Long Aotian unwrapped the pickled mustard greens, paired them with rice, and ate with great relish.
Hu Yuying had initially thought that Long Aotian wouldn't be used to eating such pickled mustard greens, but she didn't expect him to enjoy it so much.
Could it be that Aotian likes pickled mustard greens?
Not entirely.
In his previous life, the unassisted Long Aotian was able to buy cars and houses all thanks to one word.
"Saving money."
What he ate most often was instant noodles and sausages; occasionally, when he craved something less flavorful, he would also have a packet of pickled mustard greens.
After such a long time, eating pickled mustard greens again, he had to admit, it felt quite fresh.
"Aotian, eat slowly. Or should I bring you some more pickled mustard greens on Monday?"
"Monday?" Long Aotian paused, startled.
He then remembered that today was Friday.
Although he was already in his third year of high school, there was still a holiday every week.
"Yes, today is Friday, and tomorrow is the start of the holiday, so I'll bring it to you on Monday, okay?"
Hu Yuying asked cautiously, afraid that Long Aotian would disagree.
Long Aotian didn't reply, his gaze distant, lost in thought.
Seeing that Long Aotian remained silent, Hu Yuying hesitated, then said, "How about I bring it to you tomorrow?"
Aotian was protecting her, ensuring she wasn't bullied. Now that Aotian wanted some pickled mustard greens, she definitely had to provide it.
Otherwise, she would truly feel bad for all the times Aotian had treated her to meals.
"Can you help me tutor for a bit longer today?" Long Aotian suddenly asked.
"Ah?" Hu Yuying didn't expect Long Aotian's train of thought to jump so much.
Weren't they just talking about pickled mustard greens? How did it suddenly switch to tutoring?
"What, you're not willing?" Long Aotian raised his fist and smiled benignly.
"W-willing, no, I'm willing." Hu Yuying said, shrinking her neck slightly.
"You, you!" Long Aotian flicked Hu Yuying's head.
This girl was much more lively than her previous sullen, lifeless self.
Indeed, after escaping bullying, one's personality would change.
The tap wasn't very painful.
But Long Aotian's action suddenly gave Hu Yuying a strange illusion.
It was as if she wasn't facing a peer, but an elder.
Because only much older elders would act this way towards juniors.
Moreover, the way Long Aotian had just tapped her head, the practiced ease of the gesture, and the smile on his face, didn't seem like a peer at all.
Shaking her head and looking at Long Aotian's young body, his roguishly handsome, youthful face, perhaps she was mistaken, Hu Yuying thought.
There was no evening self-study on Friday.
Classes finished in the afternoon, and then it was the holiday.
She watched as some classmates packed up and left.
Some were still laughing in the classroom.
Some still chose to do practice problems in the classroom.
Hu Yuying also took out her notebook again, which contained basic problems she had written down.
These problems weren't difficult. Long Aotian's foundation was too weak, so they could only start with simple exercises and gradually increase the difficulty.
After giving the problems to Long Aotian, she also took out her own exercises and started working.
She glanced at the clock in the classroom; it was currently 17:20.
He stretched his body, then focused his attention on the practice problems Hu Yuying had given him.
"Is it alright if you go home a little later on Friday?"
Hu Yuying looked up at Long Aotian: "It's alright."
Although she was grateful to Long Aotian, Hu Yuying still didn't tell Long Aotian too many specifics.
She actually lived alone; her grandparents were in the countryside.
"That's good then."
Hu Yuying didn't understand why Long Aotian asked her this question, but seeing that he didn't say anything more, she continued to work on her problems, occasionally checking on Long Aotian's progress... "Brother Chen, what are you doing?" Gao Quan was finding Ye Liangchen increasingly incomprehensible.
At this moment, Ye Liangchen stuffed his books into his clothes, tightened his waistband, and clamped the books against his stomach.
After he was done, he even wanted Gao Quan to punch him in the stomach.
"Stop talking nonsense, come on." Ye Liangchen patted his stomach as he spoke.
"Then I'm going to hit you." Gao Quan saw Ye Liangchen's repeated insistence, then clenched his fist.
"Come on, it's fine. Remember, Quan, your Brother Chen has a purpose in everything he does. Don't worry, this time, I'll definitely take you to great heights!"
Although he couldn't fully understand Ye Liangchen's words, he could feel the sincerity when Ye Liangchen spoke them.
So Gao Quan punched Ye Liangchen in the stomach.
"Ugh!" With a muffled groan, Ye Liangchen bared his teeth and exhaled. Although there was still an impact, the books absorbed most of the force, making the damage to his body negligible.
"Are you alright?" Gao Quan asked worriedly.
"I'm fine." Ye Liangchen straightened up and smiled, patting Gao Quan's shoulder.
"But Brother Chen, what exactly are you trying to do? Are you looking for a fight?"
Ye Liangchen just smiled and didn't speak.
Gao Quan was only half right.
However, he wasn't looking for a fight; he was preparing to be beaten.
It was also to verify something.
If he remembered correctly from his dream.
Hu Yuying's former classmates from Second High School would come to the school gate today to block Hu Yuying.
They would insult Hu Yuying and even physically assault her.
What he had to do was provoke a conflict with those people before Hu Yuying arrived, to put himself in the situation.
He wanted Hu Yuying to see him being beaten by that group of people with her own eyes!
Afterward, he would definitely receive Hu Yuying's concern and she would ask him why he had gotten into an argument with those people.
At that time, he would say that he had accidentally overheard them planning to bully her and constantly insulting her, and their words were truly too unpleasant.
So he couldn't hold back and got into a dispute with them.
This would surely move Hu Yuying, as the incident started because of her, and he was beaten for defending her.
Based on his understanding of Hu Yuying from his dream, she would definitely feel guilty towards him.
At this moment, as long as he smiled brightly and pretended not to care at all.
It would make Hu Yuying feel even more guilty inside.
Finally, he would say, if you really feel bad, then be my friend and help me with my studies; then this beating won't have been in vain.
Hu Yuying would definitely agree to this, because it wouldn't require her to sacrifice anything.
As for helping him with his studies, that was Hu Yuying's strong suit, so she naturally wouldn't decline.
It could also subtly bring the two of them closer.
And it could get Hu Yuying to start tutoring him earlier.
It was simply killing two birds with one stone.
"Quan, remember, no matter what happens later, don't come out. Even if I get beaten, don't come to help me, understand?"
Noticing the confusion in Gao Quan's eyes.
Ye Liangchen patted his shoulder: "Do you trust me?"
"If you trust me, don't ask anything. I have my reasons for doing this, and you'll know everything later."
"Okay."
"Good brother, this time, Brother Chen will lead you to prosperity."
After speaking, he glanced at the time. In his dream, those people insulted Hu Yuying and assaulted her around 17:30.
Because on Monday, there was a lot of publicity at school.
It was already 17:22, so the time was about right. Ye Liangchen walked towards the school gate...