Wang Fan walked out of the job market, head hung low, his mood heavy with frustration.

Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that he—a legendary special forces operative feared by underground forces both domestic and foreign—would one day be brought down by something as trivial as education credentials.

"Help! My bag's being stolen!" piercing scream jolted him from his thoughts as he turned into a narrow alley behind the job market.

voluptuous woman in a sleek OL uniform sprinted down the alley, her high heels clicking urgently against the pavement. In hot pursuit was a young man on a motorcycle, sunglasses concealing his eyes, a black shoulder bag slung over his shoulder—clearly stolen from the woman.

"Out of my way, or I’ll run you down!" the thief barked, accelerating recklessly, as if daring anyone to stop him.

The few people in the alley froze in shock, then scattered like beans, diving for cover. No one dared intervene—no one wanted to get stabbed over a stranger’s bag.

The woman’s face twisted in despair. The money in the bag didn’t matter—what she feared losing were her ID and company documents.

Wang Fan’s brow furrowed.

Just as the motorcycle flashed past him, he exploded into motion, delivering a brutal kick to the rear of the bike.

The thief hadn’t expected interference. With a loud crash, the bike wobbled, sending him flying off and crashing face-first into the ground.

"Agh!"

The few onlookers gasped, hands flying to their mouths.

Ignoring their shocked reactions, Wang Fan strode over, snatched the stolen bag from the ground, and returned it to the woman. "Here."

"Th-thank you!" She blinked, still catching her breath, her chest heaving as she stammered her gratitude.

Wang Fan took in her appearance—then quickly averted his gaze, swallowing hard. "No problem. Just doing my part." With that, he turned to leave.

She was clearly a high-end office worker—light-years removed from his current world. No point lingering.

"Wait!" The woman grabbed his arm in a panic. "I’m Dai Yuying. What’s your name? Thank you for saving me today—how about I treat you to lunch?"

As she spoke, her eyes swept over him.

Early twenties, around six feet tall, sharp facial features—not classically handsome, but undeniably rugged, with an undeniable masculine charm.

"No need. I’ve got things to do," Wang Fan said, waving her off. A bitter smile tugged at his lips. A jobless loser like me? Dining with a corporate beauty would only remind me of how far I’ve fallen.

Dai Yuying blinked in disbelief. She was a stunning woman—men usually begged for a chance to buy her a meal, and she’d never even considered accepting. Yet here was this stranger, brushing her off without hesitation.

Had her charm faded? Or was he some rare, selfless hero who did good deeds anonymously?

Before she could dwell on it, Wang Fan was stopped again.

"You—stop right there!" The thief, now on his feet, brandished a fruit knife, his face twisted in rage. The fall hadn’t seriously injured him, but it had left him seething. His bloodshot eyes glared at Wang Fan like a cornered beast.

He’d been so close to succeeding—until this bastard ruined everything. If he didn’t make an example of him, who would ever fear him again?

"You talking to me?" Wang Fan raised an eyebrow.

If not for holding back earlier, that kick would’ve shattered the thief’s ribs. And now, the idiot had the nerve to come after him?

"Back off, or I’ll call the police!" Dai Yuying stepped between them, phone in hand.

"Call the cops? Fuck that—I’ll stab you first!" The thief ignored her, charging forward. The knife glinted menacingly in the sunlight.

Dai Yuying froze, her face paling. A city girl like her had never faced anything like this.

In an instant, the thief was upon her, knife raised—no mercy, no hesitation.

Wang Fan’s expression darkened to a storm. Unbelievable. Robbery in broad daylight wasn’t enough—he had to pull a weapon? The earlier lesson clearly wasn’t enough.

With a blur of motion, he seized the thief’s wrist, then spun and delivered a backhanded slap.

Smack!

The thief’s head snapped sideways, teeth and blood flying.

Still fuming, Wang Fan followed up with another slap, turning the man’s face into a swollen, bruised mess.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

One after another, Wang Fan unleashed a flurry of slaps—ten, fifteen—until the thief crumpled, dazed and bleeding.

Already jobless, and now this asshole had the gall to pick a fight? Serves him right.

"Consider yourself lucky. Next time, I won’t be so merciful. Now get lost," Wang Fan growled.

The thief, realizing he’d bitten off more than he could chew, fled without another word, abandoning his motorcycle. His parting glare promised revenge—but Wang Fan couldn’t care less. If the fool came back, he’d make sure he regretted it.

The confrontation had eased Wang Fan’s frustration—until a soft thud drew his attention. Dai Yuying had collapsed.

Reacting instantly, he caught her before she hit the ground.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice uncharacteristically gentle as he held her soft, warm body against his. The proximity was intoxicating—even for a man like him.

"M-my ankle... I twisted it," she murmured, her face flushed crimson. Being held by him was mortifying.