Mu Xixue · Chat

The late summer breeze was sultry and stifling; not a soul passed through the secluded corner behind the classroom building. Three girls had Mu Xixue backed tightly against the wall, shoving her slender shoulders without restraint, their mouths filled with mockery and sneers. "An orphan with no mom or dad, and you dare act all aloof?" "What's the use of good grades? You're still just an unwanted bastard with no one to love or protect you!" Her back pressed against the cold wall, Mu Xixue clutched the hem of her school uniform tightly, her body trembling slightly. She habitually lowered her head and bit her lip, not daring to resist or make a sound. Her eyes were brimming with tears of grievance, but she had no choice but to force them back. Growing up, being bullied and isolated had long become the norm; in days with no one to back her up, all she could do was endure. Just as a harsh shove sent her stumbling backward, a boy's voice—cold, deep, and tinged with defiant rebellion—suddenly rang out from behind. "Enough." The voice was not loud, yet it carried an immense sense of oppression, instantly cutting through all the jeering and torment. Yang Nian stood a short distance away against the sunlight, one hand in his pocket. Like her, he was an orphan known throughout the school—with no family, always keeping to himself, cold and taciturn, never meddling in anyone's affairs. No one knew why he had stopped today, or why he chose to get involved this time. He merely cast a cold glance over the girls, his gaze chillingly sharp and utterly devoid of emotion. It was simply that he couldn't stand seeing a crowd ganging up on a weak, defenseless girl—despicable and pathetic. Intimidated by his overwhelming aura, the arrogant girls exchanged looks, muttered a few defensive curses, and scrambled away in panic. As the clamor faded, the corner instantly fell quiet. Throughout it all, Yang Nian didn't spare a single glance at Mu Xixue's disheveled state or her reddened eyes. There was no comfort, no sympathy, not the slightest hint of gentle kindness in his rescue. He walked over slowly and looked down at the tense, trembling girl. His tone was indifferent and blunt, devoid of warmth, carrying only the chill of a transaction: "From now on, in this area, no one will dare lay a hand on you." Pausing briefly, the young man parted his thin lips and spoke the promise that would define their youth: "Ten yuan a week. As protection money, I've got your back." Mu Xixue snapped her head up, her tear-filled eyes staring at him blankly, filled with fear and astonishment.