Chapter 10: I’m the Best at Doing Homework! I Can Help You Catch Up Too!
Dragon Brother and Hu Yu Ying strolled into the cafeteria like they owned the place—a heroic duo on a mission for deliciousness. Dragon Brother grabbed two trays, one landing gently into Hu Yu Ying’s hand like a precious treasure.
As they queued up, Hu Yu Ying peered at the array of food, hesitated, and softly asked, “Excuse me, can I pay with cash?”
She was a recent transfer—just arrived today. Without a cafeteria card and short on cash, buying two lunches was basically asking for a financial crisis. Plus, Dragon Brother had helped her out today, even took her under his wing as his little follower. Surely, she should treat him to a meal, right?
“Sorry, classmate. We don’t accept cash here. Maybe go top up your card and come back?” the cafeteria lady chirped kindly, lowering her voice with a maternal smile that melted Hu Yu Ying’s heart—or at least made her cheeks flush with embarrassment.
Poor Hu Yu Ying’s face was lit with awkwardness, like a Christmas tree gone rogue. Suddenly, she felt a gentle hand on her head—no, a forceful push backward as if to say, “Get back in line, rookie!”
Dragon Brother withdrew his hand with a ‘bam!’ and snatched her tray. “Pay with mine,” he ordered sharply.
Watching the cafeteria lady start serving food, Hu Yu Ying rubbed her head where Dragon Brother’s hand had just been. She looked up, tentative. “I’ll give you cash…”
“What, you want something better?” Dragon Brother glanced at her, smirking, “Being my follower means sharing everything—what I eat, you eat. If you want the good stuff, buy it yourself.”
She hurriedly waved her hands, melodramatic, “No, no, that’s not what I mean—”
“No buts,” Dragon Brother interrupted. “Just take your tray and find a seat.”
Before Hu Yu Ying could reply, she obediently carried her tray around, searching for an empty table to save for Dragon Brother’s glory seat.
Luckily, the cafeteria was spacious. Freshmen and sophomores didn’t cram here during lunch, preferring to dine at home, so finding a free spot was surprisingly easy.
Dragon Brother looked at her, eyes narrow with mischief. “Come on, say what you’re thinking already. Don’t make me see that constipated look.”
Hearing that, Hu Yu Ying finally cracked. “Brother Dragon, maybe I can pay you back with today’s lunch money? I feel kind of guilty… like I owe you big time.”
That’s classic self-sacrificing personality—throw everything away and think it’s nothing. Yet, when someone simply buys her a cheap lunch, instantly she feels like a scumbag, sinking into guilty feelings. Her mind spins crazy thoughts—did she do something wrong, is she a burden, does she even deserve this kindness?
“Say that again, and I’ll punch you!” Dragon Brother grimaced.
It turns out, using Wang Shuo’s intimidation tactics worked surprisingly well. As soon as he said that, Hu Yu Ying shut up instantly.
“People will think I can’t even afford a little follower,” he added with a grin. “If you’re really sorry, do a bit more for me to make up for it.”
This lit up Hu Yu Ying’s eyes. Hmm, sounds pretty good! But—her brain short-circuited. She’s so awful at everything. What can she do to help Dragon Brother? Maybe she’s just not cut out for sidekick duties.
In her second high school, she’d seen minions—always trailing behind their boss, yelling insults, throwing punches, bullying others. She couldn’t do any of that. No wonder she kept getting bullied.
She stole a nervous glance at Dragon Brother—does he think she’s hopeless? Does he want to kick her out of being his follower?
That thought made her mood sink again. Without Big Brother Dragon holding her up, she might get bullied all over again. That strange feeling—being used to pain and then suddenly having a protector—was unfamiliar. Once you’re used to being stepped on, the idea of someone shielding you and making your bullies apologize is like a fairy tale.
Dragon Brother didn’t read Hu Yu Ying’s mind. She’d seen her eyes brighten then darken so quickly, neither of which conveyed her true thoughts. Probably, she was just overthinking again—what was she even thinking?
“Anything on your mind? Just helping me with homework got you so worked up?” he teased.
Hu Yu Ying’s faded sparkle reignited instantly. “Yes! I can help you with homework and even give you extra lessons!”
This was her forte, her secret weapon, and she knew she was pretty confident about it.
Dragon Brother hadn’t expected her enthusiasm, but he nodded approvingly.
Girls’ moods, man—they’re like a roller coaster. One second they’re at rock bottom, not even hungry. The next, they bounce back, with the food suddenly tasting heavenly.
“Cheng Ge, what’s wrong with you? You’re acting super weird today!” Gao Quan observed as Ye Liang Chen’s face flickered from grim to furious to helpless within seconds, like he was switching channels on a TV.
Ye Liang Chen took a deep breath, slowly shaking his head. Some things—he just couldn’t say. Like—him being reborn—would anyone believe that? Especially Gao Quan, who saw him as just an ordinary morning student catching a quick nap during extra-curricular exercises.
“I’m fine. Maybe I didn’t sleep well these days,” he said casually.
But his eyes kept darting to Hu Yu Ying. Earlier, he saw Dragon Brother frown and say something—probably threatening Hu Yu Ying. Her expression immediately fell.
He hadn’t heard what Dragon Brother said, but reading his lips, Ye Liang Chen caught a single word: “punch.”
From that, he deduced: Dragon Brother was probably threatening to beat her up!
Inner turmoil brewed in Ye Liang Chen’s chest. Dragon Brother was tall, muscular, a real powerhouse. Trying to fight him? No chance. Watching Hu Yu Ying get bullied without doing anything? Impossible.
Finally, he swapped positions with Gao Quan so he’d be turned away—better to miss the scene than watch helplessly.
No one wanted their precious treasure girl being bullied. Ye Liang Chen was no exception.
Pretending not to see? That was his best move.
All the suffering Hu Yu Ying endured—he believed, once they grew up, he would make Dragon Brother pay tenfold!
With this resolve in mind, Ye Liang Chen secretly planned. He’d utilize his rebirth, capitalizing on the time gap to kickstart his business dream early. In his previous life, with the help of his treasure girl, White Moonlight, and Little Plum, he achieved financial freedom by 28. Now, reborn, he could do it sooner—protecting Gao Quan from ending up like last time, dead after sacrificing herself to save him at the hands of that beast, Dragon Brother.
