Shen You’an finished eating, picked up her tray, and left.
She left the two of them with a high-and-mighty silhouette.
"Leng Yunyang, you’d better watch yourself." Gao Yuyue extended two fingers, pretending to gouge his eyes out, looking fierce and threatening.
"Not even eating shuts you up." Leng Yunyang put down his chopsticks, his face cold, making Gao Yuyue’s heart skip a beat.
"You... Are you going to hit ?"
"I don’t hit won." Leng Yunyang pulled out a handkerchief and wiped each finger ticulously.
An epito of elegance and noble manners.
Gao Yuyue let out a cold snort. A grown man using a handkerchief—how effeminate.
"Have you heard? Young Master Leng is chasing Shen You’an."
Dai Niantong let out a cold laugh, "You guys actually believe that?"
"This morning, Leng Yunyang said sothing incredibly ambiguous to Shen You’an right in front of everyone in Class A. Whose mind wouldn’t spin hearing that? Plus, there’s a rumor going around that if Young Master Leng manages to rank higher than Shen You’an in the monthly exam, she’ll agree to be his girlfriend. This is too intense; quick, quick, place your bets now! I’m betting Shen You’an will definitely end up in Young Master Leng’s pocket."
The girls in Class L were as excited as if they were about to transform into Cinderella.
"Isn’t this Shen You’an playing hard to get? So calculating. Does she actually think no one can surpass her? If Young Master Leng tries just a bit harder, he’ll easily beat her. By then, wouldn’t she beco his girlfriend without lifting a finger?"
"That’s hard to say. Ever since Shen You’an stepped into elentary school, she’s never been dethroned from first place. What if she defends her ranking again this ti?"
"You’re underestimating Young Master Leng. Just wait—this ti, who will win is still uncertain."
Their gossip had beco the hottest topic at Lanya High School lately, even the school’s staff and administrators had heard of it.
Shen Huailu slamd his desk in anger and shouted at ng Junzhu, "Get Leng Yunyang over here! It’s bad enough that he’s not focusing on his studies, but he better not corrupt Shen You’an!"
ng Junzhu turned to leave, but Shen Huailu quickly stopped her.
"Forget it. Subtly warn them instead—direct confrontation may end poorly."
ng Junzhu shook her head, "You’re the head, are you seriously backing down?"
Shen Huailu huffed indignantly, "Who’s backing down? I’m just... giving him so grace."
"Anyway, keep an eye on him. If he truly focuses, then fine, but if he dares to distract Shen You’an, I’ll deal with him myself."
The Leng family heir or not—this is school, and as a student, he must abide by my rules.
"Also, make this monthly exam harder. I want to see just how capable he is."
~
Shen You’an had beco a celebrity at Lanya High School, a true star that drew crowds wherever she went.
Even upperclassn in year two and three ca for a glimpse.
The atmosphere was almost like witnessing a legend.
Unable to handle the attention, Shen You’an spent most of her ti hiding in the library. Though Leng Yunyang occasionally interrupted her, he had gotten more serious lately, rarely sleeping and mostly studying or working on problems.
Even at the cafeteria, he’d hold onto a book titled Essay Improvent Guide, leaving many stunned.
Leng Yunyang’s actions seed to confirm the rumors—he was genuinely challenging Shen You’an for the top spot.
This proved he was serious about Shen You’an; this wasn’t just a passing whim.
Ti flowed quickly like water.
It wasn’t long before the first-year students faced their monthly exams.
The exams spanned two days, and imdiately after, the eleventh (National Day) holiday began.
Lanya High School was highly efficient at grading. Students could log into the school website during the holiday to check their scores and rankings.
The first examination hall was set up for Class A students, seated according to their middle school entrance ranks. Thus, the first hall mostly consisted of Class A students, but Shen You’an had moved from the last seat to the very first seat at the front near the door.
Behind her sat Gu Bichen, while across the aisle on her right side, coincidentally, was Leng Yunyang.
Shen You’an basked in the sunlight, leisurely sharpening her pencil, calm and serene.
Leng Yunyang rested his head on his hand, glancing sideways at her while twirling a ballpoint pen.
"Does our promise still stand?" Leng Yunyang asked slowly.
The entire class perked up their ears to eavesdrop.
This was the epicenter of gossip drama.
Promise? What promise?
Was it true that if Leng Yunyang outperford Shen You’an, she’d agree to be his girlfriend?
What a thrill.
Gu Bichen instinctively raised his eyes to glance at Leng Yunyang, his brows slightly furrowed.
Behind Gu Bichen, Liu Runxi was silently sharpening a pencil, a stray ray of light falling on him, transforming the youth into a golden figure.
"Of course it counts." Shen You’an replied without looking up, her tone casual yet confident.
"Snap." The pencil tip broke. The young man’s pale fingertips were now dusted with black lead.
The boy’s motion suddenly halted, his grip on the broken pencil showing his slender, pale knuckles.
Leng Yunyang raised a brow slightly, a faint smile forming on his lips.
"Not bad. Very confident."
At that mont, ng Junzhu walked in carrying sealed exam papers, her gaze casually sweeping over Leng Yunyang before heading to the podium to address the class with authority.
"The exam starts now."
~
That noon in the cafeteria, Gao Yuyue wore a dejected expression.
"This test is so hard. I can already tell I bombed it."
The cafeteria was filled with a somber atmosphere; lunch felt tasteless to many.
Even Wang Chiru, who’s usually full of confidence with exams, couldn’t help sighing.
Zhu Ci glanced at Shen You’an, then at Liu Runxi, Leng Yunyang, and Gu Bichen.
"The top guns truly live up to their na—each of them looks calr than the other."
"Hey Ren Chong, who do you think will claim the top spot this ti?" Zhu Ci nudged Ren Chong’s arm.
Ren Chong answered without hesitation, "Of course Shen You’an."
"NONONO, I actually think Young Master Leng has a good shot. A man gets so attractive when he’s serious."
Ren Chong slapped a hundred-yuan bill onto the table. "Care to bet?"
Zhu Ci sneered, "Bet it is, bring it on."
Shen You’an nodded slightly, "Hmm, I think it was hard too."
Gao Yuyue glanced at her in surprise, then quickly furrowed her brows and said, "Shen You’an, you gotta fight hard. You can’t lose to Leng Yunyang."
If even Shen You’an found it difficult, wasn’t it dangerous?
"I won’t lose to him." Despite saying this, Shen You’an wasn’t entirely confident within.
Leng Yunyang was indeed a formidable opponent.
"After the exam, let’s go out during the National Day holiday. I booked us a nice seaside guesthouse—we’ll barbecue by the beach and relax."
Shen You’an shook her head, "No, I’ve got plans this holiday."
Gao Yuyue looked a bit deflated, "But I already booked everything. Co on... So what are you doing over the holiday?"
Shen You’an pressed her pale lips together, staying silent.
"Fine, forget it. I’ll find soone else to go with ."
After saying this, she stole a glance at Shen You’an. Seeing no sign of her changing her mind, she huffed and pouted in frustration.
She treated Shen You’an as a friend, sharing everything with her.
But Shen You’an never revealed her own matters.
After the final exam ended, the holiday officially began.
As soon as Leng Yunyang picked up his bag and turned around, Shen You’an had already disappeared.
Ever since he had dragged her to the car at the school gate last ti, he’d found it near impossible to spot her after school.
Whenever she didn’t want to be found, no one could locate her.
Leng Yunyang shook his head, slung his bag over his shoulder, and slowly walked out of the classroom.
Casually, he draped an arm over Liu Runxi’s shoulder.
"Runxi, let’s hang out during the holiday. Staying ho alone is so boring."
Liu Runxi brushed his arm off nonchalantly, creating so distance between them.
"I have things to do; you have fun yourself."
"Gu, how about you join?" Leng Yunyang grinned as he called out to Gu Bichen nearby.
Gu Bichen smiled lightly and shook his head, "Haven’t been ho in a while. I should take the opportunity to spend ti with my family."
Leng Yunyang raised an eyebrow, "Gu, you’re really filial. Your family must be pretty lucky to have you."
~
Shen You’an arrived ho, changed into black clothes, and grabbed a backpack before stepping out of her room.
In the living room, Zhang Jian and Luo Wan were already packed, carrying plenty of bags with them.
Luo Qian quietly and obediently followed beside Luo Wan.
The four of them walked out in silence without saying a word.
Zhang Jian rented a car, and they headed south out of Qingzhou City.
Gradually, the scenery outside changed from towering skyscrapers to endless farmland.
In the passenger seat, Shen You’an lowered the car window, extending an arm to feel the cool breeze brushing against her fingers.
The lush green wheat fields stretched into the horizon, where the sun was setting in a golden glow.
The amber light chased after Shen You’an, draping her whole figure in soft gold.
"An’an, don’t let the wind make you sick," Zhang Jian gently reminded.
Leaning against the window fra, Shen You’an gazed at the distant sunset, her eyelids growing heavy.
Luo Wan fished a thin blanket out of her bag, leaning forward from the back seat to drape it over Shen You’an.
The mont it touched her, Shen You’an stirred awake.
"Have you been overworking yourself? You’ve already got dark circles. An’an, while we’re visiting your mom’s grave, you should take the chance to relax in the countryside. By the way, your mom grew up here—it’s such a blessed, rejuvenating place. I promise you’ll return to the city looking vibrant."
Shen You’an curved her lips into a small smile, "Okay."
From Qingzhou to Xiaojing Village took about an hour and a half, and just as the last speck of sunlight vanished, they arrived at their destination.
By then, night had fallen, and the sky glittered with stars.
At the end of the village road, there was a small cluster of people, sitting or standing, curiously observing the unfamiliar vehicle’s arrival.
Zhang Jian rolled down the car window, greeting everyone.
"Aunties, Uncles, long ti no see."
"It’s Zhang Jian back again. Just hearing your Aunt Guihua ntion you earlier, and here’s Xiao Wan too."
"Oh, that’s An’an, isn’t it? She’s growing prettier and prettier. She looks so much like her mom when she was younger—I recognized her at once."
The villagers’ enthusiasm was almost overwhelming.
Shen You’an greeted everyone politely. Though she hadn’t visited for a long ti and the night made it difficult to see clearly, she managed to recognize everyone one by one.
The older relatives couldn’t be happier.
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