Nine days had passed in the blink of an eye since Tang Lingyi started school.
After enduring a week-long torment from her period, Tang Lingyi finally felt refreshed, energetic, and full of appetite—everything tasted delicious.
Especially since she'd arranged with Peng Yuan that he'd come to her classroom every day at eight to hang out. That way, she could start her mornings with his handheld gaming console. In fact, the battery drained so fast that Peng Yuan was now forced to carry a spare one along.
To Tang Lingyi, going to school each day simply meant meeting up with a good friend to play video games.
Though in her eyes, she and Peng Yuan were nothing more than friends who happened to play games together, outsiders definitely didn't see it that way.
After all, Tian Suqing—who had never touched video games before—was suddenly enjoying herself immensely with Peng Yuan, playing together every morning and even sharing lunch at noon. It was hard not to assume they were seeing each other romantically.
But Peng Yuan had no strange intentions toward Tang Lingyi. Aside from the trauma Tian Suqing had previously caused him, the current "Tian Suqing" struck him as very boyish—more like a bro than a girl—and she even occasionally cracked crude jokes that only guys would make.
For example, a few days ago, while playing a single-player adventure game, Peng Yuan defeated a boss and obtained an exceptional long spear. His party consisted of himself (a swordsman) and an NPC girl (an archer), neither of whom could equip the weapon.
Just then, Tang Lingyi chimed in, "Just give it to that girl."
"But she's an archer—she can't use a spear."
"Doesn't matter! Maybe she likes it better than a bow."
"Why?" Peng Yuan didn't get it.
"Because it's long," Tang Lingyi said, bursting into laughter.
It took Peng Yuan a while to realize she was making a dirty joke.
Assuming Tang Lingyi was referencing personal bedroom preferences, he asked curiously, "So… you like the long ones?"
"Of course I do!" Tang Lingyi replied—but she assumed Peng Yuan was asking about her own body's "length."
"Oh, so long ones really turn you on, huh?" Peng Yuan pressed further, not out of any ulterior motive, just genuine curiosity. Given their current friendly rapport, he thought it was okay to ask.
But Tang Lingyi instantly changed her expression like a Sichuan opera face-changing performer and said with disdain, "No, no—you've got it all wrong! I'm not gay; why would I like that?"
Although Peng Yuan often found Tang Lingyi's remarks baffling, he couldn't deny that this "new" Tian Suqing was far easier to get along with than the original.
Today was Saturday—a day without classes—but since Qin Xiu insisted she come to school, Tang Lingyi decided to spend the day in class playing games with Peng Yuan.
Fortunately, she'd already told Peng Yuan the day before to come to the classroom on Saturday to keep her company—otherwise, she'd have been stuck alone.
But something strange happened. Tang Lingyi waited in the classroom for a long time, yet Peng Yuan never showed up. Curious, she decided to head to his dorm to check on him.
Peng Yuan had once casually mentioned that he lived in Building No. 2 of the West Campus dormitories, so she headed there first, planning to call out for him from outside.
Honestly, aside from missing her gaming partner, she was also motivated by hunger—if Peng Yuan didn't show up, she wouldn't have lunch.
So Tang Lingyi stepped out into the hallway, which was empty. Just as she reached the stairwell, a voice suddenly called out from behind her.
"Where are you going?"
Startled, Tang Lingyi spun around to see Wu Feng standing there, having appeared out of nowhere.
"I… I'm just going to look for a classmate," she answered timidly.
She was genuinely a little afraid of Wu Feng—not for any specific reason, just because of how abruptly and mysteriously he kept showing up.
"Alright, go ahead," Wu Feng said dismissively, turning to walk away in the opposite direction.
He didn't seem to be following her, but Tang Lingyi knew deep down that this guy was always watching—she just couldn't see him.
The thought of being constantly surveilled made her skin crawl.
As she walked, her eyes suddenly widened in horror.
If Wu Feng was always watching her… did that mean he spied on her even when she used the restroom?!
She didn't know if it was true, but the mere possibility gave her goosebumps.
After leaving the English Language Building, she faced another serious problem: she had no idea where the West Campus dorms were.
With no choice, she began asking passersby for directions. After persistent effort, she finally reached the West Campus area.
At Qianlan University, each dormitory stood independently, surrounded by lush groves of trees that made her feel as though she were strolling through the winding paths of an ancient scholarly academy.
Before she even reached Dorm Building No. 2, she heard a familiar voice coming from the nearby woods.
"Give it back!"
Was that Peng Yuan?!
Startled, Tang Lingyi tiptoed toward the sound, picking up a wooden stick from the ground as she crept closer.
Peering through the trees, she saw Peng Yuan surrounded by a group of guys—the leader unmistakably Yu Weilin, the same person who'd confronted her on her first day.
"Give it back? You've got some nerve, Peng Yuan," Yu Weilin sneered, tossing Peng Yuan's game console in his hand. "You really think you can just hook up with Tian Suqing using this piece of junk? Bet that used goods feels great, huh?"
"We're not together! We're just normal friends!" Peng Yuan flushed, desperately protesting.
"Normal my ass! Where were you heading so early today? Obviously, to see her again, right? Don't you know I've wanted her for ages? Are you trying to mess with me on purpose? Hand over your meal card too—I heard she's been swiping it for meals. How sweet. Give it here."
Peng Yuan panicked. "No way! All my money's loaded onto that card! If you take it, I won't have anything to eat!"
"You think I actually want your crappy card? This is just a lesson. Keep your distance from Tian Suqing, and I'll return everything."
Peng Yuan hesitated but firmly shook his head. "No! Tian Suqing's really struggling right now—she doesn't even have money for food…"
"Don't push your luck! Don't forget your dad's company still depends on my dad's contracts!" Yu Weilin snapped, signaling his cronies. "Grab his card!"
At that command, the others moved in to seize Peng Yuan's meal card.
As the saying goes: "The kind are trampled, the meek are ridden." Peng Yuan's naturally timid and introverted nature meant he rarely reported being bullied—making him an easy target for this kind of abuse.
But here arises a deeper question: if kindness always invites harm, should one still choose to be kind?
The answer is this:
Repay kindness with kindness. Repay evil with evil.
Peng Yuan clearly hadn't found this answer yet—but someone else had.
Seeing the group about to rob Peng Yuan, Tang Lingyi burst out from the bushes, waving her stick and shouting, "Stop right there, you bastards!"
The sudden interruption froze the group in confusion.
Yu Weilin, stunned to see Tang Lingyi, blurted out, "How'd you get here?"
"None of your damn business! Let Peng Yuan go right now, or I'll smash your skull in!" Tang Lingyi brandished her stick, trying her best to sound menacing.
Yu Weilin burst out laughing. "Pfft—hahahaha! Can you get any cuter, Miss Tian? Look at you—frowning like a puppy, eyes wide, lips pouted… you're absolutely adorable!"
But after his laughter faded, he quickly turned serious again. "Alright, I'll let him go—but only if you agree to two conditions."
"What conditions?"
"First, you never sit with him again. Second…" Yu Weilin smirked. "…spend one night with me."
He'd been lusting after Tian Suqing's beauty for a while. That day when he'd offered Tang Lingyi money, his real intention wasn't to humiliate her—he genuinely wanted to sleep with her.
Of course, his interest wasn't love; he just found both Tian Suqing and Tang Lingyi's looks perfectly matched to his tastes. Merely glancing at them sent his hormones racing.
Yu Weilin was blunt to a fault. Having heard rumors that Tian Suqing was working as a prostitute, he actually believed it—and was ready to act as a customer. But instead, he'd been met with Tang Lingyi's furious insults about his mother, which had enraged him.
"Fine! Should I strip right here?" Tang Lingyi agreed without hesitation, tugging at her collar.
Yu Weilin was utterly shocked—she actually said yes! His eyes lit up. "Wait, not here—I'll call for a big room!"
He turned to his friends. "Hey, you guys go ahead and—OW!"
While he was distracted, Tang Lingyi dashed forward and whacked him hard on the head with her stick, making his eyes bulge.
Clutching his head, Yu Weilin staggered forward but didn't fall. Whirling around, he roared in fury, "You little bitch—OW!"
Before he could finish, Tang Lingyi struck him again—square in the face.
Yu Weilin lunged at her, trying to grab the stick—but Tang Lingyi was quicker. She swept his legs out from under him with a low kick.
Off-balance, Yu Weilin crashed hard onto the ground.
Seizing the moment, Tang Lingyi unleashed her self-invented "Dog-Beating Stick Technique" on him without mercy.
In a flurry of blows, the sturdy wooden stick snapped in half with a "crack!"—and Yu Weilin lay sprawled on the ground, blood trickling from a cut above his eyebrow.
His cronies, still just students at heart, had never witnessed anything this violent and stood frozen in shock.
While they were stunned, Tang Lingyi bent down, snatched the game console and meal card from Yu Weilin's hand, then charged straight through the group, grabbing Peng Yuan's wrist.
"Run!" she yelled.
And with that, Tang Lingyi dragged Peng Yuan away as everyone watched, dumbfounded.
The sight of that graceful yet ferocious figure fleeing left Yu Weilin's friends gaping like statues, unable to move.
That girl… she's absolutely terrifying!
After about ten seconds, Yu Weilin finally dragged himself to his feet. Wiping his bloody face, his rage-filled eyes turned toward his paralyzed friends.
"What are you waiting for?! GO AFTER THEM!"