Chapter 264 - 253: Get a Clue

After she spoke, Chen Tingting lowered her head, constantly fiddling with a thick stack of study materials in her hands.

’I really got the short end of the stick,’ she thought. ’We’re all rivals here, so why do I have to call her senior just because she’s a year older?’

As this thought crossed her mind, her eyes fell upon the words "Senior’s Compiled Edition" on the white cover, with Gu Muxue’s name written in parentheses after it...

’Why would Gu Muxue come looking for me?’

’Did Xue Rui arrange this?’

In the past, whenever she was clinging to Xue Rui, he would always call Gu Muxue to come and drag her away.

She wasn’t as strong as Gu Muxue, so she could only let Gu Muxue lead her off.

The truth was, Chen Tingting simply didn’t have the guts to resist.

Chen Tingting pouted, turned away in a huff, and pulled out a pen. She scribbled over the two words "Gu Muxue" until they were completely blacked out, as if not seeing the name meant it didn’t exist. It felt like a small, secret act of revenge.

"What are you all doing, crowding around like this? You’re seniors now, so get your heads in the game!" a female teacher barked.

"Everyone, go on to class. Keep up the hard work," Gu Muxue said softly, giving the teacher a slight nod.

Only after Gu Muxue spoke did the surrounding students begin to reluctantly disperse.

When Chen Tingting saw the infamous "Master Extinction," she felt like her savior had arrived. She quickly tried to follow the flow of the crowd and run toward the classroom.

However, her path was blocked as she tried to pass Gu Muxue.

"Teacher, I just need to speak with Chen Tingting for a moment," Gu Muxue said to the fierce-looking woman.

Chen Tingting looked past Gu Muxue, shooting a pleading glance at the teacher. This was the deputy head of their grade level, the kind of administrator who showed no mercy, no matter how good the student. Even though Chen Tingting’s grades were near the top, she still got chewed out by this woman.

’Even if Gu Muxue doesn’t get yelled at, she’ll still be told to go back to class,’ she thought.

"Tingting, you can go hang out with her for a bit," the teacher said, smiling kindly.

A look of utter shock crossed Chen Tingting’s face. ’Why is she so different from normal?’

’Since when are you so nice?’

’Does she think I want to hang out with Gu Muxue? I want to escape!’

The truth was, teachers couldn’t be bothered to intervene when two top students hung out together; they would probably even assume the two were discussing their studies...

The freshmen and sophomores hadn’t started school yet, and with so few seniors around, the entire campus felt deserted as the evening self-study session approached.

"Thank you, Teacher." Gu Muxue smiled at the woman and reached out to take Chen Tingting by the wrist.

"Gu Muxue, we’re the ones who should be thanking you. The materials you compiled have saved us a lot of work," the teacher said before walking into her office.

Chen Tingting flinched and instinctively tried to pull her arm back, but Gu Muxue’s grip was tight. She couldn’t break free.

Gu Muxue didn’t think anything of it. Every time she had to drag Chen Tingting away, the younger girl would dawdle like this, but she always ended up obediently following along.

"Even if... even if you hit me... I’ll still like him," Chen Tingting stammered as tears began to stream down her face.

Gu Muxue was leading her toward the deserted freshman classroom building.

Chen Tingting’s mind immediately jumped to the worst-case scenario...

’Why did she pick such a secluded spot?’

’It’s just like how boys arrange a fight, always finding somewhere deserted.’

Gu Muxue’s eyes widened in astonishment. ’When did I ever say I was going to hit her?’

Seeing Chen Tingting’s tear-filled eyes, she suddenly felt an inexplicable pang of guilt.

She couldn’t help but shake her head with a wry smile. ’Xue Rui really is something else,’ she thought. ’Even I’m starting to feel my heart soften at the sight of Chen Tingting’s tear-streaked face. And to think Xue Rui managed to reject her for two whole years...’

’Then again, that just goes to show how devoted he’s always been to me and me alone...’

Yang Xing, who was taking a smoke break under the flagpole, had a hand that trembled as he lit his cigarette. ’When did Gu Muxue become the school tyrant...?’ he wondered.

"Hey now, you’ve got the wrong idea," Yang Xing said with a laugh.

He was finding it harder and harder to understand Gu Muxue. ’She said she was just looking for a younger student, so why is this girl so terrified of her?’

Chen Tingting pouted, remembering what Xue Rui had once told her...

’When someone’s bullying you, you have to talk tough and threaten them. Make them hesitate.’

She said in a firm tone, "My father is a police officer."

Gu Muxue couldn’t help but laugh. ’Is she trying to threaten me?’ she thought. ’She’s acting like such a child.’

She had Chen Tingting sit down on a long bench in front of the freshman classroom building. It was a spot where teachers usually rested in the shade. She offered Chen Tingting a pack of tissues.

Chen Tingting didn’t take them. She wiped her tears with the sleeve of her uniform and scooted a little further away from Gu Muxue on the bench.

"Xiaorui confessed to me," Gu Muxue said calmly.

Chen Tingting’s expression went blank, and she felt a sharp pang in her heart.

’Xue Rui confessed to Gu Muxue?’

Everyone in school knew about that, but since transferring to Hedong Second Middle School, she had never heard of Xue Rui confessing to anyone. She figured Gu Muxue must be talking about ancient history.

"Oh," Chen Tingting said dismissively. She knew Xue Rui had a few girls he was interested in; he’d even brought Lin Ruoxi along last time just to crush her hopes.

’But he and Lin Ruoxi didn’t end up together, did they?’ She figured she still had a chance.

Still, she sensed something was off. ’What’s the point of Gu Muxue telling me this?’

"It was this afternoon," Gu Muxue added, her eyes shining with a joy she couldn’t suppress.

Chen Tingting swallowed hard, her breathing suddenly growing ragged. "And then?" she asked urgently.

"I accepted. I’m Xue Rui’s girlfriend now," Gu Muxue said with a faint smile.

This was the main reason she’d come—to tell Chen Tingting, so that the younger girl would stop clinging to Xue Rui. She knew their fathers were acquainted, which made it difficult to cut ties completely, but she had to remind Chen Tingting to maintain some boundaries.