Zhou Nanye lifted his gaze, following the sweet voice to its source. He wanted to remember the girl.

Zhou Nanye was the type who would forever remember and repay even the smallest act of kindness shown to him.

Jiang Mianmian, who had been watching him all along, locked eyes with him when he looked over.

The boy’s eyes were exceptionally beautiful, and at this moment, they were filled with seriousness as he looked at her. It was as if he was silently expressing his gratitude with a slight nod.

Although Jiang Mianmian wore heavy makeup and looked like a rebellious girl, the boy showed no sign of rejection.

Instead, his eyes reflected immense gratitude.

From his sincere gaze, Jiang Mianmian could sense his goodness, and her affection for him grew, tinged with heartache.

The male supporting character was indeed a good one, but Jiang Mianmian couldn’t shake the strangeness she felt about the supposedly kind-hearted female lead, Zhou Ling’er.

She couldn’t help but ask the system in her mind: “System, why does the female lead, who’s supposed to represent kindness, feel so out of place?”

“The storyline only represents the surface and doesn’t necessarily reflect reality,” the male supporting character system replied.

Hearing the system’s response, Jiang Mianmian understood. The plot couldn’t be trusted entirely; it could only serve as a reference.

After all, the storyline was one thing, and reality was another. She couldn’t let preconceived notions blind her judgment.

Following Jiang Mianmian’s stern outburst, the classroom fell into a sudden, awkward silence, as if someone had hit the pause button.

Standing at the front, Zhou Ling’er, who had been trying hard to calm the situation while wiping away tears, suddenly found herself in a dilemma, unsure of what to do.

Her expression became somewhat awkward.

The male lead, Ming Yao, who had been captivated by Zhou Ling’er’s pitiful demeanor, shifted his attention to Jiang Mianmian following her interruption.

He glanced briefly at the bold, flamboyant girl with heavy makeup.

In his mind, Ming Yao mocked: What’s Jiang Mianmian up to now? Afraid I’ll speak up for Zhou Ling’er, so she’s rushing to steal the spotlight?

Hah. Does she think isolating me from all other girls will make me like her?

Wishful thinking.

With that thought, Ming Yao stopped paying attention to the ever-annoying Jiang Mianmian. Instead, his focus returned to Zhou Ling’er, whose tear-streaked face was a perfect picture of delicate vulnerability, sparking his interest.

The homeroom teacher, sensing the tense atmosphere, tried to mediate. “Alright, everyone, let’s not discriminate against classmates. We’re all part of the same class now, so let’s get along.”

“You two, find a seat and settle down,” the teacher instructed the new transfers.

Since Zhou Nanye and Zhou Ling’er were new students, the only available seats were next to Jiang Mianmian and Ming Yao.

In the original plot, the original Jiang Mianmian, in an attempt to sit next to Ming Yao, proposed sharing her desk and letting the new students sit together.

However, Ming Yao, irritated, outright rejected her and even went onstage to grab Zhou Ling’er’s wrist, escorting her to his seat.

This left the original Jiang Mianmian utterly humiliated.

Even though he could have chosen to sit with Zhou Nanye, Ming Yao deliberately picked Zhou Ling’er, knowing full well about Jiang Mianmian’s feelings for him.

This marked the beginning of Jiang Mianmian’s animosity toward the female lead in the original storyline.

But now, Jiang Mianmian wasn’t the same. She had no interest in Ming Yao. Whoever he chose to sit with was none of her concern.

Of course, because Jiang Mianmian didn’t suggest sitting with Ming Yao, the events of the original plot didn’t unfold.

Ming Yao, too, didn’t go out of his way to pull Zhou Ling’er to his seat.

Everyone naturally assumed that the boys would sit together, and the girls would do the same.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Ling’er hesitated as she approached, glancing briefly at Jiang Mianmian before turning to Zhou Nanye and softly saying, “Nanye, that girl’s appearance is a bit intimidating. Why don’t you sit with her instead?”

Hearing this, Zhou Nanye felt an inexplicable surge of irritation toward his long-time friend. He found her attitude toward Jiang Mianmian unnecessarily prejudiced.

Despite his dislike of speaking due to his stutter, Zhou Nanye tried to defend Jiang Mianmian. “She… she’s very… nice…”

However, Zhou Ling’er had already lost interest in listening to Zhou Nanye’s words.

Her attention was entirely on Ming Yao, seated by the window. She hesitated only for a moment before heading toward the wealthiest boy in the school.

Normally, Zhou Nanye might have been saddened by his only friend’s impatience.

But when he met Jiang Mianmian’s expectant gaze, he felt a glimmer of hope.

For the first time, he looked forward to something: becoming desk mates with the girl who stood up for him.

With that thought, Zhou Nanye walked toward Jiang Mianmian.