Try being arrogant with me one more time, I dare you!

"What skills do you even have? You're just stuck in Silver rank, aren't you?"

"You wouldn't get it. My Yasuo skills are top-tier. Just wait until I get fed—I'll 1v5 them with no sweat!"

Zhou Haiquan waved his hand dismissively, full of confidence. He had a reputation for being an almost obsessive Yasuo player.

It didn't matter what the team composition was or whether the champion was a good fit for the match, he would always lock in Yasuo. To him, it wasn't just about winning the game, but about proving his mastery over a single champion.

In fact, Zhou had spent countless hours perfecting every combo, every skillshot, and every outplay scenario. On a good day, he was a force to be reckoned with, taking on multiple enemies with style and precision. However, his overconfidence often led him to make risky plays, and more than once, he'd found himself dead because of his tendency to challenge opponents in 1v2 or even 1v3 situations. Despite his recklessness, his in-game persona was worlds apart from his real-life demeanor. In the virtual arena, Zhou was bold and fearless, but outside the game, he was the kind of guy who kept his head down and stayed out of trouble.

About an hour later, Sun Rui arrived at the internet café, pedaling up on a shared bike.

She had clearly gone to some effort to look her best today. Her makeup was subtle, enhancing her natural beauty without being overwhelming.

But what truly caught everyone's attention was her outfit. She wore a JK-style schoolgirl uniform, complete with a short skirt that showed off her long legs, and a cute little cap perched on her head.

The combination of her youthful attire and her confident demeanor created a blend of innocence and allure that was impossible to ignore.

As she stepped through the door, all eyes were on her, particularly those of Chen Yuan's roommates. They could hardly believe what they were seeing.

"Damn, did Sun Rui always look this good?"

"Zhou, man, you're killing it! She even dressed up just for you!"

"Sun Rui's a total dark horse. I remember she used to have some baby fat, but now? She's as hot as Lin Shutong, if not hotter!"

The guys were practically falling over themselves, their eyes glued to her figure as they exchanged comments.

Zhou Haiquan, on the other hand, was starting to feel a little self-conscious. His face flushed red, but deep down, he was bursting with pride.

After all, he had been the one to invite her out. It felt good to be the center of attention for once.

As Sun Rui made her way further into the café, a guy with a cigarette hanging loosely from his mouth stepped into her path.

He had an air of arrogance about him, his body language relaxed but predatory, like someone who was used to getting what he wanted without much effort. He wasted no time and went straight to the point.

"Hey, beautiful, how about you give me your WeChat?"

His gaze was anything but subtle, lingering on her chest and legs in a way that made his intentions painfully clear.

Sun Rui frowned slightly, clearly uncomfortable, but she maintained her composure. "Sorry, I'm here to meet someone," she said, her voice calm but firm as she tried to sidestep him.

But the guy wasn't backing down so easily. "Come on, adding me won't hurt, right? Just one WeChat."

"I said no. Please let me pass," Sun Rui repeated, her patience wearing thin.

The guy's expression darkened as he took a step closer, his tone growing more aggressive.

"Don't be like that. You dress like this and act all innocent? Give me your WeChat, or I might think you're just trying to play hard to get."

Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed her arm.

Before Sun Rui could even react, Zhou Haiquan shot out of his chair, his face twisted in anger. "Who the hell do you think you're talking to? Try laying another hand on her, and I'll make you regret it!"

Zhou's sudden outburst caught everyone off guard, especially his roommates, who had never seen him so furious. In a flash, he was by Sun Rui's side, and without hesitation, he kicked the guy square in the leg.

"You little bastard, how dare you hit me?" the guy snarled, but then paused as he noticed Zhou's friends standing behind him.

Realizing he was outnumbered, he quickly changed his tune. "Alright, alright, you win this round. But don't think this is over." He flicked his cigarette to the ground, trying to maintain a shred of dignity as he backed away.

"Hah! What a coward," one of Zhou's roommates laughed. "Big talk for someone who ran away the second things got tough!"

"Zhou, that was awesome! We always thought you were the quiet type, but you really showed your true colors today. Respect, man!" his friends chimed in, clearly impressed by his boldness.

Zhou scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed by all the praise. "It's nothing. Guys like that only push people around because they think they can get away with it." Despite his modesty, it was clear that he was feeling pretty good about himself. He glanced at Sun Rui, hoping she was just as impressed, but to his surprise, she wasn't even looking at him. Instead, her gaze was fixed on Chen Yuan.

"Chen Yuan, thank you so much for stepping in. And Zhou, thank you too, of course."

Chen Yuan blinked in confusion. "Uh, I didn't actually do anything. If you want to thank someone, you should be thanking Zhou."

Sun Rui's misplaced gratitude left Chen Yuan baffled. He hadn't said a word during the whole exchange, let alone lifted a finger.

All he had done was stand there behind Zhou, watching the scene unfold. It was Zhou who had come to her rescue, not him.

Why was she thanking him? Was she confused, or did she have some kind of ulterior motive?

Meanwhile, Zhou couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. He had been the one to step up and defend her, and yet here she was, looking at Chen Yuan as if he were the hero of the day. His mood soured slightly, but he forced a smile, not wanting to make things awkward.

Just then, Xu Lele walked over, concern written all over her face. "Chen Yuan, maybe you guys should leave. That guy didn't seem like he was going to let this go. He might come back with more people."

Xu's words carried weight, and Chen Yuan knew she was right. If that thug came back with backup, they could easily find themselves in a tough spot. He was about to agree when Zhou Haiquan interrupted.

"If you want to leave, go ahead," Zhou said, his tone firm. "But I'm not going anywhere. I'm not scared of some punk. Let him come—I'll deal with him."

Zhou's bravado was partly fueled by pride. He could sense that Sun Rui's attention was drifting toward Chen Yuan, and the last thing he wanted was to look like a coward in front of her.