Chapter 4: Xu San Shi and Jiang Nannan

When Bei Bei brought Tang Wulin to the school gate, Tang Ya happened to finish helping Huo Yutong with the enrollment procedures.

Seeing Bei Bei and Tang Wulin approach, Tang Ya excitedly waved at the two of them.

"Bei Bei, over here!"

Bei Bei and Tang Wulin only realized upon approaching that there were two more people with them.

One was a beautiful young woman with stunning looks, chatting amiably with Huo Yutong; the other was a roguishly handsome youth, standing to the side with a fawning smile, his eyes fixed on the girl talking with Huo Yutong.

Seeing Bei Bei, the girl greeted him warmly.

"Hey Bei Bei, I saw Xiao Ya and came to say hello. Is this cute kid the other new Tang Sect disciple Xiao Ya just mentioned?"

"Yeah, he's my proud little junior brother, named Tang Wulin."

Bei Bei patted Tang Wulin's shoulder and introduced him:

"Wulin, this beautiful girl is Jiang Nannan, the number one beauty of Shilake Academy's Outer Courtyard, and that guy over there with the street‑ruffian look is Xu San Shi, also your senior."

Hearing Bei Bei's words, Xu San Shi instantly became displeased.

"Hey Bei Bei, who are you calling a street ruffian! I'm a proper young master!"

Hearing him say that, Jiang Nannan coldly snorted:

"You are indeed a young master, but you're not exactly proper; a spoiled rich kid like you shouldn't put on airs here."

"Um, Nannan, I…"

As soon as Jiang Nannan spoke, the previously furious Xu San Shi instantly wilted; he opened his mouth to explain something, but Jiang Nannan had no intention of listening, turned to Bei Bei and said, "Then that's that, Bei Bei—I'm leaving now, we'll talk later."

Having said that, she walked off toward the girls' dormitory without looking back.

Xu San Shi could only stare blankly at her retreating back, his face full of disappointment.

Seeing them like that, Tang Wulin was a bit puzzled and asked Bei Bei, "Senior brother, what's going on with these two seniors?"

Bei Bei sighed helplessly.

"As you can see, Xu San Shi has deep feelings for Jiang Nannan, but for some reason she strongly dislikes him, so he keeps pestering her, hoping she'll change her mind, like a virtuous woman fearing a man's advances."

Tang Wulin was shocked.

"Huh? That's not right, is it?"

Xu San Shi, standing nearby, immediately reacted, snapping his head up to look at Tang Wulin.

"Why not? Do you have a better method?"

"I don't, actually." Tang Wulin shook his head and said, "But I still think your approach is wrong; doing it this way won't get you the result you want."

Bei Bei curiously asked, "Why do you say that?"

"Actually, I don't know the situation well either; if I'm wrong, please correct me." Tang Wulin turned to Xu San Shi, speaking seriously: "Senior Xu San Shi, you said you're a young master and that you intend to keep pestering the senior sister until she agrees, right?"

"Yeah, that's right."

Xu San Shi nodded firmly.

This is something anyone even slightly in the know would be aware of, and he's never tried to hide it.

Tang Wulin frowned and asked, "Have you never considered that this might put a lot of psychological pressure on her?"

Xu San Shi was puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

"With my good intentions, how could I be putting pressure on Jiang Nannan?"

Tang Wulin explained:

"Look, your family background is excellent, so most people probably wouldn't dare provoke you. And you, like this, constantly hounding the senior sister—doesn't that effectively ruin her social circle?"

Xu San Shi waved his hand dismissively.

"I thought you were going to say something else; I still have some sense of propriety—I won't ruin her life."

Tang Wulin was speechless, then asked:

"What if, I mean just hypothetically, there's a male student you don't know who gets close to the senior sister—what would you do?"

"Of course I'd go warn him to stay away from Nannan."

Xu San Shi replied instinctively.

"Ah."

Just after answering, he realized what he had said.

Tang Wulin hadn't even said that male student liked Jiang Nannan, yet he was so eager to warn him off—isn't that exactly destroying her social relations?

He couldn't help but feel somewhat doubtful about life.

"Could I really be putting that much mental pressure on Nannan?"

In an instant, Bei Bei, Tang Ya, Huo Yutong, and Tang Wulin all looked at him speechlessly.

"No, it turns out this guy really has no self‑awareness at all." Tang Wulin sighed and said:

"Senior, I've never been in love, so I don't know what it feels like to like someone, but my mother told me that in a relationship, both parties should consider more than just themselves; they should care for, protect, support, and rely on each other—that's what love ought to be. If you keep going like this, even if you win the senior sister over, she'll surely hold a grudge against you."

"So… that's how it is…"

Xu San Shi was greatly shaken.

He propped his chin on his hand and murmured, "Mutual care, mutual protection, mutual support, mutual reliance… I realize now I've been going down the wrong path all along…"

Next, he suddenly lifted his head, grabbed Tang Wulin's hand, and exclaimed with eyes gleaming:

"Thanks, little brother—I've figured it out! I'm going back to make a new plan! If anyone ever dares to bully you at the academy, just give my name, and your big brother Xu will beat them up for you!"

"Get lost, get lost." Bei Bei shoved his hand away disdainfully, "Don't forget Wulin already has me watching over him—do you think your name is more useful than mine? That's pointless."

"Hey Bei Bei, don't get cocky—how about we have another sparring match later?"

"You…"

Bei Bei was about to say something when a bell rang.

Hearing that sound, Tang Ya's expression suddenly stiffened.

"Damn! We forgot we also have to report! Bei Bei, let's go!"

"Ah, Tang Ya, wait a moment!" Bei Bei, watching Tang Ya dash away, shouted, then pulled a map from her pocket and shoved it to Tang Wulin, helplessly saying, "Sorry, Tang Wulin, Huo Yutong, we can't stay with you two for now; this is the Academy's map, follow the markings to find your dormitory."

Then he stretched his long legs and chased after Tang Ya.

Watching their backs, Xu San Shi curled his lip sourly.

"Tsk, two love‑birds."

Then he gave Tang Wulin's shoulder a firm pat.

"Tang Wulin, I wasn't kidding just now; I'm a member of Class 3, Grade 5. If you ever need anything, you can come to me anytime, and I'll have your back."

After speaking, he hummed a tune and walked toward the direction where Bei Bei and Tang Ya had left.

In the blink of an eye, the once‑bustling group of five was reduced to just Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong.

The two studied the map briefly, then headed toward the freshman dormitory.

While walking, Huo Yutong cheerfully asked, "Tang Wulin, were you sincere about what you just said?"

"Hm? What sincerity?"

"You know, the thing about your view on love—four‑person mutual… something like that."

Tang Wulin felt a bit bewildered.

"Of course it's sincere."

"Good, then."

Since Huo Yutong was ahead, Tang Wulin couldn't see her expression, but her voice revealed she was in a very pleasant mood.

Tang Wulin hesitated briefly and asked:

"Sister Huo Yutong, do you know any scumbag?"

Huo Yutong's steps halted abruptly.

Tang Wulin quickly replied, "Ah, no, I just thought your tone sounded like that; if I said something wrong, I apologize."

"No, you don't need to apologize." Huo Yutong shook her head lightly, her voice sounding a bit odd, "You guessed right—I do know a scumbag. I really dislike people like him; just thinking of him makes me want to vomit."

"Ugh…"

The disgust in Huo Yutong's words startled Tang Wulin.

During the past few days, although Huo Yutong didn't speak much, she constantly watched those around her and considered things from their perspective; in his eyes, she was a very gentle person.

So she could also have such emotions…

Fortunately, that intense disgust vanished in her next sentence.

"But I'm glad, you know."

She turned around, facing Tang Wulin, and, with the setting sun behind her, showed a satisfied smile.

"Because I believe, Tang Wulin, you're a good kid; you'll never become like him, and you'll become a good husband."

The twilight sun poured gently, and through Huo Yutong's warm gaze, it felt both comforting and enchanting.

Tang Wulin felt his cheeks flush, a shiver unlike any he'd ever felt before rising from deep within.

He didn't know what this feeling truly was, but he didn't dislike it.

His intuition told him that today's events would, in the near future, completely alter his and her destinies.

When Tang Wulin's banter hit Xu San Shi, Huo Yutong's favor went up, up, up.

It's hard to say how Huo Yuhao is, but as a girl, Huo Yutong absolutely despises scumbags.

(End of Chapter)