Beware the Lightning!

"You're the one who's wrong." The voice was soft yet firm, like a fishbone.

You could swallow it, but it would make you uncomfortable all over, cutting your throat until it bled.

Zhao Mingzhu turned around abruptly and shouted angrily, "Who said I was wrong—"

Seeing who had spoken, Zhao Mingzhu's attitude softened considerably. She said with a smile, "Cui Xiaoxin, what did you just say? This doesn't concern you, go sit down."

Cui Xiaoxin was a model student, first in her class and first in the entire grade. If nothing unexpected happened, she was sure to get into Xifeng University.

Zhao Mingzhu liked her, liked this hardworking and talented young girl.

Most importantly, she was also so beautiful, always reminding Zhao Mingzhu of herself when she was young.

"Teacher Zhao, I said you were wrong." Cui Xiaoxin, dressed in her Fuxing Middle School uniform, stood ramrod straight and spoke again.

Zhao Mingzhu's expression turned awkward. She said coldly and sternly, "Cui Xiaoxin, sit down."

"Teacher, you need to apologize to Li Mu Yang." Cui Xiaoxin showed no intention of backing down and said, "This conflict has nothing to do with Li Mu Yang; he's also a victim."

Zhao Mingzhu looked at Cui Xiaoxin and then at Li Mu Yang with suspicion. She put on a look of heartbroken anguish and said, "Cui Xiaoxin, how can you speak up for someone like Li Mu Yang?"

"Teacher, I'm not speaking up for anyone. I'm just saying what I should say—" Cui Xiaoxin's expression was cool and clear; she wasn't intimidated by Zhao Mingzhu's imposing presence. "I'm just saying what I saw. What I saw with my own eyes."

Cui Xiaoxin scanned the room. Everyone whose eyes met hers shamefully lowered their heads.

"They don't dare to speak, so someone has to step forward. Otherwise, right and wrong will never be settled. Zhang Chen was the one who slammed his hand on Li Mu Yang's desk first, disturbing the rest of the classmates. Li Mu Yang didn't do anything to Zhang Chen—As for why Zhang Chen was crying, you'll have to ask Zhang Chen yourself."

Zhao Mingzhu stared intently at Cui Xiaoxin and asked, "Cui Xiaoxin, what is your relationship with Li Mu Yang?"

"We are classmates."

"Classmate Cui Xiaoxin, you need to be mindful of your reputation." Zhao Mingzhu said with a playful glint in her eyes, "After the lake trip, someone told me that Cui Xiaoxin and Li Mu Yang were close. I didn't believe it at first—Xiaoxin, Li Mu Yang has given up on himself. With his current attitude towards studying, he won't be able to get into any university. You're different; you're going to Xifeng, the best school in the entire empire—At such a crucial time, you can't afford even a shred of slack. The same goes for the other classmates."

Zhao Mingzhu waved her hand and said, "Xiaoxin, please sit down. Zhang Chen, return to your seat. Li Mu Yang, you will stand at the door as punishment."

"Teacher Zhao—" Cui Xiaoxin wanted to argue further.

"Classmate Cui Xiaoxin." Li Mu Yang spoke to stop her. He grinned, pretending not to care at all, and said, "It's okay. I can sleep outside—Class is starting, and I don't want to disturb everyone's precious time. I wish you all good luck on your exams."

With that, Li Mu Yang walked out of the classroom.

This was the kind of person Li Mu Yang was. He didn't want his parents to worry or be concerned, so he never told them when he was bullied.

He didn't want Cui Xiaoxin to conflict with Zhao Mingzhu because of him, so he could pretend not to care about any of it.

He was just a lump of mud; how could he affect someone else's future?

Seeing Li Mu Yang smile brightly at her, and watching his lonely figure leave under the gaze of the entire class, Cui Xiaoxin suddenly felt an inexplicable pang in her heart.

The beginning and end of the matter had nothing to do with her, yet it felt as though she had been greatly wronged.

Biting her lip, Cui Xiaoxin pushed her chair back and ran out.

"Cui Xiaoxin, what are you doing?" Zhao Mingzhu called out from behind her.

"I'm going to tutor Li Mu Yang," Cui Xiaoxin's voice drifted from afar.

In the Beast Face Pavilion, Cui Xiaoxin ordered a cup of Bishui Tea. Li Mu Yang didn't look at the menu and said to the server, "One cup of Bishui Tea for me too."

Then, he crossed his hands on the table and looked at Cui Xiaoxin, who was sitting opposite him, with bright eyes.

Even now, Li Mu Yang couldn't believe the reality before him.

The 'pig' student, the darkest and most foolish at Fuxing Middle School, sitting with the school goddess Cui Xiaoxin, drinking Bishui Tea—this was a taboo that even his wildest dreams had never dared to touch.

Li Mu Yang looked at Cui Xiaoxin and asked, "Are you really going to tutor me?"

Cui Xiaoxin raised an eyebrow and looked at Li Mu Yang, saying, "If a person doesn't love themselves, how can they expect others to love them? If a person doesn't respect themselves, how can anyone respect them? I know you're not stupid. From our conversation that day, I know you're very smart—If you just put in a little effort, and don't sleep in class, your grades wouldn't be like this, teachers wouldn't have such a strong prejudice against you, and classmates wouldn't think you're dragging them down—"

Li Mu Yang looked at Cui Xiaoxin and asked, "Don't you blame me for dragging the class down?"

"I have," Cui Xiaoxin said without hesitation. "Several times our class should have been first in the entire grade, but you dragged down the average score too much—Otherwise, Teacher Zhao wouldn't be so angry."

"—"

"Don't you think it's irresponsible for a boy, who isn't missing limbs and is so young—to just muddle through life day after day, half-asleep?"

Although Cui Xiaoxin was blaming Li Mu Yang and accusing him of not striving for improvement, Li Mu Yang felt incredibly happy at that moment. He saw care, concern, and burning hope in Cui Xiaoxin's eyes.

He had seen such looks countless times in his parents' eyes and in his sister Li Sinian's eyes.

At this moment, he saw it in the eyes of a girl who was originally unrelated to him.

"I was struck by lightning," Li Mu Yang said.

He decided to confess his experience to Cui Xiaoxin, even though it was incredibly embarrassing and shameful to talk about. It might even draw ridicule from her.

Cui Xiaoxin's expression turned astonished. Her fair face flushed red, then purple. Her eyes were full of disappointment, and she said angrily, "Li Mu Yang, you're truly beyond saving."

With that, she prepared to get up and leave.

She was too angry, and more so, disappointed. When she had chased after him, there was still some hesitation. At this moment, all that remained was deep regret.

What did his being wronged and expelled have to do with her? Why did she have to be so foolish and get involved in this matter?

"Cui Xiaoxin, Cui Xiaoxin, you need to be more careful and cautious—"

Li Mu Yang was flustered and confused, unsure of what he had said or done wrong.

He just wanted to tell Cui Xiaoxin that he wasn't unmotivated, that he wasn't content to drift along aimlessly, that he didn't want to live in a daze. On the contrary, he wanted to learn more than anyone else. He wanted to work harder than anyone else.

It was just, it was just that he had been struck by lightning—

Aside from his sister Li Sinian, Li Mu Yang had absolutely no experience interacting with girls his own age. Even less so with the goddess he had secretly admired for so long.

Li Mu Yang also stood up, explaining clumsily, "Classmate Cui Xiaoxin, please don't misunderstand— I wasn't saying you were a lightning bolt—"

"—"

"No, I mean, what you said wasn't a lightning bolt at all—"

"—"

The more anxious Li Mu Yang became, the more his explanations angered Cui Xiaoxin.

The angrier Cui Xiaoxin became, the more anxious Li Mu Yang grew.

Cui Xiaoxin had already reached the door, reaching out to grasp the bronze doorknob.

As soon as she opened that large door, Li Mu Yang would have no further interaction with her.

Just as she had said before.

Li Mu Yang couldn't bear it, because this was the first and only girl who had ever cared about him in such a way.

It was a different kind of care than his sister Li Sinian's.

His sister's was familial affection, while Cui Xiaoxin's was—friendship.

Li Mu Yang longed for this friendship because he had never had friends his entire life.

"Cui Xiaoxin—" Li Mu Yang called out.

Cui Xiaoxin hesitated, but ultimately turned to look back at him.

Li Mu Yang's throat bobbed, and he panted for breath. Even just speaking a few words, the intense emotions left him feeling utterly exhausted.

He looked into Cui Xiaoxin's eyes, his voice hoarse and tinged with shyness, stammering, "I forgot to say earlier— you look so beautiful wearing gardenias."