Chapter Fifteen: The Seating Dispute
He stretched his somewhat stiff neck and said, “No, it’s just that I’m still not used to it.”
“Not used to it? You two are chatting and laughing—it doesn’t seem that way at all,” Wen Liang teased as he walked over, leaning on the railing just like he had seen He Tianran do.
“Maybe it’s because... after spending time with you, I’ve gained some experience? I should be thanking you, at least now I don’t freeze up when I see a girl,” He Tianran replied lazily, offering a compliment.
Curious, Wen Liang asked, “What was Jiaqi trying to whisper to you in the classroom earlier?”
He Tianran hesitated before saying, “She said the perfume you bought me smells pretty good.”
“No way, that must have been after you entered the classroom, when she smelled you,” Wen Liang said confidently.
“You could guess that?” He Tianran asked in surprise.
“Ah, I must have remembered wrong. Actually, she said the song I posted on my Moments was nice...”
“That’s not it either. That was probably her being shy and trying to make conversation,” Wen Liang said with a mischievous grin.
He Tianran’s mind was filled with exclamation marks as he turned to look at Wen Liang, who wore a sly expression. “You didn’t just walk into the classroom and keep staring at me, did you?”
Wen Liang shrugged casually. “I have to observe the subject of my transformation to see if there’s any progress, right?”
He Tianran was speechless, feeling uncomfortable under Wen Liang’s unwavering gaze. He quickly looked away, unwilling to meet his eyes.
After a moment, he heard a quiet voice beside him: “Does it still hurt?”
She was referring to the injury on his chin.
“No, it’s just a bruise. It’ll heal in a couple of days,” he said, noticing Wen Liang’s hand gently reaching out, probably to rub the sore spot. Instinctively, he dodged.
Wen Liang’s hand froze mid-air, then she withdrew it with a hint of guilt. “I didn’t know Xue Yong was there that day, and I didn’t expect my dad would make you the target.”
He Tianran forced a smile. “I don’t blame you. Uncle Wen was really good to me. When I got back, he gave Xue Yong a good scolding. Too bad you were in class and missed it.”
Wen Liang nodded. “My dad told me about it, and he said you have a lot of talent!”
“So you just used rumors to counter rumors?”
“Rumors to counter rumors?”
“Yes, you know, using gossip to fight gossip. Wow, your PR instincts are really sharp. No wonder you’re a future star!”
Wen Liang looked a bit disheartened, making He Tianran wonder if his flattery had missed the mark.
Talking to girls really is difficult!
“By the way, do you want to come with me later—”
“He Tianran, 609 points.”
Just as Wen Liang hesitated to speak, He Tianran heard his name called. He replied briefly, “Later,” and quickly walked to the classroom door.
---
His unexpected score surprised everyone around. He Tianran’s grades were usually decent but not outstanding. This time, he jumped over fifty points, leaving even Ye Jiaqi, who had been so confident before, with a look of disbelief.
“Not bad, Tianran. You must have been working hard in secret. Fourth row, by the window,” Zhang Zhifan said with a radiant smile that almost hurt to look at, making the gloomy introvert uncomfortable.
“Okay, thanks,” He Tianran replied calmly as he entered the classroom. As the crowd regrouped, Zhang Zhifan glanced toward where Wen Liang was blocked, then everything returned to normal.
Sitting down at his new seat, He Tianran opened the window. This spot was perfect—not too close to the front to attract the teacher’s excessive attention, nor too far back to become the unnoticed class bully. A place where he could exist without standing out too much.
“Cao Aiqing, 615,” Zhang Zhifan called from outside.
He Tianran, who was just slumped over his desk, suddenly straightened up as if a ruler had been placed along his spine.
Slow footsteps approached. He Tianran’s breathing grew heavy, his entire body frozen as if controlled by a spell, his eyes fixed straight ahead, unwilling to move.
“He... He Tianran…”
Cao Aiqing, entering the classroom, looked at the unusually serious boy before her, her voice growing cautious.
She waited patiently, but he ignored her.
“He Tianran?”
She spoke again softly. This time, He Tianran finally turned his head and answered, “What?”
His voice was low and void of emotion, his eyes like dark abysses. It startled Cao Aiqing.
Hesitantly, she raised a hand and pointed to his seat. “Can I... sit here? I like sitting by the window...”
Her new deskmate seemed strict and hard to approach, and He Tianran’s reputation for being aloof in class made her feel uncertain as she spoke.
“Sure,” He Tianran replied mechanically. He stood up stiffly, packed his things, and without looking at her, vacated the seat.
Throughout the process, his movements were rigid, like a robot. Even after Cao Aiqing sat down, he never gave her a second glance.
“Are you... unhappy about this?” she asked shyly once he sat down.
“No,” he said flatly.
The more distant he was, the more confused Cao Aiqing became.
“How about... we switch seats every day?”
She offered the suggestion.
“No need.”
He Tianran’s responses never exceeded two words. Was he angry but unable to express it?
Feeling uneasy, Cao Aiqing took out her textbook. She thought she heard faint tapping sounds, but they were so subtle she wondered if it was just her imagination.
Of course, it wasn’t. It was He Tianran’s “emperor engine” running at full speed. Although he had only spoken eight words since arriving, each one had been carefully calculated hundreds of times, discarding many options before finally coming out smoothly.
Cao Aiqing stole a glance at her deskmate. His profile was gentle, exuding calm rationality.
She had noticed a faint fragrance when he changed seats—a subtle scent of cologne.
Not overpowering, just right.
“He must be a rational yet clumsy boy, with a hint of romance,” she thought, smiling slightly as she quietly resumed her studies.
Though they had been classmates for three years, He Tianran’s presence had been so minimal that many barely noticed him. Now, sitting next to Cao Aiqing, the situation felt strange yet fitting.
Strange because he was just involved in gossip with Wen Liang and had a stroke of luck placing him beside Cao Aiqing, which made many boys envious.
Fitting because He Tianran was a safe presence—no matter who he sat next to, the first thought was always, “He’s not the kind to cause trouble, so it should be fine.”
As more students took their new seats, He Tianran looked outside, where only Wen Liang and Zhang Zhifan remained.
“Teacher, Wen Liang didn’t take this month’s exam due to her art entrance exam. I’ll be taking the art exam in winter, so I want to sit with her. It’ll be helpful for the arts, and I can support her academically,” Zhang Zhifan said casually to homeroom teacher Chen Mei upon entering.
The class erupted in whispers that quickly died down as everyone awaited the teacher’s reply.
What was this? A subtle confession?
Zhang Zhifan was really bold!
The girls’ eyes sparkled, waiting for the teacher’s verdict.
Chen Mei looked at the golden boy and girl before her and smiled helplessly. With Zhang Zhifan’s straightforward words, refusing would seem heartless.
“You have one month. Zhifan and Wen Liang, your scores can only rise, not fall.”
“Definitely, Teacher!” Zhang Zhifan declared firmly, as if pledging an oath.
“All right, go take your seats,” Chen Mei said with a smile and a shake of her head.
The class burst into cheers once more. Even Cao Aiqing beside He Tianran softly whispered, “Wow.”
He Tianran glanced at her. Cao Aiqing immediately pursed her lips, looking adorable.
Girls really can’t resist the joy of gossip, can they?
He Tianran quickly looked away. Zhang Zhifan passed by him, and Wen Liang followed, hands in pockets, glancing at Cao Aiqing and then at He Tianran, mouthing two words.
“Idiot?”
Who was she talking about? Zhang Zhifan?
Well, in such a situation, if it were me, it would feel like public humiliation—I’d be mortified. Girls, with their delicate faces, would find it even harder!
He Tianran agreed with Wen Liang’s assessment. Suddenly, he felt an itch at his waist and jerked upright.
Looking down, he saw Cao Aiqing poking him with her pen. Looking up, he caught a meaningful expression on his goddess’s face.