Chapter 19

Gu Qiang: "Time to eat?"

Her small group of followers were stunned. Hadn't Sister Qiang just finished eating? It wasn't until they entered the restaurant that they realized she hadn't come to eat at all; she was clearly just coveting the beauty of that transfer student.

Ye Chunxi finished ordering and found a seat.

Gu Qiang kicked the follower closest to her. "What are you standing there for? Get your food!"

"Huh?" They had already eaten. But Gu Qiang was already sitting at the table next to Ye Chunxi, ignoring them entirely. The follower had no choice but to bite the bullet and order a serving for himself.

Ye Chunxi sat with her head slightly bowed, her slender, fair fingers tapping lightly on her phone screen. She was impeccably clean, glowing with a soft, iridescent sheen, her fingertips lightly stained with a delicate pink. She wore Bluetooth earbuds, isolating herself from the outside world. Her temperament was as cold and aloof as snow on a mountain peak, yet she possessed a face with the intoxicating allure of a vibrant rose.

Gu Qiang was captivated by this contrast the moment she saw her. She turned her head and looked at the follower who had pointed out the transfer student earlier. "Do you know her name?"

The follower, who had also been staring in a daze, snapped back to reality and stammered, "I think her surname is Ye... something like 'Xi'?"

Gu Qiang’s expression changed immediately. "Such a beautiful girl, and you can't even remember her name?"

The follower lowered his head, unable to stop himself from stealing glances at Ye Chunxi. Gu Qiang was so annoyed she kicked him. "Go ask her!"

After a moment's thought, she stopped her eager follower. "Never mind. What if you scare the poor girl? I'll go myself."

The follower looked at her pink eyeliner and the heart painted on her cheekbone: "..." Sister Qiang, it seems like you're the one who looks more like a troublemaker; I didn't even dye my hair!

Gu Qiang sat down opposite Ye Chunxi with a flourish, her beautiful eyes fixed directly on her. "Little sister, are you a student at Hengde? What’s your name?"

Ye Chunxi lifted her gaze. She removed her earbuds, completely unbothered by the other girl's intense stare. Two seconds later, she said appreciatively, "I like your eyeliner."

This style of makeup was difficult to pull off; one wrong move and it could easily look tacky. But on the person before her, it was different—it was cool and sharp, yet added a touch of something exotic and dangerously bewitching.

Being complimented by a beautiful girl made Gu Qiang’s heart bloom. She touched the corner of her eye with satisfaction. "I think so too."

The follower watching from the side: "??"

Sister Qiang, how did you get played by her?!

Gu Qiang, having been flattered into a daze, was about to drown in the appreciation of her own beauty when she suddenly remembered why she had come over. "Not only is the little sister pretty, but she’s also got a sweet tongue."

Ye Chunxi smiled and answered her previous question. "My name is Ye Chunxi. I just transferred to Hengde today."

Gu Qiang confirmed her identity. "The transfer student in the Elite Class?"

Ye Chunxi nodded.

The students in the Elite Class were arrogant and conceited, and Gu Qiang didn't have a good impression of them. However, when it came to the Ye Chunxi before her, she truly couldn't bring herself to dislike her. After all, who doesn't love beautiful things?

The waiter brought the meal over. Steam rose from the rice noodles, making the girl’s beautiful, deer-like eyes glisten with moisture, looking incredibly moving. Ye Chunxi took a sip of the soup, and when she looked up, she found Gu Qiang still watching her.

Even when caught, Gu Qiang didn't look away, showing no pretense. It was clear she was a girl of genuine character. Judging by her age, she was still in school. Ye Chunxi glanced over and noticed two of the followers were wearing school badges.

"You're also a student at Hengde," Ye Chunxi said, stating it as a fact.

Gu Qiang nodded and introduced herself generously. "I'm Gu Qiang, from Class 17."

Ye Chunxi had just arrived and wasn't familiar with Hengde’s class divisions. However, based on Gu Qiang’s attire, she could tell it was either a specialized talent class or a class for underachievers. She didn't feel any prejudice; she simply found the girl easy to get along with.

Ye Chunxi’s gaze landed on her motorcycle jacket. "Do you ride a motorcycle?" she asked thoughtfully.

Gu Qiang could see that Ye Chunxi was interested in motorcycles. It was rare to meet such a pretty girl who also liked bikes, so Gu Qiang immediately issued an invitation: "Why don't I take you for a spin?"

Ye Chunxi’s eyes brightened. "When?"

"After you..." finish your meal.

Before she could finish, a follower waved and called out cheerfully, "Sister Qiang, your rice noodles are ready, come and eat!"

Gu Qiang, interrupted, said: "..." She was about to continue when the follower spoke again. "It’s your favorite intestine rice noodles, I ordered them extra spicy just for you."

Gu Qiang: "..." She couldn't take it anymore and shot him a look sharp enough to kill. "Eat what you ordered yourself!"

When she turned back, the ferocity vanished from her face, replaced by a gentle smile. "After you finish, big sister will take you for a ride."

The follower: "??" Sister Qiang, that’s double standards!

The lunch break lasted nearly two hours. Boarding students could take a nap in the dorms, but for someone like her who commuted and lived far away, there was really nothing to do during this time. Ye Chunxi agreed.

Gu Qiang sat there waiting for her. Watching a pretty girl eat was truly a pleasant sight. Seeming to remember something, she suddenly sighed. "Why did you have to end up in the Elite Class?"

Ye Chunxi looked up, puzzled.

Gu Qiang smiled slightly and explained, "Don't mind me, I don't mean you. I just don't really like the students in the Elite Class."

Ye Chunxi lowered her head and continued eating her noodles. The people in the Elite Class were indeed a bit unpleasant. Although she had only been there for half a day, she didn't have any affection for them either.

Looking at the innocent, harmless face of the little sister in front of her, Gu Qiang was genuinely worried she would be bullied. She spoke up righteously, "Xixi, from now on, just use my name, Gu Qiang. No one will dare to bully you. If you don't like the Elite Class, just come to our Class 17."

The follower on the side shook his head in secret, his face full of resignation. Sister Qiang was trying to recruit another follower again.

Ye Chunxi noticed the change in how she addressed her, but she didn't mind. Instead, she asked, "Is school bullying very serious at Hengde?"

Gu Qiang was amused by her cute question. "Not that much, but the competition between students is quite intense. It gets worse the higher the academic standing of the class." Especially in the Elite Class, where they were all so competitive she feared someone might one day work themselves to death.

Hearing this, Ye Chunxi felt relieved. If it wasn't much, then there was nothing to worry about.

After finishing the noodles, Ye Chunxi wiped the corners of her mouth, and Gu Qiang dragged her off to ride the motorcycle, unable to wait a moment longer. As they passed the followers, Gu Qiang kicked their table. "What’s with the dawdling? A few grown men taking this long to eat one bowl of noodles!"

People in Jin City weren't very accustomed to heavy, greasy food; being able to handle mild spice was already quite something. The followers were already full, and the noodles were extra spicy, which they couldn't handle at all. Having been goaded into eating them together, they were already in tears halfway through.

One of the followers complained, "Sister Qiang, it’s too spicy, we can’t handle it."

Gu Qiang: "Then why did you order 'extra spicy'?"

Everyone turned their gaze toward the one who had ordered the food, their eyes full of blame.