Before long, hurried footsteps echoed from behind.
Long Aotian glanced back and casually waved at the approaching figures.
The first to arrive was Huang Fei.
His expression was grim, clearly agitated, and his inner turmoil was unmistakable.
Equally flustered was Han Xiaojing, who jogged over, slightly out of breath. "Shen Mengjie."
"I'm fine," Shen Mengjie replied, shooting Long Aotian a sidelong glance as she noticed Han Xiaojing and the others searching for her.
If there was ever proof that a woman’s mood could shift faster than flipping a page, this was it.
One moment she had been meek and seeking guidance, and now—nothing but an eye-roll.
Han Xiaojing first nodded at Long Aotian in gratitude before turning to Shen Mengjie, her voice tinged with hurt and reproach. "You didn’t even answer my calls."
Shen Mengjie swayed slightly as she stood. "Sorry, I just... needed some quiet time alone today. Didn’t mean to worry you."Han Xiaojing, along with Wang Lijuan and Zhang Mengmeng, who had just caught up, quickly moved to steady her.
The three exchanged glances—they knew exactly what had darkened her mood.
"Thanks," Shen Mengjie murmured as she passed Long Aotian.
Han Xiaojing finally mustered the courage to speak to him directly.
Long Aotian waved it off with a grin. "Just happened to run into her."
His breath, heavy with the scent of alcohol, brushed against her face, and Han Xiaojing felt her skin warm where it touched. She lowered her gaze, suddenly too flustered to meet his eyes.
Huang Fei studied Shen Mengjie, her usually sharp, alluring eyes now clouded and unfocused from drink, her fair cheeks flushed. He’d never seen her like this before.
The Shen Mengjie he knew was always confident, vibrant, radiant.
Now, she seemed more like a rose on the verge of wilting...
When Huang Fei had first seen those posts and screenshots on the school forum, his resolve had wavered.
But now, faced with this version of her, something in him tightened. The hesitation vanished, replaced by an urge to shield her—to stand firm.
At the end of the day, it all came back to one thing: he still cared. He couldn’t let go, not so easily...
He stepped forward softly. "I was really worried about you."
"You’re such a fool. A sweet one, though," Shen Mengjie chuckled.
"She’s had a bit too much—don’t take it to heart. We should get going," Wang Lijuan said apologetically to Huang Fei.
They’d all seen how frantic he’d been when Shen Mengjie went missing. For her to call him foolish now—was she trying to break his heart?
"Take care on your way back," Xu Shuai said, glancing between Long Aotian and the four girls before adding gently, "Text me when you’re home."
"Will do. You guys head back soon too."
Once the four had left, Huang Fei and Xu Shuai approached Long Aotian, voices hushed.
"Hold on."
Long Aotian tossed Huang Fei a beer from his pocket, then walked off to relieve himself under the cover of darkness. "Another minute, and my bladder would’ve exploded."
Finished, he felt instantly lighter.
Without waiting for questions, Long Aotian recounted everything.
"I was almost back at the dorm when I overheard some people talking. From what Shen Mengjie said, I thought she blamed me, so I rushed over..."
Huang Fei kicked an empty can across the ground. "Damn it! I can’t stand spineless cowards!"
"If I ever find out who that bastard is, I’ll make him regret it!"
"Hiding behind anonymity, smearing a girl to save his own skin—disgusting!"
Long Aotian met Huang Fei’s gaze solemnly. "Loving someone like Shen Mengjie won’t be easy."
He didn’t know her past, but from their earlier conversation, it was clear her personality was shaped by her upbringing.
After everything that had happened—last time and now—it was obvious how much Huang Fei cared for her. He’d said enough.
Huang Fei stared at the beer can in his hand, silent for a moment before popping it open. "I know. I know all of it. But I can’t help myself..."
"When I saw those things on the forum, when I couldn’t find her, I kept thinking—once I did, maybe then I could finally stop loving her..."
"But when I actually found her and saw her drunk from heartbreak with my own eyes, my heart kept telling me, over and over, that I should protect her, that I shouldn’t let her get hurt again..."
At this point, Huang Fei took a big gulp of beer and forced a bitter smile. "How pathetic. And here I was, calling myself the top of the 'Four Great Love Kings of 147'—turns out I’m the biggest joke of them all..."
Long Aotian and Xu Shuai patted his shoulder.
For a moment, neither of them knew what to say.
"Where’s Li Longlong?" Long Aotian changed the subject—this one was too heavy.
Xu Shuai seized the opportunity. "That guy’s been getting cozy with his senior lately. They went to see a movie today."
Long Aotian frowned slightly.
Xu Shuai immediately regretted his words and smacked his own mouth in frustration.
The two coughed awkwardly and glanced at Huang Fei.
They saw him, with a twisted expression—half-smile, half-sob—down the entire can of beer in one go.
"Come on, Ah Fei, let’s head back first."
"Yeah, the weather’s really turned. It’s getting chilly at night."
Not long after they returned to the dorm, Li Longlong barged in, phone in hand.
He took one look at Huang Fei smoking on his bed, then at Xu Shuai and Long Aotian.
Li Longlong swallowed hard. Even someone as oblivious as him could sense the tension in the room.
Whatever he’d been about to say was abruptly swallowed back.
He sidled up to Long Aotian and Xu Shuai and whispered, "What’s the situation here?"
"For now, it’s fine," Xu Shuai muttered back. "Old Huang’s taking it hard today. Don’t say anything, don’t ask anything."
Li Longlong nodded silently and unlocked his phone.
"What are you doing? Not in the mood for gaming tonight."
"Just checking if my senior has any single, high-quality friends..."
"Damn, you’ve got the right idea!" Long Aotian couldn’t help but give him a thumbs-up.
"Just doing my part... Though I’m nowhere near as dedicated as our dear readers, who power up the vultures every night..."