Lixin found the hallway outside his apartment unusually noisy. Opening the door, he saw a crowd gathered, with two figures at its center locked in what seemed like an argument—or rather, one person shouting while the other remained eerily calm. That calm voice sounded oddly familiar.

Pushing through the onlookers, Lixin immediately spotted Qin Fan—the unlucky kid—and behind him, a frail-looking boy he was shielding. Facing them stood a burly Westerner.

*So Qin Fan stumbled upon a bullying scene and decided to play hero again? Can’t he ever stay out of trouble?*

"Hey, Qin Fan! You coming or not? If not, I’m heading back. And the rest of you—keep it down. This is a residential building, you know?"

Lixin’s voice sliced through the commotion, freezing the scene instantly. Qin Fan’s expression twisted into something between shock and despair—*How did I end up friends with someone who reads the room this poorly?*

The silence didn’t last. Whispers rippled through the crowd:

"Isn’t that the dead-last guy…?"

"Lixin. His name’s Lixin."

"Yeah, him. Look at him—girly face, dead-fish eyes all day. And he’s tight with Qin Fan?"

"Seriously, what does Qin Fan even see in him?"

Cold sweat prickled Lixin’s neck. *Their mouths are vicious… And I’m not ‘girly’—I literally am a girl now.* The bittersweet misunderstanding stung.

The burly guy blinked, thrown off by the interruption, then snarled at Lixin: "None of your damn business, you little bitch! Scram! I’m a B Rank right after awakening—I can teach anyone a lesson I want!"

*Ah, a cocky freshman.* Lixin noted he didn’t recognize Qin Fan—a Student Council heavyweight. Few dared provoke them so openly. Qin Fan had already summoned a golden orb of light, ready to strike. But catching Lixin’s expression, he retracted it. *No need. This fool’s already doomed himself.*

"You," Lixin said, her voice icy. "Call me that again. I dare you."

Her mood had been sour from the whispers. The fat guy lit the fuse.

"What? You mad, bitch? Think I won’t—"

*Ugh!* Before he could finish, a brutal impact slammed into his gut. Something rock-hard sent his 180-kilo frame flying twenty meters before crashing onto the concrete.

Lixin retracted her fist, the black metallic substance coating her right hand dissolving. "Filthy mouth like yours? Your parents deserve better."

*If I survived a direct clash with Preyas, a B Rank thug is nothing.*

"Typical dead-last. Such a delinquent."

"Yeah, total troublemaker."

"Let’s get out of here—she’s terrifying…"

The crowd scattered. The bully was dealt with. Yet Lixin felt only deeper irritation.

"T-thank you… for helping me…"

The frail boy finally spoke. Lixin studied him properly now—a cute face, but his broken glasses in hand marked him as another "glasses character." *Of course he got bullied. It all makes sense now.*

"It’s fine. Come with us to the Student Council. We’ll get your statement." With classes not yet started, the Council handled incidents like this. Qin Fan’s tone was light, but his eyes lingered on the unconscious bully. *How do I even move this mountain of flesh?*

Just then, a voice cut in behind Lixin: "I think *this* one deserves punishment too—for attacking without provocation."

Qin Fan turned. Seeing the blonde, blue-eyed British girl behind Lixin, his tense shoulders relaxed.

*Never has Cleyna Fordsi’s arrival felt so welcome.*

Lixin, however, instantly turned her head away, whistling innocently at the scenery.

"You—" Cleyna started, fuming, but Qin Fan cut her off.

"Can we table the Lixin issue for now? Help us move the *actual* troublemaker first? Please, Cleyna?"

Cleyna shot a glare at Lixin, then huffed sharply. She strode to the fallen bully and effortlessly hoisted his massive frame onto her shoulder—a feat absurd for her delicate frame.

*Cleyna Fordsi. A-Rank Super Strength. The girl who could single-handedly demolish the seven-story apartment behind me. Strong sense of justice. Hopelessly tsundere. And for some reason, she’s always hated my guts. What does a top student have against a no-rank dead-last like me?* Lixin shrugged inwardly. *Whatever. We’re not even close.*

…………………

…………………

"All settled. His punishment waits till term starts. Now—our business."

Qin Fan sank onto the bench beside Lixin outside the Student Council office. He exhaled deeply. The Council occupied the entire second floor of Central Tower, but non-members like Lixin couldn’t enter. He just wanted to finish her registration and grab lunch—the earlier mess had eaten forty minutes. It was nearly noon.

Lixin didn’t respond.

Qin Fan realized why. *She’d fallen asleep.*

Without the dead-fish eyes, her sleeping face held the soft allure of any ordinary pretty girl. *If she had more energy daily, she’d be swarmed with admirers.*

His heartbeat quickened. His hand drifted toward her unconsciously. His breath grew heavy.

"What are you doing?"

"AHHH!"

The icy whisper shattered the moment.

*WTF WAS I DOING?! DAYDREAMING ABOUT MY BEST FRIEND?!*

Cleyna’s disgusted glare made Qin Fan want to slap himself. *Damn you, Lixin—you demon!*

"What’s all the yelling about? Can’t a person sleep in peace?" Lixin grumbled, rubbing her eyes.

"H-Haha! Sorry, big bro! All done now—let’s get your registration over with. Lunch is on me!"

*He must never know.*

Qin Fan vowed silently.