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At that time, Le Ya and Xie Qingyu were still on their way back to the teaching building when they heard a sudden announcement from the school’s broadcasting station.

A light cough was heard: “Hello everyone, I’m Yu Jiu.”

Her voice was pleasant, unaltered by the broadcast system but instead imbued with a slight huskiness, adding an air of allure.

Xie Qingyu exclaimed, “Isn’t she from the neighboring class?”

Le Ya also remembered her, puzzled. “I thought the broadcasting station wasn’t her responsibility. She just transferred here not long ago.”

Yu Jiu continued, “… The following song, Little Romance , is dedicated to Su Song of Class Two, Senior Three.”

The school’s broadcasting station usually played songs in quick succession. A minute ago, it was someone else’s request; now, things had shifted.

Xie Qingyu quickly caught on. “Wow, is this a confession? Oh my god, isn’t this too bold?”

Le Ya remembered Yu Jiu’s voice vividly from their encounter in the office. She hadn’t expected her to be so unrestrained.

It was truly audacious, showing no fear of the teachers.

Le Ya whispered, “Won’t the teachers find out about this?”

Xie Qingyu patted her. “Yueya, you don’t understand. This is thrilling! I need to go see what Su Song is doing!”

Life in Senior Three was like stagnant water, and the school’s broadcasting station was one of the few sources of entertainment. Most of the time, they played motivational songs, but occasionally, some daring students would request ambiguous songs.

Even then, they wouldn’t blatantly announce the requester’s name—requests were submitted anonymously.

Clearly, Yu Jiu was currently at the broadcasting station.

As Le Ya and Xie Qingyu made their way back, they passed many classmates who were all excitedly heading to watch the commotion.

One girl exclaimed, “I don’t know what this song is, but just hearing it makes me think there’s a secret!”

Another person, scrolling through their phone, said, “I searched for it—it doesn’t exist. Maybe she wrote it herself?”

“Possibly. She’s accompanying herself on the guitar, so she probably wrote it. It actually sounds pretty good. I wonder how the recipient feels.”

“Hurry up, hurry up! Before the song ends, let’s go check it out!”

They quickly ran off.

When Le Ya and Xie Qingyu returned to the Senior Three teaching building, Yu Jiu’s singing was still echoing across the school. True to the title of her song, the gentle strumming of the guitar carried a hint of romance.

The song’s melody was slow, its lyrics straightforward yet poetic. Anyone could easily grasp its meaning.

Le Ya blushed as she listened.

The corridors of the Senior Three building were crowded with people, especially on the fourth floor, where most had gathered to watch the spectacle.

Just over a week since the main campus classes began, no one knew who was involved with whom. But after Yu Jiu’s bold move, she instantly became famous.

It took Le Ya and Xie Qingyu quite a while to return to their classroom.

Though the song had ended, its lingering echoes remained.

Both the entrance of Class One and the rear door of Class Two were packed with students, their faces clearly broadcasting, “We’re here for the show.”

Class Two’s doors and windows were already closed, evidently overwhelmed by the attention.

Li Ming, the most gossipy student in Class One, returned from the corridor and sat in the first row, saying, “As soon as I heard the announcement, I went to the neighboring class, but I was kicked out by their students. Su Song was in the classroom earlier, but he left.”

He had watched Su Song leave after hearing the broadcast.

A string of curious onlookers followed him. If it weren’t for the impending class, the crowd might have chased after him.

Xie Qingyu wondered, “Did he hide? It’s typical for bookworms to do something like this. Who asked him to be such a busybody, always bossing people around? Now he’s met his match—one thing controls another.”

Le Ya guessed, “Maybe he went to find Yu Jiu.”

After all, this concerned both of them. Le Ya had heard about Su Song’s personality. According to other classmates, he was practically a saint.

“What are you all doing here? Hurry back to your classrooms!”

Before the gossip could continue, the teachers who had just finished dinner came to disperse the crowd. Within minutes, the onlookers had vanished.

It was at this moment that Yu Jiu and Su Song appeared from the stairs.

This week, Le Ya was sitting near the corridor window in the classroom. As Yu Jiu passed by, she saw Le Ya and smiled at her.

She showed no signs of fearing criticism.

Le Ya didn’t expect her to remember her—they had only met once briefly in the office.

Still, she admired Yu Jiu’s boldness.

The commotion at the broadcasting station continued for a long time.

People were still discussing it before the end of the first evening study session. As for the two protagonists, they were now famous throughout the school.

Previously, everyone thought Chen Yang was the boldest. Now, another contender had emerged, though no one knew her.

Zhao Mingri leaned back in his chair. “Why don’t we dedicate a song to Le Ya and say it’s from Brother Yang?”

“Forget it,” Liang Qian snapped. “Do you really think Brother Yang would be like everyone else?”

Zhao Mingri thought for a moment. “True, he wouldn’t. That would make it seem like Brother Yang is copying others, which wouldn’t do.”

The center of their discussion, Chen Yang, was asleep.

Their conversation was interrupted after only a short while by the sudden vibration of a phone, its sound clear against the desk.

Liang Qian coughed.

Half a minute later, Chen Yang calmly sat up, took out his phone, glanced at it, and immediately hung up.

Seconds later, the call came again.

Chen Yang hung up once more. Those nearby could feel the oppressive atmosphere.

When the call came a third time, Chen Yang waited a full minute before answering. A middle-aged man’s voice came through: “You little brat, hurry back!”

Chen Yang’s expression was blank. “I have evening study.”

The caller didn’t care about evening study and launched into a tirade, laced with profanities.

Neither Liang Qian nor Zhao Mingri spoke. They recognized this as Chen Yang’s father calling again.

Though they didn’t know the full details of what had happened in Chen Yang’s family before, they knew his father wasn’t a good man—always barking orders and loafing around.

Chen Yang’s personality was deeply influenced by his family.

Chen Yang hung up and said, “I’ll head back.”

Liang Qian exclaimed, “I’ll ask the homeroom teacher for leave.”

An excuse about feeling unwell would suffice. The teacher wouldn’t suspect anything and would even show concern.

Chen Yang casually grunted and left the classroom.

Only then did Zhao Mingri speak. “How did Brother Yang end up with such a father? He treats him like he’s not even human.”

Liang Qian replied, “Who knows?”

They had been shocked when they first encountered this situation. If it were them, their families would be thrilled. With such excellent grades, they wouldn’t have to worry about which school to attend—they could get into any.

But for Chen Yang, it seemed useless.

…

The hallway was dimly lit by flickering yellow lights, not motion-activated, and some were on the verge of going out.

Chen Yang unlocked the door with his key.

As soon as he opened it, a cup was thrown out. He dodged to the side, and the cup hit the door with a bang, shattering into pieces.

Chen Yang’s eyes darkened as he stepped over the shards.

Before he could take a few steps, another object was thrown, accompanied by angry shouts: “How dare you dodge?”

This time, Chen Yang didn’t dodge in time. The object grazed his cheek. At first, he felt nothing, but soon a burning sensation set in.

He touched it with his index finger and saw blood on his fingertip.

It was bleeding.

Chen Yang stared at it for a moment, then placed his finger in his mouth, tasting the metallic tang of rust.

In the living room, a man in a wheelchair sat panting, his face flushed with anger. He was about to throw something else but stopped when he saw Chen Yang’s face.

Chen Yang stood still. “What did you call me back for?”

Hearing this, the middle-aged man felt slightly appeased but still seethed with anger. “Have you made dinner? Did I raise you just to gallivant around all day? You’re useless!”

Chen Yang paused for a moment, then let out a laugh.

The man detected the mockery in his laughter and exploded with rage. “What are you laughing at? Go make dinner!”

Chen Yang calmly wiped his hands clean. When the man was about to lose his temper completely, he finally said, “It’s true that you gave birth to me.”

He slowed his speech. “But as for who raised me… Chen Mingwu, you know best.”

With that, Chen Yang turned and went into the kitchen.

“Who raised you!” Chen Mingwu, enraged and humiliated, threw the last cup he had within reach. It smashed against the closed kitchen door.

His weak spot had been hit, and his eyes reddened. If he could stand from his wheelchair, he would have stormed into the kitchen by now.

There wasn’t much in the kitchen. Chen Yang had tidied it up recently, but now it was messy again—unsurprisingly, thanks to the man.

He rolled up his sleeves and worked silently.

A few minutes later, Chen Yang emerged from the kitchen, coldly stating, “Dinner’s in the pot. And by the way, your legs may be crippled, but your hands aren’t broken. Next time, make it yourself.”

Chen Mingwu wheeled himself forward, easily provoked again. “I gave birth to you, so you’ll serve me for life!”

Chen Yang didn’t respond this time. Instead, he walked to the door, touched the wound on his right cheek, and said, “Live long enough to talk.”

With that, he left the room.

The small room was left with only Chen Mingwu, panting heavily. The ticking of the clock echoed through the room.

“Live long enough? I’ll definitely outlive him!”

The roar reverberated through the room, known only to him.

Xie Qingyu was still passing notes to Le Ya. “I just passed by the office and saw Yu Jiu and Su Song still inside. They’ve been talking for over an hour. I think they might get disciplined.”

After all, the commotion was significant.

Le Ya was listening to Teacher Zhou explain practice problems. She casually replied, “No, they won’t.”

Since it was Senior Three, and Su Song’s grades were so good, the school wouldn’t dare give him a demerit. Even if they did, it would be erased before graduation.

Midway through explaining the problems, Teacher Zhou suddenly remembered his lesson plan was with the math teacher in Class Fifteen downstairs. “Class representative, go fetch it.”

Le Ya was startled when the note came back.

She quickly stood up and responded, “Okay.”

Teacher Zhou didn’t notice and reminded her, “It’s with Teacher Zhang. Just tell him, and bring it back.”

He and Teacher Zhang shared a rented apartment, making them roommates—a fact openly known in the class. So, everyone recognized the teachers from Class Fifteen.

Le Ya nodded. “Got it.”

It was evening study time, and the hallways were deserted except for the bright lights from classrooms and the rhythmic voices of teachers lecturing.

She descended the stairs, unconsciously quickening her pace.

To her surprise, just as she reached the third floor, she spotted a familiar silhouette—long legs lazily sprawled on the staircase.

Chen Yang was sitting on the steps.

From Le Ya’s angle above, she could see a cigarette between his lips, and he was fiddling with a lighter in his hand.

But after several unsuccessful attempts to ignite it, Chen Yang gave up. He looked up just as Le Ya descended, her movements hesitant.

Le Ya was stunned by his blatant action.

Although the boys in her class sometimes misbehaved and ignored the teachers, smoking was unheard of.

Le Ya suddenly remembered the girls on the bus during the campus move discussing a boy who looked cool while smoking.

In the dim lighting, his actions made the word “sexy” flash through her mind, though it disappeared just as quickly.

She was almost at the first floor now. Unless she retraced her steps and went down another staircase, she would have to pass by him.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Le Ya decided to proceed.

After all, their interaction on the playground earlier had been pleasant. She assumed he wouldn’t suddenly block her path again.

Hearing movement, Chen Yang looked up, spotting her through the railing.

The girl still seemed timid. If it weren’t for the short distance, he thought she might have run away.

Le Ya stayed close to the railing. As she passed him, she couldn’t help but remind him, “Students aren’t allowed to smoke. The discipline master is strict about this.”

Chen Yang held the cigarette between his fingers, amused by her words. He feigned seriousness and asked, “Are you going to report me?”

Le Ya shook her head, denying it. “No.”

Though it wasn’t right, he had helped her before, so she pretended not to see and prepared to walk past him.

As she passed, Chen Yang suddenly grabbed her wrist.

The next moment, everything spun, and she tumbled down the stairs, landing uncontrollably on Chen Yang, startling her into a scream: “Ah…”

Chen Yang winced in pain, his brows slightly furrowed, but quickly returned to normal.

Le Ya hurried to get up. As she supported herself, her hand accidentally brushed against his chest. Her pale ears instantly turned red.

She waved her hands awkwardly, unsure where to put them, and clasped them behind her back. “I said I won’t report you. You can rest assured.”

Chen Yang lied brazenly: “I don’t believe you.”

Le Ya didn’t want to argue with him anymore. She couldn’t win, so she simply turned and headed downstairs—the task of retrieving the lesson plan couldn’t wait.

Chen Yang tugged at the hem of her uniform.

Le Ya, exasperated, turned back. “Let go.”

Chen Yang licked his lips. “Lend me a light before you leave.”

At that moment, the motion-sensor lights suddenly illuminated, and Le Ya noticed a wound on his right cheek.

Author’s Note: The “bitter meat” strategy is about to succeed.

Tomorrow, we enter VIP status, so this chapter will reward readers with a 25-word or longer review with a red envelope. Mwah!

Little Romance is actually the title of my next book, featuring Yu Jiu and Su Song.

Recommendation: Little Gossip by Mu Tian

Synopsis: All the paparazzi and obsessive fans know that Little Emperor Lian Chu despises the newcomer Yán Mùmù from their company. Whenever her name is mentioned, he grits his teeth in anger.

But not long after, they witnessed Lian Chu on set, bending down without hesitation to carefully wipe away Yán Mùmù’s lipstick with a lip brush.

The cold yet meticulous Lian Chu shocked the jaws of countless paparazzi.

Never in his wildest dreams did Lian Chu imagine that he would fall so hard for a woman.

With just a faint smile, her lips pressed together, his heart turns to mush.