Reborn not to be a beast of burden, I set the rules.

The autumnal charm of Huizhou is hidden on the edges of the sycamore leaves.

Ye Ming sat in a corner by the window on the third floor of the library, sunlight streaming through the glass onto his open softcover notebook.

He picked up his pen, the tip gliding across the page.

Core gameplay: Attribute point allocation + random life event triggering

Content population: Self-organized core event library

Technical guidance: Teacher Zhang Bingwen

Promotion channels: QQ Space, Renren, university forums

Profit model: Baidu Alliance (GG) (launching in October)

He paused briefly, then added a few more lines:

Server rental: On-site inquiry and cost estimate required.

Qualification Application: ICP Filing Process Requires Advance Research

Monetization channels: Integration with 4399 and 7k7k mini-game platforms

Ye Ming drew a rough sketch of the core process and then closed his notebook.

At 1 p.m., Ye Ming and Li Yue boarded a bus heading to Zhujiang Road.

In 2009, Zhujiang Road was the electronic heart of Beijing.

The loudspeakers at the entrance of the electronics market were blaring promotional messages, drawing a large crowd of students assembling computers, merchants buying goods, and casual passersby.

Li Yue dragged Ye Ming through several well-regarded food stalls, explaining the differences between Core 2 Duo processors and Celeron processors, as well as the differences between DDR2 and DDR3 memory.

In a store that mainly sells ThinkPads, Ye Ming took a liking to the SL400 on the display stand, and the store quoted him 5,200 yuan.

Li Yue leaned forward to take a look at the configuration list, then turned and pulled Ye Ming away, saying, "This price is a bit high. Let's go to a few other stores next door and compare."

Ye Ming nodded and followed Li Yue away.

Li Yue was going to another building to buy parts, and Ye Ming was looking around for laptops. The two agreed to meet at the market entrance at four o'clock.

Before leaving, she instructed, "Zhujiang Road is crowded and chaotic, so don't go into any secluded alleys. Call me if you need anything."

Ye Ming nodded in agreement.

After browsing two stores on his own, he wanted to take a shortcut to the next store, so he turned into an inconspicuous alley.

The alley wasn't deep, but it was mostly blocked from the sunlight by cardboard boxes and other miscellaneous items on both sides.

After taking only a few steps, a burst of frivolous laughter and faint sounds of struggle abruptly shattered the silence.

"Don't run away, little sister, we just want to have a chat with you."

"It's dangerous for someone to come alone to buy components. Wouldn't it be better if we accompanied you?"

Ye Ming paused, leaning forward to look.

Deep in the alley, three young men with dyed yellow hair and wearing floral shirts cornered a small, thin figure against the wall.

Several miniature chip resistors, miniature chip capacitors, and a small roll of thin copper wire were scattered on the ground.

The girl hunched her shoulders, clutching the canvas bag tightly to her chest, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.

Ye Ming remembered that figure from behind.

As we brushed past each other on the sycamore-lined path, I noticed her flushed ears and her timid eyes that dared not meet anyone's gaze.

is her.

What are you doing here?

Ye Ming cursed inwardly: These bastards.

He quickly pulled out his Nokia N95 from his pocket, switched it to silent mode, and took three photos of the alleyway.

Press 110 with your thumb. After the call connects, lower your voice and report the location: "There's someone harassing a female student in the alley next to the electronics market on the eastern section of Zhujiang Road. Please come quickly."

He then switched his phone to recording mode and put it back in his pocket.

In twenty seconds, taking photos, calling the police, and recording audio were all done in one go.

It's time to go on stage.

He took a deep breath and strode into the alley: "What are you doing?"

The three thugs turned around, saw that it was just a student, and sneered, "Kid, mind your own business and get lost."

Ye Ming's gaze fell on the girl, and he asked softly, "Do you know them?"

The girl shook her head desperately, her eyes reddening, her lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

Ye Ming stepped aside to block the girl, looking at the three thugs: "She doesn't know you, why are you blocking her?"

The blond-haired leader's face darkened, and he reached out to shove Ye Ming.

Ye Ming dodged to the side, and then grabbed the girl's wrist, shielding her behind him.

"You fucking want to die!" The blond-haired guy swung his fist at him.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ye Ming grabbed Huang Mao's wrist with his left hand and pulled it, while punching him in the nose with his right fist.

Yellow Hair groaned, covered his nose, and staggered backward, blood seeping from between his fingers.

Two other thugs pounced on him from the left and right.

Ye Ming kicked one away, but was grabbed by the collar by the other.

Hey!

He struggled a few times but couldn't break free, so he simply lowered his head and slammed his forehead into the other person's face.

"Ouch—" The thug cried out in pain and let go. Ye Ming took the opportunity to push him away and protect the girl as they retreated towards the alley entrance.

In just three minutes, the sound of sirens grew louder as they approached.

Ye Ming felt a sense of relief: They've arrived.

The three thugs' expressions changed drastically. Supporting the blond-haired man with a broken nose, they scrambled and crawled into the depths of the alley, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Ye Ming stood still, his heavy breathing brushing against the sweat on his nose.

He turned to look at the girl; she was still trembling, tears silently streaming down her face, yet she bit her lip tightly.

"It's alright now," Ye Ming said softly. "The police are here."

The flashing lights of the police car illuminated the girl's pale face. She looked up at him with her wet eyes.

The lights at the Zhujiang Road Police Station were blindingly bright.

When the three thugs were brought in, they were handcuffed but still acted arrogantly, probably thinking they would only be in jail for a few days.

The blond-haired man, clutching his freshly bandaged nose with one hand, pointed at the girl and yelled, "We were just joking with her, and this guy came up and started hitting us! My nose is broken, we have to arrest him!"

"You still have to pay compensation, this is the minimum!" Another thug waved his right hand, clearly not the first time he'd done something like this.

Shouting while handcuffed looks rather comical.

Ye Ming sat on the bench, watching this scene unfold.

Still want to lose money? You'll be in jail soon.

The girl sat next to him, curled up in a ball, her fingers tightly gripping the strap of her canvas bag.

Ye Ming glanced at her sideways.

His face was so white it seemed to glow, his brows were furrowed, and his body was trembling uncontrollably, as if he were about to break, yet he was still so beautiful.

How can it be so beautiful?

wrong.

What does that have to do with me?

Women only slow down my earning speed.

He looked away and stopped looking.

The female police officer walked up to the girl and said, "Young lady, tell me the details."

The girl opened her mouth, making a faint sound, but she didn't utter a single word.

Ye Ming turned to the side and said softly, "Don't be afraid, just tell the truth. I took photos and recorded audio."

The girl looked up at him, her eyes glistening with tears. This boy... seemed like someone she could actually trust.

She took a deep breath, her voice trembling like a leaf in the wind, but she explained what had happened, word by word.

From being pulled and cornered by three people, to struggling and dodging, to Ye Ming rushing out to protect her, to the arrival of the police.

Another veteran police officer examined the photos and recordings on Ye Ming's phone, then turned to the thugs and shouted, "There are photos, recordings, and victim testimonies. The evidence of a group committing forced molestation is conclusive. Take them to the detention room for separate interrogation."

The three thugs were instantly speechless, wilted like eggplants after a frost, and were forced into the detention room by the police officers.

The veteran police officer turned to Ye Ming and said, "We still need to take statements, both of you. Give me your phones too, so I can back up and seal the evidence."

After the two finished giving their statements, Ye Ming received his phone. The veteran police officer reminded Ye Ming not to delete the photos and recordings on the phone, as they were crucial original evidence.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from the entrance of the police station.

A middle-aged woman in a beige trench coat, exuding a capable air, strode in, followed by a middle-aged man with black-rimmed glasses and a composed demeanor.

The two entered the room almost simultaneously, but did not exchange any words, and walked towards the girl in unison.

"Zhiyi!" The woman rushed over and hugged the girl tightly, her voice trembling. "My mother came as soon as she got the call... Are you hurt?"

The girl froze, then, as she was held in his arms, her tears finally burst forth.

The middle-aged man stood two meters away, not approaching, but staring intently at the girl. His lips moved repeatedly, but he finally managed to utter only, "Are you hurt?"

The girl shook her head.

The man breathed a sigh of relief, took two steps back, and silently leaned against the wall, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the seam of his trousers.

Ye Ming withdrew his gaze.

There's something off about these two.

A moment later, another person entered through the door. He was around forty years old, wearing black-rimmed glasses, and had the forthrightness typical of people from Shandong Province in his eyes and brows. He was Li Guoqiang, a teacher from the School of Humanities.

He strode over to Ye Ming and looked him up and down: "I heard you had an accident? Are you alright?"

Ye Ming was taken aback: "Teacher Li? You know her, what brings you here?"