Chapter 25: Solid Evidence?

“Why do I get the feeling that Sister Huan is actually a domineering CEO?”
“Damn! I feel that way too.”
“Today I am totally shipping this pair!”
“I used to naively think that Chu Yu and Sister Huan would end up together.”
Mr. Cao rapped the blackboard forcefully. “Everyone quiet! How many days until the college entrance exams? You’re already in your final year and still have no discipline! Nie Huan and…”
“Shen Qing,” someone in the front row prompted.
“Nie Huan and Shen Qing, both of you sit properly and pay attention in class.”
Shen Qing looked up at the teacher, then promptly lowered his head and went back to sleep on his desk.
Mr. Cao: …
He had never seen students like this before!
“Class monitor, write their names down for me.”
Yao Panpan, who was called on, froze in shock and nodded stiffly.
The chubby boy behind her patted her shoulder, a little gloating. “Are you really going to write down the names of the notorious girls?”
“Get lost.”

***

As soon as class ended, Shen Qing was summoned to the office by Xie Mingming.
“Shen Qing, did you not sleep well last night?” Xie Mingming asked with concern, noticing Shen Qing’s reddened eyes.
“Mm.”
“Try to get to bed earlier from now on and don’t let what happened today happen again.” Xie Mingming spoke lightly, said a couple of words, and let her go.
The homeroom teacher of Class One, Zhang Xuehua, sat at her desk and started laughing. “Teacher Xie, your student is so unruly, and you’re not going to be stricter?”
Xie Mingming gave her a glance and said slowly, “Students like this are like springs—the harder you press, the harder they bounce back. Besides, our Shen Qing is a good student.”
Zhang Xuehua nearly spat out her water. Fighting and skipping class made her a good student?
“Teacher Xie, your perspective is certainly different from others.”

No wonder the principal put her in your class.

*

Shen Qing slept through the day, and the afternoon weekly quiz was filled out by the chubby boy for her.
During Friday’s break, Yao Panpan came over mysteriously.
“Let me tell you, today a super handsome teacher came to school.”
Chu Yu was startled. “Did you hear this at the office door again?”
“Yeah, I heard it when I went to find Old Xie.”
“Yao Panpan, you should stop studying and become a paparazzi,” said the chubby boy, coming over to share some chips.
“I’m not listening to your nonsense.” Yao Panpan reached into the bag for a handful.
“Take it easy! You act like you haven’t eaten,” the chubby boy complained.
“Hey, Sister Huan, Shen Qing, aren’t you two even a little curious?”
Shen Qing grabbed a chip. “Not curious.”
Then she peeled a lollipop and pushed it straight into Nie Huan’s mouth.
Chu Yu was stunned. Is that even allowed?!
Yao Panpan and the chubby boy were also dumbfounded!
“How does it taste?” Shen Qing asked.
“It’s alright,” Nie Huan replied with a smile.
The onlookers almost dropped their jaws.
Chu Yu was upset and stayed moody the whole lunch break. Even when Liu Yichen came over to ask him to play basketball, he refused.
“What’s wrong with Chu Yu?” Liu Yichen asked at lunch.
The chubby boy and Yao Panpan shook their heads.
“Oh, I’m leaving early—I need to bring lunch back for Shen Qing,” the chubby boy said, putting down his chopsticks and picking up a takeout box as he headed off.
“Isn’t Chu Yu always bringing food for Nie Huan? What’s wrong with bringing one extra for Shen Qing?”

“Anyway, I think Chu Yu just doesn’t like Shen Qing—he’s the type who doesn’t welcome new students,” Yao Panpan replied.
“Why?”
“How should I know? By the way, why didn’t Lin Ruiyang come for lunch today?”
“He’s eating at home these days. I heard there are rumors again in your class? Is a new teacher coming?”
“Yeah, and he’s super handsome, drop-dead gorgeous!”
“Tch!”

*

“Shen Qing, I like you!”
A boy blocked her at the doorway, his face as red as a monkey’s behind.
“Move,” Shen Qing said, narrowing her eyes, her voice icy cold.
“This is for you.” The boy held out a box of chocolates in pink wrapping, but before he could hand it over, it was kicked out of his hand.
Nie Huan stood there, face cold, exuding a chilling aura.
A flash of fear crossed the boy’s eyes. He looked to Shen Qing for help, but got nothing in return.
As soon as Nie Huan showed up, the onlookers in the hallway scattered far away.
“Come near her again, and I’ll break your legs,” Nie Huan threatened, dragging Shen Qing back into the classroom.
“Damn! Could it really be true?”
“What’s true?”
“That Nie Huan and the new girl, Shen Qing, are... you know!”
“Huh?”
“Kind of gross, isn’t it?”
“Oh my god, Nie Huan was so cool just now.”
“If you think it’s gross, get out of here!”