Chapter 4 Three

Jack kept his word. Starting from the day after they met, he picked Elsa up and dropped her off at school every single day, rain or shine.

Not only that, he also tutored her on her schoolwork every day. It was then that Elsa learned that besides being the champion in various school sports competitions, he was also a top student with excellent grades.

In fact, he had always been a high-profile figure at school. She hadn't known about him before simply because she was out of the loop.

Being with Jack, Elsa not only gradually mastered the language she had always dreaded but also, no one dared to bully her or take advantage of her anymore.

Once, while waiting for Elsa to finish her duties, Jack caught the classmate who was supposed to be cleaning the bathrooms with her trying to sneak off. He narrowed his blue eyes and stopped the boy. He didn't throw a punch; he simply rolled up his sleeves, revealing his well-defined arm muscles under the other boy's fearful gaze.

After that incident, everyone at school understood that Elsa was under Jack Folger's protection. In other words, only someone tired of living would dare bother this Asian girl.

Jack didn't like violence, nor was he a delinquent. On the contrary, he was a top model student-respectful to teachers, friendly with classmates, didn't smoke or drink, loved small animals, didn't litter, didn't pick flowers, and looked both ways before crossing the street. But all of that went out the window when he lost his temper.

He was cheerful, amiable, peaceful, and easy to get along with. He rarely got angry. During his time at school, he only lost his temper three times.

Only three times, but each was terrifying.

Strangely, the reasons for his anger were sometimes hard for others to understand. His first outburst was reportedly because an upperclassman threw stones at a white swan on the pond, killing it. The second time was because a janitor gave the wrong feed, causing the death of an owl in the school zoo.

Fighting over a swan and an owl, breaking school rules, earned Jack the nickname 'Animal Ambassador'.

Although these two instances of rage were frightening, they were nothing compared to the third time. And Jack's fame was cemented by that final, major outburst.

That time, he stood up for a student who was wrongly accused by a teacher and faced expulsion. When the principal ignored him, Jack got so angry he trashed the principal's office. Rumor had it he even punched a hole through the wall and nearly brought down the roof.

Jack's violence attracted attention. An enraged elementary student demolishing the principal's office wasn't everyday news. It made it to television, and even education officials launched an investigation. In the end, the wrongly accused student was exonerated, the teacher was transferred, and the principal's office was relocated and rebuilt.

No one mentioned punishing Jack. On one hand, the terrifying aura he emitted when angry even scared the principal. On the other hand, after this incident, he became a new hero figure among Italian schoolchildren. Punishing him would cause public outrage.

So, anyone who had seen him lose his temper usually didn't want to see it again. This usually well-behaved model student had a beast-like ferocity when enraged.

Because of Jack's unusual protectiveness towards Elsa, everyone from the principal down to the janitors saw the little girl as his girlfriend.

However, the parties involved didn't seem to see it that way.

In Jack's eyes, Elsa was just an angel he had to protect, not to be defiled.

In Elsa's eyes, Jack was a better, more dutiful older brother than Steve.

This warm routine of escorting her continued for two full years, until Jack moved on to secondary school, leaving Elsa on her own again.

But those two years of guidance had given Elsa enough confidence and a solid foundation. Her studies were on track, and she even became a top student. She could now converse fluently in Italian and even German. But most of the time, she still preferred to keep to herself. Jack was right about her being withdrawn; perhaps it was innate shyness or excessive self-protectiveness. In short, she just wasn't very good at making friends.

She could only be completely at ease with people she knew very, very well-like family, like Jack, or like she was with Simba.

The elusive Simba would visit her once a year.

She didn't know if it truly understood the meaning of 'reunion' she had mentioned, but it faithfully chose to come see her on that very night each year.

After Jack started secondary school, he only appeared in Elsa's life during holidays. He and Steve, both being top, active students at their school, quickly became acquainted.

Two more years passed. Elsa was thirteen and finally could follow in the footsteps of her brother Steve and Jack, entering the prestigious boarding school.

Elsa's new student campus tour was led by both Steve and Jack. But on the way back, Steve's pager beeped loudly. He and Jack had to rush back to the student council for an emergency meeting.

"Elsa, can you find your way back to the dorm by yourself?"

Elsa nodded. Though a little apprehensive, she didn't want to be a burden to anyone.

"Go ahead. I'll take Elsa back and then catch up," Jack said, his face full of worry despite Elsa's nod.

"Are you worried she'll get lost or that she'll fall?" Steve patted Jack on the back, smiling at Elsa. "Jack Folger, my sister is thirteen. If she has a problem finding her way back to the dorm, then she'll need help eating next. Come on, I'm the current student council president, you're the next candidate. Missing either of us will make this meeting very troublesome."

Jack was practically dragged away by Steve.

"Who's her brother, you or me?" Steve's amused voice carried from afar. "Don't be so nervous. Elsa isn't a child. Unless you plan to protect her for the rest of her life, you have to let her walk alone sometimes to experience life."

Watching them leave, Elsa strolled leisurely along the emerald-green gravel path. Steve was right; she felt Jack was overly protective of her.

He was like her nanny.

The school campus covered an entire mountainside-vast and beautiful. As she walked, she saw many pleasing sights and enjoyed herself. The only downside was that she lost track of time. When she remembered she should head back to the dorm and hurried on her way, she realized it was high noon, siesta time. There wasn't a soul on the paths. Growing anxious, she hurried along but took a wrong turn, the path becoming increasingly deserted.

Just as she thought she heard voices and hoped to find someone to ask for directions, her mood plummeted the moment she saw the speakers and heard their tone.

"Whoa! Boss! Look at this, an Asian girl!"

"Oh! I know, she's the rumored prettiest Asian girl among the new freshmen! Not bad, not bad." The man appraising her had a face full of malicious smiles. He nodded at Elsa with satisfaction. "Indeed pretty."

"Little junior, let your seniors give you a more detailed campus tour and make friends, huh?"

Seeing the six boys, who wore their school uniforms like thugs, closing in on her, Elsa took a few steps back, coldly refusing, "I don't need it."

After speaking, she turned to leave but found the boys had formed a tall human wall, encircling her.

"Don't need it?" Someone let out a strange laugh, mimicking her voice. "Hear that, boss? Our cute little junior is quite the ice queen!"

"Beautiful women are always thorny."

"Don't fear the coldness, because we've got plenty of warmth. And thorns? Don't worry." The boy called 'boss' patted his chest. "Your boss here has tweezers for plucking thorns."

"Move aside!" Elsa continued with a cold voice, but her heart had already lost confidence in escaping safely.

"Don't be so unfriendly! Little junior, the school's fine tradition is that juniors should obey seniors." He reached out to touch Elsa's chin, but she dodged. "If you're this disobedient, it'll be hard for you to survive on campus."

"Yeah! Little junior, be good and listen. We seniors," another boy let out a sleazy laugh, "will take good care of you."

"Junior, listening to your seniors is never wrong. For women, there's always a first time. Don't be afraid." The man's laughter didn't stop. "Once you've tasted it, you'll know how good it feels to be cherished. Let your seniors accompany you for a while to build some feelings."

Elsa maintained her cold tone. "I'm not going anywhere. My brother, student council president Steve, will be here soon to have lunch with me."

"Ha! Bringing out your brother now! The student council president! Even better, I've always wondered what the student council president's sister tastes like?" He suddenly reached out, grabbed her, and pulled her close. Immediately, a strong smell of smoke and sweat made her cover her nose and mouth. Seeing this, the man's malicious smile remained. "Little junior, don't mind. Live in the moment. Right now, you're in my hands."

Putting all her strength into a kick towards the man's groin, Elsa was rewarded with a pig-like squeal of pain and a brief opening. But she hadn't run two steps before she was caught again.

"Damn girl, don't blame me for being rough later!"

Seeing the predatory hands reaching for her again, Elsa struggled and let out a desperate cry for help.

At that moment, the roar of an engine approached. It was a heavy motorcycle. The rider heard Elsa's cries for help. The bike paused but didn't shut off. The man sat steadily, stretching out his long legs, his eyes behind sunglasses slowly scanning the scene.

"Jace Black!" The man holding Elsa issued a warning. "Go skip your class and take your nap like you usually do. Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong."

"I was planning on it." The man on the motorcycle spoke indifferently. "But this girl's screams will ruin my sleep quality. And if I don't sleep well," he casually brushed the wind-blown hair from his forehead, "my temper is usually pretty bad."

Through tears of fear, it took Elsa a moment to get a clear look at the man named Jace Black.

Under the bright sun, he wore stylish sunglasses that covered half his face, a black leather jacket, and equally dark leather pants. In such hot weather, he was covered from neck to toe, like a nocturnal animal that detested sunlight.

His face was full of a handsome, fierce aura. He was a man radiating danger but with a fatal attraction.

"Don't worry." The man holding Elsa started dragging her away. "To not disturb your sleep, we'll just change locations."

The man's actions made Elsa scream again. Just as the men decided to gag her, Jace spoke coldly.

"Let her go. Fellow students, this girl doesn't seem to like the game you want to play. Why don't you find someone who does?"

"Jace, mind your own business." The leader signaled, and instantly his five companions pulled out switchblades from their jackets. "I won't ruin your sleep, you don't ruin my fun!"

"I'd like to, but it's too late-" Jace shook his head, swinging his long legs off the motorcycle. His eyes, behind the sunglasses, watched the knives glinting ominously in the sun. Seeing the blades, a faint light seemed to gleam in his eyes. With a tone of regret, he said, "Your toys have woken me up."

Then, before Elsa could fully grasp the situation, Jace moved like a whirlwind-fists and legs flying. In a few moves, he had the six guys on their knees, begging for mercy. He didn't give them a chance to use their knives, and he himself disdained using any weapon. Even just with his legs, he managed to draw blood and elicit cries of pain and pleas for mercy from the formerly vicious boys. Seeing blood didn't frighten him; if anything, he seemed more excited. He fought with sheer relish, his strikes becoming more precise and ruthless.

A moment later, when the opponents were swollen and barely recognizable, he finally stopped, saying coldly, "Get lost!"

That single word was like music to the thugs' ears. Without staying a minute longer, they fled for their lives like mice thoroughly tormented by a vicious cat, limping and stumbling away.

After the scum left, Elsa forced herself to stand straight. She looked at her savior with immense gratitude and emotion. She opened her mouth, but before she could even say "thank you," he was already back on his idling motorcycle. With a roar, he sped away, leaving only dust behind.

Dispatching thugs was just a fun game for him, a way to secure quiet, not for Elsa's sake.

He was indifferent, but Elsa was not. From that moment on, her eyes were determined to burn for the man named Jace.

"Wow! Such fragrant, beautiful cookies!"

Jack reached out his hand, only to have it slapped away mid-air.

"These aren't for you." Elsa swatted his hand away, then gestured with her lips towards another bamboo basket. "There! Those are for you."

"Why these?" he roared, poking at the basket of misshapen, broken cookie remnants with one finger.

"Because these are my failures. And you," she said calmly, with a soft voice, adding the adorable smile that could always easily subdue him, "aren't you the one who specializes in clearing my garbage?"

"Clearing garbage is only for when it's absolutely necessary, okay?"

Jack pouted injuredly, thinking back to the scene by the lake eating ice cream. He regretted spoiling this girl rotten, only to end up with this treatment.

Could she really think he only liked eating leftovers?

That time, when he helped finish her ice cream, she had still felt a little guilty. But after that, he had nurtured a habit in her. Whenever they went out to eat, she would taste everything first, then shove all the things she'd tried or didn't like over to him to finish. Heaven knew how many admiring glances and letters he, the school heartthrob, received every day, yet he had to suffer this treatment in front of the only girl he cared about.

"Since you have perfectly formed cookies, just throw the failures away!"

Jack reached out again, only to have his hand slapped away once more.

"I said you can't eat them, so you can't." Elsa pouted, looking serious.

"Reason?"

"These cookies," she blushed slightly, "I made them specially for someone."

"For someone?"

Her flushed cheeks, though beautiful, only felt dazzling to him. His voice darkened. "Jace Black again?"

Elsa mumbled noncommittally, indicating assent.

"Elsa, you still haven't given up on that bat? Last time I took you to thank him, he didn't even remember you. I've explained that guy is cold-blooded, emotionless. And you," Jack's veins bulged more and more as he spoke, "you still want to bake him cookies?"

Yes!

Bake cookies for that damn bat who just casually saved her once and won her heart, while leaving the scraps and dregs for him, the wolf who had guarded her for nearly ten years?

He had originally told himself he was just her protector, not daring to hope for more. But now, seeing her actually developing feelings for another man, and it being his best friend-a man who, like him, wasn't human-his heart felt like it had been thrown into a scalding oil vat, frying and sizzling, while the hot oil seeped into the thousand holes in his heart.

Seeing Jack uncharacteristically lose his temper with her, Elsa bit her lip, her face falling. She simply took both baskets of cookies away.

"If you don't want to eat the broken ones, then don't. I'll deal with them myself. As for the cookies for Jace, I'll ask someone else. No need to trouble you."

She turned to leave. In front of Jack, she had always been straightforward, never hiding her feelings.

Swallowing his anger, Jack quickly reached out to stop her.

"What are you doing?" she asked coldly.

"What am I doing? What canI do?" He forcibly took both baskets of cookies, annoyed at himself for caring so much about her feelings. "Besides delivering cookies for you, what else can I do?"

"Jack! I knew you would help me!"

Elsa's anger instantly turned to joy. Happily, she reached up on her toes, pulled Jack down, and planted a sweet kiss on his cheek.

A thank-you kiss that could make him blush for ten minutes. For a moment, he even thought he had turned back into that little golden wolf, helplessly captured by her for a bath.

"You wouldn't-" she drew out the word, "-secretly switch the two baskets of cookies, would you?"

"I have principles, Elsa," Jack said irritably. "I don't think I'd sink that low for a basket of cookies, would I?" He cast a cold glance at the basket of broken cookie remnants. "After all, I 'incidentally' got a basket of cookies too, didn't I?"

"Will you-" her face reddened, "-tell Jace that I specially baked these cookies for him?"

"I will." His voice was icy. "But I can't guarantee he'll remember you because of these cookies. I told you, that jerk doesn't remember people who don't matter to him."

"I am not someone who doesn't matter!" Elsa retorted resentfully. "He saved me," her eyes starry, her cheeks flushed, "how could that not matter?"

Wake up, silly girl! There's someone who truly matters standing right in front of you!

Jack suppressed the urge to protest and turned to leave.

It didn't matter. A young girl's fantasies were always poetic. Jace's heartlessness would eventually make her see reason.

Every time Elsa asked him to help her pursue Jace, Jack would comfort himself with these words.

But he never expected to have to use this comforting mantra for three whole years, from when she was thirteen until she was sixteen.

Three years! A full three years!

Until he couldn't take it anymore, until he was furious, until he gritted his teeth, until he had to resort to a shameless sneak attack to take out that blood-sucking, heartless bat who kept unintentionally stealing young girls' affections!