long sigh, feeling a dampness on her back. She reached out and picked up the cold envelope on the table, her fingertips feeling the outline of the hard card inside. Xiao Qingqiu leaned over and asked curiously, "Sister, what is this? A check? An access card?"
Wu Shi rolled her eyes at her and put the envelope in her pocket, but her eyes drifted involuntarily to the door. Xia Ziran's last words and that look made her feel strangely uneasy. This "dog and horse labor" must be difficult to do.
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