Two-faced friends

"Get lost! Don't ever let me catch you around here again, or I swear I'll beat you every single time I see you!" Zhou Haiquan's voice thundered through the chaos of the internet café, delivering a final, forceful kick to Huang Bo, who lay sprawled on the floor.

The fury in Zhou Haiquan's eyes was palpable. He was brimming with an inflated sense of triumph, convinced that today's events were nothing short of legendary.

In his mind, four of them had taken on a group of over ten people and emerged victorious, leaving their opponents in a disheveled mess on the floor. It was a feat he believed was worthy of bragging about for at least a year.

Zhou Haiquan was certain that Sun Rui would be awestruck by his bravery and valor. He imagined her admiration and respect for him growing exponentially as she witnessed his heroics.

But as he turned to look back at Sun Rui, his elation turned to frustration. Instead of being impressed by his display of strength, she had eagerly moved over to Chen Yuan, practically fawning over him.

This sight was enough to make Zhou Haiquan's mood sour further.

He felt a twinge of jealousy and disappointment. The attention he had hoped to receive seemed to be diverted elsewhere.

"Whoa, Fourth Bro, I had no idea you were this tough. Have you been secretly training or something?" Xiong Tao, one of Zhou Haiquan's roommates, asked in astonishment.

His eyes were wide with amazement and newfound respect for his friend's unexpected prowess.

"There's no way he could be this formidable without some serious training.

He must have been hiding his true abilities all this time in the dorm.

If he had really gone all out, the three of us combined wouldn't stand a chance against him!" Cao Jinyan, another friend, added, his voice tinged with both admiration and envy.

The realization that Chen Yuan's skills were not just a product of chance but rather the result of dedicated training struck them deeply.

"It makes sense now why all the girls are so crazy about him.

Turns out, he's not just a show-off but a real fighter!" The roommates exchanged looks of admiration mixed with jealousy.

They were beginning to understand why Chen Yuan was so popular with the ladies.

However, what they failed to grasp was that the real reason behind the girls' infatuation with Chen Yuan was not just his fighting skills but his financial status.

Chen Yuan, despite his impressive combat abilities, had little interest in Sun Rui's attempts to gain his favor. With her 7.5 out of 10 attractiveness, she didn't meet his standards for even casual attention.

Chen Yuan took a moment to check his system interface and noticed that his physical enhancements had led to some significant changes.

His height, which had been a mere 179 cm, had increased to 180 cm. Although it was only a small increment, it suggested potential for further growth.

His weight had also increased noticeably, which explained his constant hunger and the increased amount of food he had been consuming lately.

"I'm truly sorry, Xu Lele. During the commotion in your internet café, it seems that several computers might have been damaged," Zhou Haiquan apologized, his face a mix of guilt and discomfort. His sense of responsibility weighed heavily on him, especially after the confrontation that had resulted in some collateral damage.

"It's really not a big deal. It was just a few monitors that were damaged. We can easily replace them!" Xu Lele reassured him with a warm smile, trying to ease his distress.

"Please let us know the cost of the monitors, and we'll make sure to cover the expenses," Zhou Haiquan insisted, still visibly troubled by the damage.

He felt a strong sense of obligation to make things right, reflecting his stubborn and principled nature.

"There's no need for any compensation. You're all friends of Chen Yuan. Even if the entire café had been demolished, it wouldn't matter!" Xu Lele's response was so generous it almost made Zhou Haiquan and his friends choke on their disbelief.

"What kind of spell has Chen Yuan cast on her that makes her so devoted? Is he really that amazing? Would she have reacted the same way if the café had been completely destroyed?" Zhou Haiquan and his friends exchanged baffled glances, unable to comprehend Xu Lele's extreme loyalty and willingness to overlook the damages.

Chen Yuan, feeling uncomfortable with Sun Rui's relentless attention, decided to leave Daluo Internet Café.

Her attempts to ingratiate herself with him felt like those of an overly insistent sycophant.

Her behavior was repulsive to him, especially since she was Lin Shitong's close friend.

Chen Yuan had pursued Lin Shitong for three long years and had finally won her affection. During that time, Sun Rui had constantly undermined him, subtly disparaging him and causing friction.

Lin Shitong's materialistic nature was one issue, but Sun Rui's constant meddling had been a significant contributing factor to their problems.

Now, seeing Sun Rui trying to win Chen Yuan's favor after Lin Shitong was no longer in the picture felt opportunistic and repugnant to him.

Wasn't this behavior a bit too blatant and inappropriate?

As Chen Yuan walked away from the café, he couldn't help but reflect on how the dynamics had shifted.

The supposed loyalty and admiration he had hoped to receive were now being directed elsewhere, and he found himself grappling with mixed emotions.

The battle had been won, but the real fight, it seemed, was only beginning.

This expanded version offers more context and depth, enhancing the narrative while ensuring it remains engaging for English-speaking readers.