"Damn it, is the boss really gone to pick up Li Qian? Class is almost starting, and he’s still not back?" Xu Ming was pacing around like an ant whose nest had been disturbed.

"Hehe, what are you anxious about? Tell me, what do you think those two might be..." Ye Xiaohou grinned mischievously.

"Uh, that’s hard to say!" Xu Ming turned, catching sight of Ye Xiaohou’s wicked smile, and instantly understood the implication.

Fatty Lin watched this with utter speechlessness. He finally understood why Yang Yi had said, 'Here they come again.' Flippancy, sordid thoughts, shameless speculations—these two could spin anything into gossip, regardless of whether it actually happened. They could talk someone dead back into life.

However—while the news of Li Qian’s injury had not leaked within the school, the rumor that she had developed feelings for someone else had spread like wildfire. It couldn't be denied that the 'Exquisite Demoness' had a substantial fan base at No. 1 High, and her popularity had soared to a new peak following that recent gala.

"Hey, tell me honestly, did you, Third Brother, leak it?" Fatty Lin asked.

Xu Ming looked at Fatty Lin, confused, as if he didn't grasp the meaning. "Second Brother, leak what?"

"Uh, just look at that pack of animals crowding the main gate." Fatty Lin gestured toward the entrance of No. 1 High.

"Heck no, Second Brother, are you suggesting I'm the kind of person who carelessly exposes others' privacy?" Xu Ming shot Fatty Lin an annoyed look.

Fatty Lin chuckled foolishly and replied, "Sorry, sorry. It's just, how did that bunch of beasts find out Li Qian likes someone else?"

"How should I know," Xu Ming shrugged.

"But thinking about it now, Second Brother, only we and Li Qian knew—and if we count Principal Li, that would make four. Wait, we seem to be missing someone!" Ye Xiaohou mused, recalling things.

Suddenly, the three looked at each other, their eyes meeting, and they spoke in unison: "Liu Qingqing!"

"Right, it must be her. Besides us, she’s the only one who knew," Xu Ming declared with certainty.

"Mhm, mhm!" Fatty Lin and Ye Xiaohou both nodded vigorously, appearing equally convinced.

While they were standing there nodding and murmuring to themselves, over on the other side, a stunningly beautiful woman stood inside the window of a certain classroom, blinking as she watched the entrance of No. 1 High, a faint smile occasionally gracing her lips.

"Hehe, Qianqian's popularity will be even higher now. Hmm, that damned Yang Yi actually hurt Qianqian’s hand—if I don't make him pay, how can I face the Party Central Committee?"

Sigh. They say it’s better to offend a gentleman than a petty woman, and that saying is absolutely true. The woman watching the situation from the window was none other than Liu Qingqing. Li Qian and Liu Qingqing had grown up together, intimate confidantes who shared everything. It seemed that after spending so much time near Li Qian, Liu Qingqing had even picked up the Demoness's knack for scheming—truly, near ink, one gets stained black, and near vermilion, one gets stained red!

At the main gate of No. 1 High, a light gray sedan was slowly driving in. The crowd of 'beasts' who had been waiting there since early suddenly shouted, "Look! It's the Principal's car! Li Qian is back!"

"Ah… yeah, hurry, hurry!" The group of ruffians became inexplicably excited, gathering there for no apparent reason.

Principal Li, sitting inside the car, was in an excellent mood. He rolled down the window, glanced at the surrounding students, and checked the time. "Class starts in ten minutes. Good heavens, I’m glad I was prepared; otherwise, these brats would have crushed me."

"Good afternoon, Principal!" a student called out with a grin.

Principal Li started, then deliberately coughed a few times, composing himself, and feigned surprise. "What are you all doing here? Class is about to start; shouldn't you be in your rooms?"

Although the old fox of a Principal knew this crowd wouldn't disperse until they saw Li Qian, he still played along with the pretense.

The grinning student, wearing an expression of extreme 'innocence,' asked, "Principal Li, um, isn't your granddaughter returning with you?"

"Yeah, yeah, Principal Li, isn't Li Qian coming back?" the rest of the horde chimed in from behind.

Principal Li felt a chill run down his spine. "Ahem, well, she seems to be trailing behind. Hehe. I should go in first; please clear a path for me!"

"Ah, she’s behind! Great!"

Honestly, if he weren't the principal, he would genuinely worry about being trampled by this bunch. Though the crowd wasn't enormous, there were at least twenty or thirty people. Frankly, a single mouthful of spit from each of them could drown him. Perhaps the Thirty-Six Stratagems of leaving were the best course of action here?

The crowd parted, and Principal Li drove through, smiling broadly, yet inwardly grumbling, "Yang Yi, Yang Yi, don't blame me, hehe. You’re on your own now."

After Principal Li’s car passed, the crowd regrouped. Just then, two students wearing badges that clearly read 'No. 1 High News Department' stepped forward. They approached the student standing at the very front of the line, holding pens and paper, seemingly ready to interview him. "Classmate, may I ask why you are all gathered here?"

"Nonsense, you—!" The student, whose eyes were fixed outside, suddenly trailed off mid-sentence upon hearing the question. He glanced at them and asked, "You’re from the News Department?"

"Hehe, yes. My apologies for taking up a moment of your time!" the News Department student said with professional courtesy.

"Mhm, ahem. Go ahead and ask," the first student commanded, comically clearing his throat with a serious expression.

"Very well, please tell me, classmate, why have you all assembled here today?"

"Uh, this is a very serious matter. Anyone gathered here is a fan of Li Qian. And why we’re here? Because our goddess Li Qian has fallen for someone else! Wuwu, this part is heartbreaking, you must write it down!" As the student spoke, he managed to look truly pathetic. If Xu Ming and his crew saw him, they would certainly scorn him—what an actor, a true master of facial transformations!

"So, you students are gathered here waiting for Li Qian to return to confirm whether she really likes someone else, or perhaps to find out exactly who she likes, correct?" the News Department student inquired.

"Yes, yes, exactly! And…!"

"Wow! They're here, they're here! Li Qian is back, I see her!" Before the student could finish, the crowd erupted in cheers, and the collective mood instantly became quite tumultuous...

[Brothers, keep pushing this up! Let this book lead you to the peak! Don't forget to bookmark, and hurry up with those votes! Rise up!]