Chapter 423: You Are the Outsiders

“Young Master Fu is such a great person!”

“Yeah, truly worthy of being the campus heartthrob of Guanglai High. That tolerance, that bearing, that generosity, truly…”

“Got punched for no reason… if it were me, I’d have beaten the guy half to death. But Young Master Fu is still considerate of others. Where else can you find someone with such exemplary character and broad-mindedness like Young Master Fu!”

In the crowd, some students wore exaggerated expressions of admiration, raising their thumbs one after another.

These students were all cronies or hangers-on of Fu Chengguang. Normally benefiting from him, they naturally had to speak on his behalf now, praising him to the skies.

Several female students even had starry eyes, gazing at Fu Chengguang with worship. In such an atmosphere, Fu Chengguang became the most dazzling presence on the court, completely overshadowing the plain-looking Lin Xiao.

“Alright, alright, everyone quiet down.” Fu Chengguang, though inwardly basking in satisfaction, wore a modest expression. “More importantly now, let’s get four people to help him out.”

The students around exchanged glances, but not a single one stepped forward.

“Young Master Fu, this guy disrespected you. You want us to help him? No way.” A tall, scar-faced student looked at Lin Xiao with disdain, snorting coldly.

“That’s right. Let him play alone. Everyone should bear the consequences of their own actions!”

“This guy isn’t even a student at our school. Why should we help him?”

“Everyone just stay back and enjoy the show!”

Listening to the chatter, Fu Chengguang felt inwardly smug, incredibly pleased.

Putting himself in Lin Xiao’s shoes, if he were the one being ridiculed and scorned by so many, he would have died from shame already.

However, to his disappointment, Lin Xiao remained expressionless, standing there like a statue.

An eagle soaring in the sky doesn’t care about the buzzing of insects.

A dragon traversing the seas doesn’t care what the shrimp and fish think.

In Lin Xiao’s eyes, these students were nothing more than greenhouse flowers—never tested by wind or rain—a bunch of frogs at the bottom of a well who had never seen the wider world.

Since that was the case, what was there for him to be angry about?

Their mocking words were no more than a breeze passing by to Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao’s calm and composed demeanor made Fu Chengguang feel like he’d punched cotton.

“Seems like no one’s willing to help you,” Fu Chengguang said, raising his chin, casting Lin Xiao a sideways glance and feigning concern. “Why don’t you just pick four people at random?”

Lin Xiao raised an eyebrow, just about to respond—

When suddenly, a girl’s voice rang out from the edge of the crowd, “Who says no one’s willing to help him?”

The voice was cold, full of anger, yet clear and pleasant.

Hearing this voice, Lin Xiao’s calm, deep gaze finally stirred.

The crowd parted, revealing two graceful figures in white athletic uniforms—Yuan Yu and Huang Caixing.

Both girls wore expressions of anger. Even the normally quiet and gentle Yuan Yu had a frosty look on her beautiful face.

“Who do you people think you are, talking to Big Brother Lin like that?”

Huang Caixing’s brows arched sharply, eyes blazing as she swept her gaze over the crowd. “You people aren’t even worth one drop of Big Brother Lin’s sweat, and you still dare run your mouths? Ridiculous!”

Her words were sharp as blades, cutting straight to the point, showing no regard for the students’ feelings.

Many of the students showed anger at being scolded, but thinking of Huang Caixing’s background and personality, no one dared to talk back.

Especially those standing close to her instinctively took a few steps back, afraid she might suddenly lash out.

Though Huang Caixing appeared sweet and playful around Lin Xiao, in school, she was known as a little demoness. Her status was on par with, or even above, that of Fu Chengguang.

After all, her mother, Huang Xinyu, was a prominent businesswoman in Jinghai. Her family background was in no way inferior to Fu Chengguang’s.

Compared to Huang Caixing, these students simply weren’t in the same league.

“Huang Caixing, isn’t that inappropriate to take the side of an outsider and speak to your classmates like that?” Fu Chengguang hadn’t expected her to show up. A dark gleam flashed in his eyes, though his tone remained gentle.

“Outsider? In my eyes, you’re the outsiders.” Huang Caixing pulled Yuan Yu’s hand and walked straight to Lin Xiao, boldly linking arms with him. “Fu Chengguang, don’t think I don’t know all these people are your lackeys. Put away your pathetic little schemes, or I won’t be polite with you.”

“A real man doesn’t argue with women. I can’t be bothered to waste breath on you.” Fu Chengguang snorted, turning his attention back to Lin Xiao. “You, do you only know how to hide behind women?”

Lin Xiao ignored him completely, speaking calmly to the two girls. “Why are you two here?”

“Our class activity ended, so we came to find you.” Huang Caixing returned to her lively self. “But Brother Lin, how did you end up in a conflict with that Fu Chengguang guy?”

“Who knows, maybe he just doesn’t like the look of me,” Lin Xiao replied lightly. “Don’t worry about this. Just stand aside and watch.”

“Brother Lin, are you really going to compete against them?” Yuan Yu frowned slightly, a bit worried. “Fu Chengguang is on the school basketball team. He’s even won city-wide championships.”

“Stop worrying, YuYu. Don’t you trust Brother Lin?” Huang Caixing interrupted, “Brother Lin, don’t hold back. Don’t let them score a single point. Show them what it means to always be someone stronger.”

“I know what I’m doing. You two stand back.”

Lin Xiao ruffled Huang Caixing’s hair, then gently patted Yuan Yu’s head.

The affectionate gesture instantly stirred an uproar from the surrounding students, their faces filled with shock.

“Who is this guy? Why is he so close to the two most beautiful girls in our school? Could he be from an even more powerful background than Young Master Fu?”

“No wonder he’s not afraid of Young Master Fu!”

“Unbelievable… The campus demoness and the always-cold Yuan Yu… they actually act like this around him?”

“Those two are the top beauties in school! What’s so great about that guy?!”

Jealous flames ignited in Fu Chengguang’s eyes as he glared coldly at Lin Xiao. His hands, behind his back, clenched tightly—blue veins bulging—his nose throbbing with renewed pain.

“Alright, weren’t you going to compete with me?” Lin Xiao took off his jacket and handed it to Yuan Yu, then crooked a finger at Fu Chengguang.

“Come on.”