Helping him is a matter of affection, not helping is a matter of duty.

"I've never seen someone so disgusting," Lin Wanning said with clear displeasure.

"Seriously, calling him a pervert would be an insult to perverts!" Li Qingxue added, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

In their minds, Long Aotian was already their shared possession—theirs alone.

So when Xue Shaohua, a man no less, dared to lay hands on what was theirs, how could they not be furious?

"Did he actually touch you?" Hu Yuying asked, her tone and expression equally grim. The thought that such a repulsive person existed in the world was hard to stomach.

"No, and I slapped him across the face."

At that, the three girls collectively let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"Could he be one of those... you know, like in those videos? A 'buddy'?" Li Qingxue asked bluntly.

Long Aotian instinctively rapped his knuckles lightly against Li Qingxue's head. "Cut down on watching that stuff."

Then he turned to Lin Wanning. "And you—stop exposing Yuying and Qingxue to those videos."

Yuying had already told him—Lin Wanning was the one who first introduced them to those clips!

Lin Wanning wanted to argue. Sure, she had been the one to start it, but Qingxue had taken to it on her own afterward, watching even more than she did.

As for herself, she hadn’t watched any in ages. After getting together with Long Aotian, they usually skipped straight to... practical experience.

But she kept that thought to herself. After all, she had been the one to introduce them.

"Alright, don’t scold Qingxue and Wanning. Besides, I watched them too—are you going to lecture me as well?" Hu Yuying stepped protectively in front of the other two, shielding them from further reprimand.

Faced with their united front, Long Aotian’s stern demeanor faltered.

Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning peeked out from behind Hu Yuying, sticking their tongues out at him playfully.

"Let’s go," Hu Yuying said softly. They were in public, after all—she had to save some face for her man.

"Sis, let’s go back and change. We should all look our best today," Lin Wanning said, looping her arm through Hu Yuying’s.

Seeing Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning in fresh outfits and light makeup, Hu Yuying felt the same urge to look her best—especially in front of Long Aotian.

So she didn’t refuse, nodding slightly in agreement.

Noticing this, Lin Wanning nudged Li Qingxue toward Long Aotian. "You two head to the mall first. Qingxue knows the way."

With that, she handed Hu Yuying a helmet, hopped onto her scooter, and sped off.

Watching Lin Wanning and Hu Yuying disappear into the distance, Li Qingxue’s cheeks flushed pink for some reason. She stomped her foot in their direction and muttered under her breath, "So much for loyalty."

"Shall we go, then?" Long Aotian asked, glancing down at the petite girl beside him.

Li Qingxue lifted her chin, tucking a wind-tousled strand of hair behind her ear with an air of cool indifference—until Long Aotian took her small hand in his.

Her aloof expression shattered instantly, her face burning red. "F-fine, let’s go."

......

"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous! This is beyond insulting!"

Ye Liangchen’s voice crackled with fury through the phone. "Even if it’s still technically his for now, it’ll belong to us soon enough. And just because you reminded him to keep things clean, he had the nerve to hit you? Where’s the justice in that?"

"Helping him was a favor, not an obligation. And after you did, he repaid you with violence? I rarely feel the urge to kill, but Long Aotian is testing me!"

Xue Shaohua sniffled pitifully. "Exactly! Long Aotian has no gratitude at all. Like you said, I was just trying to help, and not only did he reject it, he hit me! I’m heartbroken!"

Ye Liangchen took a deep breath, exhaling slowly toward the sky. "This time, Long Aotian has gone too far."

"Where are you now? I’ll come find you. I need to ask Long Aotian—what gives him the right?"

"Even if you were in the wrong, your only crime was wanting to help. The one who threw the first punch is always the one at fault."

"I’m still at A University. Wait—I see Long Aotian! And Hu Yuying, Li Qingxue, and Lin Wanning." Xue Shaohua had been about to leave to pour out his grievances to Ye Liangchen when he spotted the four of them at the campus gates.

Ye Liangchen’s grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles turned white. "Understood. I’ll make sure you get justice for this."

"Since when does being good at fighting give someone the right to bully others?"

"Are there no laws? No principles?"

"They say ‘do not neglect even the smallest good deed, nor tolerate even the slightest evil.’ To attack someone who only wanted to help—Long Aotian has crossed the line this time!"

Xue Shaohua nodded. "Alright, I’ll tail them now. Once we reach the destination, I’ll send you the details. You can help me demand justice!"

"I can endure the humiliation. I can bear Long Aotian’s senseless violence. But I will have an explanation. I will have justice!"

The call ended just as Lin Wanning rode off on her scooter with Hu Yuying.

Meanwhile, Long Aotian and Li Qingxue climbed into a taxi.

After a brief hesitation, Xue Shaohua decided to follow Long Aotian.

He needed answers. He needed Long Aotian to face consequences.

So he hailed another taxi, instructing the driver to stay close to theirs.

......

At a red light, Lin Wanning gently squeezed Hu Yuying’s hand. "We’ll be home soon. You can warm your hands in my pockets."

Hu Yuying wrapped her arms around Lin Wanning from behind. "My Wanning isn’t so cold and distant anymore. I like this side of you."

The old Lin Wanning had been aloof, carrying an air of detachment.

But now, she smiled more, her personality brighter—at least around her, the icy demeanor was nowhere to be seen.

"Because I have all of you now," Lin Wanning replied with a laugh.

Soon, they arrived at the courtyard house.

Hu Yuying changed out of her clothes. Soft, elegant whites suited her gentle temperament—something Lin Wanning could never pull off herself.

"Want me to do your makeup? I’ll help," Lin Wanning offered. Hu Yuying was already beautiful, but a touch of makeup would only enhance it.

Hu Yuying shook her head. "I don’t know how."

"I do. I’ll teach you." Only then did Lin Wanning realize—Hu Yuying didn’t even have a makeup bag.

"Then just some lipstick?"

"I don’t own any."

"I do." With that, Lin Wanning cupped Hu Yuying’s face and kissed her.

Hu Yuying froze, her wide eyes shimmering with surprise.

"Wh-what was that for?"

"This spot needs a little more." She leaned in again.

Hu Yuying instinctively shrank back, but Lin Wanning kissed her once more.