The entire break, the classroom remained unusually quiet, a strange silence pervading the air with an uncanny atmosphere.

The school bell rang soon after. The teacher strode in precisely with the sound of the bell.

Before long, he sensed something amiss with the classroom’s mood; it was not only excessively quiet, but everyone seemed preoccupied, their interest in studying noticeably low.

He initially attributed it to the students not yet having adjusted after the school trip. He spent the entire lesson trying to liven up the atmosphere, but to no avail by the time the bell signaled the end of class.

Urged by the final bell, he reluctantly left the classroom.

The teachers in the following few periods received the same treatment.

After school, Zhong Yun walked toward the exit, slinging his backpack, as the remaining students turned to watch him. Their gazes held a strangeness, as if trying to ascertain if he was truly the Zhong Yun who had shared their class for three years.

Their impression of their classmate, Zhong Yun, was limited to his perpetually bottom-ranking grades and his taciturn, low-key demeanor. If they hadn’t intentionally thought of him or encountered him, they would hardly have registered his existence in the classroom.

Yet, this usually overlooked person had first stumbled into incredible luck, securing six days alone with Liu Yunqi, then became the subject of rumors circulating within the class, and now, Liu Yunqi was publicly gifting him something.

When had Liu Yunqi ever given a gift to a boy? Let alone offering a smile reserved only for intimate friends in front of everyone.

She was the goddess in their eyes: flawlessly beautiful, so noble that approaching her felt like a transgression.

Now, their goddess was displaying an extraordinary connection with a boy whose grades were abysmal, whose appearance was ordinary, and who seemed to possess practically nothing of value.

In that moment, the idol in their hearts collapsed with a resounding crash, shattering into pieces on the ground.

It was as inconceivable as a peerless princess in ancient times falling in love with a slave of lowly status and utter worthlessness.

Under the gaze of all present, Zhong Yun left the classroom.

“Boss, I admire you too much,” Tian Hai exclaimed, catching up, speaking with exaggerated drama. He was still buzzing with excitement. “Did you see their faces? Hahahaha, it was priceless!”

The thought of the colorful expressions on their faces made him erupt in laughter. “Didn’t they look down on you? This time, you’ve slapped them all across the face collectively. That was immensely satisfying.”

Chen Wen also looked at Zhong Yun with an unusual light in his eyes; he was utterly awestruck by him, truly capable of things others could not manage.

He had grown up hearing the name Liu Yunqi. As a child, his father held immense expectations for him.

But whenever he was lazy or his progress lagged, his father would lecture him severely: “Look at you, you can’t even execute one move correctly, yet that Liu family girl learns it after watching just once. You’re worse than a mere girl.”

“You’re slacking off again. The Liu girl has already surpassed you by so much; if you don’t push yourself, how will you ever compete with her in the future?”

…………

He had heard similar things his entire life; it could be said that the name Liu Yunqi had become a shadow looming over his heart.

By the time he grew older, his father had given up any hope of him surpassing Liu Yunqi. Thus, he devised an alternate strategy—a roundabout path to victory.

No matter how high your talent or aptitude, you are still a woman; and women must marry. If my son cannot surpass you, by marrying you, won’t you ultimately become part of our Chen family?

His scheme was well-calculated, but he had ignored his son’s feelings.

How could a man from a proud, established super-family desire to marry a woman whose family background was superior to his own, whose strength surpassed his by more than one level, and who excelled in every aspect?

At least, Chen Wen certainly wouldn’t.

Every time he faced Liu Yunqi, he felt an inexplicable pressure that made him restless. Though unwilling to admit it, he knew he felt inadequate in her presence.

Therefore, even being in the same classroom, Chen Wen subconsciously avoided her; over three years, the two had barely interacted.

Sometimes he thought that as soon as Liu Yunqi started dating, he would finally be free from this dreadful life.

But what kind of man could capture the attention of the fiercely discerning Liu Yunqi?

Looking around at his contemporaries, not a single one was worthy of her. Not even the so-called genius, the fourth son of the Wang family.

Until Zhong Yun appeared.

Now, it seemed, the mysteriously situated Zhong Yun was the man most likely to win Liu Yunqi’s heart. Today’s events only proved that point.

He just hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. Thus, his admiration for Zhong Yun’s methods deepened profoundly.

“You’re both overthinking things,” Zhong Yun couldn’t bear their assumptions. “There is absolutely nothing between us; we are completely innocent.”

“Innocent?”

Tian Hai deliberately elongated the word ‘innocent,’ raising his tone, his face showing absolute disbelief. “Innocent to what degree? As white as a clean bedsheet?”

“I can’t be bothered talking to you,” Zhong Yun shot him a look.

“No way to deny it now, is there?” Tian Hai chuckled happily, making one think he was the one who received a gift from Liu Yunqi.

Zhong Yun ignored him, knowing that the more he engaged, the more enthusiastic Tian Hai would become. He simply remained silent.

The three walked toward the north gate of the school, as they usually did. Yunlai Restaurant was on the street just outside the north gate. As they rounded the stadium, Tian Hai suddenly gasped and stopped.

“Isn’t that Xiao Ruo? Who is that next to her?”

Zhong Yun followed his pointed direction and indeed saw Xiao Ruo talking to a boy a short distance to the left. The boy had his back to them; although the silhouette seemed familiar, Zhong Yun couldn’t place him immediately.

For some unknown reason, a flicker of discomfort crossed Zhong Yun’s heart upon seeing Xiao Ruo with another boy.

The boy seemed to be saying something insistent to Xiao Ruo, who was shaking her head repeatedly, appearing quite resistant.

“I remember now,” Tian Hai said. “Isn’t that Zhou Ze Ye from the school team? Legend has it that he and Xiao Ruo…” At this point, he glanced at Zhong Yun before trailing off.

However, the other two knew exactly what he meant. This was hardly a secret in the class; Xiao Ruo had always admired this highly skilled, tall, and handsome classmate.

If Zhong Yun hadn't accidentally intervened that night, Xiao Ruo and Zhou Ze Ye would likely have become a couple during the academic tour.

At that moment, Zhou Ze Ye suddenly grew agitated, shouting something loudly. They were too far to hear clearly. Then they saw Xiao Ruo shaking her head with firm resolve.

Next, Zhou Ze Ye reached out to grab Xiao Ruo’s hand, and she struggled hard to pull away.

Zhong Yun’s face instantly darkened, and he charged forward. Seeing this, Tian Hai and Chen Wen chased after him.

As they got closer, they heard Zhou Ze Ye’s angry voice: “You dumped me for that good-for-nothing? In what way is he better than me?”

“I forbid you from speaking about him like that.” Hearing him insult Zhong Yun this way, Xiao Ruo’s eyes turned red with anger.

P: Someone is catching up from behind, please recommend.