**
*Ding!*
The bell signaled the end of the forty-minute morning reading session.
*Bang!*
Zhang Lei tossed his English textbook onto the desk, shaking his head in disgust. "Why do we have to study this language all day? I'm not planning to move abroad. If everyone gets fluent, what happens to the translators' jobs?"
Ji Feng had heard this rant before but couldn't help chuckling. "Learning another language is never a waste. It opens doors."
"For what? To be a translator? Or one of those wannabe foreigners spouting jargon?" Zhang Lei scoffed. "Take 'daddy' and 'mommy'—sounds ridiculous compared to 'baba' and 'mama.' If you're Chinese, act like it!"
Ji Feng shook his head, amused. Zhang Lei's disdain for foreign languages was no surprise. "If you ever get the power to change things, go for it," he teased. "But right now, you'd better study English, or you won't even make it to university. Then what?"
By senior year, the college entrance exam loomed large. Ji Feng had heard that many universities required high English scores—fall short, and even a stellar total score wouldn't save you. Determined to rise above his circumstances, Ji Feng vowed to tackle English seriously. Only by excelling could he reach a top university and step into a broader world.
Zhang Lei slumped, muttering, "Changing things? Easier said than done. Fine, I'll study."
Seeing his friend's dramatic sulk, Ji Feng laughed.
"Hey, Crazy!" Zhang Lei perked up, eyes glinting mischievously. "During morning reading, our school beauty kept sneaking glances at you. Spill it—when did you two get cozy?"
"Cozy?" Ji Feng rolled his eyes, used to Zhang Lei's wild remarks. "I was late. Of course she noticed. She'd stare at you too if you showed up tardy."
Truthfully, Ji Feng had caught Tong Lei, seated in the second row, glancing his way multiple times during reading. A teacher's scolding was likely inevitable.
"Come on, don't dodge!" Zhang Lei grinned. "Plenty of people are late, but when has Tong Lei ever paid them this much attention? Explain that."
Ji Feng sighed, shaking his head. "Maybe it's because everyone's heard about Hu Xuehui dumping me. Curiosity, that's all."
"Could be," Zhang Lei conceded, nodding.
Ji Feng shot him a look. "You didn't have to agree so fast."
Zhang Lei grinned, unapologetic. "It's my charm—brutal honesty."
They burst into laughter. Zhang Lei sighed, his tone softening. "Looks like you're really over Hu Xuehui. Good for you, brother."
Mentioning her name didn't faze Ji Feng. His calm demeanor told Zhang Lei the wound had healed. Ji Feng nodded, smiling. "Yeah, it's done."
Zhang Lei's grin widened. "Alright, Crazy, since you've bounced back from heartbreak, how about chasing a new flame?"
Ji Feng blinked. "New flame?"
"Obviously, our school beauty, Tong Lei!" Zhang Lei said, eyes sparkling with excitement. "She's the county's golden girl. Land her, and you're set for life—"
Before he could finish, Zhang Lei's face froze, his enthusiasm replaced by awkwardness as he stared behind Ji Feng.
"What's with you?" Ji Feng asked, oblivious. Shaking his head, he continued, "A real man carves his own path, Lei. I'm not some leech looking for a free ride. Sure, Tong Lei's gorgeous, and her family's loaded, but that's exactly why she's out of my league. To match her, you'd need to be a prodigy or some rich heir. Me? I'm poor, average-looking, with no background. Why would she look twice?"
Zhang Lei's expression grew stranger, his lips twitching as if suppressing a laugh. "So, you're saying you *are* into Tong Lei?"
"Everyone appreciates beauty," Ji Feng said, leaning into the banter. "She's stunning—who wouldn't like her? Doesn't mean I'm going to confess or anything. And you! If you weren't sneaking glances at her, how'd you know she was looking at me? You're the one with the crush, calling *me* out!"
"Cough!" Zhang Lei choked, his face reddening. "Uh, well… I was just, you know, observing her study habits! She's top of the class, right? Learning from the best!"
"Lame excuse," Ji Feng scoffed, grinning. But before he could jab further, a voice—clear and melodic, yet laced with ice—cut through from behind.
"Interested in my study habits, are you? Since when did Zhang Lei care about academics?"
The voice was ethereal, like a melody from a celestial realm, soothing yet sharp. Ji Feng's heart sank. He turned, and there she was—Tong Lei, the very subject of their gossip, standing with a frosty expression.
*We're screwed.*
Mortification washed over Ji Feng. The first time he'd ever gossiped, and she'd overheard every word. He wanted to vanish.
"Monitor Tong, I—I'm so sorry!" he stammered, scrambling to his feet. "We shouldn't have talked about you like that. Please forgive us."
Tong Lei's beautiful face was a mask of cold fury, her eyes glinting as if she hadn't heard his apology. She fixed them with a piercing stare. "Both of you, outside. Now."
With that, she turned and strode out of the classroom, her graceful figure radiating authority.
Ji Feng rounded on Zhang Lei, seething. "You *knew* she was behind me, didn't you?" Zhang Lei's earlier smirk flashed in his mind—deliberate sabotage. "You set me up!"
Zhang Lei burst into laughter, unrepentant. "Relax, Crazy, I wasn't trying to screw you over. I was giving you a shot! If I'd warned you, would you have admitted you liked her?"
Ji Feng glared, speechless. "You…"
---