Hu Yuying had no means to resist Long Aotian, or rather, she didn’t dare to resist at all. She was effortlessly brought before Wang Shuo’s seat.
Seeing Long Aotian leading Hu Yuying over, Wang Shuo looked somewhat uneasy and turned his gaze toward Long Aotian.
“Speak,” Long Aotian signaled Hu Yuying to go ahead.
The commotion had already drawn the attention of the entire class, who instinctively looked over.
Feeling the weight of everyone’s stares, Hu Yuying grew increasingly nervous. She clenched her fingers tightly, her lips trembling slightly.
After a few breaths, Hu Yuying finally mustered her courage and looked at Wang Shuo. “You need to apologize to me.”
Hearing this, Wang Shuo first glanced at Hu Yuying.
When Wang Shuo glared at her, Hu Yuying instinctively stepped back, her body trembling uncontrollably. She didn’t even notice the marks her nails were leaving on her palms.
“Y-you need to apologize to me,” Hu Yuying repeated, her voice trembling slightly, though she tried to maintain a calm exterior.
But Wang Shuo remained silent, and the surroundings seemed to fall into an eerie quiet. Hu Yuying could clearly hear her own heartbeat, her face growing paler by the second. Her eyes flickered to the side.
Seeing Long Aotian’s figure, she felt a momentary sense of calm.
Wang Shuo first looked at Hu Yuying, then turned his gaze to Long Aotian.
Noticing Wang Shuo’s glance, Long Aotian tilted his head slightly and suddenly smiled, his tone lazy but laced with arrogance. “Didn’t you hear her? Should I repeat it for you?”
Though he appeared carefree and nonchalant, his gaze was sharp—no, more accurately, his aura was overwhelming.
Wang Shuo swallowed dryly.
This is how people are. When they encounter someone weaker, they feel they can bully them and act arrogantly. But when faced with someone stronger, even if they’re still resentful inside, their attitude inevitably softens.
Looking at Hu Yuying, Wang Shuo felt that if he didn’t apologize, Long Aotian would definitely beat him up.
It was clear that Long Aotian was now protecting Hu Yuying!
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have thrown your things on the ground,” Wang Shuo apologized.
Hearing Wang Shuo’s apology, Hu Yuying’s tense heart instantly relaxed.
She couldn’t quite describe the feeling—it was as if her entire being had suddenly become lighter. It wasn’t just physical relief but more of a psychological one.
Upon hearing the apology, Hu Yuying instinctively wanted to say, “It’s okay!”
But before she could speak, her shoulder was nudged twice.
She looked at Long Aotian, who raised an eyebrow and gave her a meaningful look.
Hu Yuying immediately understood. She took a deep breath and, though still lacking confidence, said, “Y-you also need to replace the stationery you ruined.”
Wang Shuo pursed his lips, unwilling but with no choice. He nodded because he couldn’t beat Long Aotian, and because facing Long Aotian gave him the illusion of confronting those tough guys from the streets.
He had no doubt that Long Aotian actually knew people from that world. “Fine,” he said.
He immediately pulled out a handful of pens from his pencil case.
As a professional slacker, these pens were just for show in his case, so they were still quite new.
Hu Yuying only took five pens, as that was how many of hers had been ruined.
She returned the rest, not taking more than what was owed.
This marked a new beginning. Long Aotian turned and left, and Hu Yuying quickly followed.
Back at her seat, Hu Yuying looked at the pens in her hand and couldn’t help but smile.
She wasn’t happy because she had gotten five pens. She was happy because of the apology and the entire process of being compensated for her damaged belongings.
In the past, if she was bullied, she was just bullied. If her pens were ruined, they were just ruined.
No one would apologize to her, and no one would replace the things they had damaged.
It was as if damaging her things and bullying her were just natural.
But today was different. Not only did she receive an apology, but she also got compensation for her damaged items.
This was something she wouldn’t have dared to dream of before!
“Thank you, Long Aotian,” Hu Yuying said. She had already thanked him countless times that morning, but she still wanted to say it again.
It seemed like all she could do was thank him.
“Why thank me? You were the one who found the courage to stand up for yourself. Damaging your things should naturally be compensated for,” Long Aotian glanced at Hu Yuying and continued slowly, “If you don’t have the guts, nothing will change.”
What Hu Yuying lacked most was encouragement and affirmation from others. A casual word of encouragement like this could gradually help her regain her confidence.
Hu Yuying wasn’t foolish. She knew that without Long Aotian standing behind her today, she wouldn’t have had the courage.
By noon, Long Aotian glanced at Hu Yuying, who was still writing notes. “Let’s go eat.”
Hu Yuying hesitated for a moment and whispered, “I-I’m not really hungry yet.”
“Who asked if you were hungry? You’re my follower now.”
“Follower, understand? That means wherever I go, you follow.”
“Let’s go!”
“O-okay,” Hu Yuying stood up, first tidying her things, then glancing at Long Aotian’s messy desk.
She quickly organized it as well before following Long Aotian out of the classroom.
Walking behind Long Aotian, she noticed how tall he was—at least compared to someone like her.
Watching his back, Hu Yuying carefully avoided stepping on his shadow, afraid to tread on it.
“Classmate, wait a moment.”
Long Aotian kept walking because, according to the original novel’s description of the villainous supporting character Long Aotian, he didn’t think anyone would call out to him.
“Wait, classmate.” Two figures jogged up to Long Aotian.
It was two girls, slightly out of breath, with apologetic expressions. “Sorry, classmate. We’re doing a campus promotion. Could we trouble you for a moment?”
Long Aotian looked at one of the girls, his lips twitching slightly.
She was delicate, beautiful, and elegant—very pretty. Seeing her, Long Aotian couldn’t help but recall the original novel’s description of the female lead, the “white moonlight.”
Before Long Aotian could react, the girl had already pointed the microphone at him. “Classmate, what improvements do you think the campus cafeteria needs?”
Due to their height difference, even though the girl tried her best to hold the microphone up, it still fell short.
Long Aotian frowned slightly and subtly bent down a little. “I haven’t eaten there yet, so I don’t know what needs improving.”
After speaking, he straightened up. “We’re heading to the cafeteria now. Sorry.”
Then he led Hu Yuying toward the cafeteria.
Li Qingxue had interviewed many people, but no one had responded like him before.
And that gesture of bending down—it was quite gentlemanly...