Chapter Sixteen: Pretty Boy

At the sight of Widow Zhao Cuihua’s skin, so pale it resembled fresh milk, Wang Dagou’s nerves were further provoked. He could barely contain himself, lunging forward with the desperate urge to overturn heaven and earth with Zhao Cuihua in the very next instant.

“You bastard! I’m calling the police! I’ll have you arrested for assault and attempted rape! You scoundrel!” Zhao Cuihua fought back, her eyes red and tears streaming down her cheeks. Today, it seemed her fate was truly to fall into the hands of this brute. If that was to be her end, she thought grimly, then she would rather take Wang Dagou down with her.

“Wang Dagou! Damn it, so it really is you!”

At that moment, a deep, forceful male voice rang out. Lu Hao burst through the door and, without hesitation, delivered a swift kick to Wang Dagou’s backside as he grappled by the bed.

Caught off guard, Wang Dagou let out a sharp cry as a sickening crack came from his waist—a clear sign his lumbar vertebrae had been dislocated.

Lu Hao hurried to Zhao Cuihua’s side, helping her up and quickly covering her with her clothes.

“Sister Cuihua, did he do anything to you? Thank goodness I arrived in time.”

Zhao Cuihua, still poised to defend herself, saw clearly that it was Lu Hao. Instantly, all her defenses crumbled and she burst into sobs, throwing herself into his arms like a child overcome by grief.

Seeing Zhao Cuihua in such distress, Lu Hao’s heart ached for her. “Sister Cuihua, I’m here now. It’s alright, don’t worry.”

As he felt the softness of her trembling body, a fire flickered within him, one he quickly forced down.

Wang Dagou’s roar cut through the air: “You little pretty boy—who the hell are you? How dare you meddle in my business! Damn it, my back! You’re finished! You’ve ruined my waist!”

Furious, Wang Dagou cursed. At his age, nothing terrified him more than an injury to his waist.

“So you’re that college student who’s always hanging around with this brazen widow! I remember you—Lu Hao, isn’t it? And you still owe money to Young Master Zhou!”

Pointing at him, Lu Hao snapped, “Wang Dagou, do you know nothing of the law? Forcing yourself on a woman against her will is a crime—you’ll be lucky to get away with only eight years in prison!”

Wang Dagou grabbed a cup from Zhao Cuihua’s table and hurled it to the floor. “Don’t try to scare me! You’ve damaged my back—don’t think I won’t settle the score!”

With another furious curse, he swung a fist at Lu Hao’s head. Wang Dagou had always bullied the villagers—petty theft, brawls, nothing was beneath him. He figured knocking down a pretty boy like Lu Hao would be child’s play.

But his punch was deftly dodged. Undeterred, Wang Dagou snatched a glass vase from the table and aimed it at Lu Hao’s head.

“Watch out, Lu Hao!” Zhao Cuihua cried, covering her mouth in horror.

With a loud crack, Lu Hao shattered the vase in Wang Dagou’s hand with a single punch.

“With thugs like you, I could take on ten at once,” Lu Hao taunted, stepping forward to seize Wang Dagou’s shoulder and locking his arm.

“Over-the-shoulder throw!”

There was a thunderous thud as Lu Hao hurled Wang Dagou to the ground like a rag doll. In unarmed combat, wrestling and jujitsu reigned supreme—after a throw like that, anyone would feel as if their insides were about to spill out.

Wang Dagou let out a howl of pain as stars danced before his eyes. He could hardly endure the agony, staring at Lu Hao in terror.

Just months before, he and Zhou Run, the village chief’s son, had given Lu Hao a beating. Back then, Lu Hao had been as helpless as a chick—one punch and he’d be down.

“How do you know martial arts?” Wang Dagou gasped.

Lu Hao bellowed, “This is the Dog-Beating Palm! Especially for scoundrels like you!” He spread his hands and struck both sides of Wang Dagou’s head in a move known as “Double Demons Knocking at the Door.”

A resounding crack echoed as both his hands landed on Wang Dagou’s ears. It was as if two gongs had been struck beside his head.

With a wail of pain, Wang Dagou was completely incapacitated.

Seeing he stood no chance, Wang Dagou resorted to threats. “You bastard! I’m Xu Juan’s uncle! You beat me like this—don’t think you’ll ever be with her now!”

Lu Hao sneered, “Wang Dagou, you’re mistaken. I have nothing more to do with your niece Xu Juan. The engagement is over. She can do as she likes. I see your family for what you truly are.”

Wang Dagou’s expression changed. He hadn’t expected Lu Hao to become so defiant. In the past, that boy had done everything his niece asked.

Then it dawned on him—his niece was now involved with the wealthy Sun Wenguo. Lu Hao really had nothing to do with them anymore.

Pointing at Lu Hao, Wang Dagou snarled, “Fine, you’ve got guts. Just remember this—you’ll never see Xu Juan again as long as you live.” With that, he turned to leave, clutching his battered waist as he staggered toward the door.

“You think you can just walk out? Who said you could leave?”

Lu Hao stepped forward and grabbed his shoulder.

Wang Dagou glared at him. “Damn it, my back is shattered—what more do you want from me? Isn’t this enough?”

Lu Hao replied coldly, “With scum like you, I wouldn’t even feel bad if I left you half-paralyzed.” He turned to Zhao Cuihua. “Sister Cuihua, this dog has harmed who knows how many women in the village. Maybe I should just break his legs, pay him some compensation, and make sure he never hurts anyone again.”

Wang Dagou was instantly terrified at the prospect of having his legs broken.

“You pretty boy, you look so gentle but you’re vicious as hell. Since when has anyone in this village dared to talk about breaking my legs?”

Lu Hao shot him a cold smile. “You’ve already committed attempted rape—an indictable offense. And you broke in to do it.”

With that, Lu Hao advanced on him step by step.