Chapter Seventy-Six

Huang Feifan’s instinct for self-preservation was astonishingly strong. He waved his hands frantically, trying to explain, “I didn’t mean to talk about you all. I just wanted to play a joke on Wang Tianqi. I never meant to offend any of you.”

“So do we owe you our thanks for drawing us all into this?” Wang Tianqi said with a mischievous grin, her fists itching for action. Lin Zimo and Chen Siyu standing beside her were just as eager.

Seeing the situation unfold, Zhang Yi sensed trouble. He quickly said to them, “I’ll excuse myself for a moment—I need to use the restroom.” Finding a convenient excuse, Zhang Yi escaped the brewing disaster, though his mind lingered with concern for Huang Feifan, hoping he’d still be alive when Zhang Yi returned.

Once Zhang Yi left the room, Huang Feifan cried out in despair, “You scoundrel! Abandoning your brother when he needs you most? Zhang Yi, if you dare come back, I swear I’ll make you regret it!”

“Zhang Yi knows us well. As for you, clueless about women, you’d better worry about yourself first!” Wang Tianqi, Lin Zimo, and Chen Siyu were fully prepared. What followed was an episode of such violence that it was not suitable for minors.

When Zhang Yi returned, feigning a bathroom break, he could still hear Huang Feifan pleading for mercy from inside. Afraid he might not make it out if he entered, Zhang Yi waited until the commotion died down. Even after ten minutes, the sounds persisted, prompting him to stay put.

It wasn’t until another fifteen minutes had passed that silence finally settled. Zhang Yi entered the room to find Huang Feifan in a pitiful state, his face covered with lipstick marks, pale as a ghost. In truth, Huang Feifan hadn’t been bullied so much as used by the girls as a canvas to test their new cosmetics.

Seeing Zhang Yi, Huang Feifan hurried behind him, his face so thickly made up that expressions were unreadable. In a voice torn between laughter and tears, he begged, “Zhang Yi, you must stand up for me! While you were gone, they tormented me, ruined my face. Never in my life have I suffered such humiliation.” His voice quivered with the threat of tears.

Zhang Yi patted Huang Feifan’s back and addressed the girls, “Even as a joke, wasn’t this a bit much? Don’t you think you’ve gone too far?”

Wang Tianqi snorted, “He called us violent women first! This is the perfect punishment. If he ever says it again, I won’t guarantee his safety.”

“You’re thinking about a next time?” Zhang Yi retorted, his anger barely contained. “Is that really your plan? You want to torment my brother again? Wang Tianqi, you know he was talking about you when he called you violent—your actions prove it! Even Chen Siyu and Lin Zimo got swept up in your madness.”

Chen Siyu, feeling a pang of sympathy for Huang Feifan, realized Zhang Yi had a point. It was their own interpretation of his words that led them to treat him this way. Now, though an apology might change nothing, regret lingered.

“I think that’s enough for today. Huang Feifan, let’s go home.” Zhang Yi put his arms around Huang Feifan’s shoulders, guiding him away to prevent further harm. This had been the greatest humiliation Huang Feifan had ever endured. Last time, Zhang Yi had suffered a serious injury to his arm to protect him; once again, Zhang Yi had come to his rescue, leaving Huang Feifan at a loss for words, unable even to cry.

Zhang Yi glanced at the stubborn makeup on Huang Feifan’s face and said, “What did they do to you? It’s outrageous. Come to my place—I have makeup remover. Your face is so thickly painted, you shouldn’t go to Tianyuan Team practice until you’ve forgiven them. That’s my advice, understand?”

Huang Feifan nodded slightly. “Thank you, Zhang Yi. Once again, you’ve saved me. How can I ever repay you?”

Zhang Yi smiled, “If you want to repay me, then be my brother for life—never abandon me.”

“Why does that sound like something you’d say to someone you love?” Huang Feifan managed a laugh through his tears. Zhang Yi’s words were oddly touching.

Zhang Yi replied, “Listen, if we ever go our separate ways, we’ll help each other through hardship. Brothers are the ones who truly understand you for a lifetime. You can always find another woman, but you only have one brother.”

Laughing and chatting, the two headed home, their bond strengthened. Meanwhile, Chen Siyu and Lin Zimo, still at Wang Tianqi’s house, pondered their actions toward Huang Feifan.

Chen Siyu spoke solemnly, “I think Huang Feifan was right. Maybe we were a bit too harsh; being called violent women isn’t entirely unjustified.”

Lin Zimo nodded in agreement, “Rain Xingyue has called me that before too. I overreacted and ended up…”

“Enough,” Wang Tianqi said, dejected. “We’ll apologize to Huang Feifan later. We were wrong, and the harm we caused was excessive. He’s never worn makeup before, and now we might have driven him away. I’ve never seen Zhang Yi so fierce.”

Lin Zimo said, “Talking about it now won’t help. We’d better figure out how to properly apologize to Huang Feifan. After what we did, he’ll hardly want to see us.”

The three found themselves troubled. All their lives, it had always been boys apologizing to them for bullying. Now, having hurt someone else, they lacked the courage to face Huang Feifan. If given another chance, they’d have treated it as a harmless joke, but such scenarios were nothing more than wishful thinking.

Due to some trouble at Wang Tianqi’s house, Chen Siyu and Lin Zimo left early, bringing the tea party to a close. When Zhang Yi took Huang Feifan home, the gathering ended as well.

The two parted ways without much exchange. After saying goodbye, Lin Zimo returned home and went upstairs. As she entered, Lin Xiaxin approached, asking, “Did you go see Rain Xingyue again today?”

Lin Zimo snapped, “All you ever think about is him, him, him! Can’t you see I’m in a bad mood? You gossip too much.”

“Wow, you’re feisty today. Tell me honestly, did you go out with Rain Xingyue?” Lin Xiaxin persisted, but Lin Zimo felt like hitting her, barely restraining her temper as she replied coolly, “No, I didn’t. I haven’t seen him all day. I told you I went to a friend’s tea party.”

Lin Xiaxin pressed further, “But did you see Rain Xingyue? I bet your heart races when he’s around.”

Lin Zimo couldn’t take it anymore. She pinned Lin Xiaxin onto her bed. She’d said all day she hadn’t seen Rain Xingyue, but her sister wouldn’t listen. Finally, she explained so forcefully her voice changed, “I told you I haven’t seen him all day! Can’t you learn something useful instead of prying into my life? If you keep bothering me when I’m in a bad mood, I won’t acknowledge you as my sister anymore!” This was Lin Zimo’s final warning to Lin Xiaxin.

Lin Xiaxin, seeing the seriousness in Lin Zimo’s words and expression, realized she wasn’t joking. She felt a bit guilty and apologized, “Sorry, sis. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have asked so many questions and upset you.”

Lin Zimo got up from the bed, replying coolly, “That’s better. Knowing too much isn’t good for you. I advise you not to pry into my affairs. When you need to know, I’ll tell you. Now, please leave my room.” She pointed to the door, and Lin Xiaxin left without another word. After the door closed, Lin Zimo patted her own cheeks. It was the first time she’d ever been harsh to her sister.

“I didn’t mean it, Lin Xiaxin. You just talk too much—don’t blame me,” Lin Zimo murmured. Though she felt a pang seeing her sister’s disappointed face, she believed she was right; her own affairs shouldn’t concern outsiders.