Xu Weiyu stood before Xu Mo, studying her carefully for three full seconds.

Dusk had faded. The sun dipped below the horizon, stars scattered across the night sky, and moonlight spilled over the world.

"Hi, I’m Xu Weiyu." Her smile softened, though it carried a hint of formality. She extended her hand. After a second’s hesitation, Xu Mo reached out and lightly clasped her small palm.

"Since you’re Lin Ran’s friend—and Lin Ran’s Su Nisheng’s friend—you’re my friend too. Come on. Let’s head to school. Big sister’ll take you to teach some bullies a lesson."

Lin Ran had just lit a cigarette and turned to leave when Xu Weiyu gently tugged his sleeve. "Wanna come watch?"

"Watch what?"

"Yeah, watch what?" Xu Weiyu sidled up to Xu Mo, slipping her hand into hers with intimate familiarity. She paused for a beat, head slightly bowed. "The dorm. They’re in the dorm."

"Then to the dorm."

"You two go ahead. I’ll finish this smoke and catch up." Lin Ran stayed rooted as the two girls walked away. Xu Weiyu and Xu Mo murmured quietly; Xu Mo kept her head low, replying in soft tones. It couldn’t be helped.

Lin Ran smoked in silence. It was just how things were. Sometimes, at certain ages, you felt as insignificant as dust. But so long as you weren’t twisted like a maggot, pride could still be earned—slowly, through effort.

When his cigarette burned out, Lin Ran entered the school grounds. The guards let him pass—Xu Weiyu had arranged it. He jogged to catch the girls waiting by the dorm entrance.

He stopped behind them.

Xu Mo’s face had gone pale. Her lips pressed tight—a clear sign of nervous tension. Lin Ran hesitated, then gently ruffled her hair.

She looked up, eyes wide with silent reproach.

"I’ve got you."

Xu Mo gave a soft hum. The hostility in her gaze dissolved. Hand in hand with Xu Weiyu, she climbed to the third-floor dorm. Xu Weiyu shoved the door open.

Inside, three girls huddled on beds, scrolling phones while a drama played onscreen.

They froze at the sight of Xu Weiyu. Their little clique meant nothing here. She belonged to another world entirely—someone who shouldn’t even cross their paths.

*Why was she here?*

The video paused mid-scene. Xu Weiyu draped an arm over Xu Mo’s shoulders and strode in. Her gentle smile had vanished, replaced by icy authority. Lin Ran lingered behind her, watching her smirk.

"Who bullied my sister?"

The girls’ expressions locked. They glanced at Xu Mo, head still bowed, ready to speak—but Xu Weiyu’s question needed no answer.

"You know who you are. Slap yourselves. Hard. Make it loud enough for the whole room to hear. Keep going until my sister says stop."

"Five seconds. No sound? Tomorrow, I’ll flood this campus with naked photos of you." Xu Weiyu’s smile turned glacial. Lin Ran sucked in a sharp breath behind her.

*...This sweet-faced girl’s words were terrifying.*

"Five. Four. Three. Two. One."

Silence.

The three girls clenched their jaws, unmoving. Xu Weiyu suddenly leaned close to Xu Mo’s ear. "It’s okay. I know what you’re thinking. I’ll switch your dorm—anywhere you want. Even a single room. No revenge. No rumors. No one dares. Just tell me who did it."

Xu Mo bit her lip hard. Lin Ran stayed quiet. The room held its breath. Ten seconds passed. Xu Mo stayed silent. Lin Ran sighed softly.

She tried to speak—tried to force sound from her throat—but nothing came out.

*This girl helping her must be so disappointed...* She’d tried so hard. But her voice wouldn’t work. Her mind flooded with memories: slaps across her face, kicks to her stomach. Hatred burned inside her, yet her voice stayed trapped.

Xu Mo’s head dipped lower. Her eyes reddened.

The dorm was deathly still.

But Xu Weiyu wasn’t disappointed. She pulled Xu Mo to the first girl sitting on a bed. "Did she hit you? Just nod or shake your head. No shake means she did."

Xu Mo didn’t shake her head.

*WHAP!*

Xu Weiyu’s slap echoed through the room. The girl burst into tears but didn’t dare move.

Another slap—crisp, symmetrical red marks bloomed on her cheeks.

Xu Weiyu dragged Xu Mo to the next girl.

"Her?"

No head shake.

*WHAP!*

*WHAP!*

Last girl.

"Evil meets evil, right? Her too, I bet."

No head shake.

Two more slaps.

The three girls gritted their teeth, eyes burning with fear and venom. Xu Weiyu ignored them. She gripped Xu Mo’s hand. "You get it now?"

A flicker of light returned to Xu Mo’s eyes.

"I... I get it."

"Your turn."

Lin Ran watched from the doorway as Xu Mo raised her thin arm.

*CRACK!*

The sound was sharp, startling—impossible for such a frail frame. The slapped girl stared, stunned. This day had never crossed her mind.

"Slap until you’re satisfied."

But Xu Mo only struck once. She whispered to Xu Weiyu, "That’s... enough."

"Fine. Next one."

Xu Mo followed obediently.

..................................................

Ten minutes later, it was over. Clean. Final.

Xu Weiyu led Xu Mo out of the dorm, exchanging contacts. "Call anytime. Need a new dorm? Just say the word. Or move in with me—I rent a place off-campus. It’s lonely alone."

Xu Mo hesitated. Xu Weiyu patted her shoulder. "Think it over."

"Guess I’ll head out then?"

"Thanks," Lin Ran murmured.

"Eh? You saw my violent side." Xu Weiyu tilted her head, grinning.

"But it was cool."

"Evil meets evil, huh? Bye then! Su Nisheng owes me another favor now. Hehe."

Xu Weiyu left without looking back. Lin Ran turned to Xu Mo. "Night class? Or shall I walk you home?"

"Home." Her voice was barely audible.

"Okay." He pulled out a tissue, gently wiping her tears. He still carried her backpack—*damn, high school bags were heavy*.

"Xu Weiyu’s reliable. If trouble comes again, ask her."

"Okay... thank you."

They walked under streetlights. Golden light spilled over Xu Mo’s porcelain face. Lin Ran had nothing more to say. They walked in silence.

Summer night breeze brushed stray hairs across her shoulders.

The world hushed. Only distant car engines broke the quiet. Lin Ran’s phone rang. Su Nisheng’s name flashed. He hesitated a second, then answered.

"Hey, Su. Clean work. Thanks."

"Told you. Xu Weiyu failing? Unlikely. Listen—I checked something."

"What?"

"You’re with Xu Zhi’s sister Xu Mo now, right?"

"Yeah. Walking her home."

"Bored earlier, dug up her Twitter. Barely posts—just faceless lifestyle pics. Legs. Collarbones. But her latest tweets? Shared several ‘content creator’ accounts. Last one said... *‘Been debating becoming a paid content creator. If this gets 500+ likes, I’ll drop my first white-stockings maid pic set.’*"

Lin Ran froze for two seconds.

Su Nisheng’s voice stayed low—Xu Mo heard nothing. She walked quietly beside him, eyes brighter than before. Lin Ran scratched his head, mumbled "Got it," chatted briefly, then hung up.

He pocketed his phone and faced Xu Mo.

"Hey."

"What?" She looked up, biting her lip.

Lin Ran pulled up the account on his phone, VPN active, and showed her the screen.

"Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-YOU!!!!!!!"

Xu Mo’s eyes flew wide. Her face flushed crimson, then tears spilled over. Lin Ran’s gentle expression felt like a death sentence.

"D-D-DON’T TELL MY SISTER!"

"Not my place. Your sister should handle this."

"Please... *please*..." She clutched his sleeve. Tears dripped onto her white T-shirt, leaving tiny dark spots.

Lin Ran sighed.

"No."

"Don’t... Brother Lin Ran... *please*... I won’t do it again... Brother Lin Ran..."

He studied her face.

Xu Mo stared back, tears streaming, eyes begging. Lin Ran used his last tissue to wipe her cheeks. When tears kept falling, he finally relented.

"You called me ‘Brother Lin Ran’... Fine. Explain. I won’t tell Xu Zhi. No lies—I’ll know."

Xu Mo’s tears slowed. She nodded hard. They walked on.

Home was near.