Tan Li was stunned in an instant.
Everyone in the dojo was equally dumbfounded.
No one had expected Gu Zhaoping to react this way.
Seeing Tan Li barging in so arrogantly and making such bold claims, she didn’t seem the least bit angry—in fact, she almost seemed to agree with him?
Tan Li had demanded that anyone taking over as curator must first spar with him.
And she simply said, "If you want a match, come at me"?
Huh??
Just like that, she agreed?
Curator Gao’s face paled instantly, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest!
Oh my, he had no idea why Miss Gu was being so bold, but what on earth was happening? This couldn’t be happening!
She was a wealthy heiress, a business magnate—not someone who should be brawling with Tan Li!
Besides, while Tan Li was a scumbag, his skills were undeniably top-notch. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gained such notoriety online. Curator Gao knew better than anyone—after all, he had trained the man himself.
Even if their new boss had taken a few private lessons with Coach Gao, those beginner-level skills were nowhere near enough!
Even if she was a genius!
He feared Gu Zhaoping had suddenly gotten the urge to spar, unaware of just how underhanded and despicable Tan Li could be—or worse, that she felt pressured to engage for the sake of pride.
Curator Gao hurriedly interjected, "Wait, what’s the meaning of this? I’m also a curator, Tan Li. If you want a match, fight me! Why not challenge me? Scared?"
Tan Li was still reeling.
He never imagined that his online taunts from yesterday—daring the supposedly talented heiress Gu Zhaoping to prove her jiu-jitsu skills—would come back to bite him so quickly.
But how could he have known he’d run into her the very next day? Even summoning a deity with a talisman wouldn’t have been this fast—was the universe listening in on him?
How could this be?
How was it possible that this very same Miss Gu was Coach Gao’s student—his client? And not only that, but she’d somehow caught wind of the whole mess and decided to buy the dojo? Was fate playing some kind of joke?
Amidst his shock, Tan Li spotted the camera beside Gu Zhaoping and jolted back to reality.
He thought he had it all figured out now, his tone turning cautious and defensive. "No, I won’t fight you!"
Tan Li believed he was being perfectly rational, seeing right through the situation.
"Why should I fight you? You’re just a beginner. Even if I win, it’s no real victory—it’d be like bullying a novice. And besides, you’re a woman. How could I go all out without risking a lawsuit? What if you accuse me of harassment? Then what?"
His online provocations had only been for clout, to attract more students to his jiu-jitsu classes.
An actual fight? That was a mess he didn’t need.
As everyone stood frozen in shock and dread, Coach Gao’s heart sank.
He knew the truth better than anyone—given Miss Gu’s actual skill level…
Well…
Gu Zhaoping let out a soft, amused scoff.
Her stance remained unchanged, her expression calm, almost indifferent, as if she found the whole thing mildly entertaining. With an air of indulgence, she said, "Try landing a hit first. Then we’ll talk."
Tan Li’s words caught in his throat. What kind of response was that? Was she bluffing, counting on him to hold back?
Why couldn’t this heiress take a hint? A fight between them would only end badly for both!
If he won, he’d lose face. She’d hold the moral high ground, and then she’d be stuck—even if she wanted to buy the place, she’d be humiliated.
Besides, she clearly had the money. So why even bother fighting? If he won, wouldn’t that just give her an excuse to back out of the deal?
Sure, he wanted to mess with the Gao father-son duo, but he wasn’t stupid enough to throw away millions for nothing. With that kind of money, he could open his own dojo elsewhere.
And he’d already memorized the Gaos’ marketing tactics—he’d just copy them wholesale. With his family’s generations-deep roots in jiu-jitsu, he was sure he could outdo them!
In those fleeting seconds, Tan Li’s mind raced through a dozen calculations.
Finally, he blurted, "No, no, no—I won’t do it. Jiu-jitsu isn’t some safe little sport; people get hurt! And didn’t you say you’re some kind of lawyer? I’m not playing that game. If you’re here to buy the place, let’s just sit down and sign the papers like civilized people—"
"—Outrageous!" Coach Gao cut him off, his voice booming.
The sheer volume made everyone turn to stare.
"You don’t get to dictate terms in front of Miss Gu. Since you said anyone taking over as curator must spar with you, then you will fight her—right now!"
His words were firm, his tone thunderous.
Curator Gao and the other coaches were speechless.
They gaped at him, wondering if he’d lost his mind.
Tan Li had expected Coach Gao to stop him from fighting Gu Zhaoping. Hearing this, he was floored.
What?!
Coach Gao stood firm, utterly convinced. "Since Miss Gu agreed, you will spar with her."
He even added, "Backing out now makes you a coward!"
Tan Li: "…"
"What’s wrong? Afraid she’ll beat you? Worried everyone will see you humiliated? Or have you changed your mind about selling?" Coach Gao taunted mercilessly. "You said it yourself. Every single one of us here—eighteen eyes and eighteen ears—heard you loud and clear!"
The others: "…" Coach Gao, what’s gotten into you? Do you have a grudge against Miss Gu? Why are you digging a hole for your own boss?
Tan Li was convinced the man had lost it.
Now what? His face twisted between fury and panic. With Coach Gao pressuring him from behind and Gu Zhaoping waiting in stance, he had no choice. Backing out now would make him a laughingstock—especially with the camera rolling.
After a long, agonized moment, Tan Li finally gritted his teeth and assumed his own stance, steeling himself.
Fine. If it had to be done, so be it. His moves would be by the book—with the camera as proof, even if Gu Zhaoping tried to sue him later, experts could confirm he’d done nothing wrong.
Through clenched teeth, he muttered, "Fine. This is just a friendly match. Win or lose, we can still discuss the sale. After all, she’s just a beginner—not a professional. I’ll go easy."
He took off his jacket, tightened his clothes, and stretched his limbs. His voice was practically gritted through his teeth—these two had really thrown him a massive challenge.
"Let’s begin then. Don’t cry if you get hurt—"
He lunged forward. Curator Gao and the other coaches moved to pull him back, but Coach Gao, as if anticipating this, stuck out a foot like an iron wall, shoving them all backward!
His arm had never felt so solid and powerful, as if fueled by a determination mixed with something like joy and anticipation.
For a split second, the others were still dazed, unable to comprehend why Coach Gao had reacted this way.
Tan Li was even more confused.
In his mind, he pictured a takedown—hoisting Gu Zhaoping over his shoulder, slamming her down, then locking her in place. Easy.
A gust of wind brushed past his eyes.
Something flickered in his vision.
Tan Li froze, not quite processing what had just flashed before him.
In that instant, all he registered was a pair of eyes—cold, calm, deep black.
They swept past his line of sight without sparing him a second glance.
Then his belt tightened, and suddenly, his arm was no longer under his control.
Before he could even react—
His entire center of gravity vanished.
He pitched forward, helplessly, uncontrollably.
It took him another half-second for his combat instincts to kick in and realize—
This was—
This was—what?!
BAM!
The motion-activated lights in the hallway flicked on, startling everyone again.
The sound of 160-170 pounds of flesh crashing onto the mat was deafening. A dark mass flipped through the air, and every pair of eyes mechanically tracked Tan Li’s body as he was hurled down.
Only when he was flat on his back, pain radiating through him, staring up at the familiar lights of the dojo ceiling, did the delayed realization hit him.
What.
The hell.
He’d been thrown?!
Logically, in a match, there was no room for distraction. He should’ve scrambled up immediately to counter. But this was so sudden that Tan Li’s brain short-circuited, all thought processes screeching to a halt.
He’d been thrown??
No way. By Gu Zhaoping? A pampered rich girl, a beginner who’d only trained in jiu-jitsu for a year or two at most, a slender young woman??
Even if he’d suddenly been struck with paralysis, this shouldn’t have been possible! What was his skill level? And hers?! Even if he’d stood there and let her try, Gu Zhaoping shouldn’t have been able to throw him!
What the hell was happening?!
Then, in the next instant, he heard a voice—light, indifferent, utterly devoid of emotion.
"You lost focus."
A second later, he felt his belt seized again, that same terrifying sensation returning. His back lifted, weightlessness taking over.
His heavy muscles went light as he was effortlessly hoisted up, then whipped through the air in a smooth, almost elegant motion.
BAM.
Knee drop!
By now, the hallway lights had flicked on once more. Curator Gao and the coaches stood frozen, pupils constricted, mouths hanging open in shock.
The photographer gaped for a long moment before finally peeking out from behind his camera, staring in disbelief at the figure crouched on the mat.
Gu Zhaoping was still dressed in a silk blouse and tailored suit pants—hardly attire meant for movement, and she hadn’t even warmed up.
She’d come straight from her car, sat down briefly, then stood up and faced Tan Li.
Wait—wasn’t he a black belt or higher?!
Wasn’t he a somewhat famous jiu-jitsu influencer online?!
Hadn’t he publicly challenged Gu Zhaoping?!
He was a professional. A real, certified professional!!
He was the former curator of this jiu-jitsu dojo—this couldn’t be faked!!
Only now did the photographer finally process: Wait, so Gu Zhaoping actually knows jiu-jitsu?!
She wasn’t lying?!
She wasn’t exaggerating?!
At this point, Coach Gao’s arm, which had been firmly blocking the others, finally relaxed. His lips curled into an inexplicable, enigmatic smile—one tinged with both satisfaction and something like the urge to cry.
Who could understand him?
After being thrown so many times.
Over and over again!
Even Gu Zhaoping had praised him for being "throwable"!
Now, finally, someone else got to experience his suffering!!
Gu Zhaoping’s throwing techniques were truly unparalleled. Once she had you in her grasp, there was no escape!
Not even Coach Gao!
Not even you, Tan Li!
Gu Zhaoping twisted Tan Li’s arms, pinning him to the mat. Though his combat skills far surpassed Gu Zhaoye’s, his earlier complacency and lack of focus had given her too much of an advantage, allowing her to deploy her signature locks with ruthless efficiency.
She tilted her head slightly, looking down at him from her dominant position. "Need more?"
Slowly, methodically, she bent his arm back against his spine, the motion so controlled it was almost elegant from a distance.
Her silk blouse, loose yet perfectly fitted, had its sleeves rolled up to reveal toned forearms and a pearl-embedded watch strap. Her hair was neatly tied back, and she wore designer flats, the soft leather creasing delicately as she adjusted her stance on the mat.
"Is this enough?"
Tan Li’s pupils contracted. He hadn’t even had time to respond!
Gu Zhaoping seemed to take his silence as an answer, raising a cool eyebrow. "Not enough."
Then her arm shot out, seizing his waistband—
And Tan Li, once again, was too slow to react!!
Coach Gao turned away, torn between schadenfreude and secondhand pain.
BAM!
Body slam!
BAM!
Hook throw!
BAM!!
Shoulder toss!!
Coach Gao shook his head, eyes shut.
The other coaches stood in stunned silence.
The hallway lights flickered—
On.
Off.
On!
Off!
Coach Gao could only watch as the motion-activated lights flashed relentlessly across his face. He clicked his tongue, shaking his head in mock sympathy.
Tan Li was such a masochist—it almost felt like throwing him was doing him a favor.
If he wanted a reward, he should’ve just said so instead of making up excuses about "testing skills" before signing the contract.
Honestly, Gu Zhaoping had gone easy on him before—treated him like a proper training partner, holding back to avoid wear and tear. But this guy had volunteered to be her punching bag. A disposable sandbag—who would say no?
"Had enough?" Gu Zhaoping asked again.
Tan Li shuddered violently and hastily cut her off before she could conclude that he wasn’t good enough. "Enough, enough, more than enough! Let’s sign the contract—right now, immediately!" He was covered in bruises from being thrown around, utterly battered. Good lord, he was about to lose his mind!
Only then did Gu Zhaoping finally stop.
It was only now that she responded to the taunt Tan Li had thrown at her earlier—
"You’re just a beginner. I won’t fight you. Even if I win, so what? I’ll go easy on you."
"I’m not a beginner," Gu Zhaoping said calmly, crouching down with an almost amused smile, as though generously forgiving his mistake. "I’m the expert."
…
…
CR.
Stunned.
Silence.
A silence so deafening it roared.
Hearing those words, Tan Li trembled, on the verge of tears.
Gu Zhaoping—who the hell was she?! She wasn’t like the usual trainees who treated him as a practice dummy! Her throws were the kind used in real matches, the kind meant for enemies, for opponents! She was even more ruthless than fighters bound by competition rules!
Wait—Tan Li belatedly realized—why did it feel like Gu Zhaoping had been looking forward to throwing him around?
Tan Li finally snapped.
What the hell was going on?! How did things turn out like this?!
How was he supposed to know this young lady Gu actually knew jujitsu?! And that she’d be this terrifyingly good at it?!
If you’re this good, why the hell are you taking lessons from Coach Gao?! Are you just messing with people?! And why did you downplay your skills on that show?!
"Skilled"? This isn’t skill—this is domination!
He’d been tricked, utterly scammed! That so-called "informant" classmate better watch out—this was practically attempted murder!
Gu Zhaoping stood up. "Let’s go. Time to sign the contract."
Tan Li, bruised and swollen, unable to even force a smile, staggered as Gu Zhaoping hauled him up and shoved him forward, steering him out of the training room.
The cameraman stood frozen in prolonged shock.
No one had warned him today’s footage would turn out like this.
Then, his phone suddenly rang. He scrambled to answer—it was the Director.
"Hey, did you get any good footage of Gu Zhaoping?" The Director, busy planning the next episode’s shoot, sounded impatient while coordinating with her assigned cameraman.
No one knew how her life would turn out on camera, but it was bound to be even more outrageous than her self-introduction.
"...Got it."
The cameraman’s voice trembled as he stared at the memory card he’d just ejected, terrified of damaging it.
"Got... got it."
