Ye Chen's words hit like a thunderclap, stunning the entire class.
Ma Chao was the class tyrant; no one dared cross him.
Yet Ye Chen openly challenged him.
Ma Chao froze, then his face twisted into a snarl.
"Ye Chen, just because you ace tests you think I won't beat you?"
He snatched a Xinhua Dictionary and hurled it at Ye Chen's head.
Without even looking, Ye Chen reached out and caught the dictionary in mid-air.
"That reflex is insane—I'd have been smacked for sure."
"Whoa, so cool!"
"I can't breathe—he's incredible."
Ye Chen's slick move won him another wave of fans.
"You..."
Ma Chao never expected Ye Chen to catch the book.
He'd meant it as a humiliation, but it became another chance for Ye Chen to shine.
Glancing at the dictionary, Ye Chen saw Xu Liang's name on it.
This jerk had swiped Xu Liang's book last Chinese class, leaving Xu Liang to stand in punishment.
He handed the book to Xu Liang. "Old Xu, don't lend your stuff to someone who doesn't respect others."
Feeling humiliated, Ma Chao stormed up to Ye Chen.
"Ye Chen, looking for trouble?"
The whole class grew anxious.
Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo rushed forward together.
"Ma Chao, what do you think you're doing?"
"If you go too far, we're telling the teacher."
The two girls stood guard like protective lionesses.
Ma Chao snickered. "Ye Chen, so pathetic—hiding behind girls?"
Ye Chen was speechless.
These two impulsive girls!
Even reborn, their core hadn't changed.
In his past life they'd still backed him without hesitation.
They'd even braved paparazzi and headlines for him.
Ye Chen smiled faintly. "Relax, I've got this."
He stepped up to Ma Chao. "I'm not picking a fight; just stop bullying classmates—it's for your own good."
Ye Chen remembered Ma Chao had failed the entrance exam, drifted into crime, and later served time for assault.
Ma Chao sneered. "I'll bully whoever I want—who's gonna stop me?"
"Xu Liang is my brother—so I will."
Beside them, Xu Liang's eyes misted as he shielded Ye Chen.
"Chen Zi, thanks. It's just buying breakfast, right? I'll go."
He started to leave.
"Hold it."
Ye Chen stopped him.
He walked to Xu Liang's desk and pulled out a half-gnawed dry bun.
"You chew dry buns while buying him breakfast every day. Does your hardworking mom deserve this? Senior year is when we need nutrition—keep this up and your body will collapse."
The class buzzed with murmurs.
"Ma Chao's gone too far."
"Exactly, that's just cruel."
"Poor Xu Liang—I see him with dry buns all the time."
Ye Chen pointed at Ma Chao. "Ma Chao, we're classmates—don't you think this is excessive?"
Hearing the whispers, Ma Chao's face darkened further.
Everyone avoided him; no one dared protest his bullying—until now.
Today Ye Chen had embarrassed him in front of the class—unforgivable.
Ma Chao snorted. "You like playing hero? Fine—stop me if you can beat me in a fight."
He cracked his knuckles and grinned mockingly at Ye Chen.
"Win, and I'll never touch Xu Liang again. Lose, and you fetch my breakfast every morning."
Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo paled.
"Don't agree—he's the City Taekwondo Champion," Li Sitong warned quickly.
"Let's report him to the teacher instead," Xia Yingluo urged.
"Outrageous—using Taekwondo to bully people."
"Yeah, a champion—who could beat that?"
More classmates muttered in protest.
The chatter only inflated Ma Chao's arrogance.
"Scared? Then butt out—mind your own business."
Ye Chen smiled. "A fight? Fine—but if you lose, no more bullying anyone, and you pay Xu Liang back every cent for breakfast this semester."
Ma Chao was stunned.
He'd expected Ye Chen to back down—not accept.
Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo turned anxious.
"Ye Chen, you're crazy—he's a Taekwondo champion!" Li Sitong exclaimed.
"You can't fight him," Xia Yingluo pleaded.
"I appreciate it, but you can't beat Ma Chao," Xu Liang said, tugging Ye Chen's arm.
Worry filled the eyes of every classmate watching.
"Is Ye Chen suicidal? Taking Ma Chao one-on-one?"
"I saw Ma Chao snap a kid's ribs with one kick."
"He's no match—this is suicide."
Ma Chao gloated. "Your call—when I break your ribs, don't whine about bullying."
Ye Chen yawned. "Enough talk—I'm busy. See you on the Playground."
He winked at Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo. "Relax—would I fight him without a plan?"
The girls froze.
That confident glint in Ye Chen's eyes was unmistakable.
Could Ye Chen actually defeat Ma Chao?
With that, Ye Chen strode toward the Playground.
A crowd had already gathered there.
Not just Class Five, but plenty of onlookers from other classes too.
Ma Chao's Taekwondo fame echoed across Jiangzhou Middle School.
He topped the school's unofficial Power Rankings.
Everyone assumed Ye Chen was walking into a beating.
Ye Chen stood calmly, watching Ma Chao warm up.
With God-tier Combat skills, a High School Taekwondo kid was child's play.
Ma Chao rolled his neck, emitting loud cracks.
The sound sent shivers through the crowd.
Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo clenched their fists tight.
Only Ye Chen remained unruffled.
He crooked a finger at Ma Chao. "Done posturing? Come on—I've got homework waiting."
"You're dead!" Ma Chao's eyes flashed cold as he shot forward like lightning, launching a textbook front kick at Ye Chen's chest.
In a blink his foot was inches from Ye Chen—who still stood motionless as if frozen.