As soon as Zhao Guodong shouted, the whole class burst into laughter. After all, in those days, just saying a word between a boy and a girl would cause a laugh, let alone Zhao Guodong shouting like that so directly. Zhao Guodong didn’t care and said with a bit of a rogue tone, "What are you laughing at? If I really had something going on with her, I wouldn’t say it in front of the teacher or you guys. I speak with a clear conscience. Ye Ling is from our compound and came from the countryside. I let her sit next to me to look after her." He spoke so righteously that even An Ranguo on the podium was amused, "Alright then, Ye Ling is in your care. Zhao Guodong, you need to improve your own studies too. I’ve seen Ye Ling’s file. Her grades aren’t bad; don’t negatively affect her." An Ranguo’s words triggered another wave of laughter from the students, and under his prompting, Ye Ling walked to the last row and sat next to Zhao Guodong. Seeing Zhao Guodong looking at her, Ye Ling glared at him. This man is more trouble than he’s worth. With this move, she’d inevitably become the subject of conversations for days. As the new girl already drawing attention, Ye Ling didn’t like it. Now, being put in this position by Zhao Guodong, it was impossible not to be talked about. Some classmates found it amusing, but some didn’t look too pleased, particularly Song Mei and her friends. Song Mei sat in the second-to-last row, right in front of Zhao Guodong. After the teacher instructed everyone to study on their own and left, Song Mei turned around to glare at Zhao Guodong, "Can’t you just mind your own business?" "What’s it to you?" Zhao Guodong was indifferent to Song Mei, "Why are you butting in like a dog meddling in things that don’t concern it?" Song Mei snorted coldly, "Can’t be bothered with you." She gave Ye Ling a not-so-friendly look and turned back around. Turning forward, she nudged Ye Qian sitting in front of her, "Ye Qian, during these days you were away, I noted down everything the teacher wanted us to review. Take a look." She raised her voice intentionally, and Ye Ling at the back couldn’t help but laugh. Such childish behavior, but she couldn’t even be bothered to play along. The class resumed their self-study. As for what Ye Qian and Song Mei were saying at the front, Ye Ling paid no attention. She took out her own materials and textbooks. Zhao Guodong, seeing her materials, exclaimed in surprise and reached out to grab them without hesitation. "Why are you reading high school materials?" Zhao Guodong flipped through them a couple of times and, before Ye Ling could reach for them, he tossed them back. This person, just acting on impulse, and not even a bit self-conscious. Ye Ling didn’t raise her eyelids and ignored him. Zhao Guodong kicked Ye Ling’s leg under the table, "Hey, country bumpkin, I’m talking to you." Ye Ling simply opened her book to read. With only days left until the high school entrance exam, even though she knew what would be tested from her past life, she still wanted to study more. Besides, although everyone was self-studying, Ye Ling couldn’t help but notice Liu Rui glancing over. She didn’t interact much with Liu Rui in her past life, but didn’t like her much, knowing she was just as two-faced as Ye Qian. Now watching her, it was unclear what she was planning. Zhao Guodong pulled a face disinterestedly, "Country bumpkin, is this how you treat your benefactor? When Song Mei and her friends teamed up to bully and ridicule you, I stood up for you, but you didn’t even thank me. And today, if I didn’t stand up for you to sit with me, whoever you sit with would hate you. Why are you so ungrateful? Not even a word, just what a country bumpkin." Seeing that she really wasn’t speaking up, Zhao Guodong would just keep nagging. Sighing, Ye Ling put down her book, "Nagging like an old woman." "You..." Zhao Guodong’s eyes widened. Ye Ling nudged her chin, and Zhao Guodong followed the gesture to see Song Mei turning around with a mocking look. Zhao Guodong shouted over, "What are you looking at?" If Song Mei dared to provoke Zhao Guodong at school, it was because she knew well that while kids from the compound might squabble at school, they wouldn’t cause a big fuss but would unite against outsiders. So Song Mei dared to bicker with Zhao Guodong, knowing he’d only glare and not go as far as he might in the compound. Song Mei looked meaningfully at Ye Ling before turning back to Zhao Guodong, "It’s a pity some people you help out don’t appreciate it at all." Sitting in front, Song Mei naturally heard Zhao Guodong’s words and provocatively glanced at Ye Ling. Ye Ling raised her eyebrows slightly, "It’s self-study time, not the time for chit-chat. If you don’t want to study, don’t disturb other classmates." Knowing others were listening, Ye Ling added one last bit, "Selfish." Song Mei bit her lip, wanting to retort, but felt the odd stares around her. Fortunately, she heard Ye Qian calling her from the front, so Song Mei found an excuse, glared at Ye Ling, and turned around. In front, Ye Qian apologized to Song Mei with an apologetic face, "My sister just transferred and is in a bad mood. Please don’t take anything wrong to heart. I’m apologizing on her behalf." "Ye Qian, you’re just too kind." To avoid affecting other students, Song Mei didn’t say much more, "Let’s study for now and talk during the break." Song Qian nodded apologetically before turning back. In the last row, Zhao Guodong watched this scene and sneered, half laying on the desk facing Ye Ling, "Country bumpkin, are you really planning to go to high school?" "If you don’t study, what can you do in the future? Even if you graduate middle school and go work, you’ll just be an ordered-around worker." Ye Ling figured Zhao Guodong wasn’t all that annoying and saw him as someone with a sense of justice. So she thought of advising him. In her past life, she didn’t know what became of Zhao Guodong, but she imagined he probably took the worker’s path. Looking at his attitude, it was clear he wasn’t a good student. Seeing Zhao Guodong dumbfounded, Ye Ling knew he heeded her words, picked up her book, and began reading. Actually, Zhao Guodong was quite pitiful. He grew up without a mother, raised by his grandmother. But speaking of it, he was luckier than her, as his father, fearing he’d suffer, never remarried. Although he grew up without a mother, at least he had a loving father, and that was enough. After Ye Ling finished speaking, Zhao Guodong quieted down and didn’t bother her again until the bell signaled the end of self-study. After class, Song Mei immediately dragged Ye Qian out. Zhao Guodong and a few buddies from the compound also left. Ye Ling continued flipping through her notes in the classroom. There were nearly thirty students in the class, and quite a few like Ye Ling stayed behind to read, so she didn’t stand out. Before the class bell even rang, Zhao Guodong returned, sat down, and kicked Ye Ling’s chair, "Country bumpkin, I thought about what you said, and you’re right. From today on, I’ll review with you. Didn’t the teacher say you’re good at studying? Help me review. If I get in, I’ll take you out for noodles." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)