Until today, when he heard from his dorm mates that the rumor about Xiao Shaowan being kept by some guy had been confirmed—a fellow named Han Hongfei—he’d snorted in disdain. He simply couldn’t believe the girl he’d set his sights on could be that kind of person. But now, this scene unfolding right before his eyes…
The pair supporting each other stabbed deep into his heart. It was so painfully glaring that his breathing grew heavy.
……
Yang Haoran glanced at Xu Liang, who had frozen in place with his welcoming smile solidified upon spotting them. He frowned. He hadn’t expected such a coincidence—mentioning the guy moments ago only for fate to thrust him into their path so dramatically.
“What’s wrong?” Xiao Shaowan noticed Yang Haoran suddenly halt and turned to him in confusion. Seeing his gaze locked straight ahead, she looked up curiously and caught sight of Xu Liang approaching.
Her face stiffened. It wasn’t that she still harbored feelings for Xu Liang. Back then, she’d never truly liked him—harbored a mild favorable impression at most.
But bumping into him was the last thing she wanted. She feared it might taint Yang Haoran’s view of her, make him think she was some promiscuous flirt.
“Wan’er, you two…” Xu Liang forced a smile onto his handsome face, but conjuring his usual easygoing grin felt excruciatingly difficult now. His teeth chattered faintly, his heart pounded with agony, and every breath weighed on him like lead.
“This is my boyf—”
“I’m a classmate from her class—a guy one.”
Xiao Shaowan was tense too, worried Yang Haoran might grow suspicious. She put on a smile, ready to introduce him as her boyfriend and affirm her loyalty.
But Yang Haoran cut her off before she could finish. Her smile faltered, and her delicate, beautiful features tightened as she studied his expression, searching for any sign of anger.
What she saw, though, wasn’t the reaction she’d dreaded. Instead, Yang Haoran greeted Xu Liang with a beaming smile.
“You’re Xu Liang, right? The campus big shot—I know who you are.”
Yang Haoran’s warm greeting caught Xu Liang off guard. He hesitated. “You’re… Han Hongfei?”
“Nope, name’s Yang Haoran. We’re classmates in the same class.” Yang Haoran jerked a thumb at Xiao Shaowan.
“Oh… so what’s going on here?” Xu Liang wondered if he’d gotten the wrong idea, if there was some mix-up.
“Xiao Shaowan twisted her ankle, and I was right there. She asked me to help her back to the dorm.” Yang Haoran spun the lie without missing a beat.
“Is that right?” Xu Liang turned a doubtful gaze on Xiao Shaowan.
“Mm-hm!” Xiao Shaowan’s composure returned as she nodded. “I twisted it just a bit ago—no one was around, but Yang Haoran was, so I asked him to walk me back.”
She had no idea what was running through Yang Haoran’s mind, but right now, she had no choice but to back his story—even with his semen still lingering inside her.
Despite Xiao Shaowan’s explanation for the intimate scene he’d walked in on, Yang Haoran could tell Xu Liang still nursed some doubts deep down.
Inwardly, he sighed. The guy really likes Wan Nu. Who would’ve thought Xu Liang was such a devoted romantic.
He chuckled aloud. “Heard that rumor going around, huh?”
Xu Liang’s expression turned awkward. “Caught wind of it, yeah.”
“Total fake.” Yang Haoran shook his head. “I asked Xiao Shaowan herself just now—she set it straight. Don’t take my word? Ask her.”
Before Xu Liang could even open his mouth, Xiao Shaowan chimed in with a smile. “That Han Hongfei cooked it up himself. He was chasing me, I shot him down, and he starts slinging mud like that.”
Her lovely face twisted in contempt, as if outraged by his sheer audacity.
“Buddy, you into Xiao Shaowan too?” Yang Haoran asked with a grin.
Her personal debunking finally eased the tension coiled in Xu Liang’s chest. The air suddenly felt fresher, laced with a hint of sweetness, and that throbbing heart pain seemed like nothing more than a bad dream.
His smile warmed naturally, but Yang Haoran’s direct question gave him pause. He wavered, weighing whether to come clean.
“Dude, that hemming and hawing? Not very manly. Like her? Own it—I like her too!” Yang Haoran clapped him on the shoulder with a laugh, flashing a dazzling grin full of perfect white teeth.
Such frank openness left Xu Liang blinking. Liking someone could really be declared so casually, out in the open?
“Plenty of guys in our class are into Xiao Shaowan,” Yang Haoran went on, all chummy familiarity. “But not one’s landed her yet. I know your rep—you’ve got a real shot. That said, I’m not stepping aside. Fair competition between us? Cool with that?”
Xu Liang stared, caught off balance by the guy’s easy rapport. But that bold, declarative tone drew a deep breath from him. “You bet. I won’t hand Wan’er over to you either.”
Yang Haoran’s unflinching candor stirred a reluctant respect in him, rivals or not. He could never pull off that kind of breezy confidence himself—but he sure as hell wasn’t backing down from Xiao Shaowan.
“You two discussing me like I’m not even here?” Xiao Shaowan put on a show of mock indignation.
Inside, her emotions churned. What was this bizarre act? She was a girl, after all—she couldn’t quite puzzle out Yang Haoran’s game.
Her loyalty belonged to him, no question. So why spout nonsense about “fair competition”?
She had a hazy inkling of his motive but didn’t dare commit to it.
Her remark left the two men awkwardly silent—one sincere, one feigning.
“Catch you later, buddy. Gotta get Shaowan back to her dorm.” Yang Haoran nodded at Xu Liang.
“I’ll take it from here.” Yang Haoran’s sudden arrival had lit a fire under Xu Liang. No more sitting on the sidelines.
He stepped forward to support Xiao Shaowan, but before his hand made contact, Yang Haoran snatched his wrist.
“Hey!” Yang Haoran shot him a dissatisfied look. “Now that’s crossing the line. I was here first. Put yourself in my shoes—would you pass her off? We’re competitors, remember.”
Xu Liang went rigid, pulling back his hand. He met Yang Haoran’s eyes. “All right. You walk Wan’er back.”
The words stuck in his throat, full of reluctance, but he knew the logic held. Playing coy now would just make him look petty—especially with Wan’er watching.
Most girls might have thrilled at two guys vying jealously for her, their egos stroked.
But not Xiao Shaowan. She knew the full score. Watching Yang Haoran toy with Xu Liang sparked a twinge of pity in her.
She was sharp, though—rational to a fault. That fleeting softness evaporated in an instant.
Yang Haoran’s joy outweighed everything. She’d surrendered her heart and body to him long ago.
Xu Liang? Too late, pal.
Sorry.
With that silent apology, the last shred of her compassion vanished.
