Chapter 53: Soft, Smooth, and Tender Little Hands【Second Update】

Bai Qingxia stopped in her tracks, stunned by the scene before her. She stood motionless for several seconds, then gently lowered her head, one hand holding onto her backpack strap, and, with a hint of timidity, walked in small steps toward Exam Room 30.

Her pure, spotless presence was just as out of place on this floor as it was anywhere else.

At this moment, everyone on this floor—whether leaning against the railing, standing at the classroom door, or resting at the windows—turned their gaze toward her.

Before the sports meet, everyone knew Bai Qingxia as the top student in her grade. After the sports meet, everyone had witnessed her dazzling beauty. Now, there wasn’t a soul in the school who didn’t recognize her; even the short-haired lady serving food in the cafeteria knew her name thanks to the event.

So naturally, everyone was surprised, shocked, and baffled. Why was she here?

During the monthly exams, the likelihood of Bai Qingxia appearing on this floor was about as rare as a comet streaking across the skies of Lu City Seventh High.

Bai Qingxia kept her head down, ignoring every staring gaze as she walked past the crowd of boys and girls, gripping her backpack strap first with one hand, then with both.

Yet, as she reached the doorway of Exam Room 30, she paused briefly before Lu Yuanqiu.

The girl lifted her beautiful eyes, framed by long, curled lashes, and glanced at him, her voice soft, “Good… good morning.”

Lu Yuanqiu nodded. “Good morning.”

After exchanging greetings, Bai Qingxia quickly slipped into the exam room.

Cao Shuang turned in surprise to look at Lu Yuanqiu. Having missed the moment when Bai Qingxia had brought him water, he was astonished by their brief exchange.

Once Bai Qingxia entered, the people in the corridor exchanged bewildered looks; only then did murmurs begin to rise, with a few curious students approaching, craning their necks and peering through doors and windows.

When they saw Bai Qingxia sitting at the very last seat, shock spread across their faces once more.

“What the—”

“Why is Bai Qingxia sitting there?”

Voices of confusion and amazement echoed.

Lu Yuanqiu, annoyed, said, “What are you all staring at? Is it that interesting?”

Hearing his words, Cao Shuang stepped forward, his tone even fiercer: “Enough! Go back to your own exam rooms! Don’t hang around here gawking!”

Everyone was intimidated, quickly withdrawing from the area near Exam Room 30. Once the crowd dispersed, Lu Yuanqiu entered the exam room.

The first thing he saw was Zheng Yifeng, sprawled across the first desk, fast asleep.

Lu Yuanqiu tapped the desk, saying, “The exam’s about to start and you’re still sleeping?”

Though Zheng Yifeng ranked tenth from the bottom in Class 28, he was the top student in the last exam room. He lifted his groggy, handsome face, glanced at Lu Yuanqiu, and replied, “I studied too late last night, just catching up on sleep.”

With that, he laid his head back down and started snoring again.

Lu Yuanqiu didn’t bother him further and walked into the classroom. In the middle rows, Chen Fei sat admiring a collection of cards featuring GD, not a single language textbook in sight.

Lu Yuanqiu looked away and headed for the corner seat.

Seeing this, Bai Qingxia quickly moved her desk back a bit to make room for him.

Just as he sat down, Lu Yuanqiu felt a sense of foreboding.

He froze, then stiffly turned his neck to look at the seat beside him, surprised.

A stern face came into view.

Mao Sheng’s thick eyebrows were tightly knit. He turned his head, eyes fixed on Lu Yuanqiu with a look full of resentment:

“Lu Yuanqiu, long time no see.”

Lu Yuanqiu: What the—

Why is this guy sitting next to me?!

If I accidentally turn my head during the exam and see that face, how am I supposed to concentrate?

Lu Yuanqiu ignored him, feeling his nerves fraying.

He hadn’t expected Mao Sheng’s grade ranking to be so close to his own this time.

Behind them, Bai Qingxia held her pen in small hands, glancing from Lu Yuanqiu to Mao Sheng and back again, her gaze shifting between the two.

She didn’t understand why this stern-looking guy kept staring at Lu Yuanqiu, nor why Lu Yuanqiu seemed afraid of him.

It unsettled her perception, since in her mind, Lu Yuanqiu was fearless.

Just then, a commotion sounded at the exam room door.

Lu Yuanqiu and Bai Qingxia looked up to see two people squeezed together at the entrance.

Tan Le, dark as charcoal, and Dali Jiao entered together, but Dali Jiao’s size was so great that Tan Le ended up stuck in the doorway with him.

Tan Le lifted his chin, exasperated, “Come on! I can’t believe you! You go first!”

“Sorry…” Dali Jiao apologized quickly. Despite his size, he seemed easily bullied.

As he pushed forward, Tan Le was pressed against the doorframe like dough, spun around in a full circle.

Watching this, Lu Yuanqiu suddenly remembered something, turned, and pulled something from his pocket to hand to the girl.

“These two nose plugs—wear them during the exam. They’re important, very important.”

He instructed Bai Qingxia.

He then checked another pocket, pausing in confusion. Where had the other ones gone?

He distinctly recalled bringing four nose plugs.

Never mind; he was a veteran of many battles. Bai Qingxia, facing her first bombardment of chain farts, probably wouldn’t withstand it, even with the filtered air from their row.

Tan Le really belonged on a battlefield, not an exam room.

Seeing her confusion, Lu Yuanqiu hurriedly said, “Don’t ask why. Just wear them.”

Bai Qingxia nodded obediently, taking the nose plugs.

“What the—” came an exclamation nearby. Lu Yuanqiu turned to see Tan Le at his desk, gazing dreamily at Bai Qingxia in the back row.

Once again under a stranger’s gaze, Bai Qingxia withdrew her eyes, sitting up straighter and quietly brushing her bangs down to cover a quarter of her face.

She disliked talking to any students except Lu Yuanqiu and equally disliked being stared at.

“Hello, Bai Qingxia. I’m—my name is Tan Le, and I’m Lu Yuanqiu’s close friend from freshman year,” Tan Le said, smiling shyly.

She hadn’t planned to respond, but hearing he was Lu Yuanqiu’s friend, Bai Qingxia quickly lifted her head, replying softly and shyly, “Hello.”

She still didn’t look directly at him.

Tan Le’s face lit up, and he eagerly extended his right hand, excited, “Hello, hello! Nice to meet you!”

He wanted to shake hands, but Lu Yuanqiu pressed his hand down onto the desk.

“A greeting is enough. You want to shake her hand too? Dream on. I can’t even do that.”

Lu Yuanqiu said domineeringly.

The girl bowed her head in embarrassment.

Bai Qingxia’s little hand was soft, smooth, and delicate. Ever since he held it once at the sports meet, Lu Yuanqiu had wanted to lock it with a key that belonged only to him.

(End of chapter)