The ceremony was over.
“Why are you following me?” Luo Chenxuan looked at Jiang Ru, who had been walking in the same direction as him.
“Who’s following you? My classroom is this way too.” Jiang Ru frowned. “What class are you in?”
“Class 5.”
“I’m in Class 5 too…”
Luo Chenxuan paused for a moment, then sighed, “So we meet again.”
“Then maybe talk less if you’re going to say nonsense.” Jiang Ru gave him a sidelong glance. “Didn’t you say you had gynophobia?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Let me help cure you!” Jiang Ru’s eyes sparkled as she stared at him.
“No.” Luo Chenxuan refused without hesitation.
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t know what your real intention is.”
“I’m just being kind, that’s all.”
“Yuck.” Luo Chenxuan made a fake gagging sound.
Jiang Ru pinched him again. “It’s decided then. You’re not allowed to refuse!” With that, she ran off.
Luo Chenxuan watched her disappear into the distance, muttering to himself. He really didn’t want to get involved with Jiang Ru.
After moving seven times and all the things that had happened, he had developed a habit of guarding himself against everything.
Entering the classroom, he found a seat, and coincidentally, Jiang Ru was right next to him. New faces, new life—normally, this should have been exciting, but Luo Chenxuan knew he couldn’t let his guard down. There was a ticking time bomb nearby.
“Students! Welcome to Xingyue Academy!” The voice came from their homeroom teacher. That familiar voice—Luo Chenxuan instantly recognized it as the same teacher who had just saved him earlier.
The homeroom teacher briefly explained the school rules and was just about to begin student introductions when—
“I think I can be the class monitor.” A handsome and confident-looking boy stood up. The room buzzed with whispers.
“Who’s that? He’s pretty good-looking.”
“You don’t know? That’s Wang Tianwen, the second son of the Wang family—one of the three major families in Longcheng.”
Luo Chenxuan had no idea what they were talking about.
Wang Tianwen, hearing the flattery around him, looked smug and deliberately raised his voice. “Also, I need an assistant. She’ll do.” He pointed dramatically at Jiang Ru.
“Me?” Jiang Ru looked confused and pointed to herself.
“Yes, you.”
Luo Chenxuan thought, You’re just going for her looks, aren’t you?
Everyone knew Wang Tianwen had been captivated by Jiang Ru’s appearance. Her pure and radiant looks were rare and hard to resist.
Jiang Ru glanced at Luo Chenxuan, who still looked completely lost, and then said, “I refuse. But if I absolutely have to be the assistant, then I want him to be class monitor.” She pointed at Luo Chenxuan, and everyone turned to look at him.
“Who? Me?” Luo Chenxuan mimicked Jiang Ru’s confused face, pointing at himself in disbelief.
“See? He’s not bad at all.”
“Whose family is he from?”
“Don’t know. Does Longcheng even have someone like that?”
The murmurs started again. Wang Tianwen, seeing the spotlight shift away from him to Luo Chenxuan, grew visibly annoyed.
He had always been invisible growing up. From nothing to sudden wealth, he had grown up deeply insecure and sensitive, obsessed with being noticed and praised.
“Him? What gives him the right?” Wang Tianwen couldn’t hold back his sarcasm.
Luo Chenxuan immediately took the chance, “Exactly! What gives me the right?”
Jiang Ru glared at Wang Tianwen, clearly displeased. “Don’t worry about it. Either he and I do it together, or neither of us will.”
Luo Chenxuan watched her, trying to come up with a curse that was scathing yet still appropriate for school.
Wang Tianwen shot Luo Chenxuan a venomous glare, grinding his teeth. “What right does this loser have!”
Luo Chenxuan raised his hands helplessly, “I don’t know either…”
Before things got out of hand, the teacher clapped. “That’s enough! You, don’t be so aggressive! He hasn’t even said anything—watch your language! Keep it up and I’ll have to ask you to leave!”
The classroom fell silent.
Wang Tianwen looked unhappy but couldn’t say anything more. After all, the teacher had the final say here.
Luo Chenxuan smirked, watching him get put in his place.
“This argument is pointless. Class monitor positions will be decided by the Student Council.”
“Why? Why would the Student Council President handle something like that?” Jiang Ru asked.
“I’m not sure. I heard that this year, the President is going to personally select new Student Council members from the freshmen. The best ones even get a chance to intern directly at Leng Corporation after graduation.”
As everyone discussed, Wang Tianwen scoffed, “I don’t need that kind of opportunity.” His lips curled. “Soon, the Wang family will be proposing to the Leng family. That cold, elegant President Leng Yueli you all admire? She’s about to become my sister-in-law.”
“Sister-in-law?” Luo Chenxuan muttered, falling into deep thought.
That meant Leng Yueli was going to be engaged to the Wang family’s eldest son.
If that’s the case, then she’d have a fiancé. So even if she figured out who I am, it wouldn’t matter anymore, right? It wouldn’t become a problem, right?
A smile crept onto Luo Chenxuan’s face. Maybe… maybe his life still had hope.
Wang Tianwen glanced at Luo Chenxuan, who was covering his mouth as he smiled.
“What are you laughing at!” Wang Tianwen barked.
Since laying eyes on Jiang Ru, he’d been trying to get closer to her. But she had coldly rejected him.
The spotlight that was supposed to be his was taken by Luo Chenxuan. He’d never suffered such humiliation, and now he was filled with hostility.
Those familiar with Wang Tianwen knew he was the classic spoiled second son of the Wang family—pretentious and arrogant, completely different from his older brother Wang Tianwu. People praised him for being dashing and refined, but everyone knew he was a lustful, wasteful playboy. His nickname? The Horny Husky.
At that moment, a knock came from the door.
It slowly opened, revealing a stunning sight—Leng Yueli leading the core members of the Student Council. There were four of them in total:
President Leng Yueli, Vice President Zhong Qing, Discipline Officer Yue Xi, and Secretary Chen Xinyi.
Seeing them, Luo Chenxuan quickly turned his head and pretended to admire the scenery outside.
The boys in the class were already speechless.
Leng Yueli was like a living Daji—no one could resist her charm. Even Wang Tianwen looked tempted, though he reminded himself she was his older brother’s woman. Otherwise, he would’ve gone after her already.
“Alright, students. We’re here to select new Student Council members. If you’re interested, raise your hand. I’ll pass around the signup sheet.” The speaker was Chen Xinyi, holding a clipboard. With her reddish-brown curls and graceful presence—along with her perfectly curvy figure—she drew every boy’s gaze. Not one could resist swallowing nervously.
Instantly, more than half the class raised their hands. Luo Chenxuan, of course, did not. He quietly stared out the window, trying to blend in with the air.
Jiang Ru kicked his chair. “You’re not joining?”
“No way!” he whispered so softly that she had to guess from his lip movements. “Are you?”
“Nope. If you’re not joining, I’m not either.” Jiang Ru rested her chin on her hand and smiled gently. Her smile made Luo Chenxuan’s heart skip, and he quickly looked away.
“Alright, then these are the students who signed up—” Chen Xinyi began, but was interrupted by Leng Yueli.
“Wait. I saw someone familiar.”
Everyone started looking around, trying to figure out who she meant.
Wang Tianwen wore a smug smile. He was sure she was talking about him.
But Luo Chenxuan froze. Sweat poured down as he lowered his head, pretending to read, trying to make himself disappear.
Leng Yueli walked slowly past Wang Tianwen and stopped at Luo Chenxuan’s desk. Her voice was cold, yet gentle.
“Found you again.”