Chapter 43

Fortunately, it was just the start of the semester, and no one knew each other well yet; the boys merely watched in silence, none of them stirring up trouble.

Li Luo let out a faint sigh, finally understanding Ying Chanxi's influence at school.

Undeniably, some girls, even in uniform, still stood out as the brightest among a crowd.

Since the summer prep class began, Ying Chanxi had swiftly become the undisputed campus beauty among boys in the early admission batch.

No one had deliberately voted or polled.

But when you saw Ying Chanxi's face, whoever you were, you'd instinctively think: this must be what a campus beauty looks like.

Li Luo glanced at Ying Chanxi's profile, feeling no particular thoughts.

Probably because he'd seen her so often since childhood—he was used to it.

"I already know where the cafeteria is. Do I need you to guide me?"

"I came all the way over to find you, and you're not even grateful?"

"If you treat me to lunch today, I might reluctantly accept your kindness."

"You wish." Ying Chanxi rolled her eyes at him. "Come on, if we wait any longer, we'll be stuck in line forever."

Under the gaze of everyone, the two walked down the stairs together toward the cafeteria.

On the asphalt path leading to the cafeteria, two distinct groups had formed.

The new students from the parallel classes, having just arrived and not yet issued uniforms, wore their own casual clothes—colorful and varied.

The prep class students, in contrast, wore the uniform blue-and-white outfits of Fuyi High, walking in pairs along the path.

Yet someone like Ying Chanxi and Li Luo—one in uniform, one in casual clothes, a boy and a girl together—was rare to see.

"What did you guys do this morning in the prep class?" Li Luo asked casually as they walked, ignoring the faint glances around them.

"Nothing much," Ying Chanxi shook her head. "We went over the military training precautions, announced the physical exam this afternoon, and the rest was self-study. What about you?"

"Us?" Li Luo smiled, suddenly reaching out his hand. "Hi, let's properly meet again. I'm Li Luo, class monitor of Grade 1, Class 8. Nice to meet you."

Ying Chanxi blinked at him, then raised her eyebrows in surprise, immediately grasping his hand and squeezing tightly. "Really? You actually became class monitor?"

"Why would I lie about something like this?" Li Luo released her soft, petite hand and chuckled. "I beat three strong rivals to win this position. Even the class monitor from the class next door had to be my assistant."

"Hua Xiuxiu?" Ying Chanxi narrowed her eyes. "She's the vice monitor?"

"Yes."

"I remember she's pretty."

"You care about that?" Li Luo was surprised. "Don't you know? When a girl looks like you, complimenting another girl's beauty sounds faintly condescending."

"I didn't mean it that way! I was just stating the truth!"

"Why get so worked up? I was just stating the truth too."

"So how did you become class monitor?" Ying Chanxi asked curiously. "You've never held the position before. She's a proper class monitor by background—surely she's better qualified?"

"You wouldn't understand," Li Luo wagged a finger, making up nonsense. "Remember when I came to Fuyi to play basketball? One of the teachers I played with was our homeroom teacher."

"And then?"

"He thought my basketball skills were great, so he pushed through opposition and made me class monitor. I call it basketball politics."

Ying Chanxi looked at him with an expression of utter childishness, too lazy to scold him further.

The two chatted idly all the way, soon reaching the cafeteria beside the basketball court.

"So this is the cafeteria?" Li Luo looked up at the three- or four-story building. "I'd seen it before when I played basketball."

"The cafeteria has two floors for students; the third floor is for teachers—we can't go up there," Ying Chanxi said as she led him inside. "First floor dishes are cheaper, second floor is a bit more expensive."

"They even rank by tier?" Li Luo raised an eyebrow, thinking: elite high schools really are different.

"Vegetables on first floor are 1.5 yuan, meat dishes are 3 yuan. On second floor, vegetables are 2 yuan, meat dishes are 4 yuan," Ying Chanxi led him upstairs. "The difference isn't huge—I sometimes eat first floor if they have my favorite dishes."

"Then why are you taking me upstairs?"

"Second floor has fewer people," Ying Chanxi turned, rolling her eyes at him. "And didn't you say you wanted me to treat you?"

"That wouldn't be right," Li Luo followed her upstairs. "How many meat dishes can we order?"

"Cheeky." Ying Chanxi muttered under her breath, then said, "We each pick two different dishes—that makes four total."

"You're pretty smart."

The two reached the end of the line, waited five or six minutes, then arrived at the serving window.

Just then, Shao Heqi was serving himself at the adjacent window. Seeing Li Luo and Ying Chanxi standing in line together, his eyes filled with envy tinged with jealousy.

Thinking that this guy had just become class monitor, Shao Heqi felt even more miserable.

But just as he decided to pretend he hadn't seen them and quietly carry his tray away from this painful sight, he noticed Li Luo standing with his tray, not pulling out his meal card.

Only when Ying Chanxi finished ordering and swiped her own card for 16 yuan did Shao Heqi's eyebrows jump.

Damn it!

This bastard!

He's mooching off Ying Chanxi's meal card just to eat lunch!

What a fucking piece of shit.

Shao Heqi cursed inwardly, quickly walking away without daring to look back.

Especially now that he wasn't in the same class as Ying Chanxi, and hadn't even secured a class officer position—not even vice monitor—he had no idea how to even greet her.

Thinking of this, Shao Heqi felt a wave of bleakness, and simply carried his tray downstairs to eat, avoiding any more unbearable scenes.

Li Luo and Ying Chanxi, however, noticed nothing of Shao Heqi's presence.

After swiping her card, Ying Chanxi followed Li Luo to a window seat and sat down.

But just as the two began eating, Xu Yinghuan and Jin Yuting finished their meals, spotted them, and walked over.

"Class monitor and former class monitor—can we sit here?" Xu Yinghuan grinned, approaching with her tray.

"Sit down," Ying Chanxi pointed to the two seats across from them. "Huanhuan, Tingting—did you run for any class officer positions?"

"Nope." Xu Yinghuan shook her head. "This morning we only elected the class monitor, vice monitor, and sports committee member—we're not as talented as Li Luo, so how could we get chosen?"

"Where's he talented?" Ying Chanxi glanced at Li Luo, then took a piece of sweet and sour pork from his plate. "No idea what shady methods he used."