156: As expected, an unexpected event occurred.

The moonlit beach was like a rolled-out scroll of silvery-white satin; the girls had long since taken off their sandals, walking barefoot on the fine sand.

Yu Lulu ran in the lead, feeling the wonderful sensation of fine sand oozing between her toes.

He Min and another friend followed behind her, the three of them chasing and laughing as they ran toward The Beach.

They tentatively walked to the water's edge, letting the cool waves wash over their ankles again and again, but they dared not go any deeper.

The ocean in the night seemed exceptionally deep, with the waves glistening white under the moonlight.

Chen Li looked back at the scattered lights in the distance; they had walked quite far.

It was indeed excessively quiet here—apart from the sound of the waves, only the laughter of the girls drifted through the night.

He noticed the dense, dark forest not far from the shore, where tombstones could vaguely be seen standing among the trees; no wonder Zhong Hao was worried.

Zhong Hao's concern was indeed reasonable—this secluded beach, backed by a graveyard and a dense forest, truly exuded an unsettling atmosphere under the shroud of night.

However, Chen Li didn't care at all. He was confident that with his current skills, as long as it wasn't some supernatural entity, ordinary trouble was nothing to him.

Watching Zhong Hao's vigilant figure as he scanned his surroundings from time to time up ahead, Chen Li couldn't help but smile.

This brother, who was the best fighter back in High School, had long since made protecting everyone a habit etched into his bones.

At this moment, he naturally took on the duty of a sentry, like an alert lion, while Liu Zhao also kept watch from the side.

Just as he was lost in thought, Liu Nansheng ran back from the water and took his arm, asking, "What are you thinking about? You seem so absorbed."

"Nothing. Why aren't you playing with them anymore?" Chen Li reined in his thoughts.

"Lulu just asked me if she could stay at our place." Liu Nansheng looked up at him, her tone testing the waters.

Chen Li was a bit surprised: "How long have you known each other? You've hit it off so quickly?"

"We have so many empty rooms at home, as long as you agree, it's fine." Chen Li smiled indifferently.

Having experienced those days at the Hot Spring Villa, he had long been accustomed to having an extra girl staying at home.

"That's great, she'll definitely be happy when she hears that."

Chen Li leaned close to her ear, lowered his voice, and smirked, "Aren't you afraid she'll hear our noise at night? You moan so loudly..."

Liu Nansheng instantly blushed and lightly punched him with her fist: "You're impossible! It's all your fault... you always make me unable to hold back."

Chen Li laughed out loud at her shy appearance.

As his laughter subsided, he looked at Yu Lulu's figure in the distance, thoughtful: "But seriously, she really does look a bit like you."

Liu Nansheng blinked, her tone suddenly becoming mischievous: "We do look alike. So, what do you think? Do you have any ideas?"

Chen Li was stunned for a moment: "You're this generous?"

Liu Nansheng put away her playful expression and looked at him seriously: "Otherwise what? How could I handle your abundant energy all by myself? Did you think I was joking when I told you to find someone else before?"

Chen Li felt a warmth in his heart and reached out to pull her into his arms.

To have such a considerate woman was truly rare.

Liu Nansheng buried her face in his chest, her voice as light as a dream: "Chen Li, I love you. As long as you always keep a place for me in your heart, I will be content."

Chen Li held Liu Nansheng even tighter: "Nansheng, thank you for caring about me so much."

The two embraced, feeling the warm sea breeze, immersed in this tranquility.

However, if everything goes according to plan, an accident occurs—

They saw the few people who were playing in front walking back quickly, with Zhong Hao and Liu Zhao guarding the rear, looking vigilant.

Not far behind them, a few swaying figures were vaguely following.

Chen Li immediately let go of Liu Nansheng and stepped forward to check the situation: "What's going on?"

"There are some hooligans harassing two female students ahead. A Li, take He Min and the others back to call for help, and Liu Zhao and I will go check it out."

Zhong Hao lowered his voice and spoke quickly, and as he said this, he and Liu Zhao were about to rush forward.

Chen Li grabbed them: "You stay here and protect the girls; I'll handle it."

Zhong Hao frowned deeply: "Don't joke around. There are at least five or six of them; how can you handle it alone?"

At this moment, Liu Nansheng spoke, her tone firm: "Zhong Hao, let Chen Li go. He's a very good fighter."

Her words stunned everyone.

If someone else had said this, everyone might have just laughed it off.

But coming from Liu Nansheng, the words carried a completely different weight—it was clear she had witnessed Chen Li's skills firsthand.

Upon hearing this, Yu Lulu's gaze toward Chen Li immediately gained a bit more scrutiny and curiosity.

Just how good a fighter was this seemingly gentle brother? She suddenly wanted to know the answer.

"Can we... follow and watch?"

Yu Lulu couldn't help but ask, her face full of anticipation, completely unaware of what danger entailed.

Chen Li looked around at the nervous yet curious crowd and nodded indifferently: "If you want to come, then follow."

Zhong Hao and Liu Zhao exchanged a look, both seeing the same judgment in each other's eyes—Chen Li's calm and composure at this moment was definitely not faked.

That confidence radiating from within made them simultaneously abandon the idea of stopping him.

"Let's go, follow and see."

Zhong Hao whispered to Liu Zhao, and the two tacitly guarded Chen Li on both sides, forming a stable triangular formation.

The girls behind were nervous yet couldn't hide their excitement, linking arms and carefully following behind the three boys.

"Brother Mao, look over there, that group from just now is back."

A lackey with yellow-dyed hair suddenly tugged at the sleeve of the man with the tattooed arm.

The man with the tattooed arm, known as Brother Mao, was grinning while surrounding two shivering female students. Upon hearing this, he sneered:

"Oh ho, someone really isn't afraid of death and wants to play the hero saving the damsels?"

He proudly shook the tattoo on his arm. He had originally planned to leave after teasing these two girls, but he hadn't expected more goods to deliver themselves to his door.

He turned around swaggeringly, ready to teach this group of ignorant brats a good lesson.

But when his gaze landed on Chen Li, who was walking in the lead, the grimace on his face instantly froze.

"It, it's him..." Brother Mao gasped, his step freezing mid-air, his whole body stiffening on the spot as if hit by a freezing spell.

The lackeys behind him looked at their boss's suddenly pale face, confused, and looked at each other.

Moonlight shone on Chen Li's calm face; Brother Mao's throat moved involuntarily, and tiny beads of sweat seeped from his forehead.