From the moment Xi Luting descended the stairs, the short few minutes felt as exhilarating as a meteor striking Earth. On Saturday morning, there weren't many people in the school, but the group of students standing in the middle of the dormitory building was attracting more and more attention. After all, the boys were handsome, and the girls were pretty—especially eye-catching.

Han Lie suddenly realized that things couldn't go on like this. Once their emotions intensified and they couldn't control their volume or behavior, it would be tantamount to a small internal conflict turning into a public spectacle with even more serious consequences.

Han Lie was somewhat annoyed with himself. If he had stepped in to mediate earlier, the situation wouldn't have worsened to this extent. Clearly, he lacked experience and the ability to control the scene. But the old man didn't regret it. No one is born with all knowledge. Having reached this point, just take it as a lesson learned. What's there to dwell on? Without the courage to face your mistakes, you don't deserve to be a king in life. If you want to reflect, there will be plenty of time later. Now is the time for action.

The tenacity and decisiveness purposefully cultivated since his rebirth played a decisive role at this moment, in this situation. Han Lie suppressed all negative emotions and made an extremely risky decision.

Would it work? he wondered. But I have to try.

「...」

"You're being too formal," Han Lie spoke softly, giving Chen Yanfei a warm smile. "You are the good friend who shares my troubles."

A great sense of relief suddenly surged through Chen Yanfei's heart. Her gaze softened slightly as a smile appeared on her face.

Actually, forcing Han Lie to take a stand was also a risk for her. The excitement of her emotions, combined with a peculiar possessiveness, made her act impulsively without much thought. After all, she was just a 19-year-old girl. Everyone present had made a mistake—no, perhaps it shouldn't be described as a mistake. It was simply that they hadn't made the best and most sensible choice. Forget it; no one can always be right.

She smiled, a bit more relaxed and a bit mischievous. "So?"

"So I want to thank you."

Han Lie's demeanor was very sincere, but Chen Yanfei didn't understand. She was slightly confused.

"What?"

"Thank you for bringing Ding Xiang to see me."

A large, figurative question mark seemed to float above everyone's head.

But Han Lie had already turned to face Ding Xiang, a very sincere, warm, and bashful smile on his face. "Let's be upfront now—I quite like you. It must be love at first sight."

It was as if a nuclear bomb had been dropped without hesitation. A mushroom cloud rose, and the shockwaves swept over everything. Everyone's mind exploded into chaos, their expressions dumbfounded.

If you counted the dropped jaws, they looked like Os: Chen Yanfei's mouth was the widest, Yu Yun's second, Ding Ding's third, and Xi Luting's fourth...

Ding Xiang's eyes widened, and she stammered in shock, "Ah?! Why, why, why?"

"Because you're the cutest, and I feel the least pressure when I'm with you."

Ding Xiang didn't grasp the deeper meaning in Han Lie's response. Still at a loss, she continued to desperately search for excuses and reasons.

"But, but, you and Yanfei..."

"Chen Yanfei and I are just good friends." Han Lie decisively cut her off with a calm smile, though his eyes were somewhat wistful. "I have my dreams and life, and she has hers. We get along well, but that's all. Work and study have already taken up most of my time and energy. I don't want my moments of leisure to also be devoid of any relaxation. Life shouldn't be so exhausting, right?"

Ding Xiang nodded subconsciously. She was actually quite intelligent and could fully understand how exhausting it would be for two equally dominant personalities to be together. Also, seeing the wistfulness on Han Lie's face, she inexplicably felt a pang of heartache. But that feeling was quickly overwhelmed by reality. She became even more panicked than before, tightly grabbing Chen Yanfei's arm.

"But, but, I, I, I..." Realizing that Han Lie might be serious, her cheeks turned bright red, the blush extending all the way to her ears.

"It's okay." Brother Lie appeared particularly understanding, smiling gently as he reached out his 'devil's claw.' "Would you like to be my girlfriend? No need to speak. Just give me your hand."

Ding Xiang looked at the clean, outstretched hand before her. Her whole body went numb, and the fine hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. It wasn't that she had never been confessed to. In fact, she had rejected many boys, mostly with ease. But today's confession was truly different. It had a touch of romance, but more overwhelmingly, it felt like a public execution—downright terrifying. She almost carved a four-bedroom, three-living-area home out of the ground with her toes from sheer embarrassment. Numb to the extreme, her mind went blank.

She suddenly released Chen Yanfei's arm, dashed to Ding Yu, grabbed her bewildered younger brother, and bolted.

"Yanfei, I'm taking my brother to buy some things!" she called back as she fled.

Ding Yu was not pleased and struggled hard. Stop! Sis, let me go! I want to keep watching! he protested internally.

Then, he was swiftly dragged away, a sharp pinch to the soft flesh of his waist ending his resistance.

Even after Ding Xiang had run off, Chen Yanfei couldn't snap back to reality. Her lips parted and closed, her arm raised and then lowered. In the end, she was unable to utter even a single word.

I... You... Ha! This is fucking ridiculous! she thought, her breath heavy and labored as she stared intently into Han Lie's eyes. Fury was clearly building in her gaze.

Han Lie, however, just smiled easily and said meaningfully, "As a friend, I've considered a lot for you. Now it's your turn to consider things for me."

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