Because Flender's confession to Liu Erlong had failed…
At the confession site, Liu Erlong stated that the one she liked was him.
Yu Xiaogang knew full well that if he didn't act like he was refusing Liu Erlong's affection and instead appeared to want to help Flender and Liu Erlong get together, Flender would surely choose to leave out of shame and heartbreak.
Only if Flender felt there was still hope would he choose to stay.
After that, Yu Xiaogang would pretend to feel guilty and pained, ignoring Liu Erlong for a while.
Third Sister Liu Erlong would surely believe it was because of Flender's confession.
As long as Third Sister Liu Erlong begged Flender hard enough, asking him to talk to Yu Xiaogang—better yet, try to bring them together—and considering how much Big Brother Flender cared for Liu Erlong, even if it tore at his heart, he would force himself to go along and help matchmake the two.
That way, the Golden Iron Triangle wouldn't break apart.
And he could still win over Third Sister Liu Erlong!
Yu Xiaogang was secretly quite pleased with his own brilliant scheme.
Although he had said before leaving that he was giving Flender and Liu Erlong space, Liu Erlong definitely wouldn't just accept that.
When she realized Yu Xiaogang didn't accept her love even after she had made it so clear—and instead left, claiming guilt and sorrow—Liu Erlong grew desperate and quickly chased after him.
"Third Sister!"
Flender, who had originally thought that Yu Xiaogang's gesture of stepping aside would work in his favor, now found things had turned out the opposite. He let the rose in his hand fall helplessly, his heart filled with bitterness and sorrow.
He turned around and left in solitude, going to a tavern to drown his sorrows in drink.
"Heavens truly favor me, Bibi Dong! Truly, they do!"
In the shadows, Bibi Dong—who never expected the Golden Iron Triangle to fall apart just like that—was laughing maniacally to herself as she followed Yu Xiaogang from a distance.
After returning to the hotel, Yu Xiaogang locked himself in his room and began what he called "researching spirit theory."
Liu Erlong, having caught up to the hotel, anxiously pounded on the door, trying desperately to get in.
But Yu Xiaogang never opened the door.
In the end, Liu Erlong could only walk away with a heavy heart and return to her room, feeling lost and dejected.
At that moment, Bibi Dong and her subordinates—the evil spirit masters—had already knocked out a hotel staff member.
One of the evil spirit masters changed into the uniform, disguised as a hotel attendant, and carried some drugged tea and pastries to Yu Xiaogang's room.
"Due to the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, business is booming."
"To thank our guests, the hotel is offering complimentary pastries and tea this evening. Please open the door."
Disguised as a hotel worker, the evil spirit master knocked on the door and spoke respectfully.
Inside the room…
Yu Xiaogang, hearing this, believed it.
Taking advantage of free stuff was basically human instinct.
At the very least, Xiaogang loved a good freebie.
Otherwise, how could he have eaten and lived for free at Nuoding Academy for so long without even attending a single class?
With free pastries and tea on offer, he immediately got up and opened the door, took the treats, returned to his desk, and began eating while continuing his so-called spirit theory "research" (plagiarizing).
But as he ate, Yu Xiaogang suddenly felt his head grow fuzzy and heavy.
Soon, his vision went dark, and he collapsed onto the desk.
At that moment, a figure silently approached the window.
Opening it, the figure climbed in, slung Yu Xiaogang over their shoulder, and quickly left.
"Hall Master, I have completed the task and successfully brought Yu Xiaogang!"
The evil spirit master who had kidnapped Yu Xiaogang came before Bibi Dong and spoke with respect and flattery.
"Not bad! Well done!"
"Now we can return."
Staring at the unconscious Yu Xiaogang slung over the subordinate's shoulder, Bibi Dong's beautiful yet sinister face twisted with hatred and venom, her eyes filled with madness as she let out a crazed, ghastly laugh.
Then, with her evil spirit masters and Yu Xiaogang in tow, she left Balak City.
The next morning.
In her room, after a night of heartbreak and tossing and turning, Liu Erlong had finally fallen into a deep sleep.
Upon waking up, the first thing she did was head to Yu Xiaogang's room and knock repeatedly, wanting to see him again.
"Xiaogang! Xiaogang! Are you awake yet?"
But after knocking for quite some time, there was no response from the room.
No door opening, no sound at all.
Liu Erlong, saddened, assumed Yu Xiaogang still didn't want to see her.
She could only walk away, crestfallen.
Time flew by, and the day passed in the blink of an eye.
Flender, reeking of alcohol and looking exhausted, returned to the hotel, only to find Liu Erlong sitting alone in the lobby, staring off into space, clearly in a low mood.
"Erlong, what's wrong?"
Flender, heart aching, walked over and asked with concern.
"Xiaogang… Xiaogang refuses to see me!"
Liu Erlong's eyes were red and teary as she choked up, speaking to Flender.
'It hurts… it really hurts…'
Hearing her words, Flender felt his heart shatter.
Because his second brother, Yu Xiaogang, refused to meet with her, his third sister was this devastated.
Then what did that make him?
Still, no matter how much it pained him inside, Flender couldn't bear to see Liu Erlong hurting, so he forced himself to look angry as he said,
"How could Xiaogang do this! I'll go find him right now!"
Saying that, Flender marched off to Yu Xiaogang's room, fuming.
Behind him, Liu Erlong quickly followed, filled with nervous anticipation.
However, once they reached the door to Yu Xiaogang's room…
No matter how many times Flender identified himself, shouted, and knocked on the door, asking Yu Xiaogang to come out, there was no response from within.
That made Flender frown deeply. Something felt off.
When he finally forced the door open, he found the room completely empty.
"Xiaogang's gone?"
Flender was shocked, but then quickly became moved.
He thought Yu Xiaogang had run away overnight to help him and Liu Erlong be together.
Though he was touched and happy, he realized this wasn't good news for Liu Erlong.
Flender could only force a bitter smile, sigh, and turn to Liu Erlong.
"Third Sister, it seems Xiaogang left."
"No! Xiaogang!"
To think that the man she loved would rather flee than face her—Liu Erlong was devastated and burst into uncontrollable tears.
'Am I really that unattractive to him?'
Meanwhile, our "loyal brother" Yu Xiaogang had already been taken a hundred li away.
"So painful!"
Yu Xiaogang slowly woke up from unconsciousness, his head throbbing intensely.
He instinctively tried to rub his forehead, only to realize that all his limbs were tied up.
That startled him awake instantly, eyes flying open in alarm as he looked around.
He found himself in a dark forest.
Not far away, several black-robed figures were sitting around a campfire, roasting chickens, rabbits, and other game while munching on dry rations.
The sound of Yu Xiaogang waking up naturally caught their attention.
One of the robed figures looked at him, eyes flashing with greed. He licked his lips and shouted loudly,
"Hall Master, Yu Xiaogang is awake!"
"So you've finally woken up? I've been waiting a long time for this moment!"
A deep, madly familiar laugh echoed out.
Footsteps approached, and soon a woman in a luxurious dark purple gown, with matching long hair, a seductive yet cruel face, and eyes full of deep hatred and venom, emerged with a twisted smile.
The moment Yu Xiaogang saw that familiar face, his expression changed drastically. He nearly peed himself in fear as he screamed,
"Bibi Dong?! Why is it you?!"