CHAPTER 81: CHAPTER 75: THE KEY STEP TO COUNTERATTACK (LONG CHAPTER)_3

"You’re scared my days are too peaceful, aren’t you?"

Xi Luting was suddenly at a loss for words.

In truth, it was precisely because of these issues that she was so eager to communicate with Han Lie, not wanting him to truly see her as that kind of woman.

To say she currently liked Han Lie *that* much—well, that really wasn’t the case.

Calling him ’male god’ in private was partly because her affection for him was quite high, but more importantly, it stemmed from admiration.

At Brother Ham’s instigation, she had wondered: Could I first build some rapport and then, after things calm down, let our relationship progress naturally?

But it turned out Han Lie wasn’t playing along.

At the crucial moment, that damn man was still the same iron-hearted, budding tyrant.

When Han Lie got tough, she naturally backed down.

She explained with a hint of pleading, "I didn’t mean that! Honestly, I don’t have any other male friends. Who else would I turn to if not you?"

She thought her demeanor was sufficiently gentle and her hint clear enough; it should have worked.

However, Han Lie remained unmoved.

The jerk frowned deeply, maintaining a particularly detestable and distant attitude, firmly enforcing his boundaries.

"I don’t care what your relationship with them is or how you like to carry on.

You have your life; I have my aspirations.

We’re essentially on parallel paths.

Your pack of simps—Yu Xueqin, Kong Yize, and the like—they’ve been awfully loud lately, making their presence intensely felt. You find them annoying, don’t you?

Want me to help shield you from them?

Sorry, I can’t, and I have no interest in helping.

All the jokes I’ve made with you before are, as of this moment, null and void. Goodbye!"

Han Lie’s abrupt hostility completely stunned Xi Luting.

After mulling over the names Yu Xueqin and Kong Yize a couple of times, realization dawned on her.

"No! Han Lie, don’t misunderstand..."

However, just as she was about to explain, Han Lie had already turned his back, waved dismissively, and walked away without a backward glance.

Xi Luting was so furious she almost blacked out, stamping her feet frantically.

But she wasn’t angry at Han Lie’s unfeeling departure; she was angry with herself for not having thought things through properly.

In truth, she was currently in a bit of a bind.

Yu Xueqin was the president of the student union, a third-year senior, and one of Xi Luting’s admirers.

Kong Yize was the class president of the Year ’13 International Trade class, another admirer.

One possessed authority and capability; the other, wealth and good looks. They were among the rare campus elites who genuinely dared to pursue her.

And the trouble stemmed from her own self-exposure.

Ever since she began to openly and ostentatiously ’pursue’ Pan Ge, both her admirers and Pan Ge’s admirers had become agitated.

There’s no need to detail the specific incidents; their antics made headlines daily.

At this point, anyone who dared approach her and Pan Ge would undoubtedly be targeted and collectively attacked by them.

So she felt Han Lie’s misunderstanding was reasonable. Anyone would have read too much into it.

Xi Luting wanted to cry but had no tears.

I really didn’t mean to use you as a shield...

Han Lie would believe her now, but in her past life, she *had* done such a thing.

So Han Lie’s decision to use this as a pretext to lash out today wasn’t entirely baseless.

Firstly, he didn’t want to get entangled in that mess so soon.

Secondly, he refused to be led by the nose by Xi Luting again.

What kind of man gets bossed around by a woman, unable to take the lead?

Real men who like to be on top, stand tall with me!

Lord Lie nonchalantly headed to the cafeteria, leaving the scoundrel behind to stamp her feet, simmering with resentment.

"You damn jerk! What kind of person do you take me for?"

"I honestly didn’t want you to take the blame!"

"You won’t even give me a chance to explain?"

"Fine! You... I’m going to sort out Pan Ge!"

Pan Ge was sleeping soundly on a large velvet bed at home when the ringing phone suddenly jolted him awake.

He groggily answered, and his temper instantly flared.

I’m already home, and you still dare to chase me down and bully me?!

So it’s just eat, sleep, and beat up Pan Pan, is it?

Alright, just you wait!

Pan Ge sneered, hung up, opened WeChat, searched for the number he had already inquired about, and sent a friend request.

A notification popped up—

You have sent a friend request to Ardent Flare. Awaiting verification.

The Black-hearted White Lotus had finally taken a crucial step in his counterattack.