Chapter 43 – Exclusive Sweet Romance: The Battle to Save the Campus Heartthrob (05)
With Xiao Bobao’s help, Bai Mo once again donned an intricately crafted dress.
Layers of floral embroidery adorned the skirt, each petal delicately accented with lustrous white pearls.
His shoulder-length faux bob was neatly styled, with a crystal butterfly clip tucked beside his ear.
His brows were lightly filled in, and though his lips were untouched by lipstick, they carried a natural rosy hue.
Paired with brown mid-heeled Mary Jane shoes, the look was complete—flawless.
Though his makeup was minimal, every detail exuded refinement.
“Mo Mo has such a great natural foundation~” Xiao Bobao sighed in genuine admiration. In all the missions she had undertaken, Bai Mo was by far the most beautiful boy she had encountered.
“Thanks for the compliment~” Bai Mo lifted his skirt slightly and curtsied, embodying the grace of a charming medieval maiden. Glancing at the clock on the table, he estimated that by the time he reached the school gate, it would be just the right moment.
Under the grand banyan tree by C University’s gate, a young man in a crisp white shirt leaned against the trunk. His features were delicate yet striking, with an air of effortless elegance. Simply standing there, he was enough to draw the attention of passersby.
“Who is that? He’s not from our school, right? I’ve never seen him before.”
“I think he’s the campus heartthrob from A University! Oh my god, what’s he doing here?”
“Whoever he’s waiting for must be really lucky to have the A University heartthrob waiting at their school gate.”
Speculation buzzed among the students. Those with nothing better to do even stayed to watch, eager to witness a major piece of gossip unfold. Who could be so charming as to captivate the heart of A University’s most sought-after student?
Ever since the viral post on A University’s forum, students from A had tried to track down the mysterious beauty at C University. Though C University students were aware of the search, they had no intention of helping. A University might think their campus prince is precious, but we at C University have our own pride. If they want to find someone, they can do it themselves.
Though they had no interest in meddling, that didn’t stop them from enjoying the spectacle. Seeing that Jian Haocang was actually waiting at the school gate confirmed their suspicions—the pretty girl must have agreed to the date!
As the students waited, a delicate young lady carrying a lace parasol appeared in the distance, strolling gracefully down the tree-lined path.
Under the golden sunlight, she seemed almost ethereal, like a vision from a dream. The gentle curve of her smile was as mesmerizing as a flower blooming in the Garden of Eden, capturing every soul in an instant.
“Did you wait long? I brought you some pear juice~” Bai Mo approached Jian Haocang, producing two bottles of pear juice as if by magic. He even thoughtfully twisted open the cap before handing one to him.
Bai Mo wasn’t fond of eating fruits and vegetables, so Xiao Bobao—worried about his nutrition—had painstakingly blended them into sweet beverages just to coax him into consuming a bit more.
Jian Haocang quietly made a mental note of Bai Mo’s preferences. Taking the umbrella from Bai Mo’s hand, he held it over both of them as they walked out of the campus gates to hail a taxi.
Having finally gotten a glimpse of the legendary beauty, the onlookers were beyond excited. The real person is even more stunning than in the forum photos! How did no one notice someone like this in the academy before? Unbelievable.
The newly opened shopping mall spanned the underground first and second levels, covering a vast area filled with entertainment and dining options.
The various themed sections—Western, Republican-era China, Medieval Europe—were meticulously divided, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in different styles and capture picturesque moments to their heart’s content.
Bai Mo’s outfit today was a perfect match for the Western medieval theme.
Many visitors were dressed in a similar style, so as he stepped into the themed area, he didn’t particularly stand out.
The novel architecture fascinated the little snow ferret, making him eager to touch and inspect everything in sight. His lively and energetic demeanor made it almost impossible for Jian Haocang to keep up with him.
Seizing the opportunity in the crowd, where people could easily get separated, Jian Haocang smoothly took Bai Mo’s hand.
Bai Mo was eager to explore, calling out “Brother Haocang” in an especially sweet and affectionate tone every time he found something interesting. Using his extensive knowledge, Jian Haocang patiently explained the origins of the buildings and historical artifacts, successfully earning Bai Mo’s admiration.
How does my dear boyfriend know everything? He’s way too amazing!
Unable to tolerate Bai Mo being so smug, Xiao Bobao muttered, “The male lead doesn’t know everything. He seriously lacks experience in certain… areas. Remember in the last life? He only managed a home run three years after the original storyline ended, after getting married.”
The male lead was undoubtedly outstanding—otherwise, he wouldn’t have been chosen as the protagonist—but nobody was perfect.
His greatest flaw was his excessive restraint in certain matters, which made things difficult for Bai Mo, whose mischievous nature required more spontaneity. Every step forward had always required Bai Mo to throw a tantrum just to get things moving.
Thinking back to those long years of pent-up frustration, Bai Mo’s previously radiant smile suddenly vanished.
“Shut up. That’s called self-restraint and respect. If everyone were as disciplined as Brother Haocang, there would be fewer criminals, and the world would be a better place.”
Bai Mo might joke about his partner’s shortcomings, but he would never allow anyone else to criticize him. In Bai Mo’s eyes, his dear boyfriend was perfect—pure as an angel with a soul shining in holy light. No one could compare to his husband.
Jian Haocang, always attuned to Bai Mo’s emotions, noticed the sudden loss of his smile. Carefully shielding him from the bustling crowd, he led Bai Mo to a bench and gently took out a tissue to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
“Are you tired from walking? Let’s sit for a while. What do you want to eat? I’ll go buy it for you.”
Xiao Bobao sighed again—the male lead is truly worthy of his title. Always so considerate and never prying into things he shouldn’t. None of my previous blind dates even came close to being a third as good as him! If a guy is both arrogant and a sc*mbag, sweet romance will always belong to someone else. Boohoohoo~
Jian Haocang’s thoughtfulness made Bai Mo feel a little embarrassed about his earlier mood swing. His gaze wandered before he pointed toward a distant ice cream stand.
“I want a Big Head ice cream~”
Jian Haocang indulgently tucked Bai Mo’s loose faux bangs behind his ear and adjusted the crystal butterfly clip.
“Alright, I’ll go buy it. Mo Mo, sit here and wait for me.”
The ice cream stand was doing brisk business, and the line was long. Before long, Jian Haocang was swallowed up by the crowd. Left alone on the bench, Bai Mo found himself growing bored.
Meanwhile, Xiao Bobao, energized by the sweet display of romance, eagerly used her accumulated energy and points to open the matchmaking channel in search of a date for herself.
With no one to talk to, Bai Mo sat idly, occasionally massaging his sore calves from all the walking.
Unbeknownst to him, hidden within the surging crowd, a pair of shifty eyes had already locked onto him.
Ever since discovering that the person who had completely captivated Jian Haocang’s heart was Bai Mo, Huo Wen had been secretly searching for an opportunity—an opportunity to utterly ruin Bai Mo’s reputation.
She had already soothed Ran Yunyun, who had lost control of her emotions after being rejected, and now she was trailing behind Jian Haocang and Bai Mo, following them all the way to the newly opened underground shopping mall.
The longer she followed, the longer she watched. Jian Haocang’s meticulous care for Bai Mo, his gentle words and tender gestures, fueled Huo Wen’s jealousy and resentment. Just when she thought she wouldn’t find anything incriminating about Bai Mo today, a sleazy-looking man suddenly crept forward—his target was none other than the temporarily unaccompanied Bai Mo.
Excitement surged through Huo Wen as she immediately took out her phone and started recording, aiming the camera at Bai Mo.
Bai Mo, meanwhile, was sitting on a bench, absentmindedly thinking about what he should eat later. Suddenly, a man sat down beside him.
Since the bench was public, Bai Mo had no reason to object—just because someone sat down didn’t mean others couldn’t. Still, feeling uncomfortable, he subtly scooted to the side, creating some distance.
But just as Bai Mo moved away, the man shamelessly leaned in closer, pressing his arm tightly against Bai Mo’s. The unpleasant stench of smoke wafted from the man’s body, making its way into Bai Mo’s nose.
The little snow ferret despised the smell of cigarettes. He instinctively covered his nose and shifted further away.
Yet the man continued pushing his boundaries, inching even closer.
This time, his behavior was even more obscene—he spread his legs wide, sitting in a crude and domineering posture. The filthy fabric of his pant legs brushed against the pristine white hem of Bai Mo’s dress.
Bai Mo frowned and shot him a glance, only to see the man closing his eyes, spreading his arms across the back of the bench as if he were about to pull Bai Mo into an embrace.
Shhfft! Bai Mo instantly sprang to his feet.
Forget it—he wasn’t going to sit there anymore. He’d rather leave the seat for someone who actually needed it.
The sound of his small heels clicking on the floor echoed as he quickly ran over to a fake sycamore tree not far away, leaning against it while anxiously gazing in the direction of the ice cream stand.
Where was his dear boyfriend? Why wasn’t he back yet?
Bai Mo’s retreat was seen by the sleazy man as a sign of silent submission. It was a reaction he had witnessed countless times—many people harassed in public places either endured it quietly out of fear or hesitated to cause a scene.
The man inhaled deeply, savoring the unique fresh grass-like scent that lingered on the youth. It was an intoxicating fragrance that stirred something sinister within him.
Sprawled lazily on the bench, he positioned himself directly across from where Bai Mo stood by the sycamore tree. His hand slid between his legs, rubbing up and down in a vulgar motion, his depraved gaze fixed on the unsuspecting youth.
Unfortunately for him, Bai Mo’s attention was elsewhere, oblivious to the disgusting act unfolding in front of him.
The sleazy man enjoyed the thrill of risky behavior; otherwise, he wouldn’t have chosen a crowded shopping mall to make his move.
Seeing that Bai Mo ignored him, he repeated his tactic, sneaking up behind Bai Mo under the parasol tree.
As soon as he opened his mouth, the overpowering stench of his breath almost made Bai Mo vomit up the snow pear juice he had drunk that morning.
He felt a faint touch on his waist and warm breath against his neck.
Glancing back at the bench, he realized the man had disappeared.
Then, from the corner of his eye, he saw a patch of gray fabric from a coat pressing against his clothes at his waist.
If Bai Mo still didn’t recognize what was happening, his previous life would have been wasted. He had only ever heard of incidents like this—this was the first time he was experiencing it himself.
Sensing his target’s stiffness, the lecherous man grew bolder, convinced that Bai Mo was too scared to make a scene. Encouraged, he reached out to grope him.
If his target had been a timid young person, the man might have succeeded. But he had chosen the wrong victim.
Bai Mo was someone who had once charged into a human trafficking den alone. Just as the sleazy man was about to touch him, Bai Mo acted first—grabbing the man’s outstretched hand, locking his elbow, and executing a swift over-the-shoulder throw.
“THUD—”
The man hit the ground with a loud crash, drawing the attention of passersby.
The young girl in the pearl-embroidered dress was red with anger, stomping her round-toed Mary Jane shoe on the fallen man. In a soft yet firm voice filled with fury, she scolded, “You disgusting pervert! You deserve the worst!”
Realization dawned on the onlookers, and they immediately began pointing at the man in disgust. Harassing someone in a public space? Truly despicable.
Huo Wen had been waiting for Bai Mo to suffer humiliation—how could she allow him to turn the tables so easily? Taking advantage of the crowd, she blended in and disguised her voice, sneering, “How can you be so sure he was harassing you? Do you have any proof?”
Catching a thief requires evidence, and accusing someone of harassment without proof was tricky.
Hearing someone defend him, the sleazy man scrambled to his feet and snapped, “Exactly! Who touched you? I was just walking by, and you suddenly attacked me! Are you crazy? Or are you just desperate for a man…?”
The situation grew chaotic. Some supported Bai Mo, while others sided with the man. There were peacemakers, troublemakers, and people hurling unpleasant remarks—all adding to the commotion.