Chapter 4
I couldn't help but recall the times I was bullied by other kids at the welfare home.
But I was different from Hu Yuying; I knew how to fight back, and gradually, no one dared to bully me anymore.
Taking a deep breath, as a youth of the new era, I witnessed bullying happening right before my eyes.
Was I really going to stand by and watch Hu Yuying suffer again, just as she did in the original story, ultimately spiraling into despair?
When an avalanche occurs, no snowflake is innocent.
How could I bear to see Hu Yuying step by step descend into the abyss of despair and pain right in front of me?
No matter what, I couldn't let this situation continue to unfold.
This script needed a change!
"Isn't this the third time?" Long Aotian rapped his knuckles on the table.
Hearing Long Aotian's words, Wang Shuo turned around, frowning at him. "Doesn't seem like this is your business, does it?"
In my previous life!
Long Aotian had dropped out of school early to work, struggling for years, facing losses and being deceived, even getting into fights over wages...
Even now, at eighteen again, stripped of the rough exterior shaped by society, the aura of the streets still lingered in his eyes, something these still-in-school students couldn't compare to!
"What if I insist on getting involved?" Long Aotian stood up, his height of 1.85 meters, broad shoulders and narrow waist, exuding a manly aura of dominance and strength.
Wang Shuo instinctively took a step back, dwarfed by Long Aotian's towering presence.
Previously, they had exchanged harsh words over a minor conflict.
In school, it was mostly just empty threats, boasting about knowing someone, daring each other to meet outside the school gates.
But Long Aotian didn’t play by those rules; he came out swinging, showing no mercy just because they were both troublemakers.
Having been on the receiving end of his punches before, Wang Shuo knew just how fierce Long Aotian could be.
His eyes flickered, completely overshadowed by Long Aotian's imposing presence.
"Long, Long Aotian, the teacher said if you hit someone, you'll get a demerit."
Seeing the fear on Wang Shuo's face, a smirk crept onto Long Aotian's lips.
Look at the bully; he’s scared of being bullied himself.
"You think I care?"
With that, he slammed his hand on the table.
The noise startled Wang Shuo, who stumbled back another two steps, drawing the attention of everyone in the classroom.
"This is a place for learning, not for bullying. If any of you feel like bullying someone, come and try it on me first!"
While the sentiment was right, for some reason, when those words came from Long Aotian's mouth, everyone felt it was a bit off.
Outside the classroom, Hu Yuying stood frozen, staring at Long Aotian as he spoke.
Sunlight bathed him, making him seem to shine, and a faint blush crept into her cheeks. She quickly averted her gaze, leaning against the wall outside the classroom, trying to appear calm as she looked elsewhere...
---
"Thank you." Back at her seat, Hu Yuying whispered to Long Aotian.
It was as soft as a feather falling to the ground; if it weren't for the aisle separating them, he might not have heard her at all.
Looking at Hu Yuying, Long Aotian noticed her nervousness as she clenched her small hands, unable to meet his gaze, constantly avoiding eye contact.
With a face that seemed easy to bully and a gentle personality, she spoke so softly—who wouldn’t take advantage of her?
"Have you ever thought about changing?" Long Aotian suddenly asked.
In situations like this, he could still rely on his reputation as a tough guy to speak up for Hu Yuying.
But once they left this classroom and entered the outside world, if Hu Yuying remained the same, she would just be bullied in a different place.
Hu Yuying lowered her gaze slightly. Of course, she had thought about changing; she had tried to fight back, but all it brought her was more severe bullying.
She had even tried to tell the teacher, but all she got was, "It takes two to tango. Why do they bully you and not others? Sometimes, you need to look for the reason within yourself."
Over time, Hu Yuying fell into self-doubt.
Was it true that they bullied her because she wasn’t good enough? Was it really her fault?
No one had ever spoken up for her, as if she was born to be bullied.
So when faced with the first person to stand up for her, Hu Yuying didn’t know how to respond.
Seeing her lower her head again, Long Aotian frowned and said in a deep voice, "Lift your head!"
At his command, Hu Yuying obediently raised her head, but her eyes still darted away, unable to meet his gaze.
Perhaps Long Aotian's gaze was too intense; she felt her cheeks flush.
Instinctively, she wanted to lower her head again.
"Don't move."
Long Aotian said again. When talking to someone, it’s natural to look them in the eye.
Hu Yuying was no exception. She looked up at Long Aotian just as he opened his mouth, their eyes accidentally meeting. Her hands clenched slightly. "W-what do you want?"
Seeing her blush and not lower her head, Long Aotian nodded in satisfaction. "Good, you should be more confident. At eighteen, you should bloom like a flower, vibrant and unrestrained."
"Look at you, speaking so softly, always lowering your head..."
At this point, Long Aotian's expression turned displeased. "See? You’re trying to lower your head again. You’re not an ostrich. No, even ostriches don’t lower their heads as often as you do."
Hu Yuying lacked confidence and had grown accustomed to being bullied, always thinking she should just endure.
In any situation, she lost her confidence first.
Such a person, even when faced with unfairness, wouldn’t dare to speak up, only silently accepting all the bullying directed at her.
"I-I understand," Hu Yuying said softly.
"What good is understanding? You need to be brave and act on it."
Upon hearing this, Hu Yuying lowered her gaze, softly murmuring an "mm."
Though she didn’t lower her head again, that lackluster response spoke volumes.
Long Aotian sighed inwardly.
After being bullied for so long, he didn’t expect Hu Yuying to change overnight.
It would have to be a gradual process.
The plot had already shifted because of him.
Given the current situation, no one in this classroom would dare bully Hu Yuying anymore.
But if Hu Yuying’s submissive nature didn’t change, once she stepped out of this classroom, those who wanted to bully her would still do so.
Since he had altered the course of events, he needed to guide Hu Yuying, helping her regain her confidence so she could face injustice and setbacks bravely.
At the very least, when similar bullying incidents occurred in the future, she would have the courage to fight back.
The problem wasn’t her; it was those demons who enjoyed preying on the weak!
With that thought, Long Aotian asked, "Have you ever wondered why Wang Shuo dares to bully you and not others?"
Hu Yuying cautiously glanced at Long Aotian, biting her lip. "Is it because I did something to upset him?"
"Absolutely not!"
Hu Yuying shivered at the intensity of Long Aotian's gaze.
Long Aotian was at a loss for words. What had this girl gone through? Why did she always look for reasons within herself when faced with problems?
Was being soft and easy to bully her fault?
Definitely not!
"Wang Shuo bullying you—who's right and who's wrong?"
Hu Yuying peeked at Long Aotian. Though she didn’t dare to meet his eyes directly, she couldn’t help but steal a glance and tentatively said, "Is it Wang Shuo's fault?"
Long Aotian couldn’t help but laugh in frustration.
Seeing the helpless expression on Long Aotian's face, Hu Yuying's eyes dimmed. Was it really her fault after all?
So she lowered her voice, tinged with a hint of grievance, and said, "It’s my fault."
"Yes, it is your fault!"
"You should have pulled his hair hard, looked at him with disdain, and told him, 'You messed with the wrong person; I’m not that easy to bully!'"
"Ah?" Hu Yuying was taken aback, staring blankly at Long Aotian.
Though his words were crude, they didn’t make her feel uncomfortable or repulsed.
"What do you mean 'ah'? Even a ripe persimmon is picked for its softness. You’re just too easy to bully; when someone sees you, they want to squeeze you, no matter who’s right or wrong!"
---
"Show me your fierce side," Long Aotian said.
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