Liao Miaochen's parents had given him the name Miaochen, meaning 'insignificant dust.' They hoped he would cultivate an upright attitude, maintain a low profile, practice humility and self-reflection, and live a peaceful, unassuming life among the wealthy.

Their wish was a beautiful one, but alas, fate decreed otherwise, and Liao Miaochen grew up to be the complete antithesis of his name.

He was boastful, extravagant, and a show-off, constantly craving attention and longing to be the center of it. He possessed nearly all the typical flaws of a rich second-generation kid, topped off with a rather foul temper.

His parents, however, were truly formidable, capable of smoothing over any minor issue. Perhaps it was precisely because they had resolved too many of his minor troubles that he ultimately became so utterly reckless.

Liao Miaochen had a somewhat 'shoehorn-shaped' face, with a very sharp and protruding chin, prominent dark circles under his eyes, and his eyes perpetually held a look of defiant, challenging arrogance and provocation.

"Damn! Bro, you've got some nerve, huh?"

Interestingly, though he started with a swear word, his hostility had actually lessened somewhat.

Most people could sense this shift, which indicated that Liao Miaochen was beginning to take Han Lie seriously, temporarily reining in his temper.

However, he was perhaps accustomed to throwing his weight around. He wasn't skilled in more amicable or equitable forms of communication, nor could he bring himself to shed his superior attitude. Consequently, he cracked jokes that he found amusing but were, in reality, exceptionally foolish.

"Alright, I like hanging out with people who have personality! You like to act all high and mighty? Fine. With so many people here, someone must know you, right? Come on, who's going to introduce me to our new friend?"

However, before anyone else could speak, Chen Yanfei frowned and retorted sharply, without mincing words.

"Liao Miaochen, Han Lie is here with me. If you're dissatisfied with something, you tell me!"

"No, no!" Liao Miaochen's expression shifted instantly. He plastered on a smile and raised his voice theatrically. "How would I dare cross you? I was just curious."

Logically, when someone backs down, one should ease off.

Yet, Chen Yanfei's demeanor didn't soften in the slightest; instead, she grew even more impatient.

"If you can behave, then stay. If not, take your pack of worthless friends and find somewhere else! Uncle Liao is such a good man, yet he's spoiled you into behaving like a common thug! It's utterly disgraceful!" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Good heavens, that verbal barrage, delivered right to his face, left Liao Miaochen utterly deflated on the spot.

He felt he had lost immense face and was shaking with rage.

But on Dream City's turf, he genuinely didn't dare to lock horns with Chen Yanfei, so he could only glare viciously at Han Lie.

Han Lie: ???

Han Lie had witnessed Chen Yanfei's commanding presence at critical moments before, but he still couldn't help but marvel.

This woman... she's really something! So righteous and unyielding... I wonder what she'd look like in a uniform and black stockings… Heh heh...

The scoundrel entertained all sorts of peculiar thoughts, a faint smile playing on his lips as he watched her command the situation, relishing the saved effort.

Then, just as the situation seemed to have de-escalated, the class president, Wen Yu, suddenly interjected, complicating matters.

"Yanfei, Liao Miaochen hasn't really done anything wrong. Why are you making such a scene? Brother Liao, Han Lie is my classmate. If you wanted to get to know him, you could have just asked me!"

Oh? How interesting...

Han Lie regarded Wen Yu with keen interest, puzzled as to why Wen Yu dared to openly disregard Chen Yanfei's standing.

The reason was actually quite simple—

Liao Miaochen's father was a magnate who had built his fortune in mining, whereas Chen Yanfei's father was Dream City's second-most powerful figure. Against her, Liao Miaochen had to be deferential.

Wen Yu's father, though only a bureau director, was aligned with the city's top leader. Thus, Wen Yu didn't need to concern himself with Chen Yanfei; on the contrary, he needed to curry favor with the likes of Liao Miaochen.

The ecosystem of power, plain and simple.

Seeing Wen Yu step forward, Liao Miaochen's eyes instantly lit up, his mood improving considerably.

"Oh! So, you're his junior..."

Liao Miaochen feigned a look of sudden realization, then turned to Han Lie with a malicious smile.

"Brother, I've been a bit out of the loop. I genuinely hadn't heard of you before, young brother Han. I didn't realize you were in the same year as Yanfei and Shaohang... By the way, are you familiar with Pan Shaohang? He and I are sworn brothers—we've even performed the kowtow ceremony together!"

Well, that solves it.

No wonder this character had taken an instant dislike to Han Lie; it really was because of Pan Shaohang.

Actually, this sort of situation was perfectly normal.

Dream City's elite circle was pitifully small. After all, it was a minor city that had prospered due to its resources. The few people at the apex of its society were inevitably all acquainted with one another.

Hadn't Pan Shaohang once fancied himself Chen Yanfei's childhood sweetheart? It would be stranger if Liao Miaochen *didn't* know Pan Shaohang.

However, this fellow wasn't necessarily just trying to stick up for Young Master Pan. Humans, like animals, possess a territorial instinct. And Han Lie, at that moment, was a strikingly handsome individual whose very presence exuded an aura that could make someone like Liao Miaochen feel intensely threatened. Liao Miaochen's dislike for him, in truth, required no specific reason.

Adults might conceal their displeasure, but the wealthy second generation truly felt no such need. Even famously hot-headed scions of powerful families were known to throw punches when displeased...

Yet, Liao Miaochen, in the end, wasn't quite so reckless, perhaps because Xiao Xiao's earlier actions had made him more cautious.

Having been rebuked by Chen Yanfei with no outlet for his anger, and not quite daring to erupt into outright vulgarity, he resorted to provoking Han Lie with veiled, sarcastic remarks, still determined to stir up trouble.

'If you dare to talk back,' he was likely thinking, 'then don't blame me for not giving Chen Yanfei face...'

This demonstrated that the fellow wasn't entirely foolish, merely accustomed to his arrogant and overbearing ways.

However, Han Lie showed no intention of retorting. Instead, he calmly walked to Chen Yanfei's side, placed a hand on her shoulder, and gestured for her to sit down.

Then, indifferent to the immense shock his action caused the onlookers, he unhurriedly sat down directly opposite Liao Miaochen and replied with casual indifference, "Pan Shaohang, you ask? Yes, I suppose we have a bit of a connection these days."