Chapter 19: One Punch and You’re Down for the Count—No Comeback!
Ye Liang Chen’s internal agony suddenly exploded into a wave of relief—like popping a really hefty bubble.
“I’m going to take a dump,” Ye announced confidently, seizing the rare moment before class started, and strode towards the end of the hall.
On his way past Class 7, he subconsciously halted.
Peeking inside, he saw Hu Yu Ying fussing over Dragon Brother’s desk, and even moving her own desk to sit beside his.
At this point, Ye’s teeth clenched so hard you could hear the grinding.
“Hu Yu Ying, wait for me… When you’re completely plunged into darkness, I’ll step in as the sun, pulling you out of the abyss.”
“Forgive my powerless stance now, forgive me for not rescuing you just yet.”
“But I swear I will remember all the evil Dragon Brother has done to you—clear as day. One day, he’ll pay a thousand times over!”
Without warning, he whipped out a notebook, flipping it open to reveal a list of Dragon Brother’s seven or eight heinous deeds.
“Today,” Ye’s voice shrieked internally, “Dragon Brother forced Hu Yu Ying to sit with him again—what an animal!”
Beneath that, he scribbled a pig. Like, literally, a pig.
The implication? One day, he’ll make Dragon Brother share meals and sleep with a pig—because, after all, why not punish you by forcing you to coexist with hogs and pigs?
After penning these words, he shot Hu Yu Ying a deep look, feeling significantly better—like he’d just helped her in his secret, twisted way.
“I look forward to our next meeting,” Ye declared, striding back to his class.
Hu Yu Ying finished packing, but an odd feeling prickled her—someone was watching her. Turning around, she caught a glimpse of Ye Liang Chen exhaling happily and strolling away, a satisfied smile on his face.
“What’s so interesting?” Dragon Brother glanced in Hu Yu Ying’s direction, seeing nothing and asking.
Hu Yu Ying shook her head. “Nothing.”
But she remembered what her big brother Dragon had warned: [People with brains that don’t work well, just steer clear of them in the future.]
After moving her bench closer, she sat down securely—though with the aisle between her and Dragon Brother, it wasn’t exactly ideal for teaching him or anything.
Yet, Hu Yu Ying made a big decision: she would actively move her seat beside Dragon Brother—without the teacher’s direction.
Others might see it as no big deal, but for Hu Yu Ying, this took serious guts.
Even though they’d only hung out for a day, she felt genuine kindness coming from him.
Is it really sincere? Only her gut knows.
After suffering so much maliciousness and fake friendliness, Hu Yu Ying could sense whether someone truly cared.
At least, Dragon Brother helped her stop being bullied.
Humans, after all, tend to become dependent on those who lend a helping hand, especially long-term victims of abuse—they subconsciously lean on such people.
Because she knew: this person wouldn’t harm her.
When you’re focused on one thing—be it gaming or studying—time flies.
Soon, it was lunchtime.
“Let’s go eat,” Dragon Brother said.
At that, Hu Yu Ying slowed her packing—a rare hint of relief.
Smiling, she said, “I ate a lot this morning, I’m not hungry now.”
“You go ahead, Dragon Bro.”
Dragon Brother studied her, almost twenty years of street smarts flashing through his eyes, yet he still saw what Hu Yu Ying was secretly thinking.
And seeing her gaze directed at him, he nodded.
“Fine, I’ll go alone then.”
He left the classroom.
As he walked away, Hu Yu Ying retracted her gaze, pursed her lips, and pulled two steamed buns and some pickled vegetables from her bag.
Ye Liang Chen’s words weren’t a bluff—she was truly strapped for cash.
But Dragon Brother had already treated her to two meals yesterday. Breakfast was supposed to be on her, but he paid again.
Deep inside, she didn’t want to trouble him anymore.
Just as she was about to open the buns, her arm was suddenly grabbed.
“Fine, Hu Yu Ying. Eating good stuff behind Dragon Bro’s back—I’ve got you now!”
She glanced back and froze. It was Dragon Brother, walking away but turning around to grab her.
She stammered, wanting to explain—the food wasn’t that tasty, she’d definitely share if she had anything good.
“No, Dragon Bro, these aren’t that good, just buns.”
“How dare you slack off, being my little follower? Hu Yu Ying, your courage’s grown pretty big.”
He spoke with a strange, unreasonable tone.
“Come with me.”
“But I’m fine eating this, I don’t want to go to the cafeteria,” Hu Yu Ying sat awkwardly on her bench, afraid to meet his eyes.
“Don’t listen to me? Believe it or not, I’ll punch you down to the ground, can’t get up anymore!”
“Just go already, miser!”
She raised her head, her eyes flickering—then suddenly deflated, standing up and following Dragon Brother.
Muttering softly, “Don’t want to keep bothering Dragon Bro all the time…”
“What’s that? Hurry up and follow.”
On the way to the cafeteria, Hu Yu Ying kept muttering with her meal card in hand.
Suddenly, Dragon Brother stopped, frowning and saying impatiently, “Stop whining in my ear, will you? How do you want others to see me—Dragon Brother?”
“Dragon Bro, I’m saving a little, but I’m not greedy. I don’t want to cheat you anymore.”
“Stop talking! Or so everyone thinks I mistreat my little follower. Shut up, or I’ll punch you down and you won’t be able to crawl back!”
“I’d feel bad about it,” Hu Yu Ying looked at his huge fist, caught between embarrassment and helplessness.
Seeing her big, watery eyes blinking like she was scared—oh, so pitiful—Dragon Brother couldn’t resist pinching her cheek.
“You’ve learned how to be shameless, huh? Where did your nerve go? Your face is so thin!”
Soft, bouncy, QQ-like—Dragon Brother couldn’t help squeezing her a couple more times.
“Don’t hang around me acting so petty—don’t embarrass me!”
Hu Yu Ying rubbed the spot where his hand had been, feeling no pain. Actually, she felt her self-respect thickening.
At the teaching building corner.
“Today, that damned Dragon Brother tried to punch Hu Yu Ying and even pinched her face,” Ye Liang Chen wrote furiously in his notebook, then took a deep breath to suppress his rage.
“Don’t worry, Hu Yu Ying, I’ve got everything recorded. All your suffering, I’ll remember it for you!”
……
