"It seems classmate Ye also understands this matter," Lin Yan couldn't help but tease as she looked at the boy's darkened face.
After teasing Ye Hao, Lin Yan's recent frustration from the male lead's pestering immediately eased.
According to the plot, she should start applying to overseas universities. She already had a target, but she didn't really want to study abroad. After all, now was a prime time, and she could develop better by staying in China. However, she still needed to go abroad. She needed initial capital, so she would go travel after the college entrance examination. After all, some plot points still had to be followed. Still, she hoped he could be more diligent, at least to not leave any regrets!
The boy in front of her clearly had a rebellious face, but when facing her, he was like a tamed loyal dog. Every time she faced him, her heart couldn't help but soften.
Days passed by, and as the college entrance examination approached, all students became busy. Amidst the high-pressure studies, everyone seemed to have lost their usual interest in gossip, let alone the outdated gossip about Lin Yan and Gu Ting.
However, everyone also noticed that the school bully Ye Hao had recently started to study hard. Not only had he stopped skipping classes, but he also slept less in class, and his demeanor seemed to have become much gentler.
Some people also noticed Ye Hao's difference towards Lin Yan, but everyone favored Gu Ting more, as they were a better match. Moreover, every time Ye Hao went to find Lin Yan, her expression was always a bit stiff. It seemed their relationship wasn't very good. Yet, Ye Hao's behavior was very enthusiastic, as if he had transformed into a different person!
Gu Ting also learned that Ye Hao had approached Lin Yan many times, but he also knew that the "hero saving the beauty" incident had brought them closer. Although he knew Lin Yan wouldn't fall for Ye Hao, he still felt uncomfortable, so one day he took the initiative to find Ye Hao.
"Ye Hao, I hope you have some self-awareness," Gu Ting blocked Ye Hao on his way home.
The boy in front of him was even taller than him. His somewhat long hair blurred his features, and Gu Ting realized he had never truly seen Ye Hao's face clearly. Upon closer inspection, Ye Hao's appearance was actually not inferior to his own.
Gu Ting's heart trembled, but then he remembered Ye Hao's reputation. He was no match for himself.
"Oh? What does the great school hunk Gu mean by that?" Ye Hao asked playfully, taking his schoolbag off his shoulder and placing it by his feet. He actually wanted to beat the boy in front of him, but he remembered what he had promised Lin Yan and couldn't cause trouble before the college entrance examination, so he had to endure it. Although he didn't understand why Lin Yan didn't pursue those thugs or the mastermind behind them, he believed she had her reasons.
"Are you feigning ignorance? Everyone knows I'm pursuing Lin Yan, and we'll be together after the college entrance examination." Gu Ting's tone was confident, and his gaze towards Ye Hao was filled with disdain. "You like Lin Yan too, right? It's not surprising you like her, as she's so outstanding. But you should understand that you are not from the same world."
"Whether we are from the same world or not is not for you to decide!" Ye Hao said calmly. He knew that everyone in the school thought Lin Yan and Gu Ting would end up together, but as long as Lin Yan didn't say it, he wouldn't believe it!
"Ye Hao, aren't you just relying on the fact that you saved Lin Yan to keep bothering her? But don't you know what time it is? With your grades, you can't get into a good university, but Lin Yan is different! Your pestering is causing her so much distress!" Gu Ting said indignantly. "Ye Hao, if you truly like her, then let her go! If she can't get into her dream university because of you, that's a lifelong matter!"
"Isn't that the opportunity you gave me?" Ye Hao scoffed.
"What did you say?" Gu Ting was stunned for a moment, seemingly not reacting to Ye Hao's words.
"I said, isn't this the opportunity you gave me? Hero saving the beauty, a debt of gratitude? Great school hunk Gu, do your classmates who think you are graceful and distinguished know about this side of you?" Ye Hao's face was full of mockery. "Also, do you dare let Lin Yan know that you orchestrated that incident? Hah! Hypocritical!"
"What are you talking about! What incident, what orchestration! I don't know anything!" Gu Ting's eyes flashed with guilt, but he immediately refuted Ye Hao's words.
"Is that so?" Ye Hao's lips curled upwards, his face filled with malice. "You probably didn't expect that the thugs you hired actually left evidence. Great school hunk Gu, one of those thugs injured me, and how could I let them off so easily?"
Ye Hao unbuttoned his shirt cuff, revealing a faded scar on his arm. "Every time I see this scar, I think, if I hadn't been there that day, would you have gotten a few scars yourself, great school hunk Gu?"
"I don't understand what you're saying!" Gu Ting still didn't take the bait, but his heart grew more panicked. He was somewhat afraid. He truly knew that the incident was orchestrated by him. If those thugs really left any evidence, if everyone found out about this... what would he do?
"Gu Ting, I let you off the hook, why are you provoking me?" Ye Hao took a step forward, closing in on Gu Ting. "You probably don't want everyone to know what kind of person you are, right? After all, you live so tiringly every day, pretending so hard, and you wouldn't want it to be easily destroyed, would you?"
"One last time, Gu Ting. Don't appear before me again, or I believe you cannot afford the consequences!" Ye Hao reached out and patted Gu Ting's shoulder, then picked up his schoolbag, slung it over his shoulder, bumped Gu Ting aside with his shoulder, and left without looking back.
Gu Ting, left standing there, was drenched in sweat in the not-so-warm early spring weather. Why did he know about this? Had he told Lin Yan? Why would those thugs have left evidence? No, Ye Hao couldn't let Ye Hao reveal this!
No, it wasn't that serious. He had only asked those thugs to help him stage a scene; he hadn't asked them to hurt anyone. Besides, Lin Yan's attitude towards him hadn't changed much after all this time, which meant Ye Hao hadn't told Lin Yan about it. Although he didn't know why he hadn't said anything, he could plan things out properly.
Ye Hao was just a brute. Lin Yan would never fall for him; he had already lost completely on this point. He would make Ye Hao watch helplessly as the woman he liked became his girlfriend, and watch them enter their dream university together. Even if he had evidence, Lin Yan would only like him. And Ye Hao was destined to be a loser!