Chapter 214: First, Collect Some Interest

Richard was wholly paralyzed by shock. What was happening?

He clearly told these people that they should cooperate with him to look like a hero in front of Hazel. However, the leader did not follow the act that they had agreed on beforehand, he was supposed to pretend to be defeated by him.

"You... let go!" Richard was surprised, he tried to pull back his fist, but the other party did not let go.

"Don't you want to be a hero?" The leader laughed. "Since you want to save the beauty, you can take her place.” He touched Richard’s hand as he did it.

“Yeah, I can see that this guy is beautiful, and maybe if after a while we took off his clothes to check, he might actually be a woman!”

“Even if he is not, it is worthwhile to play with such a good guy!”

Richard kept listening to the explicit words as they touched his body. He was scared and shouted in a panic. “What do you want? Let go! Let go!”

“Why are you shouting?” The leader slapped his mouth, it wasn’t a strong slap but more so one of humiliation.

Richard was so scared that he was struggling, but he was being held down by the gang. He continued screaming over and over, “Let me go! Save me! Help!”

Hazel had been standing back watching, thinking it was all an act, but she started wondering after a few moments. She could not understand what was happening.

She expected Richard’s script to have him kicking their ass. However, how is it that now he was being treated disgracefully and being teased by the group?

Maybe Richard was not playing a hero to save the beauty but deceiving her by torturing himself? But the sacrifice is really big enough, he is not so...stupid?

Hazel frowned, she saw that the men were starting to take their clothes off and realized that it probably was not a play.

"You guys stop!" Hazel said.

“Miss Beauty, I suggest you do not mess around!” The leader touched Richard’s face. “You still don’t know. Actually, he came to us and paid us to stop you, we are now seeking revenge for you. Why are you protecting him?”

“He spent money for you to stop me, and a few of you tease him, that is two different things,” Hazel said as calmly as possible, “Do not overdo it! You should let him go, or otherwise, don’t blame me!”

She had been assessing the situation, these were ordinary people, and they could easily defeat Richard. There were many of them, and Richard had become weak so quickly that he was not as strong as usual.

She figured if she dealt with the hooligans along, there was a chance to win.

The leader’s rogue snorted, “Then we will teach you a lesson too!”

He reached out to grab Hazel, her eyes became cold, and she reacted, suddenly she gripped onto the man’s arm and slammed it against a tree.

"Ah-!" He exclaimed, "It hurts, hurt! Let go, let go!"

Hazel was slightly stunned, it was almost too easy to subdue him. There was no time to think, though, because another man rushed at her, she kicked him in the chest. He kept trying to reach her, but she kicked him again every time he got close.

With a few swift moves, Hazel knew she could wear them done enough that they would be unable to fight back.

The leader and his friend rushed into the woods and stopped a few feet away, the three others who were holding Richard knew something was not right.

It appeared as if Hazel had been possessed. They let go of Richard, pushed him toward Hazel, and then ran to catch up with the other two.

Hazel frowned slightly, she was disappointed that it was so easy for them to run.

"Are you okay?" She looked at Richard, who was upset and crying. Hazel was not sure what to say or do, so she told Richard to hurry and get dressed.

Richard snapped out of his daze and quickly buttoned his shirt up.

"Will you remember this lesson?" Hazel couldn't help but say, "Do you think you can just buy people? Those people just saw that you were rich and that it would be easy to bully you, so they did it. Be careful!”

Richard was even more ashamed, it was his idea, but he did not expect that he had designed a drama to save her, and now he was actually saved by Hazel.

Although there was no substantial damage, they touched him through his clothes, and it was not a personal area, but they did frighten him. More importantly, this all happened in front of Hazel, which embarrassed him.

Richard’s face became more pitiful looking, he hesitated and said, “Can you…”

He was trying to say something but looked too ashamed. Hazel guessed, “Are you worried that those people will come back? Don’t worry, I will be with you until your driver picks you up.”

Richard said, embarrassed, "Hazel, thank you..."

"Okay, you do not need to say that,” Hazel said. “If you really can’t manage to get past this, go to see a psychiatrist or something. And, as long as you don’t come after me again, that will be thank you enough.”

Richard hung his head in embarrassment and waited until his driver arrived to pick him up.

After Richard’s car pulled away, Hazel received a call from Joshua.

"Hazel, I will arrive at the airport in an hour." Joshua smiled.

"Then I will leave now to go meet you!” Hazel said with delight.

Joshua was only gone on a short business trip, and she knew he would not be gone long. It had only been a day or so, but Hazel was missing him like crazy, she felt that every second she has separated from him was a lifetime.

Hazel fixed herself up and hurried to the airport, she waited impatiently to see Joshua. He saw her immediately, he rushed over and put his arms around her.

Hazel pushed him away and said, "I don't want a hug now."

Joshua lifted his eyebrows a little.

"Let's go! Let's get home first," Hazel took his hand. "I still have something to ask you."

"Hazel..." Joshua's gaze became a bit resentful.

"Don't be a spoiled boy!" Hazel blinked. "I haven't figured out some things yet. If you hold me first, my heart will be soft."

"Okay," Joshua sighed with regret, and suddenly he leaned down and kissed her lips. He smiled, "First, collect some interest."

Hazel looked at him sadly, just a kiss, and her thoughts and heart raced. She had to stay strong, so she walked away.

When they arrived at the car, she turned to Joshua with a serious expression and said, “Joshua, Richard came to see me again today.”