"Pretending to be ignorant when you know the truth! Using the fact that women like you to deliberately take advantage of them, it’s somewhat disgraceful!"

It’s mostly men who say this.

They don’t truly believe Heh Yuntian is wrong; they are driven by jealousy!

"Why is it disgraceful? Comrade Heh is so outstanding, there are plenty of girls who like him. I’ve helped Comrade Heh with farm work; should I use that as leverage to force Comrade Heh to like me?"

"If he doesn’t like me and can’t marry me, should I force him to repay the work I’ve done for him?"

"What’s the point? Can you sit back into the mess you’ve left behind?"

A girl with braids shouted a few words while hiding in the crowd.

Her face was completely red, yet she still mustered the courage to shout for her idol.

She just liked Comrade Heh, knowing full well she wasn’t a match for him and that he wouldn’t like her back, but she couldn’t help wanting to help him.

She secretly did farm work for him, or took her family’s eggs and white steamed buns to give to him, without imagining she could marry him for that.

She simply wanted to be nice to him, to see him smiling gently and handsomely at her.

He Tiantian:...

Hmm, this mindset probably resembles the later generations’ fans.

They like idols, go crazy voting for them, spending for them, calling them husband, wife, yet understand they won’t ever be together.

But, they don’t resent idols for not marrying them.

"Exactly, I’ve also given eggs to Comrade Heh. Now Comrade Heh is progressing with Comrade Zhuo, should I ask to take the eggs back?"

In the crowd, a few girls from Liujiaao chimed in.

Heh Yuntian is the male lead, and while he may not be an irresistible heartthrob, he’s certainly a Gary Stu; most girls have favorable feelings towards him.

Apart from the mysterious allure bestowed by the Protagonist Halo, he’s extremely outstanding in his own right—

Appearance goes without saying, standing at 183cm, with a well-proportioned physique;

Deep-set eyes, a high nose bridge, distinct features, a certified handsome guy.

Besides his good looks, his IQ and EQ are also exceptionally high, plus he’s multitalented.

He writes charming poems and essays, and plays the harmonica and accordion.

He also tells many interesting little stories or shares uncommon science knowledge.

Clean-cut and refined, always dressed in neat, fresh, soap-scented white shirts, deep blue work pants, with a belt around the waist and shiny polished shoes, like a movie male lead.

A poplar-like deity, the rural girls who’ve never seen the worldly experience are not the only ones drawn to him, even other female comrades at the Educated Youth Corps can’t help but like him.

This liking is sometimes devoid of personal ambitions but rather admiration, a dream-loving girl’s yearning for dreams.

Earlier, He Tiantian cooperated with Han Dongmei, deliberately acting frantic to ruin the original protagonist’s image internally and externally.

Moreover, Han Dongmei’s righteous, debt-collecting warrior-like presence influenced the crowd, causing them to momentarily forget Heh Yuntian’s previous allure and join Han Dongmei in condemnation.

Now, He Tiantian no longer cooperates but restores the male lead’s proper demeanor, and those girls all realize, rushing to defend their male idol.

"Can you sit back into the mess you’ve left behind?"

Even if crude, these words hold some truth.

After all, for Hua Country people, gifts exchanged among people are tough to take back unless they’re excessively unreasonable.

On the one hand, it’s about pride; on the other, it feels somewhat unkind.

Of course, Han Dongmei regretted and wanted to reclaim the things she gave away; it’s not impossible.

But the crowd still felt awkward about it.

Feeling the disapproving looks from the crowd, especially hearing "Can you sit back into the mess you’ve left behind?", Han Dongmei’s face was burning red, wishing she could find a hole to hide in.

The hand extended to demand back the things lingered uncertainly.

She was frozen where she stood.

Seeing the situation was under control, preserving the male lead’s image and reputation, He Tiantian did not persistently corner Han Dongmei further.

After all, however she justified it, accepting others’ things was an indelible stain on the original protagonist.

Perhaps it may not elevate to a legal issue, but the moral flaw is undeniable.

She softened her expression and sincerely said, "Though that’s the case, I indeed have made mistakes."