When Hu Yuying didn't speak, Long Aotian asked softly, "What's wrong?"
Hu Yuying still didn't respond, only shaking her head with downcast eyes.
Long Aotian frowned slightly. Now, Hu Yuying gave him the same feeling as when they first met—a girl burdened by self-doubt, trapped in the image of a gloomy girl.
"Look up," Long Aotian's voice became a bit louder.
Truthfully, Long Aotian usually sounded gentle when he spoke. Such a tone, not to mention Hu Yuying, even Li Qingxue couldn't help but shrink her neck.
Hearing Long Aotian's voice, Hu Yuying tightly gripped the hem of her shirt, a small habit when she felt nervous.
But she still obediently raised her head.
"I really can't stand you being self-deprecating and gloomy like this. It feels like you're... a person who has experienced all the sorrows of the world... a... a sad person."
In his original world, he too had climbed up from the bottom, endured life's hardships, and been beaten down by society.
He had borne the pressure and suffered the blows of society, yet he had still managed to survive.
There's nothing in this world that can't be overcome.
If there is, then find a way to get past it.
Hardships are fixed, but people are flexible. There's always a solution.
Long Aotian didn't deny the suffering Hu Yuying had experienced in the first half of her life, so she should embrace the beauty of life even more. She should love herself more than anyone else, unwaveringly.
He looked at Hu Yuying with annoyance and gently tapped her head, "You look great when you smile. Now, give me a smile."
Hu Yuying stared at Long Aotian blankly, momentarily caught off guard.
"What are you looking at? Sometimes I really want to punch you!"
Hu Yuying smiled, a genuine smile that could brighten the mood of those around her.
Li Qingxue blinked her beautiful eyes, somewhat confused. She couldn't understand—he's threatening to punch you, and yet you're still smiling?
Though she didn't realize it herself, the slight upward curve of her lips was also quite captivating.
"So, what's really going on?" Long Aotian asked.
Hu Yuying lowered her eyes, lacking confidence as she said, "It's nothing, just that I feel like I didn't perform as well as I could have."
At this, Long Aotian sighed, "I thought it was something serious. Just this once, though. If you mess up in future tests, watch out—I'll punish you!"
"Got it, Long Brother, you too, keep it up."
Sss—
A hissing sound rang out.
Long Aotian looked up and saw a chubby boy being dragged into the restroom.
He didn't recognize him, so he averted his gaze.
But Li Qingxue, who also saw the boy, had a flicker of doubt in her eyes.
That chubby boy, she recognized him—it was Gao Quan.
"Alright, let's head back. Wait for me at the classroom door at lunchtime, I'll come find you."
This seemingly casual piece of concern unexpectedly soothed Hu Yuying's mind.
"Mmm."
"Remember, you're my little follower, my little teacher. I'll protect you. Don't ever put on that gloomy, old-lady act again. I want to see you smile every time I look at you, now and in the future."
Watching Hu Yuying return to Class 1, Li Qingxue whispered, "Are you really going to punch her? Long Aotian, don't bully the girls."
Long Aotian glanced at Li Qingxue, "How about I punch you instead?"
Li Qingxue turned her head, a smile emerging from her eyes, "Liar, I can tell you wouldn't really punch a girl."
"On the contrary, you're quite nice to Hu Yuying."
"Hmm," Long Aotian didn't deny it, just staring in the direction Hu Yuying had left, his voice calm but carrying a feeling Li Qingxue didn't quite grasp, "Because I understand her a little."
"What?" Li Qingxue asked instinctively.
"Sadness."
This feeling was something Li Qingxue couldn't fully comprehend yet.
Only after entering university, stepping into the real world, experiencing betrayal, and being beaten down by society, would she understand the meaning of Long Aotian's words at this moment—"sadness."
"Understanding her is a sad thing," Long Aotian muttered, his voice so soft that Li Qingxue didn't hear it.
...
On the other side.
In the restroom.
Gao Quan grimaced as he rubbed his hand, which had a distinct tooth mark on it.
"Chen Ge, why did you bite my hand?"
Ye Liangchen leaned against the restroom wall, gazing up at the ceiling as if desperately trying to hide his inner sorrow.
What had he just seen?
He saw Li Qingxue standing by Long Aotian's side.
He saw Long Aotian hit Hu Yuying's head hard!
It hurt!
A pain that was hard to describe.
It felt like his heart had been shredded into countless pieces in an instant.
So, he couldn't restrain himself and wanted to rush up and beat Long Aotian to protect Hu Yuying.
But he couldn't!
Because his early appearance had made Long Aotian feel threatened, triggering his malicious possessiveness.
That's what led to Long Aotian forcing himself on Hu Yuying...
If Long Aotian saw him going to help Hu Yuying, how would he treat her?
First of all, Ye Liangchen wasn't really afraid of Long Aotian.
Although this body was still seventeen, having been reborn, he had the soul of a twenty-eight-year-old.
How could a twenty-eight-year-old truly fear Long Aotian?
It wasn't that he wasn't afraid, but Hu Yuying was afraid.
He didn't want to make things worse for Hu Yuying because of himself.
"It's nothing, Quan, don't ask. I just need a moment of silence."
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
He patted Gao Quan's shoulder, "Sorry, I lost control for a moment back there!"
Gao Quan was a bit upset at first, but hearing Ye Liangchen's apology, he could only ask helplessly, "Why did you bite me? It really hurts."
"I know, because I'm also afraid of pain." After saying this, Ye Liangchen peeked out into the hallway.
Since class was about to start, there weren't many people left in the corridor.
"Let's go, we should head back," Ye Liangchen said and led the way out of the restroom.
Passing by Class 6, Ye Liangchen looked through the window at Li Qingxue.
"Things are starting to get interesting. I don't know if you're trying to provoke me by involving Long Aotian or what!"
"But one day, when you find out Long Aotian is a garbage man filled with violence at his core, I'll wait for you to cry and come seeking me!"
"Don't blame me for not warning you."
Quietly saying this, Ye Liangchen glared at Long Aotian through the window.
"Just you wait. After this exam, it's the moment fate brings me and the treasure girl together!"
"But this time, I've decided to stop being kind. I won't just make you lose face, I'll make you suffer—humiliate you to the point where you can neither live nor die!"
"Want to compete with me? Don't forget, I'm a reborn man, and I have resources you can't even imagine!"