Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

Zhao Dong merely flashed a faint smile, looking at Zhang Shaowen as if he were an idiot. "You're overthinking it. I really was just passing by. Besides, don't be so overconfident. Are any of the women by my side worse than Ding Lan?"

His words, delivered with a faint smile, silenced both Zhang Shaowen and Ding Lan. Ding Lan lowered her head, wringing her small hands, unable to describe the feeling in her heart. Zhang Shaowen was seething, but on second thought, what Zhao Dong said was true. Every woman around him was an absolute knockout; it seemed none of them were inferior to Ding Lan. In an instant, Zhang Shaowen's face flushed crimson. Just as he was about to speak, the disgruntled voices of the rich young masters sounded from behind him.

"Zhang Shaowen! Are you kidding me? How long does it take to fetch a woman?"

"Damn it, we told you to get your woman to dance for us, and you've been gone for what feels like a year! Are you even a man?"

Han Li arrived at the entrance with a group of people, completely ignoring Zhao Dong who was standing off to the side.

Zhang Shaowen immediately grew awkward. "It's all settled, it's all settled," he said hastily. "Xiao Lan will be right back to dance for you guys." Turning, he grabbed Ding Lan's arm. "Xiao Lan, get a move on!"

But Ding Lan violently wrenched her arm free. She had only reluctantly agreed to Zhang Shaowen before because Zhao Dong wasn't there. Now, with Zhao Dong standing right there watching, how could she possibly agree to do something so demeaning? What would Zhao Dong think of her?

Thus, Ding Lan said coldly, "I'm not going! I'm a guest at the club, not some dancing girl! You want me to dance for you? Dream on!"

SWISH!

Ding Lan's words instantly sent Han Li and his friends into a rage born of humiliation.

"You bitch! We gave you an out and you threw it back in our faces, is that it?"

"A woman from some backwater town really thinks she's somebody?"

"Let me tell you, we can find a dozen bitches like you in a heartbeat. Who the hell do you think you are to give us attitude?"

The group immediately erupted in curses.

Han Li sneered and added, "Ding Lan, I heard from Zhang Shaowen that you're interning at the First Hospital? With that attitude, do you think you're worthy? Kneel and apologize to me right now, or you can forget ever stepping foot in the First Hospital again!"

Ding Lan was overwhelmed by the injustice. Her face turned deathly pale, and tears streamed from her eyes. "You're going too far! I just don't want to dance for you! What right do you have to keep me from my internship?"

"What right?" The question made Han Li laugh. He declared haughtily, "The right that comes with my father being the president of the Provincial City Medical Association and the dean of the First Hospital. Is that enough for you?"

"You… you bastard!" Ding Lan was so angry she couldn't think of a retort. After a long moment, she finally managed to spit out the curse.

But those two words sent Han Li into an absolute fury.

"You filthy bitch, you dare to curse at me? You're asking to die!" Enraged, Han Li raised his right hand to slap Ding Lan across the face.

Seeing this, Zhang Shaowen was horrified. He rushed forward to hold Han Li back, pleading, "Young Master Han, Ding Lan is just a woman, she doesn't know any better! Please, for my sake, let her off this one time…"

"Fuck off!" Han Li shoved Zhang Shaowen aside. "And who the hell are you? Is your 'sake' worth anything?"

"I…" Zhang Shaowen's face became a mixture of livid and flushed. He had wanted Han Li and the others to come over so he could show off, but who would have thought it would devolve into this? A wave of regret washed over him.

But Han Li had no intention of letting Ding Lan off. He stared insolently at Zhang Shaowen. "Fine. I'll grant you this one favor today. She doesn't have to kneel. But she's going to slap herself until I'm satisfied. Otherwise, this isn't ending today!"

The crowd stared menacingly at Ding Lan. The sense of grievance in her heart peaked. She desperately wanted to run, but Han Li's threat about her internship held her hostage. She didn't have the courage to flee. Trembling, she looked at Zhang Shaowen, hoping he would speak up for her. But he just hung his head, a look of helplessness on his face.

Instantly, Ding Lan felt as if she'd been plunged into an icy abyss. Her tears of grievance turned into tears of regret.

Ding Lan! You're an idiot, a complete idiot! To think you gave up a great man like Zhao Dong for this spineless piece of trash, Zhang Shaowen! Ding Lan! You're a fool! An absolute fool!

Recalling the scenes on the airplane and comparing them to Zhang Shaowen's behavior now, Ding Lan's heart gradually turned to stone. A suffocating sense of despair pressed down on her until she could barely breathe.

At that moment, Han Li's threatening voice rang out again.

"Zhang Shaowen, are you going to get this bitch moving or not? If she doesn't slap herself to our satisfaction today, forget her internship. And you can forget about ever calling yourself our friend again!"

SWISH!

Zhang Shaowen's expression changed drastically. Being friends with Han Li and his circle was the foundation of all his bragging. Only when he was with them did he feel like an elite member of high society. If he lost his connection to them, how could he show off in the future?

Gritting his teeth, Zhang Shaowen turned to Ding Lan and said, "Xiao Lan… look… why don't you just slap yourself a few times?"

BOOM!

His words shattered Ding Lan's already frozen heart into a million icy fragments. Her tears stopped flowing. The look in her eyes as she stared at Zhang Shaowen was one of utter and complete disappointment.

"Zhang Shaowen! Do you even know what you're saying? Forcing your own girlfriend to dance for them was bad enough! Now you want me to slap myself in public!? Are you even a man? Zhang Shaowen! You're trash! Absolute trash!"

Completely despondent, Ding Lan slapped Zhang Shaowen hard across the face, then turned and walked away without a backward glance. A chorus of jeers erupted from the onlookers. By the time Zhang Shaowen came to his senses and tried to chase after her, she had already vanished around the street corner.

"Zhang Shaowen, you really are a pathetic piece of trash!"

"Tsk! Making your woman slap herself? You're going to make us die of laughter!"

"Get lost. A waste of space like you should never say you know us. We can't afford the embarrassment!"

The crowd dispersed, showering him with ridicule. Off to the side, Zhao Dong finished watching the show and, with a bored wave, walked away.

The crowd scattered, leaving Zhang Shaowen to reel in the wind, all alone. After a long moment, a roar of impotent rage shot toward the sky, drawing another round of scornful looks from passersby.

It had been quite the farce. As Zhao Dong got ready to hail a taxi back to the hotel, he turned a corner, and a figure by the river caught his eye.

The figure wore a white dress, its hem stained with flecks of dust. She was carrying a pair of peep-toe high heels, walking aimlessly along the riverbank with a vacant, lonely look in her eyes. She was an exquisite beauty, with eyes like autumn pools, a delicate, high nose bridge, and lips like rose petals. By any measure, she was a stunning woman with flawless features. At this moment, however, fat tears streamed down her beautiful, delicate face, smearing her exquisite makeup and leaving her looking utterly wretched.

Though he was far from her, the sorrow and loneliness emanating from the woman were palpable.

Isn't that Ding Lan? Zhao Dong froze for a moment.

He was suddenly lost in a daze. The silhouette of her back brought back memories from several years ago… On the day he started college, he stood at the gates of East Sea University, clutching his luggage wrapped in a cheap woven bag.