Charm Removal

While eating breakfast, Ye Liangchen glanced at Gao Quan and asked, "So? How was last night? Not bad, right?"

Hearing this, Gao Quan blushed slightly and nodded, "Yeah, it was okay!"

At that, Ye Liangchen and Xue Shaohua exchanged knowing smiles. They both clearly remembered how amazing their own first times were, but of course, they would only say "okay" to keep things modest.

So when Gao Quan said "okay," it really meant "super awesome!"

They saw through it but chose not to say anything.

Ye Liangchen took a bite of his steamed bun, then spoke in a low voice, "Let’s just hang around here these couple of days. After New Year's Day, you can head back. By then, winter break won’t be far off."

"When you get back to Haiwan City, I’ll take you out to have some fun."

From Gao Quan’s perspective, everything Ye Liangchen was doing for him felt genuinely good, and it even stirred a bit of gratitude in his heart.

Seeing the touch of emotion in Gao Quan’s eyes, Ye Liangchen sighed softly and looked away.

Everything would depend on New Year's Day.

If Long Aotian could accept being turned into a shadow of his former self by him and Xue Shaohua, that would be the best outcome.

If not, then this was Gao Quan’s fate.

Thinking of this, Ye Liangchen felt a pang of heartache. Gao Quan was truly his only real brother.

Since his rebirth, Ye Liangchen had done his best to help Gao Quan change the tragic ending that haunted his previous life’s dreams.

Maybe it was destiny — no matter how hard he tried to change things, he still ended up here.

After finishing breakfast, Ye Liangchen asked Xue Shaohua to take Gao Quan to visit some nearby sights, to broaden his horizons.

Ye Liangchen himself went straight to find Shen Mengjie.

Last night, when Shen Mengjie pretended not to recognize him, Ye Liangchen realized he had indeed been neglecting her lately.

Some things were better said clearly.

Otherwise, her little moods would only get worse.

He knew he wouldn’t be the only one by her side in the future; there would also be Hu Yuying, Li Qingxue, and Lin Wanning.

He hoped she could accept reality a little faster — after all, sometimes he felt helpless too.

From the moment Shen Mengjie decided to help him, Ye Liangchen knew he had already earned a certain place in her heart.

He couldn’t help it — if he could, he’d love to be a carefree playboy. But right now, he couldn’t. The burden on his shoulders was like a mountain; if he didn’t stand tall, how could he brave the cold?

After getting out of the car, he slipped his hands into his pockets, looked up at the sky, and confidently flicked his hair.

The breeze ruffled his strands, revealing a pair of melancholy eyes partially hidden beneath his bangs.

He arrived opposite T University’s campus, leaned against a tree, and pulled out his phone to call Shen Mengjie’s number.

The first call was immediately hung up!

"Heh, women. Still mad because I went to the bar last night and shined so brightly, huh?"

He flicked his hair again and dialed once more.

Seeing the call come through again, Shen Mengjie answered with a scowl and hung up right away. "What’s wrong with you?"

Just as she hung up, the phone rang again the next second.

Shen Mengjie silently answered the phone. She felt that if she didn’t pick up today, Ye Liangchen, with his stubbornness, would just keep calling her.

“Mengjie, it’s me, Liangchen!”

Seeing Shen Mengjie pick up, Ye Liangchen propped one hand against a tree, chuckling softly. “How have you been?”

“I’m fine. It would be even better if you didn’t keep calling me,” Shen Mengjie replied with a hint of grievance in her voice.

Hearing that, Ye Liangchen flicked his hair confidently and said, “I know you’re a little upset, but it’s okay. I’m here today, right outside T University’s main gate.”

“What are you doing here? Didn’t I tell you not to come unless it’s important?”

“When I come to find you, it means there’s something serious.”

At Ye Liangchen’s words, Shen Mengjie raised an eyebrow.

She got dressed and headed out of the dorm.

For now, she wanted to find out exactly how Ye Liangchen planned to deal with Long Aotian.

Just as she stepped out of T University, she heard a passionate shout: “Mengjie, I’m here!”

Looking up, she saw Ye Liangchen standing across the road.

Taking a deep breath, relieved that there weren’t many students around, she walked toward him.

Watching Shen Mengjie approach, Ye Liangchen smiled, reaching out to grab her hand.

“Are you crazy?” Shen Mengjie immediately shrugged off his hand, thinking this guy was completely nuts.

Seeing his hand pushed away, Ye Liangchen didn’t get angry; he just smiled faintly.

“Mengjie, there’s something I want to tell you. I can’t keep going like this.”

At those words, Shen Mengjie’s interest was piqued. She looked at Ye Liangchen and softly asked, “What is it?”

Seeing the spark of curiosity in her eyes, Ye Liangchen pursed his lips, looked up at a forty-five-degree angle, and said gently, “Actually, I know what you’re thinking.”

“There’s something I want to say, though I don’t know if you’ll believe me.”

“Do you know why I’m so obsessed with saving Hu Yuying, Li Qingxue, and Lin Wanning?”

Shen Mengjie rolled her eyes. What else could it be? It was obviously because he wanted to get close to them.

“That’s because I am the Redeemer!” Ye Liangchen said, lowering his gaze seriously toward Shen Mengjie. “I came into this world to redeem.”

“And now, while I’m choosing to save them, I also want to save you.”

Shen Mengjie twitched the corner of her mouth. “You called me out just to say all this?”

Ye Liangchen nodded, looking at her sincerely. “Exactly. I want to redeem you. Will you let me?”

“No way!”

“Good, since you’re willing... what? You’re not?”

Ye Liangchen frowned slightly, his expression turning serious as he looked into Shen Mengjie’s eyes. “I know I’ve been neglecting you lately, but you can’t joke about this. I really want to redeem you!”

“Is that all you have to say?” Shen Mengjie asked calmly.

Ye Liangchen nodded.

"Alright, then I understand." After saying that, she turned and was about to leave.

Watching Shen Mengjie's retreating figure, for some reason, Ye Liangchen suddenly thought of Hu Yuying, Li Qingxue, and Lin Wanning leaving him behind. These figures gradually overlapped in his mind...

"Shen Mengjie." Ye Liangchen felt an inexplicable flutter in his heart and stepped forward, wanting to grab her arm.

Shen Mengjie turned away to avoid him, looking at Ye Liangchen with some displeasure. "Don’t touch me!"

"Shen Mengjie, you've changed. I’ve just been caught up with some things lately and couldn’t be there for you. Why can’t you understand me?" Ye Liangchen tried to explain with his usual smooth talk.

Shen Mengjie chuckled lightly and looked at Ye Liangchen with a hint of curiosity. "Why do I need you to keep me company?"

Hearing this, Ye Liangchen tossed his hair back, revealing his earring, and said with calm confidence: Charm deactivated!