As soon as the first class ended, Wu You shot to her feet and openly returned the jacket to Jiang Chan. She even raised her voice on purpose. “Jiang Yuhui, do you need a deskmate?”
What a scene. Someone actually dared to say that out loud. The classroom fell silent, quieter than during class.
Jiang Chan looked up and saw the frankness in Wu You’s eyes, along with a faint trace of pleading.
She curved her lips slightly and glanced at Song Miao, who had been staring in this direction the entire time. “If you can guarantee you won’t affect my studies, then yes, I do need a deskmate.”
“Deal. I promise to block all your admirers for you.” Wu You raised three fingers as if swearing an oath.
Jiang Chan nodded. “Then move over.”
Wu You immediately sprang into action, dragging her desk over, leaving Song Miao standing frozen in place. To be honest, Wu You had been unhappy for a long time. The teacher had arranged for her to sit with Song Miao, and she had endured her for ages.
Everything happened in less than two minutes. Wu You had officially become Jiang Chan’s new deskmate. The classmates watching were stunned and silently cursed themselves for reacting too slowly.
Jiang Yuhui’s personality seemed pretty decent. Why hadn’t they spoken up first? If they had been a bit more proactive, maybe they would be the one sitting beside him now.
Several boys immediately crowded around Jiang Chan. “Jiang Yuhui, do you still need a deskmate? Look at me. Tall, long legs, abs. We can play basketball together. Why pick a little girl as your deskmate?”
The one who spoke first was the class sports representative. He was cheerful, just a bit tanned. He flashed a wide grin and shot Song Miao a teasing look.
Song Miao instantly flared up, like a hen shielding her chick. “What are you saying? Jiang Yuhui was kindly rescuing me from a pit. And you heartless people want to cut in halfway?”
“What pit? Isn’t Song Miao pretty good? Girls sitting together can chat about their own topics. Why insist on sitting with a boy? Someone like Jiang Yuhui should sit with us.”
“Enough. I’m just thanking Jiang Yuhui. Stop twisting it. Next class is math. The teacher will be here soon.”
Wu You was just a girl, but her personality was bold and outspoken. She said whatever was on her mind and did not hide that she did not get along with Song Miao.
High school students were generally more restrained. Even if they thought something, they would not say it directly. Everyone laughed it off and let the matter drop.
From that class onward, however, people gradually formed an impression. Jiang Chan was actually quite approachable, not as cold and distant as her appearance suggested.
After class, more and more students gathered around her desk. Wu You had a good personality and could chat with anyone. She was like a little sun, and her voice could be heard throughout the classroom.
Listening to the laughter behind her, occasionally mixed with Jiang Chan’s replies, Song Miao’s grip on her pen tightened.
Was Wu You doing this on purpose? Stirring up trouble for her every single day.
Song Miao’s new deskmate accidentally caught sight of the twisted expression on her face and shivered. She had never expected the bright and friendly Song Miao to have such a side. It was frightening.
The girl subtly shifted farther away. She even found herself envying Wu You. Wu You had smoothly secured a good seat with the top student, while she herself was stuck in what felt like a pit.
She decided that in the afternoon she would speak to the homeroom teacher. She would rather sit alone than remain Song Miao’s deskmate. Song Miao used to seem fine. Why did she feel like a completely different person now?
You can know someone’s face but not their heart. The girl shook her head and returned to solving practice problems.
Song Miao had no idea she was about to be gradually isolated. She was still grinding her teeth in resentment toward Wu You, and even felt annoyed with Jiang Chan. She never believed she was at fault. Whenever something went wrong, she looked for the problem in others first.
If Jiang Chan had simply dated her, would all this have happened? Now she found it even harder to approach him. He arrived in class right before the bell and left immediately after, surrounded by boys.
As soon as school ended, he vanished. Song Miao had tried going to the competition class to look for him, but the schedule differed from evening self study. Several times she went, only to miss him.
Amid this back and forth between Song Miao and Jiang Chan, the semester exams arrived quickly. After finishing the exams, Jiang Chan felt light and relaxed. The competition class also had no session that day. She planned to go home and read more. The afternoon was free.
With her backpack slung over one shoulder, Jiang Chan walked briskly toward the bike shed. She did not expect someone to be waiting there.
Song Miao was sitting on Jiang Chan’s small electric scooter, smiling brightly at her.
“Jiang Yuhui, shall we go eat together?”
Finally managing to speak to him, Song Miao even felt touched by her own persistence. It had not been in vain to submit her exam early just now. She had noticed that Jiang Chan often handed in her paper ahead of time and had memorized that habit.
Jiang Chan stopped three steps away. “Sorry. We’re not familiar. Please get down. I’m going home.”
Jiang Chan was a girl inside. Song Miao’s intentions were obvious. There was no way she would agree, even if she was currently in Jiang Yuhui’s body.
Besides, Jiang Yuhui’s wish was to stay away from Song Miao. Jiang Chan could not distance herself fast enough. How could she agree to eat with her?
Song Miao did not expect such a blunt rejection. Her sunny smile faded, then returned. “I’m heading home today too. Could you give me a ride?”
As long as she got on Jiang Chan’s scooter today, she believed she could draw her into her grasp. Song Miao was that confident.
Jiang Chan frowned. “We’re not close. Please get down. There are buses at the school gate. You can take one. Please get down.”
Her tone hardened, cold and sharp. Song Miao was startled and awkwardly climbed off the back seat.
Jiang Chan pushed the scooter forward a few steps, then turned back. “Student Song, don’t waste your thoughts on me. I hope this kind of thing doesn’t happen again. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being impolite.”
Seeing Song Miao still unconvinced, Jiang Chan added, “I don’t want to use my family’s influence against anyone. Please have some self awareness and stay away from me.”
Song Miao shrank back slightly as Jiang Chan pushed the scooter away. Left standing there, she stomped her foot in frustration and stormed off.
After she left, a girl stepped out from behind a large tree nearby, watching Song Miao’s retreating figure with a half smile.
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