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Teacher Lu directed us to open our textbooks page by page. I reached behind me to grab my school bag, ready to retrieve my textbook. However, a sinking feeling settled in my stomach as I realized a grave mistake—I had forgotten my bag at home.

Panic surged through me immediately. How could I have been so careless? I mentally berated myself, my thoughts racing as I tried to come up with a solution.

"You forgot your bag?" Kai's voice cut through the awkward silence that had fallen around me. I looked at him, and he was grinning mischievously, clearly finding something amusing.

Unbeknownst to me, my thoughts had slipped into spoken words, which the entire classroom had heard. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I became acutely aware of the curious stares fixed on me, intensifying discomfort once again.

Out of nowhere, an angelic figure extended her arm with a textbook in her hand. Our eyes met, and a rush of emotions flooded over me. It was Riee, handing her textbook to me.

My heart jumped a beat as our eyes met, and a rush of joy flooded over me. The familiarity of her presence, the kindness in her eyes—it was like a wave of affection washing over my soul once again.

"No, I can't use it; you can have it," I stammered, my voice betraying the gratitude welling up inside me. But Riee's response was unwavering, her determination evident in her gaze.

"Use it; I already memorized it anyway," she said matter-of-factly, placing her textbook gently on my desk before resting her head on her arms for a nap.

As I reveled in the fluttering of butterflies in my stomach, my eyes inadvertently met Lian's across the room. Tension hung in the air, palpable in his uncertain expression. I quickly looked away, clutching the textbook tighter, feeling unease settling over me.

Suddenly, Lian stood up, his movements purposeful as he approached me, his grip on his textbook almost aggressive. Without a word, he forcefully yanked Riee's textbook from my hands and hurled his textbook at me. The book flew through the air, heading straight for my chest.

Instinctively, I reached out and managed to catch it just in time, my heart racing from the unexpected confrontation. Lian then returned to his seat, the scraping of his chair against the floor seemed to echo through the silence, punctuating the dramatic exchange.

Confusion clouded my thoughts, my eyebrows furrowing like a mountain range as I tried to make sense of Lian's actions. Was he truly a good guy, or was there more to him than met the eye?

The whole classroom watched in silence, a collective gasp frozen on their lips, as the tension between Lian and me played out. Teacher Lu, perhaps sensing the gravity of the situation, hesitated for a moment before regaining her composure.

"Can we begin our lessons now?", her voice held an air of caution as if seeking permission from an unseen force. The silence hung heavy, each student seemingly holding their breath, afraid to provoke any further disturbance.

No one dared to respond, the unspoken dominance of Lian's presence casting a shadow over the room. Teacher Lu took the cue and began her lesson, the normalcy of her words juxtaposed against the underlying tension. And so, with the weight of Lian's influence lingering in the air, the classroom reluctantly returned to its studies.

The only sound that permeated the room was the steady cadence of Teacher Lu's voice, turned pages, and the scraping of chalk, each word a lifeline back to normalcy.

Amidst this backdrop, I found my thoughts drifting, and my gaze was inevitably drawn to Riee. It was a struggle to focus on the lesson when my mind was preoccupied with Riee, who sat just ahead of me. Her presence was a constant distraction, a reminder of the complex emotions I still have.

In an attempt to regain my composure and divert my attention, I turned my focus to the textbook. The room seemed to fade into the background as I turned my attention to the textbook resting in front of me.

Determination flickered within me, driven by the realization that I needed to start from the very beginning. My mind was a blank slate when it came to the subject matter; I had forgotten everything I had once learned.

With a deep breath, I opened the textbook to the first chapter, my eyes scanning the words as I tried to absorb every bit of information. It was like retracing steps in a foggy landscape, each sentence a tentative step forward. The material felt unfamiliar as if I were encountering it for the very first time.

I started from lesson one, my focus unwavering as I read and reread each paragraph. It was a deliberate effort to etch the concepts into my mind and forge connections severed over time. The words on the page guided me through a maze of forgotten knowledge.

As the class neared its end, I found myself almost in sync with the ongoing lesson. From the beginning to the current topic, I familiarized myself with the contents. The mere sight of lesson titles and formulas triggered memories, allowing me to piece together the fragments of my prior education. I even put my understanding to the test, solving problems independently to gauge the accuracy of my recollections.

Lost in my pursuit of relearning, I remained oblivious to the world around me. It took a gentle poke from a classmate beside me to snap me back to reality. "Teacher Lu is calling you", my gaze shifted to the source of the interruption, only to realize that the entire class was now focused on me.

"It seems our new student is occupied with something intriguing," Teacher Lu remarked, her tone both curious and amused. "Care to enlighten us on what has captured your attention?" she inquired further.

I met her gaze, feeling the weight of the classroom's eyes on me. "I was acquainting myself with the content in the book since I recently transferred. I wanted to ensure its alignment with what I've learned before," I responded, my voice steady.

Teacher Lu nodded in understanding. "I see. And have you found any disparities?" she queried.

"Yes, teach" I replied with a nod. "The material is quite consistent."

With a swift motion, Teacher Lu directed her chalk toward the blackboard, marking a particular section. "Then, as a starter, would you mind solving this problem?" she requested, her voice both encouraging and challenging.

A surge of confidence propelled me forward. Without hesitation, I left my seat and moved to the front of the class.

I step onto the podium and stood before the chalkboard, I glanced at the problem presented. It took only a fraction of a second for me to mentally unravel the solution, and with fluid strokes of chalk, I began crafting the steps without pause.

The simplicity of the problem allowed me to swiftly derive the answer, and when I was done, I stepped back, my answer on display.

A smile tugged at Teacher Lu's lips as she nodded in affirmation. "That's correct, Xian," she acknowledged, her voice carrying approval. Her gaze then shifted to encompass the entire class. "It seems we have another promising student among us."

A bashful warmth spread across me at her compliment, briefly lighting up my features.

However, a sudden eruption shattered the brief moment of camaraderie. A voice, commanding and dominant like a roaring tiger, tore through the air.

It was Lian, unapologetically asserting his presence. "Teach, that problem is truly elementary; a middle schooler could breeze through it," he proclaimed, rising to his feet with an air of challenge. "Why don't you allow me to create a problem for our new classmate? One that might prove to be more of a challenge."

His eyes bore into mine in a deliberate attempt to provoke a reaction. But I wasn't one to back down from such a challenge. "Very well, then" I responded coolly, my voice steady and resolute.

Lian's smirk widened as he approached the front, the tension in the room palpable with each step he took. The classroom seemed to hold its breath, every gaze fixed on the impending showdown.

He seized a piece of chalk, the purposeful scrape of it against the board heightening the sense of anticipation.

As the problem began to take shape under Lian's hand, Teacher Lu seemed on the verge of intervening, her concern evident.

However, a subtle flicker of my gaze and a reassuring expression conveyed my willingness to take on the challenge without her intervention. She heavily sighed, arms crossed, her authority temporarily ceded.

The tension swelled as Lian crafted the problem he intended to present to me. The air was thick with rivalry, the unspoken clash of wills charging the atmosphere. Every eye remained fixed on the board, awaiting the challenge that was about to unfold.

With a self-satisfied grin, Lian was done and flicked the chalk into the air, catching it deftly as it descended, his triumphant smirk aimed in my direction.

But, my attempt to replicate his catch met with failure as the chalk slipped from my grasp, landing with an audible thud on the floor. Annoyance flickered across my features, but I opted to let it slide, offering a nonchalant sigh before retrieving the chalk and returning to the front.

As I ascended the makeshift stage once more, my gaze swept the room and landed on Riee, who had awoken to witness the unfolding rivalry. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt like I needed to show Riee something that would make me look good in her eyes.

I cast aside any distractions, directing my entire world toward the chalkboard. Lian's challenge sprawled across it, a problem demanding my complete focus. As I absorbed the problem, its complexity became evident – certainly not your typical high school fare. But I refused to be confined by average expectations; I knew my knowledge was more than sufficient, and I faced it with unwavering confidence.

Amidst the hushed whispers of my classmates, the confusion and uncertainty were palpable.

"What's that problem?", "Is this even in our textbook?", "I've never seen this before", The murmurs echoed through the classroom, a chorus of skepticism and intrigue.

Even Teacher Lu appeared to be taken aback, her furrowed brow a testament to the complexity of the challenge.

However, I refused to let doubt cloud my mind. With a calm demeanor, I assessed the complex problem, acknowledging its advanced nature but refusing to be intimidated.

Without pause, I picked up the chalk and began my assault on the board. Stroke after stroke, I methodically listed out potential solutions, dissecting everything before me without stopping.

The board became a canvas for my calculations, with each mark bringing me closer to unraveling the solutions. With a final, decisive stroke, I drew a line beneath my work, a signal of confidence that I had cracked the problem open.

I stepped back, my gaze shifting to Lian, my expression unwavering. As he took a moment to assess my solutions, a chorus of whispers rippled through the classroom, a mix of disbelief and curiosity.

I knew that my approach had left many of my classmates bewildered, struggling to comprehend the intricate web of numbers and symbols.

I glance toward Teacher Lu revealing her silent contemplation, her pencil dancing across a piece of paper as she worked through the problem herself.

The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as Lian finally turned to face me, a mixture of begrudging respect and annoyance in his eyes.

Then, in a surprising twist, Lian's fist bumped into my chest, his smirk indicating an unexpected approval. "Not bad," he remarked, his words earning me an acknowledgment that felt like a victory.

With a casual saunter, he retreated to his seat, both hands nonchalantly tucked into his pockets. A sense of accomplishment surged within me as if I had tamed the lion and earned his reluctant recognition.

"Waah, he's awesome," a hushed whisper sounded. "It looks like Lian has found his match," another voice chimed in.

"I didn't understand any of it, but if Lian said he's right, then he's right," someone else murmured. The faint hum of admiration and acknowledgment reached my ears, each word a stroke to my ego.

I shifted my gaze toward Teacher Lu, who was still immersed in her calculations. "Teacher Lu, can I go back now?" I ventured, my eagerness to return to my seat palpable.

"Wait a moment, I am almost done." The whole room went silent as we waited for her to finish. Even Teacher Lu couldn't help but smile; her determination was evident.

Finally, she rose from her seat with a triumphant expression. "I'm done!" she announced, and she looked at the board.

Her silent scrutiny soon transformed into a shocked expression that she struggled to conceal. "You're already done?", she said, sensing her disbelief. I couldn't help but awkwardly smile and nod, a mix of pride and modesty coloring my features.

Turning her attention to Lian, Teacher Lu sought his confirmation. "Is this right?" she inquired, to which he simply nodded. As she pivoted back toward me, her curiosity was insatiable. She then compares mine to hers sneakily, her eyes flicking between her paper and the board.

A chuckle escaped her lips, laced with a sense of awkwardness. In a playful act of secrecy, she crumpled her paper as she turned around. "It seems like there are now three geniuses in this class," she mused, her voice carrying across the room. She tries to remain poised and undistracted, and I force myself not to let out a feeling.

As if on cue, a flurry of whispers erupted. "I'm going to be dropped my ranking by one more," a resigned voice sighed.

"Did you see that? He's incredible!" another classmate marveled. "Honestly, I didn't realize he was this good-looking," a girl's voice giggled, a flush rising to her cheeks.

"I can't believe this, another extremely smart and extremely good-looking guy in our class", said a male classmate.

"It's over, I guess there will be no girls left for us," another one replied and both deeply sighs.

Though I was no stranger to praise, it never failed to stir a mixture of appreciation and humility within me. The classroom had transformed into a symphony of admiration. I was used to this since back then, but I can't help but feel bashful about it every time.

Glancing over at Riee, trying to gain her attention. I noticed she was asleep again, a sight that I had grown accustomed to. Even in slumber, she managed to maintain her high marks, a remarkable trait that had been one of the reasons I fell for her in the first place. She was the same as before, she is the Riee Ming I remembered.

"Alright, you can go back to your seat now," Teacher Lu's voice broke through the lingering applause, and I offered a slight bow before returning to my desk.

As I walked back, I locked eyes with Lian once more, but this time, the hostility that had once been there seemed to have dissipated. Kai flashed me a thumbs-up, and I couldn't help but smile sheepishly in response.

With a sense of finality, the math class drew to a close, the energy in the room slowly returning to its usual level.

But just as I was about to exhale a sense of relief, a sharp knock on the door shattered the tranquility. All heads turned toward the source of the sound, revealing Teacher Po standing there with an air of urgency.

"Xian Yu, the counselor wants you in the guidance office," his voice was tense, and his demeanor seemed slightly off. "Now," he added, his gaze flickering across the room before he quickly exited.

The sudden turn of events left me bewildered, and I could feel the curious eyes of my classmates on me once again. In an instant, I had become the center of attention, and the air was thick with unspoken questions and speculation.

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End of Chapter