Xia Xue's face lit up with joy. "Really? Are you sure?" She looked like she was about to get up and come with me.

Just then, our homeroom teacher's voice came from the doorway. "Wang Hao, come out for a moment."

I looked up and saw Ge Chen standing at the door, looking at us. Xia Xue quickly let go of my hand. I jumped off the desk (yes, jumped, because even with Liu Zihong's desk knocked down, it was still pretty high) and walked out of the classroom at a leisurely pace.

Outside the classroom, my desk and chair were placed. Ge Chen said apologetically, "Wang Hao, put the teacher's desk back."

I'd been waiting for this moment for a long time. Since the day I made the bet with the homeroom teacher, I had been planning how to make a triumphant return on this day. But now, I just nodded and carried my desk and chair back in. After all, I realized that the homeroom teacher had a hard time too, dealing with a troublesome student like me. Plus, after so many days, my anger had subsided. There was no need to hold a grudge any longer. The fact that he had personally brought back my desk and chair showed enough sincerity.

After some fuss, the teacher's desk was finally back in place, and my long-lost desk was also put back. Liu Zihong let out a sigh of relief. Sitting at the teacher's desk for that class had really been like sitting on pins and needles for him. After all the moving was done, Xia Xue was still looking at me expectantly. I realized I had acted impulsively earlier, my head had gotten hot, and I told her I wanted to confess to her again. But after moving the desks around, my mind had cooled down, and I realized it wasn't a good idea. I still hadn't thought it through.

Xia Xue saw my expression and knew what was up. She made a sound of disdain. "You still haven't made up your mind, huh?"

I nodded, filled with guilt. I realized I couldn't keep doing this. I was just too easily moved. Whoever was good to me, I remembered their kindness. And in remembering, I couldn't tell if it was gratitude or true love. I just knew I couldn't let them down, couldn't let them get hurt, couldn't let their feelings go to waste. Whether it was Taozi or Xia Xue, they were both too good to me. This made me hesitant, undecided, and suffering, not wanting to lose either of them.

"Alright," Xia Xue said, looking at me. "I understand. Just don't be so impulsive in the future." Then she went back to her seat.

I didn't know if the "don't be so impulsive" referred to yelling at her or to confessing to her again. I guessed it was more likely the latter.

I wasn't expelled from school and was allowed back in the classroom. I should have been happy, but I didn't feel at ease at all that day. My mood remained gloomy, mostly because of the issue with Su Xiaobai.

Or rather, it wasn't about Su Xiaobai, but about Ye Zhan. I cared too much about Ye Zhan. He was my first good brother at Cheng Gao, the first one who made me feel moved, trusted, and willing to do anything for. Because I cared too much about Ye Zhan, I retaliated against Su Xiaobai without hesitation and even yelled at Liu Zihong and Xia Xue.

Ye Zhan had said that he would always stand by my side, even if it meant fighting Maizi. That night in the dormitory really moved me. Later in the small woods, he came to rescue me single-handedly. Although he wasn't as imposing as Brick and Yu Chengfei, and got knocked down by Maizi with two strikes, I was still deeply grateful. Later, when I decided to confront Maizi and planned to involve Ye Zhan, he thought I was crazy at first. But after I explained my reasons, he immediately slapped his thigh and said, "Haozi, whatever you say, we'll do it!"

Scenes from the past kept flashing in my mind, and I still felt a warm current thinking about them. But Ye Zhan had known Su Xiaobai for longer and had a closer relationship with him. In everyone's eyes, Su Xiaobai was also righteous, great, and noble. This made me uneasy, worried that Ye Zhan might fall for Su Xiaobai's tricks.

The day passed, and I couldn't concentrate in class. My frustration only grew. After the evening self-study session, I avoided everyone and went to Da Weiba Malatang across from the school, intending to get something to eat. Cheng Gao was diagonally opposite to Bei Yuan Seventh High, which had also just finished its evening self-study. Large groups of people were coming out. I kept my head down, bypassed them, and slipped into Da Weiba Malatang.

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It was the same private room as last time, and there weren't many people eating, so it was fine for me to occupy a large table by myself. The malatang was brought up, and the same rich aroma made my mouth water. I quickly picked up my chopsticks and started to eat. Just as I was about to take a bite of mushroom, I heard the door clattering open, and it seemed like seven or eight people came in. The door of my private room was slightly ajar, but I couldn't see clearly. I vaguely felt they might be Cheng Gao students.

"What would you like to eat, Brother Ye?" Someone asked, and I immediately knew it was Ye Zhan and his crew!

Under normal circumstances, I would have greeted them, but now it didn't seem appropriate. Not until I understood Ye Zhan's stance...

"Anything is fine," Ye Zhan's voice sounded lazy, as if he wasn't very happy.

A group of people bustled about and then sat around a table outside, chatting noisily about Cheng Gao. I knew these people well; during the preparations for the "Flour Plan," we spent every day together, so I could tell who was speaking just by their voice.

Throughout their conversation, Ye Zhan remained silent, which struck me as odd. Ye Zhan was usually so enthusiastic and outgoing, but today he was uncharacteristically quiet.

Suddenly, someone said, "Brother Ye, I want to ask you something. Are you really going to make Wang Hao the leader?"

My heart skipped a beat, and my hand holding the chopsticks trembled slightly. I tried to slow my breathing, but it was still a bit heavy. Never before had time felt so long. What would Ye Zhan say? How would he respond?

There was a loud slap on the table outside, and my heart thumped along with it. Then Ye Zhan's angry voice echoed, "Stop talking about this crap!" The sound was so loud it made my eardrums buzz.

Ye Zhan's words were exactly like mine when I had yelled at Liu Zihong, making me feel a warm flush all over.

Ye Zhan had always been gentle by nature, especially towards his brothers. It was rare to see him lose his temper. Sure enough, after he shouted, there was complete silence outside, with no one daring to speak.

"Let me give you a knife. Who dares to stab Maizi?" Ye Zhan said, "If Maizi were standing here, who would dare to stab him?"

There was no response, only the sound of people lowering their heads to sip soup.

I hadn't told Ye Zhan and the others the truth about Maizi being stabbed by Yuan Shao. It wasn't that I didn't trust them, but it was a secret between me, Yu Chengfei, and the others. They only thought it was Nan Nan's doing that I came back safe and sound. "She must have spent a lot of money, right?" That was their guess. All I could say was, "I don't know how much she spent."

Ye Zhan continued, "The 'Flour Plan' was all Haozi's idea, right? Without him, could we have taken down Maizi so easily? I ask you, who among you has Haozi's courage and strategy? Come, step forward and show me. If you convince me, I'll immediately support you as our leader!"

Still, no one responded. There was only the sound of more people drinking their soup.

"Let me tell you," Ye Zhan said passionately, "Haozi is my closest buddy at Cheng Gao. I've said it before, I'm saying it now, and I'll say it in the future! Anyone who disrespects him is disrespecting me. If you really respect me, then show him proper respect and call him 'Brother Hao' in front of him. That would give me the greatest face. Stop trying to sow discord between us behind our backs!"

My heart warmed up instantly, and the spiciness of the mala tang brought tears to my eyes. Damn it, this is too touching.

"Brother Ye, we understand," said the person who had spoken earlier. "I wasn't trying to drive a wedge between you two. We all know Brother Hao is a good guy. Honestly, we'd be happy with either of you as our leader. We're all in this together, after all. To be honest, we've never been so prominent at Cheng Gao before. It's all thanks to Brother Hao's 'Flour Plan' that we became famous with one battle!"

"Hahaha, that's for sure!" Ye Zhan laughed happily. "I'm glad you all think that way. Let me tell you, Haozi is not a simple person. I'm saying it now: don't believe me? Just wait and see!"

The atmosphere outside heated up, and the sound of people eating filled the air. Ye Zhan's mood seemed much better, and he had returned to his usual lively self, laughing and joking nonstop.

I lowered my head and sipped my soup. The soup was already cold, but it still warmed my stomach.

At this moment, could anyone be happier than me?

The conversation outside gradually shifted to "girlfriends," proving that women are always a timeless topic for men. Ye Zhan talked about Su Wan, and it was clear he was quite happy. As they continued, they started talking about Su Xiaobai's many girlfriends, all with tones of envy and jealousy. Eventually, someone said, "It seems like Brother Hao and Brother Xiaobai are not getting along. They had a big fight in front of the bulletin board this morning."

Ye Zhan pondered aloud, "I don't know what happened. I really don't like seeing them fight. We should find a way to make peace."

Another person asked, "Brother Ye, if Brother Hao and Brother Xiaobai really become enemies, and you can only support one of them, who would you choose?"

My heart, which had just calmed down, tensed up again! This question made me even more nervous than the previous one!

I heard the sound of someone drinking soup in big gulps. It seemed Ye Zhan was tilting his head back and drinking from a pot. Then, there was a loud thud as he set the pot down heavily on the table, and he said firmly, "Do you even need to ask? Of course, it's Wang Hao!"