A minute later, Gao Qian drifted back to her seat in a daze.
Wang Hongjing saw Gao Qian's slump and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
Gao Qian slumped over her desk, looking like life had lost all meaning.
"What on earth happened?" her best friend pressed, starting to worry.
"He's Ye Chen—how come I never realized he was this handsome…"
Gao Qian said, face full of regret.
"Ye Chen?"
By now, Ye Chen had walked into the Classroom.
Nearly everyone stared at the boy in shock.
At that moment, Ye Chen's buddy Xu Liang rushed up to him.
"Damn, Ye Chen, did you sneak off to Korea for plastic surgery? How'd you get so hot in one weekend?"
Ye Chen rolled his eyes. "You're the one who had surgery. I just… grew into my looks overnight, okay?"
Xu Liang studied Ye Chen carefully.
His features hadn't changed, but his vibe, skin, and build were totally different.
Xu Liang: "How come you grew into your looks overnight and I didn't?"
Ye Chen thought for a second. "Maybe the power of love."
Xu Liang: "Get lost. You're handsome and you're still feeding me dog food? Friendship over."
By now the girls in class were losing it over Ye Chen.
"My god, how did I never notice Ye Chen was this hot?"
"Right? One weekend and he's hotter—and taller too."
"Haha, didn't Ye Chen chase Gao Qian forever? He dumps her and boom—upgrade. Bet she's kicking herself."
Gao Qian lay on her desk, face full of grief and rage.
"My love story: started and ended before it began—and I wrecked it myself."
"Don't cry, Gao Qian, you still have a chance."
"A chance? He's already into Xia Yingluo."
"Xia Yingluo? She can't compete with you—style-wise you leave her in the dust," Wang Hongjing comforted.
Gao Qian's eyes lit up. Right…
Next to me, Xia Yingluo's a scrub hen; I'm the phoenix.
So… I still have a shot?
Gao Qian perked up instantly, glancing at Ye Chen—who was looking toward the door.
As if waiting for someone.
Just then, a graceful figure stepped into the Classroom.
The moment Xia Yingluo entered, the room fell dead silent.
This girl was stunning.
She wore a blue T-shirt, her hair casually tied back with a beige ribbon.
Standing in the doorway, Xia Yingluo looked statuesque, drawing every eye.
Soon someone recognized her.
"My god, Xia Yingluo is gorgeous."
"Seriously, how did I never see it?"
"Our class school flowers aren't just Li Sitong—Xia Yingluo's a knockout too."
Gao Qian stared, dumbstruck.
Instant inferiority complex overload.
Turns out Xia Yingluo was the phoenix and she was the scrub hen.
Worst of all, Ye Chen's expression toward her was ice-cold.
But toward Xia Yingluo, he beamed a radiant smile.
Xia Yingluo's transformation was total.
Once messy and nondescript, today she was breathtaking.
She could outshine every other girl in class except Li Sitong.
Even against Li Sitong it was a toss-up.
Gao Qian's jaw dropped.
She couldn't fathom how Xia Yingluo's looks, figure, and aura had changed so drastically.
Gao Qian asked Wang Hongjing meekly,
"Do you think I can compete with Xia Yingluo?"
"That… might be tough." Wang Hongjing answered as gently as possible. After second period, during break, Ye Chen opened his stock app.
Dajiang Industrial opened lower.
It even looked ready to hit the Limit down limit.
Perfect buying chance.
Ye Chen started accumulating shares in batches.
The price hovered around seven yuan.
Ye Chen went all in.
After the purchase he exhaled in relief.
If all went as expected, the stock would rocket to the Limit up limit that afternoon.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on completing a three-star investment. Reward: Basketball Master skill.]
Basketball Master—nice!
In his past life Ye Chen had envied guys who could dunk to show off; now he could too.
Li Sitong noticed him on his phone and asked, "Which stock did you buy?"
"Dajiang Industrial. You might want to keep an eye on it."
"Okay." Li Sitong nodded.
She downloaded a trading app and checked Dajiang's chart.
Ye Chen had bought at 7.25; the price had already slipped to 7.15.
Yu Weiwei asked, "Which stock did Ye Chen pick for you?"
"Dajiang Industrial," Li Sitong said.
"My dad works at a finance firm and knows stocks. I'll ask him about it."
"No need—"
Before Li Sitong could stop her, Yu Weiwei dialed.
"Dad, quick question—ever heard of a stock called Dajiang Industrial?"
"Dajiang Industrial? That's junk. Why do you ask?"
"Vivi, are you trading? Focus on school, don't get distracted."
"No, a friend bought it. Just asking for her."
"Tell your classmate to sell immediately—it's a garbage stock likely to be delisted."
Yu Weiwei hung up and blurted, "Si Tong, you might've been scammed. My dad says it's junk about to be delisted."
"Huh, no way."
Yu Weiwei pulled Li Sitong aside and whispered, "Could Ye Chen be conning you?"
"No, I trust Ye Chen," Li Sitong said firmly.
"Well, brace yourself."
But seeing Ye Chen's calm face, she just shook her head.
So what if she lost money? For the boy she liked, losing a few hundred grand was worth it.
Senior-year classes were grueling; everyone lived for fourth-period P.E.
The bell rang and the class buzzed with excitement.
Senior-year gym was basically free time.
Pick your sport—Basketball, soccer, volleyball, even ping-pong or badminton.
Everyone chatted in small groups about what to play.
Yu Weiwei tugged Li Sitong, who was hunched over practice problems.
"Si Tong, stop drilling. Let's go move a little."
"I'll pass. I still don't get this problem; I'll think more."
"It's fine, I'll explain later. Come exercise with us," Ye Chen said, smiling.
Meeting his clear gaze, Li Sitong nodded. "All right."
Yu Weiwei: "Li Sitong, you don't love me anymore—traitor chasing boys over friends."
Just as they were leaving, Ye Chen paused.
"Wait a sec."
Ye Chen walked up to Xia Yingluo, grinning. "Yingluo, come work out with us."
Seeing this, Yu Weiwei tugged Li Sitong's sleeve.
"We're doomed, Si Tong—you've got a love rival."