Lin Yu's hopes were dashed as the unknown, burly young man did not turn into a Super Saiyan as he had expected, striking his attackers toward the moon with a single punch. Instead, he stood there and took the kick, revealing a timidness that ill-suited his towering physique.
At that moment, witnessing the flushed face of the burly youth, Lin Yu finally recognized with clarity—he was not Niu Dafei. The real Niu Dafei would never let himself be bullied like that. Known for his honesty, Niu Dafei could transform into a raging bull when pushed too far, capable of putting insolent fools in their place with a single punch or kick.
Why then was this man acting like an oversized quail in the face of trouble?
As the group continued to harass the burly youth, Lin Yu couldn't stand idly by any longer. Even if this person wasn't Niu Dafei, the resemblance alone meant Lin Yu felt compelled to intervene—and who knows, there could be some connection between them after all.
People who look exactly alike with no connection? Impossible, Lin Yu muttered internally as he stepped forward.
Just as he was about to curse at them, a melodious and enchanting tune played, irritating anyone who heard it into a frenzy. It demonstrated how even the most beautiful music, once set as a school bell, could become an eerie and urgent herald of the impending class—like a harbinger of doom!
After a recent bullying incident involving a younger girl, the school had cracked down on discipline. At the sound of the bell indicating classes were about to begin, even the delinquents, plainly from A-School Area, rushed off toward their classes more swiftly than the top students themselves.
What had the school done to make these bad students so compliant? Lin Yu was puzzled after being away from school for a fortnight but decided not to get involved any further since the situation seemed to resolve itself.
The unnamed, sturdy youth patted the dust off his thigh and wiped his slightly reddened eyes before joining the crowd heading into the building.
Watching the youth's isolated and deflated figure, Lin Yu felt no sympathy but rather a trace of anger boiled within him.
Damn it! With such a huge build, what was he scared of? Why didn't he just stand up and take on those guys? With his size, he could crush them all single-handedly—what in the world was there to be timid about?
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Lin Yu was utterly baffled.
It's one thing when a sweet, innocent, young girl like Tang Manman is bullied, appealing for the instinct to protect. But a 1.9-meter-tall rugged man reduced to tears by a few guys barely over 1.7 meters? Lin Yu felt the urge to punch that giant face!
Afternoon came, and following three class periods, Lin Yu pulled out his planning notebook during the final study hall. It was time to devise a strategy to save the second female lead.
First was to approach her—before he could protect her, he had to establish a regular, friendly relationship and exchange contact details so she could reach him in times of danger.
Second, after becoming friends, it was crucial to instill the concept that the world was dangerous. Since he couldn't be by her side every moment, she needed to protect herself with pepper spray, wolf-repellent, portable stun guns, and the like.
As for self-defense techniques, Lin Yu wiped the sweat from his brow, remembering the "anti-wolf" maneuvers he had seen on a phone in his past life. Dear heavens, after a full drill, even good men might transform into wolves.
Lastly, and most challenging to counter, was the formless destiny of this adult-comic world. To fight this invisible force, Lin Yu knew he would have to make choices against his nature during his interactions with the second female lead.
He might have to take options he would normally reject at times like that encounter at the convenience store or the crossroads. Perhaps only then could he battle this hidden fate and prevent the second female lead's terrible future from unfolding.
With the plan firmly in place, he pondered its execution.
Could the same “hero-saving-the-beauty” tactic that boosted Tang Manman's fondness work on the second female lead? With his ruffian face and unique hairstyle, befriending a woman of good standing by regular means was nigh-impossible.
Despite his inner disdain for such self-staged tactics, Lin Yu resolved to use it for the greater good: to save the second female lead. This method, after all, was the most convenient and direct.
He had to be careful, though, to not overdo it—enough to keep her safe without causing undue complications later on. Help her, but make it a moderate assist, so she's appreciative but not overly concerned.
Then, gradually convince her the world is full of dangers, and she should stay vigilant outdoors.
With a resigned sigh, Lin Yu wished he didn't have to associate with the four female leads at all. But compared to watching the second female lead fall prey to another, he'd rather take the lead himself—at least he could be more gentle.
As the evening self-study concluded, Lin Yu didn't bother asking the teacher for homework. He planned to use the coming evenings to refine the “hero-saving-the-beauty” scheme, ensuring no slip-ups during its execution.
Hopefully, he could put the plan into action this upcoming weekend—to prevent a long night full of nightmares. After all, he had no idea when the anonymous assailant would strike. If that guy made his move before Lin Yu finished planning, it would be a dark joke indeed.
As for homework... well, that could wait.
The plan to save the second female lead?
Initiated!