The chatter in the classroom had quieted down slightly as Jiang Che remained focused on his notebook, seemingly unbothered by the whispers around him.
However, it wasn't long before a sharp voice cut through the lingering murmur.
"Isn't this the guy who got rejected? Still have the nerve to show up to class?"
Liu Yan, who sat toward the center of the room, sneered openly and said aloud.
She leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed and a disdainful expression on her face.
Liu Yan had a decent appearance and a curvaceous figure, accentuated by her showy manner of dress.
Her school uniform jacket was half-open, revealing a hint of cleavage that seemed entirely out of place in the otherwise studious classroom.
She exuded a bold energy that drew the eyes of many boys, who couldn't help but glance her way, their youthful minds unable to resist her suggestive demeanor.
In other schools, Liu Yan might have been considered the class goddess, admired by the boys, and envied by some of the girls.
But unfortunately for her, the presence of Xiao Yuxia in the same class relegated her to the background.
Xiao Yuxia, the recognized school beauty, was like a pearl, dazzling and unapproachable, while Liu Yan could only hope to be a shiny stone in comparison.
The disparity stung Liu Yan deeply, and jealousy twisted her thoughts.
She secretly resented Xiao Yuxia but lacked the courage to confront her directly.
After all, going against Xiao Yuxia, who was adored not only by all the male students but also had the unwavering support of the girls, would mean being ostracized by the entire school.
The boys' support was understandable, but even the girls?
That was because Xiao Yuxia was the quintessential good girl—always willing to help everyone, regardless of gender or background.
Her selflessness had earned her the favor of not just her peers but also the teachers.
She also took the initiative to help students struggling with their studies, often organizing tutoring sessions to assist them.
In any case, Liu Yan couldn't openly do anything against the perfect Xiao Yuxia.
So, when Jiang Che's failed confession became the talk of the school, Liu Yan saw her opportunity to vent her frustrations.
"Jiang Che, you've got quite the nerve!"
Liu Yan said, her voice dripping with mockery.
"To think you'd confess to Xiao Yuxia. What, you thought the school beauty would actually look at you? Talk about delusional!"
Her words drew a few chuckles from her surrounding clique, but Jiang Che didn't even look up from his notebook.
His indifference only made Liu Yan's expression darken.
"Hey, I'm talking to you," she said, her tone sharper.
Jiang Che finally raised his head, his gaze cold and steady.
"I didn't realize I owed you an explanation for my choices," he said, his voice calm but firm.
"Anyway, it was not you that I confess."
The classroom fell into an awkward silence as Jiang Che's words hung in the air.
The bluntness of his retort took Liu Yan by surprise, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond.
Her face darkened, and she quickly forced a smirk to cover her embarrassment.
Before she could retort, Zhang Wei came to support Jiang Che.
"Yeah, Liu Yan. So what if he was rejected? It is not like he confessed to you. You should mind your own business and that goes to everyone else."
Zhang Wei said, which was a warning not only to Lui Yan but also to others who were gossiping behind Jiang Che's back.
"You– Humph! No wonder you two are still single. Who would want to go out with someone so rude and tasteless?"
The atmosphere in the classroom grew tense as Liu Yan's sharp retort echoed, her tone dripping with frustration. S
He crossed her arms, glaring daggers at Zhang Wei and Jiang Che, who remained unfazed.
Zhang Wei smirked, leaning back in his chair with a casual shrug.
"Better to be single than bitter, don't you think?"
Zhang Wei hit Lui Yan's sore spot. With good observation, who wouldn't know that Lui Yan is bitter towards Xiao Yuxia?
A ripple of laughter spread through the room, and Liu Yan's face flushed crimson.
She opened her mouth to snap back but was interrupted by the sound of the classroom door sliding open.
Xiao Yuxia entered, her presence immediately commanding the attention of everyone in the room.
Her graceful demeanor and natural beauty made the noise die down almost instantly.
She walked in with a serene expression.
She glanced around, her eyes briefly meeting Jiang Che's, and then moved to her seat, as calm and composed as ever.
She was a bit glad to see that Jiang Che had stopped his attempt to confess to her and to see that he was concentrating on studying.
Her entrance served as a perfect contrast to the charged atmosphere that had just filled the room.
The room seemed to exhale collectively, the tension dissipating, if only momentarily, as everyone's focus shifted to Xiao Yuxia.
Even Liu Yan couldn't help but glance her way, her face darkening once again in resentment.
As the last whispers of the previous conversation faded, the door opened once more, and Mr. Chen, their homeroom teacher, strode in, putting an end to the idle chatter.
"Alright, enough. Take your seats, everyone. Let's begin," Mr. Chen said firmly, silencing the class once and for all.
The class scrambled to obey, with Liu Yan throwing one last glare in Jiang Che's direction before sinking into her seat.
Jiang Che, on the other hand, calmly flipped open his textbook, his expression unreadable.
As the lesson progressed, Jiang Che's mind wandered despite his best efforts to focus.
The earlier confrontation barely affected him, but Zhang Wei's support left a lingering warmth.
In his previous life, this friend of his has been through with him thick and thin.
If there was someone he could trust without opening his eyes then it would be Zhang Wei.
Alas, along with him, Zhang Wei also suffered though they were on the verge of becoming one of the richest people.
Sigh!
( I mustn't forget about him and should also let him enjoy life this time. We had worked hard enough! )
Jiang Chen thought. Although perhaps only he remembers all the hardship, he knew very well that he wasn't the only one.
He glanced at Zhang Wei, who caught his gaze and gave him a subtle thumbs-up.
Jiang Che nodded in acknowledgment before returning his attention to the teacher.