SW - 3

Lu Chi had just arrived at the classroom when the bell for class hadn’t rung yet, and the proctor hadn’t arrived either. A group of boys immediately surrounded him.

“Hey, how does it feel to be liked by Tang Yin? Those toads from No. 2 High have been eyeing her for a while. If you’re the one who wins her over, that’d be a real upset.”

“You really don’t know how to play basketball? Hurry up and learn then! Damn it, Lu Chi, are you going to say anything or not?”

The noise was overwhelming.

Lu Chi’s brow furrowed slightly, and the clean voice of the girl echoed in his ears. His face gradually turned pale. He indeed didn’t know how to play basketball; all he knew was how to read.

A chair was dragged next to his seat. “Lu Chi, how did you catch Tang Yin’s attention? She has high standards. Besides herself, everyone else is unbearable in her eyes.”

The person looked Lu Chi up and down—his features were clear and refined, quite normal-looking. The glasses on his face seemed to obscure much of his appearance. How had Tang Yin taken notice of him?

At the mention of this, Lu Chi recalled the incident in the office not long ago. The girl’s gaze had been like spotting something delicious, as if she wanted to devour him.

Thinking about that meaningful lip movement, his cheeks flushed slightly red again.

The school bell rang shortly after, and the young proctor stepped into the room, her high heels clicking on the floor with a tap tap sound.

In a soft voice, she said, “Put away your books. We’ll start handing out the test papers soon.”

Those in the first examination hall were all top students. They understood what needed to be done without much instruction.

Lu Chi picked up the draft paper on his desk, neatly arranged the formulas and calculation processes on it, crumpled it into a ball, moved his fingers slightly, and tossed it into the trash bin behind him.

News of Tang Yin taking an interest in the new transfer student spread like wildfire—it reached every corner of the high school section in less than half an hour, especially since the guy couldn’t play basketball.

“So, you really have your sights set on that stuttering bookworm?” A male classmate approached to gather information. Recalling the scene, he couldn’t help but laugh. “You must’ve been teasing him, right? It must’ve been pretty unbearable to look at him.”

He’s just a bit handsome, and he stutters too. What exactly made him stand out?

“‘Little Stutter’? Is that what you call him?” Tang Yin gave him a faint glance.

The boy realized he’d misspoken and quickly covered his mouth. “I’m sorry, Sister Yin. I should’ve called him ‘Brother-in-law.’”

“Do you have nothing better to do? What does this have to do with you?”

The boy choked, then grinned mischievously. “I was just concerned. By the way, those guys from No. 2 High issued a challenge. Sister Yin, aren’t you going to teach them a lesson?”

The people from No. 2 High were extremely arrogant and hard to discipline.

In the past, the previous batch of senior three students had experienced Tang Yin’s strength firsthand and knew better than to provoke her.

But after their leader graduated last semester, his style of leadership fell into the hands of the newcomers, turning into cowardice. Instead, they began provoking others everywhere, eager to cause trouble for Jiashui Private School.

Tang Yin frowned. “I’m not going.”

Fighting wasn’t nearly as fun as watching Lu Chi.

The boy scratched his head, his eyes darting around nervously. He stammered, “That guy from No. 2 High specifically mentioned…”

“Specifically mentioned me?” Tang Yin sneered, her eyes flashing faintly. “What nerve.”

The boy nodded enthusiastically, suppressing his joy, and agreed, “Exactly, exactly. A bunch of shameless idiots.”

The proctor quickly entered the classroom. The boy hastily stood up, threw out a quick “Sister Yin, think carefully about this,” and hurriedly slipped out through the back door.

This exam was Science Comprehensive.

Tang Yin excelled in chemistry and biology. Though physics was her weaker subject, she was already proficient enough, especially since this was the opening test, and the school hadn’t made it particularly difficult.

She rested her chin on her hand, lightly biting the pen in her mouth.

Lu Chi would definitely hand in his test early. She needed to finish before him too.

After much thought, Tang Yin shook her head to get rid of all the distracting thoughts and sped up. She planned to go downstairs and intercept him.

Seeing her actions, the proctor cleared her throat softly.

Tang Yin handed her pen directly to Yu Chun beside her and smoothed her hair.

Noticing she seemed ready to submit her test, the proctor glanced at the other students in the classroom and walked over to quietly ask, “Are you planning to submit your test early?”

Tang Yin casually picked up a basketball and brought her test paper to the podium.

Seeing how capable she was, the proctor had initially frowned but quickly dropped her concerns after walking over and seeing the completed test paper.

Tang Yin raced down from the third floor to the first, her fluttering school uniform as eye-catching as a sunflower, her long hair flowing behind her.

She paused at the first floor, slightly out of breath.

The first exam hall was conveniently located near the staircase.

The classroom had two windows, and as Tang Yin approached, she could clearly see the entire exam room filled with students diligently writing away.

One seat near the back was empty. Clearly, Lu Chi had already left.

Seeing this, Tang Yin felt a flicker of impatience rise within her.

With a flick of her wrist, the basketball shot straight toward the wall of the stairwell, making a loud noise before bouncing back to her feet.

Turning around, she saw Lu Chi standing nearby, holding a book and watching her.

Tang Yin pulled at her uniform, smiled at him, and walked over in a few quick steps. “Hello, I’m Tang Yin.”

Lu Chi’s gaze dropped, concealing his reaction. He turned his head to look elsewhere and slowly said, “Kicking the wall… will get you penalized.”

He happened to have seen a boy being scolded by a teacher for half an hour that very morning. Apparently, the student council enforced such rules.

Tang Yin blinked. “So… are you worried about me?”

Perhaps the idea was too absurd, but she clearly saw him take a tiny, almost imperceptible step back.

Lu Chi didn’t respond and turned to leave.

Tang Yin hurriedly followed him. She had finally managed to get close to him, and she wasn’t about to let him slip away.

To her utter surprise, Lu Chi ended up leading her to the men’s restroom.

The bookworm was surprisingly clever, probably thinking that any girl would feel awkward entering such a place. But Tang Yin wasn’t just anyone—she had been inside before.

Tang Yin leaned against the railing at an angle, waiting. She refused to believe Lu Chi would linger inside forever.

As soon as Lu Chi pushed open the door to the men’s restroom, a deliberately lowered voice reached his ears: “Hey, it’s true, bro. Tang Yin really has her eyes on the new guy. The whole school knows about it by now!”

It was still exam time, so the restroom was quiet. His movements were subtle, and no one inside seemed to notice his presence as they continued talking.

Lu Chi’s hand froze on the door.

“He just transferred from No. 1 High. All I know is that his grades are good, and he’s always carrying a book. Other than that, I don’t know much,” the male voice continued. “Bro, if you and those guys from No. 2 High want to mess with Tang Yin, start with him. He’s delicate and soft-skinned. Who knows? Maybe Tang Yin will do whatever you tell her to do… hehe…”

“Bro, don’t even say it. Tang Yin’s waist is so damn slim—it’s way better than any girl you’ve ever paid for. You’ll be obsessed… I haven’t touched her, though. I wouldn’t dare. She’s so high-and-mighty, looking at people like they’re idiots…”

Hearing this, Lu Chi pressed his lips together, turned around, and quietly opened the door without making a sound. Seeing Tang Yin standing there with her back to him, he recalled the conversation he had just overheard.

“Why didn’t you wash your hands?” Tang Yin turned around just then, leaning against the railing.

Lu Chi: “…”

He exhaled softly and turned on the faucet.

Tang Yin stared at his hands as the water flowed over them. His slender fingers crossed repeatedly in a mesmerizing motion, making her swallow involuntarily.

After turning off the faucet, droplets of water still clung to his hands, glistening and clear.

“Do you… want to keep looking… until when?” Lu Chi furrowed his brows, struggling to ask the question.

“If you’re willing,” Tang Yin shrugged. “Even until the end of time wouldn’t bother me.”

Finishing her sentence, she raised an eyebrow at him. “If you keep staring at me, I’d be flattered.”

The corners of her eyes crinkled slightly, revealing a sweet and charming smile that radiated a pleasant allure.

Lu Chi stared at her for a few seconds, his hands clenched tightly behind his back.

The two stood face to face as Tang Yin kept talking nonstop, like birds chirping incessantly in a forest at dawn.

She really loves to talk, Lu Chi thought as his refined brows furrowed.

Suddenly, the image of her slim waist, so delicate it seemed impossible to wrap one’s hands around, flashed in his mind.

Almost unconsciously, he opened his hands and then clenched them into fists.

His thoughts felt strangely inappropriate.

Feeling his face grow warm, Lu Chi quickly shook off the strange ideas. Seeing that she was still talking, he couldn’t help but warn her: “There are people from No. 2 High who want… who want to bother you…”

“Bother me?” Tang Yin responded. “Anything else? Is this the secret you overheard in there?”

She seemed reflective. “So boys gossip and share little secrets in the restroom too, huh? Lu Chi, you’re so cute.”

Cute? After being praised like that, Lu Chi’s face suddenly flushed red, his heartbeat quickened, and he pursed his lips, speaking softly: “I need to go back… to read… my book.”

Tang Yin watched him teasingly and asked, “Really going back?”

Lu Chi nodded frantically, afraid of hesitating, and quickly turned to leave.

Such a lack of attachment amused Tang Yin.

Whenever she saw him, she had endless things to say, feeling as though her usual composed image had shattered.

But judging by Lu Chi’s reactions, perhaps her words weren’t exactly… endearing?

Tang Yin called out to him: “Lu Chi!”

Lu Chi froze mid-step, his fingers trembling slightly. Resigned, he turned around and fixed his gaze on the girl bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun.

So delicate.

Lost in thought, she had already walked up to him in a few brisk steps, placing her hands on his shoulders. The thin summer shirt did nothing to block the soft sensation of her touch.

Lu Chi’s entire body stiffened.

An indescribable feeling burst forth from his chest, eventually converging at the point of contact.

Tang Yin leaned in, gently blowing into his ear with a faint sigh. “I really want to hide you away so no one can find you or steal you from me.”

Lu Chi: “…”

For her to say something like that… Suddenly, he felt… overwhelmed.

A few seconds passed.

“You, you, you…” Lu Chi stammered three times. “Don’t… do that. I need to go back to read… my book.”

He pushed her away and turned to walk toward the exit of the teaching building.

Moments later, a crisp voice rang out from behind him: “Hey, bookworm, are you sure you want to walk back like that, all stiff and awkward?”