Chapter 7: Boldly Admiring the Maiden’s Stunning Beauty

The reason was simple: she hadn’t come to take the final exam.

Lu Yuanqiu couldn’t help but chuckle, only to hear the class monitor beside him speak in a languid tone, “Happy now, Lu Yuanqiu? This time Bai Qingxia will have to sit with you in the corner.”

The class monitor’s name was Zhong Jincheng. He was fair-skinned, stood about 1.7 meters tall, wore glasses, and exuded a scholarly air.

He and Lu Yuanqiu had grown up together since childhood, but unlike other childhood friends, they were more like rivals, each looking down on the other.

Zhong Jincheng disliked Lu Yuanqiu for his poor grades, thinking his only asset was his height.

As for himself, his grades really were good: second in the class, and also second in the entire grade.

Lu Yuanqiu, on the other hand, looked down on Zhong Jincheng because… beneath that refined exterior, Zhong Jincheng was an utter pervert.

His favorite pastime was fantasizing about various women.

The class goddess Hu Caiwei, the neighbor lady next door who liked tight skirts, and even the English teacher—none escaped his imagination.

Everyone knew that the English teachers during school days were always especially fashionable: beautiful, wavy hair, never the same outfit twice, fond of short skirts and black stockings.

Zhong Jincheng’s most notorious exploit had been, during an English class, to gaze at the teacher while covering his lap with his school uniform, secretly working his hands under it.

Rumor had it that after entering the workforce, he tried to pursue his female boss, was rejected, and then, in retaliation, added “yogurt” to her takeout food, ultimately getting himself fired.

Truly, a toad aspiring to a swan—ugly and shameless.

“Mind your own business.” Lu Yuanqiu shot back, chin lowered, looking at Zhong Jincheng.

Height supremacy.

Zhong Jincheng curled his lip; he wasn’t jealous of Lu Yuanqiu, because he had no interest in Bai Qingxia.

To him, Bai Qingxia always wrapped herself up tightly, never showing any skin. Despite her breathtaking, first-love beauty, it wasn’t enough to excite him.

His true interests were Hu Caiwei, who often defied the uniform rules to reveal her fair thighs and show off her assets, and the English teacher in black stockings and short skirts.

Suddenly, Zhong Jincheng raised his hand. “Teacher, I’m farsighted—I’d like to request a seat in the last row!”

Liu Wei pushed up her thick glasses, smiling as she replied, “Of course, Zhong Jincheng, as long as it’s convenient for you.”

The homeroom teacher, Liu Wei, was in her thirties—a plump woman notorious for her double standards. She was endlessly kind to top students, but always wore a frosty face for underachievers like Lu Yuanqiu.

Lu Yuanqiu gave a cold snort. Farsighted? Hah.

He just wanted to sit in the back, where it was easier to indulge his habits.

Especially now, in summer, when the English teacher would surely show up in a black skirt and stockings.

…

According to final exam results, the seating was arranged from highest to lowest scores; pairs of desk-mates walked into the classroom together.

“Hu Caiwei, Wang Haoran,” Liu Wei called out.

Hearing his name, the handsome class president with a neat part, Wang Haoran, felt elated—he’d just confessed to Hu Caiwei yesterday, and now they’d be desk-mates.

Hu Caiwei, however, looked anything but happy.

On her way into the classroom, she glanced back at Lu Yuanqiu, her face clouded with worry and gloom.

“Ladies first, Hu Caiwei.” Wang Haoran smiled, making a gentlemanly gesture of invitation.

Hu Caiwei forced a smile and nodded.

Gradually, only two people remained in the hallway.

Lu Yuanqiu leaned nonchalantly against the window, grinning at the girl in uniform standing beside him.

Bai Qingxia stood with her head bowed, awkwardly clutching her sleeves, her single ponytail draped gently over her left shoulder, revealing a sliver of pale, delicate neck.

Lu Yuanqiu suddenly felt an urge to tug at her ponytail.

The homeroom teacher, Liu Wei, adjusted her thick glasses, her tone gentle with concern. “Qingxia, if you can’t see well sitting in the back, let me know and I’ll move you up front.”

Seriously? Such blatant favoritism!

Lu Yuanqiu objected immediately. “I don’t agree!”

Liu Wei shot him a glare. “You don’t agree? Lu Yuanqiu, who do you think you are?! Bai Qingxia missed the final exam last semester only because of family issues—if she’d taken it, she’d surely be top of the grade!”

Pushing up her glasses again, Liu Wei threatened, “Lu Yuanqiu, I’m warning you—don’t distract her in class. If I catch you, I’ll have you standing on the platform in front of the whole school!”

Bai Qingxia quickly looked up, her voice cool and clear. “It’s alright, Teacher. I’ll earn my place back at the next monthly exam.”

The “pillar” of Class 28 had spoken. Liu Wei’s expression instantly softened, breaking into a smile. “Good, good, Qingxia, don’t be discouraged. If Lu Yuanqiu bullies you, just let me know.”

Bai Qingxia gave a quiet “mm.”

Lu Yuanqiu, ever thick-skinned, asked, “So what counts as bullying?”

He reached out and poked Bai Qingxia’s soft arm. “Does this count?”

The girl’s ear on that side turned pink as she shrank away.

Liu Wei’s face turned red with anger. She immediately grabbed a stick to defend her “beloved daughter of Class 28,” but Lu Yuanqiu dodged easily, strolling into the classroom as if nothing had happened.

Bai Qingxia followed, head lowered, the other ear now blushing under the stares of her classmates.

How odd… After just one holiday, how had Lu Yuanqiu’s skin thickened so much?

Liu Wei, pushing her glasses, wondered silently.

Arriving at the back row by the window, Bai Qingxia suddenly wrinkled her nose, frowning.

Seeing this, Lu Yuanqiu asked, “You smell feet?”

He spread his arms wide, laughing heartily. “Bai Qingxia, welcome to the back row—the world of underachievers, the realm of gods!”

Seeing Bai Qingxia’s confusion, Lu Yuanqiu pointed and explained:

“Those twins over there, Liu No-Can-Do and Liu Not-Going-To, the Biochemical Brothers—if they take off their shoes, the entire No. 7 Middle School of Lucheng would explode. They’re known as the Biochemical Gods.”

Lu Yuanqiu’s humorous introduction made Bai Qingxia press her lips together in a smile—a moment of breathtaking beauty that stunned Lu Yuanqiu. “You can actually smile?”

Bai Qingxia quickly stifled her smile, her gaze flustered as she rummaged in her bag for her pencil case and books, her expression gradually returning to its usual coolness.

Lu Yuanqiu noticed her new backpack and pencil case, feeling a quiet satisfaction. “Look over there.”

Bai Qingxia looked up obediently, following his gaze.

He continued, “To the right of the twins is Zheng Yifeng. He sleeps from morning till night; as soon as the bell rings, he’s out. Even a slap won’t wake him, and he drools enough to draw a map on his desk. But call out ‘lunch’ and he’s instantly awake. Guess what god he is?”

Bai Qingxia wasn’t supposed to respond, but she softly ventured, “The Sleep God.”

Lu Yuanqiu laughed. “Exactly!”

Her brows arched in a fleeting smile, as if pleased to be in tune with him.

He went on, “To the right of Zheng Yifeng is our class monitor, Zhong Jincheng—the Gun God.”

He paused, but before he could explain, Bai Qingxia looked over, her beautiful eyes quietly waiting.

Lu Yuanqiu grinned mischievously. “No, I can’t tell you about that one.”

Bai Qingxia turned her attention back to her book. Suddenly, a cropped head of hair moved into her vision—Lu Yuanqiu’s head rested sideways on her desk, boldly admiring her stunning features.

Their gazes intertwined, close as the vibrating strings of a zither.

Lu Yuanqiu smiled. “Welcome officially to the back row, Study Goddess.”

Looking up from below.

Bai Qingxia’s hand tightened around her pen, and she quickly lowered her head, avoiding his eyes, now staring at her toes—except she couldn’t actually see her toes.

“You… hurry and go back,” Bai Qingxia urged anxiously.

But the more flustered she became, the more amused Lu Yuanqiu was.

“Lu Yuanqiu!” Liu Wei banged the desk at the podium. Only then did Lu Yuanqiu lift his head from Bai Qingxia’s territory.

Classmates turned to look; Hu Caiwei and class president Wang Haoran glanced back. Seeing Lu Yuanqiu and Bai Qingxia sitting together, Hu Caiwei’s eyes filled with grievance, but Lu Yuanqiu didn’t even spare her a glance.

“Guess what kind of god I am?” Lu Yuanqiu whispered to Bai Qingxia.

ps.

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