Li gets nervous.
A thought instantly flashes through his mind
"What's happening…?"
His breathing quickens.
Sweat becomes clearly visible, one drop after another.
Just then, a red-haired guy in front of him glares angrily and says:
"Leave this girl here… and run away now."
Hearing this, Li Chan's entire body freezes for a moment.
His heartbeat races.
He feels a heavy pressure in his chest, like a punch.
Then he looks back at Yuki…
There was both confusion and pain in her eyes.
In his mind, he says to himself:
"What should I do now…?"
Just then, he notices
Yuki was panicking.
There was a glimmer of tears in her eyes.
Her lips were trembling.
Her face had completely pulled back in fear.
Seeing all this, Li Chan is shaken to his core.
For him, everything becomes serious in an instant.
Then he takes a deep breath,
closes his eyes…
and, looking straight into the eyes of the guy standing in front of him, says:
"I'm not going anywhere."
Hearing this, the red-haired guy gets even angrier.
He presses the gun tighter against Li Chan's head.
There was a clear, deadly intent in his voice:
"Kid… think carefully. You still have time.
Leave this girl and go…
Or I'll finish you right here."
Li Chan looks into his eyes.
For a few seconds, there's nothing but silence.
Then he turns his head…
toward Yuki.
She was still looking at Li Chan, terrified.
Yuki's heartbeat was no longer normal.
Her entire body was trembling.
Only one thought was running through her mind:
"Li Chan… please leave…
These are my brother's people…
They won't spare you…"
But Li Chan… just looking into her eyes,
gives a faint smile
and says:
"Yuki… don't worry.
Protecting you is my responsibility.
As long as I'm alive… I won't let anything happen to you."
Yuki's heart stops for a moment.
Tears well up in her eyes.
Her face turns red.
The corners of her eyes start to drip.
A strange emotion rises within her.
She says to herself in her mind:
"What is this feeling…?
For the first time, I've felt so warm with someone…"
Just then
A "Ding!" sound rings in Li Chan's system.
A transparent blue hologram screen floats in front of him:
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Host, Yuki's trust in you has increased from 22%.
Current Trust Level: 30%
Yuki's reward: 10 Billion Yen
Of which 0.8 Billion Yen has already been received by you.
An additional 2.2 Billion Yen is now being transferred to your black card…
Li Chan is momentarily stunned seeing the screen.
A wave of joy sparks in his eyes.
"2.2 billion… being transferred now…"
But that joy lasts only for a moment…
The red-haired guy in front of him
shouts at Li Chan:
"Kid… enough is enough. Now die!"
Hearing this, Li Chan's heart literally stops for a moment.
Yuki is shocked.
She screams:
"Li Chan!"
The guy starts to press the trigger of the gun
his finger slowly increasing the pressure.
And just then…
A loud gunshot echoes!
The sound reverberates through the entire place.
Yuki closes both her eyes and ears.
And she screams:
"Li Chan… NOOOOOOOOO!!!"
In panic, she forcefully opens her eyes…
But what she sees blows her mind.
Li Chan was still standing, completely unharmed…
But red blood was dripping from the hands of the red-haired guy.
The gun had fallen from his hand.
No one understood what had happened—
Everyone was just shocked…
Just then, the roaring sound of several supercar engines comes from behind.
Everyone turns to look back.
Li Chan, in surprise, looks back as well,
his gaze falling on a shining red Ferrari.
He immediately says to himself:
"That's… Kuro's car!"
And then,
Supra, Mercedes, BMW, and other high-end supercars start stopping one after another.
From one of those cars, a black BMW's door opens…
And a guy steps out.
Black hair, muscular build, dressed in black-on-black—a slim black shirt and matching pants.
He held a lit cigarette in his hand,
and his face radiated confidence, his eyes burning with fire.
The guy slowly walks forward,
and as soon as he appears
the ground seems to slip from under the red-haired guy's feet.
Then, from behind, Kuro, Jin, and their other friends come running toward Li Chan:
"Brother! Are you okay!?"
Li Chan just nods yes, but his eyes still show shock.
On the other side, the guy in the black outfit
adjusts his sunglasses
and starts walking toward the red-haired guy.
The red-haired guy, whose face had now turned pale,
starts stepping back.
In panic, he says:
"Brother Kazuko… please listen to me!"
Kazuko whose name alone caused tension to spread in the air
approaches him with quick steps.
Then…
He lands a powerful kick to his chest
The sound echoes!
The cigarette slips from his hand…
But Kazuko catches it with his fingertips.
Anger in his eyes, but his face calm.
"Do you even know who you've touched!?"
The guy, trembling, says:
"He's just a university student…!"
Kazuko's anger was now in full force.
"You bastard! You don't know anything about him!"
Just then, the red-haired guy, shaking, says:
"Brother… we were just given a task…
To kidnap this girl… for Hiroto!"
Hearing this, Kazuko immediately looks at Yuki.
Then, looking into Li Chan's eyes, he asks:
"Brother… is this girl with you?"
Li Chan just nods yes.
There was a spark of responsibility in his eyes.
Seeing this, Kazuko's expression changes instantly.
Then he turns to the red-haired guy
and says in a booming voice:
"Do you still want this girl…?"
The guy immediately steps back.
With folded hands, he says:
"No… I don't want her…
Please let me go from here…
I work for Hiroto!"
Kazuko looks into his eyes.
Then, taking a final puff of his cigarette, he says:
"This time, I'm letting you go… because you work for him.
But… if you trouble these people again,
I'll burn you alive myself."
The guy quickly nods yes,
and, taking his companions, flees from the scene.
The entire atmosphere becomes quiet for a moment.
Just then, Kuro, Jin, and some of their other friends come to Li Chan:
"Brother! Are you really okay?"
Li Chan, now a bit more stable, says:
"I'm fine… but…
Brother Kazuko… who is he…?"