Chapter 25: Son, what are you doing here?

Chu Nan was reading when a sudden commotion erupted in the classroom.

He looked back to see Luo Xiang walking in, flanked by several of his lackeys. Most ridiculously, Luo Xiang was sporting a pompadour and clutching a bouquet of flowers. He looked profoundly "street," though not in the way a successful person might; he looked more like a gaudy, third-rate hoodlum.

"Weiwei, I like you! Will you be my girlfriend?"

Chu Nan was stunned to see him standing next to Jiang Yuwei. "Are you kidding me? Old Yang, what is going on here?"

"I have no idea, but it’s obvious this Luo Xiang is confessing his love!" Yang Jingtian was equally baffled. He hadn't seen Luo Xiang hovering around Jiang Yuwei at all these past few days.

Chu Nan frowned. In his previous life, there was no record of Luo Xiang ever coming to confess to Jiang Yuwei. After a moment of thought, he realized that because of his own actions, Luo Xiang had likely been paying extra attention to their class, stumbled upon Jiang Yuwei’s beauty, been struck by her appearance, and launched an impatient offensive.

In other words, all of this was likely his fault. It seemed that his rebirth had caused a butterfly effect, changing the course of events.

The onlookers were mostly stunned by this sudden confession. No one cheered or egged him on; Jiang Yuwei had a unique status in the class, and besides, the fat-faced, big-eared Luo Xiang was clearly not a match for her. However, because he had dyed yellow hair and looked like trouble, no one dared to speak up.

"Weiwei, I like you! Please accept my confession!" Luo Xiang held the flowers out for a long time, but when Jiang Yuwei didn't react, he spoke again, louder.

A few seconds passed, and Jiang Yuwei remained indifferent, quietly writing something at her desk.

"Weiwei, I think he’s calling you," whispered Yang Liuqing, Jiang Yuwei’s desk-mate and friend. She felt immense pressure with those men standing there holding flowers.

Jiang Yuwei looked up, glancing at Yang Liuqing with a puzzled expression. "Weiwei? Who is Weiwei?"

Yang Liuqing pointed at her, unsure. "You... you are!"

"What is my name?"

"Jiang Yuwei," Yang Liuqing replied without hesitation.

"My name is Jiang Yuwei. Who is this 'Weiwei' you're talking about?"

Luo Xiang’s face darkened. He had pulled out all the stops to pursue this girl, yet she had never even looked at him properly. Still, he had patience. The moment he first saw her, he had been struck by her beauty, convinced it was unparalleled in this world. He could tolerate a bit of her capriciousness, but that didn't mean he would tolerate it forever.

Jiang Yuwei’s words weren't just a rejection of his carefully prepared confession; they were a complete disregard for him. His pride took a heavy blow.

"Jiang Yuwei, don't play dumb with me! I’m confessing to you because I think highly of you. Who do you think you are looking down on? Huh?" Luo Xiang slammed the bouquet onto her desk, his expression turning ugly.

Jiang Yuwei gave him a cold, indifferent look. "You’re right. I am looking down on you. Furthermore, I don't want you to think highly of me."

"You b—"

"Son, what are you doing here?" A mocking voice cut through the air.

Hearing that familiar voice, Luo Xiang’s face turned livid. "Chu Nan, are you tired of living? I haven't even settled scores with you yet, and you dare to provoke me?"

Yang Jingtian was stunned. *Why on earth is Chu Nan provoking this guy?* The "Big Sister" wasn't around right now—did he have a death wish? He instinctively wanted to stop Chu Nan, but the latter had already risen and walked away.

Nearby, Zhang Hao felt a surge of secret joy. Others might not know who Luo Xiang was, but he knew very well that he was one of the most untouchable figures at Qiling High School, a school bully who treated assaulting male students at the school gate as a daily routine. Chu Nan was finished for calling him "son" to his face. He could already imagine Chu Nan lying on the ground with someone’s shoe pressed against his face. The thought made him so excited his blood began to race.

Chu Nan smiled. "I’m not provoking you. But this is our classroom. Isn't it a bit inappropriate for a student from another class to come in here and make such a scene with a confession?"

"None of your damn business!"

"You're wrong there. Jiang Yuwei is our class monitor and our top student—a future candidate for Tsinghua or Peking University. If you scare her with a bouquet of flowers and it affects her performance in the college entrance exam, can you take responsibility for that?"

Luo Xiang’s expression stiffened. "Cut the crap! How could my confession possibly affect her?"

"Don't talk nonsense. She doesn't want you here, yet you keep pestering her—how could that not affect her? I won't waste any more words with you. I’ve already contacted our homeroom teacher via my phone about this. If you think it doesn't have an effect, then just wait here for the teacher to arrive and continue your confession." Chu Nan shoved his hands into his pockets and laughed.

"Fine, fine, Chu Nan, is it? You’d better pray you don't graduate too soon." Sensing the potential trouble, Luo Xiang pointed at Chu Nan, his expression wary, and turned to leave.

"Walk slowly, no need to see you out."

Luo Xiang paused and looked back with a sinister smile. "By the way, Chu Nan, don't forget our appointment after school. We’ll be waiting for you at the park. You know the consequences if you don't show up."

"I was afraid you wouldn't show up."

The onlookers were astonished. Many instinctively felt that the two groups had secretly agreed to a fight. Even Jiang Yuwei frowned slightly. Chu Nan had helped her, and she didn't want him to get hurt. In truth, she hadn't wanted him to intervene; her plan had been to use provocative language to goad the man into an extreme action that would get him expelled.

But she didn't blame Chu Nan. She knew her own plan had its risks.

"Don't get the wrong idea, everyone! We’re civilized people; we don't fight. We’re just planning a singing competition at the garden square. We hope you’ll all come to support us!" Luo Xiang said with a smirk before leaving.

Although he hadn't achieved his goal in Class 172, he wasn't in a hurry. His main purpose had been to spread the news and ensure the whole class watched Chu Nan make a fool of himself. Once humiliated, Chu Nan would have no face to see Zhou Xiaonan, which would ensure his "boss" would eventually win her heart, and he would continue to receive his pocket money.

Luo Xiang had been feeling miserable lately. Ever since he had tried to give Chu Nan trouble, Zhou Xiaonan had stopped giving them money, and he blamed it all on Chu Nan. He had already decided that if Chu Nan lost the competition, he would kick him in front of everyone and make sure he could never hold his head up again.