Chapter 7: Change Starts With a Hairstyle
After the gambling agreement was written to prevent Deng Xianbing from going back on his word, Zhang Chen quickly left the office with Nan Xingwan.
For Zhang Chen, the purpose of extending the suspension until after the joint examination had already been achieved.
He just didn't want to see Nan Xingwan sad.
As for the exam, even if he wasn't a top student, what if he failed? It didn't matter.
Moreover, he couldn't possibly fail.
With his college entrance examination top scorer's standard, taking such a small-scale test was like a max-level, fully geared character returning to the Novice Village to fight small monsters...
He'd instantly defeat them, what was there to say?
So he naturally wasn't worried about the joint examination a week later.
But Nan Xingwan didn't see it that way. From the moment they left the office, she followed Zhang Chen with a worried expression.
Although Zhang Chen's actions meant he wouldn't be suspended or expelled for the remaining week, what about the joint examination a week later?
With Zhang Chen's personality, he would definitely still be expelled!
Now that an agreement was written, he wouldn't even be able to go back on his word!
Nan Xingwan walked silently behind Zhang Chen, with many things she wanted to say, but couldn't bring herself to. Zhang Chen had always disliked her meddling.
It wasn't until they returned to the classroom that she watched Zhang Chen pack his schoolbag.
The classmates in the class curiously glanced at Zhang Chen, then saw Nan Xingwan's familiar figure outside the classroom.
Zhang Chen's deskmate, the Fat Man , curiously asked, "Chen Ge? Leaving again?"
First High School had two evening self-study sessions. The first ended at 8 PM, and the second didn't end until 9:30 PM. At this time, it was only after the first evening self-study session, so they should have had another session.
But he had already been called to see his "parents," so the remaining session was naturally optional.
Zhang Chen glared at Duan Chenxu, annoyed. Although the book didn't describe these minor characters much, Zhang Chen could genuinely feel that these people were real.
This fatty, Duan Chenxu, and Zhang Chen had a relationship of willing partners in crime, a pair of close friends.
"Then if you leave, what about Su Yu?" Duan Chenxu watched Zhang Chen pack his schoolbag, and was even taking books. "Why are you taking books!?"
The skinny monkey, Li Junhao, also came over and quietly asked, "Chen Ge, what did Lao Deng say?"
Zhang Chen glanced at the skinny monkey, and found his hairstyle quite hard to bear, but recalling what he saw of himself in the restroom, the smile in his heart was ultimately suppressed.
His own yellow hair wasn't much better.
Although these 'spiritual young men' might seem a bit wayward, it didn't mean they were necessarily bad people.
"It's nothing," Zhang Chen shook his head and said with a light chuckle.
"Was it her who complained? I'll freaking--!" Li Junhao said coldly, glaring fiercely at Bai Xiruo, who had also returned from the office not long ago and was sitting in front.
"Tsk!" Hearing this, Zhang Chen clicked his tongue, then realized that if he didn't remind them, these guys might still bully her after evening self-study.
"It has nothing to do with her, it wasn't her," Zhang Chen said in a warning tone. "Don't bully her, I'm telling you, my life is in her hands now. If she gets bullied, I'm done for."
"You keep a good eye on her for me, and don't let anyone else bully her!"
"Huh?" Li Junhao's brain almost couldn't process it. "Wh-what do you mean?"
When he gathered everyone to bully Bai Xiruo before, Zhang Chen didn't say that. He even said something about being expelled being fine, and that he'd be free after being expelled...
How did it become that his life was in Bai Xiruo's hands now? And he had to watch over her and not let others bully her...
Wasn't that... protecting her?
Did she pay protection fees to be protected!?
"Why are you asking so many questions? Just do as I say, understand!" Zhang Chen said sternly, without much explanation. "If I see her with even a scratch tomorrow... or if I hear anyone bullying..."
"Okay, Chen Ge, don't worry." Li Junhao listened, and seeing Zhang Chen's serious expression, he wisely didn't ask any more questions. He just nodded and then asked the same question as Duan Chenxu.
"Then Fish Sister tonight?"
Zhang Chen paused, then looked at Su Yu in the front row. Su Yu was talking to her deskmate, and her peripheral vision could catch Zhang Chen's position.
In the original book, Zhang Chen and a few of his followers would escort Su Yu home every night, come rain or shine.
Even if they couldn't do it themselves, they would ask Li Junhao and others to help, calling it "escort."
However, this behavior was not only sycophantic but also disgusted Su Yu.
What kind of high school girl always had a group of yellow-haired boys following her around!?
So...
The Zhang Chen now was not the Zhang Chen then.
"Don't send her home anymore," Zhang Chen said seriously.
As his words fell, Li Junhao and Duan Chenxu both stared, unblinking.
They looked at each other: "Huh? Not sending her? Is that true or false?"
Zhang Chen patted Li Junhao's shoulder, picked up his schoolbag, not wanting Nan Xingwan to wait too long outside: "I'm leaving. Do as I say, okay?"
Then he turned to look at Duan Chenxu again. He didn't know if it was an instinctive habit of the original body after crossing over or for some other reason, but looking at Duan Chenxu, he felt a voice urging him.
Hit him...
So he extended his fist and forcefully punched Duan Chenxu's fleshy arm.
Duang~
Zhang Chen: "You're the one who talks too much!"
"Ah... it's broken..." Duan Chenxu helplessly showed a pained expression on his left shoulder...
Even villains in books can have friends like close buddies in reality...
Amidst the wails of the fatty Duan Chenxu, Zhang Chen walked out of the classroom.
Su Yu, who caught a glimpse of Zhang Chen leaving the classroom, then turned her head to look at the back door. This time, Zhang Chen didn't come to say goodbye to her.
You know, as soon as evening self-study was about to end, Zhang Chen would start writing her small notes, or come to her desk to talk to her while she packed her schoolbag.
Even if she talked to her deskmate and ignored him, he would still do it.
This time, she was still casually chatting with her deskmate, just waiting for him to come and talk to her. This time, because of Bai Xiruo's matter, she was somewhat involved, and she was willing to talk to him.
She also wanted to know what he said in the office.
But since Zhang Chen didn't take this opportunity, then so be it. He himself missed the chance to get closer to her.
Thinking about it carefully, the homeroom teacher didn't look for her, so Zhang Chen probably didn't betray her.
Su Yu turned back, then glanced at Bai Xiruo, who was diligently doing her homework, her eyes unreadable...
On the other side.
Zhang Chen, who had left school and was walking on the previous street, breathed in the air of freedom.
It must be said, the air outside the campus felt fresher.
At this moment, Nan Xingwan could no longer hold back and asked anxiously, "What about your joint examination next week?"
Zhang Chen took a deep breath, shrugged, and met the eyes of Nan Xingwan, whose brows hadn't unfurrowed since leaving the office.
Just like her name, her eyes were like stars in the night, even when frowning and looking unhappy, her eyes were still bright and beautiful.
He really didn't understand why the original body would like Su Yu when he had such a beautiful childhood friend.
If it were him with such a... ahem...
Not knowing what his current relationship with Nan Xingwan was, or if they were already on the verge of a breakup, Zhang Chen didn't directly answer Nan Xingwan's question. Instead, he looked at a barbershop by the roadside and turned to ask Nan Xingwan:
"How about I get a new hairstyle?"
Nan Xingwan looked suspicious.
The joint examination was next week. With his current grades, if he didn't meet the teacher's requirements in the joint examination, he would really be expelled!
How could he not be anxious at all!
Zhang Chen chuckled at her reaction, rubbed his yellow long hair, and pretended to be conflicted:
"You have good taste, help me pick one."
......
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