Oh no! I've only been a freshman and I've already been targeted by a mean upperclassman.

The noise at the activity center didn't subside until nine o'clock.

Yan Xi is indeed born to be in the spotlight.

The scene, which was just a complete mess, was clearly deconstructed by her few words.

Inventory of supplies, final cleaning, handover and locking of doors.

Every instruction was as precise as a scalpel.

Li Chen sat at the table in the corner.

The mineral water bottle in his hand had been squeezed out of shape.

His gaze swept across the crowd and landed on Yan Xi.

She took off her suit jacket and draped it over her arm.

She was only wearing that white tank top.

The light from the overhead lamp shone down, making the area behind the collarbone look like it was filled with water.

A few strands of hair fell down.

She casually tucked it behind her ear.

Her movements were swift and graceful, yet possessed an indescribable charm.

Is this what they call "work status"?

Li Chen chewed a melon seed.

Living off a woman can be quite stressful.

This woman is too strong.

She is so strong that it takes immense courage just to stand next to her.

A shadow was cast.

Yan Xi walked over at some point.

A hint of weariness lingered between his brows.

"Still not gone?"

Li Chen brushed the sunflower seed shells off his hands and tilted his head back.

"Where are you going? A vase doesn't have legs."

Yan Xi was amused.

I lightly flicked his forehead with my fingertip.

"loquacious."

She looked down at her watch.

"There are still a few accounts to reconcile, it'll take about half an hour. You can go back first, no need to wait for me."

"Only half an hour."

Li Chen didn't move, but shifted his position and leaned against the edge of the table.

"Going back would just mean listening to Wang Qiang and his gang howling like ghosts; it's much quieter here."

"what ever."

Yan Xi didn't insist, and was called away by another staff member.

People were coming and going in the hall.

The air felt stuffy.

The smell of perfume, sweat, and cheap air freshener mingled together.

The fumes are so strong they give you a headache.

Li Chen touched his pocket.

My fingertip touched a hard, small square box.

I'm having an addiction.

He got up, avoided the crowd, and pushed open the side door.

The terrace is at the end of the corridor.

The autumn night wind blew in without any obstruction, instantly dispelling the indoor heat.

Li Chen leaned against the railing.

He pulled a flattened box of "Liqun" cigarettes from his pocket.

He skillfully cracked open a cigarette and held it in his mouth.

"Smack."

The lighter emitted a blue flame.

The faint crackling sound of burning tobacco was exceptionally clear in the silence.

I learned this habit from my father.

The old master of the Li family was a martial arts fanatic. He practiced Jeet Kune Do his whole life and also smoked his whole life.

When Li Chen was a child, he would squat in a horse stance while his grandfather would smoke next to him, calling it "training concentration."

Later, when I went to high school, the pressure was immense, and I would occasionally sneak in a couple of bites.

I dare not let his father know, otherwise my legs will be broken.

No one cares about me now that I'm in college, but Yan Xi has been giving me a hard time these past few days. This pack of cigarettes has been sitting in my pocket for three days without ever seeing the light of day.

The pungent smoke went down my throat.

The tension in my nerve endings finally eased.

Li Chen narrowed his eyes, staring at the dark path downstairs.

Footsteps sounded behind me.

Very heavy.

With a sense of impatience and frustration.

Li Chen didn't turn around. He flicked his finger, and a bit of cigarette ash drifted away in the wind.

"Quite leisurely."

The voice was eerie.

I know who it is without even looking.

Liu Xu.

The Minister of Culture and Arts was completely unrecognizable at that moment.

His flashy dark blue shirt was soaked with sweat and clung tightly to his back.

Her hair was a mess, and she was carrying a half-empty case of bottled water.

It seems that Yan Xi's statement, "You can't eat until you finish moving everything," wasn't a joke.

"Bang!"

Liu Xu slammed the water tank onto the ground.

He strode closer and stopped two meters away.

"Still not gone?"

Li Chen turned around.

Leaning against the railing, hands in pockets, the cigarette in his mouth flickering.

"Senior, do you own this activity center?"

Smoke escaped from between his teeth, blurring his expression.

"I can be wherever I want, what's it to you?"

Liu Xu's face turned ashen.

The bloodshot veins under his eyes looked menacing in the dim light.

He's been a big shot in the student council for three years, when has he ever been treated like this?

Yan Xi publicly ordered him to do hard labor.

Now we have to watch the mood of this freshman.

"Li Chen, right?"

Liu Xu took a step forward, lowered his voice, and revealed a fierce edge.

"I advise you to be sensible and stay away from Yan Xi."

Li Chen raised an eyebrow.

She didn't say anything, just quietly looked at him.

"Who do you think you are? Just because you're handsome? Or because you can fight?"

Liu Xu sneered, his eyes sweeping over Liu Xu with disdain.

"You have no idea who Yan Xi is, or how deep the waters run behind her."

"Oh?"

Li Chen took the cigarette out of his mouth and blew a smoke ring.

"Tell me more about it?"

"In Linjiang, there are certain circles that ordinary students like you can't get involved in."

Liu Xu's words were pointed and his tone was menacing.

"Yan Xi's family... Hmph, you wouldn't understand even if I told you."

"A pretty boy like you is just a pastime in her eyes."

"Once she gets tired of you, you'll suffer a terrible fate."

Li Chen's face remained expressionless.

Yan Xi's identity?

He really didn't know.

All he knew about her was that she was a woman who liked to snatch his meal card, force him to do advanced mathematics, only eat vegetables when eating spicy hot pot, and would straighten his collar in public.

As for what circles, or what the depths of the water are.

Li Chen looked down at the sparks on his fingertips.

If he had heard this when they had just met, he probably would have turned and run away.

After all, all he wanted was to study peacefully and have a sweet romance.

I don't want to get involved in any melodramatic family feuds.

but now……

The focused look in Yan Xi's eyes when she wiped his shoulders just now flashed through his mind.

And there's the adorable way I waved an empty plate in front of him in the cafeteria in the morning.

That feeling of being cared for and protected.

It really is addictive.

"Are you done talking?"

Li Chen looked up, his gaze passing over Liu Xu's shoulder and landing on the busy figure in the hall.

"If you're done talking, move aside; you're blocking the wind."

Liu Xu was stunned.

This reaction was clearly unexpected.

"Are you fucking deaf?"

Anxious and corrupt.

"I'm doing this for your own good! Don't end up not even knowing how you died!"

"Then there's no need for you to trouble yourself, senior."

Li Chen threw the cigarette butt on the ground and crushed it out with his toe.

Stand up straight.

His height advantage, being half a head taller than Liu Xu, instantly created a sense of oppression.

"I don't have many strengths, but I'm stubborn."

Li Chen looked at Liu Xu, a smile playing on his lips.

The smile didn't reach his eyes.

Whether you're worthy or not isn't up to you. Whether it's dangerous or not isn't up to you either.

"As long as Yan Xi doesn't tell me to get out, I'll stay here."

He took a step forward.

Liu Xu instinctively stepped back, his heel hitting the water tank.

"besides."

Li Chen reached out and straightened the wrinkled collar of Liu Xu's shirt.

The movements were gentle, yet full of provocation.

Her fingertips lightly brushed across Liu Xu's carotid artery.

That's a habit of martial arts practitioners.

He can put a chokehold on someone the moment he wants.

Liu Xu froze, and cold sweat instantly broke out.

"Senior, carrying bricks is hard work, go home and rest early."

Li Chen withdrew his hand and patted his shoulder.

"Look how tired you are, you're even talking incoherently."

Liu Xu slapped his hand away.

His chest heaved violently.

She stared intently at Li Chen, as if she wanted to dig a hole in him.

But in the end, he didn't dare to make a move.

The killing intent I felt just now was real.

"OK."

Liu Xu gritted his teeth and squeezed out a few words.

"If you refuse a toast, you'll have to drink a penalty cup."

"Li Chen, you just wait, you'll have your day."

After saying that, he bumped Li Chen's shoulder hard.

He turned and strode away.

That silhouette looked like it was fleeing in panic.

Li Chen rubbed his shoulder where he had been bumped.

He chuckled.

Is it childish or not?

She leaned back against the railing, watching Liu Xu disappear at the bottom of the stairs.

The night breeze grew cooler.

Li Chen took out another cigarette from his pocket and was about to light it.

The movement stopped.

Looking at the cigarette between his fingers, he glanced back at the hall.

When I was facing Liu Xu just now, I spoke with a strong voice.

I know perfectly well what's going on in my heart.

No matter how tough your bones are, no matter how unafraid of death you are.

It's purely because I can't bear to part with it.

These past few days, Yan Xi has been like a gentle yet domineering net, gradually entangling him in it.

That domineering attitude of "let me use my boyfriend's meal card".

That kind of protectiveness, thinking "who dares to touch my people?"

And there's that unintentional softness.

Every single matter, every single thing, was precisely on his mark.

Li Chen sighed.

Put the unlit cigarette back into the cigarette case.

It’s over.

This time, we've really messed up.

This isn't just being a kept man; it's practically selling yourself out and then helping him count the money.

"What are you spacing out for?"

The crisp sound of high heels came from behind.

Li Chen turned around.

Yan Xi stood at the door, carrying a bag, her suit jacket casually draped over her shoulders.

"Is it all done?"

Li Chen put the cigarette pack back in his pocket and quickly went to meet him.

"Um."

Yan Xi's nose twitched slightly, and her brows furrowed.

"Were you smoking?"

Li Chen froze.

"Uh... well, I just ran into an acquaintance who offered me one, but I only took a couple of puffs."

Yan Xi did not expose this clumsy lie.

She stepped forward.

She grabbed his collar and brought it close to her nose to smell him.

The distance is too close.

The cool, woody scent emanating from her instantly overpowered the faint smell of tobacco.

A strand of hair brushed against Li Chen's chin, tickling him.

"It smells awful."

She released her grip with disdain and took a half step back.

But next second.

But she naturally took Li Chen's arm.

"Smoke less in the future; it's bad for your health."

Her tone had lost its usual aloofness and gained a more domineering, housekeeper-like quality.

"Let's go, take me back to my dorm."

Li Chen tensed up for a moment, then relaxed and let her hold his arm.

"Did Liu Xu come looking for you just now?"

Yan Xi asked casually as she walked.

"Yeah, we chatted for a bit."

"What are you going to talk about?"

"Let's talk about life and ideals."

Li Chen smiled and turned to look at her.

"He also inquired about my safety."

Yan Xi paused slightly.

She turned her head, her cat-like eyes gazing intently at Li Chen.

The streetlights cast a dim yellow glow, making her pupils shimmer with an amber light.

"Then what will you say?"

I said…

Li Chen stopped and tightened his grip on her arm that was holding his.

"I told you I'm tough and not afraid."

Yan Xi was stunned for a moment.

Then, the corners of his mouth slowly turned up.

A faint, yet exquisitely beautiful smile blossomed upon her.

There was no mockery, no arrogant laziness.

Pure happiness.

She gently rested her head on Li Chen's arm, pressing her body even closer.

"Fool."

A soft curse, like a feather brushing against the tip of my heart.

"rest assured."

"With me here, even the King of Hell wouldn't dare take you."

The two walked out of the activity center and disappeared into the late autumn night.

Li Chen felt the warmth emanating from his arm.

The gloom that had been hanging over me because of Liu Xu's words vanished instantly.

Who cares about her identity or what circle she's in?

As long as that hand is still holding his.

Even if it's a den of dragons and tigers.

He accepted it.