“Have they caused trouble for you guys later?” The voice of the female detective brought me back to reality. Today she wasn’t on duty, wearing a refreshing black tracksuit that made her skin look even whiter.

Ye Jing, 23 years old, graduated from the police academy last year, no boyfriend—these details were all gossiped by the neighbors.

With her skills, the guys would avoid her, no wonder she was single.

“Why are you smiling?” Ye Jing tapped the table, staring straight at me with her big eyes.

“N-no, those thugs haven’t appeared for a long time.”

I answered hastily.

“Why didn’t you fight back when you were beaten? Those thugs are all about avoiding the weak and fearing the strong. The more you avoid trouble, the more they’ll bully you.”

“I’ve never fought a fight since I was a kid. I think violence is bad.”

I showed my trademark silly smile.

Please, a tart chef, every day’s work is baking tarts. Would he really want to eat tarts he makes after work?

Violence and blood belong to the night. In normal life, I never fight for anything. The more amiable I am, the better.

“He’s really a pushover. Look at how tall he is, but his courage is even smaller than mine.”

Wang Yao Yao smirked while wiping the table, looking down on me.

I glared at her, and she returned a ghost face.

“Want me to teach you a trick or two? Next time someone bullies you, you can protect yourself?” Ye Jing laughed at our expressions, showing a very charming smile.

“Would it be very difficult? Would it hurt?”

“Aren’t you a man? Come on.”

The evening breeze was comfortable. After walking about ten minutes, we reached a grassy area in the park.

“Now you pretend to be that thug. I’ll teach you some basic fighting skills. You attack me as much as possible, pay attention to my movements.”

Ye Jing stepped back, signaling me to start.

“I can’t fight.”

“Just pretend you’re filming an action movie. The director’s requirement is that you just need to hit my face to pass.”

“Okay, then be careful.”

I clumsily rushed forward, trying to grab Ye Jing’s arm, but she easily dodged. “Try harder!” Ye Jing increased the volume.

I sighed inwardly. I had never imagined I’d end up in such an embarrassing situation.

If I played it seriously, I could subdue her in two seconds, but she’d definitely figure out my identity. If I didn’t try, I had to act like I was trying my best but failing. Every minute was a test of my acting skills.

I slightly improved my posture, and Ye Jing showed a satisfied expression. I grabbed her smooth, silky arm, but just as her arm extended, two fingers hooked under my wrist, and I stumbled, being pressed to the ground. My neck and left arm couldn’t move. The pain was just a tickle for me, but I screamed in character.

“Did you learn it?” Ye Jing asked with a smile.

“No.”

I rubbed my arm in response.

“Stupid…”

As the sun gradually darkened, our “training” lasted about an hour. Ye Jing wiped her forehead with a light sweat. “That’s enough for today. I’ll teach you tomorrow.”

“Can I not learn?” I looked dejected.

“Can’t!”

Walking out of the park, at the entrance of a flower shop on the street, Ye Jing suddenly stopped. Whether from exercise or something else, her face was slightly red.

“You… go buy a bunch of flowers for me.”

“Why? I was badly beaten and still have to buy flowers for you?” I was mesmerized by her expression, still speaking my usual careless manner.

“Cut the chatter. This is the tuition.”

Ye Jing’s face grew redder as she pushed me hard. I almost crashed into the glass door of the flower shop.

“Did they ever bother you again?” The policewoman’s voice pulled me back to reality. She wasn’t on duty today, dressed in a refreshing black tracksuit, which made her skin appear even fairer.

Ye Qing, twenty-three years old this year, graduated from the police academy last year, and didn’t have a boyfriend. All this information came from neighborhood gossip.

With her skills, guys would probably steer clear, no wonder she’s single.

“What are you laughing at?” Ye Qing tapped the table, her large eyes fixed on me.

“N-nothing… no, those punks haven’t shown up in a long time,” I stammered in reply.

“You’re a grown man, why don’t you fight back when someone hits you? Those thugs are all bullies who pick on the weak. The more you’re afraid of trouble, the more they’ll pick on you.”

“I’ve never been in a fight my whole life. I think violence is bad,” I said, flashing my signature goofy smile.

Seriously, I’m a tart baker, my job is baking tarts all day. Am I supposed to go home and bake more tarts for myself after work?

Violence and bloodshed belong to the night. In normal life, I never fight with anyone; I’m as amicable as can be.

“He’s such a wimp. Don’t let his height fool you, he’s even more timid than I am,” Wang Qiaoqiao said, badmouthing me as she wiped the table.

I glared at her in annoyance, and Wang Qiaoqiao stuck her tongue out at me.

“How about I teach you a couple of moves? Next time someone bullies you, you can protect yourself?” Ye Qing was amused by our expressions and flashed a very charming smile.

“Will it be hard? Will I get hurt?”

“Are you even a man? Come with me.”

The summer evening breeze felt very pleasant. Ye Qing carried a lovely scent. We walked for about ten minutes and arrived at a grassy area in a park.

“Now, you pretend to be that punk, and I’ll teach you some basic combat techniques. Try to attack me as much as you can, and pay attention to my hand movements.” Ye Qing stepped back, signaling for me to begin.

“But I don’t know how to hit people.”

“Just pretend you’re shooting an action movie. The director’s only requirement is that if you can hit my face, you pass.”

“Alright, then be careful.”

I clumsily lunged forward, trying to grab Ye Qing’s arm, but she easily dodged me.

“Be serious!” Ye Qing’s voice grew louder.

I sighed inwardly, never having imagined I’d find myself in such an awkward predicament.

If I played for real, I could subdue her within two seconds, but she would definitely see through my identity. If I didn’t take it seriously, I’d have to feign the frustration of trying very hard but failing, and every minute would be a test of my acting skills.

I sped up my movements just a tiny bit, and Ye Qing’s face showed a satisfied expression. I grabbed her smooth, jade-like arm, but then she straightened her arm, and two fingers twisted around my wrist. I stumbled, and she pinned me to the ground, my neck and left arm unable to move. This pain was merely a tickle to me, but I still let out a dramatic scream.

“Did you learn anything?” Ye Qing asked me with a smile.

“No,” I replied, rubbing my arm.

“You idiot…”

The sky slowly darkened, and our “training” was almost an hour long. Ye Qing wiped the fine sweat from her forehead and told me, “Let’s call it a day. I’ll teach you again tomorrow.”

“Can I… not learn anymore?” I asked, making a long face.

“No!”

Walking out of the park, Ye Qing suddenly stopped in front of a flower shop on the street. Her face was a little flushed, whether from the exercise or some other reason, I couldn’t tell.

“You… go in there and buy me a bouquet of flowers.”

“Why should I? I got beaten up so badly by you, and now I have to buy you flowers?” I was captivated by her expression, but my mouth still ran wild.

“Less talk, more action. This is your tuition fee.”

Ye Qing’s face grew redder and redder. She gave me a hard shove, and I almost crashed into the flower shop’s glass door.