Often imitated, never surpassed

Ye Liangchen confidently tossed his hair, revealing the earrings previously hidden beneath his locks. "Meng Jie, thank you for your help. We're one step closer to taking down Long Aotian."

"I, Liangchen, stand here today to express my sincerest gratitude on behalf of all the girls Long Aotian has deceived."

"Thank you. Without your help, those poor girls would never have seen through his wicked facade!"

Shen Mengjie looked at Ye Liangchen, her red lips parting slightly. "I should be the one thanking you. If it weren't for you, I would never have seen Long Aotian for who he truly is."

Her words were heartfelt, carrying an unmistakable sincerity.

In response, both Ye Liangchen and Xue Shaohua flicked their hair with a light scoff. "We simply couldn't stand by and watch Long Aotian manipulate innocent girls. If I had to give a reason, it would be that justice burns in my heart (or perhaps, a noble sense of righteousness)."

As he finished speaking, Ye Liangchen frowned at Xue Shaohua, visibly displeased.

This was a line he had painstakingly crafted himself, yet here was Xue Shaohua shamelessly stealing it, merely tweaking the last few words before delivering it as his own!

A surge of irritation rose unbidden in Ye Liangchen's chest.

But Xue Shaohua merely smiled faintly, unfazed by Ye Liangchen's glare. After all, hadn’t Ye Liangchen copied his earring style?

Seeing Xue Shaohua’s calm, amused expression, Ye Liangchen took a deep breath, forcing down his anger.

He reminded himself—now was not the time to lose his temper. The university’s sports festival was approaching.

Once their mission was complete and Long Aotian was thoroughly ruined, then he could settle the score.

All the frustration building inside him now would be unleashed later—on Hu Yuying, Li Qingxue, Lin Wanning, and Shen Mengjie.

With that thought, Ye Liangchen tossed his hair again, suppressing his rage.

His gaze softened as it landed on Shen Mengjie. After spending so much time together, he was certain that even while restraining his natural charm, he had left an indelible impression on her.

His stare was so intense that Shen Mengjie couldn’t pretend not to notice.

Meeting his eyes, she blinked innocently, feigning confusion.

Seeing her playful response, Ye Liangchen chuckled quietly to himself, shaking his head in mock resignation.

Truly, while others might imitate him, none could surpass him.

Well then, he might as well deepen that impression.

Turning toward the moon, he tilted his head with effortless grace and flicked his hair once more. "Meng Jie, look—the moon tonight is breathtaking."

"It’s been so long since I’ve felt this happy. Thank you… and thank you, tonight’s moon."

As he spoke, he stretched his arms toward the sky, basking in the silvery glow. Lifting his face at a perfect 45-degree angle, he showcased his sharp jawline, his expression one of pure rapture.

"So beautiful… the moon, and you." Closing his eyes, he wore an elegant smile before slowly lowering his arms, wrapping them around himself in a self-embrace.

Shen Mengjie’s lips twitched at the sight. This guy…

Before she could finish her mental critique, Ye Liangchen spun around again, facing her.

With a dramatic 360-degree turn, he placed his right hand over his left shoulder, balancing on his right foot behind his left heel, and bowed deeply in a gentleman’s salute.

"This is the highest honor a knight can bestow upon his princess."

Shen Mengjie’s lips moved soundlessly, but her expression suggested she was cursing him—quite colorfully.

Her toes curled in secondhand embarrassment. She couldn’t even remember the last time someone had made her cringe this hard.

"I should go," she said abruptly, turning to leave before she lost her temper. She still needed these two idiots for the final phase of her plan.

Thinking of the look Long Aotian had given her before leaving, she felt a thrill of amusement.

A man like that must be full of contradictions.

And that made him all the more enticing—like a star in the sky. Without the right tactics, how could one ever pluck it down?

Watching Shen Mengjie flee, Ye Liangchen’s smirk widened. "See that? She’s flustered."

Xue Shaohua’s voice was low. "Don’t you think you overdid it?"

"You saw how she admired me. She even noticed my new earring. Yet you still had to go and say all that..."

Ye Liangchen scoffed. "If you were truly confident, you wouldn’t question me. Don’t forget—I promised you a night with one of my treasures."

"Whatever you say, you can’t deny Shen Mengjie’s appreciation for me," Xue Shaohua retorted, flicking his hair. "Push me, and I’ll have no choice but to unleash my full charm."

Ye Liangchen remained unshaken. His earlier performance had surely cemented his image in Shen Mengjie’s mind. He tossed his hair again. "Go ahead. Let’s see whose charm prevails."

Xue Shaohua narrowed his eyes.

Sighing, Ye Liangchen decided to be the bigger man. After all, with his mature soul, why stoop to this foolish college student’s level?

"Fine, don’t sulk. If this plan succeeds, I’ll let you have an extra night with my treasure."

At this, Xue Shaohua clenched his fists, his voice trembling. "Every time I think of Hu Yuying living off-campus with Long Aotian instead of staying in the dorms, my heart bleeds."

"How dare Long Aotian?!"

Ye Liangchen, however, had moved past it. "Long Aotian won’t have Hu Yuying for much longer. Once our plan works, I’ll let you be the one to show her the evidence of his infidelity."

He held out his hand. "Give me your phone."

"Why?" Xue Shaohua asked, but handed it over anyway.

Ye Liangchen opened the gallery, restored a recently deleted photo, and sent it to himself.

He had never forgotten his first love.

Li Qingxue had fallen for Long Aotian’s lies.

Now, she would see the truth—what kind of man Long Aotian really was.

He would tear apart the illusion, force her to face reality, and make her realize that only he truly cared for her.

This photo wasn’t just leverage against Hu Yuying—it was the key to breaking Li Qingxue’s faith.

Once the seed of doubt was planted, the slightest push would make it grow into an unshakable truth...