If Proud Dragon Can Do It, Why Can't I

In the shopping mall, Li Qingxue took off her hat, tucking her short hair behind her ears, looking youthful and radiant.

"Long Aotian, I’m going to a class reunion in a couple of days. What do you think I should wear?"

"That dress-and-coat combo you wore before looked great."

"It had this hazy, dreamy beauty, like first love."

"First love?" Li Qingxue laughed, eyeing Long Aotian skeptically. "Was our first time really that dreamy?"

She thought he was talking nonsense—she had practically fallen into his arms without much thought. Where was the so-called "first love beauty" in that?

"Do you remember our first boat ride?" Long Aotian said softly. "You got seasick and leaned on my shoulder for a moment..."

"Did your heart skip a beat?" Li Qingxue asked eagerly.

"Of course not. Back then, I just saw you as a little sister," Long Aotian replied.

"Really?" Li Qingxue didn’t buy it.

Sure, Sister Aying was gentle and beautiful, but she wasn’t lacking either! She was a pretty young woman who had leaned on him willingly—there was no way he hadn’t felt even a tiny flutter.

Under her persistent questioning, Long Aotian turned his head away. "You’re talking too much."

From his reaction, Li Qingxue already knew the answer.

Watching him stubbornly refuse to admit it, she rolled her eyes. "You always say I’m the stubborn one, but honestly, you’re the most hard-mouthed person in the world. I’m your woman now, and you still won’t even try to sweet-talk me."

Her pouty, spoiled-princess act was undeniably adorable.

"Fine, fine, I admit it. I felt a little something back then—just a tiny bit."

"Just a tiny bit?"

"Yeah, not a speck more."

Li Qingxue chuckled. "Good answer. Come on, I saw a jacket a couple of days ago that would suit you. Let’s go check it out."

"No refusing. If you say no, I’ll pinch you, pester you, annoy you..."

She dragged Long Aotian toward the men’s section.

"Isn’t this cat-poop green a bit... abstract?" Gao Quan stared at the tie Ye Liangchen had picked, his lips twitching as he voiced his concern.

Ye Liangchen smirked, turning to explain that this was called individuality, standing out from the crowd—something bold enough to instantly grab attention.

But the moment he turned, his heart clenched in pain.

Right outside the store, he saw Li Qingxue pulling Long Aotian along, their carefree laughter piercing his heart like a knife.

Noticing Ye Liangchen frozen in place, Gao Quan nudged his shoulder. "Bro, what’s wrong?"

Ye Liangchen forced a bitter smile. "Nothing. Let’s just take this." He moved to leave, his despondent expression making Gao Quan smirk.

"Sir." A polite, gentle voice called out. Ye Liangchen glanced up to see a saleswoman smiling at him.

He sighed inwardly. It was his own fault—his natural charm was impossible for women to resist.

Shaking his head slowly, Ye Liangchen thought, Even though I’m down right now, and this clerk is somewhat attractive despite being a bit older, not just anyone can strike up a conversation with me!

"It’s not that I want to reject you, but my sorrow has consumed my heart. Thank you for your admiration, but I’m in no mood."

The clerk frowned. "Excuse me, sir, I have no idea what you’re talking about."

Ye Liangchen chuckled, flicking his hair confidently. "It’s fine. Being rejected by me isn’t anything to be ashamed of. After all..."

He raised his gaze slightly. "After all, I’ve turned down at least a thousand women, if not eight hundred."

The clerk took a step back.

To Ye Liangchen, this was clearly her struggling to accept his rejection.

But then she pulled out her phone, dialing a number while eyeing him warily. "Hello, this is Men’s Section, A125. There’s a customer trying to leave without paying. I think he might be mentally unstable. Please send someone over."

She backed away, putting distance between them.

Ye Liangchen’s brow furrowed. Just because I rejected you, you’re going to slander me like this?

Before he could retort, Gao Quan quickly grabbed him, smiling apologetically at the clerk. "Sorry about that, my friend isn’t all there. How much for the tie?"

Only then did Ye Liangchen remember—he was still wearing the cat-poop green tie around his neck. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he asked, "Right, my mistake. How much is it?"

"Please proceed to checkout," the clerk said stiffly, pointing toward the counter.

As they left the store, they could still hear her muttering about encountering a lunatic today...

Ye Liangchen took a deep breath, fists clenched. "Unbelievable. Just because I turned her down, she has to ruin my reputation?"

"Bro, are you okay? You’ve been acting weird lately. You can’t just walk out without paying—of course she’d stop you."

"Why do you always assume every woman is into you?" Gao Quan asked, genuinely baffled.

Ye Liangchen didn’t bother explaining. Instead, he asked, "Gao Quan, do you trust me?"

One day, when he reached the pinnacle of success, women would flock to him wherever he went.

Mid-conversation, Ye Liangchen’s eyes suddenly sharpened, and he strode forward.

Gao Quan hurried after him.

"Whoa, bro! The class president and Long Aotian just went into a hotel!"

Ye Liangchen had seen it too, his grip tightening until his knuckles turned white. The fury inside him was beyond words.

The memory of being beaten by Long Aotian still felt fresh.

He had endured so much humiliation for the sake of saving them—only to now witness their shameless behavior.

Disappointment festered in his heart at Li Qingxue’s lack of decency, hardening his resolve.

If Long Aotian can have her, why can’t I?

He could always blame it on drunken impulsiveness later.

And Ye Liangchen was certain Li Qingxue wouldn’t dare speak up—because if she did, her reputation would be ruined, and even Long Aotian would despise her...