Seeing Taotao like that only intensified my feelings of guilt. Our conversation later felt somewhat absent-minded, and as I walked her back to the dormitory, I told her, "I might be busy for the next few days, so I might not be able to come see you all the time." Taotao nodded silently, without saying a word. Watching her go upstairs, I felt a sense of loss creeping over me, with a myriad of complex emotions flooding my mind, unsure of what I was really thinking.

On the way back, I kept my head down, feeling like my mind was overrun with weeds, thoughts of the flour plan, thoughts of Xia Xue, thoughts of Taotao, all tangled together. Suddenly, I heard someone call my name from the roadside, "Wang Hao!"

The voice was familiar, and my heart sank as I looked towards the direction of the voice, only to see Su Xiaobai standing under a willow tree. Known for his charming demeanor and ever-present smile, Su Xiaobai always seemed to be in high spirits, but since our last encounter, my impression of him wasn't very positive. Walking over with a stern expression, I asked, "What's up?"

Su Xiaobai didn't seem to mind, still wearing his usual smile, as if we were old friends. "Just escorted Taotao back, huh?" he said with a grin.

"Yeah," I glanced at him, "You've been standing here for so long after evening self-study, why aren't you heading home?"

Su Xiaobai continued to smile, "I've been standing here not just today, but also yesterday and the day before, for about a week now." Although he had a smile on his face, there was a hint of sadness in his eyes.

I was puzzled, "Why?"

Su Xiaobai didn't say anything, just looked at me with a smile.

Then it dawned on me, "Are you waiting for Taotao?!"

Su Xiaobai nodded, "I envy you, being able to walk her back. I don't even have the right to talk to her."

From what Su Xiaobai said, it seemed like he had been waiting here for Taotao for more than just a day or two, which surprised me. I forced a smile, "Su Xiaobai, are you kidding? Do you really need another girlfriend? You just feel challenged because Taotao ignores you, right? Please, spare Taotao. She's a good girl."

"No, you've got it wrong." Su Xiaobai said, "I've genuinely fallen in love with Taotao. I've never met a girl as pure and clean as her before. She outshines all my previous girlfriends. They may have had a beautiful exterior, but they were all shallow and superficial. None of them can compare to Taotao's freshness and uniqueness."

While I didn't disagree with Su Xiaobai's assessment of Taotao, I felt uncomfortable with his characterization of his previous girlfriends. Although Xia Xue was no longer his girlfriend, it seemed like Su Xiaobai included her in that group. I said unhappily, "Thanks for the praise, Su Xiaobai, but please, don't pursue Taotao. She's mine."

Su Xiaobai looked at me with a playful glint in his eyes, "Taotao is yours? What about Xia Xue? Do you still want to be with her?"

At the mention of Xia Xue by Su Xiaobai, my cheeks twitched. I must have looked like a startled cat with its tail stepped on. This question was too difficult to answer. Although I wanted to be with Xia Xue in my heart, could I be honest with Su Xiaobai? Besides the risk of him leaking the information, wouldn't that give him more incentive to pursue Taotao?

"It's none of your business," I pondered for a moment before coming up with a perfect answer, "I want them both. As someone with countless girlfriends like you, Su Xiaobai, you surely don't mind, right?"

"Hehe, having two girlfriends is never too much." Su Xiaobai chuckled, "There are plenty of women around, but only one that fits in your heart. Wang Hao, don't deceive yourself. You clearly love Xia Xue. When you first got together with Taotao, it was just to make Xia Xue jealous. Otherwise, you wouldn't have forgotten about Taotao so easily when Xia Xue came back to you."

I remained silent, unable to deny that Su Xiaobai had hit the nail on the head with his psychological analysis.

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"Like Xia Xue, go be with her," Su Xiaobai said. "I'll help you with Brick, I'll help you with Wheat. I'll make sure you're safe and sound in the city. How about that? And all you need to do is stay away from Taotao."

"You're dreaming!" I glared at him angrily. "I'll never let Taotao fall into your hands!"

Su Xiaobai's expression changed slightly, unable to maintain his gentlemanly smile. He sighed, "Wang Hao, I see you have a prejudice against me. Is there a misunderstanding between us? I admit, I have many girlfriends, but I only play around with them. But it's different with Taotao. I genuinely love her and want to give her a happy life."

Su Xiaobai's words were sincere, but I still shook my head resolutely. The thought of Taotao being with Su Xiaobai made me particularly uncomfortable. Or perhaps, it was uncomfortable for me to imagine Taotao with anyone.

Su Xiaobai sighed again, "Wang Hao, I didn't expect you to be so fickle. Having Xia Xue isn't enough for you, you also want to have Taotao. I've begged you so humbly, can't you give me a break? I don't need you to do anything, just stay away from Taotao a little, give me the chance to get close to her. Wang Hao, you have to think about it. Usually, it's others who owe me favors, but if you agree to this, it will be a favor I owe you."

Su Xiaobai's favor was indeed valuable, but I still shook my head firmly.

Su Xiaobai said somewhat unhappily, "Wang Hao, if it weren't for me breaking up with Xia Xue last time, how would you have had the chance to be with her?"

I was stunned, staring blankly at Su Xiaobai. "Wha... what?" "Last time, in the garden, you were with Taotao, and I was with Xia Xue," Su Xiaobai continued, "After you left with Taotao, I told Xia Xue that we should break up because I fell in love with Taotao. Otherwise, do you think Xia Xue would have come back to you so readily?"

In that instant, I felt like I heard the sound of my heart breaking. Was I just Xia Xue's second choice? Did Xia Xue come back to me because she realized she loved me, or because Su Xiaobai had dumped her?

Although the result was the same, the reasons were different enough to send me from heaven to hell. I felt light-headed, lacking any strength. Su Xiaobai continued, "Do you believe that if I wave to Xia Xue, she will eagerly come back to me?"

I didn't have the courage to shake my head or nod.

"If you don't want to lose Xia Xue," Su Xiaobai's tone turned somewhat threatening, "stay away from Taotao. You, someone who already has one girlfriend, should be grateful, yet you dare to dream of having two? Let me tell you, don't make me get serious, or I'll make sure neither Xia Xue nor Taotao end up with you!"

I understood. In Su Xiaobai's eyes, I was still that student who was knocked down by Hong Li, still that student who needed him to intervene to avoid further beating. Although he greeted me warmly and smiled in response, he never respected me.

In Su Xiaobai's eyes, having one girlfriend should be cherished, yet what right did I have to have two girlfriends, especially Xia Xue and Taotao, who were both incredibly beautiful?

"Hehehe..." I suddenly laughed. I didn't know why I was laughing, but I felt my laughter was particularly eerie.

"What are you laughing at?" Su Xiaobai frowned slightly.

"If Xia Xue is the kind of girl who can leave me at your beck and call..." I said, feeling like my heart was being pierced by something, cold and painful, "then, whether I want her or not doesn't matter."

Su Xiaobai looked at me in amazement, his eyes filled with disbelief. Perhaps he didn't expect "someone like me" to have such integrity, to be able to say such words with confidence.

"Xiaobai, this is the last time I'll call you 'Brother Xiaobai'," I said. "Because you've lost the respect that would make me call you 'Brother'. How I fare in the city is none of your concern. Even if you have connections, even if you have influence, it has nothing to do with me. As for Wheat and the others, I might not fear them either. If you don't believe me, just wait and see."

With that, I left Su Xiaobai without looking back.

"Don't blame me if I win Xia Xue back again!" Su Xiaobai said mockingly from behind.

"Up to you!" I said bitterly, suppressing the anger in my heart.

Back in the dormitory, I didn't even have the strength to speak. I lay on my bed, my thoughts in disarray.

Liu Zihong and the others came to my dormitory, gathered around my bed, calling out to me for a long time before I finally snapped out of it.

"What's up?" I looked at them in confusion.

"Ye Zhan came looking for you just now, but you weren't here. He asked us to tell you, the opportunity is coming!" Gong Ning said each word deliberately.

I jumped up from the bed, my expression excited, hands trembling slightly. "Really?"

"Absolutely," Gong Ning said. "The day after tomorrow at noon, Wheat will be eating in the cafeteria. Since most of his brothers are locals, there won't be many around him. And the cafeteria is a public place, with thousands of students dining there. If we strike there, we'll make a name for ourselves!"

I got off the bed, my excitement evident, my breathing heavy. I rubbed my hands together occasionally, "Wheat is going to the cafeteria to eat?! This kind of person also eats in the cafeteria? Good, good, this is indeed a great opportunity. Everyone, get ready, let's have another meeting tomorrow! Ensure that the operation the day after tomorrow goes off without a hitch!"

Gong Ning, Liu Zihong, Li Mu, and Ou Jiahao, all looked equally excited, their breaths heavy.