"Xiaoyu, you can actually understand all that?" Qian Zhijun asked doubtfully. Surely, if he couldn't understand it, the problem must be with the book, not him!
Rong Xingyu nodded seriously.
Qian Zhijun was stunned again. Wasn't his deskmate the one who always skipped classes or fell asleep in them? How was he suddenly learning so fast?
And when he remembered Rong Xingyu's last test scores all of them were marked in bright red.
Qian Zhijun's doubts grew even stronger.
There's no way! Just because you look good doesn't mean you can brag like that!
But Qian Zhijun didn't know that the boy sitting in front of him was no longer the same Rong Xingyu from before.
In his past life, Rong Xingyu had dropped out of school early because of poverty, but he had never given up on learning.
Near his home, there was an old man who ran a second hand book stall. The man often lent books to him. Rong Xingyu would study them in the kitchen during his short breaks from work, never wasting a single day.
During the coldest winters, he would sell roasted sweet potatoes outside a store while rubbing his hands and stomping his feet for warmth while listening to the radio inside.
He used to read English words out loud in his heart and even the words seemed to carry the sweet smell of roasted sweet potatoes.
But even Qian Zhijun, who was on good terms with Rong Xingyu, thought he was joking. The other classmates didn't take him seriously at all.
"No way—hey, hey, I just saw Rong Xingyu reading a book in the classroom!" a male student said in an exaggerated whisper to his friend.
The others laughed. "You're kidding, right? That useless young master? Can he even understand what he's reading?"
After speaking, they suddenly realized something, Rong Xingyu was no longer the arrogant and spoiled young master who used to act like he owned the world.
An awkward silence fell among them.
Finally, one student hesitated and said, "…Do you think he's trying to imitate Rong Zhihao?"
The others paused: "…"
That… actually made sense.
After all, Rong Zhihao had been specially admitted to the school because of his excellent grades. Since enrollment, he had always held the position of top student in the entire grade.
Their gazes subconsciously shifted toward Rong Zhihao, who was sitting nearby.
He sat gracefully while holding a book in his arms. He was dressed in fine and expensive clothes which completely different from his former shabby appearance.
When Rong Zhihao overheard their conversation, his thoughts were no different from theirs. He also found it disgusting that Rong Xingyu was trying to copy him. But outwardly, he frowned slightly and said softly, "Don't say that about Rong Xingyu. He's quite pitiful."
Rong Zhihao's gaze swept across their faces and all of them look familiar.
These were the same people who used to cling to Rong Xingyu every day, flattering him and acting loyal. Now, they were desperate to distance themselves from him and show devotion to the real young master of the Rong family.