Su Yunluo realized something pretty quickly—if you don’t blend in on the first day of school, trying to squeeze yourself in later feels like chasing the last bus after it has already left. No matter how hard you try, it’s just… too late.
Class 1-6 wasn’t exactly welcoming either. Out of everyone assigned to this so-called “rocket class,” only she and Chu Han came from the same old class. Over the past half year, Chu Han had probably felt a bit awkward around her—after all, she had taken the top spot in their class from Su Yunluo. Whenever they met, Chu Han always looked a little apologetic, like she didn’t quite know what to say. But honestly, Su Yunluo had never blamed her. Her own drop in ranking had nothing to do with anyone else. So their relationship stayed decent enough. The only problem now was that, in this new classroom, even that one familiar face was sitting halfway across the room from her.
The front rows and the right side of the classroom were already locked tight, like a fortress. The two girls in the back row might have been her way in—a small chance to break the ice—but with Shi Ranran there, that “maybe” didn’t stand a chance. In this class, grades were everything. Shi Ranran ranked high, had a likable personality, and on the very first day had already turned those two girls into an inseparable trio—eating together, going to the restroom together, basically glued at the hip. No room for anyone else.
Su Yunluo couldn’t help but scoff at friendships that formed that fast, like a gust of wind.
If she couldn’t break in, then fine. She wouldn’t.
A year ago, she might have felt uneasy about being left out like this. Now? Who even cared.
Her heart had long since settled into a kind of quiet emptiness. She was used to silence.
And people who stayed quiet often noticed more than others.
The boys in the front row got familiar with each other even faster than the girls. Yan Zichen, especially, was lively—always chatting the moment class ended, throwing out jokes here and there that kept everyone around him laughing. And then there was his desk mate—
Just as she had guessed.
A neat freak. Probably a bit obsessive too. Whether class was in session or not, he always sat perfectly straight. Everything on his desk was arranged with almost military precision. His hair and clothes? Always flawless, not a single strand or crease out of place. Sometimes he wore glasses during class, then carefully wiped them clean and tucked them back into their case afterward. When he listened, he would tilt his head slightly toward the blackboard, the cold gleam of his metal frames highlighting his sharp, pale features, giving him an almost refined, scholarly air.
But Su Yunluo couldn’t forget the contrast she had seen before—like a white poplar tree that looked clean on the outside but was dark at the core. For some reason, the phrase “refined scoundrel” fit him a little too well.
What surprised her, though, was how popular this “scoundrel” actually was. Way more easygoing than she expected. She had assumed someone like him—gentle on the surface, arrogant underneath—wouldn’t bother helping others with their questions. But no, he seemed more than willing. Like some kind of benevolent figure, helping others while handling his own work, always open to anyone who came asking. Yan Zichen, whether influenced by him or just naturally that way, was the same. So every break, their corner of the classroom was buzzing—students asking questions, trying to get closer, coming and going nonstop.
Sitting right behind them, Shi Ranran practically wore her advantage on her face. Being so close to them, she took full advantage, calling them “Xie God” and “Second God” more enthusiastically than anyone else.
Their homeroom teacher, Teacher Gao, was a middle-aged man bursting with energy but stubbornly old-fashioned. On the very first day, he slapped the blackboard and laid down strict rules: no phones, no weird outfits, no piercings or dyed hair, no students from other classes hanging around outside—and absolutely no early dating. Anyone caught would be kicked out of the rocket class immediately.
He also went on, passionately, about competition—how it was the only way to stay sharp and motivated. After settling the start-of-term matters, he said he would use morning and evening study sessions to call each student out one by one, based on their ranking, for individual talks.
So one evening, under the entire class’s watchful eyes, Xie Chen and Yan Zichen became the first two to be called out for their “pep talk.”
When Yan Zichen came back, he nudged Xie Chen with his elbow. “So, what target did Teacher Gao give you? He told me I have to catch up to you this semester no matter what.”
“What a coincidence,” Xie Chen replied, pen still moving, eyes fixed on the problem in front of him. “My workload is several times yours. One of my tasks is to make sure you don’t catch up.”
“Wow, he really knows how to play. What’s the other one?”
“The other one…” Xie Chen paused slightly.
Then, out of nowhere, he curved his lips into a faint smile, turned toward Yan Zichen, and said, “I’m supposed to compete with Qi Ning. Pull him down from first place and take it myself.”
From the back row, Su Yunluo glanced up at him.
Yan Zichen immediately put on a righteous expression. “Don’t worry, brother! I won’t add to your pressure. Just focus on dealing with Qi Ning!”
Xie Chen smiled. “You wouldn’t add any pressure to me anyway.”
“Huh? Then what about that ‘several times the workload’ you mentioned?”
“That’s all for dealing with Qi Ning.”
“Then what part is for me?”
Xie Chen’s tone turned almost annoyingly sincere. “Zero.”
Yan Zichen stared at him. “That’s way too much respect for him—and way too little for me!”
Xie Chen didn’t answer. He only raised an eyebrow slightly. They had been competing since they were kids—he knew exactly what kind of opponent Qi Ning was. That kind of rival required his full attention.
As for Yan Zichen…
A little motivation would do.
And it worked. Yan Zichen’s fighting spirit flared up instantly. “Fine, just wait! This semester, I’ll make you take me seriously at least once!”
“Good luck,” Xie Chen said with a smile.
Shi Ranran jumped in right on cue. “You two are so funny! Both of you, keep it up!”
Su Yunluo lowered her gaze, expressionless.
In her mind, the impression of the boy in front gained another label. On top of neat freak, show-off, and arrogant—
He held grudges.
Before turning back around, Xie Chen’s gaze flicked briefly toward the seat behind him.
She really could endure.
Anyone else would have cracked in a situation like this, surrounded on all sides. Was she numb… or just that calm?
It had been this long, and she still hadn’t made a single move. Not even tried to change things.