Chapter 21: Rebellious Girl!

Xie Mingming strode into the classroom with the lesson plan clutched in his hand, followed by a long-haired girl. She wore a simple blue-and-white school uniform, the jacket draped over her shoulders without the zipper fastened. Her skin was pale, her features sharp and striking, lips pressed lightly together, exuding an aura that warned strangers to keep their distance.

As soon as she entered, the students couldn't help but gasp. Yao Panpan, the least reserved among them, tapped the desk of the chubby boy behind her, boasting, "Look, look! This is the girl I was talking about. Isn't she beautiful?"

The chubby boy sat stunned in his seat, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed nervously.

Yu Min'er’s reign as campus queen was about to end.

Chu Yu glanced at the podium, then turned to look at Nie Huan, noticing she too was staring at the new student.

Is she really that pretty?

He thought, compared to Huan-jie, she wasn’t much prettier.

"Good afternoon, everyone!" Xie Mingming cleared his throat, but the class was abuzz, discussing the new girl's looks, paying him no heed.

"So beautiful!"

"I wonder if she has a boyfriend?"

"Forget it, with your looks, she wouldn’t even notice you."

"My God, she’s so fair-skinned and so exquisitely beautiful!"

"Now I finally understand why Class President Yao said her face isn’t just a face. My own face isn’t worthy of the name."

Xie Mingming smiled at Shen Qing, coughed twice, and continued, "This is our new classmate..."

Still, no one paid attention.

Shen Qing swept her gaze over the students murmuring below, stepped forward, and said coldly, "Quiet."

Her voice wasn’t loud, nor did it betray any emotion—just indifferent, without a hint of the shyness one might expect from a newcomer.

Xie Mingming watched as the class instantly fell silent, feeling a pang of jealousy.

He’d taught these students for over a year, and now all their eyes were fixed on Shen Qing.

He began to doubt himself—was he still the suave, dashing homeroom teacher of Class Three?

Students' words—so deceptive.

"My name is Shen Qing."

Xie Mingming maintained an awkward yet polite smile, hoping she would say more.

"Wow! She really is a bad girl—tough and cool!" The chubby boy whispered to Yao Panpan, sprawled over his desk.

Though his voice was soft, the quiet classroom ensured at least half the students heard him.

Yao Panpan rolled her eyes, "Keep it down."

As if she was afraid no one would notice!

Xie Mingming naturally caught the exchange and forced a laugh. "Shen Qing is new here, and she’s got a great personality, um... quite energetic. Let’s give her a warm welcome!"

The class erupted into enthusiastic applause.

"Shen Qing, you can sit..." Xie Mingming scanned the room. All forty-nine seats were taken, except for the last row, where Nie Huan sat alone.

Nie Huan had always sat by herself; if someone were to join her, he worried they might end up fighting.

"I’ll sit there," Shen Qing said, pointing to the empty seat beside Nie Huan in the last row.

The class glanced over, expressions shifting.

Oh wow!

That’s right next to Huan-jie!

Xie Mingming was also stunned. Do bad girls always prefer the last row?

The chubby boy tapped Yao Panpan, speaking softly, "Huan-jie always sits alone. You think these two might end up fighting?"

Yao Panpan frowned, "The transfer student looks pretty fierce. Our class might not be peaceful anymore."

"No way... Are we going to have two top dogs in the class?" a nearby student chimed in.

"Two tigers can't share a mountain unless one's male and one's female. These are two tigresses."

"Who do you think is tougher?"

"I’d say Huan-jie."

"I think so too."

"Hey! She’s coming down!"

"Whoa! She really went to Huan-jie’s seat."

"Next second, they’re going to fight, right?"

Under the gaze of the entire class, Shen Qing walked off the podium and placed her newly issued books directly on Nie Huan’s desk.

Bang!

The crowd was shocked!

It was as if she had slapped Huan-jie in the face!

Chu Yu turned around to watch them, feeling anxious for Shen Qing.

Huan-jie’s fighting prowess—at this level, one punch and it’s over!

Yao Panpan’s heart was tense as well. Would Huan-jie slap her right across the face?

Suddenly!

Under everyone's gaze, Nie Huan stood up.

Chu Yu was startled.

Huan-jie was about to make a move!

Huan-jie was about to overturn the desk!

Xie Mingming felt a chill in his heart, quickly stepped down from the podium, and tried to smooth things over with a beaming smile.

"Peace above all, everyone. If there’s a problem, let’s talk it out. There are plenty of seats in the classroom, after all."