After all, I hit pretty hard.

After a long silence, Xue Shaohua raised his eyes to meet Ye Liangchen's gaze.

"If you alone can fight him to a standstill, what if I join you?"

His tone carried an unprecedented seriousness as he spoke these words.

Ye Liangchen was right—there was nothing wrong with loving someone. The real wrong lay with those who stood in the way of happiness.

Xue Shaohua had repeatedly asked himself if he could bear to see the girl he loved walk hand-in-hand with another man.

His heart had answered, and that answer was a resounding no.

Long Aotian hadn’t spared a thought for how agonizing it was to watch Hu Yuying being led away right before his eyes.

So why should he hold back?

Besides, Long Aotian didn’t truly love Hu Yuying. Maybe he had some affection for her, but it could never compare to his own.

If that was the case, then Long Aotian needed to step aside. Once he was gone, everything would return to its rightful order.

Ye Liangchen frowned deeply. "Are you serious about this?"

"Of course!" Xue Shaohua narrowed his eyes. "Long Aotian can’t give Hu Yuying the happiness she deserves."

"A University is one of the most prestigious institutions in the country. The moment Hu Yuying stepped into A University, an invisible chasm formed between them."

"It might seem insignificant now, but as time passes and the gap in their education widens, as Hu Yuying sees the broader world, that chasm will only grow deeper."

"After all, the companies recruiting at A University are global giants. The moment Hu Yuying entered A University, her starting point surpassed Long Aotian’s. A relationship where the woman outshines the man? I don’t need to think hard to know they’ll clash endlessly in the future."

"In that case, it’s better to make Long Aotian back down now—to force him to recognize the distance between them. If he truly cares for Hu Yuying, he’ll let her go..."

Ye Liangchen understood Xue Shaohua’s meaning and picked up where he left off. "And if he refuses, we can take the moral high ground and condemn him?"

Xue Shaohua flicked his hair, a confident smirk curling his lips. "Exactly."

"Right now, Long Aotian is the one holding her back. Hu Yuying deserves someone better—not someone like him."

Ye Liangchen couldn’t help but give Xue Shaohua an appraising look. He was genuinely impressed.

Feeling Ye Liangchen’s approving gaze, Xue Shaohua’s smirk grew even more self-assured.

This was just a sudden burst of inspiration.

He was exceptional. If Hu Yuying chose him, she would undoubtedly be happy. That alone was something Long Aotian could never match.

If Hu Yuying had a better option, what right did Long Aotian have to stand in her way?

"But before that, I want to teach him a lesson. How dare he lay a finger on the girl I like? I can’t take it anymore."

Seeing the resolve in Xue Shaohua’s eyes and recalling the humiliation Long Aotian had inflicted on him, Ye Liangchen clenched his fists.

After all, Long Aotian was just one man. Two against one—how could he possibly win?

"Well? Are you in or not?" Xue Shaohua pressed impatiently.

Ye Liangchen took a deep breath, a faint smirk appearing on his lips. "Then I, Ye Liangchen, will risk life and limb to accompany you!"

With their decision made, the two wasted no time and immediately set off in the direction Long Aotian had gone.

Ye Liangchen tightened his fists. He’d been itching to beat Long Aotian for a long time.

Even if it meant revealing his wilder side in front of Hu Yuying, Long Aotian was going to get what was coming to him!

After chasing down an entire street, they found nothing. The holiday crowds were too dense, and Long Aotian and Hu Yuying were nowhere to be seen.

"Damn it! That bastard got away too fast," Xue Shaohua panted, flicking his hair in frustration. "But I’m not giving up!"

Ye Liangchen, with the wisdom of his twenty-eight-year-old soul, had more tricks up his sleeve. After a moment’s thought, he grinned crookedly. "Don’t worry. I’ve got a plan."

"What plan?" Xue Shaohua demanded eagerly. The adrenaline from their confrontation at the breakfast shop had peaked, and he was itching to unleash it.

After all, Ye Liangchen had said it himself—loving someone wasn’t wrong.

Besides, he would be Hu Yuying’s classmate for the next four years. With that kind of proximity, he was confident that once Long Aotian stopped clinging to her, Hu Yuying would eventually see his worth.

"Remember that courtyard in the alley last time?"

Seeing the dawning realization on Xue Shaohua’s face, Ye Liangchen chuckled. "Exactly. He can run, but he can’t hide."

"You’re full of ideas," Xue Shaohua said, cracking his neck. "Dare to steal my woman? I’ll make you pay!"

Hearing this, Ye Liangchen frowned slightly.

He was starting to feel displeased with Xue Shaohua. He hadn’t given up on Hu Yuying yet.

Even if she was now with Long Aotian, she had once been his treasure. The fact that Xue Shaohua was already eyeing her so possessively rubbed him the wrong way.

Their initial agreement had only been for Xue Shaohua to spend one night with her. Now, he seemed to be asking for too much...

Taking a deep breath, Ye Liangchen shot a sidelong glance at Xue Shaohua. Once he got what he wanted, he could discard him.

But now wasn’t the time to turn on him.

Suppressing his irritation, Ye Liangchen boarded the subway with Xue Shaohua, heading straight for Long Aotian’s rented place.

Time passed.

Ye Liangchen and Xue Shaohua had been crouching in the alley for what felt like an eternity.

Looking up at the sky, dusk had already fallen.

"Damn it, why isn’t he back yet?"

Even Ye Liangchen, usually patient, was on the verge of losing his cool after such a long wait.

If not for the chance to ambush Long Aotian, he wouldn’t have stuck around this long.

Just as they were about to speak, the sound of footsteps and familiar voices reached them. They immediately ducked behind the corner.

"Long-ge, these cookies are delicious. Try one!"

"Long-ge, don’t move—let me feed you..."

Though they couldn’t see it, the sweet, tinkling laughter of Hu Yuying painted a vivid picture in their minds—one of Long Aotian’s smug, lecherous grin.

"Disgusting! He has hands—why does he need Hu Yuying to feed him?" Xue Shaohua seethed.

"Calm down. Hu Yuying is still with him. If we act now, we’ll only leave a bad impression," Ye Liangchen said in a low voice.

Seeing Xue Shaohua gritting his teeth, Ye Liangchen added coldly, "Once Long Aotian walks her back to campus and is alone, that’s when we strike."

A cruel smile curled his lips. "Just don’t scream too loudly when the time comes. I don’t hold back."

[Oh! Hope you’re all charged up, because my pointy-toed shoes haven’t kicked anyone’s ass in a while! Oh, forgive me, God—I’m not a butt-kicking maniac!]

[Three days left till Spring Festival—hope you’re all happy and joyful!]