Looking at the hung-up phone, Gao Quan couldn't help but awkwardly glance at Ye Liangchen.

Since the call had been on speaker, Li Qingxue’s words had been heard loud and clear by Ye Liangchen.

Sure enough—

Ye Liangchen’s face darkened visibly in an instant.

Gao Quan didn’t know what had happened between them, but judging by Li Qingxue’s current attitude, it was likely that Ye Liangchen had done something to make her dislike him.

It was hard to imagine. Back in high school, they had been so close—how had things deteriorated to this point?

"Brother Liangchen, are you okay?" Gao Quan asked softly.

Ye Liangchen took a deep breath and exhaled slowly toward the sky. "I’m fine. I’ve gotten used to it. Li Qingxue has been deceived into thinking that I, her loyal friend and knight who stood by her for ten years, am some kind of villain!"

"Gao Quan, tell me honestly—am I really a bad person?"

"Of course not," Gao Quan answered without hesitation. At least from what he remembered, Ye Liangchen had only grown out his hair and started wearing earrings. Otherwise, he was the same as always.

Hearing this, Ye Liangchen smiled—a genuine smile this time. "See? Even you can tell I’m not a bad person. Yet Li Qingxue, blinded by someone’s schemes, thinks I’m some kind of monster!"

His voice carried a trace of sorrow as he continued, "No one in this world cares for her or worries about her more than I do."

But it didn’t matter. Soon, everything would return to normal—and then, she’d have no one to blame but herself when he turned cold toward her.

"Come on, don’t you know what I’m capable of? Time will prove everything."

Since Ye Liangchen himself seemed unbothered, Gao Quan didn’t dwell on it.

There wasn’t much anyone else could do about this situation anyway.

It wasn’t like he could just tell Li Qingxue, "Brother Liangchen likes you, and you like him too," and expect her to suddenly fall for him because of his words.

That wasn’t realistic.

"Let’s go. After we eat, I’ll take you around to see some of the sights in the capital. Since you’re here, I’m going to make sure you have a great time."

If Long Aotian could accept the fact that he had been reduced to a ruined man, then Gao Quan’s fate would truly be changed.

But if Long Aotian lost control… well, that would just be destiny.

No matter the outcome, in Ye Liangchen’s heart, Gao Quan would always remain his closest brother.

Taking his brother out for a couple of meals and showing him around some free tourist spots—if it made him happy, then Ye Liangchen would feel better too.

After all, there was a bit of selfishness in his actions.

If everything went well, then all would be fine.

But if Long Aotian chose the extreme path…

At this thought, Ye Liangchen pursed his lips, his gaze flickering as he glanced at Gao Quan before forcing a smile and patting his shoulder.

"Let’s go. I’ll take you around the area first. Later tonight, I’ll introduce you to a good friend of mine."

"Sure, whatever you say, Brother Liangchen. I don’t know my way around the capital, so I’ll follow your lead."

"You trust me that much?"

"What, are you going to sell me off or something?" Gao Quan joked.

"Of course not. The bond between us is higher than the heavens and vaster than the earth."

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"I’ll get you a room later. You’ll stay here for the next couple of days. Tonight, we drink until we drop," Ye Liangchen said with a laugh.

......

That evening, outside the gates of A University.

"Brother Liangchen, are we here to see Class President Li Qingxue?"

Ye Liangchen smirked confidently and shook his head. "No. The friend I’m introducing you to also studies here."

A University was a prestigious institution. The fact that Xue Shaohua had gotten in proved his own capabilities.

That Ye Liangchen had managed to win him over and maintain their relationship only further demonstrated his own excellence.

Once he started his own company in the future, he’d give Xue Shaohua a position—it was the least he could do.

"Brother Liangchen!" Gao Quan suddenly called out.

"What is it? No need to be so jumpy in front of me. Whatever it is, I’ve got your back!"

"Is that Long Aotian over there?"

At the mention of Long Aotian’s name, Ye Liangchen scoffed dismissively.

Last Friday at the mall, he had confronted Long Aotian face-to-face, and the guy hadn’t even been able to muster a single word in response. In the end, Li Qingxue had to step in to bail him out.

What a spineless man.

Turning in the direction Gao Quan was looking, he saw Long Aotian approaching on an electric bike.

"So what if it is him? He’s nothing but a defeated loser."

"But why is Long Aotian in the capital?" In Gao Quan’s memory, Long Aotian was still just a local troublemaker.

"Just dumb luck. That kind of fortune won’t last forever." Ye Liangchen sneered. Even if Long Aotian’s university was better than his own, he still looked down on this pretentious coward who hid behind women.

Long Aotian parked his bike and, spotting Ye Liangchen, chose to ignore him entirely—maintaining his policy of no contact, no interaction.

"He doesn’t even have the guts to face me now." Ye Liangchen chuckled darkly at Long Aotian’s avoidance.

"Brother Liangchen, what’s going on between you two? You don’t seem afraid of him at all anymore."

"Why should I be afraid of him?" Ye Liangchen smirked. "Let me tell you—just last weekend, I cornered Long Aotian in the mall and tore into him. I was simply standing on the side of justice."

"Brother Long..."

A voice, soft as silk and dripping with warmth, suddenly reached them. The sound alone sent a shiver down Gao Quan’s spine, making his legs feel weak. Original content can be found at n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net

Turning, he saw a stunningly beautiful face—one that had changed a lot but was still unmistakably the girl who used to follow Long Aotian around.

And Li Qingxue—her transformation was just as striking. With her shoulder-length hair, she radiated an aura of pure, breathtaking elegance.

"Brother Liangchen, it’s Li Qingxue! And Hu Yuying! Didn’t you say she was... yours?"

Ye Liangchen slowly closed his eyes. "Time will prove everything. What’s mine will always be mine."

The moment Li Qingxue and Hu Yuying stepped out of the campus, they spotted Ye Liangchen and Gao Quan.

"They really are together," Li Qingxue murmured to Hu Yuying, explaining that the chubby guy next to Ye Liangchen was Gao Quan—the one who had called her earlier.

Just like Long Aotian, the two girls pretended not to know Ye Liangchen and walked straight toward Long Aotian.

Witnessing Hu Yuying and Li Qingxue sitting on Long Aotian's electric scooter, Ye Liangchen clutched the fabric over his chest tightly and slowly closed his eyes. He couldn't bear to watch the scene—it made his heart ache!

If you can't find the book by its title, try searching for the author instead. It might have just been renamed!