Chapter 2: Stealing a Man

The classroom was piled high with books. This was how the advanced class was—every corridor was used for stacking textbooks. Lin Shu consulted the homemade timetable stuck to her desk, locating the subject after P.E. She hadn’t touched these materials for so long; she needed to catch up quickly, or it would be embarrassing if she was called on in class and didn’t know the answers.

She frowned as she gazed at the mathematical formulas, her expression growing more serious. The names of the formulas were somewhat familiar, but… what was the purpose of this strange jumble of letters?

A sharp voice cut through the silence.

“Lin Shu, how long are you going to hog this seat? Everyone in the class has to rotate, but you’re the only one who refuses. Even if it’s for Ji Xing Shen, you can’t affect the others. Don’t you have any manners? If you don’t listen, I’ll report you to the teacher. Let’s see who’ll be embarrassed then.”

Lin Shu looked up.

The girl standing before her, with a round face flushed with anger, seemed familiar, though Lin Shu couldn’t quite recall her name.

“You are…”

“Seriously? We’ve been classmates for a year, and you still don’t know me? Huang Ping Ting, the English class representative!”

“Sorry, which seat should I move to now?”

Huang Ping Ting sneered.

Lin Shu’s current seat was in the middle of the classroom, and she hadn’t changed it for two weeks. According to the rotation, Ji Xing Shen would be sitting next to her soon. The two students who were supposed to take this seat before her were easy to get along with—Lin Shu bought them breakfast, gave them two markers and a plush toy, and they willingly gave up the seat for her. But Huang Ping Ting, who was next in line, was not someone to be trifled with. She had come by on Friday to demand the seat that was supposed to be hers only by Monday, fearing Lin Shu would play tricks.

Lin Shu liked Ji Xing Shen—didn’t Huang Ping Ting like him too? It was rare for them to sit together; how could she just give up the seat?

Huang Ping Ting had already confronted Lin Shu once that morning.

Now, in the afternoon, she was determined to chase her out, especially since only a few classes remained. Her tone was particularly harsh.

If this were the old Lin Shu, she would be crying now.

She was naturally sentimental and prone to tears. Ever since she liked Ji Xing Shen, her tears came easily. Other classmates tolerated her only because they feared her crying spells.

People around them glanced over.

There was a hint of amusement in their eyes.

After all… everyone found her annoying.

In the advanced class, everyone was fiercely competing for top ranks. Even if there were romantic feelings, they remained hidden. Lin Shu’s actions for Ji Xing Shen were too blatant and out of line—lacking the restraint expected of girls and neglecting the duties of a student.

She was like a black sheep among a flock of white ones.

Zhou Ya was on duty, wiping the blackboard. Hearing Huang Ping Ting’s aggressive words, she grabbed the eraser, ready to confront her.

Lin Shu was excessive.

But stepping back a thousand paces, was Huang Ping Ting blameless?

Why was she so impatient to change seats now?

…

Because Lin Shu broke the rules, the rotation for their group was disrupted. Huang Ping Ting only knew the seat belonged to her but didn’t know where Lin Shu should sit.

When Lin Shu asked, Huang Ping Ting thought she was pretending to be clueless and pitiful again. In anger, she snatched Lin Shu’s pencil case and threw it out.

The classmates nearby flinched, exchanging glances with subtle expressions.

Some wanted to intervene but thought better of it.

What business was it of theirs?

Two girls vying over a top student—if the student herself didn’t care, why should bystanders get involved? Bystanders had to know their place.

Zhou Ya hurried over, glaring at Huang Ping Ting.

Zhou Ya was hot-tempered, quite the opposite of the tearful yet harmless Lin Shu. Huang Ping Ting was a bit intimidated, shrinking back and whispering, “Oh, Lin Shu’s bodyguard is here.”

Zhou Ya held out the eraser. “Can’t you speak properly? Why did you throw Lin Shu’s pencil case?”

“She brought it on herself, okay? No manners but still acting righteous, thinking everyone will indulge her just because she’s pretty? Does she really think she’s a princess?”

Zhou Ya picked up the eraser again.

Huang Ping Ting stepped back in fright.

Lin Shu took the eraser from her hand and handed a stack of books to Zhou Ya with a calm voice. “Xiao Ya, help me carry these; there are quite a few.”

Lin Shu pointed toward a corner.

Zhou Ya glanced over, worried. “That spot is near the trash bin and faces the back door. The wind blows constantly there, and you’re not in good health. You’ll get sick. According to the rotation, your seat should be…”

Uh, even she couldn’t say exactly where Lin Shu should sit now.

Lin Shu offered a reassuring smile. “I messed up the order, so it’s fair enough to sit in the corner. It’s fine, I’ll switch early.”

“Shu Shu…” Zhou Ya took a few steps with the books, then suddenly stopped and whispered, “You don’t want to sit next to Ji Xing Shen anymore?”

“No.”

The gossiping onlookers, like Zhou Ya, were shocked.

Among their cohort, the three most famous figures were: first, Ji Xing Shen—the top student, handsome, and from a wealthy family. His backpack, shoes, and phone were all luxury brands, making him the undisputed top of the social ladder, even famous in other schools. The second was the type every school had but was hardly worth mentioning. The last was Lin Shu—her grades and looks were not bad, and her class photo was even pinned on the school’s forum homepage, earning her the title of school beauty. Yet she insisted on being Ji Xing Shen’s devoted follower, to the point where classmates found it awkward, and teachers shook their heads when mentioning her.

Now, Ji Xing Shen’s biggest admirer said she no longer wanted to be his deskmate. Everyone doubted their own sanity and hearing.

A few boys amusedly groaned.

Lin Shu packed up her books, ignoring the gazes around her and refusing to argue with Huang Ping Ting. She simply called Zhou Ya to help move the books to the corner seat.

Zhou Ya pinched her nose in disgust.

Lin Shu smiled at her. “You’re on duty for our group anyway. I’ll stay after school and help clean that corner properly.”

Zhou Ya said, “You fainted today and still want to help clean? Forget it, I’ll take care of this place…”

The bell rang.

Zhou Ya had no choice but to return to her seat, casting a worried glance at Lin Shu.

Her look seemed to say that Lin Shu’s fainting must have caused some brain injury to explain her unusual behavior today.

Lin Shu suppressed the strange feeling and opened her book. Despite the string of unfortunate events, she found herself inexplicably smiling.

She had been reborn, returned to a time when everything was still salvageable.

Was there anything luckier than this?

Looking back across time, compared to the cunning and treachery of adulthood, the troubles of youth seemed pure and endearing.

At least no one would send her shameless ultrasound reports.

The class bell rang.

A figure carrying a stack of exercise books wandered in through the back door.

Lin Shu turned her head.

The sunlight slanted, casting his face in shadow, leaving only his outline glowing. Yet how could Lin Shu forget that figure—someone she had worshipped in her heart for so many years, now worn with age?

Ji Xing Shen walked over, holding his books, and glanced at her.

Lin Shu did not stare at him as usual. Her gaze brushed past his outline, withdrawing with unfamiliar calm. In the youthful sunlight, it fell on the open textbook, long forgotten formulas staring back.

She could forget even the hardest-studied content.

But it was impossible to forget someone she had loved so diligently.

Ji Xing Shen passed by her.

If Lin Shu had looked up, she would have noticed his eyes tracing an invisible arc centered on her in the air.