Chapter 87: My Grades Are Truly Remarkable

"Ah?" Ruan Cha was puzzled by Gu Zhenzhi’s words. She could sense a hint of gritted teeth behind them, but she didn’t quite grasp what he meant.

"My health is fine."

"Are you sure?" Ruan Cha’s suspicious gaze landed on him, and when she met Gu Zhenzhi’s deep, shadowy eyes, she immediately fell silent.

Fine, if you’re fine, you’re fine. But why do you have to look at me like that? It’s terrifying!

After Gu Zhenzhi’s unexpected incident, the livestream couldn’t continue, and the next session was scheduled for a week later. Ruan Cha had to return to school and resume her normal classes.

The post about Ruan Cha and Gu Jiayan, which she had boldly shared, had set off a storm of public opinion online. So much so, that when Ruan Cha returned to school on Monday, she became the thorn in the side of every girl on campus.

As she approached her classroom, backpack slung over her shoulder, she saw several girls crowding at the door, craning their necks to peer inside. "Which one is Ruan Cha? I don’t see her!"

"My brother said she sits next to Shen Susu—it’s that empty seat. Hasn’t she arrived yet?"

"A student like her, how could she ever show up early? If she’s not just on time, she’s probably late as usual!"

...

Ruan Cha coughed calmly. "Ladies, if your eyes were on the backs of your heads, you’d be able to see me now."

Her voice startled the girls, making them flinch. Then, one by one, they turned around. When they saw the delicate features and rosy, fair skin of the girl before them, the group scattered like startled birds.

After they left, and as Ruan Cha was about to enter the classroom, she heard someone calling her from behind.

"Ruan Cha, come to the office for a moment," Shen Jie called.

Turning, Ruan Cha saw Shen Jie holding an old-fashioned tea mug, his face etched with worry as if he’d aged several years overnight.

"Alright."

She walked to her desk, set down her backpack, and headed to the office.

Inside, Shen Jie sighed for the seventeenth time before Ruan Cha finally spoke up, unable to hold back. "Mr. Shen, if you have something to say, please say it. Traditional medicine teaches that excessive sorrow injures the lungs. Too much grief or sadness can lead to stagnant lung qi, or even deplete one’s essence, causing fatigue, pallor, and shortness of breath."

Shen Jie, in the midst of sipping his tea, promptly sprayed it all over his leg.

"Ruan Cha, what on earth...! You—!"

If not for his dignity, Shen Jie would have knelt before her. "Can’t you give your teacher a break? This situation has blown up. It’s not just our school anymore—anyone who’s been online knows about you and Gu Jiayan’s grades showdown!"

At this, a glimmer of desperate hope flickered in Shen Jie’s eyes. "Ruan Cha, look me in the eyes and tell me your social media was hacked, wasn’t it? And what you said in the livestream, you were joking, right?"

His pleading gaze locked onto her, hoping against hope she would nod.

But Ruan Cha answered with calm composure, "No, it’s all true."

Shen Jie: "..."

He nearly choked on his own blood.

On the verge of tears, Shen Jie wailed, "Ruan Cha, Cha Cha, little Cha, tell your teacher—what are you really thinking? Was it because I gave you that dream last time? Did I do too good a job, so now you actually believe your grades are outstanding?"

Ruan Cha’s eyes met Shen Jie’s trembling lips, her demeanor as steady as ever. "Mr. Shen, my grades truly are good. Don’t worry."

Shen Jie: "..."