Chapter 4: Lin Feng is very nervous about meeting Taylor Swift's parents, and the delinquent boy is causing trouble again

　　Just as Lin Feng, wearing that "happy fool" grin, was about to beam love waves at his goddess Taylor—

　　Taylor Swift (youth limited edition) blinked her clear, innocent sapphire eyes, looking at Lin Feng with curiosity.

　　She then glanced at the three "human art exhibits" (the thug trio) on the ground, their poses absurd as they groaned and whimpered. Her soft, sweet voice carried a touch of natural naivety:

　　"Lin Feng~ What are you doing here?"

　　She tilted her head, a strand of blonde hair sliding over her shoulder, and pointed at the "unidentified objects" on the ground.

　　"Huh? These... are they friends you know? Are you playing... um... stack the humans?" (Pure-eyed.jpg)

　　Friends?!

　　Lin Feng's body jolted! The CPU in his brain instantly overloaded!

　　Friends? With these three bastards who wanted to beat me into a QR code? Pfft!

　　But! In front of the goddess! Must maintain a noble and upright image! No violence! No rudeness! Be sunny! Be positive! Be harmonious!

　　The adoring glow on Lin Feng's face instantly switched to "deep classmate friendship" mode. He put on an extremely "sincere" (totally fake) smile, his voice loud and firm:

　　"Oh right right right! You're so smart, Taylor! They... uh... are all my friends! We were just having... um... a cordial and friendly... physical cultural exchange! Yes! Cultural exchange!"

　　(Inner thoughts racing wildly: Cultural exchange my ass! It's one-sided cultural domination, okay?!)

　　Upon hearing this, Taylor nodded her little head in sudden understanding, a cute blush still lingering on her cheeks.

　　She pulled out a delicate lunchbox from behind her:

　　"Oh, that makes sense! Good! I'm here to bring lunch to my brother! He's a junior."

　　She twisted her fingers a little awkwardly, her voice softening, "But... it's my first time coming to the upperclassmen's building, so I'm a little nervous..." (Like a bunny afraid of getting lost)

　　"Nervous?!" Lin Feng, as if discovering a new continent, straightened his back instantly (though panicking wildly inside), his face lighting up with the excitement of "finding a kindred spirit":

　　"You get nervous too?! Great! (Wait, does that sound right?) Oh no! I mean... me too! I get it! I get super nervous around upperclassmen too!"

　　 (Nodding frantically, trying to bond through empathy)

　　On the ground, Thug A, who'd just caught his breath, nearly spat out a mouthful of blood three meters away upon hearing this!

　　Clutching his nearly crushed neck and his butt that felt split into eight pieces, he squeezed out a mosquito-like, bitter complaint through gritted teeth:

　　"Nerv... nervous? You sure didn't look nervous when you were swinging me around like a pinwheel with one hand earlier! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻"

　　 (Sadly, his voice was too faint—only the floor heard it)

　　Lin Feng couldn't care less about the "brother's" resentment on the ground! A lightbulb went off in his head, zeroing in on a glittering key word—

　　Brother?! Taylor's brother?! A junior?!

　　Whoa! This is the perfect chance to infiltrate the goddess's family circle! Build a good relationship! Take the roundabout route to win her over! Future brother-in-law! This is solid!

　　A sense of mission to "meet the family" (mistakenly) surged within him!

　　Lin Feng's face instantly switched to "sunny and reliable good guy" mode (though his acting was still over the top).

　　He pretended to casually but flusteredly smooth out his red hair, which had been blown into a bird's nest by the wind (trying to boost his handsomeness). His eyes darted around, a mix of shyness and eagerness in his tone:

　　"Umm... hey! Taylor! Which class is your brother in? Since it's our first meeting... I think... I really should go say hello to him to be polite! Yeah! That's right! Politeness!"

　　(His tone was firm, as if he were shouldering the responsibility of world peace!)

　　"Ah——!!!"

　　Upon hearing this, Taylor Swift's already slightly pink cheeks suddenly flared bright red, like a ripe tomato! Wisps of steam seemed to hiss from the top of her head!

　　Meeting her brother here?! Just imagining the scene made her cringe with embarrassment!

　　She almost jolted like she'd been electrocuted, stretching out her small hand to grab the sleeve of Lin Feng's faded white T-shirt (it felt stiff, all sweaty muscle!) Like a startled little rabbit, her voice was urgent and flustered, with a soft plea:

　　"Lin! Feng! Don't! Go! Please——!"

　　She stamped her foot, her golden hair bouncing with the movement. She was so anxious she almost started spinning in circles:

　　"Meeting my brother here... it's way... way too embarrassing! It feels so weird! Come on! Come back with me!"

　　Lin Feng and Taylor, this pair of "Beauty and the Beast (shy version)," had just disappeared around the corridor corner—with him being dragged along by the hand—when the sour smell of romance (and the pink bubbles of silly grins) still lingered in the air—

　　Tap... tap... tap...

　　A heavy, cold set of footsteps approached from afar, landing precisely at the edge of the messy "battlefield."

　　The figure stopped.

　　Shadows instantly engulfed the three groaning thugs, still piled like a "human sandwich" on the ground.

　　A stern man nearly 1.9 meters tall, dressed in a black uniform and exuding an aura of "keep away," glanced coldly at the three "worthless snacks" on the floor. His thin lips spat out words laced with frost:

　　"Tsk. What happened?"

　　Thug A, the leader (now looking more like a salted fish run over by a cart), struggled to lift his swollen, multicolored face. When he recognized the man, he nearly burst into tears and snot, as if seeing a savior:

　　"Wah... A... Ade! Y-you... you're finally here!"

　　The man called "Ade" didn't even bother to bend down. He just stood there, looking down at them.

　　Thug B (the glasses guy) struggled to his feet, gritting through the pain in his butt and toes.

　　He gesticulated wildly, wailing and exaggerating as he sobbed out their "tragic ordeal"—how the "red-haired monster" had fought dirty, how cruelly he'd attacked, how he'd thrown them to the ground like trash (naturally omitting the part where they'd provoked and threatened first).

　　Ade listened expressionlessly, his icy face showing not the slightest flicker of emotion.

　　But the next second!

　　His knuckly, fist-sized iron fists moved without warning!

　　"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"

　　Three powerful, heavy punches, cutting through the air, landed precisely on the heads of the three still sprawled on the ground.

　　Ade shook his wrists, as if he'd just brushed off some dust. His cold voice was thick with disappointment and disdain:

　　"It's only been a few days since the semester started? And you let a first-year kid beat you into such a sorry state?"

　　His icy gaze swept over them, as if looking at three piles of non-recyclable trash. "Worthless."

　　Ade paused, zeroing in on that key detail. His eyes narrowed slightly, sharp as a blade:

　　"Red hair... Lin Feng?"

　　A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and a ruthless, faintly playful smirk tugged at his lips:

　　"Heh... that Lin Feng from Deguang Middle School? Interesting... didn't expect him to end up at our school."

 ...

　　The basketball gym was empty. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting a golden glow over the floor.

　　The air carried a faint rubbery smell and... a subtle, almost imperceptible sweet fragrance belonging to a young girl?

　　Taylor Swift walked lightly to the edge of the court, bent down, and picked up a basketball abandoned in the corner. Her slender fingers brushed the orange leather, her small lips pouting slightly with a touch of nostalgia and a playful grumble:

　　"Oh, back in my high school days, if a basketball was left lying around like this, the coach would've yelled so loud our ears would've rung!"

　　Suddenly, as if remembering something important, she spun around. Her big blue eyes sparkled as she looked at Lin Feng, announcing with a hint of pride:

　　"By the way! I almost forgot to tell you! Back in high school, I was a proper member of the basketball team!" (Chin slightly raised, like a proud little swan)

　　[Goddess! A sporty goddess! A basketball beauty!]

　　Pink bubbles instantly flooded the logic processor in Lin Feng's brain!

　　Watching Taylor's cute look holding the ball, he felt his heart skip a beat, as if a deer had crashed into it.

　　His cheeks flushed "swish" to the color of the brightest sunset in the sky!

　　"That's! That's amazing!" His voice even cracked with excitement.

　　Emboldened by this (exaggerated) affirmation, Taylor's playful side kicked into high gear!

　　She grabbed the basketball with one hand, neatly hitched up her school uniform skirt (a move that made Lin Feng's heart skip a beat), then started dribbling on the empty court!

　　Tap! Tap! Tap!

　　The crisp sound of the basketball hitting the floor echoed through the gym.

　　Her moves weren't exactly professional, but they shone with youthful agility.

　　Her golden hair bounced with each step, and the hem of her uniform fluttered in a youthful arc.

　　She even mimicked a commentator's tone, narrating her own actions in a clear, delightfully self-amused voice:

　　"Watch! Player Taylor Swift! A beautiful crossover! She shakes off the defender! She cuts into the paint! Jumps! An elegant... bank shot——score!!!"

　　When she yelled "score," she even followed up with a fake shooting motion, her smile dazzlingly bright!

　　Right at this "highlight moment"—

　　An accident happened!

　　Maybe she was too caught up in the performance, or maybe the floor was slippery from sweat...

　　At the very instant she tiptoed to "shoot"—

　　"Ah!"

　　A short cry of surprise!