“It’s just the two of us here.” Lin Qingqian sounded a little helpless. This guy seemed to have some kind of stubborn streak.

Shen Guang set down his book and looked up at the old man sitting at the front desk, peeking at them. Pressing his lips together, he spoke softly.

“There’s an old gentleman sitting by the entrance. Even if it’s just the two of us, rules are rules. Who’d want to read in a noisy environment?”

Lin Qingqian couldn’t be bothered to argue with Shen Guang. She rested both hands on the desk and stared straight at him.

“You seem to get along pretty well with Yan Qingxue. Wasn’t she really wary of you before?”

“Let me correct you: she was wary of that Shen Guang, not me. It’s all about the art of conversation—something you probably wouldn’t understand.”

Shen Guang’s words caught Lin Qingqian completely off guard. She crossed her legs and folded her arms across her chest.

Her long legs, clad in black stockings beneath her skirt, were fully on display before Shen Guang. Her black hair fell over her shoulders, and a mature air washed over him.

If her identity hadn’t been so obvious, Shen Guang might have mistaken her for one of the new teachers.

“So, are you planning to take things further with Yan Qingxue, too? She seems to treat you pretty well. If you keep at it, you might actually have a chance.”

Lin Qingqian raised an eyebrow. The corner of her mouth curled into a faintly mocking smile, but it was clear she wasn’t very happy right now.

Shen Guang rested his cheek on one hand and studied the beauty in front of him.

She had the perfect shell of a beautiful girl, but the person inside was so sharp-tongued.

“Compared to Yan Qingxue, I think you’re more my type.”

“Tsk!”

Lin Qingqian knitted her brows, her once-cool expression instantly turning disgusted.

“Don’t tell me you actually like me? Sorry, but I don’t believe in love at first sight. As far as I’m concerned, love at first sight is just lust at first sight.”

“So you’re going to fall for Shen Guang over time?” Shen Guang rolled the pen between his fingers, studying the girl before him with interest.

“Tsk!”

Another sound of disdain. The girl toyed with the ends of her hair, then reached out and pinched Shen Guang’s arm hard, threatening him in a soft voice.

“Is your brain full of nothing but dirty thoughts? Don’t think I can’t tell what you mean!”

Shen Guang shook his head helplessly. He didn’t even react to the girl’s attack.

He turned to look at the sunlight outside and spoke calmly.

“No one in the world can truly figure out how someone else feels. At most, they can only pretend to understand. Take Shen Guang, for example. Who knows if he really likes Yan Qingxue?”

“Tsk!”

This woman really didn’t like him, did she? She’d clicked her tongue at him three times without holding back!

“Where did you even get an idea like that? Now I’m really curious—what kind of person were you before?”

“A shut-in, I guess. Though not completely. When I’ve got nothing to do, I like sitting by myself and spacing out—or watching you guys.”

“Watching us?”

Lin Qingqian narrowed her eyes and leaned closer, trying to peer into Shen Guang’s heart.

But Shen Guang didn’t react at all. He turned his head, a smile spreading across his lips. Boldly, he even reached out and hooked a finger under Lin Qingqian’s chin, teasing her.

“With all these beautiful girls around me, even my biology grades could improve.”

She never would’ve thought Shen Guang would dare to be so bold!

He’d actually reached out and hooked a finger under her chin. She hadn’t even had time to react!

A tingling sensation and a rush of embarrassment flooded her. She clenched her fists, her cheeks turning pink and even the tips of her ears going bright red.

She forced herself to bear the discomfort, radiating a cold, intimidating aura.

“If you do that again, I’ll kill you!”

“Next time, I’ll pinch your cheek instead.”

Seeing that Shen Guang had no intention of learning his lesson, Lin Qingqian’s chest heaved with anger. She snatched up her things and walked away without looking back.

Shen Guang watched her retreating figure and shook his head helplessly.

Lin Qingqian really was beautiful. After seeing her in person, Shen Guang could even put her looks on par with Yan Qingxue’s.

She could do housework, take care of people, was incredibly capable, and was respected by everyone. What kind of superheroine was she?

If only her personality were a little nicer, the guys chasing after her could probably line up from the school gates all the way to the cafeteria. Though for all he knew, that might already be happening.

Shen Guang rested both hands behind his head and enjoyed this brief moment of peace.

........

After school, Shen Guang headed home alone as well.

Lin Qingqian had Student Council business to take care of, while Yan Qingxue was chatting with her friends.

He quietly packed his schoolbag and got ready to leave. Jiang Ming, sitting in front of him, stood up at the same time.

Since his seat was the second one from the back by the window, Shen Guang decided to treat him normally.

An unremarkable guy like this was exactly the template for an outdated light-novel protagonist!

If someone told him Jiang Ming was the protagonist, he wouldn’t doubt it for a second.

As Jiang Ming stood up, he happened to meet Shen Guang’s gaze, but quickly looked away, clearly unwilling to have much to do with him.

Well, this guy really did have a good personality.

When trouble comes your way, just keep your head down and walk off!

Shen Guang had to admit, he really admired a “kindred spirit” like that.

“Oh, I just remembered something.”

“Right! I’d forgotten all about it until you brought it up!”

A quiet conversation suddenly started up near the door. Shen Guang hadn’t paid much attention at first, but then they mentioned his name.

“Shen Guang agreed to it himself! He’s packing his bag now—is he trying to run away?”

“Probably. Do you think he’s been so well-behaved these past few days because he got scared?”

“Who knows? But picking a fight with someone from the class next door is bound to cause trouble.”

Shen Guang stopped what he was doing, his expression growing even more helpless.

How much trouble had that guy left him with? Did being a proper cannon-fodder character mean finding all sorts of ways to get yourself killed? Couldn’t he just lie low for a while?

The more he thought about it, the more troublesome it seemed. But trouble had to be dealt with. He’d just have to make sure not to do it again.

Shen Guang put down his schoolbag and walked straight over to the two boys who’d been talking.

“What were you talking about?”

Shen Guang’s sudden “interrogation” left even the other students in the class stunned.

But they soon caught on. Wasn’t Shen Guang just playing dumb? What did he mean, “what were you talking about”? He’d started the whole thing himself. Acting cool, then pretending he’d forgotten—anyone would think it was a joke.

“Shen Guang, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten. A few days ago, you agreed to have a one-on-one with a guy from the class next door. You’re not going to tell me you’ve lost your memory, are you?”

“Was it a fight, or something else?” Shen Guang didn’t waste words. His blunt question made the boy in front of him freeze again.

W-Wait, how did this turn into a fight?

Their school was one of the best around. If they got caught fighting, they’d be expelled!

“W-What are you talking about? It was basketball! Didn’t you say you wanted a one-on-one with someone from the class next door’s basketball team?”

See? There you go—cannon-fodder trouble, right on cue.