The morning sun slanted through the classroom windows. At eleven-thirty, after a full meal, the students were only barely keeping their focus. On the podium, the teacher's chalk scraped across the blackboard, line after line of tedious notes filling the space. Compared to the cafeteria, the classroom was quiet—only the faint sounds of pages turning and pens scratching filled the air.
Gu Jinghan sat upright at his desk, posture as impeccable as always, his gaze fixed calmly on the board as if wholly absorbed in the lesson. Yet no one knew his mind still lingered on the cafeteria scene—Xiao Yutian's deliberately misleading "scandalous" remarks, and that smug expression of hers. Just a few petty words between deskmates, yet somehow she had managed to unsettle him.
Beside him, Shen Zhili was diligently jotting down notes, occasionally glancing at the board. Inwardly, though, he sighed: Honestly, whenever those two are together, class turns into a stage play.
The teacher finished a section of writing, turned around, and cleared his throat.
"This part is especially important. Who would like to come up and explain it to the class?"
Instantly, silence. No one volunteered. Then, Xiao Yutian raised her hand.
"Teacher, I'll do it!" Her voice rang out crisp and bright.
The teacher's eyes lit up. "Good. Xiao Yutian, please come forward."
She sprang to her feet, her skirt swaying as she prepared to stride to the front. At that exact moment, Gu Jinghan casually stretched—and his right hand landed squarely against the left side of her chest.
The sensation hit him without warning—full, soft, pliant beneath his palm. His entire body froze, his mind going blank for a beat. Worse, his fingers gave an involuntary squeeze.
—Disaster.
Only that word flashed through his brain, yet the impression beneath his hand was far stronger than he could have anticipated. His heartbeat jolted, and a thought he should never have had shot through him: So big. So soft…
"Gu Jinghan!!"
Her sharp cry ripped through the classroom.
Every head turned at once. The air solidified.
Xiao Yutian's face flushed crimson, her eyes round with fury. She snapped at him in front of everyone:
"Are you done groping?!"
Gu Jinghan gaped, yanking his hand back as if burned, his ears burning scarlet. Meeting her blazing glare, he stumbled for words.
"I—I didn't—" His explanation caught in his throat, only deepening the awkwardness.
The room was dead silent, broken only by the clatter of a pen falling to the floor.
Shen Zhili froze for three seconds, then clapped a hand over his mouth as his shoulders shook. He tried to stifle his laughter, but it still leaked through the corners of his eyes.
Xiao Yutian stormed forward, her steps heavy with fury. Halfway to the podium, she spun around and made a throat-slitting gesture at Gu Jinghan, her glare sharp with promise.
Gu Jinghan's mouth twitched, his brow furrowed tight. Unbelievable. Just my luck. Yet no matter how hard he tried, the image wouldn't leave him—her glare, her voice, and most of all, that treacherous sensation that still haunted his palm.
"You're dead," Shen Zhili whispered, smirking as he leaned closer. "This time you really pissed her off."
"Shut up." Gu Jinghan shot him a frosty glare.
The teacher, blissfully unaware, simply chuckled. "Alright, Xiao Yutian, please explain it to everyone."
She drew in a long breath, forcing her anger down. With admirable composure, she began her explanation. Her pace was steady, her points clear and organized, her voice carrying a natural arrogance that nevertheless brimmed with confidence. Several classmates nodded in approval, impressed despite themselves.
Gu Jinghan, however, heard none of it. His pen spun idly between his fingers while his mind replayed the humiliating moment—along with the baffling, distracting memory of touch.
Soft waist. Now even her chest…
He jerked his head sharply, forcing the thought away.
"What are you thinking about?" Shen Zhili nudged him with an elbow.
"Paying attention," Gu Jinghan answered flatly.
"Oh? Is that so?" Shen's tone stretched with mischief, his grin infuriatingly smug.
Gu Jinghan set his jaw and ignored him, eyes locked instead on the girl at the podium, who spoke with effortless poise.
When Xiao Yutian finally finished and stepped down, her gaze shot toward him like a blade. She glared at him fiercely, lips curling upward—but with no hint of a smile, only challenge and simmering wrath.
Gu Jinghan met her stare, feigning indifference, as though nothing had happened at all.
A silent duel. Neither willing to lower their head first.
At long last, the bell rang. The classroom erupted with noise—books slamming shut, chairs scraping, chatter rising as students gathered their things to leave.
"Phew—freedom at last," Zhang Xiaorou muttered as she slung her bag over her shoulder.
Xiao Yutian gave a cold snort. "Some people have a debt to pay today."
Gu Jinghan had just packed up his belongings. Hearing that, a vein throbbed faintly on his forehead. He knew one thing for sure—this "rivalry war" had only just begun.
—End of Chapter.