Chapter Four: Choices Amidst the Turmoil

“Are you okay?”

“I’m… I’m fine…”

Su Yingying clung tightly to Jiang Changyuan’s collar, her delicate face pale, clearly still shaken.

Jiang Changyuan let out a sigh of relief and helped her to her feet, but suddenly felt a chill down the back of his neck.

Instinctively, he glanced at Gu Qing, whose cold gaze was fixed on the hand supporting Su Yingying.

Oh no!

Su Yingying was Gu Qing’s official match—could he be jealous?

The thought made Jiang Changyuan quickly release his grip, stiffening his expression as he scolded, “Su Yingying, you’re way too careless when you walk. If we hadn’t been here today, the consequences could have been disastrous.”

Startled by his stern tone, Su Yingying pouted with hurt feelings and lowered her head to apologize softly, “Sorry, I made you worry...”

Hearing those words, Gu Qing’s expression darkened further.

“Jiang Changyuan, Yingying is a girl. Don’t scare her.”

Jiang Changyuan’s mouth twitched; he was already exhausted trying to manage this awkward situation.

“Gu Qing, you’re far too gentle with her, but I say what needs to be said so she learns her lesson and remembers it.”

“Forget it, I’m not going to argue anymore. I have class.”

Jiang Changyuan picked up his backpack and strode past them, heading up the stairs.

With his back turned, a smile crept to his lips.

As long as Su Yingying wasn’t absent-minded, she would surely prefer Gu Qing’s warm and caring nature.

He was doing his best to support Gu Qing; Gu Qing couldn’t possibly hold a grudge against him, right?

After Jiang Changyuan left, Gu Qing’s face softened into a gentle smile as he spoke quietly, “Yingying, don’t be upset. After all, you only fell because you were careless.”

Su Yingying shook her head slightly, lifting her chin stubbornly. “I’m not upset. I think what he said was right. From now on, I don’t want anyone to treat me especially or go easy on me. If there’s something, just say it—that’s how I’ll grow!”

With that, she turned and climbed the stairs.

Gu Qing’s expression gradually grew serious, a flicker of unease stirring within him.

In the past, Su Yingying had been closest to him and listened to him the most.

But now, it seemed she was strangely distant from him and trusted Jiang Changyuan more.

What on earth was going on?

Had Jiang Changyuan done something to her?

At noon, after school.

Once Jiang Changyuan left the classroom, the classmates began whispering among themselves.

After all, this school bully rarely showed up, and he had just suddenly gathered his gang and headed for the rooftop. Everyone suspected Jiang Changyuan was about to stir up trouble.

The rooftop was windy, and Jiang Changyuan’s mind was in turmoil.

Looking at the dozens of fervent young men before him, he felt like a dog being chased.

He’d called them together today intending to disband the group.

But seeing the large number of people, he found it impossible to dissolve them.

Outside school, it was easy to shut down a club with a word.

But these people were students; even if disbanded, they’d still be around campus.

If the number was small, he could control them and keep them from causing trouble.

But with dozens of them… could he really keep them in line?

Without supervision, who knew what chaos they might cause?

If another fool clashed with the student council, his name might be dragged into the mess again!

Then he’d end up opposing Gu Qing!

Annoying! Damn annoying!

Just then, a bespectacled student with a watermelon haircut looked excitedly at Jiang Changyuan.

“Boss Jiang! You called us out today—is it because you plan to go to war with the student council?”

Jiang Changyuan raised an eyebrow.

“Why do you say that?”

The watermelon haircut grinned. “Everyone saw you downstairs arguing with the student council president over Su Yingying. Now you’ve gathered us here—it must mean you’re going to fight the student council, right?”

Jiang Changyuan rolled his eyes, about to explain.

But his fired-up followers didn’t give him the chance.

“Damn the student council! I’ve hated those bastards for a long time!”

“Let’s get them! They confiscated my phone!”

“That’s right! Let’s do it!”

Jiang Changyuan sucked in a sharp breath, suddenly feeling trapped.

If he ignored them, trouble was inevitable.

But if he controlled them, he’d have to manage their emotions and lead them to show off.

Otherwise, they definitely wouldn’t respect him…

Yet he didn’t want to be on the opposing side of the student council.

After much thought, Jiang Changyuan suddenly had a brilliant idea.

“Ahem, everyone gather around. I have a special plan.”

He beckoned, and dozens of them quickly closed in.