Yang Ming had never expected that the woman who was the topic of their earlier conversation for chatting with a dog would turn out to be his own wife. Didn’t she dislike animals?
Had he known it was his wife, he would have followed her out immediately instead of waiting for so long. And to come outside only to see his wife being bullied was absolutely intolerable.
He shook off the man’s arm with fury and said, "Brother Wang, what are you doing?"
The man, upon realizing that it was Yang Ming, felt a bit conflicted. Despite the good time they’d had drinking and playing finger-guessing games the last time, it wouldn’t stop him from pursuing this woman. "Brother Yang, stay out of this. I’ve set my sights on this woman."
Hearing this, veins throbbed on Yang Ming’s forehead, and a surge of anger shot up within him. He didn’t care whether it was outside the Academy’s entryway or how crowded it was, he punched the man in the face.
By now, a growing crowd of onlookers had gathered, and seeing the commotion, Master Zhao and Master Li immediately stepped in to hold back Master Wang.
"Don’t hold me back. I must take this woman with me today."
Yang Ming clenched his fists, his voice filled with anger, "You try taking her."
Master Zhao tried to calm Master Wang down, "Brother Wang, let it go. There are plenty of women out there."
"No way." Master Wang felt his face had been utterly lost today; he had to regain his dignity.
Master Li also tried to persuade him, "Brother Wang, since Yang Ming has taken a liking to that woman, let him have her. I’ll find you a more beautiful one later."
Xiaoxiao, seeing the crowd growing, worried about the impact it might have on her husband’s studies. She reached out from behind and grasped Yang Ming’s clenched fist. "Husband."
Yang Ming felt his wife’s hand, and his rage began to subside. He relaxed his clenched fist and instead, held his wife’s hand tightly, "Don’t be afraid."
Xiaoxiao felt that Yang Ming was so handsome at that moment, holding his hand, she felt so secure. "Yes, I’m not afraid."
Master Wang saw that not only had Yang Ming hit him, but he was also showing affection to the woman right in front of him, which was an utter humiliation for him.
"Yang Ming, don’t meddle in other people’s business."
"...Meddle?" He was meddling? That was his wife, "You harass my wife, and I’m being lenient by just hitting you."
Hearing this, Master Wang covered his stomach and laughed loudly, so hard that it hurt, "Yang Ming, talk big all you want. She’s your wife? I might as well say she’s mine."
Not only did Master Wang disbelieve him, but none of the onlookers did either. They knew that Yang Ming’s wife was ugly, and this woman was beautiful, and they began whispering among themselves.
Facing everyone’s ridicule, Yang Ming could only say helplessly, "She truly is my wife."
Master Li, still skeptical, continued laughing, holding his stomach, "Yang Ming, who are you trying to fool? Your wife is famously ugly, definitely not her."
"...Facing Master Wang’s provocation, Yang Ming was at a loss. How could he prove that his wife was indeed his wife?
"Nothing to say, huh? She’s clearly not your wife."
Master Wang’s aggressiveness made him want to punch him again, and several times he was about to strike, his wife’s small hand held him back because she knew she didn’t want him causing trouble at the Academy’s entrance.
He held himself back, but he wanted everyone to know that she was his wife, his alone.
Suddenly a thought flashed in his eyes; perhaps that would prove it. He then raised the hand that he and his wife were tightly holding. "Would this prove it?"