Cen Zhi Ning fired off a string of rhetorical questions, elevating a personal issue to the level of family reputation and the character of their elders.
With such a heavy accusation thrown down, Rao Yuting couldn’t possibly handle it. Moreover, her family had business ties with both the Cen and Mu families—she couldn’t afford to offend either side.
Her face turned pale, her words stumbling.
“I… I wasn’t questioning that.”
Cen Zhi Ning let out a soft laugh and leaned closer to Rao Yuting, her gaze sharp.
“Then what were you doing? Kindly publicizing my ‘difficulties’ in front of the whole class? Or sympathizing that I can only stand here because of someone’s favor?”
For a moment, Rao Yuting didn’t know how to refute her.
Cen Zhi Ning’s tone turned contemptuous.
“Rao Yuting, put away that white-lotus act. My relationship with Qi Yanheng isn’t something an outsider like you gets to comment on. And whether my engagement to Mu Chenchuan is real or fake isn’t your place to judge.”
Her red lips curved slightly.
“As for you saying I’m petty—sure. Toward people who take the initiative to provoke me, I’ve never been particularly tolerant.”
When she finished, the entire classroom fell silent.
Everyone’s attitude toward Cen Zhi Ning grew more solemn.
This place was a paradise of hierarchy. Most people bullied the weak and feared the strong. Who would go out of their way to provoke someone more powerful than themselves?
Rao Yuting stood frozen, her face alternating between green and white. Feeling the strange looks from all around, she wished she could dig a hole and hide.
The counselor standing behind them sucked in a breath of cold air. Thankfully this transfer student had some capability of her own—otherwise, he really wouldn’t have known how to answer to Qi Yanheng.
He sighed.
“Alright. Since Cen Zhi Ning has just transferred here, everyone’s gotten acquainted. Find your seats, and let’s discuss tonight’s welcome party.”
Cen Zhi Ning swept her gaze around the classroom.
The seats were packed tightly; most were already taken.
Her target was clear.
She walked straight toward Mu Chenchuan in the corner.
Mu Chenchuan was leaning lazily against his chair back, posture relaxed, eyes fixed on her.
The moment he realized she was heading his way, a hostile aura radiated from him—keep strangers away.
Pretending not to notice his oppressive presence, Cen Zhi Ning smoothly pulled out the chair beside him and sat down, placing her backpack casually on the desk.
The entire classroom instantly quieted.
Everyone inhaled sharply, staring at Cen Zhi Ning in disbelief.
Mu Chenchuan had once declared he disliked anyone sitting next to him. He found people noisy. So everyone tacitly treated the corner as his throne. No one dared disturb him—not even his lackeys, who sat at a distance.
A flash of surprise crossed Mu Chenchuan’s eyes.
She wasn’t afraid of him?
Then came displeasure.
His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried pressure.
“Hey. Who the hell said you could sit there?”
Cen Zhi Ning turned her head, smiling innocently.
“Hm? No one told me to sit here. I saw it was empty. Is someone sitting here?”
Mu Chenchuan’s brows knitted together. He hated this kind of feigned innocence—it felt like deliberate provocation.
“There is now. Get lost.”
Hearing his commanding tone, Cen Zhi Ning leaned back against her chair, her long legs swinging lightly beneath her short skirt. She looked him up and down.
“Oh? Is your name carved on the seat? Or is your butt too big—you need two seats to sit?”
Her nonchalant attitude irritated him.
He grabbed the strap of her backpack on the desk, clearly intending to throw it away.
“I’ll say it one last time. Get lost.”
Cen Zhi Ning reacted instantly.
Almost the moment he touched her bag, her hand slammed down on it too. She met his hostile gaze head-on.
“My things. I don’t like people touching them. And today, I’m sitting here.”
The entire class didn’t dare breathe.
Half terrified, half thrilled, they secretly watched the confrontation. It was the first time anyone had dared challenge Mu Chenchuan like this.
He stared at her for several seconds.
The hand gripping her backpack tightened—then loosened.
Finally, he let out a cold laugh.
With a sudden kick, he sent the empty desk in front of her crashing aside, startling Qin Haotian in the front row into a flinch.
Then he dragged the desk and chair around, straddling it backward so he faced her directly.
One arm rested on the chair back. His posture was aggressive, invasive—boxing her into his line of sight. A wicked smile tugged at his lips.
“Fine. You like this seat? Sure. Let’s see how long you can sit there.”
Under his unwavering stare, she didn’t grow annoyed.
Unhurriedly, she opened her backpack.
Inwardly, she couldn’t help thinking—
Mu Chenchuan had well-defined bone structure. When he smirked, he even showed a pair of tiger teeth.
Such a good face wasted. Too much hostility.
For a full thirty minutes, Cen Zhi Ning didn’t even lift her eyelids.
Mu Chenchuan, on the other hand, grew tired of sitting.
He watched her lowered lashes as she casually twirled a ballpoint pen adorned with a little figurine.
Her fingers were slender, her skin smooth like warm porcelain. Her nails were neatly trimmed, painted a soft nude pink.
The pen spun in elegant patterns between her fingers.
Eventually, he got bored.
Damn.
He’d never seen someone like this.
After being stared at by him for half an hour, she didn’t blush once or show the slightest discomfort.
An ordinary girl would’ve run off shyly long ago.
Her skin was really thick.
Forget it. Not worth arguing with her.
He turned back to his own seat and slumped over the desk to resume his nap.
【Ding! Host, his violence index has dropped by 5%. Your method works great.】
Cen Zhi Ning raised her brows in surprise.
That worked too?
The counselor, a young man, scanned the room and counted heads.
Only then did he realize someone was missing.
“Where’s Bai Xiaorou?”
Qin Haotian, sitting in front of Mu Chenchuan, raised his hand.
“She probably messed up and is hiding in the bathroom, too scared to come out.”
The counselor frowned.
He knew Bai Xiaorou was a scholarship student—low-key, top grades, never skipped class.
This was unexpected.
“Does anyone close to her know where she is? Skipping class on the first day is unacceptable.”
Qin Haotian grinned.
“Counselor, no need to ask. If she’s not here, she must have her reasons.”
A group below chuckled.
He knew these students followed Mu Chenchuan around—they were all members of the Discipline Committee. The committee held more sway than even the school board.
As a newly appointed counselor, he neither could nor wanted to interfere.
He turned to Zhou Zhou.
“You’re her deskmate. Do you know where she went?”
Zhou Zhou hurriedly waved her hands.
“I’m not that close to her…”
Before she could finish, Bai Xiaorou appeared at the classroom door.
She was drenched from head to toe. Her clothes clung to her, completely soaked. Her straight shoulder-length black hair hung in disarray.
Her head was lowered, voice barely audible.
“Report… sorry, I’m late.”
The counselor adjusted his glasses.
Seeing her state, he roughly understood what had happened.
He chose to turn a blind eye and cleared his throat.
“Alright. Go back to your seat. Be more mindful of time next time.”
“Mm… I understand.”
“Okay. Tonight is the opening ceremony. I’ll now read the new semester’s guidelines…”