Chapter 17: Trouble

Early the next morning, as soon as Dong Ziyang walked into the classroom, he saw his best bro slumped in his seat with massive dark circles under his eyes, looking like a panda that had lost all will to live.

“Your dark circles are insane, dude. You pulled another all-nighter last night, didn’t you? Come on, spill it!”

He lunged over and planted both his chubby hands on Jiang Yueming’s desk.

“No.”

Jiang Yueming leaned back, avoiding the enlarged round face with obvious distaste.

“No?” 

Dong Ziyang raised one finger and waved it in front of his eyes. 

“Take a look in the mirror. Dark complexion, puffy face. This old man can tell with one calculation—the flight path last night must’ve had some heavy traffic, huh?”

“If you keep bullshitting, I’ll tell everyone about what you secretly did last month—”

Before Jiang Yueming could finish, Dong Ziyang’s face filled with horror. 

He quickly covered Jiang Yueming’s mouth and looked around guiltily.

After making sure no one had noticed, he breathed a sigh of relief and flashed a flattering smile that made Jiang Yueming feel a bit sick.

“Bro, good brother, my bad. I won’t ask.”

Jiang Yueming gave him a lazy look, the corner of his mouth lifting into a smile that said You think I can’t handle you?

Dong Ziyang completely deflated and slumped back into his seat, muttering quietly.

“Didn’t we agree that matter was only known to heaven, earth, you, and me…”

“So remember your position. When talking to someone who holds your dirty secret, watch your tone.”

“Yes, master.”

Dong Ziyang gave Jiang Yueming a eunuch-style salute with cupped hands.

After a while, he still couldn’t help asking, “But Old Jiang, those dark circles are really bad. What did you actually do last night?”

This time he was much more cautious, not daring to provoke him again.

“Played games. Got stuck on a boss for the whole night. Didn’t finish until three or four in the morning.”

“That late?”

“Mm.”

“What game?”

“Dragon’s Wilderness.”

Dong Ziyang paused. 

He was about to brag that he had cleared that game long ago and question how Jiang Yueming could get stuck until three in the morning. 

But seeing the sideways glance from Jiang Yueming, he held back.

“Alright. I thought you couldn’t sleep because you were too excited about going out with Xia He on the weekend.”

There was still some time before morning self-study, but the classroom was already packed. The seats around them were full too.

The moment Xia He’s name came up, many students who had been devouring their breakfast looked up.

Their gazes, pulled by an invisible thread, all zeroed in on Jiang Yueming.

Some were curious, some scrutinizing, some just there for the show, and a few carried a faint hint of jealousy.

Jiang Yueming felt like a zoo animal on display, with spectators outside the enclosure still holding half-eaten buns.

The worst part was that loudmouth Dong Ziyang hadn’t lowered his voice at all. 

Even Wen Xiaoyu, who was quietly reading in the front row, turned her head to glance at him.

“Shut up and eat your bun.”

“Okay.”

Dong Ziyang awkwardly turned back. 

While eating, he kept sneaking glances toward the classroom door to see if the teacher was coming.

After that brief look, Wen Xiaoyu turned back around. 

The sight of her straight back remained the same. The book in her hands was propped up as she read silently.

Sigh…

Jiang Yueming sighed inwardly and began his usual routine of staring dazedly at that graceful figure.

A figure approached from behind. Jiang Yueming didn’t notice at all. 

He remained propped on one hand, staring ahead with unfocused eyes.

“Jiang Yueming.”

Someone called him from behind. Jiang Yueming turned his head.

Classmate Lu Renjia stood there, looking down at him slightly.

“What’s up?”

“You said you went out with Xia He this weekend?”

?

Jiang Yueming frowned slightly. This guy’s tone carried a clear hint of malice.

The chewing and reading sounds in the classroom grew much quieter. 

Quite a few people quietly directed their attention this way, ready for a good show.

Hey, read your books. Why are you looking at me? And you—your ears are practically sticking up. Afraid I won’t know you’re eavesdropping?

Jiang Yueming kept his face propped up as he sized up the visitor.

Tanned skin, crew cut, very tall—easily over 1.88 meters. 

From Jiang Yueming’s upward angle, he looked close to 1.9 meters tall, giving off quite a bit of pressure.

Jiang Yueming had some impression of him.

During the last school basketball tournament, this guy had been a star player for Class Two and had gained quite a reputation among the senior high girls.

“So what if I did?”

“Nothing much,” Lu Renjia grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. 

“I’m just curious. What exactly is your relationship with Xia He?”

The already attentive ears around them perked up even more.

“We’re friends.”

“Really? What kind of friends? Regular friends? Xia He doesn’t have many guy friends.”

Lu Renjia spoke as if he knew Xia He well. 

The gossip radar of the entire class was now fully activated.

The person involved, Jiang Yueming, only felt annoyed. 

He noticed that Wen Xiaoyu’s hand, which had been turning the page, paused for a moment at those words. 

Though it was only for an instant, he saw it.

Come on, man. 

Are you one of Xia He’s suitors? Does it have to be this cliché?

“Regular friends.”

“Is that so—”

“The hell it is! What are you, the census bureau?”

Dong Ziyang shot up with a “whoosh,” half a bun still in his mouth. 

Though he was short and looked somewhat comical glaring up at the tall Lu Renjia, his protective spirit was unmistakable.

Lu Renjia was stunned for a second. His smile froze.

“I was just asking casually,” he shrugged. “Why are you so worked up?”

“Casually asking?” 

Dong Ziyang swallowed the bun and raised his voice. 

“Fine, then let me casually ask something too. Does that Xia He you’re talking about know that last week you were with the girl from the next class named—”

“Dongzi.” 

Jiang Yueming interrupted.

Dong Ziyang stopped mid-sentence and glanced at Jiang Yueming. 

Jiang Yueming shook his head slightly.

Dong Ziyang clicked his tongue and sat back down heavily. 

The chair legs scraped against the floor with a harsh screech.

Lu Renjia shifted his gaze back to Jiang Yueming and looked down at him for two seconds before suddenly smiling.

“Your friend is pretty interesting,” he said.

“Mm, I think so too.” 

Jiang Yueming leaned back in his chair, his tone neutral. 

“Anything else?”

Lu Renjia looked at him, seeming to weigh something.

 A moment later, he shoved his hands into his pockets, turned around, and strolled off with his tall 1.88-meter frame.

He didn’t walk fast. 

His steps were relaxed and casual, like a lion patrolling its territory—unhurried, as if he knew this land would belong to him eventually.

Jiang Yueming stared at his back for two seconds before looking away.

The whispering in the classroom didn’t stop after Lu Renjia left. Instead, it spread like disturbed water.

Some people whispered to each other, others secretly played with their phones. 

It was obvious what they were talking about.

“Old Jiang.” 

Dong Ziyang leaned over, lowering his voice, his face full of resentment. 

“Why’d you stop me? Couldn’t you tell he was clearly here to pick a fight? Damn, I can’t stand it.”

“What would be the point of arguing with him?” Jiang Yueming said flatly. 

“He’s just some random guy.”

Jiang Yueming’s eyes fell on his textbook, but he didn’t absorb a single word. 

Ever since meeting Xia He, his life had started to feel different.

It had become… somewhat troublesome?

Jiang Yueming raised his head. 

His gaze passed over the tops of the students in the front row and landed once again on Wen Xiaoyu’s back.

She was still sitting the same way, back straight, her braided pigtails resting quietly on her school uniform. 

The book was propped up in front of her, cover hidden.

But from earlier until now, she hadn’t turned a single page.

She had been staring at the same page for at least three minutes.