The mild mockery and resignation in his heart shifted to sympathy. Lin Yu sighed, ready to intervene. He couldn't just stand by and watch Tang Manman be bullied like this. Given the temperament of those girl bullies, it was hard to predict how far they could go. A compromising photograph could ruin Tang Manman’s life.
Just as Lin Yu was about to step in to end the bullying, he caught a glimpse of a familiar side profile in the crowd. It was the refined youth who had helped at Tang's mother's snack stand yesterday – Tang Manman's childhood friend and, in a sense, the main male lead in this adult manga! (albeit under unfortunate circumstances as depicted in the comic).
Recognizing him and seeing him amidst the crowd, Lin Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, it seemed he wouldn’t need to intervene after all. Keeping his interactions with Tang Manman minimal was for the best, especially actions like playing the hero, which could greatly endear him to her.
As Lin Yu waited for the youth to act, a nagging feeling that he'd overlooked some crucial detail began to unsettle him. Something was off.
Awakening to the realization, Lin Yu noted the youth's forward position in the crowd, even ahead of himself, indicating he'd arrived earlier and must have already witnessed Tang Manman being bullied.
Why hadn’t he stepped in to save her by now?
Watching the youth’s eyes filled with fear, Lin Yu was simultaneously shocked and appalled. As Tang Manman's childhood friend and the supposed ideal male partner in the manga, could he really just watch idly as she suffered?
Was this even manly?
Stolen story; please report.
Though irked, Lin Yu refrained from acting rashly. Perhaps there was a reason behind the youth's inaction, or maybe he'd just arrived?
No excuses could justify his failure to defend his almost-girlfriend from such mistreatment. This cowardice!
As Lin Yu internally berated the youth, the bullying escalated. The purple-haired girl bully expressed her frustration with the onlookers and then grabbed Tang Manman's school uniform, dragging her towards the female restroom.
All eyes in the hallway fell on Tang Manman as the crowd dispersed. Now in full view, Tang Manman saw her childhood friend among the spectators. Recognizing him ignited a spark of hope in her eyes, filled with pain and fear, as she reached out to him, yearning to be saved from her torment.
In this moment, the youth seemed to overcome his hesitation, stepping forward bravely – but only one step before being stopped by a new antagonist.
Blocked by a multi-colored haired bully, the youth’s height advantage did little to embolden him. Despite being taller, he was stopped in his tracks, his previous bravery dissolving into cowardice.
The multi-colored bully, seizing on the youth’s timidity, stepped closer and slapped him across the face, shouting, “Scram!”
The youth, stunned into submission by the slap and subsequent rebuke, lowered his head in shame and retreated into the crowd.
Proud of his dominance, the multi-colored bully mocked the retreating figure, while Tang Manman watched in despair, her vibrant eyes dulled to a fracture of their usual luminance.
Lin Yu, observing from the sidelines, was utterly speechless at the cowardice displayed. It was no wonder he was NTR’d in the manga.
Seeing Tang Manman being dragged into the restroom, Lin Yu knew it was time to act. Pushing through the crowd, he marched determinedly towards the now-closed restroom door.
Approaching with purpose, Lin Yu drew the unwanted attention of the multi-colored bully still reveling in his moment. The bully attempted to hinder Lin Yu, hoping to replay his earlier triumph.
Yet, he hadn’t anticipated Lin Yu’s resolve as a foot raised and came crashing down on him, sending him flying, a testament to Lin Yu's unyielding intention to put an end to the harassment once and for all.