Chapter 99

Chapter 99

The woman took Guan Peng and left.

Ji Mian kept his hand on Luo Ye’s head, "Mr. Lin, so Ono isn’t involved, right?"

Hearing Ji Mian call him that, Luo Ye couldn’t help but look up at him again.

"No, no, no! This kid didn’t do anything wrong or hit anyone," Mr. Lin quickly waved his hand, "I already said it wasn’t his fault, only Hu Li was called. Luo Ye insisted he was involved too, so he got dragged in. Probably because he’s tight with Hu Li..."

Hearing this, Ji Mian felt a twinge of jealousy, feeling a little bitter: his brother treats his friends so well...

After being Luo Ye’s brother for years, he’d never gotten that kind of treatment. Ji Mian thought bitterly, eyeing Hu Li again.

Hu Li snapped to attention.

—Big bro’s looking at me!

"Luo Ye, go back to class. Xiang Nian, you too, it’s crunch time, get back to studying."

"Okay."

Ji Mian walked them out, and just as they stepped out of the classroom door, he stopped.

"Always causing trouble." Once outside, Ji Mian dropped his act, immediately turning cold.

Hu Li, trailing behind, nearly tripped.

Wait, where’d his big bro go?

Luo Ye paused for a moment, then lowered his head, "Sorry, brother."

"Big brother! It’s my fault, Luo Ye didn’t do anything wrong!" Hu Li hurriedly explained, "Really, he’s the victim, saying that just makes him feel worse..."

Before he could finish, Luo Ye, who’d been apologizing, suddenly looked up at him, his cold gaze seeming to say, ‘Shut up.’

He knew what his brother was thinking.

Hu Li: "..."

Now Hu Li felt like he was the one being wronged.

He glanced at Ji Mian, thinking he might be tough but still good-looking.

Seeing they weren’t heading back, Hu left feeling wronged.

Luo Ye glanced up to read Ji Mian’s expression, seeing his lips tight and his eyes not looking at him, he felt a bit irritated: indeed, after Hu Li’s accusations, this person started to feel uneasy.

"Brother."

Ji Mian still didn’t look at him, took a few steps forward, his voice cold and hard, "Hmm."

Luo Ye had to try to divert his attention, "Brother, I’m a bit hungry."

"Didn’t eat lunch?"

"Didn’t eat enough."

"..."

Ji Mian stopped in his tracks, visibly annoyed: "Ugh, what’s next?"

"Geography and math."

Geography and math were Luo Ye’s strong suits. Ji Mian remembered that Luo Ye should have already self-studied the content of the first year of middle school.

He told him, "Stay here."

After speaking, he turned around and went back into the office.

*

Mr. Lin, noticing his return, asked, "What’s up?"

"Mr. Lin," Ji Mian smiled, softening his tone, a far cry from the tough older brother act he’d put on outside. "My brother’s feeling down. Could you help me write a leave slip?"

Mr. Lin: ...

He said helplessly, "Take a break, but hit the books hard and aim for a top spot in the college entrance exam. I’ll have bragging rights later!"

Ji Mian smiled gratefully: "I’ll do my best."

Mr. Lin quickly scribbled a leave slip and handed it over.

Ji Mian walked out of the office with Luo Ye’s leave slip. Luo Ye was waiting outside and noticed the paper in Ji Mian’s hand.

"Class ends in five minutes," Ji Mian glanced at the time on his phone. "Grab your backpack after class."

"Brother?"

"You’re hungry, right?" Ji Mian said indifferently. "Let’s grab something to eat."

"..." Luo Ye pursed his lips. "So, are we heading home after eating? Brother, are you still going to evening self-study?"

"Nah, I’ll just give the homeroom teacher a call."

"Oh..."

When the bell rang, Luo Ye headed back to class.

Ji Mian leaned against the classroom doorframe, watching him pack.

He stared blankly into the classroom until he accidentally made eye contact with a girl sitting in front of Luo Ye.

Kong Yuzhen’s eyes went wide, and she clapped a hand over her mouth, but a squeal slipped out.

Her scream was like a pebble tossed into a still pond, sending ripples through the room.

Every head in the classroom snapped toward the door, followed by a chorus of "Oh my God!"

Ji Mian froze under the classroom’s awestruck stares.

"What the—what’s happening?"

"Maybe they’re just into your looks?" the system chimed in.

Sure, he was good-looking, but this was over the top.

Ji Mian mostly hung out in the high school section and had no clue he was a big deal among the middle schoolers.

Luo Ye noticed Ji Mian’s dazed expression from a distance and quickly packed up his things, grabbed his bag, and headed out.

As he left, he shut the classroom door behind him.

"..." Kong Yuzhen’s view was abruptly blocked by the door.

However, she thought she heard Luo Ye say, "Brother, I’m ready," as he walked out.

Brother?!?

At that moment, Hu Li suddenly bolted over from his seat, plopped into Luo Ye’s spot, and poked Kong Yuzhen, who was sitting in front of him.

Kong Yuzhen turned around, looking completely stunned.

"Earlier today, you mentioned what awards Xiang Nian had won, right?"

"Huh?"

Hu Li sat up straight, his face eager with anticipation. "Come on, spill the tea on my big brother’s accomplishments..."

Kong Yuzhen: ...