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

Yan Xi's voice wasn't loud, but it was like an ice pick, piercing the eardrums of everyone present.

The air was completely frozen.

Yan Xi's actions and words at this moment were naked, undisguised, and blatant acts of crushing and humiliating.

Lin Wanwan stood there, her body trembling slightly uncontrollably, her face as pale as paper.

Her pride in her appearance and her carefully crafted image of pitifulness were shattered in the face of Yan Xi's absolute and condescending aura, making her seem cheap and laughable.

She wanted to refute it, to defend herself.

But under Yan Xi's cold, emotionless gaze, she couldn't utter a single word; her throat felt like it was being choked.

The surrounding chatter also abruptly ceased.

Those boys who had just been standing up for Lin Wanwan were now shrinking back, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Just kidding, that's Yan Xi.

She's the woman who could embarrass the student council president in public, the woman with an unfathomable background according to rumors.

Do you sympathize with Lin Wanwan?

They haven't lived enough yet.

Yan Xi did not wait for Lin Wanwan's reply.

Because she doesn't need it at all.

She merely enjoyed the sight of her prey trembling before her, then withdrew her gaze, as if looking at it any longer would be a waste of time.

She naturally took Li Chen's arm, as if she had done something insignificant.

"Let's go, we're going to be late for class."

"Oh... okay."

Li Chen snapped out of his daze after what could be described as a "dimensional reduction attack" and subconsciously responded.

He was pulled by Yan Xi as they walked past the stunned Lin Wanwan and through the deathly silent crowd.

It wasn't until we had walked quite a distance that the stagnant air behind us seemed to begin to flow again.

"Holy crap...that's brutal..."

"This is like killing someone by breaking their spirit."

"Lin Wanwan has really bitten off more than she can chew this time; it's a social disaster."

"I declare that from today onwards, Senior Yan Xi is my goddess! That food-protecting posture is so cool!"

Hearing the comments behind him, Li Chen turned his head and glanced at Yan Xi beside him.

She stared straight ahead, her profile still cold and aloof, as if the queen who had just exuded an aura of dominance and overwhelmed the entire scene was not her at all.

"Senior, were you already here?"

Li Chen couldn't help but ask.

"Um."

Yan Xi responded with a faint "yes".

"Then why didn't you come out sooner?"

"I want to see if my boyfriend will be snatched away by a stray cat."

Yan Xi glanced at him, her tone teasing.

Li Chen rubbed his nose: "Didn't I already refuse?"

"The refusal wasn't decisive enough."

Yan Xi commented, "To deal with this kind of person, you can't give her any room for illusions."

"She probably won't dare to come looking for me again now."

Li Chen spoke.

"She dares."

Yan Xi stopped and turned to look at him, her eyes serious. "She will only think that I am too domineering, and that you are innocent and were forced by me."

"She will put herself in the position of the victim, and then find opportunities to continue to show concern for you, playing the role of the confidante who 'understands you better'."

Li Chen was stunned.

He realized that in terms of manipulating people's hearts, he was far inferior to Yan Xi.

"Then... what should we do?"

"so,"

Yan Xi reached out and straightened his collar, which had been ruffled by the wind. A sly smile played on her lips. "What I said just now wasn't just for her."

"It's also meant for everyone in the school who's eyeing you."

"I want them to know that you, Li Chen, are Yan Xi's person."

"She is my precious treasure."

"Anyone who wants to touch me should think twice before deciding whether they deserve to be crushed by me."

Li Chen's heart was struck hard by her straightforward and domineering declaration.

A strong feeling of being cherished and protected enveloped him.

He looked at her, his Adam's apple bobbing, and said in a low voice, "Senior, if you keep doing this... you'll spoil me."

I just want to spoil you.

Yan Xi said matter-of-factly, "You're so spoiled that no one but me can stand you."

After she finished speaking, she looked with satisfaction at Li Chen's reddened ears and pulled him to continue walking forward.

……

That evening, in dormitory 302.

"Hahaha! You didn't see it! Lin Wanwan's face was as white as if it had been coated with three layers of putty! I bet she's never suffered such an injustice in her life!"

Wang Qiang lay on the bed, patting the bed frame as he vividly recounted the infamous "social death" scene from earlier that day.

"Senior Yan Xi's words were absolutely brilliant! I was standing next to her and almost couldn't help but applaud!"

"It has little lethality, but is extremely insulting."

Zhao Zixuan leaned back in his chair, playing on his phone, but couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Old Li, your husband is really ruthless."

"According to behavioral psychology analysis, Yan Xi's behavior is a typical example of 'territorial marking' behavior."

Chen Mo sat at his desk, not looking up, and said, "By publicly humiliating potential competitors, you strengthen your own dominant position and deter other potential targets. It's efficient and effective."

Li Chen wore headphones, pretending to listen to music, but in reality, his mouth was practically stretched to his ears in a wide grin.

It feels really... nice to be protected like this.

Just as the dormitory was filled with a joyful atmosphere, two rough knocks suddenly came from the door.

Wang Qiang, who was closest to the door, impatiently shouted, "Who is it? Are you trying to kill me?"

He shuffled over in his slippers, grumbling as he opened the door.

Outside the door stood five burly boys with unfriendly expressions.

The leader had a buzz cut, a faint scar on his brow bone, and wore a black vest with the character "武" (wu, meaning martial arts) printed on it. His bare arms were muscular.

"Who are you looking for?" Wang Qiang was taken aback by the show of force.

"Is Li Chen there?"

The boy with the buzz cut spoke, his voice loud and clear, carrying an undeniable arrogance.

His gaze bypassed Wang Qiang and locked onto Li Chen, who was sitting inside.

Li Chen took off his headphones and stood up.

"Yes, that's me. What's up?"

The short-haired boy looked Li Chen up and down, his eyes filled with scrutiny and a hint of contempt.

"My name is Sun Long, and I am the vice president of the martial arts club."

He introduced himself, saying, "I heard you're a good fighter, able to send someone flying with one punch?"

Li Chen frowned; he disliked the other person's condescending tone.

"Speak your mind."

"Okay, that's fine."

Sun Long grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth. "On behalf of the martial arts club, I formally invite you to join us."

His tone was more like a notification than an invitation.

"Not interested."

Li Chen refused without even thinking.

He just wanted to have a quiet relationship with Yan Xi and didn't want to cause any more trouble.

Sun Long's smile froze.

He didn't expect Li Chen to refuse so decisively, without even a polite "let's consider it."

This made him feel like he had been humiliated in front of everyone.

"Kid, don't push your luck."

One of his henchmen immediately shouted, "Brother Sun thinks highly of you, that's why he invited you. Don't be ungrateful!"

"Our martial arts club isn't a place where just anyone can join!"

Sun Long raised his hand to stop his henchmen's shouting, but his face had already darkened.

"Li Chen, right? I admit, you're quite strong when you play basketball."

"But in the face of real combat, your rudimentary skills are nothing but a show."

He took a step forward, approaching the doorway, his eyes full of provocation.

"I heard that Senior Yan Xi has a crush on you?"

"Hehe, that's true. After all, he's fair-skinned and clean-cut, so he's definitely qualified to be a gigolo."

"However, women all like true strong men."

"A pretty face alone can't protect her."

This statement precisely hit Li Chen's sore spot.

Li Chen's eyes instantly turned cold.

A dangerous aura emanated from him.

The temperature in the dormitory seemed to have dropped several degrees.

Wang Qiang was so frightened that he took a step back.

Just as Li Chen was about to speak, Zhao Zixuan suddenly stepped forward.

He lazily got up from the chair, walked to the door, leaned against the door frame, took out a cigarette, lit it, and blew a smoke ring at Sun Long.

"Sun Long, right? A sophomore in the Physical Education department?"

Zhao Zixuan smiled knowingly, "I heard that you and some members of the martial arts club opened some kind of fighting club off-campus, specifically to scam freshmen into paying for memberships. Is that true?"

Sun Long's expression changed: "Who the hell are you? What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Who I am is not important."

Zhao Zixuan flicked his cigarette ash, his tone dismissive, "The important thing is that I've heard the school has repeatedly emphasized that student organizations are prohibited from engaging in commercial profit-making activities."

"Tell me, what would happen if I anonymously sent your club's information and membership list to the school's disciplinary committee?"

A bead of cold sweat appeared on Sun Long's forehead.

"you……"

"in addition,"

Chen Mo, who had been silent all along, also stood up. He held up his phone, and the screen clearly showed the video recording interface: "According to Article 15 of Chapter 3 of the 'Regulations on Disciplinary Actions for Students of Linjiang University,' those who cause trouble or intimidate others on campus may be given warnings, serious warnings, or even demerits, depending on the severity of the circumstances."

"I have recorded the entire process, which I can submit to the security department as evidence at any time."

Wang Qiang finally realized what was happening. He put his hands on his hips and, feigning intimidation, roared, "Did you hear me! Get out of here! Or you'll get disciplined!"

Sun Long was left speechless and embarrassed by this three-pronged attack of "civil" and "military" rhetoric.

He originally came today to establish his authority and, incidentally, to recruit Li Chen, a rising star, into his ranks to bolster his own influence.

Unexpectedly, Li Chen was checkmated by his three roommates without even making a move.

Enraged, he directed all his anger at Li Chen.

He pointed at Li Chen's nose and roared viciously:

"Fine! You've got guts!"

"Li Chen, shut up, you lackeys! If you've got the guts, fight me fair and square!"

"Next Wednesday at 3 PM, at the martial arts club training hall! I'll be waiting for you!"

"Do you dare to come?!"

"Anyone who doesn't come is a coward!"