They’re in their third year, and even the PE teacher doesn’t bother them much. After they finish running, they’re free to do as they please.
A group of boys quickly takes over the basketball court. Xu Yin leisurely follows along with Yan Ningchuan. Wang Feifei shouted, “Three on three!”
Some classmates looked behind him and Wang Feifei also turned, seeing Xu Yin following.
He asks, “Xu Yin, are you joining too?”
Xu Yin smiled and asked, “Can I?”
“Of course, come on.” Wang Feifei replies straightforwardly.
Yesterday, he was a bit cautious with Xu Yin, but today he’s completely open. Xu Yin is great, good-looking, loves to smile, and is easygoing. He should quickly integrate into Class 12.
Yan Ningchuan walked towards Xu Yin and suddenly asked, “Have you eaten the chocolate?”
Xu Yin looked up, smiled and said, “Yes, thank you.”
Yan Ningchuan, with an expressionless face, suggested, “You’re welcome. Later, after class, let’s go to the store and get something else to eat.”
Xu Yin agreed. His obedient demeanor makes Yan Ningchuan glance at him again before clearing his throat and shifting his gaze.
Just as they were about to start playing, a shout coming from the basketball court could be heard, “Hey!”
They looked over, and some students from Class 7, including Ye Xunran and Xu Ling, were standing there. The leader then provoked, “Want to play three on three?”
Suddenly, all eyes on the field turn to them. It’s quite evident who this man was provoking. Despite Xu Yin’s seemingly cheerful demeanor, everyone knows he almost fought Xu Ling in the restroom this morning. Some were eager for a spectacle, while others nervously observed the direction of the PE teacher’s office.
Yuan Xin was the girl whose hat was blown away by the wind. She was originally walking with her good friend nearby. Seeing the boys from her class behaving like this, she immediately scolded, “Qu Yi, are you out of your mind?”
The boy named Qu Yi was caught off guard by the sudden scolding and, after recovering, scowled, “It’s none of your business!”
Yuan Xin rolled her eyes, “It’s none of your business either. Xu Ling hasn’t said anything. Do you really need to be so eager to vent for him?”
Qu Yi’s expression changed subtly, and he turned back angrily, “Xu Ling, what do you think? Aren’t you angry about what happened earlier?”
Because of his poor health, Xu Ling never played basketball and usually just stood on the sidelines watching Ye Xunran play. Although he was now standing among the boys from Class 7, if a fight broke out with Class 12, he would definitely step aside.
Of course, there were classmates from Class 7 ready to defend him.
After being questioned by Qu Yi, Xu Ling lowered his head, biting his lip without saying a word.
Qu Yi immediately felt confident and said to Yuan Xin, “See! Even he is upset. Wouldn’t you be angry if it were you?”
Yuan Xin’s gaze swept over Xu Ling. She sneered and said, “Like a monkey.” then walked away with her good friend.
Hearing these words, Qu Yi’s face turned red, and he wanted to approach, “Who are you calling a monkey?!”
His classmates immediately stopped him, advising, “Why argue with a girl!”
Class 7 was already in a dispute, and Class 12… Class 12 was just enjoying the show with basketballs in hand.
When Class 7 realized they were being laughed at, they quickly stopped. Qu Yi continued to challenge Class 12, “Hey, are we playing or not?”
Just as Xu Yin was about to speak, the tall man standing in front of him spoke with a deep voice, “Not playing.”
Qu Yi had initially wanted to continue provoking, but he never expected Yan Ningchuan to directly reject him, leaving him speechless. His mouth twitched as he said, “Seriously? Are you a wimp?”
Yan Ningchuan glanced at him, held the ball, and turned away, stating, “If we’re not playing, we’re not playing.”
Everyone went silent, “…”
Xu Yin chuckled.
Wang Feifei laughed heartily, “Hahaha!”
Qu Yi furiously said, “Xu Yin, what about you? You have the ability to hit people but not to play basketball?!”
Xu Yin tilted his head, “Hey, I only follow our Class Leader’s decision.”
Yan Ningchuan’s steps faltered for a moment, then he quickly regained composure, walking away as if nothing had happened, looking very serious.
Wang Feifei was thrilled, and the others from Class 12 were enjoying the moment.
As for what exactly happened between Xu Yin and Xu Ling, they had only heard rumors and never witnessed it firsthand. But Lin Jia, who had seen Xu Ling falsely blaming Xu Yin for things, was misled into thinking Xu Yin bullied Xu Ling.
Many things follow a pattern of ‘Once it happens once, it’ll happen again.’ So, the question arises: How many times have such incidents occurred before?
Although Class 12 have poor grades, they all possess their own judgement. Therefore, they maintain a reserved attitude toward the past conflicts between these two.
Moreover, the current situation is quite evident. Honestly, Xu Yin, despite appearing gloomy yesterday, didn’t seem like someone who would actively seek trouble. Not to mention Xu Yin today is even more pleasant, practically like a breath of fresh air.
Naturally, they are now on Xu Yin’s side. After all, they were happily planning to play basketball, and suddenly being provoked is undoubtedly annoying.
Luckily, their class leader is strong enough to decide, and Xu Yin isn’t backing down.
Wang Feifei remarked, “If we play against you, will it be a basketball game or a fight?”
Classmates echoed, “Exactly, we need to call the teacher to supervise for us to play without worries. Otherwise, what if someone breaks a leg?!”
“Yeah!”
“Come on! It might affect our performance in the monthly exams!”
“Even with all limbs intact, taking an exam feels the same as being disabled. You’re talking nonsense. Hahaha!”
“Shut up!”
Class 7’s expressions turned ugly. Xu Ling kept his head low but suddenly looked up and said, “Don’t bother, it’s rare to have a PE class to relax. Don’t waste time. I’m fine.”
Those from Class 7 immediately frowned.
Qu Yi, displeased, said, “Your good nature is letting Xu Yin become more arrogant. We’re in our senior year. If you keep being influenced by him, it won’t be good.”
“Huh?” Wang Feifei retorted, “You guys are the ones actively provoking now. Who’s influencing whom?”
Qu Yi replied, “Isn’t it because Xu Yin wanted to fight Xu Ling at noon?”
Since the matter was brought up, Wang Feifei decided to directly ask, “Xu Yin, why did you want to fight him at noon?”
Xu Ling stood behind the people from Class 7, maintaining his composure.
After some thought, Xu Yin honestly replied, “Well, because he asked me if I’m happy in Class 12.”
Everyone was momentarily stunned.
Qu Yi sneered, “See, he’s saying these things again! Is he going to claim that Xu Ling intentionally provoked him again?”
Xu Ling secretly curled his lips.
Wang Feifei hadn’t expected this answer; he thought it might be Xu Ling spreading rumors or something. But after a moment’s consideration, he said, “…Isn’t that a provocation?”
Anyone could tell it was provocation, and the annoying kind at that!
Qu Yi scoffed, “How could Xu Ling say such things? Do you believe Xu Yin?”
“Why not?” Wang Feifei said inexplicably, “I don’t think Xu Yin is the type to lie.”
Qu Yi irritably said, “If what Xu Yin said is true, do you think he would switch classes? It was his dad’s request. People with discerning eyes can see whose fault it is, right?!”
“Whose fault is it then?” Lin Jia, who had walked over, had a sharp tongue and directly mocked, “Like before, it was obviously Xu Ling who bumped into Xu Yin, causing Xu Yin’s glass to break. Before Xu Yin could say anything, Xu Ling already started to cry. Is that also Xu Yin’s fault?”
Lin Jia wasn’t the type to be excessively righteous or meddle in others’ affairs, but now that Xu Yin was his classmate and roommate, the situation was different. Some things needed to be brought up.
However, when he mentioned the incident with Xu Yin, the people from Class 7 were puzzled. This event was just one among many instances where they criticized Xu Yin. Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, accusations were made without much thought, and it didn’t necessarily stick in their memories.
But Xu Ling’s expression changed slightly.
“As for switching class, I heard your class teacher initially brought Xu Yin’s dad to school not for a class change but to communicate with him and improve Xu Yin’s grades. However, I heard that Xu Yin’s dad directly requested to transfer him to our class without hesitation. Your class teacher tried to stop it, and he even threatened to go to the principal.”
“Although we have Yan ge in our class, our average scores are indeed the lowest in the grade. Why would Xu Yin’s dad insist on transferring him to our class so strongly? I’ve never seen any dad go to such lengths. Is he trying to press his own son to death? Oh, but it makes sense. Someone who, half a year after his former wife’s death, happily brings a mistress and her son home must treasure the mistress’s son the most. What does the son left behind by the ex-wife count for, right?”
The faces of the Class 7 students changed, and Xu Ling turned pale in an instant.
Lin Jia continued, glancing at Xu Yin, who showed no reaction. He spoke bluntly, “It’s strange. Before Xu Ling joined, didn’t you guys in Class 7 have many boys who were good friends with Xu Yin? How did it turn into a situation where Xu Yin is treated like an enemy, blaming him without distinction? Did Xu Ling cast a spell on you?”
Ye Xunran had remained silent before, just observing Xu Yin. Upon hearing this, he frowned and said, “Xu Ling can’t determine his own background. Even if Xu Yin wants trouble, he shouldn’t target Xu Ling!”
At this moment, Yuan Xin, who had finished another lap around the field, arrived and was exasperated to find students from both classes still arguing.
Upon hearing Ye Xunran’s words, she interjected with a sigh, “Xu Yin didn’t initially pick on Xu Ling first!”
Xu Yin’s change was abrupt.
Initially, he had a decent relationship with Xu Ling—perhaps not liking him, but at least not bothering him, treating him like any other distant classmate.
But one Monday, everything changed.
He coldly pointed at Xu Ling and said, ‘He told my dad that I bullied him at school.’
The whole class was shocked.
Xu Yin seemed to be harboring intense anger. He confronted Xu Ling at his desk, yelling whatever accusations, but Xu Ling hung his head in silence, as if there were no words to respond.
Gradually, the expressions of the surrounding students changed.
Someone cautiously spoke up, ‘Let it go Xu Yin. Please Stop talking.’
Stop talking.
Xu Ling didn’t seem like someone who would lie at home.
Somewhere in the midst of this, there must be a misunderstanding.
Things changed from that day onward.
Qu Yi loudly declared, “Xu Yin is lying! He hates Xu Ling, so he’s willing to lie to discredit Xu Ling!”
Yan Ningchuan turned back and, upon hearing this, spoke, “You believe Xu Ling wouldn’t lie.”
Qu Yi decisively replied, “Of course!”
Yan Ningchuan continued, “So you think Xu Yin is lying.”
Qu Yi responded, “What else could it be?”
Yan Ningchuan said, “Before Xu Ling transferred to your class, Xu Yin had been your good friend for a year. Even with that, you’d rather believe Xu Ling wouldn’t lie. Has Xu Yin lied or deceived you before?”
Qu Yi opened his mouth but couldn’t say anything.
Of course, Xu Yin had not lied before. He had been open and loyal to his friends, truly trustworthy.
Suddenly recalling this, Qu Yi stood there as if slapped in the face.
Wang Feifei mocked, “Looks like he’s been cursed.”
Lin Jia added, “Definitely cursed.”
The students from Class 7 were frozen, Xu Ling’s expression turning extremely ugly. Even Ye Xunran was left speechless.
In an instant, a hint of confusion flickered in Ye Xunran’s eyes. He couldn’t help but remember the times when Xu Yin would laugh heartily with his arm around his shoulder, share snacks, and seek help when he struggled with problems.
He had said, ‘Are you stupid?’
Xu Yin said, ‘I’m just stupid, please teach me, Mr. Ye!’
Later, Xu Yin, with red eyes, grabbed his collar and choked out, ‘You don’t believe me either? You don’t believe me?!’
What had Ye Xunran said at that time?
He pulled away from Xu Yin’s grip, sighing, ‘Xu Yin, you need to calm down.’
Ye Xunran looked at Xu Yin’s eyes blankly.
—
Meanwhile, the boy1TL: Xu Yin standing on behalf of Class 12 sighed and said, “Excuse me for a moment.”
Everyone immediately turned their attention to him.
Some students from Class 7 were feeling a bit guilty. Among them, some had genuinely good relationships with Xu Yin in the past and couldn’t understand how things had turned so tense whenever they met now.
They thought Xu Yin might take this opportunity to plead his case, explain how he had been misunderstood before. At this moment, they were secretly considering that if Xu Yin spoke, they would listen more attentively.
After all, they hadn’t sincerely listened before…
However, Xu Yin surprised them by saying, “Um, are we still playing basketball?”
Everyone: ???
Weren’t they in the midst of a heated argument? Why was he thinking about playing basketball? Did he not want to take this chance to say a few more words?
Xu Yin earnestly added, “I really want to play basketball. We have only twenty minutes left before class ends. Can we not waste any more time?”
After speaking, Xu Yin looked sincerely at Yan Ningchuan.
In his previous world, he hadn’t seen Lao Gong2TL: Husband play basketball, and he genuinely wanted to enjoy it now.
He wasn’t interested in children arguing and had no intention of reconciling with the Class 7 people to become friends again. Therefore, he felt they were simply wasting time.
Even if the thoughts of the Class 7 students were loosened here, they would return to being enemies in less than half a day. Otherwise, their relationship with the original host wouldn’t have deteriorated to this extent.
So, let’s not waste any more time, really.
“…” Yan Ningchuan shook himself back to attention, and with a sharp gaze at the others, he commanded, “Come back and play basketball.”
Wang Feifei and the others: ????
“Let’s go!” Xu Yin said contentedly. “Hurry up!”
…So, in the midst of the debate, Class 12, feeling confused, was called back to the center of the basketball court and started playing basketball seriously.
The Class 7 students were dumbfounded.
It was like releasing half a fart and then forcefully holding the rest back. They felt so uncomfortable that they suddenly didn’t want to do anything and just wanted to sit down and contemplate life!
Moreover, in the past, whenever Xu Yin had a chance, he wanted to explain to them. Now that he had the opportunity, he seemed not to care at all, making the Class 7 students even more uncomfortable.
No one spoke, and the atmosphere on the court became awkward. Some were even avoiding Xu Ling’s presence.
Xu Ling stared coldly at Xu Yin’s back for a moment, then withdrew his gaze.
The next second, his eyes turned red, and he took a step.
Ye Xunran, who had been watching Xu Yin, noticed the movement around him and quickly turned his head. He caught a glimpse of the redness in Xu Ling’s eyes.
Before he could say anything, Xu Ling had walked away without a word.
Ye Xunran thought about chasing after him but stopped. He turned to Qu Yi and the others, saying, “How do you expect Xu Ling to feel if you act like this? Just because he doesn’t like showing weakness in front of others doesn’t mean he’s really that strong.”
Qu Yi panicked, “He cried?”
Ye Xunran nodded, sighed, and went after Xu Ling.
The remaining students from Class 7 looked at each other, all feeling a sense of regret.
Xu Ling may seem indifferent on the surface, but deep down, he is quite sensitive. How could they forget about this?
The basketball game was very enjoyable for Xu Yin. While his basketball skills were decent, Yan Ningchuan played beautifully. Despite his young age, his muscles were well-developed, and as he jumped, his clothes fluttered, revealing well-defined abdominal muscles. This caught the attention of many girls who stopped to watch, covering their faces in admiration.
When they paused, Xu Yin, in a good mood, raised his lips, breathed heavily, and walked to the side to pick up a water bottle to drink.
Yan Ningchuan raised his arm to wipe away his sweat. Catching sight of that scene, his whole body froze.
The young man tilted his head, revealing a graceful jawline and neck. With each swallow, Xu Yin’s Adam’s apple would roll.
Delicate.
…and sexy.
Yan Ningchuan felt his body getting hotter, trying to avoid his gaze but unable to resist looking back.
Unfortunately, he probably had a 100% chance of getting caught for sneak peeks, and this time also, Xu Yin caught him red-handed.
Yan Ningchuan stiffened, while Xu Yin flashed him a charming smile.
Thump.
Yan Ningchuan’s ears turned red.
Five minutes before the end of class, the students went to return the equipment.
Xu Yin took the basketball to the equipment room.
In the equipment room, there was an office desk. Usually, a physical education teacher sat in this office, but at this moment, no one was there.
After putting the basketball into the rack, Xu Yin turned around and stopped.
Xu Ling stood at the doorway, staring at him, and said coldly, “You get along well with the students from Class 12.”
Xu Yin tilted his head to look at him.
Xu Ling continued, “They seem to really like you.”
“But if they see your true colors, will they still like you?” he asked slowly.
Xu Yin put his hands in his pockets, finding it somewhat amusing.
He was only eighteen years old. Why did this guy in front of him act like he was in a palace fighting drama every day at school?
Xu Yin had also encountered some scheming in the real world but no one was like Xu Ling who treated life like a TV series.
Xu Yin just smiled and didn’t bother responding to Xu Ling. Seeing that he was singing a solo, Xu Ling felt a bit embarrassed.
However, laughter and chatter came from behind the door, and he gritted his teeth, turning red in the face as he stifled his words.
He bit his lip, and a strange, cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Then he took a step forward, approached Xu Yin, and said, “Dad said if you cause trouble for me at school again, don’t bother coming home.”
With that, he turned and left the equipment room.
Xu Yin stood in place, raising an eyebrow. Behind the office desk, there was the sound of a chair being moved.
He turned around, and a head popped out from behind the desk. When this student’s eyes met Xu Yin’s, he looked extremely awkward.
…
As Xu Ling walked out of the equipment room, he encountered Ye Xunran and Qu Yi. Not far behind them were Yan Ningchuan, Wang Feifei, and the others.
This is the must-pass route from the field back to their building, and the dismissal bell has rung, so they are gradually coming over.
Ye Xunran, upon seeing Xu Ling, approached with a frown. “Where did you go? I looked for you for half… What happened?”
Xu Ling’s eyes were red, and tears seemed ready to overflow at any moment.
Seeing Ye Xunran noticed, Xu Ling quickly lowered his head, speaking in a cold and firm tone, “I’m fine.”
“Why are you still crying after class…” Qu Yi expressed concern.
As they were talking, Xu Yin slowly walked out of the equipment room.
Qu Yi and Ye Xunran instantly figured out what happened, their expressions turning grim.
Qu Yi asked Xu Ling, “What did he do to you again? Did he hit you?”
Xu Ling turned his head for a glance and was surprised to find that instead of reacting furiously to his provocation, as he would in the past, Xu Yin calmly walked out. Xu Ling couldn’t help feeling a bit bewildered.
Is Xu Yin really different from before?
Xu Ling felt a tightening in his chest, but with classmates already gathering around, he couldn’t say anything. He shook his head and remained silent.
Qu Yi shouted at Xu Yin, “I knew you wouldn’t change your dog’s habit of eating shit!3TL: It’s an idiom that means bad habits are hard to change. The moment you see him, you would immediately go bother Xu Ling again! You’re sick, aren’t you?!”
“What’s going on?” Wang Feifei rushed up, standing in front of Xu Yin. “Who are you scolding?”
“What did he do?! Look at Xu Ling, and ask him what he did?” Qu Yi angrily said.
Xu Yin took steps forward before stopping.
Wang Feifei also noticed that Xu Ling was genuinely crying at the moment, feeling a bit uneasy. He tilted his head to Xu Yin and whispered, “What happened in the equipment room?”
Xu Yin looked at Yan Ningchuan.
Yan Ningchuan stared at him with a calm expression.
Xu Yin smiled and said, “Well, after playing basketball, I saw him walking in. He said to me, ‘You get along well with the students from Class 12, and they seem to like you. But if they see your true color, will they still like you? Dad said, if you cause trouble at school again, don’t bother coming home.’”
Xu Yin repeated these sentences without missing a word, like reciting a passage, leaving everyone present confused.
This scene was remarkably similar to how Xu Yin had recounted the events from noon on the basketball court just a while ago.
Xu Ling noticed that Xu Yin now seemed to recite the details of events with precision. How did he remember everything so accurately?
Feeling suddenly uneasy, Xu Ling continued to cry while cautiously observing the reactions of the people around him.
This was also the case in the past, Xu Yin would explain, but no one would believe him.
As for Class 12.
Contemplating, Xu Ling, who was genuinely crying, wondered if the students from Class 12, witnessing this scene firsthand, would still believe Xu Yin like before. Even if there were one or two who remained rational, the majority would likely lean toward the weaker side.
But in the minds of Wang Feifei and the others, Xu Yin was the vulnerable one!
So he asked innocently, “What happened next?”
“There’s no ‘next,'” Xu Yin looked at him as if he were a naive child, smiling kindly.
“You didn’t say anything? Then why is he crying? Did he say he made himself cry?” Wang Feifei asked stupidly again, utterly puzzled. Is Xu Ling okay? He thought.
“Ah, I don’t know either.” Xu Yin asked earnestly, “Does it have anything to do with me?”
Others: “???”
Xu Ling choked.
Qu Yi snapped back, “Why are you pretending to be stupid? Did you mean, Xu Ling was the only one talking the entire time, and you didn’t do anything? Even so, why is Xu Ling crying? Did he cry over nothing? Moreover, we’ve said it so many times, Xu Ling would never say such provocative words!”
Xu Ling timely grabbed Qu Yi’s wrist, shook his head, and choked, “Stop talking.”
“Why should we? Today, we need to make him explain everything!” Qu Yi said forcefully.
Just then, a shaky hand and a head emerged from the equipment room.
Seeing this person, everyone was momentarily stunned.
Qu Yi’s eyes lit up, shouting, “Lin Ye, you are there too? Did you hear everything just now? Come on, tell us what’s going on!”
Xu Ling was startled, turned abruptly, and widened his eyes. When he saw the boy named Lin Ye coming out of the equipment room, he looked surprised, like someone doused with cold water, and a chill ran down his spine.
Lin Ye was from Class 7, Qu Yi’s younger brother.
Today, before the end of class, he had run to the equipment room with a borrowed ping pong ball. Accidentally, the ball had fallen on the floor and rolled into the desk.
As Lin Ye entered and crouched to pick up the ball, Xu Yin and Xu Ling walked in.
Lin Ye, a gossip enthusiast, normally loved to join in the fun. Immediately, he instinctively froze, hoping to eavesdrop on what these dramatic brothers were discussing. He then planned to report it to Qu Yi.
And then…
There was no ‘and then’.
At this moment, Lin Ye felt incredibly suffocated.
Qu Yi finally thought he had found the leverage to expose Xu Yin.
Class 12 didn’t believe that Xu Yin lied, right? Now that they had people on the scene, let them see the true face of Xu Yin!
He sneered, “Lin Ye, just speak your mind. We’re all here!”
Instantly, everyone turned their attention to Lin Ye.
Xu Ling’s heart trembled. He moved his lips stiffly, trying to speak. However, when Lin Ye met his eyes, he scratched the back of his head.
Lin Ye felt that in his entire life, he had never been as awkward as he was now.
Although he loved to join in the fun and report gossip, he genuinely dislike lying.
So, he awkwardly smiled and said, “About the incident…”
Qu Yi eagerly waited for the continuation.
“…It’s just as Xu Yin said.”
“…………”
A second of silence enveloped the scene.
Qu Yi placed his hand near his ear, asking, “What did you say?”
Lin Ye continued to awkwardly smile, “I said, it’s just as what Xu Yin said.”
With that, he recalled for a moment, nodded in confirmation, and added, “Word for word, very rigorous, his memorization skills are still that impressive, truly worthy of you.” Realizing the situation, he quickly cleared his throat as if nothing happened.
“?????”
Qu Yi was dumbfounded.
Xu Yin didn’t lie?
How was that possible?
Xu Yin had always been lying like this! In his words, Xu Ling provoked him every time, which made him angry. But weren’t all these claims false???
Seeing his big brother still in disbelief, Lin Ye, feeling embarrassed, said, “Aiya, maybe I was just too curious. I even recorded it, you know?”
Everyone else: “????”
Xu Ling’s expression changed to, ‘Lin Ye!?’
Lin Ye didn’t want to be seen as a liar too.
So, without waiting for Xu Ling to intervene, he obediently took out his phone he had secretly tucked in his pocket, and pressed play. A recording started playing, and everyone heard it.
Four sentences, not a word missing or altered.
In the recording, Xu Ling’s tone was extremely indifferent and calm, with no hint of choking. Of course, no trigger for tearing up.
After the recording finished, silence blanketed the scene.
Xu Ling: “…”
He felt like passing out!!
Ye Xunran was stunned, and Qu Yi practically split in two.
This recording??
Did Xu Ling really say those things?!
Xu Ling was the one who provoked Xu Yin and performed a one-man show throughout the recording, but now he’s still…
The focus of everyone’s gaze shifted to Xu Ling, who was now stuck in place, unable to shed tears.
Yan Ningchuan was the first to ask the soul-searching question, “So, why are you crying?”
Xu Ling had completely turned into stone.
He never expected Lin Ye to be in the equipment room just now.
He had always been cautious in his actions, never encountering such an unexpected situation. But today, in his slight impatience, what was the result?
Xu Ling’s heart raced, and he quickly thought of a countermeasure. Then, he clenched his fists tightly, tears streaming down as he lowered his head, saying, “I didn’t say it was because of Xu Yin that I cried.”
“You did.”
Yan Ningchuan calmly stated, “When Qu Yi accused Xu Yin, you said, ‘Stop talking.’ That implies to others that you’re crying because of Xu Yin.”
Xu Ling got annoyed, “I didn’t say that! That’s only your interpretation!”
Yan Ningchuan furrowed his brow, “You might not have said it directly, but the implication was there. Even in bloody4TL: Cheesy; overdramatic soap operas, they depict it this way. We’ve all seen it.”
Wang Feifei: “Yan ge, you still watch bloody soap operas?”
Yan Ningchuan with a straight face, “My mom watches them.”
Continuing, he kept pressing Xu Ling with a soul-searching question, “So, why are you crying?”
“Why should I explain this to you?” Xu Ling snapped, feeling like he was losing it.
Onlookers around them swallowed nervously.
When did they ever see Yan Ningchuan scrutinize a person in a situation like this?
The students from Class 12 weren’t surprised. Having spent enough time with Yan Ningchuan, they knew his personality well, finding a bit of schadenfreude5TL: pleasure derived by someone from another person’s misfortune. in this situation.
Xu Ling better be able to handle it because Yan Ningchuan wouldn’t let any loophole slip through his grasp.
In his deadpan tone, Yan Ningchuan continued, “When you cry, your classmates think Xu Yin is bullying you. They ask you, and you remain silent, making them believe you’re tacitly confirming their speculation. No one would think you’re the one intentionally provoking Xu Yin, trying to anger him.”
“So,” Yan Ningchuan questioned, “is that what you did?”
Facing everyone, he locked eyes with Xu Ling and asked, “Did you deliberately guide others to think that Xu Yin is always bullying you?”
Xu Ling’s face turned deathly pale.
