Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Xi Siyan had been delayed on the road for quite some time.

The reason was that he encountered an unexpected inspection by people from the Education Bureau right after leaving the office building.

A group of school leaders accompanied the inspectors as they walked and talked.

When the topic turned to faculty strength and campus environment, the leader responsible for attracting investments in the logistics department immediately stepped forward and said, "Our Sui City High School was fortunate enough to receive funding last year for campus renovations and faculty expansion. As a key high school in Sui City, our annual admission rates and enrollment capabilities have consistently increased year after year."

The Education Bureau officials responded with an official tone, "It's fortunate to have such strong social support for education. Our task is to nurture every student well, not just focusing on academic performance but also ensuring their all-around development in morality, intelligence, physical fitness, and aesthetics."

"That's right," the surrounding people agreed.

As they spoke, someone noticed Xi Siyan.

Seeing who it was, the school leaders couldn't hide their smiles.

In the end, it was the head of the second-year grade, Lai Xianfu, who waved and introduced him to the Education Bureau officials, "It's quite coincidental. This student is one of the most important faces of our school. He's in the experimental class of the second year, with top-notch grades and exceptional abilities in all aspects."

Seeing so many leaders, the young man, who looked like a scene from the campus, showed no signs of nervousness. He greeted them and explained why he was still outside when classes were already in session.

The leading official from the Education Bureau listened to his assistant whisper something, then looked at him without the initial formality and official demeanor, smiling kindly, "Is this the child from the Xi family?"

"Yes, yes," the school officials replied, "The two new teaching buildings we built last year were also thanks to the Xi family's connections. This child is very low-key."

The Education Bureau official nodded, "That's good."

Then, almost casually, he added, "Last year, when I met Jian Yu, he mentioned having a nephew studying here, but didn't say he was so handsome."

Xi Siyan concealed a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Maintaining a polite demeanor, he responded to the deliberate attempt to establish familiarity, "My second uncle often mentions that most people in the education system are dedicated individuals driven by their beliefs, so he has always strongly supported education and worked deeply in the field."

In reality, his second uncle, Xi Jian Yu, who was considered the most frivolous in the family, was a troublemaker during his school days. Despite graduating from a prestigious university with a smart mind, he had no interest in politics or business. His involvement in education was somewhat accidental.

When he donated buildings to the school in the family's name, he sat on the sofa at home and said, "Those old men at the Education Bureau are the most rigid and biased. They talk about righteousness but are corrupt inside. Ah Yan, our family has money; why do you need to be a campus star? The Xi family is enough for you to strut around in school."

He received a slap from Grandmother Xi.

Grandmother Xi adored this grandson and scolded her son, "Why don't you teach him good things? You only teach him those disgraceful behaviors! Ah Yan is such a good child, obedient and considerate since childhood."

Xi Jian Yu collapsed on the spot, rolling his eyes, "Grandma, your eyesight is really failing. He's obedient and considerate? He's black-hearted..."

The frivolous second uncle began recounting his nephew's misdeeds.

From accidentally spilling ink on Grandfather Xi's writing stone at three years old and framing his father, causing the eldest Xi to nearly get beaten by the grandfather even in his thirties, to hiding love letters in boxes at thirteen or fourteen, which were maliciously revealed during the holidays, turning into a box full of trophies and becoming the target of everyone's anger.

Xi Jian Yu didn't forget to shout loudly, "Major actions reveal character, minor ones show true nature. Our little smiling Buddha is steeped in ink. He's not a good kid, following Grandfather Xi!"

Despite this, Xi Siyan still maintained his second uncle's dignity in public.

Not in vain, they were family.

One of the school leaders suggested, "Since we're here, why don't we go see the experimental class?"

The suggestion was unanimously agreed upon.

One of the leaders asked, "Siyan, what subject are you taking this period?"

"Chinese," Xi Siyan led the way, introducing, "Mr. Jiang is a seasoned teacher with extensive knowledge. His teaching style is humorous and engaging, and the students love him."

The school leaders echoed, "That's right. I've heard Mr. Jiang's lectures, and the students are very cooperative. Especially in this experimental class, where the students are self-motivated and excel academically, the learning atmosphere is excellent. You'll see..."

The school leader standing at the back door of the classroom suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

For no other reason than the lazy figure standing in the back row, looking slightly drowsy, who had a handsome face but said something that made the school leader wish he could sew his mouth shut.

He said, "Sorry, teacher, your recitation is truly sleep-inducing. Should I go stand outside the classroom instead?"

After saying this, Chen Mo felt the sudden silence around him.

He blinked his heavy eyelids and followed the gaze of the majority of the students, glancing over.

The school leader's face turned green.

Lai Xianfu wore an expression of disbelief.

And there was someone, seemingly amused by the comical scene, who covered their nose with the back of their hand to hide a laugh... a certain class president.

"Chen Mo!" Finally, it was Lai Xianfu who spoke, "Come out."

Chen Mo nonchalantly moved his chair and calmly walked out.

The other leaders quickly took the Education Bureau officials elsewhere, leaving only the stern grade head, Chen Mo, and Xi Siyan, who hadn't entered the room yet.

Lai Xianfu didn't start by scolding him but tried to appeal to his emotions, "Chen Mo, did you not rest well last night?"

"I slept fine, Headmaster," Chen Mo glanced at the person standing beside him, then looked away, not wanting to provoke Lai Xianfu, "I've been feeling inexplicably sleepy lately. Maybe I have narcolepsy."

"Don't be flippant!" Lai Xianfu hit him on the head with a rolled-up paper, "Answer me properly."

Chen Mo rubbed his head and sighed, "Alright, I admit it. The Yang family paid to get me in here, and I can't keep up with the pace of the experimental class. I don't understand the lessons. Can I switch to another class?"

"No," Lai Xianfu immediately refused, genuinely angry, "I know people in the school have been saying unpleasant things, but I've seen your past records, and they weren't bad."

Chen Mo laughed bitterly, "Don't tell me you don't know the level of my previous high school? Forget getting into the experimental class, even placing me in a regular class would be a miracle if I managed to stay in the middle."

In his previous life, he had never been the top scholar.

The price of staying in the experimental class was countless nights burning the midnight oil, piles of test papers that could bury him. Although he ultimately failed the college entrance exam due to certain reasons and missed out on his desired university, those days were real.

He hadn't forgotten everything he learned.

However, he wasn't particularly interested in starting over and vowing to achieve glory again with this knowledge.

"It's not like that," Xi Siyan suddenly spoke from beside him.

Chen Mo was taken aback, not expecting him to speak, and looked over, "What do you mean by 'not like that'?"

"Your grades aren't so bad that you'd be average in a regular class," Xi Siyan said, hands in his pockets, "I've seen your entrance exam results; you can still reach the tail end of the experimental class."

Chen Mo: "Haven't you heard the saying, 'Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix?'"

"Do you really want to be the head of a chicken?" Xi Siyan asked, "Let me remind you, even if you go to a regular class, openly sleeping through classes is still a pipe dream."

Director Lai nodded immediately, "Chen Mo, don't give up on yourself. I'll find a way to handle this."

Chen Mo wanted to say, how was he giving up on himself?

He just disliked the current atmosphere of the experimental class; having Yang Shule around was already unbearable enough. He now had a substantial amount of money and had even entrusted someone to invest for him, bypassing the Yang family.

After high school, he planned to cut all financial ties with the Yang family and attend a decent university, even if it wasn't the best. Did he have to abandon himself just because he accidentally took a nap?

Looking at the relaxed guy nearby.

What was going on with him?

Being a class president suddenly made him care about classmates?

By the third period physics class, Chen Mo finally understood what Director Lai meant by "I'll handle it."

As soon as the homeroom teacher Xiang Shenglong entered the classroom, he scanned the room and said, "Xi Siyan, move next to Chen Mo."

Everyone: "..."

Xi Siyan had a different point, "Why can't he move here?"

"Are you blocking the door or something?" Xiang Shenglong said, "You two are the left and right protectors of the experimental class. Chen Mo has only been here for a short time, so as class president, you should help him with his studies."

The class started whispering again.

Xiang Shenglong shouted, "Quiet!"

Class began.

Throughout the entire period, Chen Mo didn't sleep but did take some notes.

His physics grades had always been good, partly due to the unique teaching style of this homeroom teacher.

When class ended, the classroom became noisy again.

Many people looked towards the corner where Xi Siyan was packing up his desk.

Chen Mo felt an especially intense gaze and knew who it was without guessing. Watching the person carry a desk to his side, Chen Mo sat there, "Are you deliberately getting back at me?"

Xi Siyan placed the desk down and organized his books, indifferent, "What do you have that's worth my revenge?"

Chen Mo nodded forward.

Xi Siyan followed his gaze and raised an eyebrow.

"Yang Shule?"

"What else?"

Xi Siyan paused his actions, looking down at him, "You've asked me this twice. Give me a reason."

Chen Mo also remembered getting into his car that Friday night.

At this moment, he didn't even bother explaining, "With our relationship, isn't that reason enough?"

Xi Siyan seemed to genuinely think about it before understanding.

He first laughed.

"Do you think I like him?"

Fortunately, it was during break, and the class was noisy. The front rows had gone to the restroom, probably no one heard.

Chen Mo was still surprised by his frankness, looking him up and down, "Class President Xi is quite bold, talking about liking someone so casually."

Xi Siyan gave a derisive laugh, eyes cold, "Who told you I like guys?"

This time, it was Chen Mo's turn to be stunned. In his memory, during high school, whenever he saw Xi Siyan, Yang Shule was always with him. At home, Yang Shule constantly mentioned Xi Siyan, and their parents supported them spending more time together to maintain a good relationship.

Chen Mo recalled that seeing Yang Shule confess to Xi Siyan happened in the second semester of sophomore year, not now.

Although they hadn't officially acknowledged it, it wasn't like he didn't know his own preferences, right?

Chen Mo remembered the rumors about him coming out years later.

Was this guy still deep in the closet?

"Brother Yan." Coincidentally, one of Xi Siyan's close friends, Qi Lin, who later became famous in Sui City's gay scene, walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder, "Nice spot, though not as hidden as before."

Xi Siyan subtly removed his arm, "It's okay."

He turned his head to meet Chen Mo's gaze.

Xi Siyan's eyes showed a dangerous glint. "I know what you're thinking. I advise you not to."

Qi Lin was confused. "What not to think? What are you two talking about? By the way, I came to tell you we're short one person." Seeing Chen Mo, he said, "Hey, Chen Mo, right? Your height is pretty good. Want to play ball at noon?"

"Not interested."

"Huh? Why not?"

Chen Mo smiled nonchalantly. "Afraid of casting a shadow over the other team."

"Damn! That’s cocky." Qi Lin got excited.

Chen Mo pulled out the book for the next class, instantly dampening that excitement: "No time at noon, moving dorms."