ã€ŠAfter the Campus Beauty&#x27;s Rebirth, She Starts Pursuing Meã€‹


 Rebirth

    At 34, Lin Ran never expected to reunite with his high school crush after so many years.

    The moment they met, he was struck by a large truck.

    It was a night of torrential rain.

    As two massive beams of white light suddenly shattered the darkness and cut through the rain, a truck roared toward them.

    It looked set to crash into a graceful woman holding an umbrella on the sidewalk ahead.

    Standing not far behind, Lin Ran instinctively rushed forward, pushing the woman out of the way just in time, using all his strength to shove her forward!

    In that moment, the world seemed to fall silent.

    Time slowed down, and everything played out in slow motion.

    In his vision, the heavy rain seemed to freeze in place.

    Only the startled woman, pushed to the side, turned her head in surprise. Their eyes met across the curtain of rain.

    Lin Ran clearly saw her face.

    Beneath her long, flowing black hair was an exquisitely beautiful visage¡ªmature, cool, and strikingly radiant.

    Her cherry lips parted in shock, and as she suddenly realized what was happening, her expression turned to one of alarm, ready to scream¡ª

    At the same moment, Lin Ran recognized her identity.

    Su Qingyan.

    The recognized beauty of Yunan High School.

    Now a billionaire and an icy goddess of the business world in Nan Province.

    And his former desk mate.

    "Fate is truly wonderful."

    That was Lin Ran¡¯s last thought before the sound of screeching brakes and tires struggling for grip filled the air, mixed with the woman¡¯s frantic cry:

    ¡°NO!!!!!!!¡ª¡±

    A wave of intense pain crashed over him, plunging Lin Ran¡¯s world into darkness.

    His consciousness drifted, wandering aimlessly in the void for an unknown time.

    Then, in the distance, he sensed a figure desperately approaching, reaching out toward him.

    He instinctively reached out in return.

    At the moment their hands clasped, the darkness shattered.

    Lin Ran suddenly awoke.

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    He opened his eyes and looked around.

    He found himself in a clean, bright classroom.

    It was summer; outside, cicadas chirped and birds flew.

    The ceiling fan creaked above, laboriously blowing hot air, while the teacher¡¯s monotonous voice droned on, making it hard not to doze off.

    Everything felt so familiar, yet surreal.

    The flood of memories came rushing back, and Lin Ran realized the incredible miracle time had created for him.

    It was early summer 2007.

    He was a senior at Yunan High School.

    The wheel of time had turned back a full sixteen years.

    He had been reborn.

    Perhaps it was due to his act of bravery that had touched the heavens.

    Lin Ran felt a mix of nostalgia and excitement, but mostly exhilaration and surprise.

    To live again.

    He could make up for many past regrets and try to live a better life.

    That said, he ought to thank the school beauty who had almost cost him his life during their unexpected reunion¡ª

    Right.

    His desk mate.

    Lin Ran suddenly came to his senses and turned to look beside him.

    He was sitting in the last row by the window.

    Next to him was a girl, her head resting on the desk, seemingly fast asleep, her face obscured.

    She had a simple ponytail and wore Yunan High¡¯s standard uniform¡ªa light, transparent jacket of red and white, the collar slipping down to reveal a delicate, long neck.

    Her school trousers should have been baggy, but they clung slightly to her long, shapely legs, creating a breathtaking curve that would make any boy his age blush and stutter.

    As a man in his thirties, accustomed to life''s challenges, Lin Ran remained composed.

    He discreetly wiped his mouth.

    Glancing at those long legs again, he swallowed hard, maintaining his calm.

    At eighteen, his desk mate¡¯s figure had developed in a way that was almost excessive¡­

    In his previous life, he hardly had the opportunity to observe her this closely.

    Though they were desk mates, he had been shy and unassuming back then, especially in the presence of the "icy goddess" of their high school. He had lacked the courage even to speak to her.

    In three years, he had exchanged fewer than ten words with Su Qingyan, and even stealing a glance had felt daunting.

    Who would have thought that after more than a decade apart, he would save her life upon their reunion?

    Looking at the school beauty beside him, Lin Ran felt a wave of emotion.

    Though he had lost a life, he had gained a chance to be reborn; they were even now.

    He didn¡¯t intend to act on any feelings he had suppressed in his previous life.

    After all, the recognized ice goddess of the school was not someone easy to pursue.

    In three years of high school, many boys had failed in front of her.

    What made him think she would warm up to him just because he had been reborn?

    Unless she remembered his life-saving act¡ª

    But she hadn¡¯t been reborn.

    Lin Ran shrugged, ready to cast aside those tangled thoughts.

    ¡°Lin Ran! Why are you daydreaming in class?¡±

    A thunderous voice interrupted him.

    At the front of the classroom, the teacher, Liu Chun, glared.

    All the other students turned to look, a mix of schadenfreude on their faces.

    Lin Ran froze, unsure how to apologize.

    But beside him, the beauty seemed startled awake by the shout, propping herself up on the desk and rubbing her sleepy eyes before slowly lifting her head.

    And that was when he finally saw Su Qingyan¡¯s face from sixteen years ago.

    Her delicate features and pert nose had gained a few years¡¯ worth of maturity, yet they retained an innocent charm without any makeup.

    As Lin Ran looked at his former desk mate, she instinctively raised her head and met his gaze.

    In that moment, time shifted.

    Their eyes connected again.

    From Lin Ran¡¯s perspective, he was taken aback to see Su Qingyan suddenly freeze.

    Her cherry lips parted slightly in disbelief, as if witnessing something utterly shocking.

    Then, visibly, her eyes began to glisten with tears.

    Before Lin Ran could react,

    Amidst the astonished looks of their teacher Liu Chun and the rest of the class, the recognized beauty of Yunan High, the unapproachable ice goddess, suddenly opened her arms wide and lunged at Lin Ran, wrapping him in a tight embrace!

    For a moment, everything was silent.

    The world seemed to hold its breath.

    In the next instant, the classroom erupted into chaos, the commotion drowning out Su Qingyan''s emotional words as she clung to him:

    ¡°I found you!¡±

 Let me take the initiative to pursue you

    Su Qingyan had a dream.

    In the dream, she was thirty-four, wealthy with billions to her name, and successful in her career. Though she had been single all these years, it had allowed her to devote all her energy to her work, and she found joy in it.

    Then came that torrential rainy night.

    As an overloaded truck illuminated the night with its blinding headlights, cutting through the layers of rain, she realized too late that she couldn¡¯t dodge it. At that moment, despair and resignation washed over her.

    Suddenly, a figure lunged forward, pushing her away with all his might. In that instant of confusion, she turned to look back. For the first and last time, she saw his face clearly.

    He appeared to be around her age, with tousled black hair framing a handsome face that radiated warmth. There was something inexplicably familiar about him.

    At the funeral, the authorities awarded him a medal for bravery. His grieving parents, who had rushed from their hometown, clung to the casket, nearly fainting from their sorrow.

    She canceled all her business commitments, donning black mourning attire. With overwhelming grief and guilt, she took on all the responsibilities for the funeral, diligently handling every detail.

    After the funeral, she accompanied his parents back to their hotel. Kneeling before them, she bowed her head three times, promising to take on the responsibility of caring for them. She vowed to be the most considerate daughter and the most dutiful daughter-in-law.

    The casket was taken back to their hometown, and she was shocked to discover that he was her fellow townsman from Yunan. Even more surprisingly, she learned that his name¡ªLin Ran¡ªfelt oddly familiar.

    Returning home, despite the protests of Lin Ran¡¯s parents, she insisted on caring for them and managing household chores, seamlessly stepping into the role of daughter and daughter-in-law.

    After tidying the living room and master bedroom, she entered Lin Ran''s room. This was her first time alone in a male classmate¡¯s bedroom.

    From his parents, she learned that after graduating high school, Lin Ran had not lived at home, leaving behind traces of his teenage years in this space.

    As she surveyed the room¡ªgame discs, magazine posters, awards¡ªeach detail seemed to echo with the boy he once was. Until she accidentally discovered a photo pressed under the glass of the desk: ¡°Yunan High School Class of 2006, Senior Year, Class Ten.¡±

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    The gold-embossed text struck her like a hammer, leaving her dizzy and her mind buzzing. Almost desperately, she searched the photo and, sure enough, spotted her eighteen-year-old self, cold and proud, undeniably the center of attention.

    And there was the tall boy, shy and awkward, standing quietly in a corner of the group. Memories rushed back in a torrent, unveiling the past like a film reel.

    Lin Ran was that Lin Ran.

    What felt like a d¨¦j¨¤ vu was, in fact, a reunion after many years. It wasn¡¯t a random act of bravery by a stranger but a selfless sacrifice from her high school deskmate.

    Staring at the photo, tears streamed down her face. She had only a vague impression of him, and they had barely exchanged words during their time together. Yet now, she felt an unpayable debt of gratitude.

    Fortunately, she had all the time in the world to get to know him anew.

    Lin Ran had kept a diary since childhood, and a stack of his notebooks sat on the shelf. After getting permission from his parents, she began to read them.

    The diary entries were detailed and mundane, covering everything from what Lin Ran ate each day to the emotional journey of his school years. As she read, she often found herself laughing at his amusing anecdotes or empathizing with his sorrows.

    Gradually, she discovered that her high school deskmate was honest, brave, and kind¡ªqualities she admired but hadn¡¯t known before.

    She became completely absorbed in his diaries, feeling his joys and sorrows as if they were her own. It was as though she had formed an unprecedented bond with him, like true soulmates.

    When she reached the high school entries, she was astonished to find mentions of herself. It turned out that this shy boy had once secretly liked her but had never mustered the courage to act on it.

    [You coward¡­]

    [If I could live again¡ª]

    [Let me be the one to pursue you.]

    That night, lying in Lin Ran''s bed before falling asleep, she couldn¡¯t help but smile at these thoughts.

    But as she drifted off, she found herself in a world of darkness.

    In the endless void, she spotted a figure that looked like Lin Ran, drifting just out of reach.

    Suddenly, an intense pain and overwhelming guilt crashed over her like a wave, compelling her to stretch out her hand toward him.

    It felt so close yet just beyond her grasp. Desperation threatened to consume her.

    Refusing to give up, she extended her arm further and further. Just a little bit more!

    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, her hand made contact with his. Overjoyed, she summoned every last bit of strength and lunged forward, clasping his hand tightly.

    In an instant, the darkness shattered. Light began to seep in around her.

    Faintly, she heard the familiar voice of her high school teacher from over a decade ago, shouting in anger.

    At the back of the classroom, Su Qingyan propped herself up, rubbing her sleepy eyes, and was astonished to find herself in a bright and clean classroom.

    The air was humid and warm. Everything felt both strange and familiar.

    As she looked up, she met the gaze of the boy sitting next to her. He was handsome, with tousled hair that looked as though it was begging to be ruffled.

    In that instant, her eyes welled with tears. Excitement, joy, and a mix of emotions surged through her. Ignoring the stares from everyone around her, she threw her arms around him tightly.

    Amidst the uproar, Su Qingyan choked out, ¡°I found you!¡±

 She is secretly watching me

    Lin Ran''s mind was reeling from the overload of information.

    Just a moment ago, he had celebrated his thirty-fourth birthday and had bravely saved someone on the road, only to be hit and thrown by a truck.

    In the next instant, he found himself reborn back in a high school classroom from sixteen years ago.

    Before he could process this incredible twist of fate, his beautiful classmate, Su Qingyan, was crying and had thrown herself into his arms, murmuring something he couldn¡¯t quite catch. What kind of plot twist was this?

    In that moment, Lin Ran''s head buzzed, and a suspicious thought popped up: "Is this a scam?"

    He still hadn¡¯t grasped the situation when the nearly fifty-year-old homeroom teacher, Liu Chun, was already on the verge of exploding with rage. ¡°Lin Ran! Sleeping in class is one thing!¡± he shouted. ¡°But to be flirting with your classmate?!¡±

    The students in the class, already favorably inclined towards attractive female students, were now furious. Especially with Su Qingyan, the school''s top student and recognized goddess, who was also Liu Chun¡¯s pride and joy.

    The students¡¯ glares shot toward him like arrows! ¡°How dare you, Lin Ran! You look like such a nice guy, yet you¡¯re bold enough to hug our Su goddess? Do you have a death wish?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Lin Ran blinked in confusion, finally snapping back to reality. He hurriedly pushed the weeping school flower away. ¡°Teacher, it¡¯s a misunderstanding!¡±

    Liu Chun¡¯s anger only escalated. ¡°What misunderstanding? Explain to me why you hugged Su Qingyan!¡±

    What the hell? Lin Ran felt like he was losing it. ¡°Teacher, you need to look carefully! I¡¯m the victim here! She¡¯s the one who hugged me first!¡± He gestured toward Su Qingyan, who now had a triumphant expression mixed with tears in her eyes.

    Hmm? The more he spoke, the more something felt off¡­ It was then he noticed her tear-streaked face, looking pitifully beautiful.

    Liu Chun was so furious that his voice shook. ¡°You¡ªyou made Su Qingyan cry?!¡±

    Lin Ran felt like he might cry himself. ¡°I really didn¡¯t¡­¡±

    The classroom erupted in outrage. Liu Chun¡¯s gaze turned deadly serious, like he was staring at a capital offender. He raised his arm, ready to deliver the final verdict, as if declaring Lin Ran¡¯s sentence to quell the rising fury among the students.

    In the midst of this chaos, Su Qingyan began to collect herself. She recalled the moment she had woken up to find Lin Ran beside her. As memories flooded back, she finally understood the situation¡ªshe had been reborn.

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    Back to that summer at eighteen, in her senior year classroom. The boy who had sacrificed himself sixteen years later to save her was now sitting next to her as her desk mate in the summer of 2007.

    However, it seemed she had just created quite a mess for him.

    ¡°Enough! Lin Ran, you go stand in the hallway for half an hour!¡± Liu Chun shouted, at his breaking point.

    ¡°Wait.¡± Su Qingyan stood up, having sorted through her emotions. Standing tall in the last row, her eyes slightly red, she returned to her usual calm demeanor.

    ¡°Teacher, you misunderstood,¡± she said coolly. ¡°What just happened has nothing to do with Lin Ran. I was the one who hugged him first.¡±

    The classroom fell silent. Then, uproar ensued!

    Students¡¯ eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°What? Su Qingyan hugged Lin Ran first? No way!¡±

    Liu Chun couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°You hugged him? Qingyan, you don¡¯t have to cover for Lin Ran! Just tell the truth, and I¡¯ll make things right for you!¡±

    Su Qingyan remained composed. ¡°I¡¯m not covering for him. I just had a nightmare and got scared. I didn¡¯t mean to blame Lin Ran.¡±

    A nightmare?

    Understanding washed over the students. They thought, ¡°So that¡¯s it! I knew Lin Ran wouldn¡¯t have the guts to do something like that. It was just Su Qingyan waking up from a nightmare and instinctively grabbing something to hold onto.¡±

    Suddenly, their attitude toward Lin Ran shifted from anger to envy and jealousy. ¡°Damn, this guy has all the luck! Why couldn¡¯t I be sitting next to Su Qingyan? If she hugged someone, it should have been me!¡±

    ¡°Now I get it¡ª¡± Liu Chun¡¯s expression softened slightly. ¡°Alright, you can sit down.¡±

    ¡°And Lin Ran, this time we¡¯ll let it go. Pay attention in class and don¡¯t let me see you bullying Qingyan again!¡±

    He started off calm but ended with a fierce tone directed at Lin Ran, as if treating him like a class enemy.

    Lin Ran could only reply, ¡°¡­Okay.¡±

    The disparity in treatment was staggering.

    ...

    The storm passed, and calm returned to the classroom. Liu Chun¡¯s monotonous lecture resumed, lulling students to sleep.

    In the back row, Lin Ran breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness he had avoided disaster...

    Little did he know that beside him, Su Qingyan was leaning slightly towards him, resting her chin on her hand, watching him intently.

    In his past life, he had only glimpsed her before the accident. Now, reborn, this was the first time he was being studied so closely by his future savior and former desk mate.

    Compared to what he would look like years later, the boy in front of her hadn¡¯t changed much. He was still handsome but now bore the youthful innocence and naivety of his age. His slightly messy black hair fell into his eyes.

    In just a few years, he would be the kind of cute boy that countless older girls would swoon over, not knowing how they would tease him.

    Even back in 2007, if he weren¡¯t so shy and withdrawn, always keeping his head down, he would definitely be the kind of boy many girls would secretly crush on.

    Su Qingyan felt a twinge of regret for not noticing her desk mate in her previous life. But it didn¡¯t matter.

    Since she had been reborn, she had all the time in the world to get to know him better.

    With that thought, a smile crept onto her lips.

    Lin Ran suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, as if he were being watched by a cunning fox spirit.

    He turned to see the beautiful school flower resting her chin on her hand, her eyes fixed on him.

    Lin Ran couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What are you staring at?¡±

    He didn¡¯t mean to speak loudly, but Liu Chun¡¯s keen ears immediately caught it. In an instant, he shot Lin Ran a fierce look. ¡°Lin Ran, what are you doing now?!¡±

    The next moment, the envious classmates who had been closely watching the situation raised their hands to eagerly report, ¡°Teacher, I know!¡±

    ¡°Lin Ran has been staring at Su Qingyan with a lustful look!¡±

    What?! Lin Ran was about to lose it again.

    What kind of twisted fate was this?!

 He called me éˆ¥æ¦®ister

    Lin Ran nearly exhausted himself, as if he were about to swear an oath to heaven and earth, just to convince the skeptical teacher, Liu Chun, that he truly had no intention of harassing his beloved student. Reluctantly, Liu Chun spared him once again.

    Lin Ran felt a wave of relief wash over him. But then, feeling irritated, he stole a glance at the culprit sitting beside him. His desk partner, the school beauty, had already turned away as if nothing had happened, her expression cold and focused on the teacher at the podium, genuinely seeming to pay attention to the lecture.

    This left Lin Ran feeling somewhat uncertain. Could it have been an illusion? It seemed quite possible¡­ After all, his desk partner was known as the Ice Queen, and this distant, proud demeanor was the most familiar version of her to him.

    Could she really have been resting her chin on her hand, gazing at him? Lin Ran didn¡¯t believe he possessed such charm. It had to be an illusion; perhaps the overload of information from his rebirth had left his mind a bit clouded. He needed to take a moment to recover¡­

    Muttering to himself, Lin Ran shifted his focus back to the teacher¡¯s droning lecture, trying to avoid drawing any more unwanted attention.

    Little did he know, while he averted his gaze, his desk partner maintained a seemingly indifferent expression, but a barely perceptible smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m pretending to pay attention,¡± Su Qingyan thought. ¡°Teasing my benefactor is quite amusing.¡±

    However, the clever Su Qingyan also realized that even though she had been reborn, she needed to be careful to hide her true feelings. She had to maintain her persona as the proud, unapproachable Ice Queen in everyone¡¯s eyes at school.

    If she suddenly became overly friendly towards Lin Ran, it would raise eyebrows and possibly scare him off, which would be undesirable. After all, they were just classmates; there would be plenty of time to interact in the future. There was no need to rush.

    With this in mind, Su Qingyan smiled again, instinctively licking her lips, revealing a hint of alluring charm that could easily be mistaken for a thousand-year-old nine-tailed fox.

    In the back row of the third group, a male classmate was sneaking glances over, nearly falling off his chair upon witnessing Su Qingyan¡¯s moment of grace, which drew the attention of other classmates and earned a stern reprimand from teacher Liu Chun.

    As for Su Qingyan, she quickly resumed her icy, untouchable demeanor, as if nothing had happened.

    However, her cold facade didn¡¯t last long. Su Qingyan found herself unable to resist sneaking glances at Lin Ran again.

    It felt a bit like being a fan. Before her rebirth, she had read through all his diaries, seen various awards and photos in his bedroom, and her familiarity with him was nearly second only to his parents.

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    Now, the young man who would one day save her was sitting right next to her, so close that she could carefully observe his features and compare them to the thoughts and experiences she had read about in his diaries. It brought her an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.

    Moreover¡­ the more she looked, the more she liked him!

    On the surface, Su Qingyan appeared calm and collected, but inside, a tiny figure was cheering, almost bursting with excitement!

    So cute!

    Ah, his hair looks so fluffy and soft; I want to ruffle it!

    His face is so fair and tender; I want to pinch it!

    This shy, introverted boy¡ª I want to tease him!!

    In this new life, as a beautiful, thirty-something ice queen CEO, she had always maintained a strong, aloof persona in the workplace, admired by many but feared and avoided. That was why she had remained single for so long.

    Who would have thought she would become such a "silly" girl?

    Even Su Qingyan herself was surprised by this transformation.

    But in this moment, she was enjoying herself, continuing to sneak glances at the boy beside her while the teacher was distracted.

    ¡­

    Lin Ran could no longer endure it. From the very start, he felt a chill, as if being eyed by a seductive fox spirit. He could feel a pair of beautiful eyes openly staring at him, even without turning around.

    But every time he glanced over, his desk partner would quickly turn her head back, returning to her composed, high-and-mighty demeanor. The moment he looked away, he could feel her gaze sneak back onto him.

    This endless cycle left Lin Ran¡¯s mouth twitching in annoyance. He scribbled a note and slid it over:

    ¡°What do you want, sister?¡±

    The aloof school beauty merely glanced at the note, her expression still icy, before pushing it back. On the back, she had written:

    ¡°Don¡¯t pass notes in class.¡±

    The strong strokes of her writing radiated a cold aura even through the paper.

    Lin Ran thought, ¡°I give up.¡± ¡°Impressive.¡±

    Unbeknownst to him, while Su Qingyan maintained her cold facade, the tiny figure inside her was cheering wildly.

    Oh my gosh, what should I do? My heart is melting!!

    He called me ¡®sister¡¯!!

    ¡­

    One class. The beautiful school beauty was beside him.

    Time felt like an eternity.

    Finally, the class ended, and Lin Ran sprang up from his seat as if propelled by springs, rushing out the back door of the classroom.

    Stepping into the hallway, he breathed a sigh of relief, finally able to take in some fresh air and collect his thoughts.

    That was too eerie¡­

    How many times had he felt the school beauty glancing at him during class? If it weren¡¯t for knowing her personality, he might have suspected she was trying to flirt with him.

    At that moment, a male classmate approached him, flashing a thumbs-up and grinning widely:

    ¡°Ran, nice job! You¡¯ve got the school beauty¡¯s attention, that¡¯s awesome!¡±

    This guy was Zhao Ke, one of Lin Ran¡¯s close friends from high school¡ªoutgoing and fond of gossip.

    Lin Ran sighed, ¡°I really didn¡¯t mean anything by it¡­¡±

    She was the one who made the first move!

    Zhao Ke nodded knowingly. ¡°I get it! After all, she¡¯s the recognized school beauty at Yunan High School, with plenty of admirers. It¡¯s normal to feel insecure and think you¡¯re not good enough for her.¡±

    Then, he shifted his tone and earnestly advised,

    ¡°But at least you¡¯re sitting next to her! That¡¯s an advantage most people don¡¯t have. You have a chance to get closer, and if you actually win her over, that would be amazing!¡±

    ¡°Besides, even if you don¡¯t succeed, it¡¯s not embarrassing. It¡¯s definitely better than being a lapdog for Shen Lingshan, right?¡±

    Shen Lingshan?

    Lin Ran paused, suddenly recalling a not-so-glorious chapter from his high school past¡­

    Just as he was lost in thought, he heard a familiar, delicate voice behind him:

    ¡°Lin Ran¡ª¡±

 You want to mooch off my lunch money

    Lin Ran turned his head and saw a beautiful girl in the school¡¯s summer uniform and knee-length skirt happily walking toward him, accompanied by another girl.

    The first girl had a sweet appearance, with a well-styled shoulder-length bob and a small pink bow in her hair.

    Though she didn¡¯t match the stunning beauty of Lin Ran¡¯s deskmate, Su Qingyan, she was at least on par with the class flower.

    This cute and sweet type had a significant appeal among high school boys of their age.

    No wonder in my previous life, I was treated like a dog by my friends, spinning around for her sake¡­ Lin Ran sighed inwardly as he watched the sweet girl approach.

    This was Shen Lingshan, the girl Zhao Ke had mentioned¡ªthe creator of Lin Ran¡¯s romantic misfortunes from his last life.

    In his previous life, he had a beautiful class flower sitting next to him, but he never acted on his feelings, partly due to his introverted personality and lack of courage around Su Qingyan.

    However, he also had his heart set on Shen Lingshan, who was in the same year as him. Initially, it was Shen Lingshan who found Lin Ran somewhat handsome and made the first move.

    With a series of flirty and cute lines, she easily enchanted Lin Ran, who had little experience with girls, leading him to fall head over heels for her.

    Who knew that despite her sweet and adorable exterior, she was actually a femme fatale? Once she had Lin Ran wrapped around her finger, she quickly trained him to be her loyal follower, making him willingly do everything she asked.

    The naive Lin Ran thought he was making sacrifices for love, spending most of his weekly allowance of 150 yuan on Shen Lingshan, while he subsisted on instant noodles and bread without complaint. Yet, despite all he gave, the most they ever shared were a couple of brief hand-holding moments.

    Whenever he wanted to confess his feelings and solidify their relationship, she would change the subject, stringing him along without ever committing.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t our relationship good as it is? Why do we need labels?¡± she would say. ¡°But don¡¯t be discouraged; I really like how much you care about me!¡± Or, ¡°How about this? I have a birthday coming up. If you prepare me ten gifts, I might consider being serious about you!¡±

    In the end, after graduating high school, Lin Ran put in tremendous effort over two weeks, folding a basket of paper cranes, buying a large bottle of baby¡¯s breath, and saving up to purchase an official Mickey Mouse plush toy¡ªall ten gifts in total. Full of hope, he braved the rain to deliver them to Shen Lingshan on her birthday, only to find her passionately kissing a rich boy from school, his hands exploring under her shirt.

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    The boy had gifted her a set of Swarovski jewelry worth several thousand yuan.

    Snap.

    The pure-hearted warrior¡¯s heart shattered, and he fell to the ground.

    ...

    The past was too painful to revisit. But since he was reborn, Lin Ran had no intention of being anyone¡¯s loyal follower again. At that moment, Shen Lingshan, still unaware that her catch had slipped away, approached him with her friend, Cui Qianqian, and a cheerful demeanor.

    ¡°Lin Ran, Qianqian and I want ice cream. Can you go to the snack shop and get some for us?¡± she said, her tone implying that it was a given.

    Cui Qianqian chimed in impatiently, ¡°Hurry up, there are only seven minutes left in break! If you don¡¯t go now, we¡¯ll run out of time!¡±

    Before Lin Ran could respond, Zhao Ke, his friend, expressed his discontent, ¡°You know there are only seven minutes left? The snack shop is so far; you won¡¯t make it in time!¡±

    The short breaks at Yunan High School were only ten minutes long.

    Running from the teaching building to the snack shop and back would take at least eight or nine minutes, leaving hardly any time to relax. Generally, students would wait for the longer twenty-minute breaks to go to the snack shop.

    At that moment, Shen Lingshan and Cui Qianqian were just craving snacks and didn¡¯t want to wait for the longer break or put in the effort, so they found Lin Ran to do it for them¡ªnot only to save effort but also to avoid spending any money.

    Hearing Zhao Ke¡¯s criticism, Shen Lingshan pouted adorably, ¡°You can¡¯t do it.¡±

    ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean our Lin Ran can¡¯t!¡±

    ¡°Right, Lin Ran?¡±

    Listen to that. ¡°Our Lin Ran.¡± Just this little flirtation was enough to keep him under her spell. Typical, so typical. In his past life, Lin Ran would have probably been ecstatic and rushed to do her bidding.

    But now, he had seen through Shen Lingshan¡¯s tricks. Even her cute pout only made him feel more contempt. However, as a mature man in his thirties, he wasn¡¯t about to argue with a young girl.

    After thinking for a moment, Lin Ran decided to politely refuse. ¡°Are you kidding?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Both Shen Lingshan and Cui Qianqian froze, hardly believing their ears.

    Lin Ran added, ¡°If you¡¯re fine, then why not just go buy it yourself?¡±

    Shen Lingshan quickly recovered, putting on a pitiful look. ¡°But I can¡¯t run¡­¡±

    Cui Qianqian chimed in indignantly, ¡°Exactly! Our Lingshan is a girl; it¡¯s too far to the snack shop. How can you bear to let her go?¡±

    Lin Ran instinctively glanced at Shen Lingshan¡¯s calves. Under her knee-length skirt, her legs were fair and slender, clad in red canvas shoes and white bobby socks.

    ¡°That¡¯s nice legs,¡± he said.

    Shen Lingshan beamed with pride, thinking that Lin Ran was finally submitting to her charm. Pretending to be shy, she crossed her legs, inadvertently showing off even more. ¡°So¡­ does that mean you¡¯ll do it?¡±

    However, the next moment, Lin Ran casually remarked, ¡°With legs like that, you must be fast.¡±

    ¡°Believe in yourself; you can do it.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Shen Lingshan was dumbfounded. What a twist! You¡¯re complimenting my legs as if you¡¯re a sports coach?

    Cui Qianqian was already getting anxious. ¡°Lin Ran, can you stop stalling? Just go; there are only five minutes left!¡±

    Shen Lingshan gritted her teeth, as if making a resolution. ¡°Fine, you go buy the ice cream for us, and I¡¯ll promise you¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have lunch with you today!¡±

    As she said this, a victorious look crossed her face.

    Every time she made such an offer to have lunch with Lin Ran, he would always be excited and agree to anything she proposed. This time would be no different¡ª

    But unexpectedly, Lin Ran looked at Shen Lingshan like she was a scammer, disbelief written all over his face. ¡°You want to mooch off my lunch money?¡±

 I wonéˆ¥æª› let you touch the man I like

    Shen Lingshan was taken aback.

    The sudden twist of events left her head buzzing. She had graciously offered to accompany Lin Ran for a meal, yet he didn¡¯t seem too thrilled about it. This was completely different from what she had expected!

    At that moment, other classmates resting in the hallway turned their curious gazes toward them.

    Shen Lingshan often came to find Lin Ran in Class Ten and usually asked him to run errands, which had become quite normal. However, today, for some reason, Lin Ran didn¡¯t readily agree to jump up and fulfill her request. The atmosphere grew a bit awkward.

    With so many other classmates observing, Shen Lingshan felt her pride starting to slip away.

    After all, she was the class beauty in Class Seven, and there were plenty of boys in her grade who pursued her. Whenever she asked for help, someone would be eager to assist.

    In her eyes, giving Lin Ran the chance to run errands was a privilege for him. But now, the obedient tool she thought she had seemed to be developing a backbone, suddenly refusing to comply.

    Frustrated, she stamped her foot and exclaimed, ¡°Are you going or not?! If you don¡¯t go, then I¡¯ll¡ª¡±

    Halfway through her threat, she realized she had no leverage to threaten him with.

    Since their acquaintance, Lin Ran had unconditionally given to her, while her contributions were minimal¡ªjust some playful teasing and affectionate words here and there.

    She couldn¡¯t very well threaten him with something like, ¡°I¡¯ll stop being cute with you from now on!¡±

    Seeing Shen Lingshan at a loss for words, Zhao Ke couldn¡¯t help but grin. ¡°What will you do? Can¡¯t think of anything, huh?¡± he teased.

    ¡°When you¡¯re with him, it¡¯s always Lin Ran doing all the dirty work without any benefits. What right do you have to threaten him?¡±

    Shen Lingshan felt a mix of embarrassment and anger. ¡°I¡ª¡±

    In a moment of desperation, a spark of inspiration hit her, and she blurted out, ¡°Got it! If you don¡¯t go, I¡¯ll revoke my promise to consider holding your hand! You¡¯ll never have a chance again!¡±

    Having said this so quickly, she felt a wave of relief wash over her, and her spirits lifted again.

    They hadn¡¯t had any physical contact since they met.

    Lin Ran had once mustered the courage to ask if they could hold hands, but she had brushed him off, saying she needed to think about it. She intended to use the ¡°holding hands¡± thing as bait, giving him a glimmer of hope while squeezing more favors from him, and maybe one day, if she felt generous, she¡¯d give him a little reward.

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    It turned out her tactic was working well. Even that half-hearted ¡°promise¡± had Lin Ran over the moon, treating her with utmost care for months, terrified that he might annoy her and lose his chance.

    Now that she brought out this trump card, she was confident he would comply.

    Lin Ran was indeed taken aback. He remembered. After being strung along by Shen Lingshan for two or three years, they had only held hands twice, and that was right before graduation. According to her current statement, their first hand-holding hadn¡¯t happened yet.

    Which meant...

    Was his slate still clean?

    The surprise hit him like a bolt from the blue! He looked at Shen Lingshan with genuine gratitude and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Not holding hands was something he wouldn¡¯t forget easily. Having been reborn, how could he let such an important moment be tarnished by a flirt?

    Thank goodness that horror hadn¡¯t happened yet!

    ¡°Huh?¡± Shen Lingshan was momentarily confused, unsure of the meaning behind his gratitude. But soon, she interpreted it as Lin Ran giving in, which only made her prouder. ¡°Scared, huh? If you¡¯re scared, hurry up! I want a Magnum ice cream, and if you take too long, don¡¯t even think about holding my hand for the rest of your life!¡±

    Lin Ran grinned widely. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I definitely won¡¯t go!¡±

    The air suddenly fell silent for a moment.

    Shen Lingshan was stunned. Coming back to her senses, she became anxious and angry. ¡°Did you even understand what I said? If you don¡¯t go buy the ice cream, I won¡¯t hold your hand!¡±

    Lin Ran nodded vigorously. ¡°It¡¯s a deal, no take-backs¡ªno holding hands for life, right?¡±

    He even made sure to confirm one last time.

    At that moment, Cui Qianqian also grew agitated. ¡°Lin Ran, do you even understand human language? What Shen Lingshan means is, if you don¡¯t go buy the ice cream, you¡¯ll never get to hold her hand!¡±

    Her voice was a bit loud, drawing the attention of nearly all the students in the hallway. Seeing Lin Ran and the visibly frustrated Shen Lingshan and Cui Qianqian, the onlookers understood, glancing at Lin Ran with added sympathy.

    Lin Ran must have upset his goddess again, being scolded in front of everyone.

    Just then, a cold and pleasant voice cut through the air.

    ¡°He definitely understands.¡±

    ¡°But you two, do you not understand human language?¡±

    Like a goddess descending from above, the school¡¯s recognized ice queen, Su Qingyan, stepped out of the back door of Class Ten, her long legs striding with an air of authority, as if she were stepping on the hearts of all onlookers with every step. Her ponytail danced behind her, exuding a chill and stunning beauty.

    She approached Shen Lingshan and Cui Qianqian, positioning herself protectively behind Lin Ran as if shielding a chick.

    Su Qingyan looked down at Shen Lingshan from her nearly 1.7-meter tall frame, her expression frosty. ¡°Lin Ran said he¡¯s not interested in you.¡±

    ¡°Are you still here clinging to him? Don¡¯t you feel ashamed?¡±

    This declaration stirred up a storm.

    The hallway erupted in astonishment!

    All the students gaped at Su Qingyan, unable to believe she was defending Lin Ran.

    Su Qingyan remained unfazed, maintaining her cold demeanor as she glared at Shen Lingshan, who was almost half a head shorter and was sweetly beautiful.

    In the previous life, she had read all of Lin Ran¡¯s diaries and effortlessly recognized the girl standing before her. She knew exactly how much emotional damage this seemingly sweet girl had caused Lin Ran.

    Just recalling the sad words in his diaries was enough to ignite a fire of fury within her!

    This wasn¡¯t just a matter of justice. It felt like watching her own little treasure being gnawed on by a wild boar.

    In that moment, Su Qingyan¡¯s exterior remained as icy as ever, showing no more emotion than usual. Yet inside, her miniature warrior was already donned in armor, brimming with rage.

    How dare someone else touch the man she cared about!??

 Hold my hand

    The plot took an unexpected turn, and the situation took a sudden twist.

    Looking at the school beauty, who had rushed out and stood protectively in front of him, Lin Ran once again felt a large question mark slowly appearing on his forehead:

    ¡°?¡±

    What¡¯s going on now?

    As the acknowledged "ice queen" of the school, Su Qingyan had always maintained a distant and cold demeanor, both in class and among her peers. She had very few friends and rarely participated in any of the private activities or dramas that other students were involved in.

    But now, here she was, suddenly stepping up to confront Shen Lingshan?

    Lin Ran¡¯s sharp mind quickly kicked into gear. With the wisdom of a mature man in his thirties, his brain began to analyze the situation at full speed¡ª

    First, he ruled out the possibility that Su Qingyan was stepping in to defend him, a nobody in her eyes.

    So¡ª

    Lin Ran turned to look at his school beauty deskmate again, and a light of realization appeared in his eyes:

    ¡¾She has a grudge against Shen Lingshan.¡¿

    ...

    Shen Lingshan and Cui Qianqian were also taken aback by the sudden turn of events and felt a bit flustered.

    Especially when facing Su Qingyan, the tall and graceful school beauty, with her cold yet striking beauty¡ª

    Shen Lingshan, the so-called "flower" of Class 7, couldn¡¯t help but feel somewhat intimidated.

    In terms of both figure and looks, as well as popularity, she was clearly at a disadvantage.

    So, she instinctively took a small step back, her heart filled with confusion as she exchanged glances with her best friend.

    Shouldn¡¯t they have no history with Su Qingyan? Why was she suddenly standing up to confront them?

    Though lacking confidence, Shen Lingshan didn¡¯t want to appear weak in front of the crowd in the hallway. She forced herself to meet Su Qingyan¡¯s gaze and said stiffly:

    ¡°Su Qingyan, we¡¯re talking to Lin Ran. What does it have to do with you?¡±

    Cui Qianqian quickly added, trying to back her friend up:

    ¡°Yeah, what¡¯s your relationship with Lin Ran? We¡¯re talking to him, so why are you butting in?¡±

    But as soon as she finished, Su Qingyan shot them a cold look, and Cui Qianqian¡¯s voice trailed off weakly.

    What¡¯s my relationship with Lin Ran?

    ¡¾He saved me to the point where he willingly got hit by a truck to protect me, what do you think our relationship is?¡¿

    ¡¾I¡¯ve even kowtowed to his parents and called them ¡®Mom¡¯ and ¡®Dad,¡¯ what do you think our relationship is?¡¿

    Inside, a mini version of Su Qingyan was angrily standing up and delivering an impassioned speech!

    But on the surface, she remained as calm and composed as ever, her expression unchanged. She simply said in a neutral tone:

    ¡°I¡¯m his deskmate.¡±

    With those words, the boys in the hallway who had been eavesdropping let out a collective sigh of relief, their faces showing clear relief.

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.Phew, so they¡¯re just deskmates, nothing more...

    Shen Lingshan and Cui Qianqian also relaxed. Cui Qianqian smirked, her tone dismissive:

    ¡°So you¡¯re just deskmates? I thought it was something serious¡­¡±

    Su Qingyan¡¯s face remained as indifferent as ever as she glanced at Shen Lingshan, who also looked unimpressed, and a hint of mockery flashed in her eyes.

    ¡°And you?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s your relationship with Lin Ran?¡±

    ¡°I¡ª¡± Shen Lingshan instinctively opened her mouth but was suddenly stumped. After all, her relationship with Lin Ran was even more ambiguous, and she really couldn¡¯t answer this question.

    In a moment of panic, an idea flashed in her mind, and she blurted out:

    ¡°I¡¯m good friends with Lin Ran!¡±

    Cui Qianqian quickly nodded in agreement, adding with enthusiasm:

    ¡°Exactly! And we¡¯re the kind of good friends who could hold hands!¡±

    She then shot a smug and challenging glance at Su Qingyan.

    After hearing this, the mocking look in Su Qingyan¡¯s eyes only deepened.

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯re telling me you have to get him to run errands for you just to hold hands?¡±

    Shen Lingshan¡¯s face flushed crimson in an instant!

    Cui Qianqian couldn¡¯t stand it and loudly defended her friend:

    ¡°He¡¯s doing it willingly! We didn¡¯t force him!¡±

    But Su Qingyan ignored the two girls, turning to Lin Ran instead. Her tone was as calm and detached as if she were offering advice.

    ¡°From now on, keep your eyes open when making friends. Don¡¯t get involved with people who are just looking to take advantage.¡±

    She paused for a moment, as if remembering something, and added casually:

    ¡°And¡ª¡±

    ¡°If you really want to hold hands with a girl¡­¡±

    ¡°Hold mine.¡±

    ¡°No need to run errands. It¡¯s free.¡±

    ...

    Her words hit like a bombshell!

    All the students in the hallway, including Shen Lingshan, Cui Qianqian, and even Zhao Ke, were stunned into silence, their heads spinning as the shocking revelation echoed in their minds!

    The next moment, the scene before them completely stunned everyone into a state of daze!

    It was the early summer of 2007, and the sun was bright and clear.

    In front of the Yuxiu Teaching Building at Yunan High School, the trees and grass were lush, and the sunlight filtered through the thick branches, casting a patchwork of golden spots on the floor of the hallway outside the classroom.

    Countless tiny particles of dust floated in the air, glowing faintly, dancing like little sprites.

    Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the cool and captivating school beauty stretched out her fair arm and naturally placed her hand into the palm of her deskmate, Lin Ran.

    It was like a princess extending an invitation to her loyal knight.

    Then, she turned her hand over and firmly grasped his.

    Without hesitation or reserve, she held his hand and decisively locked eyes with the stunned crowd.

    ...

    For Lin Ran, this moment was equally bewildering. He hadn¡¯t yet processed what was happening when he suddenly felt a soft, cool sensation in his palm.

    Before he could react, his right hand was already being held and pulled forward by that delicate, fair hand.

    Su Qingyan¡¯s calm, instruction-like voice rang out:

    ¡°Class is starting. Let¡¯s go back to our seats.¡±

    Then, with a gentle pull from her hand, Lin Ran was led back to the classroom in front of the eyes of all the stunned students in the hallway.

    Just then, the bell for class suddenly rang loudly!

    ¡°Ding Ling Ling!!¡ª¡±

    The sharp bell shattered the heavy silence in the hallway.

    Many students, still dazed from the earlier scene, scrambled to return to their classrooms.

    Only Zhao Ke stood rooted to the spot, still processing the shock.

    He glanced at Shen Lingshan and Cui Qianqian, who were equally dazed, and then at the receding figures of Lin Ran and Su Qingyan.

    With genuine awe, Zhao Ke couldn¡¯t help but exclaim:

    ¡°Holy shit¡ª¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s impressive!!!¡±

 Then treat me to lunch this afternoon

    In high school, if a boy and a girl got too close or exchanged a few extra words, the class would immediately start teasing them.

    Calling each other by first names without the last name felt overly intimate and flirtatious.

    Even playful banter after class, or the accidental touch of hands, was enough to make someone¡¯s heart race and their face flush.

    And it went without saying¡ª

    In public,

    A bold, deliberate hand-holding was an entirely different level of scandal.

    The scene from earlier, in the hallway outside the classroom of Class 10, had caught the attention of many students. In their minds, it stirred a storm of excitement.

    Naturally, such a shocking act from the "ice queen" school beauty would spread quickly. Within a short time, it would cause a ripple effect across various circles in Yunan High School, shaking the entire school.

    But right now,

    The two parties involved had already returned to their respective seats in the fourth row at the back of the classroom when the bell rang for class to start.

    There was a strange, almost eerie silence in the air.

    Lin Ran glanced over at his deskmate, the school beauty, and tried to find the right words to speak.

    ¡°Um...¡±

    After fumbling for a while, he still couldn¡¯t come up with a complete sentence.

    The situation had escalated so ridiculously that he was still confused, unable to make sense of it.

    What on earth was that about?

    This definitely didn¡¯t happen in his past life!

    Seemingly noticing Lin Ran¡¯s confusion, Su Qingyan maintained her usual calm demeanor and spoke in a neutral tone:

    ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. I just couldn¡¯t stand how those two girls were taking advantage of you.¡±

    ¡°Holding hands isn¡¯t a big deal, so don¡¯t think too much about it.¡±

    ¡¾¡°Bang!¡±¡ª¡¿

    While her words seemed calm, inside, Su Qingyan¡¯s inner mini-self was already jumping up and down, celebrating with fireworks.

    ¡¾Wuhu! I held my little deskmate¡¯s hand!¡¿

    ¡¾Lin Ran¡¯s first hand-holding this life! Achievement unlocked, oh yeah!¡¿

    In her past life, when she read Lin Ran¡¯s diary, Su Qingyan clearly remembered that his first hand-holding with a girl didn¡¯t happen until the last two weeks before graduation¡ªand it was with Shen Lingshan.

    But in this life, she, Su Qingyan, had successfully cut in!

    Forget Shen Lingshan and her fake, dirty hands!

    ...

    Lin Ran, oblivious to his deskmate¡¯s inner excitement, processed Su Qingyan¡¯s explanation and nodded in understanding.

    That made sense. It fit her "ice queen" persona well.

    However, he hesitated again.

    ¡°Um¡­¡±

    Su Qingyan, as if anticipating his thoughts, calmly replied without looking at him:

    ¡°Hand-holding was just a casual remark. You don¡¯t need to take it seriously.¡±

    Her inner mini-self, however, was adamant:

    ¡¾Of course, you must take it seriously! Little Lin Ran, you can hold my hand whenever you want! As many times as you want! I owe you my life, don¡¯t be shy!¡¿

    Su Qingyan turned to look at Lin Ran, her expression still calm.

    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.¡°Any more questions?¡±

    Lin Ran reluctantly nodded.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Then he looked down at his right hand, which had been held by Su Qingyan since they entered the classroom and hadn¡¯t been released.

    ¡°Is it... okay to stop holding hands now?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°Oh, sorry, I forgot.¡±

    Su Qingyan remained as composed as ever, casually letting go of his hand.

    Meanwhile, her inner mini-self was sighing in regret:

    ¡¾Oh no, I got caught. I wanted to hold his hand for a little longer.¡¿

    ¡¾His hand is so warm, I want to hold it more!¡¿

    Lin Ran breathed a sigh of relief as his hand was finally freed.

    It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to be polite, but rather, he was scared.

    Earlier, their teacher, Mr. Liu Chun, had been patrolling outside the corridor.

    He was worried about getting caught and having his life threatened by the teacher.

    Class was starting.

    The final class for the morning was history.

    The history teacher was a small, frail old man who spoke in a tired, listless tone.

    He read from the textbook on the podium, seemingly lost in his own world, without any concern for whether the students were paying attention.

    Most of the students were either sleeping, or sneaking in small activities.

    Some were hiding their phones under the desk, reading novels, while others took the opportunity to quickly munch on snacks.

    At the back of the classroom,

    Lin Ran thought for a moment. No matter the reason, Su Qingyan had helped him earlier.

    Out of politeness, he felt he should at least express some gratitude.

    So, he wrote a small note and passed it over to her.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Su Qingyan glanced at the note, then continued to watch the teacher with her usual cold expression. She picked up her pen and scribbled a few lines on the note, returning it to him.

    ¡°How do you want to thank me?¡±

    Lin Ran blinked in confusion:

    ¡°?¡±

    He was just trying to be polite, but his deskmate didn¡¯t seem to care much for politeness herself.

    How do I thank her¡­? Dude, I literally gave my life for you in the last life, and you¡¯re asking me what to do to thank you?!

    His inner mini-self was fuming, shaking its fist.

    But after a moment¡¯s reflection, Lin Ran calmed down:

    Forget it, that was in my past life.

    Besides, she doesn¡¯t even remember it.

    He quickly scribbled a new line on the note and passed it back:

    ¡°How would you like me to thank you?¡±

    When Su Qingyan read the note, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of her lips. She quickly wrote another line on the note and slid it back to him.

    Her handwriting was neat and elegant, with a dignified air.

    The content of the note, however, made Lin Ran nearly choke on his own spit when he read it.

    ¡°Call me ¡®Sister¡¯ and let me hear it.¡±

    Lin Ran: ¡°???¡±

    When I typed that question mark, it¡¯s not because I have a problem, it¡¯s because I think you have a problem.

    Unable to stop himself, he looked up at Su Qingyan.

    She was still focused on the teacher at the front, acting like she was totally absorbed in the lesson.

    It was hard to believe that this aloof face could be the same one that wrote such absurd words on a note.

    The ice queen deskmate.

    Does she have some strange hobby?

    Lin Ran was utterly confused and could only attribute it to his lack of knowledge about her in his past life.

    But there was no way he was calling her ¡°Sister.¡±

    Otherwise, where would the dignity of a man in his thirties go?

    He scribbled on the note again and passed it back:

    ¡°No, try again.¡±

    Su Qingyan quickly glanced at the note, then wrote another line and passed it back:

    ¡°Then treat me to lunch this afternoon.¡±

    Lin Ran stared at the note: ¡°...¡±

    Why did it feel like he was being manipulated?

    Meanwhile, sitting beside him, Su Qingyan¡¯s lips curled into a smile:

    ¡¾Little guy.¡¿

    ¡¾Do you think I can¡¯t handle you?¡¿

 Maybe on a date

    After what felt like an eternity, the bell for the end of class finally rang.

    The little old man, satisfied with his lecture, quickly walked out of the classroom, leaving the students of Class 10 to spring into action. It was as if they had springs attached to their seats. They swiftly packed up their desks and eagerly called to their friends, ready to head out for lunch.

    At the back of the classroom, Lin Ran stood up and was just about to head to the door when someone called out to him.

    "Lin Ran!"

    Zhao Ke, in what he thought was a cool move, hopped over a row of desks and quickly approached Lin Ran with a smile full of enthusiasm.

    "Let¡¯s go eat together!" he said. "Today¡¯s your lucky day! First, you got hugged by the school goddess, then you were the one she held hands with¡ªthis calls for a celebration! My treat!"

    The scene in the hallway earlier had been so shocking that it had taken Zhao Ke the entire history class to process it. After the initial disbelief, he managed to come up with a reasonable explanation: after all, Su Qingyan and Lin Ran were desk partners. Although Su Qingyan was cold and distant, she had a good heart, and it made sense that she would stand up for her desk mate if he was being bullied. As for the hand-holding, it was probably just a way to get back at Shen Lingshan.

    With that thought in mind, Zhao Ke''s jealousy faded considerably, and now, with a friendly arm around Lin Ran¡¯s shoulders, he even joked, "But seriously, it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve ever seen Su Qingyan be so friendly with anyone. If she eats with you too, I¡¯ll really believe you two are dating, haha!"

    Just then, a fragrant breeze swept by, and a tall, graceful figure walked over.

    Su Qingyan''s eyes briefly swept over Zhao Ke before she looked at Lin Ran and asked, "Are we eating?"

    The three simple words, delivered in a calm and ordinary tone, had the power to shake the very air around them.

    Zhao Ke froze.

    Just a moment ago, he had been laughing heartily, but now it was as if someone had choked him. His voice faltered and he looked utterly lost.

    Lin Ran glanced at Zhao Ke and casually pointed to him, saying, "Zhao Ke said he¡¯s treating."

    Zhao Ke''s face froze. He had just been full of excitement, but now he was standing there as if paralyzed.

    Su Qingyan raised an eyebrow and turned to him. "You''re treating?"

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    Her expression didn¡¯t change, but the temperature of the air seemed to drop a few degrees.

    Zhao Ke, now fully aware of the situation, hurriedly nodded frantically, "Of course! I¡¯m treating, I¡¯m treating¡ª"

    He was thrilled. Who wouldn¡¯t want to treat the whole school¡¯s goddess to a meal? This was a rare opportunity for intimate contact, and he would pay anything for it. But midway through his sentence, when he met Su Qingyan''s indifferent gaze, he felt a chill run down his spine. His voice dropped to a near whisper, "I... I¡¯ll treat or... not treat?"

    Su Qingyan looked at him for a long moment before responding, her voice as cool as ever.

    "You¡¯re not treating."

    Zhao Ke immediately nodded like a chick pecking at food. "Right, right, I¡¯m not treating! You two eat, something just came up at home, my mom¡¯s having a second baby!"

    And with that, he dashed off without a second glance.

    Lin Ran stood there, stunned.

    "What the hell?"

    "What a top-tier chameleon."

    The unwanted third wheel disappeared, and Su Qingyan, satisfied with the outcome, turned her gaze back to Lin Ran. Her expression had returned to its usual calm.

    "Shall we eat?"

    Lin Ran sighed, feeling resigned, and turned to walk out the door. "Let¡¯s go."

    Meanwhile, Zhao Ke, having made it around the corner and hidden behind a wall, cautiously peeked out and watched as Lin Ran and Su Qingyan walked away, one after the other. He swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he muttered to himself, "Wait¡­ are they really dating?"

    <hr>

    Yunnan High School had three main teaching buildings: Yuxiu, Minsi, and Qinda. The senior year classes were in the Yuxiu building. There were fifteen classes in total, with three classrooms on each floor. Lin Ran¡¯s Class 10 was on the fourth floor.

    As Lin Ran made his way down the stairs to the first floor, he thought that because the last class had run late, the cafeteria would be packed, and it would be hard to find a seat.

    He turned to glance at his desk mate, Su Qingyan.

    The afternoon sun was growing hotter, and as Su Qingyan had removed her long-sleeve school jacket, she casually tied it around her waist like a skirt. The sight of her slender legs beneath her long pants, and her tiny waist outlined by the jacket, was striking. Her white arms, exposed beneath her short-sleeve uniform, practically shimmered.

    She looked like the most beautiful and captivating sight on campus, standing there in full view of everyone.

    "Eating lunch with the school goddess."

    "In front of everyone."

    "I¡¯m probably going to be on the school¡¯s ¡®Most Jealous Guys¡¯ list tomorrow."

    Lin Ran, with his mental age of a thirty-something-year-old man, felt his survival instincts kicking in. He turned to her and suggested, "How about we eat outside the school?"

    Su Qingyan looked at him for a moment, then nodded with a neutral expression. "Sure."

    As she casually brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead, several boys walking by seemed to freeze, staring at her in awe. Lin Ran almost lost his composure and found himself staring too.

    "Mm?" Su Qingyan noticed his gaze and, perhaps misunderstanding, raised an eyebrow. She lifted her hand slightly and asked, "Do you want to hold hands?"

    Lin Ran: "?"

    Lin Ran: "!"

    His mind immediately spun into overdrive, shaking his head as fast as a rattling drum. "No, no, no!"

    It was the first day of his rebirth.

    He had no intention of being beaten to death by jealous classmates.

    So, he quickly turned around and hurriedly walked toward the school gate, trying to escape.

    Su Qingyan watched him go with a slight smirk, then shrugged with a look of playful regret.

    "My little desk mate, still too shy."

    With a soft chuckle, she followed him, her steps light and effortless.

    "It¡¯s okay."

    "Playing with you is fun."

 Read his entire diary

    Su Qingyan glanced at Lin Ran, who had been silent for a while, and assumed he was still thinking about Shen Lingshan.

    Her elegant brows furrowed immediately.

    This won¡¯t do!

    The man she had painstakingly regained after being reborn shouldn¡¯t be easily swept away by a flirtatious girl like that sea king (a term for a playboy)!

    But¡ª

    Su Qingyan looked at Lin Ran, who was sitting across from her, her expression shifting slightly as a hint of worry appeared in her eyes.

    Her foolish desk mate, with his simple and introverted nature, was no match for someone like Shen Lingshan, that manipulative, scheming woman.

    He could easily be deceived, even to the point of losing everything, including his underwear.

    No, this couldn¡¯t go on.

    Su Qingyan immediately made up her mind.

    She had to teach this foolish desk mate a good lesson.

    She cleared her throat lightly and waited for Lin Ran to look up at her. Once his attention was on her, she adopted a cold and aloof expression and began her ¡°education.¡±

    ¡°At your age, it¡¯s normal for boys to have some vague desires and pursuit of the opposite sex.¡±

    ¡°But even as a boy, you still need to learn to protect yourself when you''re out in the world.¡±

    ¡°The world of love can be very dangerous.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t just fall for some girl¡¯s sweet words; by the time you regret it, it¡¯ll be too late¡ª¡±

    As she spoke, Lin Ran slowly processed her words, and a giant question mark appeared above his head:

    ¡°?¡±

    Something didn¡¯t feel right.

    Why was the school beauty suddenly giving him a lecture?

    She was even advising him on matters of the heart?

    This felt¡­ off.

    ...

    Seeing his confused expression, Su Qingyan thought he was unconvinced and smiled faintly.

    ¡°What? You don¡¯t agree?¡±

    ¡°Do you think you¡¯re too smart to be easily deceived?¡±

    Lin Ran let out a dry laugh.

    Of course not, he was a man who had lived two lives. With the body of an 18-year-old and the soul of a 34-year-old, what kinds of storms hadn¡¯t he weathered? A little school beauty, still underage, was trying to lecture him? This was a bit much.

    Before he could chuckle and explain, however, Su Qingyan spoke again, her tone calm.

    ¡°In the first semester of freshman year, when Shen Lingshan called you ¡®Brother Lin Ran,¡¯ you spent your whole month¡¯s living allowance buying her a celebrity album.¡±

    ¡°Last winter break, when she said ¡®our Lin Ran,¡¯ you went all out, riding your bicycle to deliver love breakfasts for half a month.¡±

    Lin Ran stared at her in disbelief.

    How did she know all this?!

    He wanted to protest, but he didn¡¯t even know where to start.

    Meanwhile, Su Qingyan continued.

    ¡°There¡¯s a cafe near the school gate, called ¡®Brewed Delights.¡¯ They serve a variety of breakfast sandwiches and gourmet coffee.¡±

    ¡°The portions are generous, but the only downside is that it¡¯s pricier than the student cafeteria. Only the students with more pocket money come here.¡±

    Lin Ran was definitely not one of those students.

    With only 200 RMB (about $30) for his weekly living allowance and 40 RMB (about $6) a day to spend, he wasn¡¯t in the ¡°rich student¡± category.

    As they entered the cafe, Lin Ran immediately felt the invisible weight of spending money pressing down on him.

    Being reborn in this life had made his body young again, but it had also made his wallet slim down to a fraction of what it used to be.

    So¡ª

    No time for nostalgic thoughts.

    What lay ahead was a financial battle that would drain his wallet dry.

    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!Su Qingyan, on the other hand, seemed in high spirits.

    Following behind Lin Ran, she walked with light steps, her gaze filled with curiosity as she took in the cozy interior of the cafe. The rustic wooden furniture and chalkboard menu reminded her of the quaint cafes she used to visit.

    Lost in her thoughts, she didn¡¯t even notice Lin Ran¡¯s pained expression.

    They found a table by the window and sat down.

    Lin Ran glanced up at the printed menu on the wall:

    Bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich for $7, avocado toast for $9, smoked salmon bagel for $11¡­

    It was terrifying!

    His scalp tingled.

    At that moment, Su Qingyan had already waved to the barista and ordered a breakfast croissant with scrambled eggs and smoked ham.

    $12!

    Then, she turned to Lin Ran.

    ¡°What are you having?¡±

    Lin Ran felt like his heart was bleeding.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have the simple egg and cheese sandwich, please.¡±

    At $6, it was the cheapest item on the menu.

    Su Qingyan raised an eyebrow slightly.

    ¡°Just egg and cheese? Don¡¯t you want something more filling?¡±

    Internally, her mini-self was scolding him:

    [At this age, boys are still growing. How can you just eat a plain sandwich?]

    Lin Ran took a deep breath.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m allergic to certain foods.¡±

    At the same time, his inner mini-version was nearly in tears:

    [Actually, I¡¯m allergic to ¡°expensive¡± food!]

    ¡°Stop making excuses.¡± Su Qingyan gave him a cool glance, easily seeing through his excuse, and confidently ordered him the smoked salmon bagel instead.

    She also added two bottles of iced lemon iced tea, casually placing one in front of Lin Ran.

    Finally, she didn¡¯t forget to deliver a cool lecture:

    ¡°Eat better food, it¡¯ll give you more energy to study.¡±

    Lin Ran: ¡°¡­¡±

    If it weren¡¯t for her paying, she wouldn¡¯t care at all.

    ¡­

    But the food was ordered, so there was no turning back.

    Lin Ran took a big gulp of the iced lemon tea, savoring the refreshing taste, which helped soothe the wound to his wallet.

    Meanwhile, Su Qingyan, sitting across from him, was elegantly sipping her iced coffee while watching him.

    Then, as if out of nowhere, she asked coolly,

    ¡°You spend most of your weekly allowance on Shen Lingshan, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Cough cough cough!

    Lin Ran choked violently, almost spitting out his iced tea.

    ¡°How do you know?!¡±

    [Of course, I read your diary.]

    Su Qingyan didn¡¯t blush or break a sweat. She remained as calm as ever, her voice indifferent.

    ¡°Many people in the school know. I heard it from someone else.¡±

    Lin Ran¡¯s head slammed onto the table with a loud thud, speechless.

    His embarrassing ¡°simp¡± behavior had spread all over the school like wildfire?

    ¡°Last New Year, she said, ¡®I¡¯m thinking about holding your hand,¡¯ and you got so excited that you handed over two months¡¯ worth of meal money, just to hear a ¡®thank you.¡¯¡±

    ¡°And then¡­¡±

    She continued without pause.

    She listed everything in detail.

    The events, the lines, the time, the places, the specifics¡ªeverything.

    Lin Ran sat there, dumbfounded.

    His mini-Q version was also stunned.

    His mind was filled with a blur of curses, and only two words echoed in his brain:

    [What the hell?!]

    Seeing his dumbfounded expression, Su Qingyan¡¯s face broke into a faint smile, the corners of her lips curving upwards.

    ¡°There¡¯s more.¡±

    ¡°Would you like me to keep going?¡±

    She casually took a sip of her iced coffee.

    The school beauty remained composed, her calm demeanor unshaken.

    [No big deal.]

    [Just someone who¡¯s read his entire diary.]

 Everything is normal

    The Fear Worse than Your Dark Past

    There¡¯s something more terrifying than your dark past.

    It¡¯s someone reminding you of it right in front of you.

    [Day One of Rebirth.]

    [Top-tier social death.]

    Su Qingyan casually glanced at Lin Ran: "Are you convinced now?"

    "Convinced," Lin Ran mumbled, ashamed, slamming his head onto the desk. The evidence was undeniable. His three years of high school were nothing but pure, titanium-alloyed servitude to a girl¡ªthere was no way to clean that up.

    Suddenly, he looked up at the class flower sitting across from him, a puzzled expression on his face.

    ¡°How do you know all of this so clearly?¡±

    Su Qingyan maintained her calm, indifferent demeanor. She lied without batting an eye:

    ¡°Lots of people know. I heard it from others.¡±

    Lin Ran¡¯s head hit the desk again with a loud thud.

    [Well, that¡¯s a surprise.]

    [A second social death.]

    Seeing Lin Ran¡¯s dismayed expression, Su Qingyan¡¯s lips briefly curved into a smile before returning to her usual coolness.

    ¡°Now you understand? Then make sure you never fall for that kind of girl again. Stay away from girls like that.¡±

    Lin Ran, with a face full of bitterness, nodded in agreement. "Definitely!"

    Not only in the future¡ªhe wished he could go back two years and erase all those past mistakes, including those embarrassing episodes.

    Satisfied with Lin Ran¡¯s attitude, Su Qingyan continued, casually eating her meal as she expanded on her point, going full steam ahead:

    ¡°At your age, you should focus. This is the time to study hard and get into a good university.¡±

    ¡°Right!¡±

    ¡°So, if Shen Ling Shan tries to contact you again, don¡¯t bother with her.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡±

    ¡°If any other girl wants to hang out with you, learn to say ¡®no¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡±

    ¡°If anyone, like me, asks you out for a meal, you absolutely refuse.¡±

    ¡°Fine!¡±

    ¡°If you find out that any girl in class or from your grade is interested in you, report it to me immediately.¡±

    ¡°Sure! ...Wait, what!?¡±

    Something felt off. Lin Ran immediately looked up, a suspicious look on his face.

    ¡°Why should I report it to you if another girl likes me?¡±

    ¡°Also, why is it okay for you to ask me out for a meal, but not other girls?¡±

    Su Qingyan remained composed, her face betraying no emotion. She continued coolly:

    ¡°I¡¯m the class monitor.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s my responsibility to keep an eye on the students and ensure their studies aren¡¯t distracted.¡±

    ¡°And as for asking you out for a meal¡ªthat¡¯s different. We¡¯re desk mates. It¡¯s completely normal for desk mates to share a meal.¡±

    [Is that how it works?]

    Lin Ran blinked in disbelief, eyeing his class flower desk mate. She looked so calm and indifferent, and there wasn¡¯t the slightest hint of guilt or lying.

    He slowly started to believe it¡­

    After all, why would she lie about something like this? There was no reason for her to deceive him.

    He wasn¡¯t someone she was interested in, after all.

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Feeling a little relieved, Lin Ran smiled knowingly.

    After all, in his previous life, he had no experience. Getting tricked by someone like Shen Ling Shan could be excused.

    But this time? He was a reborn man¡ªan experienced soul of thirty-something trapped in an 18-year-old body.

    If Su Qingyan was lying or had some ulterior motive, he would easily see through it.

    He wouldn¡¯t be fooled.

    With his mind made up, Lin Ran couldn¡¯t help but feel touched by the way Su Qingyan, usually so cold and detached, cared for him out of both kindness and her responsibility as class monitor.

    He looked at her earnestly and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    [Look! He¡¯s actually thanking me!]

    Inside, the mini-version of Su Qingyan was laughing so hard, she was almost rolling on the floor in glee, clutching her stomach.

    On the outside, Su Qingyan remained unaffected, her expression still as calm as ever.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± she said coolly.

    ¡°It¡¯s the least I could do.¡±

    ¡°So, how are you going to thank me?¡±

    Lin Ran blinked, the sincere words stuck in his throat as he suddenly faltered.

    ¡°How do you want me to thank you?¡±

    Su Qingyan appeared to consider it for a moment, her tone casual, as if she wasn¡¯t scheming at all.

    ¡°Just call me ¡®sister¡¯ and we¡¯ll be good.¡±

    Lin Ran stared at her, his face darkening with disbelief.

    [Again!?]

    She met his gaze with ease, as if saying it was just a casual remark.

    ¡°Not gonna happen!¡±

    ¡°How could I call you that?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not calling you that!¡±

    Su Qingyan, without skipping a beat, said, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll pay for the meal.¡±

    ¡°Sis!!¡±

    Lin Ran instantly flipped his tone, his eyes shining with sincerity as if he had just reunited with a long-lost sibling. His voice was filled with passion, his acting so convincing that it could bring tears to anyone¡¯s eyes.

    Su Qingyan remained unmoved, her face unchanged.

    She gave a slight, non-committal nod.

    Then, she stood up gracefully.

    With an effortless motion, she reached over and ruffled Lin Ran¡¯s messy black hair, speaking in a tone that was soft and casual:

    ¡°Good boy.¡±

    Then she turned and walked toward the counter.

    Without a second thought, she fished out a hundred-dollar bill with her slender fingers and placed it on the counter with no expression.

    ¡°Boss, check please.¡±

    And then, she casually walked out.

    As she left, the 18-year-old goddess, who was recognized as the most aloof and beautiful in the school, moved with such elegance that her every step seemed to carry an air of delicate grace.

    For a brief moment, there was an almost captivating, enchanting aura to her every movement.

    Lin Ran stood frozen, staring at her departing figure, dumbfounded.

    Suddenly, he came back to his senses:

    Did she just ruffle my hair!?

    Meanwhile, inside her head, the mini-version of Su Qingyan was grinning from ear to ear, unable to stop her jubilant laughter.

    [Aha, I successfully got a little benefit from Lin Ran. So happy!~]

    [His hair feels so nice to ruffle!]

    [I¡¯m doing it again next time!¡¿

    As Lin Ran finally stepped out of the restaurant, they didn¡¯t head straight back to school.

    Next door to the restaurant was a small convenience store.

    Su Qingyan told Lin Ran to wait outside while she went in to buy some wet wipes.

    For a high school boy to accompany a girl like this, it hinted at some closeness, some budding affection.

    But for Su Qingyan, she was still as composed as ever, offering a perfectly formal excuse.

    ¡°Going to the store with your desk mate is normal.¡±

    ¡°Other desk mates do it all the time.¡±

    So that¡¯s what the ¡°desk mate¡± role is used for?

    Lin Ran was a bit suspicious, but ultimately chose to accept it. After all, he reasoned, Su Qingyan had no reason to deceive him.

    She wasn¡¯t after anything, so why would she lie?

    As Su Qingyan went into the store, Lin Ran waited outside.

    That was when a familiar, delicate voice called out from behind:

    ¡°Lin Ran¡ª¡±

    Lin Ran turned around and saw Shen Ling Shan, standing at the entrance of a noodle shop across the street. She stood with her arms crossed, looking down at him, a proud and superior expression on her face.

    ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°Have you thought about apologizing to me yet?¡±

 Short and not even that pretty

    Crossing her arms, Shen Lingshan looked down smugly at Lin Ran standing on the stairs below her.

    Earlier, when she had witnessed the scene in the corridor behind the 10th-grade classroom, where Su Qingyan had taken Lin Ran''s hand and walked into the classroom, it had left a huge psychological impact on her. She could hardly believe that the acknowledged "Ice Queen" of the school would stand up for a boy¡ªlet alone hold hands with him!

    But then Shen Lingshan quickly realized, based on her own analysis and that of her close friend Cui Qianqian, that it was all just a misunderstanding. A boy like Lin Ran would never have any connection with a goddess-like figure like Su Qingyan. They were just desk mates. Su Qingyan probably just didn¡¯t want her desk mate to be bullied too much, so she stood up for him with a few words of help.

    In fact, it was more likely that Lin Ran had pleaded with her, possibly even at great cost, to stir her sympathy, and then pretended to be protecting him in front of Shen Lingshan. The motive? It was simple¡ª"This is just to make you jealous!"

    Her best friend, Cui Qianqian, immediately confirmed this and sneered:

    "Who would''ve thought this guy had such deep scheming."

    "He even brought out Su Qingyan, the school goddess. Any other girl would definitely feel threatened."

    "But doesn''t he think about it? Who would believe that a guy like him could be involved with someone like Su Qingyan?"

    "Lin Ran is just trying to put on a show. The more he pretends, the more it proves he likes you!"

    "As long as you don''t fall for it, I guarantee he¡¯ll be crawling back to you by the end of the day!"

    Sure enough, after finishing his meal alone at the noodle shop by the school gate, Lin Ran came out, and Shen Lingshan saw him standing at the door of the convenience store, waiting for her.

    At that moment, she was fully convinced that her judgment was right.

    A proud smile spread across her face, and her tone grew more commanding as she said:

    "I¡¯m telling you."

    "To get my forgiveness this time, it¡¯s not going to be enough with just two or three gifts!"

    ...

    Apologize?

    Lin Ran stared at Shen Lingshan as if she were crazy.

    "Apologize for what?"

    He was just here waiting for his school flower desk mate, and now this ''green tea'' girl appeared out of nowhere.

    Shen Lingshan smiled confidently.

    "You usually eat in the cafeteria.

    "Today, you''re at the school gate, waiting for me to come out, right?"

    "Don¡¯t act tough now."

    Lin Ran laughed.

    "Not waiting for you."

    Shen Lingshan laughed again, looking at him like she had already seen through his thoughts.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website."If you''re not waiting for me, who else are you waiting for?"

    "Lin Ran, I see through all your tricks."

    "I know you''re trying to make me jealous, so you spent all that time getting Su Qingyan to come out and act along with you."

    "But do you really think I¡¯ll fall for such a childish trick?"

    As soon as Su Qingyan¡¯s name was mentioned, Lin Ran was immediately reminded of the mortifying scene earlier, when the school flower had laid out all his "dark history" in front of him at the restaurant. His temples started throbbing, and he felt the overwhelming embarrassment rushing back.

    It was too awkward.

    Looking at the person responsible for his "death of social life," Lin Ran¡¯s face turned black¡ª

    The school flower desk mate was right.

    Getting involved with someone like Shen Lingshan would only bring trouble!

    He couldn¡¯t be bothered to keep arguing.

    "Yeah, yeah, you¡¯ve seen through me."

    "You''re really something."

    "Now that you¡¯ve said your piece, can you go back to wherever you came from? I¡¯m waiting for someone."

    Shen Lingshan was taken aback by Lin Ran¡¯s unexpected attitude.

    After recovering, she looked at the boy who used to always listen to her, who had once doted on her, and a surge of anger rushed to her heart. She snapped sharply:

    "Lin Ran, what¡¯s your attitude?!"

    "I''m giving you one last chance¡ª"

    "Apologize right now!"

    "Or you¡¯ll regret it!"

    Just then, Su Qingyan, who had finished her shopping and was about to leave the convenience store, overheard Shen Lingshan¡¯s angry reprimand as she was standing at the door.

    She stopped in her tracks and quietly moved closer to the plastic door curtain at the store¡¯s exit, eavesdropping on the conversation.

    She wasn¡¯t in a hurry to show herself.

    She wanted to see how her "teaching" would play out¡ªhow her silly desk mate would handle the situation.

    ...

    Listening to Shen Lingshan¡¯s angry threats, Lin Ran raised an eyebrow:

    "What do I have to regret?"

    Shen Lingshan smiled confidently, thinking she had the upper hand:

    "If you don¡¯t apologize¡ª"

    "From now on, it¡¯s not just holding hands anymore."

    "I, Shen Lingshan, won¡¯t even acknowledge you! I won¡¯t speak to you again!"

    "Even if you want to find me, I won¡¯t spare you a single glance!"

    "We¡¯re done! We¡¯re breaking up!"

    Lin Ran nodded.

    "Okay."

    Shen Lingshan: "???"

    The sudden turn left her completely stunned.

    It felt like she had thrown what she thought was her finishing move, ready to deliver a lethal blow, but instead, she missed entirely.

    She was left flustered and confused.

    "Wh-what do you mean?"

    Lin Ran smiled calmly and explained:

    "Just the literal meaning. My desk mate told me to focus on studying and stay away from girls like you."

    Then he looked directly at Shen Lingshan and added:

    "Specifically, you."

    Shen Lingshan was furious.

    "I¡¯m not like that!" she shouted, her brain nearly short-circuiting.

    "How dare you say that about me!"

    Lin Ran feigned innocence:

    "I didn¡¯t say it, my desk mate did."

    Shen Lingshan nearly lost her mind.

    "So you listen to your desk mate¡¯s words?"

    Lin Ran looked at Shen Lingshan and finally revealed a slight smirk.

    "Why should I listen to you? What makes you so special?"

    The words, accompanied by the mockery on his face, were like a sharp sword.

    It struck Shen Lingshan so hard that she was left speechless.

    Lin Ran continued in a slow, deliberate manner:

    "Moreover."

    "My desk mate is the school goddess, she¡¯s beautiful, tall, and her voice is pleasant. Why wouldn¡¯t I listen to her?"

    He paused, looking at the dazed Shen Lingshan and added:

    "Unlike you."

    "Short and not even that pretty."

 Score

    ¡°Not like you at all.

    You¡¯re just not that pretty.¡±

    A simple ten words.

    They landed like a dagger, and in an instant, pierced through Shen Ling Shan, leaving her stunned.

    ¡°Lin Ran, remember this¡ªI will never forgive you again!¡±

    The once sweet and cute class beauty of Grade 12, Shen Ling Shan, turned on her heels and stormed off, voice cracking as she shouted those words, leaving Lin Ran standing there, unbothered.

    Students passing by gave him strange looks, wondering if he was one of those heartless players who had wronged an innocent girl.

    But Lin Ran didn¡¯t care.

    Was what he said too much?

    Compared to what Shen Ling Shan had done to him, both in this life and his past life, his words had been relatively mild.

    Besides, everything he said was the truth.

    In comparison to his cold and elegant desk partner, Su Qing Yan, a girl who truly had grace and beauty, Shen Ling Shan¡ªwho loved to act cute and flirt with na?ve boys¡ªwas just average at best.

    Just as he was reflecting on this, he heard footsteps behind him.

    Turning, he saw Su Qing Yan, his desk partner, walking out of the convenience store, a small packet of wet wipes in hand along with a few candies¡ªpresumably change from the purchase.

    Still as composed and graceful as ever, Su Qing Yan glanced at him.

    ¡°Who were you talking to just now?¡±

    Lin Ran replied casually, ¡°Just some random person, not important.¡±

    Su Qing Yan nodded, pretending not to care.

    Then, without a word, she handed him one of the candies, saying, ¡°It¡¯s from the change. Try it.¡±

    As Lin Ran unwrapped the candy and popped it in his mouth, a small smile tugged at the corner of Su Qing Yan¡¯s lips. Inside, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit pleased.

    [Silly fool.]

    [His words are pretty sweet.]

    [A reward for you.]

    The rest of the afternoon passed without incident as they returned to school.

    In the classroom, the students had all returned and were scattered across their desks, already drifting off to sleep. After lunch, the drowsiness was inevitable, and Lin Ran soon found himself dozing off on his desk.

    Su Qing Yan, sitting next to him, quietly popped a candy into her mouth. She leaned slightly, resting her cheek on her hand as she glanced at Lin Ran, now fast asleep. A faint smile appeared on her face, her heart warming at the sight.

    At 1:40 PM, the bell rang for class.

    It jerked the students from their dreams, and with groans, they began straightening up in their seats, trying to shake off the sleepiness as they prepared for another round of lessons.

    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Lin Ran¡¯s class, Grade 12 Class 10, was a liberal arts class.

    After the separation of science and arts, they no longer had physics or chemistry, leaving only the six core subjects: Math,  Politics, History, and Geography.

    The first lesson was Geography, followed by Politics.

    With less than two months until the college entrance exams, they had entered the final review stage. The day was mostly filled with memorizing all kinds of information¡ªvalues, philosophical concepts, wind currents, mountain ranges, etc.

    Two hours of class had left everyone feeling dizzy and exhausted.

    Only a few top students, like Su Qing Yan, seemed unaffected, absorbing all the material with ease. They sat at the front, vibrant and energetic, taking notes rapidly as the teacher spoke.

    Su Qing Yan wasn¡¯t just the beauty of the school¡ªshe was also one of the best students in the entire grade.

    Throughout high school, she had always ranked in the top three in her class, and last year, she scored 658 points in the college entrance exam, securing the third place in the province for liberal arts students, and even taking the top spot in her city.

    "She really is impressive," Lin Ran thought, glancing at her.

    Looking at the focused and composed girl next to him, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit awed.

    Compared to her, he felt utterly inadequate.

    In his past life, he had always ranked in the middle or lower half of the class.

    After getting involved with Shen Ling Shan, his focus shifted entirely away from his studies, and his grades plummeted. By the time of the college entrance exams, he was barely scraping by, almost missing the second-tier universities.

    But this time, things would be different.

    A small smirk appeared on his lips as he felt a surge of confidence.

    Just as he was thinking this, a piece of paper was slid over to him.

    He glanced at it. The elegant handwriting read:

    ¡°Stop grinning and focus on the lesson.¡±

    Lin Ran: ¡°¡­.¡±

    He looked over at Su Qing Yan, who was still attentively listening to the teacher, her expression as calm as ever.

    It was clear she was keeping an eye on him.

    With a sigh, he turned his attention back to the lesson and reluctantly began to pay attention.

    However, just as he turned away, he missed seeing the slight curve of a smile on Su Qing Yan¡¯s lips.

    [Silly.]

    [You¡¯re really distracted by me.]

    [Is my charm really this strong?]

    Lost in her thoughts, Su Qing Yan couldn¡¯t help but smile to herself, blissfully unaware of the misunderstanding that was happening.

    <hr>

    Later, the final class of the day was homeroom.

    The teacher, Mr. Liu Chun, stood at the front of the classroom with a serious expression.

    ¡°Next week is our mock exam!¡±

    ¡°Everyone better prepare properly!¡±

    ¡°We ranked second to last in the last mock exam!¡±

    ¡°We only had one student in the top ten, and we were behind in the overall ranking of all six liberal arts classes!¡±

    The students went quiet, too afraid to speak, dreading that they might become the target of Mr. Liu¡¯s frustration.

    Lin Ran, sitting near the back, nodded, recognizing the situation.

    This was nothing new.

    In the past, Class 10 had always been near the bottom of the six liberal arts classes, and their performance was closely tied to their teacher¡¯s own performance evaluation. It was no wonder Mr. Liu was so upset.

    Just as Lin Ran was lost in his thoughts, a familiar voice snapped him back to reality.

    ¡°Lin Ran! Stand up!¡±

    He jumped up reflexively, looking toward the front of the class.

    Mr. Liu was glaring at him with fury, while the other students were watching with amusement.

    Mr. Liu slammed his hand on the desk and shouted,

    ¡°Do you even know how badly you did on the last mock exam?!¡±

 Tutor me in my studies

    "What did you score on the last mock exam?"

    This question was difficult for Lin Ran to answer. After all, he had been reincarnated more than ten years later, and his past life was not something easily recalled¡ªespecially not under the stress of being a student again.

    Luckily, before Lin Ran could even try to think of an answer, the teacher at the front of the class, Mr. Liu Chun, was already listing his scores in a fit of fury:

    "Math: 71!"

    "Chinese: 82!"

    "English: 74!"

    "Political Science, History, Geography: 143 in total¡ªaveraging less than passing!"

    "We have 49 students in this class, and you¡¯re ranked 44th!"

    "That¡¯s six places lower than your midterm results!"

    Mr. Liu glared at Lin Ran, who sat at the back of the room, near the window, one of the lowest-ranked students in the class. Mr. Liu was practically fuming with frustration.

    When Lin Ran first joined the class in the 10th grade, his scores had been barely passing, hovering around the 30th place. But since the start of 11th grade, his grades had dropped precipitously. Now, as the college entrance exams loomed, he was practically at the bottom.

    As the homeroom teacher, Mr. Liu felt both frustrated and embarrassed. On one hand, he was upset by Lin Ran''s lack of effort, but on the other hand, the teacher''s performance evaluations and even his professional benefits were tied to the class''s overall performance. Every student who dragged the average down felt like a personal failure to him.

    To make matters worse, his rival, Mr. Wu from Class 13, was constantly mocking him. Mr. Wu''s class consistently outperformed his, and the two of them frequently exchanged barbed comments. This was especially true today¡ªMr. Wu had once again gotten the better of him in some indirect way, which had left Mr. Liu in a bad mood.

    Walking into class to hold a homeroom meeting, he had spotted Lin Ran daydreaming in the back, and the anger that had been simmering inside him suddenly erupted.

    He seized the opportunity to lecture Lin Ran, his voice rising in frustration.

    "And for the upcoming mock exam," Mr. Liu declared, his voice hard, "you have to increase your score by at least 20 points! You cannot continue dragging down the class average!"

    "If you don¡¯t improve, I¡¯ll call your parents!"

    The rest of the class, many of whom were seated near the back, couldn¡¯t help but snicker. One boy in the front row, who seemed particularly amused, shouted out:

    "Teacher, asking Lin Ran to improve by 20 points is impossible!"

    "He¡¯s too busy chasing after the Class 7 flower."

    "He doesn¡¯t have time to study."

    The tone was full of mocking laughter, and the room erupted in giggles.

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    Mr. Liu¡¯s face grew even darker at the mention of the "class flower," and he shot a sharp look at Lin Ran.

    "Forget about the flowers and nonsense!" Mr. Liu snapped. "You will improve by 20 points!"

    "Whatever it takes. I don¡¯t care if you have to cram, do endless exercises, memorize everything¡ªget someone to tutor you if necessary. I¡¯m only looking at the result, not the process!"

    The boy who had started the teasing then called out again, laughing loudly:

    "Teacher, don¡¯t bother. If Lin Ran finds a tutor, he''ll just drag everyone else down with him!"

    "He¡¯s too busy with his little crushes to focus on his studies. Don¡¯t let him distract the others!"

    The room was filled with even louder laughter now.

    However, several of the top-ranking students in the class looked at Lin Ran with a sense of caution and even some wariness. They knew that this mock exam was important for them. They couldn''t afford any distractions, especially not from a student like Lin Ran who might waste their time and derail their own preparations.

    But Lin Ran remained unperturbed.

    In his past life, such ridicule would have deeply embarrassed him, and he probably would have been at a loss for how to respond.

    But this life was different.

    With the soul of someone in his thirties, he had long since developed a thick skin. These petty, childish insults didn¡¯t even faze him.

    Moreover¡ªimproving his grades might have been a challenge in his previous life, but now, as someone who had been reborn, it was no problem at all.

    No one in the room knew that, with his rebirth, Lin Ran had some serious advantages up his sleeve.

    With a calm smile, he looked up at Mr. Liu on the podium and said:

    "Don¡¯t worry, Teacher."

    "I¡¯ll take care of my own studies."

    He paused for a moment before adding, genuinely:

    "I¡¯ll work hard and make sure I don¡¯t drag the class down."

    "I¡¯ll aim to raise my score by 200 points."

    <hr>

    At this, the entire class erupted into laughter.

    The same boy who had mocked him earlier was now laughing so hard he could barely breathe, pointing at Lin Ran:

    "200 points? You¡¯re dreaming! You can¡¯t even improve by two points!"

    The boy turned to Mr. Liu and, still chuckling, said:

    "Well, at least Lin Ran knows his place. He¡¯s not even bothering to ask anyone for help since he knows none of us want to waste time with him."

    "This way, you can focus on the real students and not worry about him."

    Mr. Liu frowned slightly.

    Although he didn¡¯t like the boy¡¯s sarcastic tone, he couldn¡¯t help but agree.

    Lin Ran had become a nuisance, but if he started asking the better students for help, it could disrupt everyone¡¯s studying.

    As for Lin Ran¡¯s claim of improving by 200 points, Mr. Liu didn¡¯t take it seriously. He assumed Lin Ran was just trying to save face and bluffing.

    After a moment of thought, Mr. Liu sighed and said, his tone stiff:

    "Fine. Focus on your own review. If you have any real problems, you can ask me or another teacher for help."

    Before he could finish, a cool, melodic voice interrupted:

    "You don¡¯t need to ask anyone else."

    "I¡¯ll help."

    Suddenly, the entire class went silent. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone, including Mr. Liu, turned their attention to the source of the voice.

    There, standing up from her seat in the back corner of the classroom, was none other than Su Qing Yan¡ªthe ice-cold beauty of the school. She walked over and stood beside Lin Ran.

    Su Qing Yan cast a cold glance over the students who had just mocked Lin Ran. Those who had laughed along with the boys quickly lowered their eyes, feeling guilty and uncomfortable.

    Then she turned to face Mr. Liu, her voice calm yet firm, as she repeated:

    "I¡¯ll tutor Lin Ran."

    At her words, the classroom erupted in shock and disbelief.

    What?!

 Make a bet

    The entire class was in shock!

    Lin Ran was stunned as well.

    He had been confident and prepared to bluff his way through. But before he could even get started, the class beauty¡ªhis desk mate¡ªstood up as well.

    Without hesitation, she completely stole the spotlight from him.

    The students of Class 10 looked at the scene, hardly believing their eyes. They glanced between the cold and elegant Su Qingyan, the school¡¯s top beauty, and Lin Ran standing beside her¡ªit seemed utterly unbelievable.

    Su Qingyan¡¯s ice-cold, aloof beauty was well-known throughout the school. It was recognized by everyone, even among the girls, that no one could easily get close to her. She was always alone, focused entirely on her studies, and despite her outstanding grades, she had little to do with the rest of the class.

    There were some boys who had tried to approach her under the pretense of needing tutoring, but their attempts had ended in failure. Yet now, for someone like Lin Ran, who was close to the bottom of the class, Su Qingyan stood up and offered to personally tutor him?

    ¡°No, no way!¡±

    The boy who had been mocking Lin Ran the loudest earlier could no longer hold his frustration. He blurted out in a hurry, then quickly recovered and tried to save face:

    ¡°Teacher, of course Su Qingyan¡¯s grades are excellent, but for this upcoming mock exam, she still needs to push for the top spot in the whole grade!¡±

    ¡°She can¡¯t afford to be dragged down by Lin Ran!¡±

    Su Qingyan¡¯s decision had shocked everyone, and even the class teacher, Mr. Liu, hesitated and frowned:

    ¡°Well, that makes sense¡­¡±

    ¡°I think maybe it¡¯s better if we just forget about it¡­¡±

    But before he could finish his sentence, Su Qingyan interrupted him, her voice calm and composed:

    ¡°Teacher, it¡¯s fine.¡±

    ¡°As class monitor, it¡¯s my responsibility to help my classmates.¡±

    ¡°Tutoring Lin Ran won¡¯t affect my own grades. In fact, explaining the material to him will help me understand it better too.¡±

    Her words were calm, logical, and irrefutable. Mr. Liu could only nod in agreement, finally making up his mind:

    ¡°Alright then.¡±

    ¡°Lin Ran¡¯s tutoring will be handled by you.¡±

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    ¡°As long as you¡¯re sure it won¡¯t affect your own revision.¡±

    Mr. Liu turned to Lin Ran with a stern expression, his voice suddenly rising several notches:

    ¡°Lin Ran, you¡¯d better cherish this opportunity and learn humbly from Su Qingyan!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t waste her time, and don¡¯t drag her down¡ª¡±

    ¡°If I find out you¡¯re slacking, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you!¡±

    Lin Ran: ¡°¡­Understood.¡±

    The two finally sat back down.

    The class resumed, and Mr. Liu continued with the usual class matters.

    In the back of the room, Lin Ran leaned toward his desk mate, lowering his voice:

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to go out of your way. I can handle it on my own¡­¡±

    Before he could finish, Su Qingyan¡¯s voice, calm as ever, came from beside him:

    ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not doing this for you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just my duty as class monitor and as your desk mate.¡±

    Lin Ran: ¡°¡­Oh, thanks.¡±

    Su Qingyan: ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡±

    Her tone was still calm and detached, revealing no sign of any inner turmoil.

    But in truth, the moment she saw the class laughing at Lin Ran, her anger had already begun to rise. Without a second thought, she stood up, determined to stand up for him.

    If no one else was willing to tutor her cute little desk mate, she would do it herself. Lin Ran didn''t need anyone¡¯s pity¡ªSu Qingyan could handle it just fine.

    Of course, there was more to it than that.

    Once the anger settled, her inner little self started to grin with excitement:

    [Ah, 1-on-1 tutoring!]

    [Another chance to be close to my desk mate and chat!]

    [Where should I start with tutoring him¡­]

    [Maybe I could¡ª]

    [Teach him step by step?]

    After the class meeting, the bell rang, signaling the end of the day.

    Time flew by, and before he knew it, it was already evening.

    At Yunnan High School, there was mandatory evening study, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

    So, after class ended, the students rushed to the cafeteria, eager to grab some dinner.

    Su Qingyan was called away by a few of her close female classmates, heading off to dinner with them.

    Lin Ran, on the other hand, went with his best friend Zhao Ke to the cafeteria.

    While they were eating, Zhao Ke couldn¡¯t help but admire Lin Ran, practically worshiping him:

    ¡°Bro, you¡¯re amazing!¡±

    ¡°I could understand if you were just eating lunch together, but Su Qingyan never tutors anyone! And now, she¡¯s actually tutoring you!¡±

    ¡°To have such a stroke of luck, getting close to the school beauty like that... Even if you screw up the second mock exam and Mr. Liu calls your parents, it¡¯ll still be worth it!¡±

    Lin Ran glanced at Zhao Ke.

    This guy seriously couldn¡¯t give him a break, could he?

    ¡°Who says I¡¯m going to mess up this time?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need tutoring. I can raise my score by at least 200 points on my own.¡±

    Zhao Ke froze for a moment, then shook his head in disbelief:

    ¡°Seriously? You¡¯re saying you¡¯ll raise your score by 200 points? From a 370 to 570? That could put you in the top 15 in class!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not something the average person can even dream of.¡±

    And Lin Ran wasn¡¯t average.

    Thinking about the advantages he now had as a reborn person, Lin Ran smirked mysteriously, turning his gaze to Zhao Ke:

    ¡°How about we make a bet?¡±

    ¡°If I raise my score by at least 200 points in the second mock exam¡ª¡±

    Before Lin Ran could finish, Zhao Ke slapped his chest confidently and cut him off:

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll admit defeat and strip down for a naked handstand on the school field for three laps!¡±

    Lin Ran was shocked¡ªhe had only intended to get Zhao Ke to buy him a few meals.

    But this guy... really went all out.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Lin Ran nodded, then added, ¡°To be fair, what happens if I lose?¡±

    Zhao Ke, with the most righteous expression on his face, said:

    ¡°If you lose, bro, I won¡¯t punish you too harshly.¡±

    Then, with a hesitant look, he leaned closer, speaking carefully:

    ¡°Just one thing¡­¡±

    ¡°Can you tell me how you managed to get Su Qingyan to agree to tutor you?¡±

    ¡°Maybe give me a few tips? We can have a study session together!¡±

    Lin Ran: ¡°?¡±

 Chapter 17é”›æ­­earn together

    After meticulously reviewing the answers on two English exams, Su Qingyan confirmed they were flawless. Finally, she couldn''t hide the shock and disbelief in her eyes.

    Shi''an High School, located in a neighboring county, is, like Yunan High School, a top provincial school. The English exams from Shi''an''s last two practice tests were even slightly harder than those at Yunan.

    Typically, most students at Shi''an average three to four mistakes on these types of cloze tests. However, for Su Qingyan, recognized as both the campus beauty and a top scholar, consistently ranking in the top three, sometimes even first, making a single small error on a preposition was unusual.

    Yet, here was her little desk-mate, who had somehow managed to score perfectly on every question in two different cloze tests!

    The rare look of surprise softened Su Qingyan¡¯s normally frosty demeanor as she scrutinized Lin Ran with a mix of confusion and doubt.

    Something didn¡¯t add up¡­

    In her previous life, she knew this person quite well, and she¡¯d even gone through all of his journals. Her impression of her "little desk-mate" was that his grades had taken a nosedive from the second semester of sophomore year, nearly to the bottom of the class. His English scores usually hovered around 80 out of 150 points.

    How could he achieve a perfect score so easily? And in just twenty minutes?

    Meanwhile, Lin Ran, looking completely relaxed, seemed to be enjoying her uncharacteristic look of astonishment.

    "Believe me now?" he asked.

    For the first time since her rebirth, he managed to get the upper hand over his aloof desk-mate. He allowed himself a moment of satisfaction.

    But to Su Qingyan, his words sounded like a subtle provocation. Her eyebrows shot up, and her once-ice-cold, billion-dollar CEO persona flared back to life.

    ¡°You cheeky little thing.¡±

    ¡°Trying to challenge me, huh?¡±

    ¡°Bring it on!¡±

    With her usual calm, she nodded and said nonchalantly, ¡°Not bad. These two exams were pretty easy.¡± She then pulled out another English test paper from her workbook, covering her own cloze test answers with tape before handing it to him. As she looked at Lin Ran, her tone remained as cool as ever. ¡°Try this one.¡±

    Lin Ran met her gaze, and for a moment, an almost playful competitive spark flew between them. He raised his eyebrows and smiled.

    ¡°No problem.¡±

    ¡­

    Once again, Lin Ran began writing, flying through the answers at an incredible pace. After only ten minutes, he casually handed the third test back to her.

    ¡°Be careful. If you don¡¯t check your work, you might regret it,¡± Su Qingyan remarked with a calm expression, quickly taking the paper and inhaling sharply. She peeled back the tape covering her answers and began comparing his work to hers.

    The comparison didn¡¯t take long. In no time, Su Qingyan confirmed that, once again, he had scored a perfect result. She drew a sharp breath, her shock deepening¡ªhe had done it again!

    One perfect score could be chalked up to luck or familiarity with the test. But a second?

    This third paper wasn¡¯t even a teacher-assigned exercise; she had found this particular English competition paper to challenge herself. It was far more difficult than a regular practice test, full of complex, convoluted sentences designed to confuse. Even at her level, she had fallen into its traps more than once.

    Of the 15 questions, Su Qingyan herself had missed three. For the more advanced students in her class who typically scored between 120 and 130 in English, it wasn¡¯t uncommon to miss five or six on a test of this caliber.

    But somehow, Lin Ran had completed this incredibly difficult test in just ten minutes¡ªwith a perfect score.

    She couldn¡¯t help but look at her desk-mate again, now fully astonished. Her mind was blown. Was this really the same desk-mate she thought she knew? The one who often wrote in his journal about struggling with cloze tests, complaining they were too long and too difficult?

    How had he suddenly transformed into a competition-level English whiz?

    ¡­

    Lin Ran, unaware of Su Qingyan¡¯s inner turmoil, felt invigorated and at ease after finishing the third exam.

    Competition paper? It¡¯s no big deal.

    It had been years since he¡¯d tackled high school exams, but his well-honed skills were still intact. Lin Ran didn¡¯t know that Su Qingyan had read every journal entry he¡¯d ever written in his past life. But even if she had, she couldn¡¯t possibly know¡ª

    After failing his college entrance exams, barely managing to scrape past the cutoff for a second-tier university, his parents had poured their savings into helping him afford a place at a modest university. Seeing their graying hair weighed heavily on Lin Ran¡¯s heart and filled him with regret, driving him to turn his life around once he entered college.

    He studied harder than ever, took on part-time jobs, and even tutored others. By the time he graduated, he had spent three years working as a teacher at a well-known educational center, quickly rising to become one of their top tutors, specializing in high school subjects.

    With such a wealth of knowledge and experience under his belt, Lin Ran returned to high school prepared, facing these tests as if reuniting with old friends.

    Or perhaps, with a touch of swagger, it was more like descending to conquer from a higher plane.

    After passing the English test, Lin Ran moved on to Chinese, Math, Politics, History, and Geography. For the classics in Chinese literature that every high school student is supposed to memorize, he recited them flawlessly and fluidly, barely pausing for breath.

    Math required a bit more effort, but he could still solve the most challenging final questions from other schools'' midterm papers, scoring at least 80% on them. As for the liberal arts subjects like Politics, History, and Geography, he was completely at ease, analyzing and answering with precision.

    At one point, Su Qingyan, who was comparing his answers to the standard key, perked up with a rare, excited tone: ¡°This one¡¯s wrong!¡±

    The next second, Lin Ran glanced at the answer key and casually replied, ¡°The key is wrong.¡± Su Qingyan looked more closely and realized he was right¡ªthe answer key had an error.

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    Soon, a thick stack of real test papers piled up like a small mountain on the desk. Lin Ran, having passed every test flawlessly, leaned back in his chair with a calm and confident air, even crossing his legs leisurely. Simple. Done.

    With his three years of experience as an outstanding, all-around tutor in his previous life, and having worked his way through countless practice tests, these high school exam questions felt trivial. It was as if he was a grandmaster from a martial arts novel, wielding his skills with ease¡ªone stroke to conquer all.

    The questions were as easy to him as slicing through butter. Of course, some knowledge had faded with time, but as long as he had a bit of time to refresh, his bold claim to the homeroom teacher to raise his score by 200 points by the next exam didn¡¯t seem impossible.

    He glanced at his desk-mate, the typically icy Su Qingyan, who was now staring at him in shock. Raising his brows, Lin Ran asked, ¡°Believe me now?¡±

    Inwardly, his tiny cartoon self was gleefully grinning, hands on hips, laughing triumphantly. After a whole day of being dragged around and bested by her, he¡¯d finally turned the tables. Satisfaction!

    ¡­

    Su Qingyan finally snapped back to reality, trying to regain her calm, cold demeanor. She nodded slightly. ¡°Hmm. Not bad.¡± But she couldn¡¯t help giving him a thorough once-over, her curiosity getting the best of her. ¡°How did you suddenly get so good at studying?¡±

    Lin Ran was ready for this question. He had already prepared his answer while working through the exams, and he delivered it smoothly without a hint of hesitation. ¡°It¡¯s not really sudden. I¡¯ve actually been secretly working hard, studying and catching up for a while now,¡± he said casually. ¡°Just waiting to impress everyone with my scores on this next test.¡±

    It might have sounded a bit unconvincing, but it was more plausible than telling her he was reincarnated. Even if he spoke the truth, there was no way she¡¯d believe it.

    Su Qingyan seemed half-convinced, scrutinizing him from head to toe. Secretly studying and cramming? If that were true, how had she missed it? She¡¯d read every entry in his journal, so why would he hide it even from himself?

    After a moment¡¯s thought, she accepted his explanation. After all, it was the only reasonable one. What other explanation could there be? Her little desk-mate wasn¡¯t a time traveler too.

    ¡­

    Seeing Su Qingyan accept his explanation, Lin Ran smiled. ¡°In that case, I shouldn¡¯t need to trouble you for tutoring. I¡¯ll handle my review on my own.¡±

    Su Qingyan hesitated briefly, then nodded, though her emotions were mixed. On the one hand, she was thrilled and relieved. If Lin Ran had stayed at the bottom of the rankings as in the past, they¡¯d inevitably end up at different universities after graduation, making a long-distance relationship unavoidable¡ªa prospect she wasn¡¯t too happy about. But now, it seemed this worry had vanished!

    Inwardly, her little cartoon self was gleefully celebrating, looking at him with pride and admiration: Oh wow, my little desk-mate! Turns out you were hiding all this talent! My taste is impeccable¡ªhe¡¯s a hidden genius!

    On the other hand, though, she felt a pang of disappointment. Originally, she had planned to use tutoring as a way to spend more time with him, guiding him through difficult problems. She¡¯d even imagined the little excuses she¡¯d have to gently squeeze his cheeks or ruffle his hair here and there. But now it seemed like this lovely vision was slipping away¡­

    Of course, Su Qingyan, the top-ranked beauty and academic ace of Yunan High School, wasn¡¯t one to give up. She quickly came up with a new plan, her eyes lighting up with a spark of inspiration. Got it!

    Later, during the final self-study session that evening, Lin Ran was casually flipping through his history textbook, underlining key points with his pen. Suddenly, he caught a whiff of a faint fragrance. He looked over and saw Su Qingyan leaning closer, her expression as cool as always. Her tone was calm and detached.

    ¡°Busy?¡± she asked. ¡°If you¡¯re not, help me with this question.¡±

    She pushed an English test paper towards him, pointing to a reading comprehension section. ¡°I¡¯m struggling with this part.¡±

    A question mark slowly appeared over Lin Ran¡¯s head. Huh? He almost doubted his hearing. Did his desk-mate, the top student and beauty who was always in the top three, just ask him for help?

    He took a closer look at the reading passage. It didn¡¯t seem difficult at all¡ªpretty average, the kind that at least ten, maybe even twenty classmates could solve without issue.

    ¡°Are you serious?¡± he asked, confused.

    Su Qingyan remained calm and collected. ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t understand it.¡±

    Lin Ran was baffled. Had he somehow underestimated this passage? Was there a hidden trick he hadn¡¯t noticed? Determined, he focused again, scrutinizing the passage thoroughly.

    Meanwhile, Su Qingyan watched him bury himself in the work, a sly grin spreading across her mind¡¯s eye. If the mountain won¡¯t come to me, she thought, then I¡¯ll go to the mountain.

    If she couldn¡¯t tutor him, then she¡¯d make him tutor her.

    Nicely done, Su Qingyan! she thought.

    Lin Ran never intended to trouble his seatmate, the campus belle. But after showcasing his true academic abilities, he found the tables had turned, and now, he was the one facing a bit of a dilemma.

    ¡°Lin Ran, I don¡¯t understand this question.¡± ¡°Got a moment? Can you help me with this history question?¡± ¡°Is this a polyphone? I can¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°Why is the answer to this multiple-choice question C?¡±

    Answering these questions and providing guidance was something Lin Ran didn¡¯t mind at first. Yet, as he patiently analyzed and explained each problem, he couldn¡¯t shake the strange feeling that Su Qingyan¡¯s attention wasn¡¯t fully on the papers. Every now and then, he sensed her gaze lingering on him, as if she were more interested in watching him than focusing on the questions. But whenever he quickly looked up, he only saw her calm, collected expression, fully concentrated on her study materials, as if she had never been distracted.

    But the moment he resumed explaining, that peculiar sensation returned, as though he was being quietly observed again. Another quick glance up, and once more, he found her looking innocently focused on the questions, raising her head only to say, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Aren¡¯t you going to continue?¡±

    ¡°...It¡¯s nothing,¡± Lin Ran muttered, uncertain and a little defeated.

    This subtle, unexplainable game continued for the rest of the evening. Tonight, Su Qingyan was unusually enthusiastic, relentlessly passing question after question to him without any pause. When she called for his help for what felt like the hundredth time, he couldn¡¯t help but point to the space at the top of her paper, exasperated, ¡°That¡¯s the student ID section!¡±

    ¡°Oh, my mistake,¡± Su Qingyan replied, unphased, flipping to another question. ¡°How about this one?¡±

    Lin Ran could only stare, speechless, before giving up and picking up his pen to continue explaining.

    Then, just as he reached for the pen, Su Qingyan reached out at the same time, and their fingers accidentally brushed against each other. She instinctively clasped his hand, probably a momentary lapse in control.

    Frozen, Lin Ran looked at her, puzzled. She remained unbothered, her tone as cool as ever, ¡°I grabbed the wrong thing. I just wanted to hand you the pen.¡±

    Lin Ran looked down at his hand still held in her grasp and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Maybe... you could let go now?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Su Qingyan said calmly, releasing his hand immediately, though her inner thoughts were quite the opposite.

    ¡°Oops, Su Qingyan! How could you be so clumsy? Let¡¯s try again next time!¡±

    By the end of the study session, Lin Ran was worn out. When the final bell rang, he breathed a sigh of relief.

    Tutoring Su Qingyan had left him more exhausted than doing ten of his own papers would. But just as he was getting ready to leave, she picked up yet another study guide and started to pass it to him.

    ¡°Oh, and there¡¯s also¡ª¡±

    Lin Ran sprang to his feet as if he¡¯d been jolted. ¡°School¡¯s over! Time to go home!¡± In the blink of an eye, he packed his things, flung his backpack over his shoulder, and bolted out the door like a gust of wind.

    Su Qingyan could only smile at his hurried retreat. Silly boy, what¡¯s he rushing off for? I¡¯m not going to eat him up!

    But as she finished packing her things and prepared to follow, she was stopped by a classmate calling from behind.

    ¡°Su, wait up¡ª¡±

    She paused and turned, spotting Zhou Hua, the class representative for English. He was also the guy who had taunted Lin Ran earlier in the day during their homeroom teacher¡¯s lecture.

    Suppressing a hint of impatience, Su Qingyan asked with a distant look, ¡°What is it?¡±

    Seeing that she¡¯d stopped to talk, Zhou Hua¡¯s face lit up with eagerness. He approached and said, ¡°I just wanted to advise you¡­ I know the teacher assigned you to tutor Lin Ran, but he¡¯s a lost cause. Spending so much time on him will only hurt your own study time. You shouldn¡¯t waste your energy on someone like him.¡±

    As he spoke, Zhou Hua thought he was being thoughtful and considerate. But Su Qingyan¡¯s expression only grew colder. Her gaze turned icy as she interrupted, ¡°Are we close?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­ I¡­¡±

    Before he could finish, she continued, her tone even frostier, ¡°First off, the teacher didn¡¯t assign me to tutor Lin Ran. I volunteered to do it. And secondly¡­¡± Her eyes swept over him with a cool indifference. ¡°My business is none of your concern. We¡¯re just classmates, Zhou. So please, respect that boundary.¡±

    Then, without waiting for his reply, she slung her backpack over her shoulder and strode out of the classroom.

    ¡°B-but¡­ aren¡¯t you and Lin Ran just classmates too?¡± Zhou Hua stammered behind her, desperate to get the last word.

    Su Qingyan stopped, looked back, and gave him a light, dismissive glance. ¡°It¡¯s different,¡± she replied coolly. ¡°He and I¡ªwell, we¡¯re seatmates.¡±