Chapter 164: Then I Will Come to Find You (2)

"Huh, did I miss something?"

Sauntering into the classroom, Ji Niansheng instinctively sensed a different atmosphere in the air and casually dropped the remark.

Seeing him, the homeroom teacher immediately prepared to lecture him, but he preempted her with an explanation:

"Teacher, I really didn't mean to be late this time. I left half an hour early, but on the way, I ran into a little girl who had lost her way. To keep her from running into any bad uncles, I specially walked her home, which is why I'm late. I promise this is definitely not an excuse; I really did a good deed today. Look, the little girl even gave me this." With that, he proudly displayed a small plush toy in his hand.

Skeptical yet unwilling to disrupt the rest of the class, the homeroom teacher dropped the matter.

"Go back to your seat and sit down."

"Right away." Relieved of punishment, Ji Niansheng obediently hurried back to his desk.

At that moment, he heard the homeroom teacher say, "Gu Heng, you can take that empty seat in the front row."

Only then did he notice a strange boy standing by his desk—someone he had never seen before.

Gu Heng?

Gu Heng from Fengyang?

Why would he show up here? Could he have transferred here for the sake of Qiao Xi?

Gu Heng said nothing in response. He picked up his backpack, walked over to the empty seat in the front row, and sat down, while Ji Niansheng also settled into his own desk.

"Alright, open your textbooks. Class begins."

The lesson officially commenced, though very few students were actually paying attention.

***

Qiao Xi was trying to listen to the lecture, but nothing was sinking in.

Though she did not turn around to look at Gu Heng, her mind was entirely filled with thoughts of him.

Gu Panxi watched with curious eyes, surprised to find that the childhood friend from Qiao Xi's past rumored in the stories was actually this handsome.

Although Chou Chou's seat wasn't in the same row as Qiao Xi's, it was close enough that a simple turn of the head allowed a clear view, which was why she had just suggested to the teacher that he take that seat.

Ji Niansheng was being unusually serious, though certainly not about the lecture.

Resting his chin in one hand, he too sized up the new student.

He didn't seem as icy and aloof as Yu Fan; rather, his coldness bore a resemblance to Qiao Xi's.

Even Gu Heng from Fengyang had transferred to Yingran—it seemed Yingran was destined for a lively time.

Of course, another aspect of the boy piqued his curiosity: was he Yu Fan's love rival?

"He's so handsome, easily a match for our school's heartthrob."

"He was already a heartthrob over at Fengyang, of course he's handsome. I never expected him to transfer to our class—we're in for a real treat."

"Don't be delusional. He's been staring straight at Qiao Xi; he obviously transferred here for her."

"Qiao Xi already has the student union president, how can she play the field?"

"The president is still pursuing her, you know."

"That's true. If it were me, I wouldn't even know who to choose..."

***

Writing on the blackboard, the homeroom teacher finally lost her patience at the murmurs rising from the classroom behind her.

"Whoever dares to whisper again will copy today's entire lesson one hundred times."

Instantly, the classroom fell dead silent. No one dared to take the risk, allowing the teacher to resume the lecture.

The moment class ended, the classroom buzzed back to life with a flurry of chatter.

Ignoring the discussions of her classmates, Qiao Xi stood up and walked over to Gu Heng.

"Come outside with me." Dropping those measured words, she turned and walked away.

Gu Heng rose immediately to follow.

The two of them walked out of the classroom one after the other, leaving a still-boisterous classroom behind them.

Certain that there was no one around, Qiao Xi stopped, and Gu Heng stepped up behind her.

She turned around so they were face to face, looking at each other.

"Why did you transfer here?" she asked him.