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Chapter 65: Rumors

Lu Li strode toward the classroom; he was like an autumn breeze, and the moment he stepped through the door the previously boisterous room quieted wave by wave like wheat stirred by that breeze.

Classmates glanced at him, immediately lowered their heads to whisper in small groups, and then even more students secretly looked his way.

Lu Li frowned, wondering why this scene felt so familiar.

Oh, right; when his Charisma score broke through 8 they had acted just as oddly.

Yet by the next day they had grown accustomed to it.

So what was happening today?

Lu Li quietly opened his stat panel and saw his Charisma was still 8, which only deepened his confusion.

Did he really not need to raise Charisma anymore because he was already handsome enough?

Lu Li did not dwell on it and walked straight to his seat; as soon as he sat down Tang Yang leaned over with a mysterious expression and asked, “Old Lu, did you go to East Street on the pedestrian mall yesterday?”

“I did,” Lu Li nodded, “why?”

Tang Yang swallowed hard and said, “Not only that, you even went to the ‘Good Flavor’ Shandong restaurant on East Street?”

Lu Li’s brows knit slightly. “How do you know that?”

Tang Yang began to speak faster, clearly excited. “Then the shooting and bombing that happened on the pedestrian mall yesterday… did it have anything to do with you?”

Lu Li nodded. “I was involved, just a little.”

Lu Li spoke calmly, but Tang Yang’s eyes widened; he grabbed Lu Li’s shoulders and shook him hard. “Wow! It really was you!”

“What are you doing, hey.” Lu Li pushed Tang Yang away, utterly puzzled. “I just happened to get involved in a case; do you have to be so worked up?”

Lu Li lifted his head and looked around; the classmates who had been sneaking glances immediately ducked as if they had seen a ghost.

When Lu Li lowered his head again, they raised theirs to steal another look, all wearing guarded expressions.

Lu Li’s frown deepened. “I only got involved by chance; why do they keep staring at me?”

Tang Yang swallowed hard and whispered, “Zhang Heng just told us that he has an uncle who works at the police station.”

“Yesterday, while his uncle was on duty, a high schooler from our school named Lu Li interfered with the police, almost setting off the bomb and killing everyone!”

Lu Li stared blankly. “What???”

Was that how it happened? Did I remember it wrong?

Tang Yang spoke awkwardly. “That brat Zhang Heng is talking nonsense; he even says you know the criminal and that we should watch out for you!”

“What???”

Did rumors and lies really cost nothing, letting anyone spout them so casually?

Lu Li could not be bothered to explain. “What a load of nonsense; none of that happened. I merely took part, it wasn’t that serious.”

Tang Yang sighed. “I believe you, but the others don’t.”

“Why should I care whether they believe me?” Lu Li picked up his textbook and started reading. “There are just over 100 days until the college entrance exam; after that we may never see each other again.”

Tang Yang thought about it and realized the logic, then added to Lu Li, “But you really were reckless this time; next time you run into something like this, don’t act tough and leave it to the police officers.”

After speaking, Tang Yang returned to his seat and began reading as well.

A short while later, Shao Linlin sneaked over, sat beside Lu Li, and blinked her big eyes at him.

Lu Li put down his book and asked, “What is it?”

Shao Linlin swallowed. “Lu Li, they say you were involved in the shooting at Good Flavor yesterday?”

“Yeah.” Lu Li admitted openly.

Shao Linlin added, “They also say you’re an accomplice of the criminal…”

“Hmm?” Lu Li raised an eyebrow; how had it gone from ‘knows the criminal’ to ‘accomplice’?

Seeing that Lu Li seemed displeased, Shao Linlin waved her chubby little hands repeatedly.

“I… I don’t believe their nonsense! I trust you; I know you’re definitely not! Last night Uncle Zhao called my dad and said it was thanks to you that Auntie Zhao was saved, and Uncle Zhao is very grateful to you.”

Lu Li sat up straight and asked doubtfully, “Since you know I’m not an accomplice, what did you come to ask?”

Shao Linlin’s pretty face flushed; her slightly baby-fat cheeks puffed and then collapsed like a deflated ball as she whispered, “Did… did you already sense something was wrong inside Good Flavor yesterday?

The reason you told me to go straight back to the club was… was to protect me?”

Lu Li nodded. “That was indeed part of it.”

“Thank you! C-can I treat you to a meal?”

“Treat me again?”

“You saved my life; I have to thank you!”

“All right.” Free food was still food.

“Then it’s settled! Pinky promise.”

We’re already 18, still doing pinky promises? Seeing how serious she was, Lu Li hesitated for a moment and extended his finger.

Shao Linlin’s trembling little finger hooked with Lu Li’s, sealing the promise.

“Th-then, see you tomorrow!”

Still holding her pinky, she covered her face in excitement and ran off.

“Eh? Tomorrow won’t work… ” Before Lu Li could finish, Shao Linlin had already darted back to her seat, buried her head under her uniform, and turned into an ostrich.

I still have to take that silly sister to the mall for a phone tomorrow… Lu Li frowned.

Forget it, we’ll just do both together; that will save time.

Besides, he knew nothing about electronics; maybe Shao Linlin did and could give advice.

Lu Li picked his book back up, but after only a couple of lines two people appeared in front of him, and one of them yanked the book from his hands.

“Lu Li, you accomplice, you still dare come to school?” The boy in front of him, half his face covered in pimples, was Shen Tan.

Standing beside him, wearing a mean, sharp face, was Zhang Heng, the one spreading the rumors.

Tsk, this childish chronic phlegm of a wannabe was at it again, and he had even found a teammate…

Lu Li was speechless and rolled his eyes. “I remember you promised to stay away from me.”

Shen Tan crossed his arms and lifted his chin. “This time I’m not picking on you; you caused the trouble yourself. You played the hero without thinking of the consequences and nearly got people killed. Class 4 doesn’t welcome a menace like you… get out of Class 4!”

He had witnessed Shao Linlin approach Lu Li earlier, and the sight had almost split his personality with rage!

Zhang Heng snorted beside him and said, “So what if you got the special-admission qualification for Yongning University? Your character doesn’t match your ability, so you’re wasting resources. Hand the spot over obediently!”

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