No. 1 Middle School, on the other hand, is quite different. A bird's-eye view of the entire campus reveals a uniform style. Three seven-story, long, linear teaching buildings face south and back north, forming a large "three" shape. A corridor connects all but the first floor. To the west lies a sixteen-story general building, housing a library, gymnasium, and faculty dormitories. To the east are the cafeteria and a uniformly styled student dormitory.

As Tang Manwen walked through the first grade classroom, she passed a group of boys moving chairs. They were probably helping to set up the venue for the school sports meet. Even from a distance, she felt the commotion. She kept a faint smile and glanced at them, her pace neither hurried nor slow, very dignified.

There were four elevators in the teaching building at the front, but they all stopped above the third floor and took a long time to come down. Tang Manwen estimated that there was no room left inside, so he simply turned into the stairwell on the west side and went up the stairs to the next floor, step by step, walking very steadily.

Her back was straight with every step, but there was no sense of tension.

Students kept running down the stairs, taking two steps at a time. The boy in the front, bracing himself on the handrail and pushing off with one foot, practically glided down, making a comical noise. The three boys following closely behind him also shouted excitedly, filling the stairwell with a cacophony of noise.

Tang Manwen kept a smile on his face and leaned against the wall to avoid these guys who seemed to be eager to fly up the stairwell.

She looked at the boy who was running the fastest. Somehow, these overly energetic boys made her think of Qin Zhixin.

Qin Zhixin also seemed to be full of energy and was even able to fight before the junior high school entrance examination.

Back in elementary school, this girl was a complete tomboy, with short hair shaved to her ears. She relied on her delicate appearance to wear androgynous clothes and pretend to be a boy to trick the girls in the next class. She had always been smooth-talking and had actually tricked a few people. I don't know where she learned this trick.

There was a time when she was clamoring to exercise, but she only did it by bullying other people's dogs in the community park. After working out for half a year, she couldn't even do a single push-up. Chunchun was just being stubborn without any words. It was only after she entered junior high school and her body developed that she started to look a bit like a girl.

Thinking of that dead girl, Tang Manwen felt much better and couldn't help but smile.

The boy who had slid down the railing, holding onto the handrail, saw Tang Manwen climbing the stairs with such grace and elegance that he immediately fell silent and quickly jumped down from the railing, pretending to be honest and reliable. Tang Manwen's status at No. 1 Middle School was similar to Qin Zhixin's at Nanshi High School. They were both close-knit dream lovers, but unfortunately, they both seemed to be taken.

Tang Manwen looked at the boy with a smile, her dark eyebrows slightly raised and her eyes moving.

The man's face turned red, he first shrank his head and looked back. The three boys behind him who were shouting quickly caught up with him because he stopped. The four of them were stuck together and became obedient when they saw Tang Manwen. They were too embarrassed to continue showing off in front of the beautiful woman. They all went down the stairs one step at a time like quails. When Tang Manwen walked away, the four of them looked at each other and then pushed and shoved each other.

Tang Manwen glanced back and stopped paying attention.

She was no longer surprised by these people's cautious behavior, so frequent that it even made her numb.

Tang Manwen envied these boys from the bottom of her heart, a group of people gathered together and made noise without any scruples.

Even if others saw it, they would just think it was just how they were supposed to be, like a man's birthright. But as soon as she approached, the guys who might have just been "Aruba"ing each other's crotches would quiet down, as if pretending to be "honest" for a moment would leave a good impression on her.

She also wished for a classmate who could play with her without restraint, who could suddenly appear behind her during breaks and tickle her waist, who could chat and laugh with her without restraint. She also hoped that one day she would no longer have to live so tensely. Even Liu Yujin would only dare to take advantage of her, and he wouldn't even use force when touching her legs, as if she were something fragile.

But Tang Manwen also knew in her heart that if such a person really appeared, she would just stay away from him.

Chapter 78: Fake Pearls

By the time Tang Manwen arrived at the classroom, many classmates had already arrived and a group of people gathered around the physical education committee member.

Liu Yujin was sitting in his seat, and squad leader Chen Shuying was also there, standing next to him.

Upon entering, Tang Manwen's expression froze, her good mood vanishing as she suddenly saw someone she disliked. She noticed Chen Shuying was wearing a light blue wool sweater and had a scorpion tail braid, but her braiding skills were so poor that the braid, which should have been comfortable, looked like a string of beads growing on the back of her head.

Tang Manwen felt a surge of anger in her heart. She knew that Chen Shuying was imitating her. She used to wear a scorpion tail braid often, which was a complicated yet dignified hairstyle. And she also wore a light blue thin cashmere sweater a few days ago.

She knew that there were a few girls in her class who would deliberately imitate her style and hairstyle, and she normally wouldn't get angry.

After all, it was a physics and chemistry model class, so girls were the minority. Even if they were plain-looking, there would still be silly boys trying to please them. Even if they were "licked" by a girl, as long as they were not stupid, they would not dare to provoke her in front of her.

But Chen Shuying stood next to Liu Tingjin so casually, wearing clothes similar to hers and having the same hairstyle as hers.

Tang Manwen felt inexplicably annoyed when she saw Chen Shuying's clumsy imitation. She always subconsciously played the role of gentleness, but would never show her inner weakness. These are two completely different qualities.

How dare she? How could she be worthy?

Tang Manwen had a series of brutal thoughts in her mind. These thoughts were like snakes crawling around in her dark heart, but they soon disappeared, as if they had never existed.

Tang Manwen knew it in her heart, and she was also proud enough. Chen Shuying was not worthy of being compared with her. They were completely different, just like the difference between noble platinum jewelry inlaid with emeralds and inferior aluminum toys with green glass glued on them. They might look similar from a distance, but Chen Shuying could never imitate even a fraction of her charm.

But precisely because of this, she became extremely angry after seeing her inferior imitation, as if Chen Shuying's existence lowered her "value".

The fat boy Liu Yujin sat in his seat, his face a little embarrassed, but Chen Shuying didn't seem to notice it, and continued to talk to him. When he saw Tang Manwen at the door, his face lit up, and he stood up, not paying any attention to Chen Shuying beside him, and trotted to the door.

A silly smile appeared on his fat face, but before he could say anything, Tang Manwen grabbed Liu Tingjin's arm and spoke first.

"Yu Jin, please accompany me to buy some stationery. I'm out of red pens."

"Eh? What are you buying? I have~oh!~"

Liu Tingjin was about to say he did, but Tang Manwen deliberately rubbed him after she'd said that. Two spots had become slightly swollen from the prolonged friction with the shirt, to the point where a closer look would reveal bulges. Liu Tingjin, wearing only a short-sleeved T-shirt in the classroom, immediately noticed something was wrong with her rubbing, and his eyes widened.

He looked at Tang Manwen in disbelief, his eyes moving back and forth between the part of her arm that was wrapped around him and her face. Tang Manwen blushed, her cheeks flushed, and she said "hmm" in a very low voice.

Liu Yujin's mind was a blur, his arms entangled in Tang Manwen's, sinking deeply into the softness. Along with the slight scratches brought by his breathing, he could also vaguely feel something hard.

He knew what that slightly hard thing was, but subconsciously denied it. After all, it was hard to feel it clearly through the fabric. He had a guess in his mind, but then he thought it was impossible for Tang Manwen to do this. However, Tang Manwen's face was unnaturally red, and her "hmm" was unclear.

Liu Dianjin looked into Tang Manwen's eyes. Tang Manwen avoided his gaze, her pretty face shy and charming.

That's not conjecture.

After a sudden burst of panic, Liu Yujin fell into a state of bewilderment. It was a contradictory feeling, a mix of joy born of biological instinct, yet also a strange sense of absurdity.

Chen Shuying stood there awkwardly, looking at the handsome man and beautiful woman standing at the classroom door, acting intimately. The classroom door was backlit, and in her eyes, the two people seemed to be surrounded by a halo.

The infatuated expression on her face just now became stiff. Her weird hairstyle and uncoordinated clothing looked a little weird under this stiff expression, like some kind of humanoid creature that just triggered the threshold of the uncanny valley effect.

Tang Manwen glanced at her, and her poor imitation of himself made Tang Manwen even more disgusted.

Chen Shuying's skin color is far from fair, and the light blue sweater only makes her skin look darker.

But it is obvious that this idiot does not understand that dressing requires aesthetic skills.

A beauty should be charming but not promiscuous, and most importantly, look conservative.

Tang Manwen's dressing style and makeup style are both conservative, but she knows how to look conservative and charming at the same time, just like she just looks gentle.

But if you are not a beauty, don't pretend.

Beauty is a talent that needs to be carefully cultivated. Obviously, Tang Manwen is more than an order of magnitude better than Chen Shuying in knowing how to show off her charm.

In Tang Manwen's opinion, what Chen Shuying should do is wear a loose neutral outfit, change into the thickest black-framed glasses, and have thick bangs in her hair. The thicker the better, and it would be best if it could cover half of her face.

This kind of dress will not make Chen Shuying look more attractive, but it will make her look less obtrusive. For Chen Shuying's appearance, "not obtrusive" is already Tang Manwen's best evaluation of her.

Seeing Liu Tingjin looking somewhat bewildered, Tang Manwen pulled him over to her desk. She pulled a file bag filled with chemistry notes from a hole in the desk, clutching it to her chest. She half-spoke to Liu Tingjin with her red lips, speaking in a voice neither loud nor soft.

"Yu Jin, have you heard about the joint entrance exam?"

"Hey! Why are you bringing this up? It's so unlucky. Forget it, as long as I can get into the top 40 in the class, I'll be safe."

Liu Tingjin grimaced, and once again, he surreptitiously nudged Tang Manwen's spot with his arm. Tang Manwen shuddered deliberately, her eyes filled with resentment, her delicate features expressing a hint of discontent. This was a deliberate practice, more like a teasing rage. Liu Tingjin was agitated by this look.

"I just hope chemistry isn't too hard."

Tang Manwen released Liu Tingjin's arm, his eyes still fixed on her chest, but Tang Manwen naturally clasped the folder to her chest, blocking his gaze. Liu Tingjin smiled bitterly, and walked to his seat with an air of ignorance. Chen Shuying was still standing by his desk, but Liu Tingjin simply walked around her, not even considering meeting her gaze.

He hated people who had no sense of distance and were always trying to get close to him, and Chen Shuying wasn't pretty enough. But even if she was pretty, Liu Yujin wouldn't like her.

Liu Yujin liked beautiful women, which was determined by human genes, but he was also a sapiosexual. He liked smart women. He would be suffocated by the stench of stupidity on those with empty heads and greed written all over their faces.

The two of them walked out of the classroom. When they went downstairs, Liu Yujin started talking about Chen Shuying.

"Manwen, if you had come any later I would have vomited. Squad Leader Chen's mouth really has a bad taste."

Tang Manwen put on her windbreaker and chuckled softly with her hands covering her mouth when she heard what Liu Tingjin said.

"It's not nice to talk about girls like that. Chen Shuying must have a stomach problem. She brushed her teeth normally when she stayed here before."

Tang Manwen felt a strange kind of happiness in her heart.

This kind of casual arrangement appears to be speaking for Chen Shuying but it harbors malicious intentions. Perhaps Chen Shuying just ate something smelly at noon, but after she said this, she became physically ill, which is much more serious than just "what she ate".

"Stomach problems? Does stomach problems also cause bad breath?"

"Stomach problems are the main cause of bad breath. I read a book before that said chronic gastritis is often accompanied by severe bad breath, with a rotten smell."

"I was wondering why it smelled like a dead rat."

"You're just talking nonsense. Stomach problems are very common. You might even get them if you don't eat regularly."

Tang Manwen spoke softly, with a smile in her eyes, and looked gentle and pleasant.

"Stop talking! She just spoke directly to me, and she was pinching her throat. Her voice is already harsh and raspy. Now it's as sharp as glass. My ears, nose, and eyes, damn, it's a 3D experience, triple torture."

Liu Yujin deliberately made an exaggerated expression, which made Tang Manwen laugh. The beauty's smile made Liu Yujin even more excited. He stretched out his hand and put his arm around Tang Manwen's waist. She did not refuse.

"Manwen, Han Mo complained bitterly to me. During the midterm exam, Han Mo sat behind youknowwho, and halfway through the math test, she kept sighing and pushing back, like a bear scratching itself against a tree. It made it impossible for Han Mo to concentrate on thinking."

Han Mo is Liu Tingjin's deskmate. The two of them have been good friends since childhood, and they can also chat with Tang Manwen.

"Han Mo is really going too far. How did he make that analogy? Chen Shuying isn't fat, and you know who? Do you think she's Voldemort?"

Tang Manwen said this, but she was laughing so hard that her body was shaking. She looked very beautiful and graceful. Her beautiful and gorgeous appearance was in sharp contrast to the protagonist of their topic.

"Hey! Don't! You know who? It was Old Han who said that first. It's perfectly normal for him to be mean to Chen. Remember when we went to Gusu for tutoring during the summer vacation? Old Han and she were both responsible for buying movie tickets, and she cheated him. Last time, after the math test, she insisted on checking the answers. Old Han was the only one in our class around, so Chen dragged him to check. Old Han was bad at math to begin with, and she made him lose his temper. He kept cursing after he came back from the exam."

As they left the teaching building, Tang Manwen shivered in the cold wind. She wrapped her windbreaker tightly around her and snuggled up to Liu Tingjin, listening to his ramblings. She quite liked this feeling; it gave her a sense of support.

She had no ill feelings towards Han Mo, especially when she knew how he described Chen Shuying, it made her feel much better.

"You boys always watch all sorts of crap and give people random nicknames. Have you ever given me one behind my back?"

"Ah?! Impossible, no, no. Boys' meanness is only directed at stupid people. Isn't Chen Shuying hated by so many people because of her stupid arms? Han Mo dares to give you a nickname, you see I won't beat him up!"

Tang Manwen smiled widely and looked straight into Liu Tingjin's eyes. Liu Tingjin avoided her gaze guiltily.

"I'll believe you for now."

Chapter 79: No Beauty

On September 25, 2013, at 6:40 in the morning, there were still 20 minutes before the morning reading get out of class at Nanshi High School ended, but the entire first-year high school building was still noisy.

Two days have passed since Qin Zhixin last went to No. 1 Middle School to check out the site. Today is the first day of the school sports meeting.

Qin Zhixin came to school today wearing a V-neck, fluttering-sleeve, asymmetrical lace-up dress. This was a custom-made team leader's uniform that Ma Chengwu had ordered for her, while the male team leader wore a suit of decent workmanship. Although both were low-end, made of the same quality fabric, since it was free, Qin Zhixin didn't bother to be picky.

In order to save face, Zhang Wei even told her in advance to put on lipstick.

Qin Zhixin stole the lipstick from Tang Yuyu. The color was a little light, and when applied on Qin Zhixin's rosy lips, it looked a bit like the color of maple syrup.

This is an abrupt color, but it makes her look more seductive. The color of her lip gloss seems to be syrup applied to her lips, like a dewy rose, tempting people to kiss it.

The already beautiful and unparalleled lady, with this even more seductive outfit, became even more charming and stunning. Not to mention the boys in the class, many boys from the next class were lingering outside the window of Class 2, glancing at Qin Zhixin from time to time.

The workmanship of the leader's uniform was just passable, and the fabric of the lace-up skirt was quite exquisite. The inner layer was chiffon that imitated silk, the laces were made of real silk, the chiffon near the neckline was sewn with lace, and the outermost layer of dark blue fabric was a fine-spindt blend of combed cotton. It was a very thin layer, and from behind, Qin Zhixin's delicate butterfly bone outline was faintly visible under the chiffon.

The dress is somewhat sheer on her, adding to her hazy allure. The small V-neck opening on the bodice reveals a generous expanse of white flesh and a mysterious ravine. Below her collarbone is a large expanse of creamy white jade, and the undulations of creamy white jade, juxtaposed against the small dress, create a breathtaking arc that makes one salivate. It truly is: A spring-like beauty, her hair untied, her rouge moistened with dew. A flowing gaze, filled with allure, a jade-carved peony crowning the beauty of the group.

Most of the students in the class and in the corridor were wearing new school uniforms.

The new uniform is a set consisting of loose-fitting, straight-leg, black-blue blend trousers with adjustable buckles. The top layer is a loose-fitting, long, refined shirt. The outer layer is a short, dark blue and white jacket, similar to a windbreaker. To complete the set, the shirt needs to be folded inside the trousers.

Although it was not expensive, it did look quite smart. However, Qin Zhixin looked a little strange when she saw her classmates wearing it.

I wouldn't call it ugly. The new uniform's lining is the traditional, loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirt and trousers, but the jacket, which is a bit odd, is made of polyester—very thick, durable, and waterproof. The reflective strips are still on, and the cuffs are tightly tied, giving it a bit of a work uniform vibe.

Qin Zhixin had said before that the old school uniforms looked like labor camp uniforms, but that was just a joke. Unexpectedly, the school actually got them a set of labor camp uniforms.

Zhou Xinshu appeared at the classroom door in a small suit, along with Lu Baiyin and Li Jing. Only freshmen and sophomores from Nanshi High School were participating in the sports meet. Lu Baiyin was there to give a speech as a student representative and would return after he finished reading his speech.

Zhou Xinshu glanced at the boys outside the door, who only dared to peek at Qin Zhixin, with a hint of disdain. As if with pride, he held his head high, his thin, dark face tilted upward, and knocked hard on the already-open door of Class 2.

"Student Qin, please follow us to Class 4 and wait."

Everyone around looked at Qin Zhixin. Qin Zhixin was speechless. She threw her newly issued school uniform jacket over her shoulders, trotted out of the classroom, and followed Zhou Xinshu and the other two to Class Four.

Nanshi High School rented eight buses, which will transport students to No. 1 Middle School one after another before 10 a.m. The first to arrive will be the Rocket Class of the first grade. As the face of Nanshi High School, they will stand in the middle of the playground together with the Hongzhi Class of Ningjiang Middle School and the Excellence Class of No. 1 Middle School during the opening ceremony.

Since Qin Zhixin is the team leader, she will not be on the bus with Class 1 and 2, but with Class 4 Rocket Class.

The school's plan was to wait until No. 1 Middle School entered, with Class 4 leading the way, and the remaining three key classes entering in order. The regular classes would then sit in the surrounding stands. Since the focus was on the TV broadcast, the students in the stands wouldn't appear on screen much.

Class 4 was also in poor discipline and a noisy crowd. Their homeroom teacher, Gao Qingjian, was away, busy with a meeting with Ma Chengwu and unable to enforce order. The students, all dressed in their new uniforms, chatted. For them, the school sports meet itself was a vacation, meant for fun. Furthermore, this time, they were at No. 1 Middle School, a rare occasion, which gave most the illusion of an autumn outing.

As soon as Qin Zhixin entered the classroom, which had been a bit noisy, became much quieter.

Zhou Xinshu led the three people to the classroom and left first.

Even though Qin Zhixin was already used to being watched, she walked gracefully to Yang Qichao's side. Yang Qichao felt a little embarrassed by being stared at, so when he saw Qin Zhixin standing next to him, he stood up and let her sit in his seat.

"Hey, Chaochao, why are you so polite?"

Yang Qichao's deskmate, Su Weiguang, looked at Yang Qichao's stunned expression with a somewhat sinister look. Because Qin Zhixin always called Yang Qichao "Chaochao" when they saw him, and after others heard it, everyone in his class who knew him well called him "Chaochao".

Qin Zhixin took Yang Qichao's seat carelessly, and was amused when she heard Su Weiguang's words. She took off the windbreaker draped over her shoulders, revealing her white shoulders.

Su Weiguang carefully avoided looking at Qin Zhixin, but his face was obviously red.

Qin Zhixin brushed her hair away from her ear, twisting the ends of it around her fingers three times. Her black hair entwined with her white fingertips, the line between black and pink was clear. She tilted her head slightly, revealing the girl's sleek, snowy neck, breathtakingly beautiful. Su Weiguang watched the plump, white flesh beneath her swan neck rise and fall with each breath, and suddenly felt an itch in the back of his teeth.

He swallowed. He'd only ever seen her from afar, the color differences between Qin Zhixin's face, arms, and legs practically identical. Back then, he'd simply thought her paleness stood out from the crowd. Now that she was sitting closer, he could see her clearly with just a glance. She was indeed fair, so white and tender, her skin akin to fresh Alpine snow melted into mutton-fat jade, mingled with half a spoonful of pearl powder.

"Chao Chao, this is..."

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like