You’ve Got Some Nerve~

After finally settling the unexpectedly troublesome seating arrangement for the transfer student,

Lu Xi instructed the class to begin morning study.

Xia Chen remained lazily leaning by the window.

The girl’s arrival caused no reaction in him at all.

It was as if nothing could disturb his carefree attitude.

As if he truly had no interest in women whatsoever.

After the curious gazes from the rest of the class gradually faded—

Tong Si, sitting upright beside him like an icy goddess,

Finally made her first move.

She lifted her book slightly,

Using it to cover her delicate face.

Then, from behind the book,

She spoke softly—just loud enough for Xia Chen to hear.

“Didn’t expect this, did you?”

…

No response.

Xia Chen didn’t react at all.

He even scratched his arm casually.

Then leaned against the desk,

Half-lying there while reading.

After waiting for a long time without any reply,

Tong Si couldn’t help but glance at him.

Only to find that he was treating her as if she didn’t exist.

Was her voice too soft?

So she tried again.

“Hey, you didn’t expect we’d meet again, right?”

This time—

Xia Chen simply turned over.

Presenting the back of his head to her.

Facing the window,

Continuing to read.

Like someone disturbed in sleep who casually rolls over.

So natural.

So normal.

So normal that she couldn’t even find fault in it.

And that was the problem.

He definitely heard her.

He had to have heard her.

He was pretending.

Finally unable to tolerate it any longer—

Tong Si reached out and grabbed him.

Her voice lowered,

But her frustration was obvious.

“You heard me, didn’t you?

Why are you pretending you didn’t?

Are you feeling guilty?”

She pulled him hard enough to flip him over from the desk.

Xia Chen turned his head.

Looking at her—

At her embarrassed, angry expression—

A smile slowly spread across his face.

It was unfamiliar.

Unfamiliar because it appeared on such a young face.

Not the kind of confident, world-shaking smile from memory—

But something else entirely.

He looked at her.

Still smiling.

Then straightened up.

And spoke—

Not loudly,

But loud enough for nearly the entire class to hear.

“Classmate, I know you’re pretty.

But if you keep harassing me like this…

It will affect my studies.”

…

In an instant—

The classroom exploded again.

Sun Zhen was stunned by Xia Chen’s shamelessness.

Others couldn’t believe what they were hearing.

But at that moment—

Tong Si’s hand was clearly still on Xia Chen’s arm.

If it were just words,

Maybe it could be dismissed as his imagination.

But her hand—

That was undeniable.

It wasn’t like he forced it there.

The atmosphere shifted immediately.

“Wait… seriously?”

“She’s that pretty… but her taste is questionable?”

“How did she get involved with Xia Chen?”

“Maybe girls from the capital have… unique preferences.”

“Unique? Not more than ours!”

“This guy barely shows up to class—

And when he does, he gets this kind of attention?”

The whispers filled the room.

Tong Si heard everything clearly.

No matter how cold and proud she appeared—

She was still just a girl.

Her face flushed instantly.

Like a calm lake touched by sunset light.

Even Cao Qingyi—

Who had been pretending to study while secretly listening—

Turned around to look at them.

“What’s going on?”

Lu Xi frowned.

She suddenly felt she shouldn’t have persuaded Xia Chen to come back to school.

Why was he causing trouble every other day?

Was he deliberately making things difficult for her?

Xia Chen glanced at Tong Si.

In this situation—

She had almost completely let go of her pride.

Her lips parted slightly.

“Stop… please stop talking…”

Xia Chen smiled.

“Teacher Lu, she’s whispering to me.

Can you handle this?

I want to focus on studying.”

“You—!”

Tong Si almost wanted to punch him out the window.

With his thick skin, he’d probably survive it anyway.

Compared to the person she hated most—

This boy was getting dangerously close.

Lu Xi stared wide-eyed.

As if she had misheard.

“What did you just say?

She’s whispering to you?”

“I didn’t!”

Tong Si immediately denied it, face flushed.

Xia Chen let out a short laugh.

“You’ve got some nerve, kid.”

“Say that again!!”

Seeing her on the verge of exploding,

Lu Xi felt a headache coming on.

“Can you two behave as desk mates?

If not, I’ll change your seats!”

“Can’t.”

“Can!”

Two completely different answers rang out at the same time.