Chapter 31

The first class after lunch break was homeroom.

When the students saw their homeroom teacher walk in with an unfamiliar face behind him, they all looked puzzled. Another transfer student?

Standing at the podium, the homeroom teacher cleared his throat and raised his voice. "Before I go over the results of this monthly exam, let me introduce a new student who has transferred into our class. He was previously in Class Three next door, but due to personal reasons, he'll be transferring into our class from now on. Let's give him a round of applause."

Hearing that the boy at the podium had transferred over from the neighboring class, the students below began whispering in surprise.

"Didn't Xia Yue transfer to Class Three next door? What, are they returning the favor now?"

"Due to personal reasons? Sounds like there's a story there."

"There are strange things every year, but this year has especially many."

The homeroom teacher said, "Come on, introduce yourself to everyone."

Zhang Xinyang lowered his head slightly and stared at the floor. His throat trembled faintly, and his voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Zhang Xinyang. P-please take care of me."

That voice sounded vaguely familiar. Resting his chin on his hand, Lu Yao casually glanced toward the podium.

It was him?!

Lu Yao and Zhang Xinyang had been classmates in their first year of high school. Back then, Zhang Xinyang had been the class study representative. With his excellent grades and cheerful, optimistic personality, he had been well liked by everyone.

At the end of the first semester of their first year, Zhang Xinyang had transferred schools because of family circumstances. The class had even held a farewell party for him.

Lu Yao had been busy working part-time and had not gone, but he knew that most of the class had attended. That alone showed how popular Zhang Xinyang had been.

Lu Yao had never expected to run into him at Huiying High School.

Seeing how completely different Zhang Xinyang was from before, Lu Yao frowned in confusion.

Noticing Zhang Xinyang's lack of confidence, the homeroom teacher said nothing. He pointed to the empty seat in front of Lu Yao. "Zhang Xinyang, you can sit there."

The moment Zhang Xinyang pulled out the chair, he happened to meet Lu Yao's eyes from the row behind him. After freezing for a moment, he hurriedly lowered his head awkwardly and sat down.

After introducing Zhang Xinyang, the homeroom teacher moved on to the main topic of the homeroom period: reviewing the monthly exam.

When they heard that Jiang Bai was once again first in the grade, no one felt anything anymore. The day Jiang Bai was not first would be the day they were surprised.

What surprised everyone, however, was Xia Yue. She had always kept a low profile, yet this time she had placed second in the grade. The homeroom teacher of the neighboring class was overjoyed, since two of the top three students in the grade were from their class.

Third in the grade was a boy named Wang Shining. Before this monthly exam, if Jiang Bai had been the perennial first place, then Wang Shining had been the perennial second place.

When Teacher Tang mentioned Wang Shining's name, Lu Yao inadvertently caught sight of Zhang Xinyang, who was sitting in front of him, suddenly shuddering.

You Yu had no interest in listening to the homeroom teacher ramble on. He eagerly sprawled across his desk and shared some gossip he had just heard from the neighboring class with Lu Yao.

"I heard that after Xia Yue transferred next door, she and Wang Shining got close really quickly. Wang Shining even broke up with his previous girlfriend for her."

Hearing You Yu's words, Liu Hao turned around indignantly and rebuked him. "You Yu, you don't know anything. Can you stop making baseless rumors? Do you know how much trouble that could cause Xia Yue?!"

You Yu rolled his eyes and scoffed disdainfully. "When did I make up rumors? Was I the one who made Xia Yue go shopping, watch movies, and eat with Wang Shining? Don't tell me Xia Yue didn't know Wang Shining had a girlfriend. His girlfriend is in their class. What, are you upset because Xia Yue didn't invite you, her 'good friend,' along?"

Liu Hao's face flushed red with anger. "Y-you..."

Seeing the commotion on their side growing louder, Teacher Tang raised his voice. "Some students, quiet down. The teacher is speaking."

You Yu smiled smugly. "Did you hear that? He told you to be quiet."

Seeing that the homeroom teacher was still looking their way, Liu Hao gave You Yu an angry snort before turning back around reluctantly.

After droning on through the monthly exam summary, the homeroom teacher said, "The rest of the time is yours. Same old rule: choose your seats according to your rankings."

Thinking that Lu Yao might not understand the arrangement, You Yu explained, "Basically, whoever has better grades can sit wherever they want. They get priority in choosing seats. But at this point, everyone has pretty much decided where they want to sit and who they want as a deskmate, so there probably won't be much change this time."

Lu Qi's voice suddenly rang out from the back row.

"Who says? You Yu, switch seats with me. You can sit with Ye Muqing."

You Yu turned around with a look of disbelief. "What?!"

Lu Qi raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? Got a problem with that?"

You Yu hurriedly waved his hands and laughed awkwardly. "No problem, no problem. I was just shocked for a moment."

How could he dare have a problem with Lu Qi? He had never planned on parting ways with Lu Yao, but his grades were worse than Lu Qi's.

Lu Qi patted You Yu on the shoulder and urged him, "Move it. Don't dawdle over packing up a few things."

You Yu: "..." Even reincarnation gave people time to catch their breath first.

Seeing Lu Qi's excited, smug expression, Lu Yao thought of how his future days would no longer be peaceful. He rubbed his brow helplessly and made one last struggle. "What if I say I don't want to switch deskmates..."

Lu Qi directly raised a hand and cut him off. "No what-ifs. I scored higher, so you listen to me."

Lu Yao said, "I..."

"What do you mean, 'I'? I scored higher. You listen to me."

Lu Yao: "..." After all his effort to let this idiot Lu Qi beat him, had he really ended up lifting a rock only to smash his own foot?

Lu Yao sighed helplessly and chose to stop struggling.

Lu Qi had been urging You Yu to move the desks and chairs when he caught sight of Jiang Bai walking over from the corner of his eye.

He crossed his arms and blocked Jiang Bai's path, asking bluntly, "What do you want?"

Jiang Bai could not be bothered with this single-minded idiot. He lowered his eyes toward Lu Yao, who was seated by the window, and said gently, "Lu Yao, can I be your deskmate?"

Before Lu Yao could answer, Lu Qi firmly refused for him. "No! I'm his deskmate!"

You Yu and Ye Muqing were now sitting in the back row, watching the sudden drama unfold before them with great interest.

Jiang Bai curved his lips. "But my score is higher than yours. Besides, I asked Lu Yao."

Lu Qi turned around and stared at Lu Yao like a tiger eyeing its prey. "Hurry up, Lu Yao. Reject him. Tell him to stop daydreaming."

A trace of barely noticeable tension showed in Jiang Bai's eyes as he looked at Lu Yao.

Seeing Lu Yao hesitate, Lu Qi, afraid that he might actually agree to Jiang Bai's request, raised his phone.

"Lu Yao, think about the phone. It has that recording from earlier. If you become my deskmate, I'll consider deleting it."

A relieved smile instantly appeared in Jiang Bai's eyes.

An idiot was still an idiot. There could be no better example of trying to be clever and ending up making things worse.

Lu Yao: "..." If Lu Qi had not brought that up, he had already planned to refuse Jiang Bai.

Now? Forget it. He could let this idiot hold onto that recording and amuse himself with it.

Lu Yao said flatly, "Whoever scores higher gets to decide."

Compared to Lu Qi's score, the grade's first place had won by an overwhelming margin.

Jiang Bai chuckled softly, his eyes curving. "I'll move my things over now. Perfect timing—You Yu has already moved most of them."

From the back row, Ye Muqing said, "You Yu, would you call this 'making wedding clothes for someone else'?"

You Yu said, "...I think you'd better not let Brother Qi hear that, or I can't guarantee what will happen to you."

In the end, Lu Qi returned to his original seat, while You Yu moved to Jiang Bai's previous seat.

Seeing Lu Qi return to his seat looking completely dejected, Ye Muqing cautiously poked him with one finger. "Brother Qi, are you okay?"

After a long while, Lu Qi slowly raised his head. He glared viciously at Jiang Bai's back in the seat ahead and cursed through gritted teeth, "That bastard Jiang Bai, just wait! A gentleman takes revenge, even if it takes ten years! Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river! One day, I'll definitely surpass his score!"

Ye Muqing: "..."

Fortunately, he was the only one who had heard that. Otherwise, he would have to start considering changing deskmates too.

Sometimes, ignorance was the source of courage!

Awakened by the dismissal bell, Lu Yao propped his head up and slowly sat upright.

"Want one?"

"Hmm?"

Lu Yao's eyes were still bleary, and before he could react to Jiang Bai's words, Jiang Bai had already unwrapped the beautifully packaged candy in his hand. A sweet-and-sour fragrance immediately spread through the air.

Smelling the faintly tart yet tempting sweetness in the air, Lu Yao's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

Jiang Bai chuckled. "Here."

Having just woken up, Lu Yao's voice was lazy and slightly husky. "Thanks."

With the candy in his mouth, Lu Yao half-closed his eyes and slowly savored it melting on his tongue. His expression carried a hint of comfort and contentment.

Sure enough, switching deskmates had been the right choice.

An idiot like Lu Qi, who could complain about this and that even while eating breakfast every day, was someone best admired from afar and never approached.

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