"Emma, I got recognized so quickly. I should've worn a mask. Sure enough, being too showy isn't a good thing," Lin Jinran slapped her head and muttered under her breath, with an annoyed look on her face.
Alas, if it weren't to prove to her stepmother that she was doing well at Wannan No. 1 Middle School, well - known to everyone, she wouldn't have been so reckless and eager to show off.
Su Qinian, standing beside Lin Jinran, took in all the girl's expressions and actions, and couldn't help smiling.
She's so cute, he thought.
The previous high - spiritedness had vanished without a trace, replaced by annoyance and regret.
"You're the only one not wearing the school uniform on this playground. It would be strange if you weren't recognized," Su Qinian said with a smile.
"That's why everyone was looking at me on the way here," Lin Jinran looked around and found that the students nearby had stopped walking. They craned their necks, looking curiously and excitedly in this direction.
Lin Jinran: "..."
Lin Jinran forced out a stiff smile and said, "Hello, classmate. I'm Lin Jinran. May I ask what's up?"
The classmate grinned. His eyes were as hot as fireballs. He made a megaphone shape with his hands and shouted, "Lin Jinran, I like you!!!"
The voice was loud, powerful, and resounded through the sky.
Lin Jinran: "???"
Su Qinian: "?!?"
The surrounding classmates: "!!!"
The grade director who was on the stage directing the students to leave: "?!??"
This was like a big rock thrown into a calm lake, adding a bit of fun to the boring school.
Suddenly, the looks of the surrounding students were so intense that it seemed they wanted to devour the protagonists of the story alive to relieve their boredom.
"There's something juicy to watch. Look quickly."
"Lin Jinran's confession came so soon. If I were a guy, I'd also want to confess. She's so cool. You should've seen the grade director's dark face. It's so satisfying."
"Guys and girls behind, don't push. There's a big show to watch!"
"..."
The surrounding students were discussing excitedly. Their voices were completely unmasked and fell into Lin Jinran's ears.
Was the morning assembly turning into a gossip - watching scene?
The students of No. 1 Middle School were really good at gossiping. She should've remembered this when she saw a confession yesterday.
Lin Jinran looked at the nervous, expectant, and excited boy in front of her, feeling rather speechless.
Su Qinian stood quietly on one side, looking at the boy with a silent face.
This was Lin Jinran's private matter, and he had no right to interfere.
"May I ask what you like about me?" Lin Jinran smiled gently. "If I hadn't given a speech on the stage, you probably wouldn't have known me at this moment. Even if we passed by each other, you'd have regarded me as a strange classmate, right?"
"So, classmate, your liking is very superficial. What you like is just the surface glory, not the inner self."
The boy's face flushed red, as if he had been stripped naked and was being watched by everyone.
Lin Jinran casually glanced at the surrounding students, put away her smile, and said seriously, "There's only one year left for senior three, which is extremely crucial. I hope the next time I see you, you're not in the line of those pursuing me, but on the grade list. Only then do you have the capital to say the word 'like'. If you can't promise the future, why say it?"
Yes, if you can't promise the future, why say it and only make the people around you who care about you sad.
The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was attentive.
Su Qinian pursed his lips and looked at Lin Jinran, feeling a momentary daze.
"Is Lin Jinran's academic performance good?"
"Seems so. She's in Class One. Class One is the key class. Lin Jinran got into Class One as soon as she transferred. I'm a bit curious about her academic performance in her previous school."
"The school - starting exam is next week. We'll know soon."
"Tsk tsk tsk. As expected of a straight - A student. When rejecting a confession, she still has to bring up studies. I'd like to see where she ranks on the grade list in the school - starting exam."
"..."
The redness on the boy's face gradually faded. He nodded, ignoring the surrounding discussions, and said firmly, "You're right. Thank you."
"Dreaming of having a place on the grade list. How over - ambitious."
"Humph. Let's see which kind - hearted student on the list will drop in ranking to make room for this precious spot."
"What's the magic about Lin Jinran? One after another, they're all chasing after her. She doesn't look that great anyway."
"..."
"Spreading rumors also entails relevant legal responsibilities..." Su Qinian suddenly snapped. He turned his head and said word by word to the ill - intentioned girl, smiling faintly. "Why is there so much malice among classmates? Am I right, everyone?"
The girl immediately blushed and replied in a low voice, "Yes."
"What are you still looking at? Don't you know you're blocking the way of the classmates behind? Didn't you hear the grade director shouting?" Su Qinian said coldly. At the same time, he pulled Lin Jinran to one side to avoid blocking the way of other students.
Seeing that the excitement was almost over, the students walked forward one after another, looking back as they walked, afraid of missing the follow - up.
"Lin Jinran, thank you. I'll leave first," the boy waved goodbye to her and gradually disappeared into the crowd.
Lin Jinran watched him leave. Thinking that her "fame" might bring a lot of inexplicable troubles in the future, she sighed.
Su Qinian noticed this and asked quietly, "What, are you reluctant to part with him?"
With her straightforward personality, how could Lin Jinran understand the hidden meaning in Su Qinian's words? She completely regarded it as a friend's concern for her.
Although this friend had only known her for a few days.
"No. I just suddenly thought about what to do if another confession like this pops up," Lin Jinran scratched her head, looking distressed, and followed the crowd towards the classroom.
"Confront trouble as it comes," Su Qinian said succinctly.
Lin Jinran showed a brilliant smile and clapped her hands in approval. "Right, that's the logic. You're right."
Then, she widened her eyes and looked at him, smiling mischievously. "Class monitor, do you have a lot of experience? How about sharing some with this little girl?"
"No, I don't have any experience," Su Qinian said helplessly. "Don't talk nonsense. I'm a self - disciplined person."
He deliberately emphasized the words "self - disciplined".
"But I feel like you, class monitor, are like a pot of nectar, attracting lots of butterflies," Lin Jinran said innocently, with a pair of clear and bright eyes.
Su Qinian: "..."
What an adjective. He was almost laughed out of anger. But he just couldn't do anything about Lin Jinran. Finally, he blurted out dryly, "Believe it or not."
"Hahaha." Lin Jinran burst into laughter.
They climbed the stairs. Most of the students had already returned to their classrooms, and the stairs were a bit empty.
Lin Jinran quickly jumped up a few steps, turned around, and showed a triumphant smile. "I know. I was just teasing you. After a day together, don't I know what kind of person you are?"
Su Qinian smiled helplessly.
Looking at her from afar, the light scattered loosely on her shoulders. In the flickering light, his heart softened suddenly.
He really had no way with her.
He said to himself in his heart.