CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38: GETTING SCOLDED FOR GHOSTING

A surge of joy coursed through Su Chen’s mind. *His mental acuity was truly extraordinary now!*

"Zheng Yuanda, I believe there are three ways to solve this problem," Su Chen said, pulling a sheet of scratch paper from his desk and picking up a pen to begin explaining.

Zheng Yuanda, who had been wearing a smug, arrogant expression, was certain this problem would stump Su Chen. After all, he knew Su Chen was at the bottom of their class, with math being his worst subject. Any random problem would be enough to trip him up.

But then, the unexpected happened!

Su Chen rattled off three different solution methods like a machine gun. Zheng Yuanda, and even Gu Qing, were completely stunned!

They themselves only knew one or two methods at most.

Zheng Yuanda’s face shifted, his mind racing. Has this motherfucker seen this book before? How else could he know so many solutions? No, that can’t be right! The answer key only lists one method. This is downright eerie!

"Well? Can I have my seat back NOW?" Su Chen asked, a faint smile playing on his lips as he stared at Zheng Yuanda. In his view, the best way to deal with someone who looked down on him was to beat them at their own game.

"Alright! Thanks!" Zheng Yuanda stood up, giving Su Chen another appraising look. His expression softened, the arrogance fading from his face.

Su Chen smiled faintly, leaned back in his seat pulled out his textbook from his bag and began to study earnestly.

Zheng Yuanda suppressed his frustration and left, thoroughly bored.

The moment he was gone, the classroom erupted into a cacophony of chatter.

"Su Chen’s performance today was absolutely jaw-dropping!"

"Yeah, even though I’ve always looked down on him, I was firmly on his side today. Zheng Yuanda just relies on his family’s wealth and power to harass Gu Qing every day—it’s outrageous!"

"Exactly! What’s a Class 2(3) student doing coming to our Class 2(6) to show off anyway?"

"Haha, Su Chen really saved face for all the guys in Class 2(6) today! Did you see how humiliated Zheng Yuanda looked when he left? Su Chen’s actions were so satisfying—haha!"

Sitting at his desk, Su Chen faintly overheard the classroom chatter and chuckled inwardly. Today’s a rare day indeed, he thought. So many classmates are actually on my side for once. Still, that bitch Zheng Yuanda is quite cunning. Despite being so humiliated, he didn’t show a flicker of emotion on his face. He’s probably holding a grudge, so I’ll need to watch out for him in the future.

Su Chen didn’t want to rely too heavily on his family’s influence, especially given his irreconcilable conflict with the Ye Family. He also wasn’t ready to openly confront Zheng Yuanda, a young master from a powerful and influential family. These bastards were most petty people.

"Thank you," Gu Qing said with a gentle smile, her soft voice filled with gratitude.

"What are you thanking me for?" Su Chen asked, feigning ignorance with a playful grin.

"For helping me get rid of Zheng Yuanda, of course," Gu Qing replied, a blush rising on her cheeks. "To be honest, I just want to study in peace." Her tone carried a hint of resignation at Su Chen’s deliberate teasing.

"Don’t mention it," Su Chen said firmly. "This is my spot and no one can take it without my permission!"

Yet inwardly, he sighed, thinking, No wonder the higher the education level in society, the more unattractive women there are. How many girls as beautiful as flowers can truly focus on their studies? Even if they’re determined to study hard, they’re constantly surrounded by ’bees, butterflies, and dung beetles’ drooling over them.

Su Chen took a deep breath, turning to gaze at her expression as she studied quietly, a surge of determination welled up within him. He resolved inwardly, Such a perfect girl deserves a peaceful learning environment. If the opportunity arises, I’ll make her happy...

Gu Qing noticed Su Chen watching her out of the corner of her eye.

After nearly a semester of observation, Su Chen struck her as steady, calm, unpretentious, and naturally composed. Despite his understated demeanor, he always gave her an inexplicable sense of security. His handsome features never carried a hint of arrogance.

In contrast, Zheng Yuanda, with his privileged background, stellar grades and good looks, offered no such reassurance. His casual displays of haughtiness made her feel deeply uncomfortable.

Thus, Gu Qing felt a quiet sense of satisfaction, convinced that choosing Su Chen as her deskmate had been the right decision.

Su Chen didn’t dwell on Gu Qing’s thoughts. Bored, he picked up his pen and continued writing. Occasionally, he paused to recall details, carefully choosing his words and refining his phrasing.

Beside him, the petite beauty Gu Qing glanced at Su Chen with a puzzled expression before turning back to her studies, still perplexed. Throughout the remaining classes, Su Chen remained oblivious to the lectures, engrossed in his writing and drawing. Gu Qing, the model student, ignored him completely. The two sat in peaceful silence for the rest of the day.

When the dismissal bell rang, the entire school building erupted in commotion. This was the most exhilarating moment of the day for everyone, a sound many had been eagerly anticipating since setting food in school boundary.

Su Chen put down his pen, shook his stiff fingers, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and hummed a little tune.

Walking through the vibrant crowd, he inhaled the sweet osmanthus fragrance that permeated the sun-dappled campus. Surrounded by youthful, innocent faces, Su Chen felt as light as a feather, his heart racing with anticipation.

He descended the stairs, turned left, skirted the flowerbed overflowing with purple four o’clocks and hurried down the long first-floor corridor, his steps quick and light, toward the central passage of the teaching building.

The corridor buzzed with activity, filled with laughter, chatter, cheers, and sighs. In the distance, the setting sun cast its crimson glow across the horizon, bathing the scene in a unique light.

As the economy boomed, cities grew increasingly modern and clamorous. Yet the twilight hours retained a tranquil beauty, a serenity distilled through the ages. In the western sky, vibrant sunset hues veiled the sun’s final rays, painting the clouds with a fiery glow, like leaping flames.

Day by day I float my paper boats one by one down the running stream.

In big black letters I write my name on them and the name of the village where I live.

I hope that someone in some strange land will find them and know who I am.

I load my little boats with shiuli flowers from our garden,

and hope that these blooms of the dawn will be carried safely to land in the night.

All the summer through the morning sky is blue and the sun shines.

I watch the clouds sail like white ships across the sky.

I wonder if the playmate of the clouds will accept my boats among his own.

As Su Chen sang Tagore classic old poem "Paper boat" from century ago, he pondered the potential benefits of mastering the Red Phoenix Heavenly Scripture. He even wondered about the crimson silhouette on the milky-white Lotus Platform deep within his body—who could she be?

He strode briskly down the wide asphalt road, rounding countless corners until he finally stopped before a villa in a grand, exquisitely constructed residential complex.

Having formulated some ideas, Su Chen returned home. Before he could even speak, he was surprised to find Song Xue already there. Seeing her reminded him of his ambition to collect all the world’s most stunning beauties.

With her pure charm, Song Xue was naturally one of his targets. Of course, seeing her also made him think of her ripe mother, stirring a hint of longing in his heart.

Having finally made some progress with Lin Shufen, should he seize the opportunity to tease that alluring woman further?

"You rascal! Leaving your sister alone at school like that! If Xue’er hadn’t gone to fetch her, who knows what might have happened if she’d come home alone? What if something had gone wrong?"

As her son walked in, Luo Xue shot him a reproachful glare. Her words weren’t mere scolding. Even with relatively good security, crime still occurred. Moreover, their family’s exceptional genes easily drawing unwanted attention. Even their son possessed striking good looks.

Hearing her mother words suddenly made Ye Rou feel wronged. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she pouted, refusing to acknowledge Su Chen.

Perhaps because she had never been separated from her brother since childhood, and because he had walked her to and from school every day, she had developed an unparalleled emotional dependence on him. So when he failed to pick her up after school one day, her heart became unusually sensitive.

Though it was only once and something that had never happened before, Ye Rou couldn’t help but let her imagination run wild, thinking her brother no longer cared for her as much as before. This made her feel panicky; she was so used to having him by her side that she felt anxious when he wasn’t around.

Hearing his mother’s scolding and seeing his younger sister’s hurt expression, Su Chen felt a pang of guilt. He hurried to sit beside Ye Rou and reached out to hug her, but Ye Rou, feeling wronged, stubbornly dodged his embrace.

Su Chen awkwardly extended his hand, glancing at his older sister for help. Ye Qing had no afternoon classes and had returned home at noon. Though many outstanding boys had asked her out, she had consistently refused every invitation. Perhaps she had never considered dating, or perhaps there was someone’s in her heart she couldn’t let go of.

These thoughts remained hidden within Ye Qing’s heart. Despite the many boys around, she preferred spending her free time at home. Even when she went out, it was usually with her close group of girlfriends.

Seeing her brother’s plea for help, Ye Qing shot him a glare. "Don’t look at me," she said. "Honestly, I’m a little angry too. Our sister is still youngest. How could you be so careless? Even if you were busy, you could have called Mom or me to pick her up!"

"I said I was wrong, okay?" Su Chen replied with a wry smile, realizing his appeal for help had failed. He turned to Ye Rou and tugged at her school uniform.

It wasn’t that his family was overreacting; Su Chen knew all too well how stunning the women in his family were. If they lived in ancient times, he firmly believed that there would definitely have been wars all the time for them.