Translated by newbienoona

Edited by anks

Xiao Mingluo finally realizes why Hanyu has stopped immediately.

“I haven't seen either of you in quite a while.” Nangong Zifei looks at them darkly. “Please pay more attention in the future.”

“You… .” Hanyu looks at him like an angry cat, shaking to the point of pouncing. Xiao Mingluo tries to hold him back.

Hanyu is agitated to see Nangong Zifei because his Chinese group, S Gang, is responsible for privately rivaling Han Qilu's group, K Gang. While neither gangs have officially fought, they're already at war. It's only a matter of time before it comes head-to-head.

“Let me go!” Ling Hanyu tries to break free from Xiao Mingluo's grip.

“Fool, bear with me for a while,” Mingluo whispers. “Qilu hasn't been discharged, and they're not ready to confront each other yet.”

“d.a.m.n!” Hanyu leans his head forward, trying not to make eye contact with Zifei.

Members of the S Gang have hurt members of the K Gang, and Hanyu is aggrieved.

Once Hanyu calms down, Mingluo relaxes his grip and takes a step forward. As he stares at Zifei, he says, “Why are you wearing the Stein uniform? I don't think you're a student here.”

“Jiao Daihu!” Nangong Zifei calls out, and the man runs to his side, his head lowered.

“Oh… .” Xiao Mingluo sneers. “Although I don't know what medicine is sold in your gourd, (idiom: to not be able to see what one has planned) but I hope we can live peacefully in Stein.”

“Of course that's what I want. Excuse me.” Nangong Zifei smiles at Ling Hanyu before walking toward Stein.

At this time, a girl wearing the Stein uniform gets out of the car. She follows behind Jiao Daihu. When she looks back, her eyes express fear as she stares at Mingluo.

“I haven't seen that girl before. She's his woman?” Xiao Mingluo asks thoughtfully.

“But from what I know, Nangong Zifei likes Chuxia.” Ling Hanyu clenches his fists. “It would be best for him if she's indeed his new woman. If he dares to show interest in Chuxia, I'll chop his neck!”

“Sure… it's not too late. Let's go to the cla.s.s first.” Xiao Mingluo heads back to his car to park it.

The first period is Chinese, and the cla.s.sical language quickly lulled Ling Hanyu to dreamland. In contrast, Xiao Mingluo is energized, and instead of listening to cla.s.s, he writes something in his book. With a serious look on his face, one would think he's taking notes. In reality, he's drafting plans for tomorrow.

The atmosphere in Meng Xiaonan's cla.s.s is lively. Since three of her cla.s.smates and the teacher are in the princ.i.p.al's office, the vice princ.i.p.al, who has a more relaxed att.i.tude, subst.i.tutes.

Since she has lived a full three lives, her lecture is funny and humorous. Her topics of discussion are interesting and keeps the cla.s.s engaged. However, some people in cla.s.s don't agree with the lively atmosphere.

“Meng Xiaonan, what's wrong with you? You look half dead.” Someone from behind pokes Xiaonan's back.

“I'm fine.” Meng Xiaonan doesn't bother to look back.

The other girl beside the girl who poked Xiaonan whispers in her ear. “Don't bother her. Don't you know that Master Mingluo hasn't come to her these past few days? They must be fighting right now.”

“Oh yeah!” The other girl is aghast.

When the bell rings to end the period, Fei Lixiya notices Xiaonan's dead expression and decides to drag her to the stationary store to buy tissue.

“How old are you that you need someone to accompany you to the store?” Meng Xiaonan looks at her helplessly. She didn't care about the cla.s.s, and much more for Fei Lixiya's needs.

“You're too idle!” Fei Lixiya says.

Suddenly, they hear a commotion not too far away.

“So handsome… he'll be competing with Han Qilu!”

“Look, my heart is thumping so loud!”

“You're a bunch of idiots. I still love Master Qilu.”

“Lixiya!” Xiaonan calls out.

Lixiya answers, “Is the new soph.o.m.ore handsome?”

Meng Xiaonan stretches her hand out to Lixiya. “It doesn't matter if the new student is handsome or not.”

“Ugh. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face!” Lixiya says as they head back to cla.s.s. Once they reach the cla.s.sroom, they find a girl dressed in Stein uniform standing near the podium.

The rest of the cla.s.s look at the girls, and in unison, they say, “Report!”

“Come in. Don't be late again,” the teacher says to the girls. She rarely scolds, but she continues saying, “If you need any help, whether it's adjusting to school life or studies, Mage, your cla.s.smates can help you.”

Meng Xiaonan takes a seat and looks at the new student.

“You're pretty. Aren't you Meng Xiaonan?” she whispers.

Meng Xiaonan rolls her eyes in indifference. “Why are you talking to me? You think I'm An Chuxia?”

Suddenly, the teacher calls on her. “Come here.”

Inexplicable laugher breaks in cla.s.s. Then, the teacher slaps her hand on the table. “Everybody, calm down. Mage has transferred from a different school. Introduce yourselves later as you pa.s.s her table.”

The teacher favors students with good grades. Meng Xiaonan, who is at the bottom of the cla.s.s, needs to give up her seat. Recently, she's done nothing but sleep in cla.s.s. Her performance has worsened.

To Xiaonan, moving seats isn't a big matter to her. However, her current seat is behind An Chuxia. If she is forced to sit at the corner, she would truly be far away from her!

Xiaonan wants to refuse, but looking at the teacher's eyes, she knows she won't be able to win. Discouraged, she says, “Okay.”

“Student Mage, sit in the back for now. After cla.s.s, you and Jiangnan can switch places,” the teacher orders them before starting cla.s.s.

“Congratulations, the pretty girl is going to be sitting here!” Meng Xiaonan mumbles to her desk.

“Don't worry, you can come visit often.” Then, she sticks out her tongue.

“Please turn around!” The teacher shoots Meng Xiaonan a stare before tapping on the podium. “Cla.s.s has started.”

Mage puts up a well-behaved act, and everyone volunteers to carry her books and things while Xiaonan has to carry hers alone. At first, she just wanted to move the desks, but Mage has already shoved her book bag in the drawer.

Meng Xiaonan sighs as she moves her books.

“Let me help you. Who do you think you are, Wonder Woman?” Fei Lixiya helps Meng Xiaonan move her books. Soon, she has moved all her items.

“That teacher is boring. Why should she move you to the back seat rather than the new freshman?” Lixiya murmurs to Xiaonan.

Meng Xiaonan shoots her a look of indifference. “Don't whisper. It doesn't matter to me. I've always sat at the back since I was a kid.”

“After you, you're indisputable!” Lixiya teases.

“That… .” A voice interrupts their conversation. It's the new girl acting like she's embarra.s.sed. “I'm sorry you were moved to the end.”

Several students watch the drama unfold between Xiaonan and Mage. They're waiting for a big explosion knowing Xiaonan's bad temper.

“I just bought this headband. I can give it to you.” Mage pa.s.ses it on to her.

If she doesn't take it, wouldn't it be too much? Xiaonan doesn't like bows, but she takes the gift hesitatingly. “I don't mind sitting here so you don't have to feel sorry.”

The people watching find the drama boring and finally disperse.

Mage smiles and says, “I was afraid you'd be upset with me. Please don't mind me. By the way, let's exchange numbers.”

“I forgot my phone, and I've just changed numbers, so I haven't memorized it yet. I'll give it to you later,” Meng Xiaonan says, lowering her head to arrange her desk and stop talking to Mage.

Seeing Meng Xiaonan close her off, she laughs as she turns back to cover her embarra.s.sment.

“Don't worry. Meng Xiaonan's just like that. She actually has a good heart.”

Meng Xiaonan looks at Mage and smiles. “I just don't know how to talk. I'm a little slow because it's hot.”

“Well, thank you.” Mage smiles quickly before asking, “Who sits in front of me? Is it vacant?”

“It's not. An Chuxia sits there. She's in the hospital, but I heard she'll be discharged tomorrow.”

Once she hears her name, Mage stiffens. “An Chuxia? The An Chuxia?”

One of the cheeky girls tips her chin forward. “Ah, you've heard of our An Chuxia? If you do, you should know that Meng Xiaonan and she are good friends.”

The convergence shows through Mage's eyes. Hiding her emotions, she asks, “What's the next subject?”

“Oh, it's sports. But we have to wait for the physical education teacher to come in before heading to the playground. Otherwise, people skip cla.s.s. Or arrive later,” one of the girls say offhandedly.