Chapter 7 My Cousin Really Didn't Bully Me

Jin Jieqiao turned her head to look, and at some point, Gu Ci had already entered the classroom. She now stood with her back to everyone, writing two bold, flowing characters on the blackboard.

It wasn’t so much the girl’s beauty that silenced the class, but rather the aura that surrounded her.

It was as though she carried a powerful presence with her, compelling everyone in the room to subconsciously hold their breath, not daring to make a sound.

As the last stroke fell, the girl turned around. Her features were as exquisite as a painting, her voice calm and indifferent, “Gu Ci, eighteen.”

And with that, nothing more.

A few whistles rose from the audience, though they were much softer than before Gu Ci had entered.

Jin Jieqiao had wanted Gu Ci to say a bit more about herself, but it was clear the new arrival had no intention of elaborating. Left with no other option, she had to fill in the gap herself.

“This is our new classmate, Gu Ci. I hope everyone will get along well in the coming year, help each other out, and make progress together!”

After a few words, Jin Jieqiao found herself at a loss for more to add. So she simply said, “Ahem, Gu Ci, why don’t you find a seat and sit down first?”

Gu Ci nodded, her gaze landing on the only empty seat in the classroom. She walked over and sat down without hesitation.

The girl next to her blushed and greeted her in a soft voice, “Hello, Gu Ci. I’m your desk mate, Wen Zixin. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.”

Wen Zixin was a sweet-looking girl, timid, with two adorable canine teeth revealed when she smiled.

Seeing those cute little teeth, Gu Ci suddenly smiled. “Hello, desk mate. Could you take me to get my books later?”

That smile bloomed like a hundred flowers, making the world itself seem to lose its color for a moment.

Wen Zixin was momentarily stunned, stumbling over her words. “Y-yes, Gu Ci. L-later we can go to the cafeteria together, and then I’ll take you to get your books, all right?”

Watching Wen Zixin’s dazed, silly expression, Gu Ci could barely resist the urge to reach out and pinch her new desk mate’s cheek. Laughter sparkled in her eyes. “All right.”

Wen Zixin kept thinking how unfairly beautiful Gu Ci was, covering her own face as she turned back around and pretended to listen to the lesson.

When class ended, several classmates from Class Twelve wanted to approach Gu Ci, but she immediately left for the cafeteria with Wen Zixin.

The impact of Gu Ci’s presence was, as expected, immense.

The moment she stepped outside the classroom, her appearance instantly drew the attention of students from other classes.

Some even began snapping photos on the sly, quietly asking which class the new girl belonged to, and why they’d never noticed such a beautiful student before...

In the end, everyone seemed to have the same idea: post her picture on the school forum.

So, in the short walk from the classroom to the cafeteria, news that Class Twelve had a new transfer student even more stunning than the school belle, Gu Zhiran, had already spread like wildfire across the entire forum...

Gu Ci remained oblivious to all this. She was already used to such attention, and followed Wen Zixin to the cafeteria with perfect ease.

Wen Zixin, timid by nature, became noticeably more reserved under the weight of so many stares.

Gu Ci glanced sideways and suddenly put an arm around the girl’s shoulders, lowering her voice to say, “Desk mate, could you tell me a bit about the school?”

Her voice was magnetic and melodious, making Wen Zixin’s ears tingle. She blushed again and began chattering nervously about all things related to school.

Realizing that Gu Ci was particularly patient, she spoke with increasing enthusiasm, soon forgetting all about the curious eyes surrounding them.

In the first class’s room, Gu Zhiran stared at the questions on her test paper, but her mind was elsewhere.

The news of the transfer student had already swept through the school, the honors class included.

Pictures of Gu Ci were all over the forum, and many people were already predicting that the title of “school belle” would soon change hands.

For some reason, a vague sense of unease crept into Gu Zhiran’s heart.

Her desk mate, a round-faced girl named Duan Jingyi, was indignant. “Is everyone at our school stupid? Those pictures are so obviously edited—no one could really look that good!”

Gu Zhiran lowered her gaze, gripping her pen a little tighter.

After a moment, she put on a gentle smile. “Jingyi, don’t say that. My cousin really is very pretty.”

Duan Jingyi was surprised. “Cousin? Zhiran, the new transfer student is your cousin?”

Gu Zhiran nodded. “My father brought her to transfer today. My second uncle also asked my parents to take good care of her, so please don’t speak ill of her.”

Hearing this, Duan Jingyi caught on to the key point. “Why did your dad have to bring her here to transfer, and why are your parents supposed to look after her?”

“That’s enough, Jingyi. Please stop asking...” Gu Zhiran bit her lip, not wanting to say more, her eyes growing slightly red.

Seeing Gu Zhiran’s restrained, aggrieved look, Duan Jingyi was instantly flustered. “Zhiran, what’s wrong? Did Gu Ci bully you at home?”

Gu Zhiran lowered her head, hurriedly wiping her eyes, and waved her hand in quick denial. “No, my cousin really didn’t bully me. Life isn’t easy for my uncle’s family in the countryside. I should be more tolerant of her. Please don’t overthink it.”

“She’s from the countryside?”

“She’s staying at your house and still bullies you?”

Duan Jingyi’s voice rose in alarm, and in a flash, she understood what was going on.

It was just the usual story—the daughter of a poor relative couldn’t get into No. 1 High School on her own, so she had to rely on Zhiran’s father to help her.

Now, not only was she living in Zhiran’s house, but she even had the nerve to take advantage of Zhiran’s kindness—and to top it off, she had stolen the spotlight as the new school beauty! Shameless!

Anger colored her tone. “Zhiran, you’re just too kind. She must have used your uncle’s connections to get into No. 1 High, right? She bullies you and now she’s here making a big scene, stealing your title as school belle, and you’re still defending her?”

“That’s enough, Jingyi, please stop. I need to work on my Olympiad problems.” With that, Gu Zhiran wiped her eyes again and returned her focus to the test paper, working through it one stroke at a time.

“You’re right. Zhiran, you’re representing our school in the provincial math olympiad!” Jingyi’s eyes shone with envy, tinged with an indistinct sense of loss and jealousy.

Catching the look in Duan Jingyi’s eyes, Gu Zhiran offered her an encouraging smile. “Jingyi, you’re not bad yourself. You just didn’t do well on this test. My dad is trying to get some of the internal exam papers from Crown High. When he gets them, we can work on them together.”

At this, Duan Jingyi felt deeply guilty for her earlier pettiness.

All the jealousy in her eyes melted away, replaced with gratitude. “Zhiran, thank you! You really are the best!”

Crown High, named after their state, was the top high school in the entire region. Its status had been unrivaled for years, and their internal exam papers were rare and highly sought after.

If she could practice with those papers, her grades would surely improve!

How could she let such a kind-hearted Zhiran be bullied by some country girl?

With this thought, she picked up her phone and quietly slipped out of the classroom...