Since we had taken down the Ninth Prince, we became virtually unrivaled within the realm of our first-year territory. Of course, I knew that HOUZI and Huang Jie’s ambitions extended far beyond just dominating our year. However, without any suitable opportunity, they couldn’t possibly stir up trouble without reason. Consequently, our days passed in a leisurely, untroubled manner.

  The only trouble I faced was a personal one — I needed to find a way to resolve the situation between Wang Yao and Lin Ke’er. My heart undoubtedly belonged to Wang Yao now. I would often send her a few messages when I had nothing else to do, although she never once replied. Because of this, I naturally began to distance myself from Lin Ke’er, intending to sever any lingering ties before confessing my feelings to Wang Yao, ensuring there would be no gossip or controversy. This process might take a long time, but I was willing to wait.

  Ironically, after I started ignoring Lin Ke’er, she began seeking me out more frequently. She would text me now and then, asking what I was up to, or come to my class during breaks just to chat. I couldn't help but get the impression that she was on the verge of confessing her feelings to me. Lin Ke’er was undeniably beautiful, and spending time with her occasionally stirred my heart. However, I constantly reminded myself that my affections lay with Wang Yao, so I was always cautious to maintain my boundaries in both words and actions.

  It was almost laughable — previously, I had to restrain my feelings for Wang Yao; now, I had to do the same with Lin Ke’er. How ridiculous.

  Humans are truly contradictory creatures. Or perhaps, to put it more bluntly, humans are simply despicable.

  One day, a successful alumnus from society returned to our school to deliver a motivational speech. HOUZI and the others showed no interest in attending, but Lin Ke’er invited me along. Coincidentally, Wang Yao and her friends, including Zhang Xuan, were also going. Seeing an opportunity, I agreed.

  The lecture was held in the multimedia classroom, but since we arrived late, the seats were already filled, leaving us no choice but to stand. After the speech ended, chaos erupted as everyone pushed their way out. The teachers struggled to maintain order, and I was quickly separated from Lin Ke’er.

  In the crowd, I caught sight of Wang Yao. She was visibly frustrated, occasionally cursing under her breath, but it was futile. Being a girl, she was like a frail sapling swaying in the storm, helpless against the human tide. She stumbled several times, nearly falling.

  I couldn’t stand it anymore. Pushing through the crowd, I reached her and grabbed her hand. Wang Yao turned around, ready to snap, but when she saw it was me, she fell silent. She desperately tried to shake off my hand, but I held on tightly.

  Eventually, she gave up resisting, allowing me to lead her through the dense crowd. Although it lasted only a little over a minute, my heart felt as though it were submerged in honey. Even after returning to my dormitory, I was reluctant to wash my hand.

  That evening, Wang Yao finally texted me — a rarity in itself. She simply said, Don’t do that again in the future.

  I asked, Why? There’s no possibility between me and Lin Ke’er.

  Wang Yao replied, Don’t be foolish. Can’t you see Lin Ke’er has feelings for you?

  Frustrated, I retorted, Why do you keep bringing Lin Ke’er into our matter?

  Wang Yao stopped replying.

  That noon, HOUZI approached me, saying we were having dinner with Ding Sheng and Liang Qi from the second year that evening. This was an agreement made long ago, but for some reason, it had been delayed for over half a month. Initially, I had no interest in going — until I heard that Wang Yao would also be there. Without hesitation, I agreed.

  That night, HOUZI, Huang Jie, Zheng Wu, and I went to Blue Moon Restaurant — the most upscale place near our school. As soon as we stepped in, HOUZI sighed with exaggerated delight, “Finally, I can have a decent meal tonight.”

  Huang Jie chimed in, “Yeah, I haven’t eaten all day just to save space for this.”

  I had grown used to their foolish banter, so I paid no mind. Zheng Wu, however, earnestly said, “Then you guys better eat to your heart’s content later.”

  Entering the private dining room, we saw Wang Yao was already there, but Ding Sheng and Liang Qi had yet to arrive. Wang Yao greeted us casually, her demeanor towards me no different from the others, her gaze indifferent as she brushed past mine.

  “Ding Sheng and Liang Qi just want to make peace with you guys tonight,” Wang Yao said. “Please, do me a favor and don’t start any trouble. Let the past stay in the past, alright?”

  HOUZI chuckled, “What a pity. I was planning to knock them down and conquer the second-year territory tonight.”

  “If you dare, I’ll cripple you myself.”

  HOUZI burst into laughter, “Relax, Wang Yao. We know you have a good relationship with them.”

  As they chatted, my eyes never left Wang Yao. My heart was utterly captivated by her. After a while, Wang Yao excused herself to the restroom. Without hesitation, I followed.

  I found her washing her hands at the sink, alone. I couldn’t suppress my feelings any longer. I walked up and wrapped my arms around her from behind, whispering in her ear, “I miss you so much.”

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  Startled, Wang Yao spun around and shoved me away. “Zuofei, are you insane?”

  I nodded, “Yes, I’m insane. I just want to hold you.” Ignoring her resistance, I pulled her into my arms again.

  This time, Wang Yao didn’t struggle. I kept murmuring, I miss you, I miss you so much. After a long pause, I noticed tears streaming down her face.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, alarmed.

  “I miss you too…” she choked through her sobs.

  I held her even tighter, feeling as though I had embraced the entire world.

  “Let’s make it official. Let’s be together,” I declared firmly.

  “No.” Wang Yao broke away from my embrace. “I need to be sure that Lin Ke’er no longer has feelings for you. I am the leader of the Thirteen Roses — I cannot betray my sister. This is my principle, my bottom line!”

  In her heart, nothing mattered more than her sisters — not even me.

  “Fine,” I replied resolutely. “Tomorrow, I’ll have a clear talk with Lin Ke’er. I’ll tell her — I love Wang Yao!”

  I didn’t wait for Wang Yao’s response. I simply turned and walked out of the restroom, my mind made up.

  Upon returning to the private room, I noticed a few unfamiliar faces had arrived. No, not entirely unfamiliar — at least I recognized Xiao Wei.

  “Zuofei, this is Sheng Ge, and that’s Qi Ge,” HOUZI introduced.

  I glanced at them. Ding Sheng was delicate-featured, exuding an air of intelligence, while Liang Qi bore a fierce countenance with his thick brows and sharp eyes. Rumor had it that Ding Sheng was the brain, and Liang Qi the brawn — and from their appearance, the adage appearance reflects heart seemed entirely true.

  It was said that neither of them held dominance over the other; they were simply two equal leaders who shared an unbreakable bond.

  “Sheng Ge, Qi Ge,” I greeted respectfully.

  Both merely nodded in acknowledgment, but I sensed a subtle hostility toward me — though I couldn’t place why.

  Shortly after, Wang Yao returned. Upon seeing Ding Sheng and Liang Qi, her face lit up with genuine warmth.

  “Sheng Ge, Qi Ge, you’re finally here!” she smiled radiantly.

  “Hey, Wang Yao,” they greeted enthusiastically, rising to embrace her. The genuine affection was undeniable.

  “Waiter, bring the dishes!” Wang Yao called. Then, turning to them, she said, “I just stepped out for a moment. Have you all introduced yourselves?”

  The atmosphere was cheerful, but my heart sank a little. Their bond seemed… a little too close.

  "We’ve already gotten acquainted," Ding Sheng said cheerfully, wrapping his arm around HOUZI's shoulder. "This must be HOUZI — such an amusing guy, he had me laughing out loud. We've already become good brothers!"

  "Yes, yes! Good brothers indeed!" HOUZI patted Ding Sheng's shoulder enthusiastically. "Good brother, mind lending me five bucks?"

  Ding Sheng burst into hearty laughter. "See how funny he is? He’s made the same joke several times already!"

  The rest of us — Huang Jie, Zheng Wu, and I — exchanged speechless glances, because we knew all too well that HOUZI wasn't joking in the slightest.

  Wang Yao playfully waved her fist. "HOUZI, watch your mouth! These are all my brothers!"

  Everyone chuckled, the atmosphere warming up considerably. Soon after, the dishes were served, followed by liquor. HOUZI and Huang Jie devoured their food like starving wolves, as if they hadn't eaten for days. Naturally, they drank just as voraciously, as though they hadn't touched a drop in years. The meal was filled with laughter and merriment, and soon we were addressing each other as brothers. Wang Yao smiled radiantly, like a flower in full bloom, clearly overjoyed to witness such harmony.

  During the banquet, Ding Sheng even proposed that we join forces to take on the seniors. This was music to HOUZI's ears; he immediately agreed, promising to discuss the plan in detail later. The fact that such a proposition was brought up so casually showed how quickly the bond between us had formed.

  In the midst of our conversation, Liang Qi suddenly posed a rather peculiar question. "Wang Yao, out of everyone here, who are you closest to?"

  Wang Yao blinked, somewhat taken aback. "I'm close to all of them. Why do you ask?"

  "There must be someone you're the closest with, right?" Liang Qi pressed.

  My heart pounded wildly, unsure of his intentions. Logically speaking, it should be me — but I knew she wouldn’t admit it. Sure enough, Wang Yao smiled faintly and replied, "Of course, it's HOUZI. We've known each other for a long time."

  "I see," Liang Qi nodded thoughtfully. "And do you think your bond with HOUZI is stronger than the bond you share with us?"

  The question grew even stranger, causing an eerie silence to blanket the room. Everyone turned their gaze toward Liang Qi, except for Ding Sheng, who maintained a sly, fox-like smile — the same smile Da Mao used to wear, cunning and unreadable.

  Wang Yao's smile faltered. "Qi-ge, why are you asking such a thing?"

  "Just curious."

  "Of course, my bond with you all is stronger," she said, her smile now somewhat strained.

  Liang Qi's expression hardened. "Among these four, one of them is our enemy. I hope you won't interfere."

  Wang Yao's face darkened. "Qi-ge, that's not right. I was the one who invited them here."

  "Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you. He's just a small fry, after all."

  The moment he said that, Zheng Wu let out a breath of relief. "Good thing I'm not a small fry."

  "Wait, does that mean you're talking about me?" Huang Jie pointed at his own nose.

  Zheng Wu laughed. "Of course not! You're not a small fry either."

  "Then who is it?"

  "It's obviously Zuo Fei. Among the four of us, he's the only underling," Zheng Wu declared, then suddenly slammed his hand on the table. "But even if Zuo Fei is a small fry, I won't let you lay a finger on him!"

  "Yeah, it's Zuo Fei," Liang Qi confirmed nonchalantly. "Tonight, we're only here for him. I hope the rest of you can stay out of this. Once we walk out that door, we're still friends."

  As soon as those words fell, Ding Sheng casually placed his hand on HOUZI's shoulder and said with a grin, "Think about it — we're merely roughing up one of your little underlings, and in return, you gain our friendship. Isn't that a pretty good deal?"

  "No way!" Wang Yao suddenly exclaimed.

  "Wang Yao, all you need to do is remain neutral," Ding Sheng said firmly, his smile still lingering but his tone undeniably cold. "Let us handle our business."

  Wang Yao, visibly uneasy, hesitated but ultimately fell silent, her brows knitted tightly together. It was clear she held a certain fear or respect toward Ding Sheng.

  At that moment, everything clicked. I finally understood the true purpose of tonight's gathering. After all the pretenses and camaraderie, it still boiled down to me. Without a doubt, Yi Zhen had once again pulled the strings, buying them off. Because of Wang Yao's presence, they couldn’t target HOUZI — but me? In their eyes, and in Yi Zhen’s eyes, I was nothing but a worthless pawn.

  "So, what do you think, HOUZI?" Ding Sheng once again patted his shoulder.

  HOUZI said nothing.

  Because his mouth was stuffed with Yangzhou fried rice, devouring it like he truly hadn't eaten for three days.