Ye Chen tucked Xia Yingluo's hand into his down jacket.
Instantly, Xia Yingluo felt a warm current flow through her palm.
She was so nervous she glanced around like a thief.
Only when she saw that no one had noticed did she breathe a sigh of relief.
"Warm?" Ye Chen asked.
Xia Yingluo nodded, a happy little smile blooming on her face.
"Ye Chen, my hands are cold too."
At that moment, Li Sitong's voice drifted over from the side.
The others might have missed the tiny gestures, but Li Sitong had seen everything clearly.
Recalling what Yu Weiwei had said, she felt a prickle of unease.
Li Sitong looked at Ye Chen. She had already decided that if he refused, she would never speak to this guy again.
Ye Chen glanced at Li Sitong, nodded, caught her little hand and tucked it into his jacket as well… Li Sitong's anxious heart settled at once.
So Ye Chen still cares about me.
Actually, Ye Chen could tell: Xia Yingluo's hand really was icy, but Li Sitong's was already warm.
Heh—women.
After a while, Ye Chen suddenly felt the two girls' hands start roaming mischievously inside his clothes.
This was the first time Li Sitong had slipped her hand into a boy's jacket, and curiosity got the better of her.
Her little fingers couldn't help exploring upward.
Very soon, she brushed the firm ridges of Ye Chen's abs.
Wow—Ye Chen is so ripped.
Seeing Li Sitong's hand wandering, Xia Yingluo wouldn't be outdone; her own small hand began to roam over Ye Chen as well.
At first she moved only a tiny bit higher, but when Ye Chen didn't react, she grew bolder.
The two girls' hands wandered across Ye Chen's body; even with an autumn layer between them, to Ye Chen it felt like two little ants tickling him.
"Ye Chen, your abs are so firm!" Li Sitong whispered.
"Mm, like stone blocks," Xia Yingluo added.
As if they'd planned it, they even gave a synchronized pinch.
Ye Chen: "…"
He felt that even the well-behaved Xia Yingluo was being led astray by Li Sitong.
Still, being petted by two girls at once felt absolutely amazing.
Just as the trio were enjoying themselves, a cough from Old Wang rang out at the lectern.
The three looked up to find Old Wang's bovine eyes glaring at them.
"Study hard—don't think I can't see your little tricks," Old Wang said coldly.
The girls' faces flushed; they quickly pulled their hands back and buried themselves in their papers.
Ye Chen lifted his head and met Old Wang's death-stare aimed straight at him.
So he could see after all.
Ye Chen felt a twinge of embarrassment.
From his angle, he'd thought Old Wang couldn't spot their tiny movements.
He didn't realize that, seated on the podium, Old Wang could see every student's every move.
Especially Ye Chen, Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo sitting right in the front row under his personal spotlight.
He'd noticed the moment Ye Chen tucked Xia Yingluo's red, frozen hand into his jacket.
After all, her hand had been bright-red with cold—impossible to miss.
Students helping each other could be excused.
But moments later Li Sitong's little hand had slipped in too, and Old Wang found it hard to stomach.
Particularly when the two girls' hands began exploring inside Ye Chen's jacket—Old Wang reached his limit.
What do you think this place is?
And what do you take me for?
Old Wang felt he'd been force-fed a bellyful of dog food.
Why was their youth so blissful? Thinking of his own, Old Wang was overcome with quiet sorrow.
By now Old Wang was beginning to regret everything.
Back then he'd tried to be clever, seating Ye Chen, Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo together—and right in the front row.
He'd thought it would keep Ye Chen under control.
Other students couldn't see their antics, but Old Wang had a front-row view of the entire show.
He was the only one forced to wolf down dog food—and he was stuffed full.
What the hell was I thinking, putting the three of them together?
And why did I park them right under my nose—just to feast on dog food?
And there I was, secretly smug, praising myself: ginger gets spicier with age.
Now the slap in the face had landed.
Old Wang glanced at Li Sitong sneaking peeks at Ye Chen while doing problems, and at Xia Yingluo with her flushed cheeks.
Li Sitong was one thing—but now even Yingluo had been corrupted; outrageous, simply outrageous.
Old Wang suddenly realized he'd committed a colossal blunder.
The bell rang for the end of class.
Old Wang shot Ye Chen a look: "Come with me to the Office."
Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo watched Ye Chen in worry.
But Ye Chen remained unruffled, giving them a reassuring glance.
In the Office, Old Wang stared at Ye Chen, then said, "Ye Chen, the second Mock Exam is coming up."
Ye Chen replied, "Sir, I remember our deal: I'll lock down the top three places in the Whole School for you."
"I'm giving you your chance. If Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo still do poorly, don't blame me."
Ye Chen smiled faintly: "Rest assured, Teacher Wang—I won't let you down."
"Good. We'll see the final result."
Ye Chen left the Office just as a middle-aged man walked in, lesson plans under his arm.
"Old Wang, that student was Ye Chen, right?"
"Yes—first in the Whole School this time, perfect scores in everything except Chinese."
Old Wang's face was full of pride as he looked at the man.
The speaker was Chen Tao, Class 2's homeroom teacher.
The two had been classmates at teachers college—and constant rivals.
After graduation they'd ended up at the same school, both teaching the graduating class.
These years they'd kept competing, and Old Wang had always been a step behind.
This year they were contenders for Outstanding Class-Head.
Originally Wang Chao had had no chance—their classes' average scores differed by more than ten points.
But Ye Chen's appearance gave Wang Chao hope.
It was a once-in-a-blue-moon chance to defeat his rival and win Outstanding Class-Head.
Hearing Wang Chao's words, Chen Tao's face darkened.
"Lucky you—but one Ye Chen proves nothing. Second and third places are both in my class," he said sourly.
Wang Chao snorted: "Is that so? Next Mock Exam, the top three might all be from Class Five."
By now most of the teachers had returned.
Hearing Wang Chao's declaration, several teachers chuckled.
"Teacher Wang, hogging the top three won't be that easy."
"Right—Su Xiaonuan and Shen Wei from Class 2 have rock-solid scores."
Wang Chao said nothing; he had a hunch Ye Chen might really help him work a miracle.
If Class Five swept the top three in the Mock Exam, Outstanding Class-Head would be in the bag.