Suddenly, a figure appeared before my eyes. He cut through the wall of three delinquents and strode straight to me, descending like a guardian angel.

He spoke gently to me. Playing cards shot from his hand like magic, driving the thugs away. I couldn’t help but think… perhaps this was heaven’s gift to me—a guardian sent to repay the happiness I deserved.

“Li Ze… wow, wow, wow! Since when were you this amazing? Those guys are infamous around here!”

I didn’t answer Zhao Yi. Instead, I turned to the boy and said, “It’s over now… you don’t have to worry anymore.”

Hearing my voice, the boy’s hand—clutching my clothes tightly—slowly loosened.

Zhao Yi walked up beside me and blurted to the boy, “Your uniform… you’re from our school, right? High school or middle school section?”

I realized I’d been so focused on his face that I’d missed his clothes. Now I saw he wore the same light blue jacket as me.

The boy seemed wary of Zhao Yi. As he approached, the kid ducked behind me again.

I turned back reluctantly. “What’s your name, classmate?”

“I… I’m Lin Yuxuan. A high school freshman…” His eyes suddenly sparkled with a strange light, his voice carrying a trace of excitement. “Um… are you really… my guardian angel?”

I hadn’t expected him to be such a chuunibyou. Guardian angels? Impossible. I didn’t want to crush his dream, but I couldn’t invite trouble either.

“Lin Yuxuan? Hmm… sorry, but I’m not your guardian angel.”

His eyes dimmed instantly, replaced by deep confusion.

“But… whenever you’re in trouble, come to me. I’ll help if I can. If not, I’ll share your pain. By the way, I’m Li Ze. The glasses guy behind me is Zhao Yi.”

“Li Ze! ‘Glasses guy’?!” Zhao Yi protested loudly, but I ignored him.

Tears glistened in Lin Yuxuan’s eyes. He gazed at me pitifully. “Brother Li Ze… was that… true?”

I smiled. “Of course. And Lin Yuxuan, you—”

“Here!” he replied before I finished.

“I’ll help you in tough times, but promise me this: hold your head high. Be confident! ‘Yuxuan’ means ‘magnificent and dignified,’ right? Don’t waste that name.”

“Okay… I understand. I’ll try.” He lifted his bowed head. Though only about 167 cm tall, he looked far more spirited now.

“Master, accept your disciple’s bow!” a voice boomed behind me. I turned to find Zhao Yi bowing deeply.

“Zhao Yi, what’s this nonsense?”

He beamed with adoration. “Master Li Ze! Your moves just now—you’ve dominated romance for years! If that kid were a girl, she’d be totally smitten!”

I stared blankly. “What do you mean?”

Zhao Yi shouted, “Amazing! Subtle flirting is the scariest kind!”