Chapter 57: The Fools Who Dared Test Him  

The three senior girls were practically giddy with excitement, finally having their own dedicated workspaces. They playfully jostled each other as they returned to their living quarters. 

Meanwhile, Huang Ming headed back to the western gate after receiving Zhou Ting's message: 

*[Ming-ge, they're packed and waiting at the west gate.]* 

He approached at a leisurely pace to find Zhou Ting already there. Only he currently held access privileges to open the security doors. 

Retrieving a keycard from his spatial storage, Huang Ming swiped it against the electronic lock. 

*Beep.* 

The gate slid open with a futuristic hum. As he pulled it wider, ready to usher the three girls inside, what greeted him made his brows furrow instantly. His pistol materialized in his right hand from the spatial storage. 

Beside him, Zhou Ting paled, unconsciously taking two shaky steps backward. 

Wang Xue, Xu Shanshan, and Cai Lili stood at the front, each gripping two suitcases—but they were frozen in place. 

Behind them stood twelve other girls pressing knives and clubs against the three girls' backs and necks. 

A faint smirk tugged at Huang Ming's lips. *So the noise from constructing the gates drew attention.* But what exactly were they trying to achieve? 

His pistol remained hidden behind his back, visible only to Zhou Ting. The moment she saw the glint of metal, her fear evaporated. 

Silence stretched. 

When no one spoke, Huang Ming broke it first: 

"Come in. They won't touch you. I guarantee it." 

He despised threats more than anything. Though these three were merely laborers, they were under his protection now. To dare take hostages in front of him? Bold. Very bold. 

Wang Xue and the others exchanged uncertain glances, still too terrified to move with blades at their throats. 

Huang Ming almost laughed. Understandable, really—who wouldn't freeze up in their position? 

"Wang Xue, just walk forward. It's fine." 

Zhou Ting suddenly spoke up from behind him, giving the three an encouraging nod. 

She knew what the others didn't: if these twelve girls didn't back off now, they'd be corpses soon. 

But the moment Zhou Ting finished speaking, a voice dripping with venom cut through: 

"Zhou Ting, you slut. So you're alive after all—climbing into some new man's bed? Couldn't even share the good fortune with your sisters?" 

Huang Ming's gaze locked onto the speaker—a girl with red glasses and greasy, golden-brown short hair that clearly hadn't been washed in weeks. Disgusting. 

"Last chance," Huang Ming said coolly. "I don't have time for chatter. Either come in now, or I'm shutting the gate." 

The three girls shuddered. With the gate closed, they'd be dead meat. After a silent exchange, they nodded and stepped forward— 

Just as five of the girls behind them snarled and raised their weapons to strike. 

In the blink of an eye, 

*Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!* 

Five heads snapped back, blood spraying from exit wounds. The greasy-haired instigator collapsed mid-swing, her club clattering to the ground. 

It happened too fast to process. 

Wang Xue and the others only saw Huang Ming's gun flash—they didn't even realize five bodies had already dropped until their trembling legs carried them past the threshold. 

Zhou Ting's jaw hung open. She'd known about the gun, but this marksmanship bordered on supernatural. Her awe of Huang Ming skyrocketed. 

The remaining seven girls stood petrified, shaking like leaves. They'd only ever ganged up on a few lust-driven boys yesterday—this level of violence was beyond them. 

By the time Wang Xue's group reached Zhou Ting, their legs gave out entirely. They crumpled to the floor, trembling uncontrollably. 

Huang Ming left them with final words before sealing the gate: 

"Next trespassers get the same treatment." 

His tone could've flash-frozen hell. The seven survivors bolted the moment the gate clanged shut. 

Turning back, Huang Ming eyed the three girls still quaking on the floor. 

"Follow me." 

Zhou Ting helped them up, trailing Huang Ming to Unit 1504—a spacious three-bedroom layout perfect for their needs. 

He studied them briefly. All art students, with the looks and figures to match. But their cowed, childlike demeanor was almost comical. 

"Relax. I'm not some monster," Huang Ming said dryly. "You'll live here now. We're all adults—no need to spell things out further." 

Wang Xue peeked up timidly. "W-we understand. Thank you for saving us. Just... just tell us what you need." 

Xu Shanshan and Cai Lili echoed the sentiment. Their sincerity satisfied Huang Ming. 

"Clean up first. Then eat." 

He'd already prepared hot water and food. Not out of kindness—he simply needed them hygienic and energized for Gu Anqing's assembly lines. 

"Shower...?" 

The three blinked in unison, as if he'd suggested they sprout wings. 

Huang Ming sighed, leaving Zhou Ting to handle the explanations. 

"Zhou Ting, they're your responsibility now." 

"Got it!" 

As Zhou Ting herded them toward the bathroom, Huang Ming strode back to his unit. 

The sight that greeted him? 

His three genius seniors lounging at the dining table, sipping juice while playing cards—utterly carefree. 

*Motherf— I'm out there breaking my back, and these goddesses are living it up?* He swallowed the complaint. *Well, geniuses deserve their perks.* 

They waved halfheartedly at his return, clearly more invested in their game than his presence. 

Exhausted from the day's labors, Huang Ming stripped down to his boxers, stretched with a yawn, and face-planted onto the couch—asleep before his head hit the cushion. 

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