Deprivation of Title

After chatting with Long Aotian and Hu Yuying for a while, we each went back to our respective classes.

Just as I reached the classroom door, a suppressed and heavy voice sounded behind Li Qingxue: "Qingxue, what were you talking about with Long Aotian just now?"

The speaker was none other than Ye Liangchen.

At this moment, his face was extremely gloomy, and even his voice sounded a bit hoarse.

Earlier, after being threatened by Long Aotian, he had no choice but to persuade his mother to go home first.

On his way back, he ran into Long Aotian, Hu Yuying, and Li Qingxue.

Being as clever as he was, he knew that since his mother had just berated Long Aotian, showing up in front of him now would undoubtedly result in a beating.

So, he had no choice but to endure it silently until Li Qingxue and Long Aotian went their separate ways.

Hearing Ye Liangchen's words, Li Qingxue let out a cold laugh: "What I say has nothing to do with you, does it?"

Ye Liangchen frowned: "Qingxue, how can you talk to me like this? Even though I’ve decided to stop pursuing you, in my heart, you’re still my good friend. Don’t forget, we’ve known each other for nine years."

This only made Li Qingxue feel even more uncomfortable: "You still remember we’re friends?"

"On Friday, the homeroom teacher called my parents, saying I was dating someone at school and that I was affecting your studies, which led to your poor performance in the monthly mock exam."

At this point, Li Qingxue’s gaze at Ye Liangchen was filled with both grievance and detachment.

"Ye Liangchen, search your conscience and tell me honestly—where exactly am I dating someone? How have I affected your studies?"

"I even lent you my notebook and advised you to focus on your studies, but what did you do instead?"

Ye Liangchen fell silent.

He admitted that he hadn’t thought things through properly, but his mother only had his best interests at heart.

Why couldn’t Li Qingxue understand him?

"Qingxue, you know my mom just wants what’s best for me. She was wrong about this matter, but you shouldn’t have such an attitude toward an elder."

"After all, she’s still my mother," Ye Liangchen said, his tone softening slightly.

In the future, he planned to marry Li Qingxue, and he didn’t want any discord between his mother and his future wife. So, he could only say this, hoping Li Qingxue would understand that a parent’s love for their child runs deep.

Li Qingxue slowly shook her head: "She’s your mother, so it’s natural for you to side with her. But you can’t just use a few words to tarnish my reputation, can you?"

"That’s one thing, but what you did today has almost made me not recognize you anymore."

Ye Liangchen frowned slightly: "What do you mean?"

"I’ve already heard from the teacher. You were the one who bumped your nose, but you shifted all the blame onto Long Aotian."

Li Qingxue’s gaze at Ye Liangchen now carried a hint of unfamiliarity: "You weren’t like this before."

"Are you defending Long Aotian now?" Ye Liangchen asked.

"Then can you explain to me why you told the teacher I was dating someone at school? Can you explain why you framed Long Aotian?"

Hearing this, Ye Liangchen couldn’t help but feel a surge of irritation.

In his mind, Long Aotian was a loser who could never measure up to him.

So why was it that both Hu Yuying and Li Qingxue seemed to be siding with Long Aotian now?

He was getting angry!

Ye Liangchen was genuinely upset now!

He was angry because he felt that after all these years of knowing Li Qingxue, she wasn’t standing by his side.

He was angry because Li Qingxue couldn’t understand him.

She couldn’t see that his mother’s actions were all for his sake, trying to get Li Qingxue to sit next to him so he could have a better chance with her.

"I did this partly for you too."

"Do you even know what kind of person Long Aotian is? I admit there’s a risk in what I did, but to make sure he stops bothering you, I had no choice but to..."

Before Ye Liangchen could finish, Li Qingxue shook her head and took a step back, putting distance between them.

"Stop using the excuse of doing things for my sake while doing things that are just plain annoying."

"I’ve never said Long Aotian was bothering me. On the contrary, I see him as a good friend."

With that, Li Qingxue turned and walked into the classroom.

She felt deeply disappointed in Ye Liangchen. He avoided the main issue, never mentioning the damage his mother’s words had caused her.

Instead, he kept using the excuse of doing things for her sake, resorting to slander to frame Long Aotian!

Watching Li Qingxue’s resolute departure, Ye Liangchen instinctively took a step forward, raising his hand as if to stop her.

But the words he wanted to say never left his lips.

Taking a deep breath, Ye Liangchen laughed at himself and looked up at a 45-degree angle: "One day, you’ll understand my good intentions."

Ye Liangchen wasn’t afraid that Li Qingxue would really cut ties with him and never speak to him again.

Because in Li Qingxue’s heart, he believed she had already fallen for him without realizing it. She just hadn’t come to terms with it yet.

"Just wait. When you see Long Aotian’s true nature, when you truly understand what kind of person he is, when you realize how bad he really is, you’ll come to your senses and see that the one who’s always been good to you is me."

Even so, Li Qingxue’s attitude and the words she had just said still deeply hurt Ye Liangchen.

She was his white moonlight.

In his dreams, and in reality.

How could his heart not ache?

"One day, you’ll regret what you said to me today."

"When that time comes, don’t blame me for being harsh!"

"I was going to let Hu Yuying keep her title as the 'Treasure Girl,' but today, even though I was the one who got hurt, even though I was the victim, she... stood by Long Aotian and accused me..."

Taking a deep breath, Ye Liangchen looked up at the sky.

A hint of reluctance flashed in his eyes, but he still declared: "From today onward, I, Ye Liangchen, officially strip Hu Yuying of her title as the 'Treasure Girl.'"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Ye Liangchen closed his eyes.

A single tear slowly rolled down his cheek.

That tear was enough to show just how tormented Ye Liangchen felt at this moment...

[The new month begins tonight. I hope everyone can show some support, send some gifts, and give a little love. Heart emoji.]