Chapter 21 Yu Xing is in Pain, Why Why Why Must I Make a Choice…

Chapter 21 Yu Xing's Torment: Why, Oh Why, Must I Choose?

The two boys, locked in a struggle, froze at the sound. Their heads snapped up, expressions of utter disbelief on their faces, to see Yu Xing standing nearby, her gaze fixed on them with desperate concern.

"..."

For a moment, both Mei Hexuan and Gu Ya were too stunned to process anything. Then, Yu Xing turned to Gu Ya, her voice laced with remorse: "Ya, I didn't expect you to find out so soon."

Gu Ya's Adam's apple bobbed. He momentarily forgot the pain of his injuries. The mere sight of Yu Xing triggered an instinctive alarm, as if he were facing his natural predator. His internal warning bells blared—he was about to suffer terribly.

Yu Xing had approached the administration building just in time to witness their brawl and overhear their argument about "your girlfriend" and "my girlfriend." Her heart twisted with anguish. Just as she had feared, they had come to blows.

*It’s all my fault,* Yu Xing thought. *If only I were uglier, had a worse personality, or were less charming, they wouldn’t be fighting like this.*

"Ya," Yu Xing took a deep breath, believing that honesty was paramount between lovers. No matter what, she shouldn’t hide anything from Gu Ya. "As you can see, Mei Hexuan and I are together now."

Gu Ya’s eye twitched, and beside him, Mei Hexuan’s breathing turned ragged.

"Is... that so?" Gu Ya despised Yu Xing, but after their past encounters, he had come to realize that her thought processes were... unusual. Normal logic didn’t apply to her.

Hearing her confession, a spark of hope ignited within him. Did this mean Yu Xing would finally stop tormenting him? Had she shifted her focus to Mei Hexuan instead?

This was nothing short of a double blessing!

Unable to contain his joy, he sarcastically blurted out, "That’s wonderful! I wish you both happiness!"

Mei Hexuan suddenly turned, glaring at Gu Ya with murderous intent. "Gu Ya, you’re dead meat!"

After searing Gu Ya with his glare, Mei Hexuan turned his fury on Yu Xing, his lips curling into a sneer. "You’ll pay for what you’ve done today—"

Mid-sentence, a sharp shove slammed into his back, sending him stumbling forward. As he twisted mid-fall, he caught sight of Gu Ya’s outstretched hand.

How dare he—

Mei Hexuan didn’t hit the ground. Instead, someone caught him—none other than Yu Xing, the third party in this mess.

Yu Xing wrapped her arms around Mei Hexuan, steadying him before shooting Gu Ya a furious glare. "Ya, that was too much!"

The moment Mei Hexuan found himself in Yu Xing’s embrace, he recoiled as if electrocuted, desperately shoving her away. He wanted no further physical contact with her.

The push destabilized him further. Instead of falling forward, he now toppled backward. Given the choice, Mei Hexuan would have gladly taken the fall over enduring Yu Xing’s touch.

Seeing him about to crash again, Yu Xing lunged to grab him—but she was too slow. Her fingers only managed to snag the loose hem of his open school jacket.

Her grip on the fabric yanked Mei Hexuan mid-air, flipping him halfway before he face-planted into the ground with a wet smack.

*Thump.*

"Xuan!" Yu Xing cried out in horror.

She dropped to her knees, pulling Mei Hexuan up and turning him over—only to find half his handsome face covered in blood.

"Oh God..." Heartbroken, Yu Xing cradled him while glaring accusingly at Gu Ya. "How could you be so cruel?! It’s my fault—I couldn’t control my heart! I’m the one who fell for Xuan! I’m the one who insisted on being with him! Why aren’t you angry at me? Why aren’t you targeting me instead?!"

Gu Ya stared blankly at the scene.

Honestly, he was baffled.

He had only pushed Mei Hexuan to shut him up and annoy him—he never expected it to escalate like this. What an unexpected bonus!

This time, Mei Hexuan had been caught completely off guard. The abrupt face-first impact had forced his teeth to clamp down on his tongue, filling his mouth with blood. The pain was so intense he couldn’t even speak.

Trapped in Yu Xing’s suffocating embrace, he weakly struggled, managing only muffled groans. *Mmph—mmph!*

Gu Ya couldn’t help it—he burst into laughter. "Hahaha—!"

"You’re laughing?!" Yu Xing was aghast. "Come help me take Xuan to the infirmary!"

Gu Ya would sooner watch Mei Hexuan die than assist him.

After one last smug look at Mei Hexuan’s miserable state, he decided he’d had enough fun for the day. With a cold snort, he said, "Why should I care if he lives or dies?"

He turned to leave, already planning to have someone monitor Mei Hexuan. If the bastard showed up at school tomorrow, he’d make sure to torment him further.

The moment he turned, a hand clamped around his right forearm. A sense of impending doom washed over Gu Ya as he looked back—Yu Xing had seized him.

His scalp prickled. Eyes wide, he forced out, "Yu Xing, I admit I was wrong. I shouldn’t have provoked you before. But you’ve already gotten your revenge. From today onward, let’s just stay out of each other’s way, okay?"

"What are you talking about?"

Yu Xing was furious at Gu Ya for hurting Mei Hexuan, but the sight of his handsome face softened her anger.

With a resigned sigh, she said, "Ya, I know I’m being unreasonable. But I have to tell you—even though I can’t reject Xuan’s feelings for me, I still love you too."

Gu Ya shuddered. "You—"

Yu Xing gave a bitter laugh. "Surely I’m not the only woman in the world who’s fallen for two men at once?"

Gu Ya sucked in a sharp breath and wrenched his arm free. "I already apologized! What more do you want?!"

Yu Xing grabbed him again, patience wearing thin. "Is this how you apologize? And you should be apologizing to Xuan, not me—he’s the one you hurt!"

Gu Ya was speechless.

He nearly laughed in disbelief. "Yu Xing, I’m done playing this ridiculous game with you. Just tell me—what do you actually want?"

Yu Xing studied him. Today, Gu Ya’s uniform was impeccably worn, concealing his collarbones and the piercing that usually peeked through. His slightly furrowed brows and pressed lips gave him an uncharacteristically cold, restrained aura.

Swallowing hard, Yu Xing tightened her grip on his arm and said earnestly, "Ya, stop acting up. Both of you need to stop fighting. The three of us should focus on making a happy life together—that’s what really matters."

Gu Ya couldn’t take it anymore.

He violently shook her off, shouting in total exasperation, "Are you out of your mind?!"

Spinning on his heel, he bolted—only to crash headlong into the school disciplinarian, who had been rushing over upon hearing the commotion.

"Ah—!"

"Oof—!"

Two cries of pain later, both the disciplinarian and Gu Ya were sprawled on the ground.

"Ya!" Yu Xing gasped, rushing over to find Gu Ya curled up, clutching his mouth in agony.

His lips had collided with the disciplinarian’s chin, leaving his mouth as bloody as Mei Hexuan’s.

By the time the chaos settled, school had ended. The departing students of Seventh Middle School were treated to the sight of robots carrying a bloodied Mei Hexuan and Gu Ya—along with the disciplinarian, who had a twisted back—toward the infirmary, with a distraught Yu Xing trailing behind.

What's going on here? The students were stunned.

Even while being carried by robots, the disciplinarian didn't forget to reprimand Yu Xing and the others, "Have you all forgotten the school rules at Seventh Middle School? Fighting is prohibited on campus!"

Yu Xing said remorsefully, "I'm sorry, Dean. It's all my fault. They fought because of me. Please punish me if you must."

Bystanding students gasped—holy crap! Gu Ya and Mei Hexuan fought over Yu Xing!

Hearing this, Gu Ya and Mei Hexuan immediately struggled to defend themselves, but with their injured mouths, they could only let out desperate, muffled grunts.

The news spread like wildfire through Seventh Middle School.

From the original version of Gu Ya and Mei Hexuan fighting over Yu Xing, it was spun into them brawling for her, then escalated to them dueling for Yu Xing's affection.

Their fight was so intense that even the disciplinarian couldn't stop them—they even hit the disciplinarian.

In the end, blood spilled across campus, with both sides severely injured!

With video and photo evidence, a clip blew up on the school forum.

Gu Ya and Mei Hexuan, bloodied, were carried to the infirmary by robots while the disciplinarian scolded them for violating school rules by fighting. School legend Yu Xing, with red-rimmed eyes, followed alongside, claiming the fight was because of her and offering to take the punishment for both.

The forum exploded—doesn't this kind of thing only happen in dramas?

[Oh my god, they're covered in blood! That's brutal!]

[Mei Hexuan always seemed so refined—who knew he had it in him.]

[For love, even the aloof prince can turn into a wolf!]

[Am I the only one noticing how stunning Yu Xing looks when she cries? Gorgeous!!]

[Ugh! It's always Yu Xing this, Yu Xing that! The school should just expel her!]

[Admit it, commenter above—you're just salty because no one's ever fought over you, right?]

[So thrilling! I eat this Yu Xing drama up! Can't get enough!]

[No surprise here. With Gu Ya's temper, of course he wouldn't let Mei Hexuan steal his girl and get away with it.]

[Who do you think Yu Xing will choose in the end??]

[I wanna know too! +1]

[Duh? Anyone would pick Mei Hexuan.]

[Exactly! Not only is Mei Hexuan handsome, he's outstanding!]

[Is Gu Ya not good-looking?]

[I hate this mindset—love isn't an exam where the highest scorer wins.]

[Just saying...couldn't they just have a threesome...]

As Gu Ya and Mei Hexuan were taken for treatment, Yu Xing tried to accompany them but was stopped by the disciplinarian.

"What are you going to do there?" The disciplinarian sat on the hospital bed, getting a shot while speaking. "Haven't you caused enough chaos? Don't I have enough to deal with?"

Yu Xing dropped her head in shame. "I'm sorry."

The disciplinarian studied Yu Xing. Normally, he would have expelled her long ago, but Yu Xing's background was special—she wasn't a student he could easily dismiss.

So he softened his tone. "Yu Xing, I know you're a good student."

Yu Xing nodded—she really was, both her current self and the original persona.

"But lately...there's been too much happening around you." The disciplinarian barely held back his frustration. Recently, he'd been working overtime every night deleting forum posts, watching his hairline recede daily.

"Since you've already got your recommendation spot," he advised earnestly, "why don't you take some time off at home? Stay away from school for a while?"

Yu Xing glanced toward the infirmary, wanting to see Gu Ya and Mei Hexuan but unable to spot them.

She didn't want them fighting again—it pained her to see either of them hurt.

So she nodded, accepting the disciplinarian's suggestion. "Alright."

As it happened, she had planned to request leave for religious studies anyway. "Dean, actually, I came today to ask for leave."

"Oh?" The disciplinarian seemed surprised. "For what reason?"

"Well, I..." Yu Xing licked her dry lips. "I'll be attending church studies soon and won't be able to come to school temporarily."

"Ah!" The disciplinarian was truly shocked now. "You've become a Divine Chosen?!"

"Yes." Yu Xing nodded.

The disciplinarian's expression turned solemn. In this world, humanity survived under divine protection, so ordinary people held great respect for the Divine Chosen.

"You..." The disciplinarian unconsciously straightened his posture. "Which existence do you follow?"

This time, Yu Xing understood. "The God of Misfortune."

"Huh?" The disciplinarian frowned. "Among the gods, is there such a being?"

"Brand new." Thinking of her fabricated deity, Yu Xing felt a twinge of guilt. "The Bishop of Reims said a new god was born. I'm the God of Misfortune's first Beloved."

The disciplinarian's eyes widened. A new god? It had been ten years since the last new deity emerged!

While every god had many Beloved, the first was always special. Since the dawn of gods, every deity's first Divine Chosen had become key figures in the Federation. As the God of Misfortune's first Beloved, Yu Xing's future was bright.

The disciplinarian, who previously found it absurd how students fought over Yu Xing, suddenly understood—she was extraordinary. Of course she'd draw so much attention.

His attitude shifted again, his gaze grew both fond and reverent. "Will you be leaving Seventh Middle School? Are you joining the Divine Chosen squad or the military?"

Not used to the formal address, Yu Xing replied, "I'll return. I can't bear to leave Seventh Middle School." Mostly, she couldn't leave her boyfriends.

"Excellent!" The disciplinarian was thrilled. The God of Misfortune's first Beloved unwilling to leave Seventh Middle School was a testament to the school's success.

His eyes grew even more tender. "Why are you so thin? Are you facing difficulties?"

Yu Xing started to deny it but stopped—her life was indeed hard.

But she was hopeful. She smiled and said, "It'll get better."

The disciplinarian knew Yu Xing's circumstances—living from District D, orphaned, with only a grandmother and brother. Her gauntness hinted at daily struggles.

Seeing her resilient smile, his heart went out to her. "Let us know about any challenges you face. The school will do whatever we can to help you."

Yu Xing's family situation was tough, but really only one problem—no money.

A little embarrassed, Yu Xing said, "Well... it's not too bad, really. It's just that we're broke. My grandmother is sick, and we can’t afford treatment. And to support my education, my brother... my brother, he..."

As Yu Xing started tearing up, the disciplinarian quickly comforted her, "Your grandmother is sick? Don't worry about that. The school can provide you with financial aid and enroll her in the staff medical insurance. What about your brother?"

"He..." Yu Xing bit her lip, unsure how to explain. She asked, "Will you help my brother?"

"Of course," the disciplinarian replied, thinking that even if the school didn’t help, once Yu Xing joined the Divine Chosen Team or the military, they would surely assist her. Besides, for a school like Seventh Middle School, such a small matter was trivial.

He gave Yu Xing's shoulder a reassuring pat. "Go ahead, tell me. What happened to your brother?"

Yu Xing glanced at the pink notification that popped up, feeling slightly guilty toward the disciplinarian. Fortunately, her ability didn’t always work, so she refocused on the conversation. "My brother... to earn money for my education, he's working as a gigolo in District C. Dean, can you help him? Maybe find him a decent job?"

The disciplinarian: "..."

The disciplinarian was completely floored. He never expected Yu Xing’s brother to be in such a situation. Shocked and deeply pained, he realized Yu Xing’s family was far worse off than he had imagined. He had always considered Seventh Middle School’s tuition affordable, yet some families had to go that far just to send their children there.

"Yes!" the disciplinarian said solemnly. "The school will definitely help you and your brother. You can rest assured!"

Yu Xing was deeply moved. It seemed that no matter which world she was in, there were still good people.

"Thank you," Yu Xing said, her eyes reddening. "Dean, you’re truly a kind person! On behalf of my grandmother and my brother, thank you!"

"Ah," the disciplinarian replied, slightly embarrassed by the praise. He felt a pang of shame, knowing that if Yu Xing were just an ordinary student—a mere defective person, not the first Beloved of a god—he wouldn’t have been so willing to help.

This went against his original intentions. His eyes grew damp as he recalled the distant past, when he was young and had just started teaching at Seventh Middle School, dead set on dedicating himself to the Federation’s educational system.

Years had passed, and he had forgotten his initial resolve...

Wiping away his tears, the disciplinarian said to Yu Xing, "Go home now. Spend some time with your grandmother before you leave for the church."

"Mm!" Yu Xing nodded firmly.

"Keep striving," the disciplinarian said gently. "You’ll surely rise above and become someone who contributes to the Federation and humanity."

Carrying the disciplinarian’s earnest advice, Yu Xing stepped out of the infirmary—only to run into Yun Dai outside.

"You haven’t gone home yet?" Yu Xing was surprised.

"I was waiting for you," Yun Dai said, her expression complicated. "Mei Hexuan and Gu... never mind, I don’t want to know about them."

She pursed her lips and asked, "You were absent all day. What did the principal want with you?"

Yun Dai was worried. Given everything that had happened to Yu Xing recently, was the school about to kick her out?

"It was nothing," Yu Xing said, walking side by side with Yun Dai toward the school gate. "Someone from the Divine Chosen Team came to ask about last night’s incident."

"Ah!" Yun Dai suddenly perked up. "You met someone from the Divine Chosen Team? Which squad?"

Yu Xing didn't get why she was so excited. "Squad Two."

"Squad Two!" Yun Dai grew even more excited, almost going in for a hug.

Yu Xing quickly dodged. No touching—Yun Dai would suffer misfortune.

"Every city's Divine Chosen Teams are ranked by strength. The lower the number, the stronger they are," Yun Dai explained, eyeing Yu Xing enviously. "Even my family can’t casually meet members of Squad Two."

Yu Xing thought to herself, *They even invited me to join.*

Yun Dai followed Yu Xing all the way to the bus stop, babbling excitedly. "And then? What happened next?"

Yu Xing glanced at a luxurious private car parked nearby and sighed. "Aren’t you going home? I need to head back."

"I’ll go with—" Yun Dai started to say she’d accompany her, but she was still shaken from yesterday's bus ride. Instead, she suggested, "Why don’t you come to my place? We can go to school together tomorrow."

"No," Yu Xing said, stuffing her hands into her pockets. "I’m going to the church tomorrow. I'll be out of school for a good while."

"Huh?" Unlike the disciplinarian, Yun Dai didn't know much about the Divine Chosen. "Why?"

"I’m a Divine Chosen now," Yu Xing said, idly studying her shoes. "I have to study at the church for some time."

"..." Yun Dai’s big eyes went even wider.

She stared at Yu Xing in shock for a long moment before she slumped. "I should have guessed. Of course you’re a Divine Chosen. So... you’re never coming back to school?"

Her blue eyes shone with disappointment. "I’m so jealous..."

Seeing her expression, Yu Xing felt bad. She scolded herself inwardly, *Yu Xing, you're into guys. You’re not interested in women. How can you feel this way?*

But what came out of her mouth was, "Of course I’ll come back. Besides, we’re both in Seventh City, and we’re buddies now. You can message me anytime."

Yun Dai perked up again. She was about to ask which deity Yu Xing worshipped when the bus arrived. Yu Xing jumped on board and turned to wave at her.

Yun Dai waved back like crazy from the platform, both grinning from ear to ear.

*This is nice...*

Yu Xing suddenly frowned. *Nice? How?*

As the bus pulled away, she watched Yun Dai shrink in the distance through the window until she disappeared.

She realized... she kind of liked this feeling. It was strange.

Her thoughts were all jumbled. Back on Earth, she'd been in a psych ward since she was young. She couldn’t recall ever sharing such moments with another girl—waving goodbye, being watched as she left, promising to stay in touch.

If Yun Dai didn’t have a crush on her, wouldn't that be perfect if they could just stay like this?