During the lunch break, as the teacher announced, “Class dismissed,” the exhausted students sat up, chatting about random topics before heading to the cafeteria.
Jiang Qian also got up to leave, but only Fang ng and Lin Zhengran remained in their seats.
Ever since the discipline director ntioned the heroic act that morning, countless students—especially many girls—had been approaching Fang ng between classes, bombarding her with questions.
Oddly enough, no one asked Lin Zhengran directly. The reason? Jiang Qian was sitting right beside him.
Everyone in the class knew—whether it was true or not—that the vice monitor had a crush on the class monitor. At the very least, that’s what everyone assud. The relationship between the two monitors had always been delicate.
“What’s the deal, Fang ng? When did you and the class monitor get together?”
“Yeah, did you steal the vice monitor’s crush?”
“How many dates have you two gone on? How far have you progressed? Have you kissed? Or are you already… that close?”
“Does the class monitor act cute around you?”
“I’m so jealous, Fang ng.”
The flood of ridiculous questions gave Fang ng a headache. No matter how many tis she clarified that they weren’t in that kind of relationship, the more she blushed at the more intimate questions, the less anyone believed her.
In their minds, it wasn’t that she was denying it—it was just that she couldn’t openly admit it at school. Perhaps even the teachers had given them a warning just now.
After all, the school’s official page had already posted the video. And in that footage, Fang ng had been standing quite close to Lin Zhengran. Even if she denied it, everyone still assud they were together.
Leaning against the wall, Jiang Qian’s expression remained tense. Her fingers clenched slightly, an unconscious reaction to everything she was hearing.
Fang ng noticed her reaction, sighing internally.
This is getting ssier by the second. Can things ever go back to the way they were?
As the lunch bell rang, Jiang Qian left the classroom, as cold and untouchable as an ice lotus with thorns.
Fang ng stared at Jiang Qian’s departing figure, then let out a deep sigh and slumped over her desk, burying her face in her arms.
“…I’m screwed.”
Lin Zhengran didn’t turn around. He glanced out of the classroom instead—those three hadn’t arrived yet. Looked like their class was still in session.
Fang ng lifted her head slightly, looking at him. “Lin Zhengran, why aren’t you going to eat?”
“Waiting,” he replied. “For those three to get out of class.”
Fang ng imdiately thought of the three beautiful girls from the next class.
“By the way… everyone knows about your heroic act now. I’m sure those three know about it too. Sorry, I dragged you into this. If you need to clarify things for you, just let know.”
Lin Zhengran had already predicted this scenario when the horoom teacher brought it up in the morning.
With a helpless smile, he said, “Thanks, but it’s fine. We’re not actually a couple, so it’s easy for to explain. You, on the other hand—when do you plan to co clean to Jiang Qian? You’ve already sung, already had drinks. Got the courage now?”
Fang ng stared at the desk. “Tonight.
“Even with this extra complication, I’ll talk to Qianqian tonight. Whatever happens, happens.”
She stood up. “I’m heading to lunch.”
“Alright, take care.”
Just as she reached the door, she hesitated and turned back.
“By the way, I’m really curious—who is your girlfriend? At first, I thought it was He Qing, but then I started noticing how close Jiang Xueli is to you. As for Han Wenwen… well, she’s hard to read. She feels like a fox—deep and unreadable.”
Fang ng casually voiced a thought she herself found ridiculous. “You said you weren’t two-timing before. That doesn’t an… you’re actually three-timing now, does it?”
Lin Zhengran looked at her.
They locked eyes again, holding each other’s gaze.
Neither of them knew how many tis they had done this before.
In the past, Fang ng always maintained a neutral expression. But after the KTV incident, she suddenly recalled how Lin Zhengran had comforted her while singing.
Her face started heating up.
Embarrassed, she quickly turned away.
“Forget it. I doubt you’d do sothing like that. Not my business anyway. I’m off to eat. If you need to explain anything, just ask. Also, I still owe you a favor—I won’t forget that.”
She left the classroom, walking down the hallway. But she slowly clenched her hand over her chest.
Her heart was pounding.
She didn’t understand what was happening.
Maybe I just didn’t sleep well last night. That’s why my heart’s racing. Yeah… totally normal. Totally… normal…
—
A little later, Class 3’s lunch break finally arrived.
As the students crowded toward the cafeteria, He Qing, Jiang Xueli, and Han Wenwen appeared at Lin Zhengran’s classroom door.
The “Big Three” stood there, staring at him intensely, all clearly with sothing to say.
Inside, Lin Zhengran sighed, standing up.
Here we go…
As expected, as the four of them left the building, He Qing kept her hands clasped in front of her, head down.
Jiang Xueli had her hands behind her back, lips pursed.
Han Wenwen clung to He Qing’s arm, occasionally glancing at Lin Zhengran.
Each had their own subtle actions.
Lin Zhengran broke the silence first. “So you three already know what happened last week?”
They stiffened in unison and turned toward him.
But before questioning him, they praised him first.
He Qing spoke softly, “We saw it. Lin Zhengran, you were so cool.”
Jiang Xueli nodded. “It really was impressive. Holding that guy down all by yourself… I was in awe watching the video.”
Han Wenwen chuckled. “Looks like you’ve gained a lot more fangirls at school.”
Whether that was a complint or not was unclear.
But after that, the three fell silent, waiting for Lin Zhengran to explain.
He didn’t beat around the bush.
“I was just helping her out. She took care of my mom, so I was just repaying the favor. There’s nothing between us like the rumors are saying. You don’t believe ?”
Han Wenwen’s expression sharpened. “Took care of your mom?”
Jiang Xueli frowned. “Repaying a favor?”
He Qing hesitated. “That’s… a lot of information. Wait, does that an she knows Uncle and Auntie? She’s even been to your house?”
Lin Zhengran: “…”
This is going to take a lot more explaining than I thought.
Han Wenwen smiled mischievously.
Jiang Xueli turned her head, letting out a little “hmph.”
He Qing, looking pitiful, spoke hesitantly, “Okay, I believe you two aren’t together. I believe most of what you say. But this ti… I can only believe a little bit. Because, Lin Zhengran, you would never spend ti alone with a girl you don’t like, right?
“And your flirtatious nature isn’t new. You’ve always been like this—since we were kids. Always playing with pretty girls and stealing their hearts.”
Lin Zhengran felt sothing was off.
Flirtatious? Since when?
Jiang Xueli crossed her arms. “I agree. The second I take my eyes off you, you start charming another pretty girl. Can’t help yourself, huh? Casanova.”
Han Wenwen added, “Bottom line, Lin Zhengran, this kind of scandal isn’t sothing you can brush off with a couple of sentences. And besides, just now, you let slip too much information in one go. It’s not going to be easy explaining this to Lili and Qingqing.
“But it’ll be easier if you explain it one-on-one.”
Jiang Xueli and He Qing both nodded at this.
Not only did they want alone ti with him, but deep down, they felt…
Words alone won’t be enough. Shouldn’t a hug or a kiss be involved too?
Han Wenwen smiled. “See? We all agree.”
She was technically helping him out—for now.
But if she ever got a private mont with Lin Zhengran, she would get to the bottom of what really happened with Fang ng.
Because even if she believed he wasn’t dating Fang ng…
She had a strong feeling—
That Fang ng… might be starting to like him.
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