Chapter Seventeen: The Goddess and the Wanderer

Suddenly, a plump little hand reached out to Wang Yuqing's forehead, and Tan Linlin's voice sounded beside her, "Yuqing, you don't have a fever, do you?"

"No," Wang Yuqing replied angrily, lifting her head and grabbing the rabbit backpack on the table. She broke into a little run toward the back of the classroom.

"Xiao Lin, go move a desk for me."

Xiao Lin sat at the very last seat, and behind his desk were several empty desks. Every class had a few of these, used for rearranging during class activities. Wang Yuqing meant for him to move one of those empty desks.

Xiao Lin was completely bewildered. "Wang Yuqing, is this the surprise you mentioned?"

"Of course! Why, isn't this a surprise?" Wang Yuqing said, her adorable nose tilted.

Xiao Lin gave a wry smile. "This isn't a surprise at all—it feels more like a shock."

"Hurry up and help me move the desk," Wang Yuqing said with her hands on her hips, acting spoiled and bossy.

"Haha, Wang Yuqing, if Xiao Lin won't help you, I'll do it." Wang Tao walked over with a grin, exerted a little strength, and moved an empty desk next to Xiao Lin's.

"Boss Xiao, you owe us lunch!" Wang Tao chuckled mischievously and slipped back to his seat.

"Uh..." Xiao Lin looked at Wang Tao's mischievous face, then at the extra desk by his own, and for some reason didn't feel like stopping it. Maybe, subconsciously, he wanted Wang Yuqing to sit with him after all.

"Wow, Xiao Lin's got some real luck with the ladies!" Xu Tong crossed his arms, his face full of surprise.

Lin Xudong said, "This is truly unscientific—it doesn't make sense at all."

The classroom erupted into a lively commotion...

Xu Tong quickly walked up to Little Chubby and grinned, "Fatty, what's going on?"

Tan Linlin shot Xu Tong a glare. "You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"

"Aren't you and Wang Yuqing best friends? You really don't know? Oh, I get it—how about I treat you to pizza at Pizza Hut?"

"Pizza?" Tan Linlin's eyes sparkled at the mention of food, but quickly dimmed. "Sigh, I really don't know! Yuqing didn't tell me anything."

By now, Wang Yuqing had already sat down. As she arranged her books, she said to Xiao Lin, "I made a bet with the homeroom teacher."

"A bet?" Xiao Lin, who was watching her organize her things, asked instinctively.

Wang Yuqing put down her book and gave Xiao Lin a charming smile, then leaned in close and whispered, "I told the homeroom teacher that if you make it into the top ten in the mock exam two weeks from now, I won't have to move. I'll be able to sit with you from now on."

"What? Top ten?! Are you crazy? You'd better start moving now." Xiao Lin waved his hands frantically.

"You wouldn't dare. I'm telling you, if you make me lose, you'll have to deal with the consequences," Wang Yuqing said, trying to look fierce, though to Xiao Lin it looked more like she was acting cute.

"Alright, alright. I'll do my best. By the way, why do you believe in me so much?"

Wang Yuqing leaned in close, her breath fragrant, "Because I know how excellent you once were."

"Uh..." Xiao Lin's cheeks flushed at her words. He thought to himself, Well, since you believe in me so much, I'll give it my all and show you. In truth, Xiao Lin didn't want Wang Yuqing to move away, either.

The class bell rang.

The Chinese teacher came out of the office carrying her materials. Before she even reached Class One, she could hear voices coming from inside. She frowned and pushed open the door, only to find the class split into several little groups, each deep in lively discussion.

"Ahem, what are you all doing? Didn't you hear the bell?"

The students saw the teacher enter and hurried back to their seats. The Chinese teacher didn't say much; she had a gentle temperament and never scolded or hit students. She walked up to the podium, cleared her throat, and was about to speak when she noticed Wang Yuqing's seat was empty.

"Eh? Why isn't Wang Yuqing here today? Is she sick?"

"Teacher, I'm at the back. I changed seats," Wang Yuqing replied, blushing as she stood up.

"Why did you move to the back? Changed seats? Did Old Yan approve?" The Chinese teacher was startled by Wang Yuqing's answer and questioned her.

"Yes, the homeroom teacher agreed."

The Chinese teacher looked at Wang Yuqing, her eyes full of confusion, as if she couldn't understand why Wang Yuqing would agree to move to the back, especially to sit with Xiao Lin. Her gaze drifted to Xiao Lin, who sat upright, looking at her seriously.

"This Old Yan, what's going on? I'll have to talk to him after class. Such a promising student, can't let Xiao Lin ruin her." The Chinese teacher muttered to herself and began the lesson.

Similarly, during English, physics, and other classes, every teacher asked the same question: Why did Wang Yuqing move to the back?

By the end, not only was Xiao Lin immune, but the entire class was used to every teacher's first question being: Where's Wang Yuqing?

Xiao Lin now wondered if this decision was a mistake.

In the office, the homeroom teacher was speechless and helpless. Ever since the Chinese teacher talked to him, every subject teacher had come after class to ask what was going on. Wang Yuqing, you've really given me a tough problem, he thought, unable to describe his feelings.

News spread quickly, and soon all the students at Innovation High School knew Wang Yuqing had changed seats. Since joining the broadcasting club, many had come to know her, and thanks to her excellence, she had been directly crowned the goddess by thousands, with signs she might even surpass Meng Ranyan.

Now Wang Yuqing was a celebrity at Innovation High School.

There were sixteen classes at Innovation High, mostly honors classes, but Class Two was an arts class. In Class Two, students specialized in painting, calligraphy, or vocal music. Gao Zheng was in Class Two.

Inside the classroom, Gao Zheng was reading a music score. His sidekick, Zhao Mingliang, came over and said, "Boss, Wang Yuqing changed seats."

Gao Zheng replied expressionlessly, "She just changed seats, what's the big deal?"

Zhao Mingliang grinned, "She moved to the very back and now sits with that guy Xiao Lin—the one with terrible grades but loads of attitude. The whole school is buzzing. They say Wang Yuqing likes Xiao Lin. Isn't that big news? Goddess and rogue, ace student and slacker—it's straight out of a TV drama."

"Oh," Gao Zheng's eyelids twitched. "You guys are overthinking it. Alright, go on."

"Heh, maybe. I'll be off then," Zhao Mingliang turned away.

Gao Zheng pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Hello, Uncle Xiang, help me look up someone's information."

A few minutes later, his phone vibrated. Gao Zheng glanced at the data and his expression finally shifted. "Heh, Xiao Lin, formerly the top scorer at Donghai City Affiliated Middle School—admitted to Innovation High with the highest grades. Parents divorced, now living with his grandmother. Interesting, but you're still not qualified to be my rival."

Gao Zheng snorted coldly and turned off his phone.