Chapter 9: The Campus Bully

Many onlookers gathered, and even Hua Zeyun paused in his steps, standing at the doorway of his classroom with his signature charming, fox-like smile.

He Yuxuan came out, and upon seeing An Xiyan in tears along with Li Qingyu nearby, he furrowed his brow slightly, about to approach, but was stopped by Hua Zeyun’s call.

“President, what’s the matter?” Hua Zeyun rarely remained indifferent to An Xiyan’s affairs, wearing an alluring smile. “With the Taekwondo club president here, what do you have to worry about?”

Only then did He Yuxuan notice Wang Zilong standing between them. Considering the circumstances, it was indeed inappropriate to intervene now, so he stood aside and observed.

“I just wanted to explain, but you scolded me...” An Xiyan wept with tears like pear blossoms drenched in rain. She had a peculiar way of speaking—never able to clarify things properly, nor did she seem to know what exactly she needed to explain.

Wang Zilong stood there, feeling extremely awkward with the crowd pressing in around them. For the first time, he realized that too many tears from a girl could be quite troublesome. “Could you please stop crying?”

“You’re blocking the way, I’m leaving!” Li Qingyu, as if avoiding a disaster, disregarded gender norms, pushing past the burly Wang Zilong with one hand as if shoving him towards An Xiyan, then turned and left, abandoning the mess behind.

Inside the classroom, Leng Heming stood up slowly, walked outside, and cast a cold glance at An Xiyan.

Having finally secured the handsome and strongest fighter, about to lose him, An Xiyan paid no mind to Leng Heming. She figured she could always bring him back with tears afterward. Men’s intelligence vanished the moment they saw her cry. Now, she sobbed and sniffled, uttering phrases like “I never expected Brother Zilong to be such a person” and so on.

Leng Heming did not stop or respond, instead heading straight to the cafeteria.

While eating, Xi Ning felt remarkably refreshed. It must be because her body hadn’t felt this way in a long time—the past two days had been stifling. She hurried to finish her meal, otherwise, when that drama queen Black Lotus came over, looking at her face full of the world’s grievances and sorrowful tears, even the finest delicacies would become hard to swallow.

Today was the American orange. Xi Ning put down her tray and took one as she walked out.

Just outside, she saw Wang Zilong comforting the tear-stained An Xiyan, though his youthful face showed a trace of impatience. No matter how patient, he couldn’t endure such theatrics forever. After all, it was always the same few lines, completely lacking novelty, bound to become vexing sooner or later.

Xi Ning pretended not to see and slipped away quickly.

Sitting in the small garden, Xi Ning rolled the orange on the stone bench. Without a knife, she had to soften the peel by rolling it before peeling and eating the segments.

As she was peeling, a shadow approached, and an orange was placed on the stone bench where she sat.

She looked up—it was Leng Heming.

“Actually, no need today. I ate enough lunch. But thank you!” Xi Ning accepted the orange with a smile.

Just as she finished peeling half of the orange and offered it with a “Want some?” Leng Heming looked at the slightly uneven but carefully peeled orange in her hand, said nothing, and sat on another stone bench.

Xi Ning pouted and stuffed the offered orange segment into her mouth.

Since he brought it, she might as well eat it. After finishing hers and starting to peel another, Wang Zilong appeared.

“Here!” Another orange was handed over.

Xi Ning stared at the second orange. “I already ate one; I can’t finish another. This is for you!” She insisted, pushing the peeled orange into Wang Zilong’s hand.

Wang Zilong was less particular and sat beside her, breaking the orange and eating it. Halfway through, he grumbled resentfully, “Why are you girls so unreasonable?”

Got it? Still feel sorry for that Black Lotus? Still think she’s fragile and helpless? Today, she showed up twice. Do you like her? Are you happy now?

Xi Ning rolled the orange Wang Zilong gave her and rolled her eyes. “I’m not saying anything! I didn’t say a word, yet they all claim I’m bullying her. If I said anything, you’d probably break my legs. I still want to keep my life.”

Leng Heming, leaning against the pavilion pillar nearby, glanced at her sideways.

What are you looking at? I’m just stating facts!

“Then don’t say anything!” Wang Zilong was furious but couldn’t take it out on An Xiyan, so he vented a little here.

A peeled orange was handed over: “Want more? I can’t eat any more.”

Boys can eat more anyway. Wang Zilong took it and ate it bite by bite.

Then came the remark: “Oranges are cold in nature; eating more can reduce internal heat.”

Wang Zilong was truly at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

As soon as class ended, Xi Ning ran to Wang Zilong’s classroom, waiting in the corridor for him to come out.

She sensed that when An Xiyan appeared and saw her walking side by side with Wang Zilong, the look in her eyes was one of concealed jealousy and hatred, impossible to hide.

The next day, Wang Zilong called her downstairs, his attitude much improved. After all, why treat her like an enemy just because of a Black Lotus?

Getting off the car, walking on campus, Wang Zilong glanced left and right, saying, “See? I told you, An Xiyan isn’t that kind of person. She didn’t come today, right?”

Xi Ning rolled her eyes. “That’s because she hasn’t come to school yet. I bet she’ll pick a fight with me again before next Wednesday.”

Really fed up with this Black Lotus. Obviously disliked, such a rift between them, yet she kept trying to make her presence known. Every time, Xi Ning ended up the unlucky one. Is she doing it on purpose?

Wang Zilong remembered something: “Today’s Friday. There’s club activities. You should head home by yourself.”

Nervous but agreeing, Xi Ning replied, “Oh~”

An Xiyan nearly arrived late today, her eyes red and swollen as if she had cried all night.

Xi Ning pretended not to notice. After all, it’s her brother—no big deal. They quarreled a bit, and she acted as if heartbroken. Who was she performing for? She hid in a corner; otherwise, one look from those tear-filled eyes, and she’d be the one suffering again.

She figured no need to go for a walk today. After three days of wandering, her skin was nearly sunburned. Xi Ning planned to stay put in the corner to “recover” and observe An Xiyan’s behavior.

The day was unusually quiet. Not a single one of the four campus heartthrobs showed up. Even the usually enthusiastic Wang Zilong didn’t come until class ended. An Xiyan looked longingly at the classroom door, eyes full of yearning but no one arrived. When the bell rang for the last class before noon, she was utterly despondent, wilting like a frostbitten eggplant, gloomy and sullen.

At noon, Xi Ning waited in the corridor outside Wang Zilong’s classroom to go to the cafeteria with him.

An Xiyan followed them like a restless spirit, walking behind and casting mournful glances, tears shimmering in her large eyes. This time, she showed some restraint—she didn’t approach, but Wang Zilong glanced back several times.

Look, he’s looking again. Watching Wang Zilong’s worried, frequent glances back, Xi Ning smiled faintly. “If she wants to come over, she can come. I just want her not to. I’m not stopping you. If you pull her away, I’ll be happy! Nobody wants a resentful ghost woman trailing behind.”

Wang Zilong said, “Then I’ll go over!” and immediately turned, walking straight toward An Xiyan.

This hopeless guy! Xi Ning almost rolled her eyes.