Chapter 8
"Excuse me, coming through." Early in the morning, Yan Xi had just returned to the classroom, only to find that her desk was occupied by several girls, with gossip queen Guan Yongyan even sitting in her seat, murmuring something with the other girls.
Seeing Yan Xi come back, Guan Yongyan immediately stood up from the chair, casting subtle glances at Yan Xi.
"Yan Xi, Yan Xi, your photo has been posted on the school forum!" Dong Yaya squeezed over and hurriedly said to Yan Xi.
"Hmm?" Yan Xi put down her bag and pulled out the chair.
"It seems like it was taken by a boy from our class, I don't know who it was that posted it online, but people are saying you're beautiful, and that you're the new campus belle." Guan Yongyan casually lowered her voice and whispered into Yan Xi's ear, while sneaking glances at the school's top students who had come back early to study.
The girls showed Yan Xi the photo, it was from when she had introduced herself while standing at the podium, her exquisite features and graceful poise made everyone else fade in comparison, especially Peng Haiyang standing nearby, who was stunned.
This angle? Tu Qingluan's skills are not bad, very nice photo.
"They even compared you to Ji Yao, with some saying you're prettier than her. Ji Yao has a lot of male admirers, so they started cursing."
"The cursing got pretty intense!" There were piles of abusive comments towards Yan Xi below the post, with both guys and girls, Yan Xi took a quick look before moving on.
[Pandora, nowadays there are people calling me a fox spirit, for a moment I couldn't tell if they were insulting me or praising me.]
[......]
"Yan Xi really is more stunning than Ji Yao! I'd say Ji Yao definitely can't compare to Yan Xi's glamor." Dong Yaya kept glancing at Yan Xi as she spoke.
The other girls chimed in agreement.
Yan Xi didn't seem to react much, but still smiled at them out of habit.
"Thanks for letting me know, I'm planning to meet Ji Yao today anyway."
"Um...which class is Ji Yao in?" Yan Xi looked towards Guan Yongyan.
The girls exchanged strange looks with Guan Yongyan, hesitating for a moment before asking back: "Why are you looking for Ji Yao? She has quite a few people protecting her, just you by yourself....."
"I'm not going to cause her trouble." Yan Xi immediately saw through her concerns.
Guan Yongyan didn't believe her. After all, when hearing about something like this, it's only natural to feel some resentment towards the other party over being wrongly accused. She was even more worried that Yan Xi would escalate matters, which would leave her stuck in the middle.
"Which class?" Yan Xi asked again.
Damn, she really didn't expect the new transfer to be so stubborn. It was all because she blurted it out in the moment. Guan Yongyan felt like smacking herself a couple times. Oh well, might as well go all in since the beans were already spilled. Offending one is better than offending both.
"She's in sec...second..." Guan Yongyan had just started speaking when she got cut off.
"She's in Class 2 downstairs." Dong Yaya said to Yan Xi.
"Okay...."
"Move." Before Yan Xi could finish speaking, she was interrupted again. Shen Qiuyi stood to the side, coldly looking at the short-haired girl sitting in her seat.
Seeing Shen Qiuyi's impatience, the girls were frightened and immediately got up. But they couldn't help grumbling over her rude tone. Was that necessary? As for Guan Yongyan, she was glad to slip away quickly.
[Is this game called "You Interrupt Me, I Interrupt You"?]
[No, it's called What Goes Around Comes Around] Pandora retorted.
"Good morning, deskmate." Yan Xi offered a polite greeting.
Shen Qiuyi ignored her.
Yan Xi didn't mind either.
The other students gradually returned to the classroom. Peng Haiyang stood by the window holding an English textbook, overseeing the students' morning reading while looking out for latecomers to catch.
"Yan Xi, come out for a bit please." Yan Xi suddenly heard Peng Haiyang calling her.
"Teacher?" Yan Xi went out to the door and saw Peng Haiyang anxiously taking a phone call with a nervous expression. She asked in puzzlement.
"Hold on...It's okay.....Yan Xi please help me record the latecomers and have them stand outside the door as punishment. Bring the list to my office afterwards....Oh okay.....I need to step out for a bit...alright alright." Peng Haiyang hurriedly responded on the phone before tossing Yan Xi this task and rushing off tempestuously.
Leaving Yan Xi behind with the attendance sheet staring at each other.
[An opportunity has arrived.] Pandora said in the sea of consciousness.
[Indeed.]
Yan Xi had only stood at the door for five minutes when she caught one.
"Zhou Zhou, you're late." Yan Xi stated the fact to the tall male student who had just tried entering the classroom, blocking him at the entrance.
The boy wore athletic clothes, seeming to have just returned from intense exercise with slightly damp hair. His bronze muscular physique was visible under the clothes, he had a messenger bag slung over one shoulder and looked cocky.
Although blocked, Zhou Zhou didn't get annoyed. Instead he looked at Yan Xi's actions with amusement. After all, few substitute prefects had dared to stop him before if they didn't want to get beaten up.
"Sign your name." Yan Xi handed over the attendance sheet with an indifferent expression.
"Move aside."
"Zhou Zhou, please sign." Yan Xi held out the pen towards him. Some students inside the classroom peeked out the window upon seeing the standoff, involuntarily gasping.
Gutsy transfer student.
Who's this?
Zhou Zhou had initially thought it was someone picking trouble for no reason, then suddenly recalled glimpsing Yan Xi's face during P.E. class yesterday.
The girl from P.E. class? Seems to be a new transfer student.
He was busy dealing with that punk Qi Shi's business yesterday, while Kong Liang kept going on about some girl that should be her? Zhou Zhou actually hadn't scrutinized the transfer student's features carefully himself.
Today Yan Xi still wore the same Qingteng High uniform, casually tied up in a bun to reveal her elegant neckline. The white summer outfit was a bit sheer, outlining the shoulder straps underneath, her exquisite features as dazzlingly gorgeous as ever, easily catching eyes.
Kong Liang didn't exaggerate yesterday after all. She could rival Ji Yao, though not Zhou Zhou's preferred type.
"What will you do if I don't sign?" Zhou Zhou pushed away the attendance sheet and cocked an eyebrow, deliberately letting out an insolent whistle as he sized up Yan Xi from head to toe like appraising goods.
[Pandora, I feel like gouging out his eyeballs.]
Yan Xi didn't move, eyelashes quivering slightly. She laughed lightly, the captivating arc at the corner of her eyes extraordinarily glamorous, fighting rogue with rogue?
Yan Xi slowly sized him up in the same manner from head to toe.
The target looks decent, pity he's a moron.
The two remained at a standstill by the door for over ten minutes without budging an inch.
"Please sign, Zhou Zhou." Yan Xi spoke again, sticking the attendance sheet onto him.
So stubborn huh?
Zhou Zhou knitted his brows in displeasure. He had stood long enough, impatience getting pent up. Suddenly recalling something, his brow quirked up as he took a step closer.
He lowered his head towards Yan Xi's ear, languidly whispering: "Pink today?"
Zhou Zhou took a step back with a mocking look, seemingly wanting to see her reaction. Preferably flush with indignation and obediently get lost, he had no wish to scuffle with a girl at the door. Plus he already accrued multiple complaints this week, a few more and he'd get the cane from his old man at home.
He wasn't afraid of beatings but would rather avoid it.
Pink?
[Yummy yummy, he actually flirted with you, wow how naughty of him~] Pandora exaggerated dramatically.
[He's quite bold, I kinda like it.] Yan Xi flowed along.
[You're twisted enough, I admire you.]
"Zhou Zhou." Yan Xi stared at him.
"Yeah?" Zhou Zhou impatiently looked back. This hemming and hawing was getting on his nerves.
"Zhou Zhou." Yan Xi spoke again, her tone progressively shifting.
"What?"
"Zhou Congee." Yan Xi stepped closer, repeating it over and over. Her voice grew increasingly bewitching.
His name turning thick and fuzzy, unable to dissipate.
Yan Xi used her hand to press down his head. Caught off guard, Zhou Zhou didn't manage to push her away before the warm breath blew next to his ear. Yan Xi's clear and cold voice turned hoarse, intimately murmuring like a lover: "Congee.....Congee....."
She prolonged each syllable in the most clingy tone: "Dumbass, sign the damned thing."