Chapter 13: Winning First Place for Old Ji

Gu Ci replied calmly, “Mm.”

One second…

Two seconds…

Xiao Yang suddenly let out a howl so tragic it could shake the heavens, “How did you end up at No. 1 High?”

Xiao Yang had always been fearless since childhood, the notorious little tyrant that made everyone in the compound sigh whenever they saw him.

That was, until the day a thin, petite girl arrived at the compound, shorter than him by a head.

She was fair-skinned, with almond-shaped eyes clear as spring water—she looked so easy to bully.

He immediately decided to pick on her, grabbing her little braids.

And then, he would never forget that day.

He was suppressed by that frail-looking girl, who thoroughly trounced him for half an hour straight. Afterwards, she humiliated him in a language he couldn’t understand, crushing his intellect as well.

He was beaten until his whole body ached and scolded until his spirit was wounded, and for the first time, he cried before his mother like a pig being slaughtered.

His mother, instead of comforting him, simply laughed and fussed over the very culprit!

From then on, whenever that girl visited the compound, he would shrink like a quail.

In recent years, Xiao Yang rarely saw Gu Ci in the compound, and his confidence gradually returned.

He never expected to meet her again in the least likely place!

This was more frightening than any horror movie!

Recalling those days when he was dominated by Gu Ci, Xiao Yang felt thoroughly unsettled.

Gu Ci narrowed her eyes, a hint of danger flickering within. “Am I not allowed here?”

Xiao Yang’s hair stood on end as he instinctively straightened up, the air of the school tyrant gone completely. “No, no, you can be wherever you want.”

As he spoke, he hurriedly moved his desk back.

The crowd could hardly believe their eyes at this dramatic scene.

Under Jin Jie’s glare, Xiao Yang returned to his seat. Staring at the back of the head in front of him, he felt as if countless needles pricked his seat, and the anxiety in his heart was like a swarm of ants crawling inside him.

When class finally ended, everyone's curious glances darted back and forth between the two.

Xiao Yang glared, and everyone quickly busied themselves with their own affairs.

After a mental pep talk, Xiao Yang fished a lollipop from his pocket and tapped Gu Ci’s back.

When Gu Ci turned around, he pushed the lollipop in front of her.

Gu Ci slowly peeled the wrapper, “If you have something to ask, go ahead.”

Xiao Yang pondered his words, just about to speak, when an angry female voice sounded from the doorway, “Xiao Yang, who is she?”

He looked toward the voice, noticeably less patient than he had been with Gu Ci. “What business is it of yours who Sister Ci is, Huo Shuyue? Don’t shout so loud, you’ll disturb her.”

Huo Shuyue stormed over, confronting Gu Ci directly, “Are you the new transfer student? The one clinging to Xiao Yang the moment you arrived?”

Xiao Yang was immediately displeased, “What are you saying, Huo Shuyue? I’m the one clinging to Sister Ci, alright?”

Huo Shuyue laughed in anger, “You’re protecting her that much? Who is she to you?”

Someone who dominated my childhood, crushed me with intellect and fists? Would Xiao Yang ever say that?

So he just snapped, “What’s it got to do with you?”

Hearing this, and seeing the lollipop in Gu Ci’s hand, Huo Shuyue’s eyes reddened.

She had always known Xiao Yang had a habit of carrying a couple of lollipops in his pocket.

She also knew he didn’t actually like sweets.

There were no other girls around Xiao Yang.

She had thought the lollipop was meant for her.

But now, he had handed it personally to another girl!

Huo Shuyue clenched her fists and snatched the lollipop from Gu Ci’s hand, tossing it in the trash. “Come outside with me!”

Gu Ci finally looked up.

The girl in front of her had hair dyed the same shade of red as Xiao Yang’s, wore ripped jeans, and looked every bit the rebellious type.

Gu Ci rubbed her temples. “Is there something you want?”

Their classmates held their breath, watching closely.

Everyone except the people involved knew Huo Shuyue secretly liked the school tyrant.

Wherever he went, she went.

And she only showed up at school when he was there. Now, seeing him so attentive to a new, pretty transfer student—and that girl’s attitude was so… brazen—the crowd was eager to see what might happen next.

Xiao Yang’s heart skipped a beat. He found Huo Shuyue’s behavior baffling, but was also afraid Gu Ci might explode. “What are you doing, Huo Shuyue?”

He remembered that she was, after all, one of his followers, so he kindly warned her, “I’m telling you, don’t mess with Sister Ci, no matter what.”

“You jerk!” Huo Shuyue finally lost control, eyes red as she ran out.

The crowd exchanged glances, and a few of Xiao Yang’s buddies frantically gestured at him, “Xiao, aren’t you going after her?”

Xiao Yang, ever the clueless guy, was baffled. “Why should I?”

Compared to Huo Shuyue’s unpredictable antics, he was far more interested in why Gu Ci had appeared at No. 1 High. “Sister Ci, what are you doing here?”

“Studying,” Gu Ci glanced at the girl who’d stormed out, leaning lazily back in her chair.

She had no intention of starting a fight over a lollipop, but now that it was gone, she found herself a bit bored.

She didn’t really understand why, even though Xiao Yang was acting for that girl’s safety, she still called him a jerk.

Perhaps it was just that he looked like someone who deserved a beating.

Xiao Yang didn’t believe a word of it. He fished another lollipop from his pocket. “You… what’s the point in coming back to high school? Did Old Ji catch something on you, so you—”

Gu Ci took the lollipop, her temples throbbing. “Enough, we’re just making a proper deal, alright?”

Xiao Yang muttered under his breath, “What kind of deal is worth making with him?”

Gu Ci glanced at him. “I’m here to take first place. The rest is up to you guys.”

“First in Chinese? Or Math? English?”

“All of them, of course.”

Xiao Yang regretted asking.

Whenever Gu Ci said things like that, it didn’t sound human, and hearing it made him feel utterly insignificant.

Wen Zixin watched their seamless exchange in amazement.

She never imagined Gu Ci already knew the school tyrant—and that he seemed genuinely afraid to provoke her.

But thinking it over, it made sense. They were both legends; their acquaintance wasn’t surprising.

Looking at the lollipop Xiao Yang gave Gu Ci, Wen Zixin admired her even more.

Gu Ci tapped Xiao Yang’s desk. “Any more candy?”

Xiao Yang dug out another lollipop and tossed it onto the desk.

Gu Ci took it, peeled it, and handed it to Wen Zixin.

Wen Zixin, flattered and grateful, thanked her.

She never expected to one day eat a lollipop taken from the school tyrant’s pocket and peeled by the legend herself.

Her courage grew a bit; sucking on the candy, she asked curiously, “First place in what?”

She’d only caught the words “first place,” missing the rest.

As for who Old Ji was, she wasn’t particularly interested.