My organs are too abstract.

"I was worried about causing you further harm, so I didn't dare ask. So, is this really true?"

Su Nian's tone carried a hint of excitement, and her bright, lively eyes instantly sparkled with a keen interest in gossip.

The girls beside her also perked up their ears, their lips curling up in a secret smile, their eyes brimming with barely suppressed excitement.

"That's pure fabrication." Xu Yuan was speechless for a moment, but he still patiently explained, "My illness is my own problem and has nothing to do with anyone else."

Su Nian raised an eyebrow, clearly disbelieving: "Really?"

"Why would I lie to you?" Xu Yuan said helplessly. "Who told you this rumor?"

Su Nian said matter-of-factly, "That's what everyone says."

"Everyone?" A sense of foreboding rose in Xu Yuan's heart. "Who are 'Everyone'?"

A round-faced girl next to her immediately chimed in, her tone tinged with excitement: "It's all over the school! They're saying our major has produced a love-struck fool who went mad for love, vomited three liters of blood, and has been bedridden ever since. Even the neighboring schools have heard of your name."

"what?"

Xu Yuan was dumbfounded.

He was aware of the rumors circulating about him in class, but he was having health problems at the time and was in a bad mood, so he didn't bother to defend himself and thought the rumors would fade away in a few days.

But he never imagined that the rumors would become so outrageous.

He gritted his teeth, almost squeezing out the words, "Which bastard is spreading rumors about me behind my back?"

Su Nian shook her head.

Xu Yuan looked around and happened to see Liu Cheng turning to leave, so he pulled him back and asked in a deep voice, "Cheng, do you know where this rumor came from? Do you have any clues?"

Liu Cheng froze for a moment, then turned around with a blank look on his face, shaking his head repeatedly: "No, I don't know anything."

"Hmph!" Xu Yuan cursed as he released his grip, his face grim. "Don't let me catch that gossiping bastard, or I'll make him regret it!"

"So this isn't true?" Su Nian's interest slowly faded, and she pouted in boredom. "What? I thought I was going to get some juicy gossip, but it was all for nothing."

"Eating melon seeds? Want to eat their brains?" Xu Yuan replied irritably, then turned to Zhao Ze not far away, "Ze, we're done talking over here."

"Okay, Brother Yuan!"

Zhao Ze, who was still passionately arguing with Yang Minghao, stopped somewhat reluctantly upon hearing this, released his hand from Yang's shoulder, and turned to walk towards the group.

Yang Minghao stood there stunned for two seconds before he reacted, quickly catching up and asking Zhao Ze a pointed question: "Zhao Ze, are you crazy?"

He was inexplicably pulled aside and berated, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He immediately turned his anger towards Xu Yuan, angrily saying, "And you, are you sick too?"

He wasn't stupid; he could tell at a glance that Zhao Ze's unusual behavior was related to Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan looked at him with a puzzled expression: "How did you know?"

"you--"

Looking at his serious expression, Yang Minghao felt an unbearable surge of anger in his chest, and almost vomited blood on the spot.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zhao Ze looking at him with a half-smile, raising his hand as if to put his arm around his shoulder again. He took a deep breath and swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

"I can't be bothered arguing with you." Not wanting to lose face in front of Su Nian, he immediately snorted and declared, "It's just a toy, right? I'll take it and give it to Su Nian; that's my skill. You're not going to stop me from doing that, are you?"

Su Nian frowned slightly and refused in a flat tone: "No need, I can do it myself."

Zhao Ze scoffed from the side, mercilessly exposing his blunder: "With your half-baked ring toss skills, you should stay away from making a fool of yourself."

Yang Minghao ignored him, walked to the five-meter line, picked up a rope loop and swung it around, looking disgusted: "What kind of lousy rope is this? It's so light, you can't use it at all!"

"It has to be Brother Hao!" Zhao Ze gave a thumbs up, saying sarcastically, "He'd already come up with an excuse before even throwing it away. That kind of shamelessness is something most people can't learn!"

Yang Minghao pretended not to hear, picked up the rope, and tentatively threw it forward. The rope loop flew lightly away, far from the doll.

He immediately felt embarrassed and turned to the senior student in front of the stall, asking, "Your rope is too light. Can you change it to one with a heavier weight?"

The senior student looked embarrassed: "I'm sorry, we all have the same equipment, there's nothing else."

"In that case, using my own shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"what?"

Before his senior could reply, Yang Minghao immediately took off the survival bracelet from his wrist.

This is a commonly used outdoor survival bracelet. Although it looks like a bracelet, it is actually made of high-strength paracord. Once disassembled, it is a sturdy and durable long rope. Compared to the flimsy plastic ropes sold at stalls, it feels much better in the hand and provides a better grip.

He deftly looped it into a loop and said in a deep voice, "I still have to use my own; it's heavy and stable enough. This time it'll definitely hit!"

He took a deep breath and suddenly flung himself away—

"Snapped!"

I must say, this time it was much more accurate, missing the doll by less than half a meter.

He retrieved the rope, threw it again, and the error was reduced once more.

A smug look appeared on Yang Minghao's face: "Try a few more times, and you'll definitely succeed."

Zhao Ze couldn't stand his arrogant attitude: "Using your own rope, isn't that blatant cheating?"

"Nobody else said anything, so who gives you the right to speak?" Yang Minghao said dismissively. "If you're so capable, why don't you use your own?"

After saying that, he turned to look at Su Nian and said smugly, "Don't worry, Su Nian, I'll definitely get that doll off you today."

"Tch, let's see if you can get it right."

Zhao Ze said dismissively, but secretly nudged Xu Yuan's shoulder and whispered, "Damn it, this kid might actually get lucky."

Xu Yuan nodded, then suddenly looked at Su Nian: "You want that?"

"Hmm?" Su Nian paused for a moment, then nodded slightly. "This doll is long out of print, but I really like it."

"Understood."

Xu Yuan looked at the elf senior beside him and asked, "Senior, are you sure you can use your own rope?"

The senior student thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "There wasn't originally such a rule, but this activity is meant to be fun, and if he can use it, you can too."

Xu Yuan hummed in agreement and gently untied the inconspicuous black bracelet from his wrist.

Zhao Ze was stunned for a moment, wondering where Xu Yuan had gotten the black rope, but he quickly realized, "Brother Yuan, are you going to go too?"

Xu Yuan glanced at him, then smiled faintly, remembering how this kid had wanted to see him make a fool of himself.

"Aze, turn on the screen recording. Today, I'm going to show you some amazing skills!"

Yang Minghao noticed Xu Yuan's actions, his gaze lingering on the black rope for a moment before he sneered, "So arrogant, aren't you afraid of biting off more than you can chew!"

Xu Yuan didn't even look at him, casually taking a step forward without even stepping inside the designated five-meter line.

With a gentle twist of his fingertips, he created a neat slipknot.

He raised his arm, aimed, and with a slight flick of his wrist, the whole movement flowed smoothly and effortlessly.

"Whoosh—"

The black rope flew out smoothly, drawing a beautiful and crisp curve in the air, and flew straight forward.

The next second, the noose landed precisely above the doll, and with a gentle snap and lock, it was firmly secured.

Xu Yuan gently pulled his wrist back.

The black rope tightened instantly, and the doll was pulled back steadily, landing lightly in his hand.

He casually handed it to Su Nian, his tone as indifferent as if he had just picked up something: "Here, take it."

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.