“Oh my, it really is her. Isn’t this Ning Dongli? It’s been ages!”
Xu Youyou’s expression shifted slightly. By the last few words her tone had turned gritted and venomous.
She had never expected to run into Ning Dongli again.
This girl had clung to her Haoge just because she was cute, so Xu Youyou and her two sisters had taught her a little lesson.
She thought the coward had dropped out and run away, but it turned out she still had the nerve to show up.
It was obvious she must have gotten hold of Haoge’s schedule somehow and deliberately appeared here.
To the pure love-brain Xu Youyou, everything came down to stealing a man.
She was too stupid to notice Ning Dongli’s fear or what kind of person Lin Haoyi really was.
All she knew was that no one was allowed to steal her man.
“I… don’t want to see any of you.”
Ning Dongli bit her lip hard. Her beautiful eyes trembled faintly.
The fact that she could even stand here at all was a testament to her strength.
Everyone who had become her psychological shadow was gathered right in front of her now.
She had only been afraid of crowds before. Now Ning Dongli just wanted to run.
But… if she ran, what about An Yu?
What if she ran into these people?
Even though she herself was the one in the most danger, her mind kept worrying about An Yu’s safety instead.
Ning Dongli even thought that if An Yu had actually gotten tired of her and left, that would be better.
At least she would not run into these people!
“Don’t say such distant things. Since we’ve met, why don’t we hang out together?”
Xu Youyou’s mouth twisted. It sounded like an invitation, but it was really a threat.
If Ning Dongli dared to agree, she would not mind showing her their methods again.
Of course Ning Dongli did not want to join them.
“No…”
Ning Dongli backed away in fright.
That made Xu Youyou want to laugh. This was the girl who thought she could steal her man?
But the next reaction made it hard for Xu Youyou to keep smiling.
“Don’t come any closer!”
Ning Dongli shouted. The cry instantly drew the attention of several passersby.
Unfortunately, that was the limit of her courage. She could not shout any louder.
This was not school. This was not the familiar classroom. Being stared at by strangers still felt painfully sharp.
Xu Youyou’s smile froze on her face. She had no intention of making a scene.
The girl in front of her seemed a little different from before, but…
Xu Youyou gritted her teeth. She had never imagined Ning Dongli would actually fight back.
She had heard this coward was coming back to school. Once she did, there would be hell to pay.
That was right—the news that Ning Dongli was returning to school had already spread through the entire class.
The moment she came back, a storm would be waiting for her.
Just as Lin Haoyi had planned, once she returned, the only shelter she could find would be at his side.
Lin Haoyi pulled Xu Youyou back, stopping her from continuing.
“Dongli, Youyou, you two really… sigh!”
Lin Haoyi suddenly let out a heavy sigh.
“I knew you had some conflict before, but I didn’t realize it was this bad.”
He looked helpless and, right in front of everyone, began playing the peacemaker.
“But since I know about it now, let me help you two make up.”
Lin Haoyi smiled cheerfully, looking completely harmless. Yet appearances could be deceiving.
The few passersby who had been drawn by Ning Dongli’s shout gradually lost interest. His face was simply too handsome.
He pulled Xu Youyou closer, still smiling, while Ning Dongli felt nothing but terror.
“Don’t come any closer…”
Looking at that face, Ning Dongli felt powerless.
So she could only squeeze her eyes shut and keep backing away.
A faint sense of despair rose inside her. It felt exactly like being back at school—no one would stand behind her.
Neither teachers nor parents could help her.
“Come on, just for today, let me help you make up.”
“Don’t come any closer…”
“Sister… An Yu…”
“Someone… anyone…”
“No…”
Without realizing it, Ning Dongli bumped into a soft embrace.
“Ning Dongli…?”
The voice was cool yet slightly soft and sweet—the one she liked most.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
The girl’s voice sounded beside Ning Dongli’s ear, carrying a faint note of apology.
Ning Dongli finally dared to open her eyes and saw that An Yu had somehow appeared behind her.
“An Yu… An Yu!”
“Mm.”
An Yu nodded. A faint sense of guilt rose in her heart.
Earlier, while Ning Dongli had gone to the bathroom to calm down, An Yu had suddenly needed to go too.
So she had followed after her.
But unexpectedly, they had missed each other.
That was why Ning Dongli had come out to find An Yu gone.
“Sorry. I won’t leave you again today.”
Seeing Ning Dongli trembling with fear, An Yu gripped her hand tightly and wrapped an arm around her waist.
She knew Ning Dongli was extremely shy. Being alone in a place like this must have left her feeling completely unsafe.
This time it was her fault.
“Mm…”
Ning Dongli shrank into herself. She did not argue, because right now she did not want to leave An Yu’s side for even a second.
“Let’s go… we’ll rest over there for a while.”
An Yu took Ning Dongli’s hand and tried to leave.
Unfortunately, no matter what either of them wanted, the crisis had not been resolved.
The moment Lin Haoyi and the others saw An Yu, their eyes lit up.
He had never expected an extra surprise today.
This little girl’s looks were no less than Ning Dongli’s—possibly even better.
Lin Haoyi could barely restrain the thoughts surging inside him. He stepped straight into their path.
“Dongli, this is your friend? Won’t you introduce us?”
He spoke as if he and Ning Dongli were close, even asking her to make the introduction.
But that single sentence completely triggered Ning Dongli.
“Stay away from me! And don’t you dare lay a hand on An Yu, you bastard!”
Her eyes were red, as if she had been crying—which she had. She had simply wiped the tears away secretly while in An Yu’s arms.
But now this animal was not satisfied with harassing her. He wanted An Yu too. That was absolutely not allowed.
“Who?”
An Yu raised her head slightly, her gaze ice-cold.
“D-Don’t pay attention to him. He’s a bad person. Let’s go, quick!”
Ning Dongli urged An Yu to leave.
But unfortunately, Lin Haoyi heard every word.
At that moment he looked helpless, even showing a trace of sadness.
“We’re all friends—classmates, even. How can you think of me that way? There must still be some misunderstanding.”
Lin Haoyi shook his head with a righteous expression.
“Since there’s a misunderstanding, let’s clear it up today. Meeting like this is fate.”
He clearly had no intention of letting them leave. In fact, he seemed to want to join them.
Looking at him, An Yu gradually understood everything.
No need.