"Alright, alright, I'll buy you a new outfit, okay? I promise I won't bully you again. That good enough?" Liu Hong's face twisted as he begrudgingly compromised—he had never stooped so low before.
"Who told you to frame me for stealing the test paper?" The voice was clear and sweet like silver bells, yet her tone carried an unquestionable command.
"Gao Yuanyuan," Liu Hong blurted out without hesitation. He narrowed his eyes slowly, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Heard you two sisters don't get along. Now it makes sense—looks like she really hates you. I mean, your mom did steal her dad, after all. But..."
The more he talked, the more animated he became. Shu Ran's expression darkened slightly, but she said nothing and stepped past Liu Hong to leave.
"Hey! You promised not to report me! I'll bring the clothes tomorrow!" Liu Hong quickly reached out to grab her arm in panic.
Shu Ran yanked her hand free with force. She ignored whatever he was saying behind her—she had no intention of causing more trouble. Right now, her only goal was to change into her gym uniform and clear her name.
Liu Hong watched her retreating figure, clenching his fists tightly. If earlier she had acted on impulse, just now he could tell—this girl had the instincts of a natural fighter.
From a distance, Gu Yichen had seen the whole scene. As Liu Hong walked back to the classroom, Gu Yichen's gaze naturally followed Shu Ran. He watched her return to her seat, pick up her gym clothes, and head to the restroom. He caught sight of her torn uniform and frowned. Her smooth, porcelain-white shoulders shimmered under the sunlight, making it hard for him to look away.
Shu Ran sighed softly as she changed clothes. She had planned to keep a low profile and endure quietly, but now she realized—that would only lead her down the same doomed path as before.
In her previous life, she had swallowed her pride time and again just to protect her mother's happiness, sacrificing her own desires and dreams. But in the end, what did they get?
Gao Jianjun's betrayal, Gao Yuanyuan stealing her fiancé… and even in her final moments, she had seen the malice and smugness in Gao Yuanyuan's eyes.
If staying quiet only leads to ruin, then so be it—she would go loud this time. She had already earned the nickname "little fox"; a few more insults wouldn't make a difference.
As Shu Ran walked out of the restroom, she suddenly slammed into a firm wall of muscle. The impact sent her staggering backward, but before she could fall, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and held her steady. Her nose throbbed with pain, and she looked up with tears brimming in her eyes—only to freeze when she saw who it was.
Gu Yichen had one hand casually in his pocket, the other resting naturally on her back, holding her in his arms.
A faint scent of cologne mixed with tobacco lingered on him—an ambiguous kind of allure. Shu Ran found herself drawn to the obsidian depth of his eyes. She had to admit, in two lifetimes, she had never seen someone this outrageously good-looking.
"Shu Ran, we meet again," he said, voice low with a trace of teasing.
Gu Yichen gazed at the girl before him. Her long black hair fluttered in the breeze, her translucent skin tinged with a soft blush. Her lips, naturally red and slightly pursed, looked like a freshly ripened apple—tempting enough to bite.
Staring at his infuriatingly handsome face, Shu Ran froze for a beat before quickly escaping from his embrace.
"Time's almost up. Let's get to your re-exam," Gu Yichen said, poking her forehead playfully. A small chuckle escaped him. "I believe in you—don't let me down."
"Got… got it!" Shu Ran stammered and bolted away.
Back in the classroom, Shu Ran's return immediately silenced the chatter. Everyone's eyes bounced between her and Liu Hong, expecting more drama. But to their surprise, Liu Hong didn't stir any trouble.
As soon as she sat down, Gu Yichen also stepped into the classroom, setting off a wave of excitement among the girls. But his eyes rested solely on Shu Ran.
"Shu Ran, why the rush? Let's head to the next room for your re-exam," he said with a hint of amusement.
Shu Ran shot him a glare—he was definitely doing this on purpose.
She packed her things and left the room with him, under the envious gaze of her classmates. When they entered the adjacent classroom, she realized how serious this was: not only were the academic director and her homeroom teacher Zhou Li present, but also Old Man Lu… and the devilish Gu Yichen.
"Don't be scared, just treat it like any normal test," Zhou Li whispered gently, guiding her to a desk.
Old Man Lu stepped forward and placed the test paper in front of her, hope shining in his eyes. He clearly had full faith in her.
Shu Ran felt her heart lighten. She picked up her pen and began to write. Zhou Li and Old Lu exchanged a glance and stepped aside to wait.
Sunlight spilled through the windows, bathing her in a soft glow. A flicker of something unreadable flashed through Gu Yichen's eyes.
Shu Ran slowly set down her pen and looked calmly at the group before her.
The academic director glanced at the wall clock. Less than ten minutes had passed. His eyes filled with contempt—so, the act was over? No one could finish such a difficult test in so little time.
Old Man Lu rushed forward, picked up her paper, and began to review it in front of her. His brows twitched. Gradually, his face lit up with excitement.
"A genius! Truly a genius!" he exclaimed as he reached the final question. "She's the first real prodigy we've ever had at Linxiao!"
Zhou Li and the academic director froze. Could she really have scored full marks again?
"How is it, Mr. Lu?" Zhou Li asked.
"Full marks! She finished even faster than last time!" Lu handed the paper to the director.
Zhou Li beamed with pride.
The academic director studied the paper and glanced up at Old Lu. "Mr. Lu, this test—is it the same as the previous one?"
"Of course. Why?"
"You memorized the answers for her, didn't you?" he said coldly, peering over at Shu Ran.
Shu Ran narrowed her eyes but said nothing, calmly meeting his gaze.
"That's impossible..." Old Lu stared at the paper, wavering for a moment. The test was difficult; only someone who had memorized the answers could finish it so fast. Yet… he still believed in her.
"You got anything to say for yourself?" the director sneered when Shu Ran stayed silent. "Zhou Li, she's your student. You handle it. I expect a satisfactory answer."