The first class of the afternoon arrived as scheduled.
Old Wang walked into the classroom with a dark, terrifying expression on his face. Standing in the middle of the podium, he swept his gaze across everyone without a single trace of emotion.
"If anyone doesn't want to go to college or take the college entrance examination, you can pack your things and go home right now. Don't stay here and drag everyone else down."
"The new classmate transferred to Class 2 only a few days ago, and she's already subjected to this kind of malicious prank and power play. Do you all think this makes you look so glorious and impressive?"
"Who pulled this stunt at noon? I expect you to step forward on your own."
Old Wang's stern voice boomed through the classroom like a sudden thunderclap in a clear sky. Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to look up at him.
Even Chen Zhigang trembled violently inside, wishing he could crawl under his desk; how could he possibly confess on his own accord?
"Chen Zhigang!"
"Here."
At Old Wang's sudden shout, Chen Zhigang stood up as if reacting to a reflex.
Li Chen spun a ballpoint pen between his fingers, watching with keen interest. Kicking up a fuss at a time like this—given Old Wang's temperament, there was no way he would just let it slide.
Sure enough.
"Judging by your age, you're an adult now. How can you do something so childish and ridiculous?"
"A petty prank not only made Li Chen and the new classmate lose all face, but it also gave our Class 2 a vicious slap in the face!"
"You don't look like high school seniors at all. There are plenty of kids in District 7 whose families are richer than yours; have any of them behaved as recklessly as you?"
"If you walk out into society acting like this, don't ever say you were a student of mine."
"Who else was involved in this? Step forward together!"
Under Old Wang's intimidating pressure, three more boys stood up. They were all rebellious troublemakers with a bad reputation in the class—Chen Zhigang's little lackeys.
"Very good! A mastermind and accomplices."
Old Wang wasn't surprised. He looked at Chen Zhigang and the others, waving a hand. "None of you need to listen to this class. Go stand outside in the hallway and reflect on yourselves, and have your parents come to the school tomorrow morning."
The four of them walked out of the classroom without a word, their faces drooping miserably.
As for the rest of the classmates, they sat up straight, terrified that Old Wang might dredge up old grievances.
"Li Chen, do you want to go home and change into a new set of clothes?" Old Wang's stern gaze landed on Li Chen.
"Thank you, Teacher Wang, I've already changed."
Old Wang nodded and said nothing more.
"Let's start the class. Everyone take out your textbooks and test papers. Today we're going over the difficult and easily mistyped questions."
Li Chen expertly placed his test paper onto Gu Xirou's desk. This time, there were significantly fewer red crosses on it.
"Let's look at it together." Gu Xirou spread out the test paper between their desks, shifting her body a little closer to Li Chen.
"Alright." Surrounded by the faint, lingering fragrance drifting from her, Li Chen couldn't bring himself to use the excuse he'd used last time. The natural scent on Gu Xirou was truly wonderful.
Old Wang had great patience, droning on continuously from the podium while the rustling sound of note-taking below never stopped.
Teachers and students working together with one heart to recreate the myth of District 7.
After listening for a while, Li Chen's thoughts drifted away. The college entrance exam was important, but making money was even more important!
Even though he was a transmigrator with advantages no one else in the world possessed, he knew that any business venture carried risks, let alone picking up leaked treasures among fake antiques.
What if there was no golden ox inside that iron ox?
And even if there was, where would he get the starting capital?
The meager three hundred odd yuan he had managed to save up was definitely not enough.
Judging by the current situation, taking on a part-time job to make money wasn't very realistic. The only viable path was to borrow from someone to tide himself over first.
Yet borrowing money was the trickiest problem in the world; unless it was an absolute last resort, he really didn't want to open his mouth to ask.
Damn it! Even if he wanted to borrow money, who could he ask?
Kang Xiaoqiang had basically contributed all his pocket money to internet cafe games. It might be fine to squeeze eighty or a hundred yuan out of him, but several hundred or a thousand yuan would probably require sending him abroad to have a kidney harvested.
As for the other classmates...
That was just wishful thinking. Given his presence in the class, the moment he opened his mouth, everyone would probably run away.
Fang Qi and Shen Qinglan did have some money, but he couldn't swallow his pride to ask them.
"What are you thinking about?"
Gu Xirou seemed to have noticed Li Chen's absent-minded state. Her fair, slender hand quietly reached across, placing a written slip of paper right before his eyes.
Lost deep in thought, Li Chen saw the note and his eyes instantly lit up. Wasn't the solution right here in front of him?
Turning his head slightly, he looked at Gu Xirou's fair profile, tinged with a faint pink. The words on the tip of his tongue made him hesitate once more.
Although, um... she really was a very good candidate to borrow money from.
Not only was she well-off, but she also seemed to treat him quite nicely; she should be pretty reliable, right?
Besides, he would pay her back, wouldn't he?
After giving himself a mental pep talk, Li Chen picked up his pen and wrote his request to borrow money right below Gu Xirou's handwriting.
Gu Xirou gently picked up the note and read the line: "Can I borrow some money from you? It doesn't need to be much, one or two thousand yuan is fine."
To be honest, Li Chen's heart was still hammering anxiously. After all, the two of them had only known each other for a few days.
Those few short seconds felt like pure torment.
Living through two lifetimes, this was the first time he experienced the complex psychological struggle of having to ask someone for a loan.
Gu Xirou glanced at Li Chen in puzzlement, then quickly scribbled a reply on the paper: "I don't have enough on me right now. Can I give it to you tomorrow?"
Li Chen took back the note, his heart stirring with excitement as he read the words, though he quickly fell silent.
Gu Xirou was genuinely kind to him. This sum of money was equivalent to an ordinary person's monthly salary, yet she agreed without the slightest hesitation, not even asking what he needed it for.
"Thank you! I'll pay you back very soon, I promise I won't trick you."
Li Chen finished writing his reply, handed the note back, and looked at her with an earnest gaze.
"No need to rush. I don't really spend much money anyway."
Gu Xirou smiled obediently, a delightful warmth shining in her clear eyes.
Li Chen didn't pass the note back again. He just felt that borrowing this money had been a bit too easy, even giving him the illusion of living off a woman.
With the problem of capital resolved, Li Chen's mood improved drastically. Gu Xirou gave him a feeling he had never experienced before.
So this was what it felt like to be liked by someone...
His little seatmate listened to the class very attentively, taking detailed notes on much of the material Old Wang explained. She also helped Li Chen write down the correct answers for the missed questions on his test paper.
The admission score for Modu University was extremely high. Saying he would just "do his best" was utter nonsense; even someone like Li Chen, who had already taken the college entrance examination once, would risk falling flat on his face if he didn't give it everything he had.
After all, while the exam questions from his past life weren't the hardest in history, they were certainly no walk in the park.