Chapter Fifteen: Within Reach

Zhao Liya quickly scanned the classroom, and when she saw Zhang Hupan, she couldn't help but freeze for a moment. It wasn't that Zhao Liya recognized Zhang Hupan, but rather that Zhang Hupan's behavior was too abnormal, making Zhao Liya feel a bit frustrated. Women are contradictory creatures; when a man looks at her with lustful eyes, she finds him annoying and lewd, but once a man stops paying attention to her, she feels a sense of loss, even a bit humiliated. Zhao Liya was feeling a bit like this now. When she noticed all the boys in the class focusing on her, she was surprised to find a boy dressed very shabbily, clearly from a remote area, who didn't even glance at her. Women are strange; the more Zhang Hupan ignored her, the more she felt he was trying to avoid trouble, and the more she gravitated towards him. Just then, Zhang Hupan, who was pretending to read, unexpectedly smelled a refreshing, subtle fragrance.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" a clear and pleasant voice sounded by his ear.

Zhang Hupan looked up helplessly and shook his head at Zhao Liya. Taking the opportunity to look up, Zhang Hupan saw that Zhao Liya's eyes didn't show any sign of recognition, and he finally let out a sigh of relief. However, even Zhang Hupan, who had cultivated to the Nascent Soul Stage, couldn't fathom the complex look in Zhao Liya's eyes. Whatever, he thought to himself, as long as she doesn't recognize me, that's all that matters.

A clamor of mixed surprise, pity, and jealousy erupted from the entire classroom. And Zhang Hupan, the person involved, before he could even feel the happiness of having a beautiful woman sitting next to him, was already feeling murderous and chilling gazes directed at him from all directions.

As a Nascent Soul Stage expert who had cultivated for a hundred years, Zhang Hupan's self-control was clearly far superior to that of the other boys. Although Zhang Hupan had confirmed there was no danger of being recognized, and although Zhao Liya sitting next to him quickened his circulation, Zhang Hupan still sat there like a graceful gentleman, his gaze unwavering, if his shabby attire could be associated with a graceful gentleman.

This situation continued until class began. All the students in the classroom, including Zhao Liya herself, couldn't help but begin to admire Zhang Hupan's composure. Of course, everyone, including Zhao Liya, also doubted Zhang Hupan's testosterone levels. But when the Scottish beauty appeared, Zhang Hupan's infatuated demeanor completely dispelled everyone's doubts and thoroughly crushed Zhao Liya's confidence, to the point that Zhao Liya spent the rest of the English class pondering the unfashionable boy next to her.

In fact, Zhang Hupan also wanted to strike up a conversation with the beauty next to him, but it was due to past trauma still lingering in his heart. There was also a more important reason: Zhang Hupan, who had never spoken to a strange girl before, didn't have the courage to strike up a conversation with the beauty next to him! Of course, if the brief encounter with a girl at the foot of Wudang Mountain counted as speaking to a strange girl, then the demands on Zhang Hupan would be a bit too harsh.

As for staring at the Scottish beauty with a lecherous look, there were many reasons for that. On one hand, it was naturally due to the Scottish beauty. Xin Di wore a pink slip dress, had a charming face, and captivating, watery eyes. Any man would look twice at such a bewitching, alluring, and sexy woman. On the other hand, our classmate Zhang Hupan really couldn't understand what the beautiful teacher was saying, so he had to focus his attention on the teacher's alluring figure. Of course, Zhang Hupan, who grew up in isolated mountains and valleys, had never seen such a revealing, enchanting, and charming Scottish beauty, which was also one of the important reasons.

Of course, now that Zhang Hupan had been thoroughly taught by Song Feng, he understood matters between men and women and no longer panicked when his blood circulated faster upon seeing a girl for the first time. Instead, he greatly enjoyed the pleasure this unusual feeling brought him. And after a night of experience sharing with his roommates, who seemed like reincarnated lechers, Zhang Hupan felt extremely ashamed of himself for preserving his virginity for a hundred years.

Good times always pass quickly. Just as Zhang Hupan was comfortably enjoying the wonderful life of having a beauty next to him and a beautiful woman in front of his eyes, the bell signaling the end of class rang. All the boys sighed with reluctance, reluctantly bidding farewell to the beautiful teacher and the lovely Zhao Liya before slowly standing up to leave their seats. Only Zhang Hupan, upon hearing the bell, didn't even glance at Zhao Liya and left the classroom second only to the beautiful teacher, enraging Zhao Liya, who cursed Zhang Hupan for being blind in her heart.

Actually, it wasn't Zhang Hupan's fault. He hadn't understood a single word the entire morning of classes; he had just spent a long time admiring the teacher's graceful figure. What else could he do but be anxious! As soon as class ended, he rushed to the library to catch up on his basic English knowledge, completely forgetting about Zhao Liya!

There were no classes in the afternoon, so Zhang Hupan studied in the library until it closed in the evening. Eating was superfluous for Zhang Hupan anyway, unless it was fine cuisine. Of course, the school cafeteria was out of the question; it was more likely to add an extra nutritious green worm to your vegetables.

Returning to the dormitory, Zhang Hupan clearly felt the atmosphere was off. Everyone was staring at him with enthusiastic and admiring eyes.

"What's wrong? Did I grow flowers on my face?" Zhang Hupan asked, confused.

"Fourth brother, I take back everything I said yesterday!" Chen Youmi said with utmost sincerity.

"No, no, what do you mean by that!" Zhang Hupan asked even more confused.

"Fourth brother, you're being too much! Still pretending, you're a master at picking up girls, a true master!" Hu Zhiming from the bunk above chimed in, seeing Zhang Hupan wasn't getting it.

Zhang Hupan was dumbfounded. How had he become a master at picking up girls, and a true master at that, just by spending half a day in the library?

Seeing that Zhang Hupan still refused to confess, Chen Youmi couldn't help but say, "After our five brothers studied all afternoon, we finally understood why Zhao Liya chose to sit next to such an unfashionable guy like you, and we finally realized you're a hidden master."

"What do you mean?" Zhang Hupan asked, his curiosity piqued.