Vera fights the bullies

As the trio stepped up, the crowd began to form again, drawn partly by the anticipation and partly by the intrigue of the twins and one who seemed like a foreigner.

They began with "Live As Always", Vera's chords clean and understated, keeping herself in the background, not trying to stand out as she was only a helper.

The crowd swayed to the music. Some whispered about how the "backup guitarist" looked like a model. Others just listened, smiling.

The second song was slightly more upbeat, filled with emotional tension. Vera adjusted smoothly, her transitions and tempo carrying the performance with professional subtlety.

When the final note hit, applause erupted from the crowd. The sisters bowed deeply. Vera gave a small bow too, then carefully handed back the guitar. "Thank you," she said.

"No, we should thank you," Jiaqi replied, almost laughing. "You saved us." Jiayi nodded along in agreement, adjusting her glasses.

Vera then pulled out her phone. "Let's take a selfie together?"

The three girls huddled together, grinning, as Vera held up her phone.

"Okay, one more. This time, make a silly face…"

Just as they posed again, a figure suddenly leaned in from behind, his face inches from Vera's shoulder. Click.

Startled, the three girls jumped, and Vera instinctively took a step forward, spinning around. Behind them stood three boys, maybe seventeen or eighteen.

The one in front, with dyed ash-brown hair and an arrogant smirk, pointed a finger-gun at Vera. "Nice shot, right?"

"You scared us," Jiayi muttered, frowning as she adjusted her glasses.

Jiaqi also frowned. "What the hell are you doing here?"

The boy let out a chuckle. "Nothing much. I was just here roaming around. By the way, who is this beauty? A new friend of yours?"

He took a step forward, looking Vera up and down like she was a puzzle. "I'm impressed, though. You were good up there. That playing was clean. Very cool."

Vera blinked, unsure what to say.

"I'm Tang Roujin by the way," he continued, brushing his hair back. "Future owner of Mirae Industries. Ever heard of it?"

"No," Vera replied flatly, crossing her arms.

That gave him a brief pause. "Seriously? Whatever, it doesn't matter. Want to grab a drink with me? Something cold?"

"I'm fourteen," Vera replied, folding her arms.

Tang Roujin squinted at her, then gave a low chuckle. "Fourteen? C'mon, don't kid around. You don't look fourteen. Maybe sixteen? Seventeen?"

"Still not your business," Vera said, backing up slightly.

"Fine, fine. No drinks for the minor. Let me buy you ice cream then. It's my treat." He flashed what was probably meant to be a charming grin.

"I don't know you," Vera said, voice sharp now. "So, no."

Tang Roujin's grin widened as if he enjoyed the pushback. "You've got fire. I like that."

Vera exchanged a look with the twins, already stepping away. Jiaqi gave the boy a dry look. "Leave us or we'll shout for harassment."

"Alright… Alright…"

As the girls walked off, Jiaqi muttered, "This whole place is full of jerks like that."

"And we have to see that jerk at the school, too," Jiayi added, shaking her head.

Vera's jaw clenched. "Jerks are everywhere."

She forced a breath out through her nose, calming herself. "Thanks for letting me play with you. Really. But I'm gonna wander a bit."

"Sure," Jiaqi said. "Take care, okay?"

After exchanging phone numbers with the twins, Vera left the place, turning down one of the winding side lanes of Wushan District.

The energy of the crowd faded as she got further from the center, replaced by quiet alleys and shops.

She was just admiring a booth selling ceramic wind chimes when a voice called out behind her.

"Hey! Girl! Wait… you dropped something."

She turned, half on guard… and froze.

The same three boys from earlier stood across the street.

This time, Tang Roujin raised his phone, snapped a photo of her, and laughed loudly. "Oops. Maybe you dropped your wings or something?"

His friends howled, slapping each other's backs like it was the funniest thing ever.

Vera's eyes darkened as she replied. "That's the lamest pick-up line ever."

She clenched her fists for a moment before releasing them and turning around to walk away, ignoring them.

Meanwhile, far away on the rooftop of a nearby building, Zealot, the man assigned to watch over her, knelt behind the shade of a rusted billboard, a pair of military-grade binoculars pressed to his eyes as usual.

He hummed quietly to himself. "Should I intervene… or attack?" he murmured.

His fingers hovered near the case beside him, a matte-black briefcase with biometric locks.

But then he lowered the binoculars slightly, shaking his head. "The orders were absolute. I cannot intervene unless it is a situation where the young miss cannot handle it by herself."

Right then, he watched the three boys run after her; the leader of the gang seemed visibly irritated.

He grabbed her hands, stopping Vera from moving further.

"You…" As Vera surprised and then tried to get free, Tang Roujin spoke to her, leaning his head forward. "You know what. Forget about a treat. How about accompanying me and my friends to the club? I'll buy you anything you want."

"This…" Zealot grabbed the briefcase immediately. "This is no longer teasing. I should take him out right now."

He took out what seemed like a mini sniper rifle from the case and aimed at the boy. As Zealot wondered where to strike, the head, the neck, the leg, perhaps… Just as he decided to aim at the hand that grabbed Vera, he found Vera, visibly frustrated, transformed.

The blinding flash of light pushed away Roujin.

Her features then warped, her form expanding into the shape of a black wolf. It brought the attention of the crowd instantly. Some even took out their phones to take the footage.

"Hmm… it looks like young miss decides to take action. Let's wait a bit more," Zealot mumbled.

The boy faltered, taken aback by the sudden shift in Vera's demeanor. But he wasn't done.

"You little sh*t."

With a growl, he summoned a blue fireball in his hand, the flames crackling and growing in size.

He hurled it toward Vera, taking the initiative to attack.

Vera turned into a blur and dodged to the side; the blue fireball went past her and was about to hit someone, but some hooded person blocked it, and the fireball disappeared.

Meanwhile, Vera charged at the boys and swung her claws at Roujin. The latter blocks it, but has its arm injured with her claws cut deeply into his skin.

*Gaaah!*

Letting out a painful, guttural scream, he orders the other two to attack her. "Kill that bi*ch."

One of the two boys grew bigger and muscled before giving Vera a punch to her head.

Vera blasted away, sliding against the ground for a while before she stopped right before she was about to collide with the people behind her.

There was a little girl standing almost right behind, crying aloud. The mother hugged her and attempted to drag her back.

It was at this moment that the boy threw another fireball at Vera.

Vera's body is enveloped with lightning sparks.

She was about to attempt evading, but just then, her eyes widened in the realization of that action, and as a result, she didn't move from the spot, letting the fireball strike her.

She collapsed to the ground, her form shifting back to her human state, a bruise appearing on her shoulder with a burnt mark.

The boy then conjured another fireball, stepping toward her. The crowd spectated, gasps and murmurings filled the place.

"So, you really think you can take us head-on because you can transform into a wolf? I guess that is why you must be so proud. Watch me destroy that face of yours so that no man would even care to look at it."

Just as he was about to throw it at Vera, something blurred formed, followed by the appearance of a hooded figure.

He let down the hood and showed his face, looking down at Vera. "Hey, are you alright?"