As Rong Yi pulled Qiqi along in a swift walk, trying to disappear by Weiming Lake, Qin Chen turned his head as if sensing something—his features were refined, his eyes clear with distinct black and white, and he had two exceptionally handsome brows. Yet at that moment, those brows were slightly furrowed, as if shrouded in a faint melancholy.
Even with Rong Yi's brilliance setting a high bar, and even though she had seen that face for over a decade, Qiqi had to admit—Qin Chen was indeed a strikingly good-looking guy.
Their eyes met, and in a flash, Qin Chen's eyes suddenly lit up, like a meteor streaking across the dark night! But soon, that meteor faded into the darkness, and the light in his gaze dimmed along with it.
He stared at the girl, his lips parting slightly as if he had called out: "Qiqi..."
Gu Qiqi shuddered, her steps faltering as she stopped.
She turned sideways, struggling to control her emotions, and forced out her signature sweet, charming smile: "Hey, Qin Chen, you're back for class? So early!"
"Early... yeah!" Qin Chen hesitated, as if he had something to say, but in the end, he only managed a greeting.
Qiqi stood still, gazing fixedly at the boy by the lake, her heart yearning for him to come over and say something. He had been gone for three months now, with no word. Although he had called to break up with her before, a part of Qiqi still clung to hope—maybe he had some hidden difficulty? Maybe there was a reason he had to leave? In any case, she held onto a faint wish.
But Rong Yi shouted from the side: "Hurry up! We're going to be late!" With that, he grabbed Qiqi and pulled her forward.
Gu Qiqi stumbled, nearly tripping, and complained: "Rong Yi, what are you doing! You're hurting my hand!"
What was wrong with this guy? Why was he so forceful?
Qin Chen froze for a moment, then looked at Rong Yi, immediately receiving a provocative glare from the latter.
He glanced at Qiqi again—her small hand was being roughly yanked, her face twisted in pain, as if she might cry at any moment! A surge of heat rose in Qin Chen's chest, igniting a strong protective instinct—a habit ingrained since childhood.
He stepped forward and barked: "Who are you! Let go of her hand!"
Rong Yi stopped, pushed Qiqi behind him, and stepped forward: "I'm her boyfriend!"
"What?" Qin Chen was stunned, all the questions he wanted to ask stuck in his throat.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Gu Qiqi was so startled she coughed, her face flushing red as she desperately pulled the Wolf King back: "Rong Yi, cousin! What... what nonsense are you talking about?"
Rong Yi shot her a glance and replied: "Am I wrong? Even though I'm your 'cousin,' we're still friends, right? And I'm a man, so I'm your boyfriend—what's wrong with that?"
Qiqi was mortified: "No, no! Of course not! The word 'boyfriend' is definitely not used that way..."
Rong Yi, emboldened, pulled the girl into his arms, possessively draping an arm over her shoulder, and glared defiantly at Qin Chen, retorting: "Hey, kid, who are you?"
Qin Chen was stunned for a long moment before answering: "I'm her... classmate."
His momentum had already halved.
Rong Yi arrogantly lifted his chin, speaking to Qin Chen through his nose: "I don't care who you are, but I don't like the look of you—kid, Qiqi is my cousin and my girlfriend. From now on, don't you dare bully her or get near her, got it?"
Qin Chen: "..."
He was completely lost.