Chapter 37: If You're Going to Bully Someone, You Better Do It—Who Else Would I Say?
"Brother Chen, it looks like Li Qing Xue is a little sad. You should go cheer her up."
Hearing this, Ye Liang Chen clenched tightly onto Gao Quan's arm.
"Don't look back, just run!"
His white moonlight is sad because of him—how could that be easy to handle?
But for the upcoming awakening, the phoenix funeral—wait, that’s just a joke—he had to grit his teeth and NOT turn around, NOT glance at Li Qing Xue!
"Sigh~ Brother Chen, be gentle, you're pinching too hard!" Gao Quan gasped, wrinkling his chubby face.
"I know, but I’m afraid I can't control myself. Just bear with it, okay? Once we get there, it'll be fine!"
Ye Liang Chen sensed something—sure enough, a gaze was burning holes into his back!
Eyes ashot as the sun, it’s like that person wants to see right through him.
Finally, after descending the stairs, Ye Liang Chen loosened his grip on Gao Quan.
Gao Quan rubbed the spot where Ye Liang Chen had pinched him—his face, plump as ever, was all scrunched up.
"You, I tell you, you're still hung up on Li Qing Xue, why do you pretend to be aloof and indifferent? Isn’t that just torturing each other?"
Ye Liang Chen opened his mouth to explain.
But before he could say a word, Gao Quan cut him off: "I don't get it. Time will tell everything, right?"
Ye Liang Chen rolled his eyes and gave Gao Quan a light tap on the shoulder. "You ask questions when you already know the answer."
"Some things aren't so simple on the surface—people's hearts are complicated. Sometimes, only after losing someone do they realize what’s really inside."
"Me, Brother Chen, I do everything with my own plans. You, just follow me, and life will be perfect."
Gao Quan rubbed his shoulder, which still hurt from Ye Liang Chen’s grip, and then trotted alongside him. "From now on, I’ll follow Brother Chen. You’ve got to take care of me, okay?"
"With Brother I get a full stomach—won’t let you go hungry!"
Hearing this, Ye Liang Chen ultimately couldn't resist the charm of his white moonlight. He stole a quick glance back.
Seeing Li Qing Xue’s expression, Ye Liang Chen smiled softly: "Let’s go home."
Watching Ye Liang Chen and Gao Quan’s backs disappear into the distance, Li Qing Xue fidgeted with her face.
"Qing Xue, you’ll get used to it soon—just hang in there!"
"You can't let being used to Ye Liang Chen's company make you pass on the wrong signals again. You’re friends—they shouldn't hurt each other!"
After saying this, Li Qing Xue straightened her back, returning to her usual proud and confident self.
"Brother Long, slow down! I’m falling behind," Hu Yu Ying trot a few steps.
"Not active after school, got a problem upstairs," someone teasingly said.
"You needed to go to the bathroom in the middle of it, didn't you?"
"Stubborn, huh? Believe it or not, I’ll slug you!"
Hearing this voice, Li Qing Xue stopped in her tracks and glanced back.
She saw her male classmate from Water Bay and a girl, laughing as they headed towards the school gate.
"Hi!" Li Qing Xue waved and called out to her.
"It's you," the male classmate, Long Ao Tian, saw her and also waved with a smile.
Hu Yu Ying followed his gaze.
Her memory wasn’t bad—she immediately recalled the girl they had interviewed on the way to the cafeteria earlier.
But she was a bit puzzled—why did they seem so familiar with each other?
Li Qing Xue approached and smiled, "Hello."
"Hello," Hu Yu Ying responded warmly.
Then she looked up at Long Ao Tian.
In contrast, their differing personalities became obvious.
Li Qing Xue's confident, proactive greeting.
Hu Yu Ying’s silent, passive reply.
It was clear—if you had friends like these, it would be easy to understand.
"Are you alone?" Long Ao Tian asked, during their previous chat.
From what he knew, this girl probably had a long-time male friend who always accompanied her.
Li Qing Xue shrugged helplessly. "Yeah, alone. Can’t keep sending the wrong signals, right?"
"And friends do that kind of thing, that’s not really friends."
Long Ao Tian gave her a thumbs-up. "Very perceptive!"
Li Qing Xue was noncommittal. Without Long Ao Tian’s guidance, maybe she wouldn’t realize her own flaws even now.
"Thanks then."
The three of them headed outside the school.
"Seeing clearly is easy; changing is hard. You don’t need to thank me—just passing the time."
Hearing this, Li Qing Xue grinned mischievously: "Haha! You finally admit you're bored!"
Her eyes squinted slightly, her expression promising: You finally caught me!
Long Ao Tian chuckled at her expression, shrugging: "Alright, alright, you caught me."
"I knew it!" Li Qing Xue grinned triumphantly.
Watching the conversation between Long Ao Tian and the girl classmate, Hu Yu Ying stayed silent. She didn’t know what to say, couldn’t join their banter.
Until they reached the school gate.
Li Qing Xue waved goodbye with a helpless smile: "Bye!"
She’d hoped they could chat a little longer, but their directions diverged.
"Bye," Long Ao Tian said, then took Hu Yu Ying’s hand and led her to the other side of the road.
Walking home, Hu Yu Ying looked at Long Ao Tian hesitantly, but then remembered his words: 【What’s the use of having a mouth? Not only for eating and drinking, but more importantly, for communication.】
【Only when you speak can problems be solved. If you keep things inside, no one will know what you’re thinking. Effective communication helps avoid misunderstandings!】
"Brother Long, are you really that familiar with that girl?"
"Not really. We’ve just seen each other a few times. I don’t even know her name," Long Ao Tian casually replied.
Hearing this, Hu Yu Ying was surprised.
They’d only met a few times, yet their conversation seemed like they’d known each other forever.
Seeing her stunned look, Long Ao Tian found it amusing: "Everyone’s personality’s different. Some people can act very familiar after just a few words."
Then, leaning slightly, he looked at Hu Yu Ying: "And some people need a long time to really get to know each other."
Seeing his mischievous smile, Hu Yu Ying secretly clenched her fists: "I—I’m not like that! I got to know Brother Long pretty quickly too."
"Hahaha..." Hu Yu Ying looked embarrassed, but she was adorable: "I remember the day I transferred here—I almost got teary from how quickly I was overwhelmed!"
She opened her mouth to defend herself, but didn’t really know how to.
"Brother Long, you’re so mean—always teasing me..."
"If you’re going to pick someone to bully, might as well say—who else would I pick? Until you turn from a soft persimmon into a durian, I won’t tell anyone…"
