Each word from Xia Xue felt like another tear on my wounded heart. Being bullied is something you never get used to, even after a hundred times.

I remained silent, my heart aching unbearably.

"Next time," Xia Xue said, each word deliberate, "next time, you must fight back, you must resist!"

I didn't know what to say.

"If you don't take action," Xia Xue said, "I'll stand up for you!"

I froze.

"If you think it's honorable for a girl to protect you, then keep burying your head in the sand!" Xia Xue gasped for breath. "I just can't stand it anymore. How can you endure this? They're trampling on your dignity!"

I looked at Xia Xue's angry face. There are very few people in this world as just as her, especially such a beautiful girl.

What would happen if Xia Xue stood up for me? She's beautiful, kind, popular in class, with many boys vying for her attention. And Zou Yang is cunning, manipulative, an absolute leader in the class. If these two clashed, it would be hard to say who would come out on top. But letting a girl stand up for me would be too pathetic.

"Do you hear me?!" Xia Xue asked again. This time her voice was louder, loud enough for Zou Yang and his friends to hear.

I nodded numbly, feeling a surge of strength within me. This time it's different from junior high; at least someone is on my side now!

"Good," Xia Xue smiled. Her smile was more beautiful than a blooming flower, making my heart tremble even more.

I will resist, I will fight back. I told myself, "It's time to take a stand."

"Then it's settled," Xia Xue stood up, hands in her pockets, and said in a cute voice, "I'll be waiting for you!"

I nodded, feeling a hint of sweetness in my heart. If only someone had cheered me on like this in junior high, maybe I wouldn't have been so weak for so long.

"Goodbye."

Xia Xue waved her hand and was about to turn around when I remembered something and quickly said, "I didn't ask you to stand up for me."

Xia Xue turned back, looking surprised. I hadn't been clear just now, afraid she might misunderstand, so I added, "What I mean is..."

When I said the next four words, my blood boiled, as if expelling all the weakness from my body.

"I'll do it myself."

Xia Xue's expression became even more astonished, but quickly turned into a sweeter, more adorable smile. "Okay!" Xia Xue nodded heavily, then turned and left.

Watching her leave, I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders. Making this decision wasn't as difficult as I thought.

As soon as Xia Xue left, Zou Yang and Li Jie approached.

My heart tightened, feeling nervous again. Instinctively, I lowered my head. "Bastard!" I cursed silently. Where did my courage go? After finally making up my mind, was I going to falter like this? As I thought about it, I couldn't help but lift my head, meeting Zou Yang's gaze.

Zou Yang and Li Jie stood in front of my desk. My breathing became heavier; I was afraid the next moment my head would be pressed against the desk, just like many times in junior high. Fortunately, Zou Yang didn't do that. Instead, he asked, "What did Xia Xue say to you just now?"

"Nothing," I replied flatly.

"I heard her say something like 'it's settled' and 'I'll be waiting for you,'" Zou Yang frowned.

"Nothing," I repeated.

"It seems like you're itching for a fight again," Zou Yang sneered, slowly raising his head.

I stood up suddenly, not giving him the chance, and quickly walked to the classroom door. Although I had resolved to fight back, I was clearly at a disadvantage now. If I were to fight alone against Zou Yang and his friends, I would only end up beaten and bruised.

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"Damn it, trying to run?" Zou Yang seemed to be chasing after me.

After being bullied by Zou Yang for three years, I still felt a deep fear of him, which occupied most of my heart. My footsteps couldn't help but speed up.

Suddenly, I heard Li Jie's voice from behind, "Zou Yang, don't chase, let's deal with this guy tomorrow."

Zou Yang cursed something, finally stopped chasing me, and returned to Li Jie's side.

I rushed out of the classroom, feeling a bit dejected. Choosing to escape at a critical moment, but it was still better than obediently standing there and getting beaten up.

Walking alone back to the dormitory, I reflected on Xia Xue's words and the scene just now. Suddenly, a message flashed through my mind: Li Jie told Zou Yang not to chase after me, and Zou Yang stopped. It seems that Zou Yang is not the boss among them, after all. But even if I realized this, what difference would it make? If Zou Yang really wanted to trouble me, Li Jie would still stand by his side. I shook my head, feeling a bit discouraged.

Back in the dormitory, they were all in chaos, joking and laughing with each other, as if I were invisible to them, having no effect on their lives at all.

Well, it's better this way. Each to their own, no one bothers anyone else. I took off my shoes and lay down on my bed, starting to think about the next step.

Although I had decided to resist under Xia Xue's encouragement, it wouldn't work without a proper plan.

In terms of physical fitness, I'm no match for Zou Yang. He's tall and strong, and two of me wouldn't be a problem for him. If I really want to fight, I can only catch him off guard, not giving him a chance to react. But how can I create that opportunity?

I fell into deep thought. Thinking was painful, even though I've read the Thirty-Six Stratagems since I was a child, none of them seemed useful now, especially in my current situation of being weak and alone. Thinking and thinking, I eventually fell asleep.

There's no way. But I won't let Zou Yang bully me anymore. I swear. I swear.

As I fell asleep, my fists clenched tightly.

The next day, I came to class with renewed vigor.

Since coming to Chengnan High School, this was the first time I slept so soundly. When you make up your mind to do something, your mood relaxes completely.

As soon as I entered the classroom, I saw Xia Xue. She was sitting in the center of the classroom, surrounded by several boys, all trying to make her happy.

We made eye contact, and I smiled at her. Xia Xue smiled back at me.

This smile filled me with even more determination.

The boys around her looked at me with confusion, wondering why Xia Xue was smiling at me, an insignificant figure.

I walked to my seat, inevitably glancing at Zou Yang. Zou Yang was sitting behind me, his face twisted in a cold smile. Usually, at this time, I would lower my head and sit quietly, but this time, I bravely looked at him.

Zou Yang was coldly smiling at me, waving his fist.

I gave him a contemptuous smile and sat down in my seat. Truly, this feeling was so satisfying, but the cost...

The cost came soon enough.

The first class was English. I listened attentively, but suddenly felt a hit on the back of my head. Something fell on my shoulder and rolled to the ground.

I looked down, puzzled. It was a disgusting chicken bone, still dripping with saliva.

A chicken bone... I turned around and saw Zou Yang eating packaged chicken necks, chewing loudly and making faces at me.

I glared at him hatefully and turned back to listen to the lesson.

"Ding!" Another chicken bone hit my head.

I turned my head sharply, glaring at Zou Yang again. My cheek muscles trembled with anger.

Zou Yang shook the chicken neck in his hand, making a provocative expression and laughing silently.

My reaction quickly caught the attention of the classmates around me. They looked at me and Zou Yang, puzzled. When Zou Yang threw another chicken bone, everyone in the class suddenly realized what was going on. They covered their mouths and chuckled.

I couldn't see my own expression, but I'm sure it was full of rage. I mouthed to Zou Yang, "Don't push me!" while shaking my fist.

Zou Yang danced around, his expression exaggerated, looking extremely pleased with himself.

The English teacher soon noticed the commotion at the back of the class. She tapped the desk with a ruler and said, "Quiet down, you can play later after class."

—Look, in the eyes of adults, the bullying between classmates is just children playing around.

So, most of the time, reporting to the teacher isn't wise. As long as there's no fighting, no one really cares.

Xia Xue also noticed the situation at the back of the class. When the teacher turned back to the blackboard to write, she quietly changed seats with Liu Zihong and sat next to me, whispering, "Is Zou Yang bullying you again?"

I had made up my mind, so I smiled at her and said, "It's okay."

Then, I added those four words again: "I'll do it myself."

But Xia Xue didn't smile; she looked worried. "But he's bullying you like this, you..."

"It's okay, just watch," I smiled again. Then, I turned my head to look at Zou Yang.

Zou Yang's expression was now ugly.

Gone was the earlier ease and mockery, replaced by anger and ferocity.

Strange, he's the one bullying me, why... I suddenly realized, it's because Xia Xue is sitting next to me.

So that's how it is, I thought, with a smile on my lips.

Then, I reached out and touched Xia Xue's hair — yes, Zou Yang saw this scene clearly.

"What are you doing?" Xia Xue looked at me strangely.

"It's nothing," I whispered, "just expressing gratitude. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have had the courage to resist for the rest of my life."

Xia Xue looked pleasantly surprised, "Really? Are you going to... now?"

"Shh..." I made a gesture for her to be quiet and blinked, "Just wait and see."

Before I could finish speaking, another chicken bone hit my head. That bastard Zou Yang, he had chewed the chicken neck so finely that it was broken into countless pieces to throw at me.