MCFEM C3

Chapter 3: He Wouldn’t Just Love Me to Death and Back…

Watching Shen Mingjun collapse onto the ground in such a humiliating state, the other students kept sneaking glances at him, some openly, some more discreetly. Their group chat was blazing with activity, and a few busybodies even secretly snapped photos to share with those who weren’t present, letting them enjoy the gossip too.

Yu Bai, who had never liked him in the first place, couldn’t resist patting his shoulder in passing, shaking his head with a face full of mock sympathy.

The damage wasn’t great, but the insult was immense.

“Why are you even bothering with him?” Ying Jiayi couldn’t control the upward curve of her lips, nearly laughing herself to pieces inside.

She had been wondering whether it was really true, but seeing Shen Mingjun’s reaction now, it was as good as a confession without him saying a word.

The heavens had eyes—this fake pretentious guy’s true nature had finally been revealed.

“Just teasing him a bit.” Yu Bai shrugged. “By the way, where’s Gu Yang?”

They had been so busy commenting on the explosive gossip in the chat that when they looked around, they realized the main subject of it all had disappeared.

“Ah Yang said he was going to the bathroom.” The class monitor, leaning against the wall nearby, replied with a smile. Then, after checking his watch, he added, “But it’s been quite a while now. Honestly, it’s a little worrying.”

“What could possibly happen to someone his size? He probably snuck back to the classroom again.” Yu Bai scratched his hair. “Forget it, I’m heading back too. I don’t want to miss any more gossip.”

With that, he hurriedly grabbed his jacket, dragging Ying Jiayi with him as the two of them rushed out.

The rest of the students didn’t move, but their burning gazes were fixed on the class monitor.

“You’re all staring at me like that, so why not leave early?” The monitor withdrew his gaze from the window and said with a bright smile. Then he called out to the PE teacher: “Teacher Xu, our class will dismiss a few minutes early today. That way you can also finish class sooner.”

The PE teacher nodded in a hurry, and when he finally saw this crowd of privileged young masters and ladies stride away, he let out a long breath of relief.

Originally, Gu Yang had only been feeling a bit drowsy and wanted to splash some water on his face in the bathroom. But the nearest one was under maintenance, and he was too lazy to take a detour, so he simply followed the exit toward the teaching building instead.

After the beginning of autumn, the sun’s intensity had greatly weakened. As he walked along the corridor, a wooden trellis stretched overhead, with vines entwined across it. Thin specks of light filtered through, scattering over the flowerpots on both sides.

Gu Yang squatted down, hugging his knees as he stared at the wilted petals inside one of the pots in a daze. After a while, he took out his phone, snapped a picture, and began editing a Moments post.

Clatter.

Something dropped to the ground.

Right after, a laugh dripping with malice rang out from around the corner.

A few boys in uniform shirts stood together, grinning with bad intentions. At their feet lay a spilled cup of coffee, the brown liquid splattering over one boy’s white sneakers.

Facing off against them, a boy sat sprawled on the ground, coffee staining his clothes as well. His bangs hung too long, covering his eyes, his pressed lips betraying restraint and cold indifference.

“What’s this? Just walking along and you manage to get yourself knocked into? Don’t tell me you’re trying to stage an accident for compensation?”

“And that’s exactly why I can’t stand special admissions kids. One careless step and you reek of poverty. What bad luck.”

“Hey, you messed up my shoes like this. What are you gonna do about it? I doubt you can pay. Why not just kneel and apologize, huh?”

“It was you who bumped into me.” The boy on the ground replied coldly, bracing his hands against the floor to get up, but was viciously kicked back down on the shoulder by one of the boys.

Another burst of laughter erupted. Watching his embarrassed figure on the ground, the boys leaned on each other’s shoulders, laughing loudly, utterly enjoying themselves.

“If you don’t want to lick it, that’s fine too.” The instigator kept his leg raised, gesturing toward his shoe. “But these shoes are brand new. Since we’re classmates, I’ll cut you a deal—just ten thousand. Pay up, study god.”

“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue? Can’t afford to pay? Then obediently lick my shoes.”

“As if he couldn’t afford it—he even drinks fifty-yuan coffee.”

“Yo, but doesn’t our big study god collect a monthly scholarship? Should we report this? Clearly, he doesn’t need it anymore, if he can buy such expensive coffee.”

“Hahahahaha, sounds like a plan…”

The group grew increasingly excited, while the boy on the ground said nothing, his hand clutching his uniform trembling violently, knuckles turning white.

“What an ugly farce.”

At that moment, the boy who had been silently standing with arms crossed from the very start finally spoke. His silver-dyed hair gleamed, and his lips curved into a faintly mocking smile.

He clearly wasn’t the one leading this confrontation, yet the moment he opened his mouth, the others immediately shut theirs.

“Why don’t you try begging me? Who knows, if I’m in a good mood, I might let this slide.” The silver-haired boy’s tone was slow, almost charitable. “As for how you should beg, well… use your imagination, Song Yinxing.”

Gu Yang, who had been leaning against a pillar in the back, eating melon seeds from the sidelines, suddenly froze when he heard that name. His hand slipped, and his body stumbled several steps forward into the middle of the two groups.

Perfect timing, he ended up standing right between them. He lifted his head, his face filled with innocence as he locked eyes with the boys.

The suffocating atmosphere was disrupted by this unexpected intruder. The silver-haired boy’s once-relaxed expression immediately darkened, complex and restrained, as he looked down at Gu Yang from above.

The instigator who had been the first to stir up trouble looked like he’d seen a ghost, all his earlier bravado vanishing as he exchanged nervous glances with his companions.

Meanwhile, Yu Bai—leading the crowd that had left the gym and now reached the unlucky corner—came to a sudden halt when he saw who was ahead.

The students trailing behind him all crashed into one another.

“Why the hell is Nie Ying here? Didn’t he skip the whole day? I thought he wasn’t even at school…”

“Who knows? Wait—why did he run into Gu Yang? Could this turn into something serious?”

“I just saw Gu Yang’s Moments post—something about ‘all things must die,’ with a wilted flower picture. I thought he was emo-ing again somewhere.”

While they whispered, Gu Yang’s inner monologue began to play aloud once more.

[The boy standing aside had striking white hair. His frame was tall and imposing, his features deep-set and handsome, his sharply contoured face as if carved by a blade. The cruel curl of his lips only added a wicked edge to his intimidating aura.]

Yu Bai listened, dumbstruck, then glanced again at the person being described.

So apparently, miracles did happen—he was hearing Gu Yang use positive words to describe Nie Ying.

Weren’t these two supposed to loathe each other?

But then, the very next second—

[…Which idiot wrote this nonsense? I feel sick to my stomach.]

Yu Bai: “…”

Okay, that was more like it.

But Nie Ying’s expression instantly frosted over, his face dark as ice.

No doubt about it—he could hear the inner thoughts too.

Holy shit—that was Nie Ying!

Yu Bai couldn’t help covering his face, unable to imagine what kind of carnage was about to unfold.

Nie Ying—the “dominant young master” in The Arrogant Young Master’s Endless Pursuit of Love—the very one who ruined the protagonist shou’s future and was even indirectly responsible for his mother’s death.

As the only heir of Jiangcheng’s leading Nie Corporation, barring any accidents, he would inevitably inherit the vast business empire.

And as a rich young master raised in a sea of overwhelming wealth and power, he lived by only one principle: obey and live, defy and die.

The silver-haired boy’s gaze was like a blade, scrutinizing Gu Yang with such intensity it was as if he meant to peel flesh straight off his bones. His appearance was impeccable, undeniably superior, yet beneath it lay bone-deep arrogance and an overbearing force.

Gu Yang, however, looked as languid and uninterested as always. His lashes cast shadows over his eyes, his detached air making him seem slow to react even in such a tense situation.

[This must be the scene of their first direct confrontation. At this point, Nie Ying doesn’t act personally—he just sends his lackeys to do the beating.]

Later, the violence would escalate, and the gong would inflict increasingly cruel torments on the shou.

If he hadn’t just heard the name “Song Yinxing,” he might not have realized it.

Nie Ying, the center of attention, stood silently, watching Gu Yang emit voice after voice without moving his lips.

[And they call this domineering? He’s just a pompous brute.]

“Nie-ge, should we keep going?” The instigator asked cautiously.

He’d seen Gu Yang walk over without saying a word, while Nie-ge’s expression visibly grew uglier, so he hurried to show loyalty.

[Nie Ying, Nie Ying.]

The lingering, drawn-out syllables sounded almost intimate.

[Ha, just as I thought—he’s nothing but a lunatic.]

The lackey trembled and tried again: “Nie-ge…”

Nie Ying suddenly pulled out a smile, draping his arm around the boy’s shoulder. Using his greater height, he pressed down heavily: “What’s the rush? You so eager to have me fire the gun for you?”

The boy’s face drained of all color. For a split second, he thought his personal vendetta had been discovered. “H-how could I dare? Nie-ge, I only wanted to help you save face…”

Finding him stammering incoherently, Nie Ying lost interest and let go. He hated incompetence and mediocrity.

Even toys had to suit his tastes.

[So Song Yinxing… turns out it’s this guy?]

The voice rang out again. Nie Ying narrowed his eyes, mind working.

From earlier, he’d been hearing Gu Yang ramble nonstop. Normally, his dogs would’ve gone up to bite by now. How could they be so clueless, not knowing priorities?

Were they deaf? Could it be that only he could hear?

But one glance to the side showed the corridor corner packed with classmates, all huddled together. His own classmates, no less. Yu Bai even met his gaze, frantically waggling his eyebrows, making exaggerated hints.

Oh. They could hear it too.

Pathetic.

[Truly unlucky, Song Yinxing. Once Nie Ying latches on to you, your life is finished.]

“Latches on”…

The wording made Nie Ying’s face darken even further. Him? Waste time on a pauper?

In his impression, Gu Yang was nothing more than dodder vine—weak and parasitic, unable to live without attaching to others.

Although their family backgrounds weren’t that different on paper, there were countless factors that shaped one’s social standing.

“I’m handling private business. If you know what’s good for you, get lost. Don’t be an eyesore here.” Nie Ying said with contempt.

But Gu Yang didn’t even acknowledge him. Instead, he stepped forward to the boy on the ground, bent down, and lifted his face with a hand.

It was an exceptionally striking face, Gu Yang had to admit.

From a young age, he’d never seen ugliness in his social circle. The wealthy always picked attractive partners to improve their lineage, and later poured money into cultivating clothing, bearing, speech—subtle refinements that made people stand out.

But this youth clearly didn’t belong to that category.

Those pitch-black eyes resembled an unfathomable pool. They were shaped like phoenix eyes, the corners slightly lifted, cold yet not harsh. Even in such a humiliating state, one could see at a glance—he was not destined to remain ordinary.

Completely different from the vulgar pink-covered novel image of a triangular-faced black-haired boy being embraced.

So this was the shou protagonist, Song Yinxing?

[He really is quite good-looking. Guess that’s what it means to be a protagonist.]

The voice sounded again, making Nie Ying’s brow furrow.

This mysterious sound was as if it burrowed directly into his skull, entirely disconnected from volume or proximity.

[Why not just use his original look? Instead they give him that gaudy triangular snake-face. Who even is the target audience?]

What protagonist? What snake-face? What kind of nonsense was Gu Yang spouting now?

Nie Ying listened, utterly baffled, his brows knitting tighter, oppressive pressure radiating outward and forcing the Class Eleven onlookers to shrink back.

[For his brilliant future to be ruined like that… if they still end up together, then…]

[If I give him just a little push, wouldn’t Song Yinxing love me to death and back?]