Chapter 40: Is This Too Over the Top?
Staring at the mischievous grin on Hu Yu Ying’s face.
Long Ao Tian lazily stretched his arms like he couldn’t be bothered.
Honestly, he just gets little kindnesses—they’re like rare Pokémon in this world. Still, there’s never a shortage of kind-hearted souls.
Maybe life’s scripted out perfectly, or maybe it’s just fate’s weird sense of humor.
Anyway, seeing Hu Yu Ying finally fitting in with everyone made Long Ao Tian happy enough to break into a smile.
This was just the beginning. He promised himself he’d do everything he could to help Hu Yu Ying change her stars.
Her first half of life? Been through enough hardship that she probably has battle scars invisible to the n*ked eye.
Next up, he hoped she’d find her soulmate the way it’s written in the stories, live happily ever after, and never have to worry again.
He gently pulled the curtain aside, letting sunlight pour in like a warm hug.
Golden rays, comfy and cozy.
Hu Yu Ying felt the warmth and kindness radiating from everyone around her.
inside her heart, she felt a swirl of feelings she couldn’t quite name.
Unintentionally, she looked toward the last row.
Her gaze flicked slightly…
Bathed in sunlight, Long Ao Tian, looking lazy but shining like a saint.
Like a beacon cutting through the night.
His presence always seemed to push back darkness.
“Hu Yu Ying, what are you spacing out for?” a female classmate waved her palm in front of Hu Yu Ying’s face.
Snapping Hu Yu Ying back to reality.
She looked at her classmate, offering a soft smile, “Nothing.”
But someone still followed her gaze.
Long Ao Tian, with his face—handsome enough to be a rogue, especially when he grinned mischievously; unforgettable.
But he fought, cursed, skipped class, dragged down the class honor, and basically nobody dared to mess with him.
For a moment, she hesitated, then softly warned Hu Yu Ying to stay away from Long Ao Tian.
She’d listen, but she wouldn’t follow through.
She knew they said that to look out for her.
No point arguing—she could see they meant well.
Just like how she told everyone Long Ao Tian was kind-hearted, but no one believed her.
That’s okay.
As long as she knew in her heart that Brother Long was a good, very, very good person.
It’s like the world put an invisible tag on everyone.
Long Ao Tian was trying to peel off the label of cowardice from himself.
And she… she had to find ways to help him rid himself of the bad tags too.
Even if she couldn’t do it now, it didn’t mean she wouldn’t in the future.
She would make everyone see that Long Ao Tian was a genuinely good person. Not a troublemaker, not a thug.
On the staircase corridor.
Li Qing Xue was heading to the bathroom, passing by the back door of Class 7, glancing over occasionally.
And what she saw made her stop in surprise.
There, sitting by the trash can, leaning against the wall and basking in the sun was Long Ao Tian.
Her face froze for a moment, then she gently chuckled, “He really loves sunbathing.”
“Qing Xue, what are you talking about?” Wang Rui looked at Li Qing Xue curiously.
Following Qing Xue’s gaze, she hurriedly tugged her along a few steps away from Class 7’s area. “That guy called Long Ao Tian is our senior—top of the grade, super hard to get along with.”
Li Qing Xue raised an eyebrow. “Top of the grade? Long Ao Tian?”
Wang Rui looked at her with an amused expression, “You don’t know? Well, that’s fair.”
Li Qing Xue was the model student, top three in the whole grade—obviously not mingling much with bad influences.
“His temper is terrible. My roommate’s in Class 7, and she told me once that Long Ao Tian only threw one punch and knocked out a classmate’s bl**d—hardcore stuff!”
“My classmate also warned me—don’t bother him, or you’ll regret it.”
“Poking the bear sometimes just means mumbling a few curses, but if you really provoke Long Ao Tian, he’ll throw hands.”
Li Qing Xue looked at Wang Rui, stunned. For a moment, she wondered if she was talking about two different people.
That sun-loving, eloquent boy—how could he also be the short-fused, bl**d-thirsty brute described?
She asked suspiciously, “Are you sure you got it right? I was just talking about the guy sitting in the last row, near the trash can.”
“Exactly him. That’s Long Ao Tian. Haven’t you heard that rhyme? Back row by the window, the hometown of kings, beside a trash can, royal roots, behind a wall, sleeping peacefully…”
“Besides Long Ao Tian, there’s not a single person in all of Grade 3 who can stack these ‘bugs’ so perfectly!” Wang Rui declared confidently.
Li Qing Xue still couldn’t believe it, because she trusted her own—and Wang Rui’s—experience.
That boy didn’t look anything like the person Wang Rui described.
Especially his temper, his attitude—everything was worlds apart from what was spoken of.
In her mind, the boy she met couldn’t possibly be the same.
After using the bathroom, she peeked again as she passed by Class 7.
Same last row, leaning against the wall, beside the trash can, matching what Wang Rui said.
So why such a huge disconnect in perception?
Long Ao Tian, sensing her gaze, slightly turned his head and waved hello.
“Strange, do I look that scary?” he wondered, touching his face with a puzzled look.
Wang Rui grabbed Li Qing Xue and bolted back to their classroom. “Oh no, Qing Xue! You’re doomed! Did you see that? Long Ao Tian waved at you! He’s into you!”
Li Qing Xue chuckled at her friend’s antics. “He was just saying hi. Nothing like you’re making it out to be.”
Now she was convinced. The Long Ao Tian Wang Rui described—the tough, intimidating rebel—must be someone entirely different from the boy she saw.
“Qing Xue, you don’t understand at all—boys like Long Ao Tian, once they take a fancy, they cling like a bad rash. Want to date? Sure. Refuse, they’ll bully you.”
“I’ve seen plenty of bad boys do that—if it’s Long Ao Tian, I’d be scared he’ll get angry and hurt you if you turn him down,” Wang Rui warned.
Li Qing Xue looked at her, disbelief spilling out. “You’re totally off the deep end!”
“She’s right,” a new voice cut in from the hallway.
It was Ye Liang Chen.
He was just passing by, not eavesdropping—honest! But out of camaraderie, he felt compelled to give Li Qing Xue a heads-up.
After all, she was his White Moonlight.
“Long Ao Tian isn’t a good guy. Best keep your distance!” he said coldly, then turned sharply back to his seat.
He didn’t even spare her a glance; coolness was his default mode.
Back in his seat, Ye Liang Chen still felt her gaze burning into him.
He side-eyed the window, puckering his lips in a classic “mature man” gesture—proud of that sharp jawline.
That was a sign of his confidence… and maybe a little arrogance.
