Chapter Two: The Awakening of the Devoted Admirer

As soon as the words fell, all eyes turned sharply to Lin Cheng! Everyone in the grade knew that Lin Cheng liked He Yueyue.

Originally, he had begged the homeroom teacher to switch his seat next to He Yueyue.

“Why do you want to change seats?” the homeroom teacher asked.

“I want to study hard!” Lin Cheng replied decisively.

In his previous life, he had neglected his studies to please He Yueyue and failed to get into a good university.

This time, he was determined not to repeat the same mistake.

With his own talents and the knowledge accumulated over two lifetimes, he wanted to forge a different path for himself.

“Damn, the simp has awakened?”

“They just argued—was it a real fight or just some playful banter?”

“Come on, how could it be a real fight? He’ll probably regret it by afternoon.”

“Lin Cheng is pretty good-looking, right? Why waste time on He Yueyue? There are plenty of girls who look better than her!”

The murmurs from the classmates also reached He Yueyue’s ears.

She lowered her head, nails digging into her palm.

Lin Cheng had embarrassed her in front of everyone! She felt like dying!

“Have you thought it through? Once you switch, you can’t change back,” the homeroom teacher Wang Lixin said instinctively, glancing at He Yueyue.

He knew about their relationship, but he would agree to Lin Cheng’s request.

After all, Lin Cheng’s grandfather was a former head of the education bureau, and his father was a renowned local entrepreneur. With such a background, he neither wanted nor dared to offend him.

“I understand,” Lin Cheng said firmly.

This time, he would keep his distance from troublemakers He Yueyue and Chen Zishi.

“Alright, where do you want to sit?” the teacher asked.

“Can I sit next to Zhuang Sijing?” Lin Cheng replied.

He and Zhuang Sijing had been classmates from primary school through high school and were very close until he started chasing after He Yueyue, which cooled their relationship.

They went to different universities in different cities and gradually drifted apart, but after his parents passed away in his previous life, the only person who truly helped him was her.

Many times, He Yueyue had betrayed him by leaking project secrets, causing him huge losses, but it was Zhuang Sijing who helped him out of trouble repeatedly.

Later, when he fell seriously ill in prison, she was the one who arranged doctors and sent messages to keep him going...

Unfortunately, he never got the chance to thank her properly.

It was all just a pure, empty whiteness...

At that moment, Zhuang Sijing’s face was expressionless; she quietly pressed her lips together.

“Lin Cheng, I hope you’re serious about studying. If Zhuang Sijing’s grades slip because of you, I’ll have to separate you two.”

“Thank you, teacher.” Lin Cheng didn’t glance at He Yueyue again. He picked up his bag and books and sat beside Zhuang Sijing.

Once seated, he smiled at her and whispered, “No objections, right?”

“Master Lin, how could I possibly object?” Zhuang Sijing rolled her eyes.

Lin Cheng grinned widely. “Thanks for the favor, class representative!”

After so many years, joking with Zhuang Sijing again felt delightful; the corners of his eyes and brows betrayed a barely contained smile.

Though Zhuang Sijing could still joke like before, their relationship had subtly changed ever since He Yueyue appeared.

Seeing Lin Cheng chatting and laughing with Zhuang Sijing, He Yueyue’s beautiful eyes blazed with anger!

She scribbled a note and tossed it to Lin Cheng:

【Is this fun? Change the seat back immediately! Otherwise, don’t ever walk me home again!】

Lin Cheng only looked up from his notes near the end of school. He crumpled the note with the draft paper and threw it into the trash can in one smooth flick.

Outside, the leaves of the ginkgo tree had climbed up to the corridor on the third floor; the sunset poured in, bathing the classroom’s white walls with a soft golden hue.

“Want to come over to my place this weekend for extra math? I’ll have my grandfather arrange for Professor Chen Deming to give a lecture,” Lin Cheng invited Zhuang Sijing as he packed his bag.

“Ah...” Zhuang Sijing instinctively glanced at He Yueyue.

“No thanks. See you Monday!” she said, grabbing her bag and hurrying off.

Lin Cheng was about to follow when a proud female voice rang out behind him:

“Lin Cheng, come here!”

He Yueyue thought, after all this anger, this guy would surely rush over to beg for forgiveness.

But Lin Cheng acted as if deaf, slinging his bag over one shoulder.

“Lin Cheng!”

He Yueyue caught up and challenged, “Didn’t you see my note? If you keep this up, I’ll never talk to you again!”

“Oh, then you better mean it!” he responded.

“You—”

He Yueyue glared at his retreating back, eyes reddening.

Lin Cheng hurried out of the teaching building but couldn’t find Zhuang Sijing.

He ran to the school gate and immediately spotted a Mercedes parked by the roadside.

He opened the back door and got in just as He Yueyue strolled over nonchalantly.

She looked arrogantly away, clearly waiting for Lin Cheng to invite her into the car.

After all, they always walked home together.

“Drive!” Lin Cheng urged.

“Yueyue hasn’t gotten in yet,” the driver, Uncle He, glanced carefully at Lin Cheng through the rearview mirror. “Why don’t you open the door for her?”

Uncle He was He Yueyue’s father. Since Lin Cheng began pursuing He Yueyue, his status in the Lin family had changed. Sometimes, he even acted like a prospective father-in-law, sharing life advice with Lin Cheng.

Looking back now, Lin Cheng thought how foolish he had been.

“Uncle He,” Lin Cheng said again in a low voice, “I told you to drive.”

Although his tone still bore traces of youthful immaturity, the aura was chilling.

Uncle He was stunned, mouth opening to speak, but ultimately swallowed his words.

He quietly pressed the accelerator, leaving his daughter standing behind.

“Stop at the bus stop ahead,” Lin Cheng ordered again.

This time, Uncle He quickly stopped the car.

At the bus stop, many students waited. The Mercedes parked in front of Zhuang Sijing.

Lin Cheng opened the rear door and called out, “Deskmate, please get in.”

Zhuang Sijing glanced cautiously at Lin Cheng and shook her head.

“No need.”

“Come on, get in, or I’ll make you!” Lin Cheng joked, though he felt guilty inside.

Zhuang Sijing’s home was also in Yulong City, just across the street from the Lin family villa. Before high school, she often rode in the Lin family car to school.

Since Lin Cheng started chasing He Yueyue, Zhuang Sijing had taken the bus instead.

“Really, no need,” she persisted.

“Ah, I have something to discuss with you—please...”

It was now rush hour; many cars lined up behind the Mercedes, honking their horns.

No choice, Zhuang Sijing stomped her foot and finally got in.

...