Under the severe corrosive properties of concentrated sulfuric acid, the bespectacled boy writhed on the ground, screaming in agony.
Having sown the seeds of evil so many times, he had never imagined that today, he would finally reap the bitter consequences.
For him, Xu Fan felt not the slightest pity; with an indifferent glance, he simply uttered a word.
"Scram."
Never having encountered such a terrifying person before, the bespectacled boy, hearing this command, did not hesitate. Enduring the pain, he scrambled and rolled away in retreat.
Guan Shimeng's gaze, following the departure of the bespectacled boy, returned to Xu Fan. She stared at him, her expression complex and bewildered.
Xu Fan turned his head to see Guan Shimeng in such a state and couldn't help but smile.
"What's wrong, were you scared?"
Guan Shimeng was but a naïve girl who had yet to experience the world. In the past, Xu Fan had merely accompanied her as an ordinary high school student.
Now, he had revealed his true nature, and Xu Fan seriously doubted whether this girl could accept such ruthless methods.
"Not at all."
To Xu Fan's surprise, this girl who wouldn't even dare to kill a chicken, having just witnessed such a scene, showed not a hint of fear.
At that moment, her face broke into a sweet smile as she approached Xu Fan.
"Xu, Xu Fan, thank you..."
In a moment of astonishment, Guan Shimeng opened her arms and hugged Xu Fan tightly.
Xu Fan found it hard to imagine that the girl who would blush at the mere holding of hands under others' scrutiny was now boldly embracing him.
"Uh..."
Yet what surprised Xu Fan even more came next. Guan Shimeng, disregarding the stares of those around them, mustered the courage and boldly kissed him on the lips.
After a brief, light kiss, like a dragonfly skimming the water, Guan Shimeng's tender lips shyly pulled away.
Looking at the Zijing Middle School beauty who now seemed too shy to meet his gaze, Xu Fan felt somewhat dazed.
What did she mean by this?
"What's the matter? Aren't you afraid of others seeing?"
Could it be, Xu Fan thought with a smile, that this was the courage she had cultivated from being in the public eye during nearly a hundred thousand live streams?
"I'm not afraid."
Guan Shimeng, clenching the hem of her clothing, bravely lifted her head and met Xu Fan's eyes.
"Xu Fan, I like you!"
After a brief hesitation, she courageously voiced the feelings in her heart.
Perhaps, after her best friend and Xu Fan confirmed their relationship, expressing such feelings would make others see her as a home-wrecker or a flirt, but at this moment, Guan Shimeng had decided to risk everything.
Maybe Xiaodie was right; she had been too timid. Sometimes, to get what one desires, one must be resolute!
"Xu Fan, I like you, whether you like me or not, I like you!"
As if worried that Xu Fan hadn't heard her determination, Guan Shimeng reiterated her feelings.
Having spent these days with Guan Shimeng, and with all that had happened between them, to say Xu Fan felt nothing for her would be impossible...
But thinking of that quirky girl in his mind, facing Guan Shimeng, Xu Fan truly didn't know what to say.
"Silly girl, we're still students now; academics come first, let's not talk about these things..."
Torn, Xu Fan borrowed the very lecture that Zhou Keren would often recite to him when she had nothing else to do.
As for whether he was in a position to say such words?
Xu Fan gave a bitter smile. Did he really have any other choice?
The celebrated beauty of Zijing Middle School, Guan Shimeng, born into privilege, had bravely made her confession for the first time, only to be met with Xu Fan's unhesitating rejection.
For her, it might have been even more crushing than being criticized by tens of thousands during a live broadcast.
Head bowed in dejection, she remained that way for quite a while before finally looking up.
Her smile was as radiant as ever, the one that he was so familiar with. The girl, brave and confident, lifted her head and gazed at him.
"It's okay, I can wait. One day, you will fall in love with me. Before then, I will strive to become the person you like," she said.
Xu Fan listened and couldn't help but smile ruefully. Only a silly girl like her, whom he had called such for so long, could say something like that.
"Shimeng, I'm afraid we can't go choose the gift together today..."
Xu Fan didn't want Guan Shimeng's family to know about the situation with the guy in glasses.
Knowing the trouble caused by the live broadcast, it was easy to imagine how Guan Shimeng's parents would deal with it.
Xu Fan didn't want to see Guan Shimeng's path come to an end over this. He intended to resolve the issue himself.
Brother Yi had to be punished!
"It's okay, I understand," she said.
True to her nature, Guan Shimeng showed no resentment towards this outcome, nodding gently in agreement.
"Xu Fan."
Just as Xu Fan was about to leave, Guan Shimeng suddenly spoke up, stopping him.
"Is there something else?"
Xu Fan turned around, somewhat surprised to see the girl.
"Actually, you don't need to prepare any gift for me. If you could come celebrate my birthday, that would be the best gift," she said.
Guan Shimeng's words caught Xu Fan off guard. He stared blankly at her and asked, "Uh, you knew?"
In principle, inviting her along today was under the pretense of buying a gift for Xia Xiaodie, and he thought he had disguised it well; she had no reason to guess...
Scratching his head awkwardly, Xu Fan asked, "Since you knew, why did you still agree to come with me?"
Knowing this, there would be no element of surprise left, and Xu Fan really couldn't understand why this silly girl would act as if she was oblivious, staying by his side.
"I, I didn't think too much about it. I feel that as long as you can spend a bit more time with me, I... I'm satisfied," she replied.
Guan Shimeng's answer left Xu Fan standing there, lost for words.
She was clearly a princess who could have the stars plucked from the sky for her at any moment, yet for him, she was content with the tiniest of pleasures, mingling with the dust below.
Perhaps this feeling was what one would call being moved.
Xu Fan smiled and looked at the naive girl before him, saying, "Don't worry, I'll definitely be there on your birthday."
...
After parting ways with Guan Shimeng, Xu Fan returned home and the first thing he did was take out his phone to send a WeChat message to Miaomiao.
The conflict between himself and Brother Yi didn't just involve Guan Shimeng, who was by his side, but also Miaomiao.
Since Brother Yi was capable of something as severe as disfigurement, Xu Fan couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't harm Miaomiao as well.
Now, as he sent a WeChat message to Miaomiao, there was no reply for a long time.
She had always replied instantly to his messages; the lack of response this time made Xu Fan grow anxious.
If this girl, whom he had never met, was hurt because of him, Xu Fan really wouldn't know what to do...
"Hmm? She replied!"
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