Chapter 373: Chapter 373

All he could do was help out when he came across it. Google seaʀᴄh 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⚫𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⚫𝘯𝘦𝘵

Sophie also understood there was no solution, and could only sigh helplessly.

Her female companion, startled by the situation, lost interest in continuing the outing, thanked Li Jing, and took a taxi home.

Li Jing then turned to Sophie and asked, "What about you? Are you heading back or what?"

From their conversation earlier, Li Jing learned that Sophie had just joined Hai Province Airlines last year, rented a place here, and was temporarily settled in the area.

Upon hearing this, Sophie’s expression changed slightly, and she looked at Li Jing expectantly and asked, "Are you busy later? Could I... invite you to dinner to thank you for helping me?"

Having already guessed that she would be reluctant to leave, Li Jing smiled slightly, "Sure, if a pretty lady is inviting me for a meal, I’m naturally happy to oblige."

As soon as he spoke, Sophie’s eyes lit up with joy and she quickly said, "Great, I know a super delicious place, I’ll take you there!"

Li Jing nodded, just about to speak when he realized Zeng Chao was calling him.

After talking to Zeng Chao, Li Jing frowned slightly.

Sophie noticed and asked softly, "Brother Jing, is everything okay?"

"It’s fine, didn’t expect one of them had hid a small knife, my friend got scratched, and the three of them ran off injured."

"Oh! Your friend got hurt?!"

Sophie exclaimed in shock and hurriedly asked, "Is it serious? Should we go to the hospital?"

"It should be okay, my friend said it’s just a few scrapes. He called to warn us to be careful, worried we’d encounter them again, and advised us not to stay here for now."

Li Jing offered an explanation, although he hadn’t told her everything.

Since the assailant was armed, Zeng Chao had already reported it to the police and informed Chen Wenwu about it.

In Hai Province, Chen Wenwu had a vast network, Li Jing figured Chen Zixin wouldn’t be able to get away.

Indeed, not long after, Li Jing received a call from Chen Wenwu, who apologized for the incident Li Jing encountered, promising he would make the guy suffer a bit.

Though this matter had nothing to do with Chen Wenwu, he wasn’t familiar with Sophie’s relationship with Li Jing, so he called specifically to show concern.

After thanking Chen Wenwu, Li Jing hung up the phone.

Putting his phone away, Li Jing noticed Sophie hadn’t spoken and looked over in confusion, surprised by what he saw.

Sophie, seizing the moment while he was on the call, had been observing his physique the whole time.

Having just come from the beach and not changed clothes, Li Jing was only wearing a pair of swim trunks.

"Had your fill of looking?"

Li Jing naturally understood why she was staring at his physique.

Ever since his body had been enhanced by the system, his physique was so flawless it seemed absurd—even he felt every morning in the mirror could see nothing amiss, resembling a body model without any imperfections.

Each muscle’s shape and position were extremely well-proportioned; Li Jing imagined art students would be compelled to draw upon seeing his body.

Startled by Li Jing’s voice, Sophie quickly withdrew her gaze, her cheeks blushing slightly, awkwardly admitting, "Sorry, your physique is just too good..."

"Perhaps it’s due to regular workouts."

Li Jing casually explained and then led her to the changing room to put on his original clothes.

Seeing Li Jing dressed, Sophie’s face flashed a hint of disappointment and regret.

Li Jing couldn’t help but find it amusing, "You enjoy looking at men’s physiques?"

Hearing this, Sophie’s expression changed slightly and then, mouth tilted, said, "It’s just like you guys enjoying looking at women’s physiques. The only difference is I’m bold, whereas some peek secretly.

Moreover, your physique... is honestly the best I’ve seen. I don’t stare at other men ."

Li Jing raised an eyebrow, concluding from their brief interaction that she was straightforward, speaking quite directly.

"You’re right, I, too, like to look openly at women," Li Jing nodded.

Sophie glanced at Li Jing, giggled, and said, "Then what do you think of my physique?"

She even set a standard pose as she spoke.

Surprised at her openness, Li Jing appraised her up and down again before nodding, "Hmm, not bad, your legs are the best-looking."

Receiving the compliment, Sophie wasn’t shy; rather, she appeared delighted, "My friends say the same, that my legs are long and straight, ideal for wearing stockings."

"Indeed, that’s quite true."

Li Jing reconsidered her long legs; being a flight attendant, Sophie’s body was already quite tall and slender, with particularly straight legs devoid of any curves.

If she wore stockings, Li Jing felt her charm could elevate a level further.

Sophie’s eyes flickered and then looked at the time: "There’s still time now, should I go home first, change into something, put on stockings, and then accompany you to dinner?"

Li Jing was a bit surprised by her initiative and enthusiasm, saying, "We’ve only met twice, right? You’re inviting me to your place already; aren’t you worried I might do something?"

Sophie paused, clearly hadn’t considered that aspect, but confidently replied, "My judgment is usually accurate; I don’t think you’re that sort, I trust you."

Hearing this, Li Jing shook his head helplessly.

He realized Sophie not only had a straightforward personality but seemed slightly naive.

No wonder she confronted three men without any hesitation and hadn’t considered the consequences.

Thinking about this, Li Jing curiously asked, "How old are you?"

Sophie first paused, then responded like all women, "You guess?"

Li Jing gazed at her fair, youthful face; compared to her makeup on the plane, it was much lighter, realizing she was actually younger than she appeared, guessed, "Twenty-four?"

"Do I look that old?"

Sophie made a playful face and directly revealed, "I just turned twenty-two this year, graduated and joined Hai Province Airlines as a flight attendant. Including this month, I’ve only been there six months."

Li Jing was amazed, surprised she was so young but also understood the reason behind her naivety.

Seems she hasn’t been hardened by life experiences yet.

"Then how old are you?" Sophie asked curiously.

Before finishing his sentence, Li Jing’s pupils suddenly constricted; he quickly pushed Sophie aside and then dodged sharply.

A small knife dangerously grazed past his arm.

Sophie gasped and turned toward the knife-wielding man in surprise, "Is it you?!"

Li Jing’s expression darkened as he stared at the man who suddenly ambushed him.

The man was none other than Chen Zixin, who had escaped Zeng Chao’s grasp.

Zeng Chao had earlier warned Li Jing to watch out for Chen Zixin, but unexpectedly, they had indeed encountered him.

"Damn you for ruining my plans, called people to beat me, while you’re here flirting, I hate you rich people most of all!"

Chen Zixin’s mouth bore traces of blood, his face marked with bruises; no doubt he had suffered under Zeng Chao’s hands.

Now he vented all his pent-up grievances and hatred onto Li Jing, viciously saying, "If you don’t want me to live well, I’ll make you bleed."

Zeng Chao had mentioned before that this person had a slightly violent personality, leading to his dismissal from the factory.

Apparently, after being beaten by Zeng Chao, his violent tendencies had erupted completely.

"What are you trying to do? Assaulting someone with a knife is illegal!"

Sophie was furious but instead of hiding behind Li Jing, she stepped forward to educate and scold him, completely unaware that his emotions were on the brink of losing control.

Indeed, upon hearing Sophie’s words, Chen Zixin’s ferocity intensified, making Sophie’s back go cold, instinctively stepping back half a step.

She hurriedly whispered to Li Jing, "Quickly call the police, I—I’ll find a way to stall him..."

Li Jing was taken aback by her protective instincts, both surprised and amused, and said, "Let me handle it."

"Don’t assume working out can defend against a knife, he brandished the knife earlier intending to stab you; I talk to him, he might not act immediately..."

"You think you can ignore me! I might as well spend three years in jail, I’m gonna spill some blood!"

Before he finished, Chen Zixin, with madness and ferocity, lunged at Li Jing with the knife again.

Sophie gasped, and before she could respond, she saw Li Jing abruptly move—not fleeing but rushing toward the attacker.

As someone trained in combat and fighting, Li Jing found the assailant’s knife move too slow and obvious.

He easily dodged, seized the opponent’s knife-wielding hand with his left hand, and with his right, clamped hard on the man’s neck like a steel vice.