"Get in line," Cheng Xing snapped irritably. His tone was sharp, aimed at Sun Ying, who blinked in surprise.
Sun Ying's lips pressed into a sheepish smile, and she obediently stepped back into line. The tension was thick, but a faint snicker from the crowd cut through the silence. Cheng Xing shot a glare in that direction but couldn't pinpoint who it was. He gritted his teeth.
He hated this—the whispers, the rumors. How had he gotten a reputation for being a violent maniac? Sure, he'd been in a few scuffles outside of school, but nothing major. And he'd never hit a girl. Ever.
Sun Ying glanced at Cheng Xing, then quickly turned away, not wanting to push her luck. She'd clearly annoyed him and didn't want to make it worse. Standing in line, she spotted Jiang Lu Xi ahead, her head drooping repeatedly.
"Lu Xi, what's wrong? Didn't you get enough rest last night?" Sun Ying asked, her voice gentle but curious.
Jiang Lu Xi barely lifted her head. "I'm fine," she murmured.
"If you're tired, I can grab your things and bring them back. You can rest at your desk for a bit," Sun Ying offered with a warm smile.
"No need, thank you," Jiang Lu Xi replied, her tone distant but polite.
Sun Ying sighed. Jiang Lu Xi's aloofness was well-known. Despite sitting near each other and often standing in line together, their conversations never went far. Jiang Lu Xi usually responded with a nod or a short "mm," making it hard to engage with her. After a while, Sun Ying stopped trying.
But today felt different. Jiang Lu Xi wasn't just her usual quiet self; she looked exhausted. Her eyes were red, like she'd been crying for hours. It was the first time Sun Ying had seen her like this.
"Do you think someone from another class bullied our class president?" Sun Ying whispered, leaning closer to Cheng Xing. "Her eyes are red, and she looks like she's been crying. You're the boss of Class Three, aren't you? If she's being bullied, you have to stand up for her. You helped other students last week; you can't play favorites."
Cheng Xing didn't respond right away, his eyes lingering on Jiang Lu Xi. He'd noticed it too—the tired eyes, the way she seemed weighed down. But he knew it wasn't bullying from another class. He had seen her earlier that morning in the hallway, and it was clear she'd been crying. Yet, she'd come straight from his house.
If it wasn't school, it had to be something else. Family, maybe?
"Zhang Jiu," Cheng Xing called out.
A student buying water nearby perked up and jogged over. "Brother Cheng, what's up?"
"Go get Wang Cheng from your class. Tell him I need to talk," Cheng Xing instructed.
"Got it." Zhang Jiu dashed off.
In a few minutes, Wang Cheng arrived, slightly out of breath. "Brother Cheng, you called?"
"Yeah." Cheng Xing nodded. He glanced at Sun Ying. "Hold my spot."
Sun Ying huffed but stayed put. Cheng Xing led Wang Cheng to a nearby poplar tree, pulling out a cigarette. He handed one to Wang Cheng, who accepted it without hesitation.
"Has anyone in your class ever messed with Jiang Lu Xi?" Cheng Xing asked, lighting his cigarette.
Wang Cheng frowned. "Messed with her? Brother Cheng, are you asking because you're interested in her?"
Cheng Xing shook his head. "Just answer the question."
Wang Cheng hesitated, then sighed. "No. No one in Pinghu would dare. Most kids our age admire her from afar. They barely have the courage to talk to her, let alone mess with her. Plus, her grades are incredible. She's a star around here. The town's banking on her success."
He paused to take a drag before continuing, "Even the mayor and local leaders keep an eye out for her. If anyone bullies her or her family, they're pretty much going against the whole town. We didn't even have streetlights on the road to the city before she aced the high school entrance exam and got into Ancheng No. 1 High School. Now, that route's fully lit, all because of her. No one would dare hurt her. She's too important."
Cheng Xing narrowed his eyes. "Then why were her eyes red this morning?"
Wang Cheng exhaled slowly, flicking ash from his cigarette. "Yesterday was her mother's birthday."
Cheng Xing's grip tightened on his cigarette. Wang Cheng continued, "Lu Xi rarely cries. We've known her our whole lives, and I've never seen her cry. If she did, it's probably because of that."
Cheng Xing stood there, silent, taking in Wang Cheng's words. He took a long drag, letting the smoke fill his lungs before exhaling.
Not far away, Sun Ying watched them, muttering under her breath. "Lu Xi, do you think smoking is cool? Cheng Xing asked me to hold his spot, and now he's over there smoking."
Jiang Lu Xi's gaze followed Sun Ying's, her eyes landing on Cheng Xing and Wang Cheng. Her frown deepened.
"Wang Cheng, if you don't stop smoking, do you believe I won't go home and tell your grandpa?" Jiang Lu Xi said coldly.
Wang Cheng froze. Jiang Lu Xi might not interfere in most things, but she wasn't someone to take lightly. His grandparents had helped her family before, and he knew she'd keep her word. Without a second thought, he dropped the cigarette and ran.
Cheng Xing flicked his cigarette into the trash, walking back to Jiang Lu Xi. Her eyes followed him, cold and unyielding.
"Cheng Xing, I don't care if you drag others down, but Wang Cheng's different. His family isn't like yours. They work hard just to give him a chance at a future," she said, her voice low but firm. "Leave him alone."
Cheng Xing's eyes darkened. "Is that how you see me?" he asked quietly, his gaze steady.
Jiang Lu Xi pressed her lips together, looking away.
"I've barely spoken to him," Cheng Xing said. "His smoking isn't my fault. The only reason I've talked to him recently is because I needed information about you. It's customary to offer a cigarette when you ask someone for something, isn't it?"
His voice softened as he added, "My condolences."
Jiang Lu Xi stood still, her eyes glistening, but she said nothing.