Chapter 44: Ordinary Student Relationship

At the same time, in the classroom of Grade 10, Class 3, Lin Siyu and Tan Xiaoxiao were also holding their phones, watching the video of Li Sicheng heroically saving Liu Wei.

On the forum and message boards of Nanshan High School, this video had already become the hottest topic, topping the charts in both views and comments for the day. It was even livelier than some of the most popular old threads.

The video itself wasn’t long—just a few minutes. After watching, Lin Siyu and Tan Xiaoxiao fell into simultaneous silence, neither uttering a word.

This silence lasted for a good five or six minutes.

Finally, with a sigh, Tan Xiaoxiao asked, puzzled, “Siyu, are you sure that guy’s really a big fraud? I’ve never heard of any con artist risking their life to save someone…”

“I’m not so sure what to make of him anymore, either,” Lin Siyu replied, shaking her head lightly.

Though she said nothing more, deep inside her heart, her certainty began to waver. Just as Tan Xiaoxiao said, how could a so-called big fraud risk his own life to save someone? And this supposed fraud didn’t insist on good food or comfortable lodgings—he’d only accept plain steamed buns, vegetables, and a room in the basement.

Taking all his behavior into account, he didn’t seem like a swindler at all. If anything, he seemed more like an ascetic monk!

“Maybe all these things he’s done are just to cover up his real identity as a con artist? Let’s keep watching him. Who knows, maybe he’ll let his true colors show soon enough!” After a long pause, Lin Siyu finally spoke, though even she couldn’t convince herself with these words.

Half an hour later, Li Sicheng, drenched in sweat, finally returned to the Grade 10, Class 3 classroom.

In the short distance of just a few hundred meters, he’d signed countless autographs and taken countless photos with people. The moment he entered the classroom, he slumped over his desk, tongue out, gasping for breath.

Seeing his state, his desk mate, Zeng Yi, asked curiously, “What happened to you, Chen? How’d you get so soaked? Don’t tell me you fell into the Stone Pavilion River?”

Zhang Xiaoling also came over and handed him a tissue. “Here, wipe yourself off, or you’ll catch a cold.”

Li Sicheng didn’t even reach for it—he was so exhausted he didn’t want to move. Lying on his desk, he said weakly, “Don’t ask. It’s all from signing autographs and taking photos… Man, I just learned today that being a celebrity is real hard work. In the middle of winter, and I’ve been worked into a sweat!”

Zeng Yi and Zhang Xiaoling were stunned for a moment, then both burst out laughing.

As he laughed, Zeng Yi teased, “Chen, you’re really showing off! But seriously, I saw you half an hour ago surrounded by people asking for autographs and photos. After all that, it’s no wonder you’re exhausted!”

After her laughter faded, Zhang Xiaoling hesitated for a moment, then gently picked up the tissue and began tenderly wiping the sweat from Li Sicheng’s face.

Zeng Yi’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight, filled with admiration and envy.

“Impressive!”

He gave Li Sicheng a secret thumbs-up under the desk.

“I can do it myself, you don’t have to go to the trouble,” Li Sicheng said, blushing as he hurriedly took the tissue and began wiping his own face.

Zhang Xiaoling was a little embarrassed herself—after all, she’d never been so intimate with any boy before. But seeing Li Sicheng’s cheeks flush deep red, she couldn’t help but laugh. Instead of shying away, she teased, “Really, Li? You’re blushing just from this? Your skin’s even thinner than a girl’s!”

For some reason, seeing this scene made Lin Siyu suddenly feel a pang of jealousy in her heart. She couldn’t help but let out a faint, disgruntled hum.

“What’s wrong?” Tan Xiaoxiao noticed and asked curiously.

Afraid her best friend would notice anything amiss, Lin Siyu quickly shook her head. “Nothing… really, nothing. Oh, I just feel bad for Zeng Yi and Zhang Xiaoling. They’re getting too close to that big fraud—they’re bound to get burned sooner or later!”

“Really? But you look a little off to me,” Tan Xiaoxiao said, suspicious.

“Of course it’s true! It has to be true! It can only be true!” Lin Siyu responded, a little too forcefully.

Tan Xiaoxiao was baffled. “Alright, alright, I get it, it’s true. No need to get so worked up!”

After Li Sicheng finished wiping the sweat from his face, Zhang Xiaoling helped him throw away the used tissue.

Seizing the opportunity, Zeng Yi leaned over and whispered, “Chen, you’re incredible! You’ve only been at school for half a day and you’re already the talk of the campus, plus you’ve snagged a gentle, pretty girl like Zhang Xiaoling. It’s impossible not to admire you! Chen—no, big brother—you’ve got to teach me some tricks to win girls over!”

Li Sicheng blushed furiously again and hurriedly denied it. “Don’t talk nonsense. Zhang Xiaoling and I are just classmates!”

Zeng Yi made a face. “Come on, you don’t have to pretend with me. Would ordinary classmates wipe your sweat for you? I know what you’re worried about—don’t worry, I’m on your side. I’d never rat you out to the homeroom teacher!”

“You’re really misunderstanding…” Li Sicheng could only smile wryly.

“Alright, alright, even if you’re just ordinary classmates.” Zeng Yi didn’t push the issue, but continued, “Chen, for the sake of a brother who’s only ever had two girlfriends, please share some tips so I can stop being single! I’m not expecting to have a whole line of girls lining up to kiss me like you did in the video—just being able to win over one girlfriend would be enough. Just one, that’s all I ask…”

Li Sicheng retorted, “What do you mean, ‘even if’? We really are just ordinary classmates! And anyway, you’ve already had two girlfriends—how can you still call yourself single? And you’re asking me for advice? You’ve got no shame!”

“Two girlfriends.” Zeng Yi raised his left and right hands, introducing them: “Lefty and Righty—my two girlfriends.”

“You can’t be serious…” Li Sicheng was speechless.

At that moment, Zhang Xiaoling returned from throwing out the trash. “What are you two talking about?” she asked curiously.

“Uh…” Zeng Yi scratched his head with his “left girlfriend,” a little embarrassed.

Li Sicheng, on the other hand, put on a serious face and advised, “You’re better off not knowing.”

As the three of them laughed and chatted, their homeroom teacher, Gao Zixi, Principal Zhao Shuncheng, and a large group of school administrators suddenly flooded into the classroom.

No sooner had they entered than Gao Zixi, unable to contain her excitement, gave Li Sicheng a big thumbs-up and exclaimed, “Well done, Li Sicheng! Beautifully done!”

Principal Zhao Shuncheng, on the other hand, looked anxious. He circled Li Sicheng several times, only relaxing once he was sure the boy was uninjured.

There was no helping it—Li Sicheng’s connection to Lin Muxue was well known. If anything happened to him at school, Zhao’s days as principal would be numbered.

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