Chapter 99: Let's create a class group for our Class 28 as well.

Even Grandma Li was taken aback, not to mention Lu Yuanqiu, who stood there in stunned disbelief.

Was this really the same Bai Qingxia, the girl who had always been so withdrawn and insecure? Since when did she have the courage to do something like this?

According to Lu Yuanqiu’s understanding of her, Bai Qingxia would always choose the path of least resistance, avoiding anything that might put her in the public eye. Yet now, standing against the wall, she still looked nervous and uneasy, but he couldn’t believe she had just admitted, right in front of everyone, that she was the one who hadn’t brought her book, and then walked out of the classroom to stand in punishment.

When Bai Qingxia smiled at him, Lu Yuanqiu managed a smile in return and then lowered his voice: “Why did you come out? You’re a good student—what does it look like for others to see you here? I’m the bad student; I’m used to standing out here, it doesn’t matter.”

Bai Qingxia put away her smile, her expression earnest as she retorted, “You’re not a bad student.”

Lu Yuanqiu was taken aback.

She hesitated, lowered her head a little, and continued, “I’m the one who didn’t bring the book. I should be the one punished, not you. I don’t want you to stand here for me.”

Lu Yuanqiu couldn’t help but laugh. “Even if you forgot your book, the teacher wouldn’t make you stand outside.”

Bai Qingxia lifted her face again. “But you shouldn’t be punished either!”

It seemed the girl was holding fast to something deeply important to her.

For this, she could throw aside her own nature and act without hesitation.

Lu Yuanqiu suddenly remembered middle school. He remembered the girl with the messy, long hair clutching a broom, standing at the school gate, chasing away the boys who bullied others—right in front of everyone. That wasn’t something her personality should have allowed, but she did it anyway.

Because then, she was protecting her father.

And this time... Lu Yuanqiu’s lips curled into a subtle smile. He suddenly felt he understood Bai Qingxia a little better.

It turned out that the girl who seemed so easily bullied would, when it came to the two most important people in her world, find a courage that defied all logic.

She didn’t have much in this world, but she would give her all to protect what little she did have. That was Bai Qingxia.

Lu Yuanqiu grinned, “Alright, alright, top student. Since you’re here, let me make some room for you.”

He scooted over, motioning for Bai Qingxia to move closer as well.

She blushed and shuffled her feet, still a little shy.

Lu Yuanqiu pointed to a spot by the window and started explaining the “levels” of standing punishment outside the classroom: “You can’t stand here just yet—you’re not qualified.”

She played along, “What kind of qualification?”

Lu Yuanqiu pointed to his own cheek. “You need a skin as thick as a city wall. With your delicate face, you’re not there yet.”

On the subject of thick skin, Bai Qingxia had no intention of arguing with him.

“I’ll show you how it’s done,” Lu Yuanqiu said, turning around and, through the window, struck a movie-style scissors-hand dance at the class with a roguish grin.

The class burst into laughter.

And in that instant—just before Grandma Li turned around—Lu Yuanqiu slipped back to his spot against the wall at lightning speed.

He folded his arms, pressed his fist to his forehead, and struck a pose of deep contemplation.

Bai Qingxia couldn’t help but crack a smile at the scene.

Just then, Grandma Li’s footsteps sounded as she came out of the classroom. She stood in the doorway, looking sternly at Lu Yuanqiu.

Bai Qingxia, standing between them, lowered her head nervously, her pale fists clenched at her sides.

When Grandma Li looked at Bai Qingxia, her expression softened. Rigid as her thinking might be, she couldn’t bring herself to make the top chemistry student stand outside.

“Bai Qingxia, you can go in first,” Grandma Li said sternly.

Lu Yuanqiu, still in his “deep thought” pose, sneaked a glance over. Bai Qingxia looked at him too, then lowered her head and said quietly, “Lu Yuanqiu brought his book…”

Lu Yuanqiu cleared his throat and stood up a little straighter, looking more well-behaved.

Grandma Li frowned and relented, “Alright, alright, both of you go in.”

Bai Qingxia’s expression finally eased. She was about to turn and walk in when she hesitated. Lu Yuanqiu took the lead, and she followed closely behind, keeping her head down, using his body as a shield for her burning cheeks.

At the classroom door, Lu Yuanqiu raised a mock sword hand over his forehead. “Children, your king has returned.”

A chorus of groans erupted from the class.

Bai Qingxia was mortified. Flushing, she nudged his back, urging him to hurry up.

All the social butterflies in the world, she thought, are just like people who love cilantro—absolute oddballs!

…

Three days later, during evening study.

Lu Yuanqiu turned to see the girl beside him pull a pink jersey from her bag and set it on the desk.

“Already finished embroidering? That fast?”

Bai Qingxia looked at him, saying nothing. He picked up the jersey and examined it, unable to hide his amazement.

On the back of each jersey, class and names were neatly embroidered in black thread. From afar it looked printed, but up close, the raised stitches were visible.

But Lu Yuanqiu only saw four jerseys, and none bore his name.

Bai Qingxia quietly explained, “I haven’t started yours yet.”

“That’s fine, no rush,” Lu Yuanqiu replied, handing the four jerseys to their owners.

Wang Haoran, Gao Qiang, and the others looked them over and, thoroughly impressed, gave a thumbs-up toward the back of the classroom.

Bai Qingxia exchanged a happy glance with Lu Yuanqiu.

He grinned, “Tomorrow’s Saturday. Come over to my place in the afternoon, okay? Don’t stand me up.”

She hesitated.

She’d only been to his house once before, and because he’d insisted on walking her out that time, she hadn’t dared to go again since.

Lu Yuanqiu added, “It’s for tutoring—serious tutoring. I need to keep improving.”

“…Alright,” she agreed quietly, eyes lowered.

At that moment, on the podium, Liu Wei, who was overseeing evening study, seemed to remember something. “By the way, since we’re in our final year, other classes have made class group chats and parent group chats. We should do that too for Class 28.”

“Everyone should have QQ, right? If not, make one. Parents should make one too if they don’t have it. We’ll have two groups—it’ll be much more convenient for announcements. Wang Haoran, you’re in charge. You’ll be the group owner for the student group. On Monday, share the group number at school. I’ll write the parent group number on the blackboard now.”

With that, Liu Wei stood up and wrote a string of numbers on the board.

Lu Yuanqiu jotted down the parent group number in his notebook. Bai Qingxia didn’t; she just kept her head down, working on her assignments.

That night, when Lu Yuanqiu got home, he set the notebook with the parent group number on the living room table. “Parent group—which of you wants to join?” he asked.

Su Xiaoya was about to reach for it when Lu Tian snatched it up first.

He puffed out his chest. “Let a man handle public matters like this.”

Su Xiaoya snorted. If it weren’t for your son’s sudden improvement at school, would you be this eager?

Lu Tian grinned sheepishly. As he looked at the group number, he suddenly thought of Bai Songzhe.

“By the way… son, your mom and I have discussed something. It’s about your Uncle Bai.”

(End of chapter)