While Mei Fang and Lin Youxi were actively handling the situation, Xia Yuan had remained silent after the incident because she had requested early leave from her homeroom teacher. According to Lin Youxi’s plan, Xia Yuan now bore a more important mission.

After carefully preparing her words and emotions at home, she finally picked up her phone to call her father, Xia Xun.

“Beep—beep—beep—”

Xia Xun hadn’t received a call from his daughter in a long time, so seeing Yuan Yuan calling filled him with pleasant surprise. He wanted to compose himself, but realizing it was during normal school hours made it seem unusual, so he quickly answered.

“Hello… Yuan Yuan? Why are you calling at this time? What’s the matter…”

“Dad, there’s something I need to tell you in advance to avoid misunderstandings later.”

Xia Yuan cleared her throat and said softly:

“I broke up with Ah Fang.”

After returning from school, Mei Fang proactively called Xiang Xiaoxia to explain the situation. Having vented her anger during the day, his mother seemed much calmer in the evening.

She had initially worried that Mei Fang and Lin Youxi had rekindled their old flame while he was still dating Xia Yuan, but learning that Xia Yuan had initiated the breakup and “encouraged” Mei Fang and Lin Youxi to be together eased her mind somewhat.

Having watched the trio grow up together, as a mother, she could understand her son being with either girl.

“Regardless, you can’t just jump into a relationship with Youxi so soon after breaking up. Living together like this, aren’t you considering Yuan Yuan’s feelings?”

“It’s not as serious as you think… Yuan Yuan feels that being childhood friends is happier than being boyfriend and girlfriend. If you don’t believe me, I can let Yuan Yuan talk to you—she’s sitting right next to me…”

Mei Fang gestured to Xia Yuan, who was sitting on his lap, asking if she wanted to take the call. Just as Xia Yuan was about to accept, Xiang Xiaoxia hurriedly replied on the other end:

“Forget it… I don’t have the energy to manage you three anymore. Just don’t let your relationships fall apart… I don’t have much to say to Yuan Yuan right now. Having raised such an ungrateful son, I’m too ashamed to face her.”

“But remember this clearly: don’t neglect or mistreat Yuan Yuan just because you broke up. Do you hear me? If you don’t want her, I do—I see her as my own daughter!”

“Got it, got it… How could I not want Yuan Yuan? We’re still as close as family. Don’t worry, Mom.”

After calming down, the Mei family didn’t seem inclined to come and lecture their son. Xia Yuan, hearing Xiang Xiaoxia’s words, felt very happy. She leaned on Mei Fang’s shoulders, nestling in his arms affectionately.

“I was worried Auntie Xiang would be happy that Youxi is with you… Turns out she likes me too.”

Mei Fang smiled. “My mom isn’t the type to play favorites—she’s mastered the art of balancing things.”

“Hmph…”

Mei Fang brushed aside a strand of Xia Yuan’s hair and then asked:

“What about your family? What did your dad say?”

“Since I had more time to explain properly, my dad didn’t say much after understanding the situation. He wanted to come see me, but I talked him out of it. He just told me to come home and rest for a while if I felt wronged.”

Mei Fang chuckled. “Uncle Xia is just putting on a calm front—he probably wants to stab me in his heart.”

“I think it’s fine… After all, publicly, I was the one who dumped you.”

“That might be how it looks to others, but your parents won’t see it that way… They know exactly how much you like me. They’ll definitely think the breakup was a decision you were forced into.”

Mei Fang hugged Xia Yuan gently and said warmly, “I’ll find time to talk properly with Uncle Xia. After all, the breakup is only temporary—we’ll still end up together. We can’t afford to lose all your parents’ goodwill.”

“Mhm! Ah Fang, you’re the best.”

Xia Yuan kissed Mei Fang on the cheek as she spoke.

At that moment, Lin Youxi, freshly showered and toying with her damp hair, came over holding the draft of their self-criticism statement and sat beside Mei Fang.

“Will you be the only one delivering the self-criticism tomorrow?”

“I’m the guy—thick-skinned. Plus, you’ve always been the top student at school. Can’t have you losing face, right?”

“I don’t think this self-criticism will make you lose face at all. I’ve polished it up a bit more—want to see?”

“The self-criticism letter? Let me see, let me see!”

Xia Yuan happily took the letter from Lin Youxi and examined it carefully. Even with Xia Yuan still sitting in his lap, Mei Fang found a free hand to help Lin Youxi dry her hair.

“That Fang Yan girl said her boyfriend was a C-site content creator with 100,000 followers and threatened to cyberbully us. Did you find that video?”

“I wanted to see how many people would come attack me, but I couldn’t find the video at all. So I asked Uncle about it. He said the video had been taken down for violating platform guidelines against inciting cyberbullying. The operations team even asked if I wanted the account banned.”

“And did you have it banned?”

“Of course I did. Why wouldn’t I?”

Lin Youxi tilted her head, putting on a playfully serious expression. “Promoting cyberbullying is extremely serious, especially since it could negatively influence children. As C-site, we must crack down hard on such unhealthy trends—no leniency—to promote positive social values.”

“There’s definitely some personal vendetta mixed in there…”

Mei Fang laughed as he spoke. “But this kind of young mistress is so cool—I really love it.”

“Saying such things while hugging Yuan Yuan really lacks credibility.”

“Wah—!”

Xia Yuan, sitting on Mei Fang’s lap reading their self-criticism letter, suddenly blushed deeply.

“This… this self-criticism is so bold! Can you really read this aloud tomorrow? And didn’t the homeroom teacher review what you wrote?”

“Of course they did. The homeroom teachers at Jiangcheng No. 1 High are all sharp.”

Mei Fang and Lin Youxi smiled. “But what we wrote in the office was just a perfunctory version. This is our real self-criticism letter.”

Xia Yuan said excitedly, “I can’t wait for tomorrow!”

The next morning during the school assembly, as long-standing exemplars of the school, Mei Fang and Lin Youxi made their first appearance as negative examples on the assembly stage. Before Mei Fang began his self-criticism, the grade-level director Pan’s reprimand was surprisingly mild.

The audience’s reactions varied dramatically:

Those in the know—Xia Yuan, Liu Xiaoyu, Xiang Bingbing, and others—were just waiting for the show. Wan Chaoxiong and the second-year students Zhu Nainai and Xu Wei hid in discreet corners, ready to capture Mei Fang’s iconic moments.

Everyone seemed to be in high spirits—except Fang Yan, who looked utterly miserable.

Her friend beside her asked, “Fang Yan, what’s wrong? Isn’t it good that they’re being publicly criticized?”

Faced with her friend’s question, Fang Yan shook her head and forced a smile. “It’s fine… I just didn’t expect C-site’s moderation to be so stupid.”

“What did the moderation do?”

“They banned my boyfriend’s account without giving any reason.”

“No way, that’s so dumb. Did he appeal?”

“He did, but we got into a fight over it. He said it was because I made him post that video. He just texted me saying I shouldn’t have provoked Lin Youxi—that after looking into it today, he thinks she might be some kind of young mistress.”

“Young mistress? Has your boyfriend been watching too much anime? That sounds disgusting.”

“I don’t know… Ugh, whatever. I’ve been finding him annoying lately anyway.”

To be honest, Fang Yan was starting to regret things. She didn’t actually like Xia Yuan that much—she just saw her as Lin Youxi’s naive sidekick, unremarkable except for her singing. Her fondness for Xia Yuan stemmed more from her dislike of Lin Youxi.

This time, she had only jumped into the fray because she saw an opportunity to take Lin Youxi down a peg.

And the result? Now Lin Youxi was openly flaunting her new status without a care, Xia Yuan hadn’t made a peep, and she was fighting with her boyfriend—nothing had gone right for her.

At the very least, making this shameless couple lose face in public might make them tone things down a bit…

Amid the grade director’s introduction, Mei Fang slowly stepped onto the stage. His expression was solemn, as if he truly came to repent.

He cleared his throat and began his masterful performance.

“Respected school leaders, homeroom teachers, and dear classmates:”

“Good morning!”

“Today, I write this self-criticism with remorse and regret, to publicly express my deep reflection on our inappropriate early romantic behavior.”

“I profoundly regret my actions. No matter how close my relationship with Lin Youxi is, we should not have been intimate on school grounds. School is a place for learning, yet we failed to treat it with the seriousness it deserves.”

“Next, I will thoroughly analyze the journey of my relationship with Lin Youxi, as a cautionary tale for our juniors. Please take this as a serious warning.”

“Like the well-known Xia Yuan, Lin Youxi and I have been childhood friends since kindergarten. In elementary school, we were close companions who encouraged and learned from each other.”

“Since childhood, I’ve loved games and dreamed of creating my own. Lin Youxi shared this passion and took interest in my aspirations, learning programming alongside me. Later, we developed a website together.”

The audience gradually realized something was off—this didn’t sound like a confession of wrongdoing at all. Wasn’t this just Mei Fang bragging about his relationship?

Mei Fang continued unfazed, recounting their history: “The deep friendship Lin Youxi and I built in elementary school carried into middle school, where we were placed in the same class.”

“Before that, despite her academic excellence, she had been a very introverted girl. With my encouragement, she decided to make a change and actively campaigned to become class monitor.”

Wait—the class monitor used to be introverted? Impossible to tell now!

This bombshell stunned the crowd, who listened with rapt attention as Mei Fang continued to flaunt their relationship.

“After that, she gradually became more independent and developed her own ideas. I couldn’t help but feel smug, believing I played a significant role in Lin Youxi’s growth—which planted the seeds for my later overreach.”

“Lin Youxi, Xia Yuan, and I worked hard together through middle school, pushing each other forward until we earned our place at Jiangcheng No. 1 High School, one of Hubei’s top high schools.”

“During our time here, Xia Yuan, Lin Youxi, and I achieved many goals: performing in cultural festivals, developing new games, expanding our website, formally establishing a company, and securing Tencent’s investment…”

The few casually dropped lines contained staggering revelations. While the school knew about Mei Fang and Xia Yuan’s artistic performances and game development, the mentions of website expansion, company formation, and Tencent funding were completely new information.

“Website? What website are they talking about?”

“Hey… don’t tell me it’s actually that website!”

Grade Director Pan began to panic. A traditionalist who viewed smartphones, the internet, and early romance as the three banes of high schoolers, he had long disapproved of the school’s praise for Mei Fang and Xia Yuan. He had hoped to use this self-criticism session to put Mei Fang in his place…

But what was this?

Director Pan urgently glanced at Principal Hu for permission to stop Mei Fang, but the principal shook his head with a smile.

“Don’t rush. Let him continue.”

Principal Hu stroked his chin with interest. “Remember our school’s motto—we should give the stage to our students. Let’s see what other secrets this young man has been keeping.”

With no interference from the faculty, Mei Fang pressed on.

“However, these extracurricular pursuits undoubtedly impacted our academic focus. Our grades slipped—especially mine and Xia Yuan’s.”

“Instead of feeling ashamed about our declining performance, we became lost in our own world.”

“While collaborating on music, Xia Yuan and I developed inappropriate feelings for our age and entered a romantic relationship first.”

Ahhh…

Even as the “ex-girlfriend” in the public eye! Hearing Ah Fang recount this past was still unbearably embarrassing!

The girls in the class were poking her back, while Xia Yuan covered her face, barely containing her glee—she was happily feasting on her own “dog food” [self-created romantic drama].

But her classmates didn’t see it that way.

She’s smiling and cheering them on even after a breakup? YuanYuan is so strong!

Only Liu Xiaoyu wore a helpless smile.

Don’t feel sorry for her…

She’s genuinely happy.

“During my one-year relationship with Xia Yuan, we became engrossed in immature matters of love. Though we appeared happy on the surface, we both carried guilt, believing we had hurt Lin Youxi’s feelings.”

“Later, I learned that Xia Yuan believed Lin Youxi and I were better suited. For this reason, she proactively suggested we temporarily break up and end our relationship.”

“After the breakup, I was heartbroken. During that time, it was Lin Youxi who encouraged me. Meanwhile, Xia Yuan actively tried to push Youxi and me together.”

“Given our deep emotional foundation and Xia Yuan’s enthusiastic matchmaking, Youxi and I soon became a couple—”

Mei Fang suddenly raised his voice dramatically, as if stirring the pot:

“Though things with Youxi might seem sudden, you can’t hide how you truly feel about someone!”

His declaration was met with a mix of boos and cheers from the audience.

Some envied “Mei the Dog,” some scorned him, and others rolled their eyes at his antics. Regardless, all the attention was on him—whether Lin Youxi was a homewrecker or Xia Yuan had been cheated on no longer mattered.

“Enough! Get to the point!”

Principal Pan couldn’t bear to listen to this student’s romantic boasting in front of the entire senior class. “What kind of reflection is this?! Instead of repenting, you’re flaunting your relationship? Is this the example you want to set? Skipping studies to make games—how much money can that even earn?!”

As Principal Pan berated him, some well-informed boys in the audience shouted:

“Principal Pan! CEO Mei’s game made millions already!”

Others heckled: “Yeah right, if he earned that much, why’s he still studying here?”

“YuanYuan’s albums sold millions too, and she’s still in school!”

“That’s the distributors’ profit—how much could she really make as an indie artist?”

“Quiet, everyone, quiet…”

Mei Fang continued into the microphone: “I’m aware my actions have caused a major stir among students and damaged the school’s reputation.”

“Students should focus on mutual growth, not distractions. My behavior set a bad example, harming academic discipline. As a student of Jiangcheng No. 1 High, I should uphold its image, not tarnish it. I’ve deeply reflected on the consequences of my actions:”

“1. My public displays of affection with Youxi disrupted campus morale and distracted students from their studies, which was irresponsible.”

“2. It hindered my personal growth, especially during the critical senior year. Now, filled with remorse, I sincerely repent.”

“3. My lack of awareness led to this mistake. Had I understood its severity earlier, it could’ve been avoided. This reflects my failure to meet the standards of a modern high school student. Moving forward, I’ll hold myself to stricter discipline.”

Mei Fang delivered this blatantly insincere speech with a straight face, earning stifled laughter from students and solemn nods from Principal Pan. Then, setting aside his script, he addressed the crowd:

“To demonstrate my sincerity, I’ve decided to personally donate approximately 2 million yuan to the school, with the following commitments to benefit all students and mitigate my misconduct—”

The announcement sent shockwaves through the auditorium.

“T-Two million?! Holy crap, he really is CEO Mei!”

“Who just casually donates 2 million? What kind of family is he from?!”

“I heard he earned it all himself!”

“Ugh… Why waste it on the school? Give it to me! I’ll be your loyal dog, Mei! I’ll beat up anyone who badmouths you!”

Unfazed by the commotion, Mei Fang smiled and motioned for silence.

“The funds will be allocated as follows—”

“1. Upgrading school facilities: desks, multimedia equipment, sports gear, and club resources.”

“2. New computers and faster servers for the IT lab, ensuring smooth online access.”

“3. Modernizing the recording studio, allowing art to flourish at Jiangcheng No. 1 High.”

Though framed as altruistic, the investments conveniently served Mei Fang’s interests:

• Funding clubs would boost campus culture—and his studio’s influence.
• Better IT resources would promote internet literacy.
• The recording studio upgrades? Clearly meant for someone special.

Now that his identity was public, Mei Fang saw no reason to hide his intentions.

“Of course, these are just preliminary ideas. If the school leadership isn’t interested… I can always rescind the offer?”

“We’ll take it—ahem!”

Principal Pan hastily cut in, triggering another wave of laughter.

“Mei Fang, such matters shouldn’t be in a reflection! Your generosity is appreciated, but next time, discuss it privately with the school—”

Nodding, Mei Fang glanced back at Lin Youxi, then exchanged a knowing look with an overjoyed Xia Yuan before resuming his act:

“Through this reflection, I’ve learned my lesson. I vow never to repeat such mistakes. Please grant me this chance to reform. If I fail again, I’ll voluntarily withdraw to avoid further disruption!”

“Don’t withdraw! The school would never let you leave!”

The crowd’s jeers lightened the mood—except for Fang Yan and her clique, who looked utterly defeated. Their scheming had backfired, publicly exposing the trio’s united front.

Shang Ce, who’d long clashed with Lin Youxi, scowled on behalf of her humiliated friend.

“If Lin Youxi wasn’t the ‘other woman,’ why wait until now to explain? Was this all a setup to shame Fang Yan publicly?”

“Exactly.”

Mei Fang didn’t deny it. “Then ask Fang Yan: Did she verify any facts before slandering Youxi?”

“Had she asked around—or even just questioned YuanYuan—would things have escalated this far?”

“You targeted us because you thought we were vulnerable. But what if your victim had been an ordinary student? Should they endure rumors until they’re forced to quit?!”

Shang Ce fell silent. Fang Yan trembled, crouching on the floor in tears.

Lin Youxi stepped forward, microphone in hand:

“As Class 5’s monitor, I’ve always emphasized accountability.”

“Mei Fang and I own our actions. Since I’ve failed as a role model, I’ll resign as monitor after this.”

“No!” Her homeroom teacher, Li Xiang, nearly collapsed in despair.

Lin Youxi continued coldly:

“Fang Yan, your baseless accusations damaged my reputation. A public apology is non-negotiable.”

Fang Yan remained curled up, sobbing. Not a single friend dared to comfort her now.

“Playing the victim might earn pity, but not my forgiveness.”

“And my forgiveness matters—for your future.”

“Because if you refuse to apologize now, my lawyer will follow through.”

Principal Pan tried intervening, but the principal silenced him:

“Let them handle it. They’re adults now—this is a lesson they need to learn.”

The confrontation wasn’t about vengeance. The local students had always looked down on outsiders like Lin Youxi, bullying them under the guise of “pranks.”

As monitor, Lin Youxi had never tolerated such behavior—hence the resentment.

True understanding required walking in each other’s shoes. Sadly, many never learned that lesson.

After tense negotiations, Fang Yan finally apologized through tears.

As Mei Fang and Lin Youxi prepared to leave, someone shouted:

“Mei Fang! That website you and Lin Youxi founded—is it really that site?!”

Mei Fang grinned. “Obviously. It’s C-Station.”

“My Youxi is C-Station’s princess—Princess ‘Mountains Have Woods.’”

The confirmation stunned the crowd.

“Y-You can just admit that?!”

“No more secrets.”

In his final year, Mei Fang had finally revealed his three trump cards.