Crack!

Had he heard that right? Was this any way to treat someone who had saved your life?

Picking on the weak and fearing the strong, was he?

Jiang Wangshu was coldly furious, but he continued, "I don't know what other tricks you're planning to play, but I won't be afraid of you, and I'll... I'll never admit defeat."

Then stop shaking.

Jimo came no closer. He fished a soaking wet book out of the water, shook it gently twice, and set it on the counter.

"Why do you think the sprinkler system suddenly broke?"

Jiang Wangshu looked bewildered. "What do you mean? Weren't you here to tip them off?"

"No, I lied to them. Shouldn't you thank me for saving you?" Jimo said bluntly.

Before Jiang Wangshu could answer, a series of footsteps came from the doorway. Jimo helped him up. "We'll talk later. I'll go out and take a look first."

Seeing that Jiang Wangshu still wanted to struggle, Jimo spoke.

"Classmate, you don't want the teachers to find out about the fight, do you?"

Jiang Wangshu bit his lip and thought aggrievedly, What fight? I was the only one getting beaten.

Jimo softened his footsteps and walked to the doorway.

The corridor was empty, as though the footsteps just now had been an illusion.

Jimo breathed a sigh of relief.

He hadn't been spared by the jets of water either. He had been soaked through and felt miserable all over.

He took off his glasses to wipe them, then raised a hand and swept his wet bangs back.

It revealed a smooth, fair face and jet-black lashes. With his eyes lowered, he looked a little aloof, and strikingly beautiful.

"Click!"

Just then, a strange sound came from around the corner of the corridor. Jimo immediately looked over, alert, only to see a figure racing away and disappearing around the corner.

Jimo started forward, about to give chase, but forced himself to stop.

What's so interesting about a photo of a nobody like me? They took it, so what?

As long as the male lead hadn't been photographed, the mission was complete.

He couldn't stay here any longer.

Jimo turned around and pulled a reluctant Jiang Wangshu back to his dorm.

Most students at Easton Academy shared a room with one other person. As it happened, his roommate had gone home, leaving the dorm empty. Otherwise, given the current situation, he would have had a hard time explaining why he was hanging around with a special-admission student.

The class divide at Easton Academy showed itself in every aspect of life. This dorm alone was much better than the ones for special-admission students like Jiang Wangshu, and considerably more spacious.

Jiang Wangshu stood uncertainly in the middle of the dorm. This was his first time visiting a dorm for students who weren't special-admission students, and it was also the first time someone had shown him kindness.

"I told you I'm not one of those student council people. You believe me now, right? They wouldn't bring you back to their dorm, would they?"

"What are you spacing out for?"

A dry towel landed on his head. "Dry yourself off. You were in the water for so long, so don't catch a cold. Come have something hot to drink."

Jimo poured two cups of ginger tea, but Jiang Wangshu still didn't make a sound. If the living, breathing person hadn't been standing right in front of him, he would almost have thought he was alone in the dorm.

"What's going on?" he asked as he walked over to Jiang Wangshu, only to find him hiding under the towel, his eyes wet.

Jimo's eyes widened in an instant.

Wait, as I remember it, Jiang Wangshu never cried in the original story, no matter how badly he was bullied. And I didn't even do anything.

"Y-you... what's wrong?" Jimo was a little at a loss.

"I believe you're a good person."

Jimo: "..."

Maybe you shouldn't be so hasty.

So he really was the embodiment of truth, kindness, and beauty, believing whatever anyone told him.

Jiang Wangshu sniffled, his voice soft. "I'm sorry, it's just... since I enrolled, no one has ever treated me so well."

Jimo's heart nearly melted when he heard that. Listen to him. What was he saying? He was crying and still apologized first. What kind of life had he been living before this?

If the system had allowed it, he would have wanted to thump his chest and pledge his loyalty, saying he would protect him from now on.

"It's no big deal." Jimo pressed the hot tea into his hands.

Jiang Wangshu also felt a little embarrassed. He hurriedly wiped away his tears, drank the tea in one go, and set down the cup. Then he immediately stood up. "I'll head back first. I won't trouble you anymore."

That wasn't just something he said to be polite. Jiang Wangshu was now the biggest thorn in the student council's side. Although F4 hadn't issued an explicit order, everyone at the academy understood that Jiang Wangshu was to be completely isolated. Even the other special-admission students hardly dared approach him.

"Wait." Jimo couldn't bear seeing him look so pitiful and pushed him along. "Take a shower before you go back. My roommate won't be back today."

"That wouldn't be... bang!"

The bathroom door closed from the outside.

Holding Jimo's clothes, Jiang Wangshu moved his lips and let out the last word. "...right."

By the time he returned to his dorm building, it was already dark. Even so, Jiang Wangshu keenly sensed eyes watching him from the shadows. They were everywhere. After all these days, he was used to it.

He took a deep breath and looked straight over.

"Bang!" The person immediately slammed the door shut.

Jiang Wangshu pushed open his own door, and his roommate Wang Yue immediately stood up, tense. He swallowed. "W-Wangshu, you're back."

"You're leaving too?" Jiang Wangshu glanced at the suitcase by the bed.

"Yeah." Wang Yue spoke carefully. "The people in the next dorm agreed to let me move in. You know what my situation is like now. I really have no other choice. I'm very grateful that you helped me back then..."

As long as he lived with Jiang Wangshu, he would be bullied too, without end, unless he dropped out.

But now all he had to do was move out. As long as he stayed away from this person, everything would be resolved...

Wang Yue stopped halfway through. He couldn't go on, because Jiang Wangshu was staring at him with a look that saw right through him, and it made him ashamed to face him.

"Do you think I wanted this?" Wang Yue seemed unable to bear that look any longer and shouted, breaking down:

"All you had to do was put up with it and everything would have been fine, but you just had to stand up for me. Did I ask you to help me then? Everyone else moved out, and I was the only one who stuck it out until now. Jiang Wangshu, I don't owe you anything!"

"Bang!"

The dorm fell quiet again. Jiang Wangshu stood there for a while, then suddenly gave a small laugh.

He hadn't said a word.

It was just as well that they had all left. At least it would be peaceful.

He carefully took off the clothes he was wearing and placed them by the bed, thinking that he would have to return them when he had the chance.

Before Jiang Wangshu fell asleep, he hazily remembered that he seemed to have forgotten to ask the man his name.