The three boys took a moment to process what had just been said, then realized they were being insulted. Furious, they started closing in on Yu Yingze.

“What did you say?! Y-you’re ugly too!” Squinty Eyes stammered, clearly running out of words to retort with, and his tone wasn’t particularly convincing.

After all, Yu Yingze was undeniably good-looking—anyone could see that. The stark contrast was too much for the three boys to handle. Even if they had to lie through their teeth, they couldn’t let themselves lose this argument.

“You’re the ugly one! You’re the freak!” The three boys began shouting, red-faced and flustered, hurling insults back and forth.

From behind Yu Yingze, Yuanyuan couldn’t take it anymore. She cautiously peeked her head out and quickly blurted, “Second Brother is super handsome! You’re the ones who are ugly!”

The air suddenly went still.

To be called ugly by such an adorable little girl? That was a blow to their pride, and the three boys stood there, momentarily frozen.

Finally snapping out of it, Squinty Eyes glared at Yuanyuan, furious. “You’re ugly too! Your whole family is ugly! All of you are freaks!”

At that very moment, Yu Jinxiao, who had been peacefully basking in the sun, sneezed.

Someone must be badmouthing me.

Shen Ji, who had been quiet for most of the exchange, suddenly let out a cold laugh. “Only people who are ugly themselves get so worked up about looks. It must be hard for you, huh?”

The three kids were stunned.

They’d met their match.

“Don’t get cocky!” Squinty Eyes stammered for a good while, struggling to find a comeback. “What’s so great about being good-looking anyway?!”

“Maybe nothing,” Shen Ji shrugged, “but it’s clearly driving you crazy.”

“My dad says good-looking people are just pretty but useless, like embroidered pillows!” Squinty Eyes finally found something to say.

Shen Ji chuckled. “That’s still better than you three mindless amoebas.”

“You’re just picking on younger kids! You’re shameless!” The three boys were now red-faced, practically at a loss for words.

“Oh? So just because you’re shorter, that automatically makes you younger?” Shen Ji took a deliberate step forward, towering over them with a disdainful gaze. “Three ugly little fire hydrants like you should go blow yourselves up somewhere else and stop being an eyesore.”

Yu Yingze, watching from the side, was in awe.

This guy is a pro.

When it came to insults, Yu Yingze’s usual go-to was basic name-calling, and if things got heated, he’d skip the words and go straight for a punch. But Shen Ji’s barrage of insults was on another level—it was vicious and effective.

The three boys were on the verge of tears, their lips trembling as they tried, and failed, to hold back.

But instead of walking away, they wiped their eyes and started picking up rocks again, ready to throw them.

Shen Ji had no interest in wasting time on these idiots. He was about to turn away when he noticed the red mark on Yuanyuan’s forehead as she peeked out from behind Yu Yingze.

Her pale, delicate skin had been bruised by one of the rough stones, leaving an angry red spot. Such fragile skin couldn’t handle that kind of hit.

Shen Ji’s expression darkened, though his lips curled into a cold smile.

Just as the three boys were about to hurl more rocks, they froze. A wave of chilling cold seemed to emanate from Shen Ji, enveloping them even though they stood in broad daylight, making them shiver uncontrollably.

Shen Ji squatted down, grinning up at the boys with a smile that should have been friendly—but instead sent chills down their spines.

Yu Yingze watched as Shen Ji slowly removed the glove from his right hand. Beneath the sleek black leather was a pale, flawless hand, devoid of any scars or signs of illness.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have insulted you earlier.” Still smiling, Shen Ji raised his hand and gave each boy a light tap on the head, one by one.