CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37 TURNS OUT TO BE A LOSER

The Shanghai Young Madame Café.

It was quite far from the school, located near the city center.

Ding Muchen had likely chosen this spot to avoid students, fearing that unsavory rumors might spread. She had changed into a red woolen coat and let her hair down from its bun, letting it fall in large, red waves. In an instant, she transformed into Miss Wang from *Blossoms Shanghai*, exuding an air of old Shanghai.

On the second floor of the café, they chose a quiet table by the window. She ordered two coffees, along with some desserts and snacks. This was Ding Muchen’s usual "meal."

"What are you smiling about?" Ding Muchen asked, holding her coffee.

Sun Dasheng wiped the smile from his face, looked at her seriously, and said, "You just look a little familiar."

"That pickup line is at least a decade old," Ding Muchen laughed freely. "I didn’t realize you were such an antique."

He couldn’t let himself be labeled an antique. "Haven’t you seen the hit drama *Blossoms Shanghai*?" Sun Dasheng asked.

"No, why?" she replied.

The other teachers had all left for the break, leaving her in charge. Her workload had increased significantly, giving her no time for TV shows. Even if she had the time, she hadn’t followed any dramas in ages. They were all such cringeworthy flops; there was nothing worth watching. She would rather use that time to polish a screenplay or study directing. That’s right, she had a director’s dream, too. She wanted to spend ten years honing her craft, write an incredible script, find investors, and direct it herself. A true woman of the arts.

"That explains it," Sun Dasheng said. "There’s a great new drama out. It’s about the business world in Shanghai City in the ’90s. One of the female characters, played by Tang Yan, has the same outfit and hairstyle as you today."

"Oh," Ding Muchen said, her expression indifferent.

"The male lead is Brother Hu," Sun Dasheng added.

"Ah! Really?" Ding Muchen’s eyes instantly lit up, her entire demeanor changing. "Then I’ll definitely have to find time to watch it."

As a senior alumnus from the Shanghai Theatre Academy, Brother Hu was an idol to all the younger female students like her. Now fully engaged, she launched into a series of old school gossip, involving many currently famous stars. Sun Dasheng got more than his fill of juicy stories.

"Muchen, what are you doing here?"

As they were chatting happily, an unfriendly voice suddenly cut in. Sun Dasheng looked up and saw a man in his twenties wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He was handsome enough, but his eyes were fixed on Sun Dasheng with open hostility.

A suitor of Ding Muchen’s?

Before Sun Dasheng could think further, Ding Muchen’s expression turned icy. "Chen Siyuan, where I am is none of your business." She added sharply, "And from now on, please use my full name. We aren’t that close."

"Who is he?" Chen Siyuan demanded, pointing at Sun Dasheng while completely ignoring her words.

That was the last straw for Ding Muchen. "What is wrong with you, Chen Siyuan? Can’t you understand plain language? Who he is has nothing to do with you. Who are you to me? What right do you have to interfere?"

Whether it was due to good composure, a thick skin, or both, Chen Siyuan’s expression didn’t change in the face of her tirade. His dead-fish eyes remained coldly locked on Sun Dasheng.

The message seemed to be: Who gave you permission to have coffee with her?

This amused Sun Dasheng. He put down his coffee, stood up, and exuded a powerful aura as he stared directly at the other man. "You think you’re hot stuff, kid? But what good is acting tough? To show off, you need a background, some backing. What crew do you run with?"

The intimidating pressure was overwhelming, and Chen Siyuan’s feet moved on their own, taking a few steps back. A flicker of humiliation crossed his face. He’d been cowed by the other man’s presence, and he retorted out of angry embarrassment, "I’m a teacher at the art school, and my uncle is the school director. He holds a high-ranking position and has a lot of power. He knows many district leaders. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll apologize to me right now, or else..."

"So, just a petty punk," Sun Dasheng interrupted him casually.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Chen Siyuan, who had been maintaining a veneer of civility, finally snapped and threw a punch.

But he was no match for Sun Dasheng, who sent him sprawling to the ground with a single kick. Sun Dasheng glanced at the security camera in the corner and held back. His first move was self-defense; any more would be mutual combat, and he was a law-abiding citizen. He had paid close attention during Teacher Luo’s law lectures.

The hot-headed Chen Siyuan, however, couldn’t take the humiliation. He scrambled to his feet and lunged forward with another punch. A second later, he was kicked to the ground again. The café patrons all turned to watch the commotion.

Are we watching a scratched DVD? Otherwise, why does the same scene keep replaying?

Someone in the crowd must have called the police, as they arrived quickly.

「The police station, mediation room.」

All three of them had been brought in. Chen Siyuan sat slumped in a corner, looking like he’d been kicked silly.

"I’m so sorry, you got dragged into this because of me," Ding Muchen said, sitting beside Sun Dasheng with an apologetic look. "Chen Siyuan... there’s something wrong with him up here," she said, pointing to her head.

"You think so? But he’s a teacher," Sun Dasheng said, surprised.

With a dark expression, Ding Muchen explained, "He just started at the school last year. His uncle, our school’s logistics director, tried to set us up. I felt I had no choice but to meet him for dinner, after which I rejected him."

Sun Dasheng nodded, understanding her decision. A blunt refusal from the start might have led to endless trouble for her later. "And then?"

"Who knew that after that, he started telling everyone I was his girlfriend. He’s warned off every single man at school who’s even talked to me, teachers and students alike." Her voice was laced with frustration. "Tell me, isn’t he a psycho?"

Sun Dasheng stroked his chin. "He should probably get his head checked," he guessed.

"Who needs their head checked?" a furious voice boomed.

The words were overheard by the man who had just entered. He glared daggers at Sun Dasheng.

"Director Fu, he didn’t mean it like that!" Ding Muchen immediately stood up to explain.

The newcomer was Chen Siyuan’s uncle, Fu Biao.

"Then what did he mean? He assaulted my nephew, shows no remorse, and now he’s here insulting him?" Fu Biao was dressed in a uniform befitting a leader and carried the air of someone long accustomed to authority. "Little Ding, I had good intentions when I set you two up. You were a perfect match. What was wrong with that? Or is it all because of him, this criminal?" he sneered.

Sun Dasheng slowly rose to his feet, meeting the man’s gaze without flinching. "Who are you calling a criminal? Be careful, or I’ll sue you for slander. I was acting in self-defense."

Fu Biao let out a snide laugh. "Oh? And who can prove that?"

"There were eyewitnesses."

"Is that so?" He clapped his hands arrogantly. A few people walked in—they were the eyewitnesses from the café. "Can any of you testify that he was acting in self-defense?"

They all shook their heads and mumbled, "We didn’t see clearly."

It was a classic case of buying off witnesses. It seemed the security footage was a lost cause, too; Fu Biao had surely taken care of it.

Just then, two police officers entered the room.

"Officers, arrest him! Hurry! Look, he’s beaten my nephew senseless!" Fu Biao said urgently.

They had probably been briefed beforehand, as they immediately took out their handcuffs and moved toward Sun Dasheng.

"Officers, I have a video of what happened."

Unexpectedly, Ding Muchen had an ace up her sleeve. She was a woman of both courage and foresight.