“That… Cheng Yao, can’t we just call it an apology already?” Chen Tianyou had completely run out of options. Zhang Kai was still watching the show with a grin, so Chen Tianyou snapped, “Zhang Kai, what are you laughing at? Hurry up and apologize!”
“Brother Tianyou, I didn’t even do anything! Why should I apologize?” Zhang Kai felt wronged.
“You just went with me, didn’t you? How can you say you did nothing? Look at how upset Cheng Yao is—this is all your fault! Hurry up!”
“Alright, alright. Cheng Yao, I’m sorry, I was wrong too,” Zhang Kai said with a miserable expression.
But Cheng Yao ignored them both, turning away as she kept sobbing softly.
More and more people gathered around to watch.
When Chen Tianyou looked back and saw two familiar figures approaching not far away, his heart instantly dropped. This was bad! Lin Mo and Xia Qiang had arrived. If they saw this, they might think he was bullying Cheng Yao again. Once Lin Mo rose up in the future, he might kill him without even knowing how he died!
Lin Mo had gone to the restroom earlier and hadn’t seen Chen Tianyou making everyone queue. When he returned, he saw a crowd gathered. He saw Chen Tianyou and Zhang Kai apologizing repeatedly while Cheng Yao cried harder and harder. His heart almost shattered on the spot.
He had liked Cheng Yao for so many years and had never once made her cry. In Lin Mo’s heart, Cheng Yao was his childhood friend, his first love, his white moonlight. He absolutely couldn’t tolerate anyone bullying her.
Chen Tianyou, it’s you again!
“Brother Mo, they’ve gone too far. They’re bullying a girl again. Let’s go over and confront them!” Xia Qiang couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Wait, Qiangzi, not yet!” Lin Mo quickly grabbed him.
He really wanted to help Cheng Yao right now, but the timing wasn’t right. He had just said not long ago that he wouldn’t pursue Cheng Yao anymore. It had only been a few days. He had to wait until Cheng Yao realized what it would mean to lose him—only then would she fall in love with him completely. The timing had to be perfect. No mistakes allowed.
“Brother Mo, you’ve liked her for so many years. Are you really just going to watch her get bullied?” Xia Qiang couldn’t understand. Even if Lin Mo wasn’t pursuing her anymore, they had been friends for years. Shouldn’t a friend stand up at a time like this?
“Trust me. I’ll make sure Chen Tianyou and Zhang Kai receive the punishment they deserve in the future, but right now really isn’t the time.”
“Alright…” Since Lin Mo insisted, Xia Qiang couldn’t say anything more. He wasn’t familiar with Cheng Yao anyway, so stepping in for her felt a bit strange.
“My dear ancestor, can you please stop crying? Everyone is looking at you!” Chen Tianyou didn’t know how to comfort her anymore. He had been talking to her sincerely for so long, yet Cheng Yao only cried harder.
Cheng Yao slowly raised her head and immediately saw Lin Mo standing outside the crowd. Her heart tightened. Lin Mo was here too?
But if he saw her getting bullied, why didn’t he step forward?
Cheng Yao felt deeply hurt. She still remembered that when they were in elementary school, a boy from another class had bullied her. Even though that boy was much taller and stronger than Lin Mo, Lin Mo had still stood up for her and argued with him. Even if Lin Mo ended up beaten, she still thought he was a very, very good person.
But now… why wasn’t he helping her?
Was it because she rejected him after he confessed?
But she only rejected him because she didn’t want to think about relationships during the College Entrance Exam—was that so wrong?
Her sense of grievance grew stronger. Her tears kept gathering and were about to spill again.
“Oh no, not again!” Chen Tianyou panicked when he saw her about to burst into tears.
“Alright! Cheng Yao, as long as you stop crying, I’ll go convince Zhong Wei to stop chasing you. How about that?”
“Really?” Chen Tianyou’s words pulled her back to reality.
Zhong Wei was one of the school’s notorious bullies. His family had power and influence, and no one at school dared provoke him. He often harassed Cheng Yao, leaving her helpless. She had reported it many times, but the school couldn’t control him at all.
But Chen Tianyou was the leader of the three school tyrants. Zhong Wei should listen to him, right?
“Wait, why would you help me?” Cheng Yao asked with caution. She didn’t trust him.
“You don’t need to worry about that. Let’s make a deal. As long as you stop crying, I’ll talk to Zhong Wei and get him to stop bothering you. How about it?”
“Really?” Cheng Yao asked again in disbelief. If Zhong Wei really stopped harassing her, her life would get so much better.
“Of course. I always keep my word.”
“What if Zhong Wei refuses?”
“Well… I can’t guarantee he’ll listen completely…”
“You…” Cheng Yao’s eyes filled with tears again. Was he messing with her?
“Wait! Then I’ll do this—I’ll try my best to convince him. If that guy still won’t listen and keeps bothering you, I’ll solve it with violence. Every time he harasses you, I’ll beat him up once. That should work, right?”
Before Cheng Yao could respond, Zhang Kai couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“Shut up! I’m helping him!” Chen Tianyou scolded sharply.
He knew perfectly well that in the original story, the endings of the three school tyrants were all tragic. Right now, he was trying to save Zhong Wei’s life.
“Will you keep your word?”
“Of course! A gentleman’s word cannot be taken back even with four horses!”
Cheng Yao stared at Chen Tianyou for a long moment before finally nodding. “If you can really convince Zhong Wei to stop disturbing me, then… thank you.”
“Good, that’s settled then. Come on, pinky promise!” Chen Tianyou held out his little finger.
“You’re too childish. No.” Cheng Yao turned away.
“Fine then, it’s settled! Let’s go, Zhang Kai!”
Chen Tianyou also noticed Lin Mo among the onlookers. The glare in Lin Mo’s eyes was enough to slice him apart. This place was not safe to linger.
“But Brother Tianyou, I was in line to get food!”
“We’ll go line up at another window.”
“Alright!”
Cheng Yao quickly wiped her tears and tried to calm herself down. Watching Chen Tianyou and Zhang Kai leave, she finally breathed out in relief.
Her thoughts grew even messier.
She had really thought Chen Tianyou came to bully her. But now… it didn’t seem like that anymore. Otherwise, why would he take the initiative to make Zhong Wei stop harassing her?
Could it be she misunderstood them?