Unparalleled Confidence

At noon, when class let out, Liu Chang'an was about to go find An Nuan and discuss his research findings on therapeutic massage and the theory of acupuncture points in traditional Chinese medicine when Huang Shan called Liu Chang'an, An Nuan, Gao Dewei, and Bai Hui out together.

The visiting official was named Ma Xingguo. He wanted to have lunch in the cafeteria with teachers and students from the Affiliated High School, so the school organized a group to join him. Huang Shan's class had the most students there. Gao Dewei went without saying; his dazzling collection of competition medals and rankings in various exams made him one of the Affiliated High School's star students. An Nuan was also a famous volleyball beauty. She was well-known not only at the Affiliated High School and its several branch schools, but throughout Junsha's middle schools and education system. Bai Hui, meanwhile, was sociable, poised, and never flustered, so she could explain things if the officials had any questions.

Liu Chang'an... had been specifically asked to attend.

Huang Shan couldn't make sense of it. Liu Chang'an was a student on financial aid who often used excuses like having earned two hundred yuan hauling bricks or a thousand yuan selling dogs to explain why he was late. Could he really have someone looking out for him in the education system?

Ma Xingguo began with a heartfelt speech. He looked back fondly on the hardships he had endured as a high school student forty years ago, marveled that today's students lived in the best of times, urged them to be grateful to their era and their teachers, and hoped they would shoulder the responsibility of national rejuvenation.

Ma Xingguo's sincere words moved the students. Representing them all, Bai Hui thanked the official for his concern and promised they would renew their spirits, prepare for the gaokao just around the corner, and give back to society after completing their studies.

Ma Xingguo praised Bai Hui and joked that she could pursue a career as a host in the future. Bai Hui was delighted, but then Ma Xingguo brought up An Nuan, saying he was her fan. Though she knew he was joking, An Nuan still put on an appropriately nervous expression. Inside, however, she was rather put out. Why were there so many middle-aged and elderly men paying attention to her? Even Liu Chang'an pretended to be middle-aged.

Bai Hui felt that An Nuan had still drawn more attention than she had. When they talked about An Nuan, it was obvious that more people joined in. But she also noticed Ma Xingguo's gaze drifting from time to time between her and An Nuan. She couldn't tell whether he was looking at Liu Chang'an or Gao Dewei.

It was probably Gao Dewei. Students like him, whom the school pinned its hopes on to win the top spot in the gaokao, had always been the school's true showpieces.

"Gao Dewei, do you remember me? When you came back from the competition last year, I went to meet you at the airport with your principal."

Gao Dewei was about to say he didn't remember, but Liu Chang'an nudged him, so Gao Dewei quickly nodded. He caught on in time.

Ma Xingguo didn't overlook Liu Chang'an either, but he didn't seem to know much about him. Instead, he asked Huang Shan how Liu Chang'an was doing at school.

Huang Shan naturally stuck to the good points and praised Liu Chang'an at length, though he couldn't help wondering: You were the one who specifically asked for Liu Chang'an. Why are you pretending not to know him now?

Overall, the meal was quite relaxed and pleasant. Apart from Ma Xingguo, the person who drew the most attention was a young woman seated several places away from him. She didn't say a word from beginning to end. Other than occasionally glancing up, she did nothing at all. Yet people's eyes kept being drawn to her, because she was... incredibly beautiful.

After lunch, the students were free to leave. Huang Shan had thought about asking Liu Chang'an what was going on, but decided against it. Liu Chang'an was graduating soon, after all. Even if he had connections, Huang Shan wouldn't benefit much from them. It was better to keep treating him as usual. Teachers had to maintain some dignity. Huang Shan had never managed to grow thick-skinned enough to suddenly become warm and attentive just because someone might have connections at home.

An Nuan, Gao Dewei, Liu Chang'an, and Bai Hui headed back together.

"The food was pretty good today. I ate three bowls," Gao Dewei said, patting his belly.

"I ate four," Liu Chang'an said, walking behind Gao Dewei with an arm around his shoulders.

"Actually, I could've eaten more," Gao Dewei said, not quite willing to concede.

"I also drank two bowls of soup..."

Bai Hui and An Nuan walked ahead, chatting. Though they usually didn't get along, as two pretty girls at an occasion like this, they felt—just a little—as if they were on the same side.

"I think that woman's breasts are implants," Bai Hui whispered, so the two guys behind them, who were busy discussing how many bowls they'd eaten, wouldn't hear.

"I think so too. How could anyone's breasts be that big and still sit so high? Don't big breasts always sag?" An Nuan sounded even more doubtful.

"Not necessarily." Bai Hui unconsciously lifted her chest. Hers didn't sag, but she clearly wasn't as confident anymore. That woman's chest radiated unparalleled confidence, making the girls feel a little inferior. "But hers have to be fake. How can someone be that tall, with such long legs, such a slim waist, and such big breasts? It's not scientific."

For the first time, An Nuan felt that Bai Hui wasn't all looks and no brains. She was absolutely right. An Nuan was tall, with long legs and a slim waist. As for her chest... it was decent enough. But how come that woman was just as tall as her, yet had such a big chest?

"Exactly. Those guys are ridiculous too. They all look like they want to stare but don't dare. What's so great about fake breasts?" Except for one certain guy... An Nuan was ninety-nine percent satisfied with him today. If only he'd looked at her a few more times with that look she sometimes caught him giving her, while she was talking, she could've given him a perfect score.

"Our two idiots behind us don't seem to have noticed any of that. They've just been eating and eating." Bai Hui glanced back at Liu Chang'an and Gao Dewei.

An Nuan burst out laughing, her expression a little smug. She couldn't help glancing at Bai Hui, too.

Bai Hui immediately bristled.

A girl's glance or tiny gesture could convey a lot. Girls could also read all sorts of meanings into another girl's glance or tiny gesture.

Bai Hui felt that An Nuan was mocking her. What if it had been Qian Ning and Lu Yuan instead of Liu Chang'an? Sometimes Qian Ning and Lu Yuan didn't even dare talk to An Nuan. If they had been there today, they would certainly have looked like they wanted to stare but didn't dare. On that point, An Nuan had Bai Hui beat, because the boys who liked An Nuan were much bolder than the girls who liked Bai Hui.

There was another meaning in An Nuan's glance that Bai Hui found even harder to tolerate. It was plainly saying, Liu Chang'an can't even be bothered to look at a beautiful woman with bigger breasts than yours. What makes you think he'd look at you any more?

Bai Hui was about to change tactics and strike back by playing to her own strengths when she heard someone call from behind them, "Liu Chang'an!"

All four of them stopped. An Nuan and Bai Hui were surprised to see that the beautiful woman they'd just been gossiping about had followed them and called out to Liu Chang'an.

"At lunch, she looked like she hadn't noticed anyone. I didn't think she'd secretly remembered Liu Chang'an's name," Bai Hui said with a faint smile.

Girls who seemed calm and unbothered on the surface but were secretly full of little schemes were, of course, the worst. In a word: coy.

An Nuan stopped too, her face expressionless, but then Liu Chang'an drawled, "Cousin, what's up?"

Qin Yanan's gaze swept over An Nuan and Bai Hui, and she nodded.