"Have you ever experienced school bullying, that feeling where you see light and want to reach out, only to discover it's a flame that can burn everything to ashes? You were ready to be a moth to the flame, but..."
"But you realized it was all a farce, and he ultimately abandoned you, so you came back dusted and dirty?"
Ren Yuanhao finished her sentence in one breath and then plunged his hand into the cold mountain stream. The biting chill helped him maintain his composure.
"That's right, I was dumped, toyed with in front of everyone."
Zhou Lin hugged her knees. Strangely, she had never confided in anyone about these things, yet she poured out her heart to this stranger beside her without reservation.
Perhaps that was the benefit of strangers.
"Beep beep beep, the system detects significant emotional fluctuation in the employer. Warming up is recommended to increase the probability of a good review."
Ren Yuanhao's mind became clearer. He stood up from the stream bank. The sunlight filtering through the trees fell onto his hair, making Zhou Lin feel as if she had touched a faint ray of light again.
"Sister, falling is not scary for a person. What's scary is getting stuck in the mud and never having the courage to get up again." Da Feng Novel Network
"Can I still get up?"
"Of course. With me here, you are capable of anything!"
...
After Ren Yuanhao's guidance, Zhou Lin finally started her journey back to school. Along the way, she gazed blankly at the fleeting scenery outside the window, occasionally exchanging a few words with him.
Fortunately, Ren Yuanhao was a complete goofball. He alternated between cheesy jokes and adult humor, finally coaxing a smile onto her face.
After about another two hours of travel, the two of them returned to Aicheng City.
Ren Yuanhao parked his mission vehicle, a Ferrari, outside a large shopping mall, immediately drawing the attention of passersby. As Zhou Lin was about to get out, he stopped her.
"Wait, how can we let a graceful lady open her own door?"
Ren Yuanhao smiled gently, then got out and very gallantly opened the door for her.
Zhou Lin had never dreamed of such treatment. However, she lacked the confidence to face the envious gazes of the people around her, and got out of the car with her head lowered like an ugly duckling.
"Sister, be confident. You got out of a Ferrari, not a tractor," Ren Yuanhao extended his right hand, mimicking the gesture of inviting a dance partner at a ball, his tone relaxed.
Zhou Lin's cheeks turned red. She timidly reached out her delicate hand, but she always felt that the surrounding gazes were strange and unconsciously lowered her head again.
"You're doing great, sister. I believe you can do even better."
"Where are we going now?"
"To buy clothes, of course. Let's go."
Zhou Lin stopped shyly and mumbled, "But, the money I have..."
"Sister, that's not something you need to worry about. Leave it to me. As long as it makes you more confident, I will go through fire and water for you."
Ren Yuanhao linked her arm and led her into the mall.
As soon as they entered the mall, they saw a large group of scantily clad beauties weaving through various dazzling clothes and accessories, enjoying themselves.
Zhou Lin, however, was like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden. Fortunately, with Ren Yuanhao leading the way, she wasn't too nervous to take a step.
Not long after, Zhou Lin actually encountered classmates from her department at Tianyi University of Science and Technology.
Zhou Lin suddenly stuck close to Ren Yuanhao, pressing her head down even lower. Ren Yuanhao had just noticed her strangeness when he saw two women from the dress display racks walking towards them. Da Feng Novel
"Who do I see? It's you, you little slut."
The scantily clad beauty was named Fang Shanshan. It was said that she was the daughter of a certain electronics technology company. In her own words, attending university was just an experience; she would eventually return home to manage the family business. She was incredibly arrogant.
"I must say, after all this fuss, you look somewhat presentable. It's a pity that your temperament is nine parts rustic and one part foolish; it can't be changed."
The other person was Fang Shanshan's best friend, Yan Ling. She was tall, beautiful, and wore sunglasses, looking exactly like a movie star.
The two of them sang in harmony, their beautiful faces paired with sharp tongues. They were precisely the type Ren Yuanhao disliked the most.
"Ladies, your attire is rather revealing, and your tongues are sharp. Are you waiting for your sugar daddies?"
Ren Yuanhao pulled Zhou Lin, who was trying to resist, into his arms and whispered in her ear, "Sister, we're a couple now, don't blow our cover."
Hearing this, Zhou Lin finally behaved more naturally.
"What kind of bullshit is that? Where did you dog come from!" Fang Shanshan cursed.
"It is indeed quite smelly. I wonder what the lady ate for lunch to spew such foulness from her mouth."