Just in time for lunch break, the other classes have already quieted down, but Class 12 is still lively. The rich second-generation students, lacking discipline as always, only close their mouths one by one after being scolded by the discipline and study committee. They lie down and go to sleep afterward.
As soon as Xu Yin appeared at the door, they unconsciously quieted down, surprising the committee members. The reason is simple – Xu Yin smiled! The rich second-generation, usually carefree, all stare at the door dumbfounded.
Why so surprised?
They’ve heard Xu Yin’s name for a long time, and yesterday, on the first day they met, his gloomy image had already left an impression. He’s quiet, thin to the point of looking unhealthy, hunched over – completely out of place in their lively class.
But at this moment, Xu Yin is actually smiling! He’s staring at Yan Ningchuan while smiling!
Lin Jia, the leader of the rich second-generation, frantically signals Wang Feifei, who’s following Xu Yin. What’s going on? Didn’t Xu Yin almost fight with Xu Ling at noon? Why does he seem so happy now, smiling so brightly at their class leader?
Wang Feifei shakes his head desperately. He doesn’t know either. He’s been distracted by this guy’s smile the whole time!
Lin Jia looks back at Yan Ningchuan.
Since locking eyes with Xu Yin, Yan Ningchuan has remained frozen, as if under a petrification spell.
Lin Jia: ???
What are you staring at, Yan ge? We all met yesterday, and the three of them share a dorm with Xu Yin!
Xu Yin, at this moment, is completely unaware of the entire classroom’s gaze. He didn’t expect to find the protagonist of this world so easily, and he quickly realizes that Yan Ningchuan doesn’t retain memories from the previous world. But that’s okay, as long as he found the person.
Xu Yin breathes a sigh of relief and feels somewhat intrigued by their current relationship in this world. The original host didn’t like Yan Ningchuan because of Ye Xunran. However, now, Xu Yin’s feelings are self-evident.
His focus is on his desk mate and roommate.
Yeah.
018: “Look here! There’s an impure 18-year-old!!”
Xu Yin: “At 18, you’re legally allowed to be impure, you know.”
He raised the corner of his lips and walked step by step to the last row, in front of Yan Ningchuan.
Yan Ningchuan looked up at him, his eyes pitch-black, seemingly puzzled. Oddly enough, even though he had spent the entire day with this boy yesterday, when their eyes met just now, Yan Ningchuan’s heart skipped a beat, a sensation he couldn’t describe.
Subconsciously, he tightened his grip on the pen, his gaze fixed on the boy standing at the desk.
The boy smiled and spoke with a gentle voice, “Yan Ningchuan?”
Thump.
It happened again.
Yan Ningchuan’s Adam’s apple rolled, and his heart seemed to warm up. He spoke, almost involuntarily, “Yes, it’s me.”
Xu Yin’s smile deepened.
I’m glad to be your desk mate.
My love.
Lunch break officially began.
Class 12 seemed quiet but was somewhat restless.
Many people discreetly turned their heads to the left rear corner of the classroom.
In class C, where students weren’t grouped by grades, the top student and a group of bottom-ranking students happened to be placed in the same class. The top student couldn’t manage these academically indifferent rich kids, leading the class to consistently rank at the bottom.
However, the rich second-generation students, despite their dislike for studying, admired those with good grades. Especially the leader of the rich second-generation, Lin Jia, and Yan Ningchuan, who had been childhood friends. Since the first year, the entire class of rich second-generation students considered Yan Ningchuan their leader.
For other students with average family backgrounds and decent grades, Yan Ningchuan was treated as a worshiped academic deity.
As a result, Yan Ningchuan became the center of attention in the entire class, and every move of his was closely watched, just like at this moment.
Yan Ningchuan calmly did some homework, looked up, and expressionlessly scanned the whole class with his gaze.
Instantly, everyone turned their heads as if nothing had happened.
After retracting his gaze, Yan Ningchuan continued writing, but after a while, he couldn’t help but tilt his head.
The boy sitting next to him, with his chin resting on his hand, had been staring at the math workbook on the desk for ten minutes without making a single stroke.
Xu Yin found it amusing to be back in high school, but academics were indeed a troublesome issue for him. In the previous world, although he later took the self-taught route to an art college, that kind of exam was different from the high school entrance exam. By the time he left that world, it had been many years since that exam.
All he could say was, with his accumulated knowledge, Xu Yin could barely handle high school Chinese and English, but when it came to math and biology-chemistry-physics…
He sighed.
Then he turned to look at Yan Ningchuan.
Caught him peeking.
Yan Ningchuan immediately turned his head back, adopting a serious look while doing his homework.
Xu Yin paused, chuckled, and his gaze landed on Yan Ningchuan’s slightly reddened ears.
In the front row,
Lin Jia turned around, full of question marks, and whispered to Wang Feifei, “What’s going on? What did you say when you returned to the dorm just now?”
“Xu Yin was crying!” Wang Feifei lowered his voice. “But as soon as I entered, he seemed fine. I even asked him if he needed me to help him get an excuse, but he said it’s unnecessary. Just now, when we passed Class 7, he was incredibly calm!”
Lin Jia questioned, “Has he figured things out?”
“I don’t know, but…”
Wang Feifei couldn’t help but glance back.
Still thin, and his complexion remained somewhat pale.
But his posture straightened, and a faint smile lingered on his face.
It’s really different from before!
Although they had only spent a day with Xu Yin yesterday, both Lin Jia and Wang Feifei could sense that Xu Yin didn’t like Yan Ningchuan. They speculated it might be because Xu Yin used to be good friends with Ye Xunran, who was perennially1TL: In a way that continues for a long or apparently infinite time; permanently. second in the grade and could never surpass Yan Ningchuan in exams. So, every time they encountered Yan Ningchuan, Xu Yin would furrow his brow.
Yesterday, they had privately speculated that Xu Yin and Ye Xunran had fallen out, but they didn’t expect them to be united against a common enemy.
Today’s scene, where Xu Yin smiled so brightly at Yan Ningchuan, convinced Lin Jia.
“He must have figured it out. This is how it should be. If he completely falls out with Ye Xunran, that’s even better for us, our dear Yan ge!”
Lin Jia, immersed in the rich second-generation circle, had friends with troubled family backgrounds, and even his own family wasn’t peaceful.
He had seen many children born out of affairs, and while some had good characters, what about Xu Ling?
Forget it.
Not to mention how accurate Lin Jia was in judging people like Xu Ling. He had personally witnessed Xu Ling accidentally bumping into Xu Yin. When Xu Yin’s cup fell and shattered on the ground, instead of waiting for Xu Yin to say anything, Xu Ling immediately burst into tears. The people from Class 7 protected him like a victim, and he returned to the classroom calmly.
When those from Class 7 accused Xu Yin of bullying Xu Ling as if he were under a spell, Xu Ling didn’t say a word, leaving Lin Jia, who had visited other classes at that time, puzzled.
He mentioned this incident to Yan Ningchuan, Wang Feifei, and others. The relationship between Xu Yin and Xu Ling was unclear. Xu Ling seemed like a white lotus.
Would Ye Xunran really fall out with him over this person?
He must be a fool.
How could a fool compare to their dear Yan ge!
After a lunch break, Xu Yin temporarily gave up on science homework and focused on Chinese and English.
His diligent appearance surprised many classmates in Class 12, considering they had witnessed Xu Yin sleeping the entire day just yesterday!
After lunch, the first afternoon class was physical education.
So, another subtle event happened—rumors had it that their class had physical education on Tuesdays with Class 7.
Before going downstairs, many students sneakily observed Xu Yin, secretly complaining about the strange scheduling of the teachers.
Yan Ningchuan hesitated for a moment, waiting for Xu Yin.
After Xu Yin finished drinking water and saw the boy still standing nearby, he smiled, stood up, and said, “Let’s go.”
After the ten-minute break, the bell rang, and students from both classes gathered on the playground.
Xu Yin could naturally feel the gazes of many Class 7 students on him. However, his attitude towards the complexities of the Xu family, just like in the previous world, was disinterested and indifferent. Therefore, he didn’t even glance at Class 7.
His current focus was solely on studying and Yan Ningchuan.
Look, classmate Yan is peeking at him again.
Xu Yin’s gaze swept to the left and playfully grabbed Yan’s bag, unable to hold back a chuckle.
The teacher was approaching from a distance, and Xu Yin whispered, “Class Leader, are you very worried about me?”
Yan Ningchuan stiffened and replied in a low voice, “No.”
The two classes stood side by side, and people from Class 7 surreptitiously2TL: In a way that attempts to avoid notice or attention; secretively. looked towards their left. They noticed that Xu Yin, who had changed his gloomy demeanor, was now talking and laughing with Yan Ningchuan as if he were a different person. It left them somewhat astonished.
If you talk about someone changing their personality over the summer, didn’t Xu Yin still look like a ghost this morning?
They couldn’t fathom the mystery, and in the end, Xu Ling glanced at Xu Yin and then at Ye Xunran beside him.
Ye Xunran also gazed towards Class 12, his eyes fixed on Xu Yin and Yan Ningchuan.
Xu Ling tugged at Ye Xunran’s sleeve.
Ye Xunran snapped out of his thoughts and quickly asked, “What’s wrong?”
Xu Ling bit his lip, shaking his head.
Ye Xunran immediately figured out what was going on and reassured, “I told you, it’s fine. With me around, Xu Yin can’t do anything.”
After a moment of silence, Xu Ling nodded.
Ye Xunran softened his gaze as he looked at him.
The physical education teacher was quite straightforward and had both classes start with a two-lap jog.
Although Xu Yin’s body was quite frail, he was accustomed to running, so it felt okay for him. He even had the heart to check the progress bar of the jogging task on his mission panel, confirming that it was moving. He felt relieved.
Wang Feifei was running alongside Xu Yin, noticing his steady pace, and expressed concern, “Aren’t you taking a leave? You didn’t even have lunch.”
Upon hearing this, Yan Ningchuan also recalled this matter and turned around.
“It’s okay, just two laps.” Xu Yin smiled.
As soon as he finished speaking, a hat was blown away by the wind, floating directly towards Xu Yin.
Xu Yin reached out and caught a hat that flew over from the nearby lawn, belonging to a Class 7 girl who had taken leave due to her menstrual cycle. Xu Yin remembered this girl. She had a bold personality, and even after Xu Ling joined Class 7, maintained her attitude towards the original host, leaning more towards believing his words.
At this moment, the girl waved at Xu Yin.
Xu Yin smiled.
Suddenly, Ye Xunran ran up and said, “Give it to me. I’ll take it to Yuan Xin.”
Immediately, Yan Ningchuan, Wang Feifei, and Lin Jia all looked in their direction.
Xu Yin turned his head and met Ye Xunran’s gaze.
Ye Xunran’s movement stiffened.
The boy’s eyes lacked the previous hostility and gloom, replaced by warmth and clarity. Apart from that, there was tranquility—a calmness as if facing a stranger.
Xu Yin turned his wrist, handing the hat over.
Ye Xunran stiffly accepted it, still wanting to say something. He opened his mouth, but Xu Yin didn’t notice. With an affable3TL: friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to. attitude, he nodded and directly hastened his pace, following behind. Ye Xunran stood frozen in place.
After catching up, Xu Yin saw that Yan Ningchuan and the others were paying attention to him. He chuckled, “What’s up? I won’t start a fight with them.”
Wang Feifei and Lin Jia coughed awkwardly, feeling quite embarrassed.
Yeah, not to mention Xu Yin getting angry, he now treated Ye Xunran as if he were just a passerby. Apart from amazement and admiration, Wang Feifei and Lin Jia didn’t have much else to say!
Yan Ningchuan remained silent for a moment, slowed his pace until he was side by side with Xu Yin, and whispered, “I have chocolate.”
Xu Yin was momentarily stunned.
The next moment, the boy extended his hand, swiftly stuffing a piece of candy into Xu Yin’s palm, and then ran ahead to avoid disrupting the queue.
Xu Yin shifted his gaze from Yan Ningchuan’s back to the chocolate in his hand, raising an eyebrow.
White chocolate.
The taste he had always liked.
018: “Damn, this piece of wood turned sweet!”
Xu Yin: “No.”
This person has always been sweet.
It’s just that others didn’t know.
Xu Yin curled his lips.
In the Class 12 queue behind, Ye Xunran stayed in place, watching as Xu Yin ran forward without looking back, feeling somewhat dazed.
