Even after returning home, Meng Ting couldn’t control her feelings of embarrassment and frustration.

Xu Jia came downstairs to get milk and greeted her with a smile. She nodded and walked past him.

“My mom said there’s a dance competition in two months. Are you going?” he asked.

Meng Ting gripped her backpack strap tightly and nodded.

Xu Jia couldn’t help but smile, “I can let you know when registration opens.”

She said softly, “No need. I’ve registered before. I can do it myself.”

The smile on Xu Jia’s face faded a bit.

His keen observation skills noticed her slightly reddened eyes. “You…”

Meng Ting didn’t give him a chance to ask, running past him.

When she got home, she went to the bathroom first, washing her hands several times before cupping water to wash her flushed cheeks twice.

The cold water cooled her face but couldn’t wash away the sensation Jiang Ren had left on her cheek.

She turned off the faucet and went back to study for a while, finally forgetting this unpleasant incident.

It was the second semester of their sophomore year, and they didn’t yet feel the extreme urgency of senior year. The March breeze was gentle, and the school was abuzz with news about early admissions to universities for seniors.

There were only six or seven spots for early admission in the entire senior class, and those who got in were exceptionally talented.

Among them were Huo Yifeng and Lu Yue.

Huo Yifeng was admitted to Q University, while Lu Yue was admitted to Z University. While others were still fighting for the college entrance exam with only a hundred days left, they had already breathed a sigh of relief, ready to embark on their new journey, truly enviable.

Zhao Nuancheng munched on cookies as she spoke, “I’m so jealous of them. They’ve won at life.”

Cookie crumbs sprayed all over Meng Ting’s desk, but she didn’t mind, smiling as she organized her English homework.

“Ting Ting, what do you think they’ll do with all this free time now that they don’t have to worry about the college entrance exam?” She squinted her eyes and grinned, “Do you think they’ll all start dating?”

Meng Ting thought of Huo Yifeng from yesterday and found she couldn’t refute the idea.

As a result, within a few days, news of Lu Yue from the senior class dating Jiang Ren from the vocational school spread like wildfire among the students.

When Shen Yuqing heard about this, she just sneered, “Just wait, Lu Yue will get dumped too. That guy has no heart; he doesn’t like anyone.”

She had been with him for two months, and Jiang Ren hadn’t said a single gentle word to her.

The most he would say was, “Need money? Take it yourself. Don’t bother me.”

Yet despite this, Shen Yuqing was still jealous enough to grind her teeth.

Being with Jiang Ren, even if he didn’t hug her, kiss her, or say sweet nothing, he was truly generous.

Lu Yue started wearing makeup when entering and leaving school.

This further confirmed the dating rumors.

When He Junming heard the rumors, he was stunned for a moment: “Ren Ge, you’re dating Lu Yue?”

Jiang Ren raised an eyebrow, “What?”

“The whole school is talking about it. They say you didn’t leave after school the other day because you went on a date with Lu Yue. Someone said they saw a girl in No. 7 High School uniform at the vocational school, and Ren Ge, you were even kissing at the school gate…”

Jiang Ren’s expression cooled, “Who saw it?”

“Don’t know who.”

Jiang Ren took out his lighter, then put it back, patting He Junming’s shoulder, “Go ask around.”

Soon, He Junming came back: “Wu Xiaoli from Class 5 said it. She was on duty and left late.”

“Call her out.”

When Wu Xiaoli walked out trembling, her face was already pale. She hadn’t meant to; when she gossiped, she told people not to tell others. But within a few days, people from both schools knew.

Jiang Ren was waiting for her on the balcony, his dark eyes cold, “Wu Xiaoli?”

“Jiang… I’m sorry, I…”

“What did you see?”

Wu Xiaoli choked up a bit, “I didn’t mean to. I won’t gossip carelessly anymore.”

Jiang Ren frowned, quite impatient.

Wu Xiaoli said, “You were at the school gate, kissing… kissing her…”

Jiang Ren didn’t say anything.

Wu Xiaoli had seen a girl in No. 7 High School uniform and thought it was Lu Yue, but it was Meng Ting. He had been careless that day, pressing her against the wall to kiss her, and was seen.

He had to take the blame for this. Meng Ting wasn’t at fault, and Lu Yue was innocent too.

Wu Xiaoli, pale-faced under his cold, heavy gaze, said, “I’ll go clarify that I made it up.”

Jiang Ren didn’t like hitting girls, so he just told her to scram.

Wu Xiaoli didn’t dare go back on her word and went to say she had made it up. However, while spreading rumors is easy, clarifying them is much harder.

Moreover, Lu Yue had started dressing up these past few days, which seemed to confirm the rumors of her dating Jiang Ren.

After school, Jiang Ren didn’t leave and had He Junming call Lu Yue.

He waited for her outside the alley of No. 7 High School.

Lu Yue arrived on time.

She had indeed dressed up, her hair permed and falling in soft waves down her back, light makeup on her face.

Jiang Ren wasn’t one to beat around the bush. Seeing her arrive, he said flatly, “I’m sorry.”

Lu Yue was taken aback, then smiled, “It’s okay.”

Jiang Ren took out his phone, “Give me your card number. I’ll pay for your college expenses. The rumors will die down in a few days.” His eyes were indifferent, “Don’t say anything else.”

Lu Yue’s smile faded. She wasn’t stupid.

This was probably the first time in Jiang Ren’s life that he had apologized to someone.

For whom?

For their No. 7 High School’s beauty queen. Ha, what a joke. When the rumors first started, Lu Yue had guessed.

Jiang Ren went to watch Meng Ting at the Math Olympiad, during basketball games, he gave money to Meng Ting to buy water. Even on New Year’s Eve when they played “Truth or Dare,” Jiang Ren had pushed her away.

They asked him who he was thinking about.

Lu Yue heard it. He said hoarsely, Meng Ting.

But she could only pretend she hadn’t heard.

Lu Yue’s eyes reddened, “I don’t want your money. I just want to be with you.”

Jiang Ren frowned, his eyes cold.

Lu Yue felt like crying and laughing at the same time. She clenched her fists, “You have to be with me.” She was almost at her wit’s end, “If you don’t want people to know it’s Meng Ting.”

Jiang Ren laughed. When he laughed, there was a hint of roguishness that made Lu Yue both afraid and her heart race.

“Threatening me?”

Lu Yue gritted her teeth, “Why can’t I? Meng Ting… she doesn’t like you anyway. If this gets out, she’ll hate you.” They all knew Meng Ting’s situation was different. She was from a single-parent family, not well-off, always very hardworking, and focused on studying hard to get into university.

Meng Ting had to stay focused, and could only walk this path. More importantly, Meng Ting had an excessively pretty face that everyone wanted to possess, but no one had ever possessed. If Meng Ting became the protagonist of this affair, the whole school would explode.

Lu Yue, on the other hand, came from a good family. Even this early admission was due to her family connections.

Jiang Ren snorted, “You probably don’t know one thing.” He lowered his eyes, casually adjusting his sleeve, “She already hates me to death.”

Lu Yue stared at him with wide eyes.

He said calmly, “I forced her.”

Lu Yue took a step back, somewhat dejected.

Jiang Ren finally said, “Stay away from her if you don’t want to lose your early admission spot.”

Class 2-1 was out of the loop, and by the time they heard the news, the rumors had already silently dissipated.

Wu Xiaoli, who spread the rumor, admitted to making it up, and Lu Yue stopped dressing up, clarifying that there was nothing between them.

Zhao Nuancheng propped her chin disappointedly, “Ah, I thought it was big news. Turns out it was fake.”

Meng Ting’s straight line on the paper went crooked.

She lowered her long lashes, biting her lip. She stood up to collect the English essays.

“Meng Ting, can we submit a bit later?” A classmate still rushing to finish their homework asked frantically.

Meng Ting nodded, “Sure, I’ll collect from the other groups first.”

The classmate was deeply grateful. Meng Ting was easy to talk to; if it were Guan Xiaoye, they would have already made a note in their little book. He hurriedly continued writing.

Fortunately, it was a long break, and when Meng Ting finished collecting the homework and went to the office, there were still three minutes left before class.

As she walked into the office, she saw a black-haired boy standing lazily inside.

Meng Ting’s heart rate quickened uncontrollably. What was he doing here?

The tall boy had dark, deep eyes. Fan Huiyin frowned and said, “No, your grades don’t qualify.”

She was a very stubborn female teacher.

Jiang Ren thought this old lady was being such a pain. The leaders of No. 7 High had agreed, but Fan Huiyin refused to budge.

He pressed his tongue against his chewing gum and clicked it, “Teacher, I’m not asking to transfer to your class permanently. Just let me audit for a year, please?”

Fan Huiyin had never seen such an insolent student.

She resisted the urge to slam the table, “Your foundation is too weak. You won’t understand the lessons in our class! It’s better to strengthen your basics.”

Jiang Ren said carelessly, “The principal agreed.”

Fan Huiyin was adamant, “Even if the principal came, I’d say the same thing. At worst, they can replace me as the homeroom teacher.” She was both angry and helpless. At the beginning of spring, the Jiang family donated a sum of money to No. 7 High, allowing all classrooms to have air conditioning installed this summer. The condition was to let Jiang Ren transfer schools, and not waste time at the vocational school, after all, Jiang Ren was still the son of Director Jiang.

This little hooligan didn’t choose any other class, just their top Class 1 of No. 7 High.

He even said auditing was fine.

Fan Huiyin disagreed. With someone like him, who could control him? Ruining the atmosphere of their class would be a disaster for all the students. She’d rather never use air conditioning in her life than accept such a parachuted student.

Jiang Ren smiled, “Teacher, I’m here to info-“

Inform you, not beg you.

Meng Ting put down the English essays.

Fan Huiyin’s forehead was beaded with sweat from anger. Jiang Ren suddenly went silent, his dark eyes falling on Meng Ting.

Fan Huiyin said, “Meng Ting, get a glass of water for the teacher.”

Meng Ting: “Mm.”

Her tone was soft and obedient.

Fan Huiyin asked, “What were you about to say just now?”

Jiang Ren: “…” He changed his tune without any pressure, “I’m sincerely seeking your opinion. I want to go to university too.”

Meng Ting came back with a glass of warm water. Fan Huiyin frowned, “You’ll influence our class. Meng Ting, come here.”

Jiang Ren watched her. The girl’s school uniform was loose, and her profile was pure beyond words.

When called, she went.

Jiang Ren watched, irritated. If only she would listen to him like that.

Fan Huiyin said, “This student wants to audit our class, but he’s already in his second year of high school, and his… his total score for seven subjects doesn’t even reach 200 points.”

“…” Jiang Ren wanted to kill this old witch Fan Huiyin.

Meng Ting was stunned for a moment, suddenly wanting to laugh. But she held it in, listening carefully.

Fan Huiyin gave Meng Ting a meaningful look, “Do you think the teacher should let him come to our class?” She intended that if the students expressed their unwelcome, this vocational school student wouldn’t be so shameless as to insist on staying.

The bell for class had already rung; the next class was physics. But Fan Huiyin wouldn’t let her leave, so Meng Ting couldn’t go.

To be honest, she didn’t want Jiang Ren to come.

He wasn’t here to study. He was so bad; if he came, she’d be done for.

Meng Ting lowered her head, not daring to look at Jiang Ren, and said softly, “We shouldn’t.”

Jiang Ren smiled, “Oh? Classmate, give me a reason.”

“…” Meng Ting certainly couldn’t tell the truth.

Under Fan Huiyin’s encouraging gaze, she clenched her fingers, unable to find a reason. Finally, she steeled herself and spoke, “You… you’ll lower our class average score.” After saying this, she was stunned. How did she end up following Fan Huiyin’s lead? Then her face turned completely red.

There were two young teachers in the office, heads down, shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.

This little classmate was quite adorable.

Fan Huiyin was already stubborn; if it were them, they would never have said such a thing so bluntly. But right after the teacher mentioned the average score not reaching 200, this little class representative girl chimed in that he would lower their class average. They inexplicably wanted to pat her head. Whose child was this? So obedient.

Jiang Ren should have been angry.

But seeing her red-tipped ears, he cursed inwardly. In the end, he couldn’t help but curve his lips. Damn, she was cute as hell.

Fan Huiyin tried hard to keep a straight face, feeling that Meng Ting had done a great job. Finally, a student who truly understood her.

She nodded with satisfaction, “Jiang, did you hear that? I wasn’t lying to you. You aren’t suitable for our class.”

Jiang Ren asked, “No reconsideration?”

Fan Huiyin: “No reconsideration. You can ask other classes.”

Jiang Ren put his hands in his pockets. This time he didn’t argue further and left.

Fan Huiyin asked Meng Ting, “Did you collect all the homework?”

“Yes, all collected.”

“Alright, you can go.” She truly liked this child. Someone like Jiang Ren coming into their class would pollute the air. Fan Huiyin felt she had upheld justice and was very satisfied with herself.

In March, everything was coming back to life. Gentle sunlight spilled across the ground, and after the warmth of spring, tender green buds appeared on the branches, swaying in the light breeze.

Meng Ting walked from the office towards the classroom. As she passed through the corridor, at a corner, someone suddenly pulled her over. She was so startled she almost cried out.

That person pressed her against his chest, fiercely asking, “So I’ll lower your class average score, huh?”