Unexplained Panic

Gu Ximan and Lu Xuexue had just reached the doorway, umbrellas in hand.

A few scattered raindrops slid down the ribs of the umbrellas and fell to the ground.

Their hair was lightly dampened by the drizzle, carrying a faint, sweet fragrance of youth.

"Xuexue, it's so lively inside," Gu Ximan remarked.

"It seems... everyone's gathered around Brother Gu," Lu Xuexue replied.

As they spoke, they stepped into the classroom, their shoes slightly damp.

Inside.

"My dear friend, is half your strength truly your limit? Your bloodline... is still too weak..."

Situ Wenyao sighed with an air of calm, clearly lost in the thrill of his own theatrics.

"Very well, I shall use sixty percent of my power."

"Are you ready, my dear friend?"

Gu Luo, gritting his teeth in determination, nodded solemnly. "...I never expected you to be hiding your true strength all this time."

"Come then, let me witness it."

Their arms remained locked in a stalemate on the wooden desk, the air between their fingers practically sparking with tension—like a fated duel unfolding before everyone's eyes.

The spectacle left the nearby students utterly stunned.

Wait... since when was Haki-Yao this strong?

Damn it, he's been holding back all this time, just waiting for this moment?

Haki-Yao, you sly fox...

However.

Right at that moment—

"Ah, the juniors are here!"

"Make way for the juniors!"

"Why didn’t you two come during the big break?"

"Move aside, give them space! Where are your manners?"

"..."

The students from Class 8, noticing the two juniors, immediately greeted them warmly and cleared a path.

Since Gu Ximan and Lu Xuexue frequently visited Class 8—and were Gu Luo’s younger sisters—they were treated like national treasures.

Of course, being the school’s top beauties, they were welcomed wherever they went.

Soon, the two made their way to the front, only to find Gu Luo and Situ Wenyao locked in an arm-wrestling match.

Feng Youqing, acting as the referee, smiled at them.

"Manman, Xuexue, what brings you here?"

Gu Ximan waved her umbrella. "It’s raining. We came to bring this dummy Gu Luo an umbrella."

"Wow~~~"

"So sweet! I wish I had a thoughtful little sister too."

"'Dummy Gu Luo'—that’s so affectionate!"

"Gu Luo, I’ll pay a million for your sister! Hand her over!"

"..."

These were the girls, practically swooning over the sweetness.

The boys, however, took a different approach, teasing in exaggerated accents:

"Raining outside~~~ came to bring gege an umbrella~~~"

"Bro-in-law~~~ your lil’ sis brought you an umbrella~~~"

"Wow~~~ bro-in-law~~~ I’m so jealous~~~"

"..."

Everyone except Gu Luo and Situ Wenyao was laughing.

Especially Situ Wenyao, who was completely dumbfounded.

Seriously...?

After all his calculations, an unexpected twist had still emerged.

Of course it had to rain today.

Of course Gu Luo’s sisters had to show up with umbrellas.

And most importantly—of course Gu Luo was a hopeless siscon.

Tell me—what siscon would ever want to lose face in front of his sisters?

No, he had to end this before Gu Luo hesitated further.

Thinking fast, Situ Wenyao shot Gu Luo a meaningful look and said gravely, "My dear friend, here I come!"

Translation: Dad, let me win!

With a loud grunt, Situ Wenyao leaned forward, his back taut like a drawn bow, veins bulging in his arm as he poured every ounce of strength into the match.

But.

Contrary to his expectations—where the two would struggle fiercely before Gu Luo narrowly lost—their arms remained frozen on the desk, unmoving.

Just as he’d guessed, Gu Luo had indeed hesitated when he saw Manman arrive.

He didn’t want her to see him lose.

But he also couldn’t bring himself to outright defeat Situ Wenyao.

So, a stalemate.

"..."

Situ Wenyao’s expression stiffened briefly before he forced a smile. "Good, very good. I was actually using seventy percent of my strength just now. To think you could still hold on... Impressive. Truly impressive."

"But..."

"My dear friend, I shall now unleash my full power."

Translation: Dad, please, just let me win...

"..."

Gu Luo fell silent, unsure what to do.

The situation was this:

He couldn’t lose.

But he also couldn’t win.

Sigh. Maybe a draw would—

Just as he considered ending it in a tie, another path cleared through the crowd.

Luo Shuning and Luo Shuling walked in, each holding an umbrella.

Clearly, they too had come to deliver one.

Though in reality, it was just an excuse—they were sharing a single umbrella.

Situ Wenyao: ???

Wait, sisters?

Wow.

Really?

It’s just a light drizzle—do you really need four sisters bringing umbrellas?!

The other students shared the sentiment.

The girls were busy fangirling over the sweetness.

The boys were drowning in envy.

"Brother, go! Crush Haki-Yao!" Luo Shuling cheered, waving her small fists.

"Elder brother, do your best~" Luo Shuning added softly.

Not to be outdone, Gu Ximan immediately shouted, "Dummy Gu Luo, if you win, I’ll wash your feet when we get home!"

Whoa!

A foot-washing service from the school belle?!

Instantly, every boy in the room lost their composure.

Seriously, dude.

How do you get to live like this?!

Fine. If we can’t have it, neither can you!

"Haki-Yao, go! Destroy this normie!"

"Come on, Haki-Yao, take him down!"

"Haki-Yao, give it everything you’ve got!!"

"Damn it, I’ve lent you my energy—now rise up!"

"..."

Lu Xuexue had also wanted to cheer, but seeing the chaos, she could only blush and silently chant in her heart—Go, Brother Gu!

"..."

Now Gu Luo was even more conflicted.

He also realized—Luo Shuhe hadn’t come.

Given Shuhe’s aloof personality, it made sense.

But.

For some reason, his heart grew restless.

Like a sixth sense warning him.

His focus shattered.

"My dear friend... I now wield the power of friendship."

Situ Wenyao had suddenly recalled those anime and movie scenes where characters shouted about "the power of friendship" before miraculously defeating the villain.

By emphasizing "friendship," he was really pleading—Dad, just let me have this one...

Or at least a draw...

With a strained roar, Situ Wenyao leaned so far forward his body was almost parallel to the desk, channeling every ounce of his weight and strength into his right arm.

Yet all he felt was an immovable steel rod welded into an unbreakable wall.

His body remained.

But his soul had already left the building.

—Deceased.

Gu Luo, feeling unsettled and sensing something amiss, didn’t end the match in a draw as originally planned.

With just a slight exertion, he pinned Situ Wenyao down as effortlessly as crushing an ant.

He easily secured victory in the contest—

and with it, Gu Ximan’s foot-washing service.

............

............