Volume 4 Chapter 17: Being Sent Home by My Rival?
Lin Lin lowered her head and said nothing.
But at the same time, it felt like she had said everything.
Gao Liang smiled. He understood how she felt. After all, when someone so famous suddenly appears in your life, it would naturally bring a lot of pressure.
But still…
“It’s not a big deal, Lin Lin. A celebrity is also just a person. And every person has a good side and a bad side. For me, you are the girl I want to understand more, and the one I care about more.”
Those words sounded a little strange. It felt like there was some hidden meaning in them.
Lin Lin’s face turned slightly red, but she still spoke stubbornly.
“That’s only because you’re more familiar with her than with me, right? Um…”
Now that she thought about it, it was really unbelievable. Yesterday after her stream ended, she suddenly received a message from Gao Ye.
Somehow, Gao Ye already knew about Yi Xiao. Maybe Gao Liang had told her?
Anyway, Lin Lin suddenly received a warning message.
【Gao Ye: Warning, warning! My brother’s childhood friend, Yi Xiao, seems to be very free lately and has come back. She knows you and my brother are close. That woman has a rotten heart. Be careful, she might target you!】
【Gao Ye: She’s a famous idol, the one who acted as the female lead in “Sweetheart.” Ahem. Her family also has some influence. But don’t worry. My brother doesn’t have a good relationship with her. As long as he protects you, you’ll be fine. Just be careful. And watch out for men in black suits and sunglasses on the street!】
【Lin Lin: ……】
【Lin Lin: I guess I’ll just wait to die then.】
That was too scary.
Lin Lin lowered her head even more. After reading Gao Ye’s message, she felt even more nervous.
She had thought Yi Xiao was just a simple idol who maybe met Gao Liang at some event.
She didn’t expect them to be childhood friends.
And now she might even target her?
Plus, men in black suits and sunglasses?
No wonder that day Yi Xiao had said something like, “You borrowed my people.” So those men were from her family?
That wasn’t just “some influence.” That sounded more like a powerful family.
When Gao Ye said “some influence,” it was probably at the same level as the Gao family.
This was completely different from someone like Han Kui, just a normal school troublemaker.
Yi Xiao had millions of fans. If all her fans criticized Lin Lin at the same time, she would drown in it.
Don’t talk about it like it’s nothing—
Lin Lin turned to look at Gao Liang, trembling a little.
Can he really protect me?
She was his childhood friend too, right? What if he softens his heart for her?
Would I end up as the tragic heroine in a drama?
But Gao Liang didn’t seem worried about her complaints. He simply said, “I’m not close with her.”
He spoke calmly.
Lin Lin froze.
N-not close?
Gao Liang didn’t know that Gao Ye had already told Lin Lin about the childhood friend situation. To avoid more trouble, he wanted to make his relationship with Yi Xiao sound less serious.
Anyway, he never planned to fix things with her.
Right now, they really weren’t close.
“Um… but she seems to have some problem with me…”
Lin Lin looked at him like she was asking for help.
Gao Liang blinked.
She really seemed to feel insecure today.
He had thought about the possibility that Yi Xiao might do something to Lin Lin.
But he felt that… since she was already so famous, there was no need for her to target a normal high school girl.
However, since Lin Lin was clearly scared…
“How about this? Starting today, I’ll walk you home after school every day, Lin Lin.”
“Huh?”
Lin Lin froze.
At that moment, Xiao Bai, who had somehow moved closer without anyone noticing, made a teasing sound.
“Oh~”
“Hey! When did you get here?!”
Lin Lin’s face instantly turned red. She quickly turned to look at Xiao Bai. Whether she wanted to talk to Xiao Bai or avoid looking at someone else’s face… that’s another question.
But Xiao Bai was hard to deal with too.
She covered her mouth and laughed, then nodded.
“Mm, walking you home sounds good. Very good.”
“N-no, it’s not like that!” Lin Lin shook her head quickly, her face red. “It’s just… I ran into some trouble recently. This guy suddenly suggested walking me home. I haven’t agreed yet!”
“Huh? What trouble?!” Xiao Bai suddenly looked worried.
Lin Lin waved her hand awkwardly and gave a dry laugh, showing it wasn’t a very serious problem.
“Uh, it’s just… something like a tv drama? Anyway, a girl who has some connection with Gao Liang seems to want to cause me trouble. It’s not a big deal.”
“I see~ So that’s why the class monitor wants to protect you. That feels so safe! Hehe~ So what’s your answer? Do you agree or not, Lin Lin?”
Xiao Bai relaxed and then asked the most important question.
Lin Lin suddenly had nothing to say.
She looked at Xiao Bai, then at Gao Liang, who was resting his chin on his hand and watching the scene with interest.
She pouted.
She wanted to refuse immediately.
But when she thought about those men in black suits she saw that day…
She felt a chill down her back.
No… no, that’s too scary.
Lin Lin gave up.
She lowered her head and mumbled softly,
“I guess… it’s fine. But that doesn’t mean anything! The trouble was caused by Gao Liang anyway. Protecting me is his responsibility. That’s all!”
“Mm, yes, yes!” Gao Liang nodded happily. As long as he could walk her home, that was enough.
Seeing Gao Liang’s satisfied smile and Lin Lin’s shy but still accepting reaction, Xiao Bai nodded with approval and joked,
“But just walking her home might not be safe enough, class monitor~ If you really want to protect our Lin Lin, I suggest you two just live together!”
“Xiao Bai! Don’t talk nonsense! Ahhh!”
Lin Lin immediately panicked and stood up, trying to push Xiao Bai away.
Xiao Bai laughed while stepping back. Soon, the two girls started playing around. Well, mostly Xiao Bai was playing. Lin Lin was the one trying to fight back.
They only stopped when the class bell rang.
After sitting down, Lin Lin glared at Gao Liang.
He couldn’t help but smile.
Lin Lin…
He sighed and fell into deep thought.
Could it really be possible?
The more he listened to her tone and speaking habits, the more similar they felt.
But Lin Lin was someone so close to him in real life.
If she suddenly had that unreal, online identity…
He wasn’t sure he could accept it so easily.
No matter what…
He needed to keep a closer eye on Lin Lin recently.
It was kind of funny. Yi Xiao had suddenly appeared again, yet he didn’t care about her at all.
“Let’s go. I’ll walk you home.”