Two major events happened involving Qiao during his time at school. The first was his widely gossiped romance with the school beauty. The top student and the stellar “school flower” together were the envy of many, and even some teachers turned a blind eye. People called them a “perfect match,” saying it was a union of talent and beauty.

The school beauty wasn’t just smart; she came from a prestigious family, an untouchable level of wealth—an actual rich heiress. Despite her aristocratic status, she was known for her flings. It was said that her past boyfriends could fill an entire class, ranging from upperclassmen to younger students and even some rough boys from other schools.

But, for the first-place student, the free-spirited school beauty somehow became deeply dedicated.

No one knew exactly when the school beauty fell for Qiao. Rumor had it she had secretly admired him for a long time; others said she lost a bet, which forced her to pursue him. Either way, she boldly put her reputation on the line and persistently chased after him.

I watched her initial efforts and, though envious of her, couldn’t help but admire her courage and determination. Her persistence dissolved my jealousy. When she approached Qiao, she dressed simply—her look was fresh and refined, a high ponytail making her seem particularly lively. Her beauty was the kind that commanded respect, a gentle elegance.

Standing in the hallway, she drew the gaze of every boy who passed by. They admired her from afar, knowing better than to disturb her.

Our school required uniforms Monday through Friday, but the school beauty never wore one. The head of discipline reminded her multiple times, but she stayed true to herself, rebellious and defiant—she’d simply refuse, daring anyone to stop her.

The head of discipline couldn’t, of course.

Her family had already spoken to the principal, likely saying something along the lines of, “She’s mischievous, so please bear with her.” The principal’s favoritism was obvious to everyone. One time, after the head of discipline caught her out of uniform, the passing principal complimented her, saying her outfit looked nice. That was enough to stop the head of discipline from bothering her again.

She used to wear makeup, but when she officially met Qiao for the first time, she came bare-faced, her clean skin unadorned, and her almond-shaped eyes peeking playfully into our classroom.

She’d even bought information from Liao Sixing, learning all about Qiao’s background and preferences before making her move. Qiao was seated, reading, one hand holding his book with a calm that seemed to envelop the space around him.

I glanced between Qiao and the school beauty at the door, probably looking a bit nosy. The whole class whispered—whom had she set her eyes on this time? The school beauty was well-known for her wealthy, easygoing, and capricious ways, and it was rumored she was fickle in love. But no one could have guessed that her new target was Qiao, who in matters of romance was like a wooden doll.

He had already turned down more than a few outstanding girls, both openly and discreetly. Because Qiao was a proud, resilient young man, one with a clear sense of principle, we never imagined he’d be her aim.

Some thought she was going after the shy bookworm; others thought she’d go for a money-hungry bad boy. But after a while, she gestured to a student in the first row and said, “Could you call Qiao for me? I have something to discuss with him. Thank you.”

Everyone suddenly understood—it was Qiao she wanted. They didn’t know why yet, but they were eager to watch.

The boy in the front row, thrilled to be part of this, passed along the message to Qiao, who looked up from his book. His gentle almond-shaped eyes were clear, with a hint of bewilderment. He looked over and saw the breathtakingly beautiful school beauty but remained calm.

Qiao closed his book, hesitating. “Excuse me, but you are…?”

The school beauty slightly lowered her head, appearing shy, her gaze resting on Qiao’s canvas shoes as she spoke softly, “There are some things that aren’t easy to say here. Would you mind stepping out with me for a moment? I won’t take much of your time, just… just five minutes at most.”