"Liangchen, are you okay?"
Xue Shaohua couldn't help but ask as he watched Ye Liangchen standing motionless.
Ye Liangchen slowly shook his head. "I truly never expected Li Qingxue would raise a hand against me because of Long Aotian."
"Ten years... Do you know how many ten-year spans a person gets in their lifetime?"
His voice grew heavy as he continued, "A decade of friendship—shattered today by that slap."
"When her hand struck my face, my heart shattered along with it."
Though Xue Shaohua couldn't fully empathize, he could clearly sense the weight of Ye Liangchen's emotions.
No one would feel good after being betrayed by a friend they'd known for ten years.
The fact that Ye Liangchen held back his tears was proof enough of his strength.
"Twelve more days," Xue Shaohua murmured reassuringly. "In twelve days, I’m sure you’ll have countless ways to make Long Aotian kneel and beg for mercy."
After all, in twelve days, Long Aotian’s school would hold its sports festival.
"You were already a real man today. You used words like an artist—left Long Aotian humiliated, hiding behind a woman while he roared helplessly. In my eyes, you’ve already won."
Ye Liangchen turned to him. "You really think so?"
Xue Shaohua nodded firmly. "Absolutely. To me, you’re a hundred times better than Long Aotian."
Ye Liangchen nearly laughed. "Hah, you’re right. I am a hundred times better than that spineless fool."
"I don’t put on an act like Long Aotian. I’m genuine. If something’s right, I do it. If it’s wrong, I stand with justice."
"Before, no one understood me. They saw me as some reckless wanderer. But those who truly know me see who I really am."
"Thank you, Xue Shaohua. You saw through the surface—you recognized the real me."
Xue Shaohua smiled sheepishly, flicking his hair lightly. "I’m not as great as you say. I just spoke my mind."
"If they couldn’t appreciate you, couldn’t see your worth—that’s their loss."
Hearing this, Ye Liangchen felt his eyes sting. He’d sacrificed so much for them, given everything to save them... yet they never acknowledged it.
Even an outsider like Xue Shaohua could see his efforts. Wasn’t that laughable?
"In twelve days, I’ll show Long Aotian what cruelty really means."
"Count me in," Xue Shaohua added. "I’ll make sure he regrets crossing me too."
Their eyes met, a silent understanding passing between them.
Ye Liangchen flicked his hair again. "That thing you promised me earlier... does it still stand?"
At the mention, Xue Shaohua glanced around—they were still in the mall! Talking about this here was downright embarrassing.
"I won’t go back on my word. But I have one condition—I hope you’ll agree."
"What is it? As long as it doesn’t go against my morals, I’m in."
"Let me go first when we deal with Long Aotian." Xue Shaohua’s skin prickled at the memory of Long Aotian’s... assets in the public restroom earlier.
Ye Liangchen hesitated. He also wanted to be the first to claim Long Aotian.
Only then could he carve an indelible mark in Long Aotian’s mind.
Every time Long Aotian saw him in the future, he’d relive the terror of being under his control.
But faced with Xue Shaohua’s pleading gaze, Ye Liangchen took a deep breath.
"You know I have principles. What you’re asking... it tests them."
"But—you’re the first who truly saw me for who I am. So fine. We’ll do it together."
Xue Shaohua frowned, confused.
Ye Liangchen tapped his forehead lightly. "Dummy, still don’t get it?"
"Ever had an Oreo?"
"I’ll be the front, Long Aotian’s the filling, and you’re the back. Clear enough now?"
Xue Shaohua’s eyes widened in realization. "Ye Liangchen... has anyone ever told you you’re a genius?"
Ye Liangchen shrugged. "You know I don’t care about titles. Maybe someone did..."
Just then, his phone rang.
Glancing at the caller ID, his lips curled. He signaled Xue Shaohua to stay quiet before answering.
"Quan! What’s up? It’s been ages. How about coming to the capital for New Year’s? I’ll show you around—let you experience the city’s glory."
Gao Quan’s voice buzzed through the receiver. "Of course! If you’re inviting, I’m there. Never been to the capital before."
Ye Liangchen chuckled. "Good. When you arrive, we’ll paint the town red."
"Liangchen, it’s been too long. Remember in senior year? You promised we’d rise together. Now just meeting takes hours of travel."
"When break comes, let’s share a drink. I’ve learned to hold my liquor now."
Listening, Ye Liangchen drifted into memories.
Looking back at his younger self... he’d been so naive.
If not for Long Aotian’s interference, he and Gao Quan would’ve soared long ago.
For a fleeting moment, regret gnawed at him.
Should I have invited him?
If Long Aotian woke up the next day, broken and defiled... would he come for revenge?
In their past life, Gao Quan had died saving him—because of Long Aotian.
His gaze lifted to the mall’s ceiling as Gao Quan’s voice continued in his ear.
Is this fate?
"What fate, Liangchen?"
"Nothing. Drinks are on me when you get here."
He quickly made an excuse to hang up, afraid he’d retract the invitation if he spoke longer.
If this was fate, even his best efforts might not change it.
A pang of sorrow struck him.
Did my rebirth change nothing?
He inhaled deeply, turning back to Xue Shaohua.
"My heart’s heavy right now. Let me forget for a while... let me just feel something good."
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
lities. One day, Qi Yuan was buying groceries when he unfortunately came face-to-face with a monster. Just when he thought he was going to die on the spot, he suddenly heard the monster's thoughts... "This aura, he's definitely not an ordinary master!" "So terrifying, so terrifying." "A fight with my back against the wall, I can't take it anymore." Qi Yuan: Ah, no one told me that my awakened ability isn't telepathy, but rather the stronger my enemies imagine me to be, the stronger I truly become. PS: Zhou Hai in the first chapter is not the protagonist.
ng to die together with you." Lin Xuan is dead, his body thrown into the river by his scumbag lover and her accomplice. She, the president of the Su Group, is decisive, ruthless, and ice-cold. For three days and three nights, she had his body fished out of the river, and without hesitation, she kissed the bloated corpse of Lin Xuan. She laid down beside him in a cold coffin, their fingers intertwined, a smile lingering on her lips as she closed her eyes. The noble and cold-hearted woman, only bending for one man—Lin Xuan. Lin Xuan, with his golden finger, is reborn and returns to the day of his wedding to the treacherous woman. Su Qiang comes to steal the bride. Lin Xuan's eyes light up, eager to pledge his loyalty on the spot, but instead, her kiss transfers a glass of drugged wine into his mouth, causing him to pass out... 【Male Protagonist with Single Female Lead】【Yandere Tycoon】【Action-Packed】【True vs. Fake Heir】
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
