CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 57: CRITICAL HIT TO THE SOUL

Xi Luting saw Han Lie’s "like" and was so furious her chest ached.

The plot of *The Goddess CEO* had just reached a point where the male lead was idly teasing the female lead. Xi Luting poured her own emotions into the story, channeling her thoughts about Han Lie’s wretched behavior as she wrote about Han Lieye’s wretched behavior. Her writing became intensely charged with emotion.

After editing the three Chapters at hand, she suddenly had a premonition—This book might become popular.

The first Chapter of the new book had been uploaded, and she began to refresh the webpage over and over again.

As for those sycophants and actual dogs who "liked" and left messages on her new signature...

To hell with them all!

I don’t have time for you lot, HMPH!

Han Lie put down his phone and had another two rounds of drinks with Ding Ding and Little Northeast.

Beer makes you bloated if you drink too much. Before long, all three of them couldn’t sit still and went to the restroom together.

As soon as the boys had gone, Tofu immediately wrapped an arm around Pan Ge and started whispering.

"Hey, remember how Da Huang and the others were bullied a while ago? I got the impression from Little Cheng that it was done by a newcomer in the dorm. Could it have been Han Lie?!"

Pan Ge wasn’t very interested in the boys’ drama in class, so she hadn’t heard about this at all.

But now that Han Lie was involved, she finally showed some interest.

"Are you sure it was Da Huang who got bullied?"

"Positive! Why wouldn’t I be?"

Tofu declared confidently, "Da Huang was looking utterly dejected those days, and he wouldn’t let anyone mention it. The moment someone brought it up, he’d get agitated. That definitely means he was bested!"

Pan Ge frowned, her expression a little puzzled.

Could it be? Da Huang, Little Cheng, and the others hang out together every day. Could six or seven of them have been bullied by one person?

Tofu couldn’t figure it out either, but she remained very certain.

"Just look at how Little Northeast and Ding Ding treat Han Lie. They’re clearly afraid of him! I don’t know why, but I’m positive."

Pan Ge nodded thoughtfully. He is quite interesting.

Tofu gave a sly grin and giggled, "Anyone who can withstand our Pan Pan’s beauty must be capable of great things, right?"

Pan Ge gave a wry laugh. "Don’t be ridiculous. What does being capable of great things have to do with me?"

"It has everything to do with it, okay? Anyway, since school started, this is the first time I’ve seen a guy who remains unmoved by you. That self-control... TSK TSK!"

Pan Ge smiled but said nothing, not wanting to continue this topic.

But deep down, she admitted that Han Lie did indeed have a unique aura about him.

When the three guys returned, Tofu started to probe indirectly.

"How did you all meet?"

"What’s your relationship like?"

"Is there any unpleasantness in the boys’ dorm?"

But Ding Ding and Little Northeast were as tight-lipped as clams; she couldn’t get anything out of them.

Indeed, rumors of "a psycho moving into Room 404" had already spread among the boys. But in front of Brother Lie, his brothers in misfortune would definitely not admit it.

How could they explain?

That they nearly peed their pants out of fear because of Big Brother?!

How embarrassing!

Besides, admitting to Big Brother’s face that they had issues with him? Were they trying to ensure they wouldn’t sleep soundly?

Tofu probed for a long time but found out nothing, becoming more convinced than ever: There was definitely something going on between them.

Han Lie just watched with a smile, neither helping nor hindering.

Seeing that Tofu was about to turn her attention to him, Brother Lie launched a preemptive strike: "Have you all finished eating?"

His interruption skill was successfully deployed.

Next, they paid the bill and headed back to the dorms.

All the way, Han Lie received numerous stares.

Pan Ge was too eye-catching.

He, with his seventy-something looks, and Ding Ding, with his eighty-something, were like stars beside the moon in Pan Ge’s presence—mere accessories.

But Han Lie was already used to this.

Anyway, walking next to Little Cucumber also meant being an accessory; there was no difference.

When they reached the area between the male and female dormitories, the two groups said their goodbyes.

Pan Ge took the initiative to wave at Han Lie. "Thanks for the meal. Next time, we must treat you in return."

"There’ll be a chance."

Han Lie, unfazed, bid a normal farewell. "You guys go on up. Bye!"

It wasn’t that Brother Lie couldn’t be flirtatious. However, when it came to Pan Ge, he was destined to be far less frivolous than he was with Yu Yun and Fang Feifei. This girl was on another level; those simple tricks couldn’t break through her defenses. He could only interact with her normally.

His Level 3 Psychology wasn’t just for show. Han Lie estimated that to win her over, both strength and cunning tactics were indispensable.

But what strength did he have now?

All his current cash wasn’t even enough to buy one of her shoes.

Better not to dwell on it and just let things take their natural course.

Watching the stunning beauty walk into her dormitory, Little Northeast nudged Han Lie, winking. "Well, Brother Lie, isn’t our class belle gorgeous?"

Class belle?

That’s an understatement.

You’d be hard-pressed to find even two other girls as beautiful as her across all three years of the entire university.

Han Lie nodded honestly. "She really is beautiful."

"Hehe! Brother Lie, want to go after her? Ding Ding and I can help!"

"Why don’t you go after her?" Han Lie countered.

Little Northeast decisively waved his hand. "I know my limits. I can’t pursue her, can’t afford to keep her, and can’t protect her. I’d have to think twice even if she threw herself at me..."

"Oh? That’s quite rare."

Han Lie began to see Little Northeast in a slightly different light.

The kid might be dense, but he was surprisingly self-aware.

"See!"

Little Northeast puffed up his chest and began to brag, "What kind of place is this? Magic Capital! With money, you think you’ll lack girls? Mermaids for 998 yuan, full ISO-standard service that’ll send you to cloud nine. Why torture yourself over her..."

Crude, just too crude!

Han Lie didn’t like hearing it and turned to Ding Yu. "What about you?"

Ding Ding shook his head calmly. "She’s just okay-looking, not my type."

Oho, you’re quite the arrogant one, little buddy, aren’t you?

Han Lie grinned and gave him a thumbs-up. "Nice one, you really sold that act."

Little Northeast winked and chuckled. "Brother Lie, you don’t know, Ding Ding... CRAP!"

He was cut off mid-sentence by a glare and a slap from Ding Yu, and he sheepishly shut up.

Han Lie smiled and didn’t press further.

What’s the point of prying into a kid’s secrets?

Better to pretend I didn’t see anything.

「After climbing four flights of stairs back to the dormitory」

They had barely sat down when Ding Ding received a phone call inviting them out.

Ding Yu casually invited Han Lie, "Brother Lie, want to come out and play with us? My buddies invited a few beauties from the Shanghai Theatre Academy’s acting program."

Han Lie was a bit surprised. "You guys can actually get with girls from the Theatre Academy?"

"It’s a normal get-together," Ding Ding explained. "They’re usually pretty busy with a lot of homework, but they do go out with friends. Dan Zihao from our class has a high school classmate who’s the class president of the ’13 cohort’s acting class. Sometimes he invites a few of us along. It’s not what you think."

"Bullshit! We’re just the chumps who foot the bill!" Little Northeast cursed, looking thoroughly cynical.

"Those artsy girls, none of them are hurting for cash from home, and every single one of them has ridiculously high standards. They’re a damn pain to deal with! Still, it really makes you look good to hang out with them. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t bother going..."

Han Lie was indeed interested in the beauties from the Theatre Academy, but he wasn’t interested in just being a tag-along.

The time wasn’t right. Interacting with those high-class girls now would be pointless.

"You guys go have fun. I’ll do some reading."

"Impressive!" Little Northeast gave a thumbs-up, then hurriedly started spraying his hair with hairspray.

Right, "don’t want to go"? Sure. Just listen to him.

Even knowing they’re just going to be the ones paying the bill, don’t they still flock to it?

Ah, women. Always the driving force behind men’s lust, ambition, and frenzy.

But someone like Pan Ge, so beautiful she actually deterred men from having lustful thoughts, was truly a rarity.

「After his two bros left」

Han Lie started to soothe his sugar mamas.

Yu Yun and Fang Feifei had already found out about their kept man taking Pan Ge out to dinner and were sulking.

Yu Yun: "I’m angry! The kind that only a kiss can cure!"

Han Lie: "Go find Fang Feifei. Remember to take pictures."

Yu Yun: "!!!"

Yu Yun: "I’m all better now."

Han Lie: "Who did you kiss?"

Yu Yun: "..."

Fang Feifei: "I want to drink, and I want to book you for the night. Will you keep me company?"

Han Lie: "No."

Fang Feifei: "Come out! If you’re a man, come out and reject me to my face!"

Han Lie: "Nope, not a man, and not coming out."

Fang Feifei: "..."

He quickly dispatched the two pests and then logged into his alt account.

No need to ask, the snitch was definitely Little Cucumber.

So... it was time to add to her burdens.

Han Lie sneered and posed a soul-devastating question.

"Regarding that part involving imprisonment, bondage, and discipline, do you have any thoughts?"