Rip—!

Although the two in the back had caused quite a commotion,

For some reason, Cao Qingyi, sitting in front, felt relieved instead.

As for that shameless hooligan behind her—

She absolutely couldn’t stand him.

She had never seen someone so unmotivated,

Yet radiating such an annoyingly smug aura.

As for the girl sitting beside him—

Beautiful, yes.

But clearly blind.

Why else would she insist on sitting next to Xia Chen?

No matter how she thought about it, it made no sense.

Still—

Maybe this wasn’t so bad.

If the two of them couldn’t stand each other,

And made each other miserable—

That would be perfect.

Right in front of Xia Chen,

Cao Qingyi lightly swayed her ponytail with a hint of smugness.

Meanwhile, Xia Chen—

Bored out of his mind—

Was trying to avoid the strange girl beside him,

While also watching Cao Qingyi’s restless movements.

He reached out—

And tugged her ponytail,

Like pulling a switch on a lamp.

“Hey—”

Cao Qingyi let out a small cry.

Her face flushed red as she turned around.

“Why are you pulling my hair…?”

At the same time,

Her gaze instinctively flicked toward the mixed-blood beauty beside him.

Cao Qingyi herself was considered stunning.

Youthful, lively, with a girl-next-door charm—

Like a fallen sprite from the heavens.

But the girl next to Xia Chen—

Tong Si—

Even she couldn’t confidently outshine her.

Delicate features.

A colder, distant aura.

A different kind of beauty altogether.

After that brief glance—

Cao Qingyi turned back toward Xia Chen.

But the moment she did—

A finger poked her cheek.

Creating a slight dimple.

Her face instantly turned red again.

She blinked.

And saw Xia Chen resting his chin in his hand,

Smiling faintly at her.

“Hmm.

You almost broke my finger.

Why turn your head with so much force?”

Cao Qingyi blushed furiously.

“I-I didn’t use force!

What are you doing?!”

She quickly pulled her head back—

Then wiped her cheek with her hand in exaggerated disgust,

As if his touch had contaminated her.

“Nothing.

You were bouncing around so happily in front of me—

I just wanted to ask what you’re so happy about.”

Xia Chen’s words made Tong Si beside him frown slightly.

Though she hid it well.

Cao Qingyi, of course, wasn’t about to admit—

That she was happy because the two of them seemed ready to fight.

If she said that,

This guy would definitely make things worse for her.

So she looked at him cautiously and said—

“What does it have to do with you…

I have my own reasons…”

“You’ve changed.

Your happiness isn’t because of me anymore.”

That one sentence—

Made Tong Si tighten her grip on the book.

The pages visibly crumpled.

Cao Qingyi, meanwhile, became even more flustered.

“Y-you you you you—what are you saying?!”

“I-I I I I didn’t say anything.”

“You’re making fun of me!”

She refused to let it go.

Xia Chen lazily raised his eyelids.

“No, I’m not.”

“You are!”

“I’m not.”

A childish, meaningless exchange.

Yet—

Tong Si’s grip grew tighter.

And tighter.

Almost out of control—

Until—

“Rip—!”

The sound of paper tearing.

It snapped Cao Qingyi out of the moment.

She turned around.

And saw Tong Si sitting there calmly—

Looking straight ahead.

But the thick textbook in her hands—

Had been torn cleanly in half.

A shocking sight.

Almost heroic.

Cao Qingyi froze.

Eyes wide.

Mouth slightly open.

Even covering her lips in disbelief.

Xia Chen, however, remained calm.

As if nothing had happened.

Tong Si slowly placed the torn book down.

Then turned toward them.

And forced a smile—

A smile that was worse than not smiling at all.

“Ah…

The textbooks here don’t seem very durable.

Heh.”

Xia Chen smiled back just the same.

“Heh.

Heh heh.”

Cao Qingyi looked at the two of them—

Completely confused.

But after this incident—

That seat—

Was unusually quiet for the rest of the day.