Blood dripped steadily from Yue Feather’s arm onto the floor. He must have nicked an artery—the bleeding wouldn’t stop. His face grew paler by the second, legs trembling uncontrollably. Yet he pushed past his fear, shielding Silver Bell.

Silver Bell frowned, worry etched across her delicate features. A single drop of Yue Feather’s blood speckled below her teardrop mole. It lent her an eerie, haunting beauty.

Though Yue Feather had saved Silver Bell, the group was still losing. But the thugs’ attention had shifted entirely to them. Ji Fan seized that split-second opening. He burst free from the circle and yelled at Tong Junxiao, “Junxiao, roll left!”

Tong Junxiao hesitated for a heartbeat. Ji Fan was already airborne. Trusting him, Junxiao mustered every ounce of strength and rolled clumsily aside. A sickening crunch echoed in his ears.

The thug who’d beaten Junxiao lay slammed to the ground—Ji Fan’s boot had cracked his skull. Forehead and back of head took the impact. Ji Fan had pulled his kick at the last moment. Otherwise, the force alone might have shattered bone or snapped his neck.

Fear of death gripped the thug. Excruciating pain made him writhe on the ground, screaming, unable to rise. The thugs had only meant to bully with numbers. Now seeing real resistance, they grew cautious. The “injured” thug was yanked up, standing awkwardly as they reformed the circle.

Worst off was the one Silver Bell had kicked in the groin—he still couldn’t stand, completely out of commission. Yue Feather’s side fared little better. Only Silver Bell was unscathed; the rest bore bruises and cuts. Yue Feather bled the most. His knife wound gushed steadily, face ghostly pale. Too much blood loss could kill.

Silver Bell’s goal was achieved. Yue Feather had found his courage. Now they just prayed for police sirens.

“Damn it, you really want a beating?” the thug leader sneered.

“Get lost… you scum…” Yue Feather gritted out, clutching his numb, bleeding arm.

Pride drove the thugs now, not money. They charged again, fists flying. Yue Feather shielded Silver Bell, blood spraying across his face like a hellish demon—chilling to behold. Pain drowned his fear. He grappled with two thugs, taking hits with his body, swinging wildly just to land one blow.

The brawl lasted under thirty seconds before police sirens blared. Four officers poured from two cars. Outnumbered but radiating authority, they scattered the thugs like mice from cats. Every one was caught.

The crisis ended. Silver Bell let out a soft sigh of relief. Others felt weights lift too—until reality hit. Parents and teachers would hear of this. Scoldings awaited, minor but unpleasant.

Yue Feather, worst injured, was rushed to the hospital. Cold sweat beaded on his brow; his vision blurred. Quick treatment—bandages and a transfusion—would suffice. No hospitalization needed. The thugs covered all medical costs, a relief for Yue Feather’s tight budget.

“Didn’t know you had such guts,” Ji Fan boomed beside Yue Feather’s transfusion bed. His laughter cut sharply through the quiet ward.

“Ahem…” Yue Feather smiled awkwardly. “I… didn’t think much…”

“You’ve got guts. Even I’d hesitate facing a knife.” Ji Fan slapped his shoulder hard. “Heh, I admire you more every minute. True brother material—no coward!”

“Hmm…”

“Oh, who’s this?” Ji Fan turned to Silver Bell after lightening the mood.

She sat quietly beside Yue Feather, a gentle ponytail draped over her shoulder. Unbelievably beautiful yet radiating warmth—unlike Murong Qiuyu’s forced approachability, which still felt distant. Silver Bell’s ease was genuine, as if she saw herself as utterly ordinary.

Wei Xiaoxin and Tong Junxiao stayed until the transfusion ended. Shared fights forged deeper bonds. This was comradeship—trusting each other with your back.

Tong Junxiao, bruised and disheveled, grinned foolishly at Ji Fan, happier than he’d ever been. Wei Xiaoxin kept stealing glances at Silver Bell. Her natural beauty outshone any celebrity, magnetic to every boy.

“Ah… um…” Yue Feather stammered, unable to explain his ties to her. How could he say she’d appeared in his life and moved in? No one would believe it. And living together? In a world where early romance was taboo, that meant dating. Embarrassing, even with trusted friends.

Kaiyuan High School had plenty of couples. Once an all-girls school, it now had thirty girls to ten boys per class—some classes had only one boy. Almost every guy had a girlfriend, often pursued by girls. Exceptions were rare: Ji Fan (rejected confessions), Tong Junxiao (bullied into isolation), Wei Xiaoxin (too messy and creepy-looking), and Yue Feather.

Yue Feather wasn’t classically handsome—dark-skinned, with quiet charm. Girls wouldn’t chase him, but he could win one over if he tried. He refused. Love was sacred; dating meant marriage. Why be with someone you couldn’t marry?

Yue Feather zoned out. Silver Bell saved him. “I’m his sister.”

“Huh? Sister?” Ji Fan joked. “Thought she was your girlfriend!”

Yue Feather’s face flushed; he ducked his head. Silver Bell stayed calm, smiling faintly.

“Cousin sister?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Heh, Yue Feather, introduce her to me?”

A pang of jealousy hit Yue Feather. Just a joke—but what if someone really won her over? Ji Fan was far handsomer.

“Her name’s Silver Bell…” Yue Feather heard himself say seriously—the name he’d given her. “Silver like the metal. Bell like the chime.”

“Wow, gorgeous name, right Old Wei?” Ji Fan slapped Wei Xiaoxin’s back. Wei jumped up, then sank back down, scowling.

“What the hell? Can’t you see I’m deep in thought?”

“Bullshit! You were staring at his cousin!”

“I was contemplating life!”

“Yeah, right.”

“Pfft.” Tong Junxiao burst out laughing at the clowns.

“Junxiao, laughing after a beating? You seem happy.”

“Mm. I’ve got trustworthy friends now.”

“Huh. You’re even speaking louder.”

“Really?” Tong Junxiao scratched his head, grinning foolishly.

Silver Bell watched them, smiling softly as if remembering something.

“Oh—the blood bag’s empty.”

“I’ll call the nurse.”

Ah, time flies! We’re heading home already! Hey Yue Feather, how about you drink another bag of blood so we can chat a bit longer, okay?

I really don’t want to drink another bag of blood…