Chapter 37: Bai Qingxia, Today You Are the Face of Class 28【Third Update】

But when Liu Wei asked Bai Qingxia if she had learned to dance before, the girl only shook her head and fell silent.

At that moment, Bai Qingxia was once again holding the class sign at the back of the classroom, seizing a bit of time to practice. Her expression was earnest; she showed no sign of discomfort just because Lu Yuanqiu was watching nearby. Lu Yuanqiu withdrew his gaze and sat quietly in his seat, while the girl practiced lifting the sign in the corner behind him, her arms crossing straight and precise. The morning breeze drifted in through the window, making his tie sway from side to side, and sending her hair flowing as she lifted the sign.

The classroom, just before the main event, was quiet. Yet, in that hush, small secrets stirred in the hearts of more than a few. Even in that brief span, Lu Yuanqiu had already caught several pairs of classmates stealing glances at each other. Connecting this with memories from his previous life, he gleefully speculated about who harbored secret crushes on whom.

The opening ceremony was scheduled for nine in the morning, so the students arrived a little later than usual. The boys, who had been so excited before putting on their uniforms, now grew bashful and aloof once dressed. Those who typically strode in with exaggerated, dramatic flair and little concern for appearances now stood tall, faces set in grim seriousness as they crossed the classroom threshold.

Clearly, everyone had someone they cared about in their hearts.

As for those who cared for no one at all—well, that was probably limited to Zhong Jincheng. The moment he entered, his gaze dropped, ogling the forbidden zone beneath the girls’ skirts with a lecherous intensity. He seemed a little disappointed; perhaps the legs he saw were too thick, or not straight enough, or too dark, or the skin wasn’t smooth, or the leg hair was even longer than his own.

The sight reminded Lu Yuanqiu of a certain literary figure’s notorious diaries. Was this the norm for academically gifted types?

After sitting down, Zhong Jincheng glanced at Bai Qingxia, but seeing her in her uniform, he quickly lost interest and looked away. He was waiting for someone else.

Before long, the classroom filled, and the hum of conversation swelled. Hu Caiwei entered, surrounded by several girls, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. Zhong Jincheng’s eyes lit up as he watched her.

Hu Caiwei’s skirt was hiked short, her legs in black stockings slim and shapely, the exposed skin between skirt and sock dazzlingly pale. Her figure was well-developed, curves perky and prominent, making her a feast for the eyes. Upon entering, she immediately sought out Lu Yuanqiu with her gaze, her eyes brightening, though she quickly and deliberately looked away, flicking her hair in his direction.

Hu Caiwei assumed Lu Yuanqiu would surely be sneaking glances at her, so she didn’t greet him first. Although she had longed to talk to him after two weeks of being ignored, she still maintained her “reserve.”

Lu Yuanqiu didn’t spare her a glance.

Before his rebirth, he had seen countless beautiful women; Hu Caiwei was simply the most ordinary among a crowd of painted faces.

Only Bai Qingxia, with her stunning looks and natural grace, could, without effort, carve a place for herself on the list of beauties in Lu Yuanqiu’s mind.

As the classroom filled, Bai Qingxia finished practicing, put the class sign back in the corner, and it was clear she was a little anxious, quietly taking deep breaths.

At that moment, homeroom teacher Liu Wei entered and clapped the lectern. “Get ready to change into your class uniforms. When the music starts, head downstairs together, find Class 27’s spot and line up behind them. Wang Haoran, organize the formation.”

“Yes, teacher.”

Wang Haoran stood up and shouted, “If you haven’t changed into your uniform, hurry up! Only ten minutes left!”

At the reminder, Bai Qingxia reached for the zipper at her collar and pulled it down.

The fullness of her chest, wrapped in a white shirt, was instantly squeezed through the gap. Seeing those two familiar, rounded figures with whom he’d once had a fleeting encounter, Lu Yuanqiu instinctively paid them his respects.

She shrugged off her bulky jacket, revealing slender, angular shoulders beneath her shirt, and a swan-like neck of delicate, fair skin and graceful muscle lines. It was only the second time in his life that Lu Yuanqiu had seen her bare neck.

“Why are you looking at me?” Bai Qingxia’s earlobes were flushed as she spoke—she had long since noticed his gaze.

“Because you look good,” Lu Yuanqiu replied without hesitation.

Her cheeks reddened as well. She handed him her jacket. “Hold this for me.”

Then, she reached under her pants, smoothing her skirt underneath to avoid any mishaps while undressing. When she was ready, she slipped off the pants, revealing a deep blue pleated skirt, and then a stretch of flawless, pale thigh, so smooth not a pore was visible.

Her legs pressed tightly together, long and slender, but made enticingly plump by the black stockings that hugged her skin, the soft flesh dimpling beneath the fine checkered fabric, the true color of her beautiful legs faintly visible.

“Stop staring…”

Her earlobes were so red they seemed about to drip blood. She pressed her skirt down between her legs, her voice barely a whisper.

“You asked me to hold your clothes, didn’t you?” Lu Yuanqiu replied righteously.

She had no answer for that, and continued to remove her uniform pants, placing them gently in his hands. The faint scent of her lingered between them.

Bai Qingxia bent down to untie her canvas shoes. As she did, the buttons of her shirt parted slightly, revealing a hint of stark white curves.

Lu Yuanqiu, smiling, leaned his cheek on his hand and spoke to her, “By the way, I have a three-thousand-meter race this morning. Will you meet me at the finish line? I’ll be exhausted by then, and you’re my only friend.”

Bai Qingxia nodded without hesitation.

She finished removing her shoes, leaving her small feet in their black stockings dangling in the air. She took black leather shoes from her bag and placed them on the floor, then slowly slid her feet into them.

Lu Yuanqiu found the scene inexplicably pleasing. Perhaps because he had chosen the size so well.

At that moment, Bai Qingxia slowly raised her arms, her hands hovering in the air for a second or two in hesitation. Then, making up her mind, she reached up and removed the black ribbon that tied her ponytail.

A wave of jet-black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall. The girl shook her head gently, her hair swaying with her movement. By the window, sunlight fell across her exquisite profile, her skin porcelain white, every fine hair visible.

Lu Yuanqiu stared, his breath pausing for a moment.

It was the first time he’d seen Bai Qingxia with her hair loose, the first time he realized that she wasn’t just cute—she was dazzlingly beautiful.

The girl then opened her bag and took out a pink hairclip, securing it by feel to the hair above her forehead. She turned to look at Lu Yuanqiu.

He couldn’t help but smile, reaching out to adjust the clip for her, then voiced his curiosity. “You seem a little different today.”

Today, it was as if Bai Qingxia was actively peeling away the layers of disguise, gradually revealing her true self.

She didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she bent down and picked up the class sign, gripping it as if it were the rifle of her youth.

She looked up, lips pursed, and said softly, “Because you once told me youth only comes once. I want to try my best too… so I won’t have regrets in the future.”

She had once thought she couldn’t do it.

But after last night, she felt that since there were people who would even celebrate her birthday—something she’d never dreamed could happen to her—maybe she could try a little harder in other ways, too.

She wanted to live up to Lu Yuanqiu’s encouragement. She didn’t want the beautiful black shoes and pink hairclip to gather dust in some forgotten corner.

Music began to play.

Homeroom teacher Liu Wei entered the classroom and called out, “Time to gather, Bai Qingxia!”

“Here!”

“Hold that sign tight—you’re the pride of Class 28 today.”

Liu Wei smiled.

Everyone turned to look toward the back corner, expecting nothing in particular—yet one by one, their gazes froze in place.