Chapter 133: Here to Provoke Us

"Chai Yuan." Upon hearing the words "Xiao Lin, I want to challenge you" while lying on his bed, Lin Xudong glanced at the boy who had spoken and immediately let out an exclamation of surprise.

This delicate-looking boy with a scholarly aura was none other than Chai Yuan, the top student of Chuangxin High School.

"Chai Yuan, we haven't really crossed paths, have we? What exactly are you challenging me to?" Xiao Lin touched his nose and looked at Chai Yuan’s thin, frail frame, inwardly finding it amusing. To think someone with that physique would want to challenge others—he probably couldn't even withstand a single punch.

"Hey, kid, just because you’re a good student doesn't mean you can just barge into someone else's dorm and shout like that. Don't you think you should..." Wang Tao cracked his knuckles, climbed down from his bed with a sinister look, and stood next to Xiao Lin.

"Exactly, he should leave something behind," Yuan Weiye added as he climbed down from his own bed. His eyes were fixed intently on Chai Yuan’s crotch, implying that the "something" he meant was a part of Chai Yuan’s anatomy.

Seeing the malicious glares from Wang Tao and Yuan Weiye, Chai Yuan instinctively shrank back. However, scholars have a bit of pride, and he wasn't about to be scared off by them. He stiffened his neck and huffed at Xiao Lin: "I heard you ranked second in the school this time, beating my score, but I don't accept it. That's why I'm here to challenge you. We’ll compete on the results of the next exam. If I lose, I’ll provide you with a copy of all my study materials. If you lose, you give me a copy of yours."

After Chai Yuan finished, not only did Xiao Lin’s jaw drop in shock, but even Lin Xudong nearly fell off his bed.

"That’s the reason you came to our dorm to find me?" Xiao Lin asked, disbelievingly.

"Yes. Are you afraid to accept this challenge?" Chai Yuan said with a look of determination. To him, it felt heroic, but in Xiao Lin’s eyes, he was just a stubborn little kid.

"Damn, I’m speechless. It seems us ordinary people can never understand the world of straight-A students. I thought he was here for a duel," Wang Tao shook his head and retreated back into his blanket.

"How boring. Such beautiful weather, perfect for a fight. What a pity, what a pity. Lord Zhou, here I come," Yuan Weiye muttered incoherently before suddenly shouting and diving back onto his bed.

"Chai Yuan, since you’re challenging based on grades, why don't you go challenge Wang Yuqing, who took the top spot from you?" Lin Xudong asked.

"A gentleman doesn't fight with women," Chai Yuan replied after a long pause, his face flushing red. In truth, it wasn't that he didn't want to challenge Wang Yuqing; it was just that as a man, he couldn't very well pick a fight with a girl. That would be too embarrassing. Besides, Chai Yuan knew that Wang Yuqing’s boyfriend was Xiao Lin. If he defeated Xiao Lin, it would mean he had effectively bested them both.

"How boring. What’s the point of this? Why would I need your study materials? They’re useless to me," Xiao Lin rolled his eyes and turned to head toward the balcony to grab his toiletries. The implication was clear: not only was competing with Chai Yuan meaningless, but he was certain he would win, and Chai Yuan’s notes were of no value to him. If Chai Yuan had come for a physical fight, Xiao Lin might have actually considered it.

Chai Yuan sensed that Xiao Lin assumed he would lose. He had always considered himself a fanatic when it came to studying, but compared to the person in front of him, he felt he wasn't even on the same level. Moreover, Xiao Lin said his study materials were useless—didn't he know how many seniors were lining up just to get a look at them?

"Cough, cough. Xiao Lin, Chai Yuan’s study materials are actually quite good," Lin Xudong said, unable to stand Xiao Lin’s attitude any longer. He coughed twice as a hint. To be honest, even Lin Xudong wanted them. Usually, someone like Chai Yuan would never share his notes. Even when Lin Xudong had once highlighted key points for a student in the study hall, the student had been moved to tears of gratitude. But compared to Chai Yuan’s full set of materials, that was like comparing heaven and earth.

"So what?" Xiao Lin replied indifferently. He had already put on his slippers and was holding his washbasin, toothbrush, and toothpaste, ready to head out.

Seeing Xiao Lin’s indifferent attitude, Chai Yuan was so angry he ground his teeth. "Xiao Lin, if you don't agree, I... I... I’m not leaving!" He had wanted to clench his fist and punch Xiao Lin, but the reputation of Xiao Lin’s fighting prowess made him abandon that idea. In his desperation, he resorted to this shameless tactic.

*Bang!* Hearing this, Xiao Lin nearly stumbled to the ground, and Lin Xudong’s glasses nearly slid off his face. Lin Xudong stared wide-eyed at Chai Yuan, who was pouting like a child. It was hard to imagine that this talented student, one of the few in Chuangxin High whose intellect was beyond reproach, would say something so petulant.

Xiao Lin was even more helpless. He looked at Chai Yuan, who was pouting defiantly—the legendary figure who had held the top spot for several consecutive terms, now acting like this...

"Fine, fine. I accept your challenge," Xiao Lin relented. He knew that if he didn't agree, and Chai Yuan really stayed in their dorm all night, it would become a laughingstock.

Just as Xiao Lin lifted his foot to leave, Chai Yuan called him back.

"I’ve already agreed, what else is there?" Xiao Lin was starting to fear Chai Yuan; the guy’s tenacity was truly a headache.

"The ancients said a gentleman should make a solemn vow. We should seal this with three slaps of our palms," Chai Yuan said with complete seriousness.

"Clapping hands, too?" A thought suddenly occurred to Xiao Lin. "Fine, let’s do it."

"Yes." Chai Yuan nodded and held out his palm. Xiao Lin reached out quickly and slapped it. The force of that single blow made Chai Yuan stumble back three steps.

"Two more to go!" Xiao Lin shook his right hand, looking at Chai Yuan with a playful smirk.

"No... no need..." Chai Yuan looked at his reddened palm and quickly declined. He was kidding himself—if he let him land two more, his hand wouldn't be able to hold a pen to write tomorrow.

"Then we’ll meet at the next exam. I’ve got things to do, I’m off," Chai Yuan said, scurrying out of Xiao Lin’s dorm in a hurry.

Hahaha... The four of them burst into laughter.

At noon the next day, during the lunch break, a young security guard was bored, playing with his phone at the school gate. He was a new hire, 24 years old, fresh out of college. Having failed to find a decent job and running out of money, he had decided to work as a guard for a month to earn some pocket money.

Suddenly, a sweet, sugary voice rang out: "Big brother, may I ask if this is Chuangxin High School?" The voice, dripping with sweetness, made the guard’s hand tremble, and his phone clattered to the ground. The young guard picked it up angrily and looked up to see who the culprit was. But at the first glance, the anger vanished from his face, replaced by a smile: "Hello, beautiful. Yes, this is Chuangxin High School."

Hearing the guard call her beautiful, the girl covered her mouth and giggled. Her enchanting laugh only widened the guard's grin.

"Big brother, my name is Ma Yunrou. I’m from the Beijing Film Academy. I’m here to find a friend at Chuangxin High. Could you let me in?" This dainty, delicate girl was indeed Ma Yunrou. After receiving the call from Uncle Xiang yesterday, she had decided that very night to come to Chuangxin High to find Xiao Lin. Fearing that delays would lead to complications, she intended to announce in front of everyone that she was Xiao Lin’s girlfriend, then tear Wang Yuqing apart so she would never dare to approach Xiao Lin again. That way, she could enjoy her path to wealth in peace.

The young guard felt his whole body go numb from being called "big brother" by Ma Yunrou. And then, hearing she was from the Beijing Film Academy—the cradle of stars—it was no wonder she was so beautiful, he thought.

However, Chuangxin High had strict rules: outsiders were not allowed in during school hours. Even though it was the lunch break and students weren't in class, non-students were still prohibited.

"What’s wrong, big brother? Am I not allowed in?" Seeing the hesitant look on the guard’s face, Ma Yunrou immediately put on a pitiful expression and drew out her voice: "Big brother..."

The young guard struggled between school regulations and the request of a beauty. In the end, the beauty won out. How could the heavens forgive him if he refused such a beautiful girl?

"I’ll make an exception just for today," the young guard gritted his teeth and pressed the button to open the gate. Ma Yunrou walked right in.

"Big brother, could you trouble yourself one more time? Which building is Grade 12, Class 1 in?" Ma Yunrou asked.

"It’s in that building right there," the guard pointed toward the senior high teaching block.

"Thank you, big brother." Ma Yunrou gave him a charming look and sashayed toward the building.

Watching her leave, the young guard felt a strange sense of reluctance. "I wonder who has the good fortune to have such a beautiful girl as a girlfriend."

If only the young guard knew how selfish and vicious the heart of this "beautiful girl" truly was, he might not have been able to say those words.

In the classroom of Class 1, Xiao Lin and Wang Yuqing were discussing a math problem. It wasn't particularly difficult, but they had been talking about it for five full minutes. One might suspect they were intentionally stalling, just to have a reason to keep talking.

Just then, a familiar voice cut through the air, instantly breaking the atmosphere.

"Xiao Lin, what are you doing with her?"