The sudden appearance of a towering figure gave Li Youzhi a real fright.
In his panic, he lost his grip on his e-scooter and nearly tumbled to the ground. The barrel of purified water he was carrying fared even worse, hitting the pavement with a loud clang as it rolled away.
It wasn't just the man's height that was the issue—the guy was built like a tank. Standing there, he felt like a mountain blocking out the sun and moon.
Looking at the man’s massive, muscular arms, Li Youzhi frowned, picked up the water barrel, and stood up. "Classmate, what do you want with me?"
"You're Li Youzhi, right?"
The brute glanced down at Li Youzhi, who was currently hoisting the water barrel, and with a single hand, effortlessly hauled the e-scooter upright and pushed it aside.
Li Youzhi caught on immediately. This was some lackey Zhou Jingyao had sent—no, wait, an enforcer!
Realizing the man had come to settle scores on Zhou Jingyao’s behalf, Li Youzhi glanced at the Jiaotong University logo on the man’s basketball jersey and chuckled. "Classmate, you’re not from the Agricultural University, are you?"
"Never mind where I'm from. I’m asking you, what’s the deal with the clothes you’re wearing?"
Seeing that Li Youzhi wasn't the least bit intimidated, the man felt slighted and grabbed Li Youzhi by his hoodie.
"Hey!"
At that exact moment, a student on the men’s dormitory balcony was collecting his laundry. Seeing Li Youzhi being grabbed by the collar, he immediately bolted back into his room.
"It’s bad, it's bad! The hero who paid for love is being taken down!"
"Where? Where?!"
"Downstairs! Right under our building!"
"Damn it, what are we waiting for? Protect our brother!"
With a flurry of chaos inside the dorm, a group of boys in various states of undress—some in flip-flops, some barefoot, some in boxers, some shirtless—came pouring out.
Seeing Li Youzhi being hoisted nearly off the ground, the crowd immediately surrounded them.
"The hell, you trying to start a fight?"
"Put Brother Zhi down!"
"Where’s security? Go get security!"
Finding himself surrounded by a mob of students, the brute faltered. He looked deep into Li Youzhi’s eyes and said, surprised, "I wouldn't have guessed you were so popular at your school."
Li Youzhi wasn't panicking anymore. It wasn't just because of the dorm students coming to his defense; from his observations just now, he realized this man wasn't a total brute.
Although the man was posturing aggressively, he was actually showing restraint. Furthermore, the fact that he started by asking about the clothes suggested he wasn't particularly close to Zhou Jingyao. If he were one of her usual sycophants, he would have surely heard about everything that had happened over the past two days.
Thinking this, Li Youzhi gave a light chuckle.
"Classmate, if I’m not mistaken, Zhou Jingyao sent you, didn't she?"
The man didn't respond, which was as good as an admission.
Realizing he had guessed right, Li Youzhi shrugged. "I’m sure she didn't tell you how this whole situation came about."
He turned toward the students cheering for him and shouted, "Brothers, can someone fill this classmate in on the situation with Zhou Jingyao?"
Spurred on by Li Youzhi, a dozen boys began blurting out the gossip that had been circulating across the Agricultural University for the past two days.
Hearing the story, the man was clearly stunned.
"That’s not right. The Zhou Jingyao I know isn't like that. I've known her since freshman year of high school. She’s so innocent..."
Noticing the confusion and internal struggle in the man’s eyes, Li Youzhi finally understood—this guy was a veteran simp!
Li Youzhi let out a soft sigh and tapped the man’s hand, which was still gripping his collar.
"Brother, I’m going to ask you a few questions. Think about them."
Without waiting for the man to agree, Li Youzhi began: "You’ve known her for so many years; you must love her, right?"
The man nodded without hesitation.
Li Youzhi grinned. "And in all these years, have you ever held her hand? Kissed her? You’ve given her so much, haven't you? Aside from this time today, has she ever given you any real hope?"
As Li Youzhi asked each question, the grip on his collar... slowly, bit by bit, loosened.
Finally, Li Youzhi’s heels touched the ground again.
He straightened his crumpled hoodie and patted the man’s arm.
"Brother, good luck."
With those words, Li Youzhi lifted his e-scooter, propped it up, shouldered the water barrel, and began walking slowly toward the east dormitory building.
The temperature was at its peak for the day, and sweat was streaming down Li Youzhi’s body. With every step he took, a drop of sweat fell from his cheek and bloomed like a tiny black flower on the pavement.
Silently watching Li Youzhi’s retreating figure for a moment, the man slowly turned around.
*Ding-dong.*
The phone in his pocket buzzed. He pulled it out to see a voice message from Zhou Jingyao.
*Yaoguang:* "Did you find that lunatic?"
Glancing at the group of Agricultural University students who hadn't yet dispersed, the man, Xing Yu, picked up his phone.
*Xing Yu:* "I found him."
*Yaoguang:* "Great! Hurry up and rip that shirt off him! Make him apologize to me! Remember to record a video!"
*Xing Yu:* "I’m sorry, Yaoyao. I can’t do that."
*Yaoguang:* "What do you mean? What do you mean you can’t? You aren't telling me you can't beat him, are you? If he resists, just hit him! You’re so strong, I’m counting on you right now—don't let me down!"
*Xing Yu:* "Yaoyao, remember my birthday sophomore year? I bought you that necklace. I used the money my mom gave me for new basketball shoes to buy it. I wore my old, tattered shoes to play for the whole semester, and my feet were blistered after every game. But you... you never wore that necklace once. Actually, Yaoyao, there’s something I’ve wanted to tell you."
*Yaoguang:* "What is it?"
*Xing Yu:* "I have a girlfriend now. She goes to my school. She’s not tall, and she’s not as pretty as you. But whenever I play, she’s there. Every time I score, every rebound, every block, she jumps up with joy. And after every game, she hands me a towel, a bottle of water, and takes my dirty jersey home to wash... I’ve realized that if only one person is giving and the other just takes, that isn't real affection. So..."
He looked back at Li Youzhi’s now-diminutive figure and sent the final message.
"Good luck."
As he sent that final voice note, the group of Agricultural University students listening in erupted in cheers.
"Yeah!"
"Brother, you’re a legend!"
"Congratulations on escaping the sea of misery!"
They rushed forward, patting him on the shoulder, their faces beaming.
"What number is this now? All of Zhou Jingyao’s known backups on campus have quit. Counting this guy, she’s probably run dry, right?"
"It had to be Brother Zhi—he’s basically a simp-repellent machine!"
"Three sentences to make a simp quit, Brother Zhi is the GOAT!"
*BEEP!*
*Received 353 Awe Points!*
*Huh?*
Inside another dormitory building, Li Youzhi, huffing and puffing as he lugged the water barrel up the stairs, blinked.
*Hey!*
*Even this counts as income?*