Someone let out a playful whistle, but most of them just exchanged knowing smirks.

They were all guys, after all—who wouldn't get it?

A few of them had actually noticed the quiet girl standing nearby earlier.

She was so pure and beautiful, striking a chord deep in their hearts, leaving them unsure of how to approach her.

Just as they were hesitating, Zhou Ye had already gone over and made his move.

Anyone who knew him well knew he never paid attention to this kind of thing. This was the first time he'd ever approached a girl... He used to seem completely oblivious.

Because the class president insisted, Xia Yao eventually walked away with him.

Perhaps because he'd mentioned the man with an exhibitionist fetish earlier, Xia Yao's gaze became more alert as she scanned their surroundings.

She started paying more attention to passersby she wouldn't normally notice, and as they neared the bus stop, she spotted a middle-aged man in a purple T-shirt standing in the greenery ahead, his hand moving at his waist.

Xia Yao didn't quite understand what he was doing at first, but upon closer inspection, she realized his pants were undone and he was holding something in his hand...

Her heart raced, and in a panic, she grabbed the arm of the boy beside her, shaking it urgently.

"Class president, look at that man..."

She never thought she'd actually encounter something like this. When the class president had mentioned it, she'd thought it was a rare occurrence, unlikely to happen to her.

But now that it was happening, the overwhelming shock and helplessness were indescribable.

Zhou Ye, pulled by her, looked in the direction she pointed, locking eyes with the pervert from a distance.

The man seemed to realize he'd been spotted, but instead of stopping because of the distance, he became even more brazen.

Zhou Ye quickly covered Xia Yao's eyes with one hand, placed his skateboard on his legs, and raised his pinky finger at the man, jabbing it downward.

It meant "you're pathetic."

He was clearly looking down on the man, and upon further reflection, perhaps he was also mocking the size of what he was holding.

The middle-aged man paused, then, noticing people approaching, quickly pulled up his pants, hopped on a nearby bike, and rode off, glancing back at Zhou Ye as he went.

Once the pervert was completely gone, Zhou Ye removed his hand from Xia Yao's eyes and picked up his skateboard.

Xia Yao opened her eyes to find the man gone, and couldn't help but look around again.

"Where did he go?"

"He rode off on a bike." Zhou Ye silently cursed the man a fool, gently turning Xia Yao's searching face back to the front.

The softness of her cheeks and eyelashes lingered on his palm, like a kitten's paw tickling his heart, making him want to rub his fingertips together.

She was just as he'd imagined—soft and warm to the touch. He wondered what it would feel like to hold her.

The girl walked beside him, head down, silent for a long time, probably still shaken.

Zhou Ye looked down at her hair and gently patted her head.

"Don't be afraid."

She flinched at first, clearly unaccustomed to the touch, but eventually didn't pull away, silently accepting it.

He knew it was a bit forward, and that she felt uncomfortable, but she didn't move away... Zhou Ye realized she was even more introverted than he'd thought.

If it had been any of the girls he'd known before, they'd probably be clinging to him by now, seeking comfort.

They always acted so timid and fragile around him, as if they'd collapse in a breeze, and they were always so clingy, acting as if they were constantly ill, complaining of aches and pains.

Zhou Ye could see through their act, but he couldn't call them out on it without upsetting them, which made him feel trapped.

He'd always thought he preferred more independent women, ones who weren't so high-maintenance.

But now, standing next to Xia Yao, he felt his preferences shifting.

He was starting to like her timid vulnerability.

But only hers.

If anyone else acted that way around him... Zhou Ye thought about it and realized he'd still find it annoying. He had no patience for girls who played on his sympathy.

The sky hadn't fully darkened yet. As they walked, Xia Yao seemed to remember something, opened the bag she was carrying, and pulled out a packet of blue and white shark-shaped gummies, handing them to him.

"Class president, these are for you."

They'd been walking in silence until Xia Yao spoke up. Zhou Ye turned to look at her.

"For me?"

She nodded, lowering her head and softly adding, "They're really good."