The original protagonist had good grades, and even though she didn’t do her homework, she was only called in for a chat. Chuzheng made up a random excuse to brush it off.

She left the office and strolled back to the classroom.

Today was the first day of school, and no classes were held in any of the classes. Students were getting their books and discussing some beginning-of-school affairs.

When Chuzheng returned to the classroom, Bai Dongai immediately leaned over, "What did Old Tan say?"

Old Tan was their homeroom teacher.

"Nothing much."

"Bro, what were you doing over the winter break that you didn’t do your homework? Were you in love?"

"Didn’t feel like it." Chuzheng casually moved the books on her desk, her tone light and breezy.

"..."

Bai Dongai gave Chuzheng a thumbs up.

Impressive.

If he had known, he wouldn’t have done his homework either.

-

Lu Qian was a year younger than Chuzheng, in the second-year teaching building. Chuzheng saw her while buying water.

Lu Qian was bonding with classmates and didn’t notice Chuzheng.

The second-year and third-year teaching buildings were different; after that day, Chuzheng hadn’t seen Lu Qian.

"There’s a quiz next week." Bai Dongai came back from playing ball, wiping his sweat as he talked to Chuzheng, "Do you need me to tutor you?"

"No need."

What’s this thing about a quiz?

School just started!

Is this school run by devils?

It’s a school rule: after the first week of school, there’s an entrance quiz.

It’s to check if the upper-year students played too much during break and fell behind academically.

The exam checks the new students’ performance.

"Say, are you really going for the cold and aloof route?" Bai Dongai hadn’t seen his buddy crack a smile in days.

When classmates approached her, she’d keep it brief and to the point.

She wasn’t the lively, goofy deskmate he used to know.

Thinking of what she said before, Bai Dongai felt a bit scared.

Chuzheng: "Is there a problem?"

Bai Dongai: "Should I get a charm from a nearby temple for you?"

Chuzheng: "You’re very free, aren’t you?"

Bai Dongai: "Caring for my buddy’s well-being is my duty."

Chuzheng: "I’m fine."

Bai Dongai moved his chair closer: "Seriously, what’s up with you? You wouldn’t say before. Look, I’ve told you everything, and keeping stuff bottled up isn’t good. Share with me, and I’ll give you some advice."

Bai Dongai had been observing secretly these past few days.

Chuzheng: "... If I told you, you probably wouldn’t believe it; I swapped my core."

Bai Dongai patted his chest, vowing, "Even if you were catfished in a relationship, I wouldn’t laugh at you. Come on, boldly tell your story."

"I really am fine." Chuzheng replied earnestly.

Bai Dongai looked incredulous, "Nothing’s wrong, and yet you’ve changed so much?"

Chuzheng pondered and came up with a phrase: "A woman’s eighteen transformations."

Bai Dongai: "..."

I believe your nonsense. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

The class bell rang, ending Bai Dongai’s questioning for the moment as they prepared for class.

But whenever he had the chance, Bai Dongai would ask her if a failed online romance was the cause.

Chuzheng: "..."

How did she seem like she had a failed online romance?

Fortunately, the weekly test was coming, and Bai Dongai was engrossed in revising during the last two days, so he had no time to worry about her failed romance.

The class Chuzheng was in was the so-called rocket class. Every test made this class seem like they were going to war; everyone was deeply immersed in studying, making it appear as if there wasn’t a break.

The weekly test content was quite random—the school teachers created the questions themselves.

So the scope of the test was also random. Both things they had studied and things they hadn’t could be on it.

The weekly test results were posted quickly, with the scores out by the next day. Students crowded in front of the bulletin board.

"Is Bai Dongai first?"

Bai Dongai was almost always first; some classmates felt this question wasn’t even necessary.

However...

"No, Lu Chuzheng is first."

"Eh? Lu Chuzheng finally took the top spot?"

"Wow, has Perpetual Second Place finally decided to rise up?"

"Dongai’s slipping!"

On the grade list, Chuzheng’s name, with a one-point lead, topped the list, surpassing Bai Dongai.

In the past, the original protagonist was always a few points behind Bai Dongai, holding second place, historically known as Perpetual Second Place.

Chuzheng was currently in front of the second-year bulletin board... She was just passing by and thought to check Lu Qian’s grades.

The school Lu Qian attended before wasn’t considered good.

She had heard that this school was good and made efforts to transfer here, spending quite a bit of money.

In the second year, there were over seven hundred people. Lu Qian ranked in the six hundreds, which wasn’t a good score.

"What are you looking at here?"

Just as Chuzheng was about to leave, Lu Qian and two classmates appeared. Lu Qian noticed Chuzheng and her face fell.

The senior grade’s bulletin board was ahead—what else could she be looking at?

Lu Qian was aware of her own grades and thought Chuzheng was there to mock her, so she was naturally unhappy.

Chuzheng gave her a cold glance, her tone even colder: "What I’m looking at is none of your business."

Lu Qian: "..."

Chuzheng left indifferently.

Lu Qian’s classmates immediately asked her, "Qian Qian, do you know her?"

Having good grades and being good-looking, Chuzheng’s reputation in the school wasn’t any less than Bai Dongai’s.

Moreover, Chuzheng often acted with Bai Dongai, making her even more well-known.

"She’s my cousin." Lu Qian said, "Before, when I went to her house, I just touched her figure, and she made a big fuss."

"Ah... I heard she’s a nice person."

Lu Qian sneered, "Ha, that’s just for show. She’s got a terrible personality and bad temper..."

The two classmates were shocked, "No way..."

Lu Qian continued to make up things to slander Chuzheng and then took her friends aside, reminding them, "Hey, don’t spread this around, or I’ll get scolded when I get home."

The two classmates immediately waved their hands, "We won’t, we won’t..."

Although they promised Lu Qian, they turned around and spread the word, just leaving Lu Qian out of it.

Of course, that’s a story for later.

At this moment, Chuzheng was being stopped by a little girl.

The little girl was holding a letter, her face crimson.

Chuzheng was a bit wary; she only liked the Good Person Card!

"Senior Lu... I..." The little girl stammered, finally taking a deep breath and handing over the letter, "Can you please give this to Senior Bai Dongai for me?"

Chuzheng: "..."

Chuzheng took the letter back to the classroom and tossed it in front of Bai Dongai.

Bai Dongai was watching a video, and the envelope blocked his screen. He glanced up at Chuzheng, then down at the letter, "Bro, are you finally making a move on me?"

"You’re overthinking it." Chuzheng tapped the signature at the bottom of the envelope with her fingertip, "If your eyes are bad, go see a doctor."

Bai Dongai: "..."

Instantly losing interest, Bai Dongai skillfully stuffed the letter into his desk and then grinned, "Congratulations on first place. How does it feel to be on top?"

"Not bad."

"Tsk, I’ll get it back next time." Bai Dongai said, "This time, let’s just say I let you win, bro."

"..."

Keep dreaming!!