The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 72

Before the college entrance exams, Li Rong moved out of the A High dormitory and into a serviced apartment near A University.

The last time he saw Yang Fenfang was the day exam admission tickets were distributed.

Of course, he didn’t have an admission ticket and didn’t need to worry about the exams. He had only come to accompany Cen Xiao.

After explaining all the exam precautions to the students, Yang Fenfang called him aside to the hallway.

The relationship between a homeroom teacher and their students usually lasts no more than three years.

After those three years, time washes away most connections.

After a moment’s hesitation, Yang Fenfang finally said, “You’re an adult now. There were things I couldn’t say before, but now it should be okay. I really admire you, you know, for persevering through everything. I also wish you the best in achieving the outcome you want.”

“I’m just an ordinary teacher, and when it came to your situation, I realized I didn’t even have the right stance to guide you as a student.”

Li Rong recalled how, at the beginning, Yang Fenfang had tried to replace him as class monitor to avoid risk. He couldn’t help but smile faintly. “I understand what you mean. It’s human nature.”

He had never expected everyone to stand by him, nor did he expect those around him to take risks on his behalf. He had to be strong enough for people to willingly follow him, strong enough to protect everyone’s interests so they could help him without hesitation.

Yang Fenfang gave a bitter smile, her lips trembling as if she wanted to say something impulsive, but in the end, the words stuck in her throat, unsaid.

She simply didn’t have the courage.

Li Rong’s gaze had already shifted toward Cen Xiao.

Leaning casually by the stairs, Cen Xiao had a single-strap backpack slung over one shoulder, hands in his pockets, patiently waiting for him.

Li Rong didn’t linger. “Teacher, I’ll get going now.”

With a small wave, he strode quickly toward Cen Xiao.

Yang Fenfang took a deep breath, raising a hand as if to call him back, but realizing she had no reason to, she reluctantly lowered it.

She watched as Li Rong walked up to Cen Xiao, unzipped his backpack without hesitation, and stuffed in the detailed school program guides he had picked up.

Cen Xiao looked down at him but didn’t stop him from rummaging through his things.

Li Rong was also holding oranges, a last-minute gift the class had bought with the remaining funds for the students before their exams.

Bowing his head, his slightly long hair fell forward as his slender fingers skillfully peeled an orange slice. He lifted it to Cen Xiao’s lips, teasingly waving it in front of him.

Cen Xiao leaned down to take a bite, but just as he did, Li Rong quickly withdrew his hand and popped the slice into his own mouth. With a mischievous grin, he bit down, his peach-blossom eyes gleaming with triumph.

Cen Xiao narrowed his eyes, a faint, threatening glint flickering in his gaze. A few seconds later, he suddenly lunged forward, trying to steal the orange from between Li Rong’s teeth.

Li Rong reacted swiftly, turning his head to evade, but in doing so, he fully exposed his slender neck. As his hair swept aside, it released a fresh, minty scent from his shampoo.

Yang Fenfang sighed inwardly.

The best thing she’d ever done, perhaps, was seating Li Rong and Cen Xiao together.

Two people who hadn’t exchanged a word before becoming seatmates had, within a few months, become close friends.

In daily school life, proximity often resolved conflicts, highlighted strengths, and fostered strong bonds between classmates.

She resolved to use the same method in the future. If any two students clashed again, she’d pair them as seatmates!

Li Rong never worried about Cen Xiao’s college entrance exam. He remembered clearly from his past life that Cen Xiao’s score had exceeded A University’s cutoff by 20 points.

Back then, his attention had been drawn to Cen Xiao’s scores only because Song Yuanyuan had already started pursuing him. He was simply surprised that his so-called “romantic rival” had managed to stay under the radar for so long.

As they exited the teaching building, Li Rong noticed Jian Fu crouching by the school flower bed, pulling weeds.

He tore off a leaf, rolling it between his fingers until his hands were smeared with green juice. He glanced at the mess on his fingers and then, smirking, made a playful move toward Lin Zhen, as if to smear it on him.

Lin Zhen gasped sharply, leaping a meter away in one step. Puffing his cheeks angrily, he retorted, “Jian Fu, don’t you have any shame?”

Jian Fu didn’t feel the slightest shame; on the contrary, he looked proud. Smiling cheekily, he said, “Don’t be mad, don’t be mad. I was just teasing you.”

Lin Zhen shot him a glare and silently moved away, standing next to Ji Xiaochuan instead.

Ji Xiaochuan, accustomed to this, pulled a pack of tissues from her pocket, handed one to Jian Fu, and said with a resigned tone, “You really should stop bullying Lin Zhen.”

“Thanks.” Jian Fu took the tissue, wiped the grass stains off his hands, and muttered, “I’m not bullying him. Who dares to bully a future superstar? When he gets famous, his fans might just tear me apart.”

Lin Zhen, naturally thin-skinned, flushed at the comment. Though he sometimes dreamed of being admired by others, openly discussing fame felt inappropriate.

“Stop spouting nonsense!” 

Jian Fu raised a brow, gesturing at himself. “I’ve got internet resources, you know. If you butter me up, I could make you famous.”

Jian Fu tilted his head back, the sunlight streaming unabashedly across his face. His gaze was intense, and his reckless grin held an inexplicable force that left a deep impression.

Lin Zhen pursed his lips and stared at that grin for a few seconds before awkwardly looking away, muttering softly, “Who wants to butter you up? Keep dreaming!”

As soon as he finished muttering, he caught sight of Li Rong and Cen Xiao out of the corner of his eye. Instantly, he exhaled in relief and took two quick steps toward Li Rong. “Class monitor!”

Ji Xiaochuan adjusted her backpack and walked off as well, leaving Jian Fu standing alone.

Jian Fu called out dramatically, “Took you guys long enough!”

Li Rong glanced at Cen Xiao, rubbed his fingers scented with orange peel, and replied solemnly, “Just peeling an orange in the hallway.”

Jian Fu, confused, jumped off the flowerbed and quickly caught up to Lin Zhen, saying to Li Rong, “Why hide from us just to eat an orange? Definitely something fishy going on!”

Li Rong ignored him and casually changed the subject. “Some things have happened recently. I didn’t explain them fully because I didn’t want to affect your mood.”

He paused. Considering the three were still high school students, he didn’t want his troubles interfering with their lives. But with Xu Wei resigning, the apparent calm at A University concealed undercurrents of tension.

“They” had lost Xu Wei, exposed themselves, and suffered a setback. While they might lie low for a while, they wouldn’t let it go.

Since Jian Fu and Ji Xiaochuan were planning to attend A University and often spent time with him, Li Rong felt the need to prepare them.

Li Rong’s expression turned serious as he took a deep breath. Under the usual bright sunlight, on the warm, windless afternoon, walking the well-trodden campus path, he addressed the three solemnly. “My battle against those who conspired to frame my parents officially begins now. Since you’re close to me, the days ahead may be difficult for you all.”

Ji Xiaochuan tightened her lips, clenching her fists nervously.

She rarely saw Li Rong so serious, which made her realize that what he was planning must be extremely dangerous, something even he wasn’t certain he could accomplish.

They were just five young people, their combined ages not even reaching a hundred. Did they have enough strength to face the challenges ahead?

Lin Zhen spoke softly, “Class monitor, I’m not that good at studying and probably won’t get into A University. I don’t know how I can help you, but if there’s anything I can do, I’ll do my best.”

Ji Xiaochuan nodded hesitantly. “M-me too!”

Her family circumstances had left her with no opportunities to cultivate hobbies or passions, and she had no idea what field interested her. But since meeting Li Rong, her perspective had changed. His unwavering dedication to biochemical studies made her want to understand the field’s allure.

Jian Fu felt a bit uncomfortable with Li Rong’s candor. He glanced at Cen Xiao and noticed that he didn’t contradict Li Rong’s statement about “hardship,” as if acknowledging the difficulties ahead. Jian Fu grasped the implication but said nonchalantly, “What’s with the drama? We’ve been in this together ever since I dug up dirt on Liu Tanzhi.”

He thought about the fallout from publicizing the autumn recruitment news. His parents had scolded him harshly for it, leaving him afraid to go home for two days.

Jian Changli had strictly forbidden him from meddling in such affairs again, but he treated it as mere background noise.

Li Rong chuckled lightly. “Good. Get into District One quickly—I’ll be needing your help plenty in the future.”

Jian Fu clicked his tongue and sighed. “Yeah, yeah, I know. A talent like me is destined for hard work.”

The previously tense atmosphere dissipated under Jian Fu’s interruption, melting away like steam. The group chatted and laughed as they headed to a pre-booked restaurant for a meal to relax before their exams.

Li Rong had nothing to worry about—they would all get into their dream schools in the end.

After the meal, Jian Fu and Lin Zhen walked Ji Xiaochuan back to her hotel, while Cen Xiao and Li Rong strolled down the street.

Li Rong sniffled, gazing up at the bugs swarming the streetlights. “The college entrance exams start tomorrow.”

Cen Xiao glanced at him, taking in the elegant lines of his eyes.

Li Rong’s gaze was clear and luminous, serene even in the dark, captivating anyone who looked his way.

“Yeah,” Cen Xiao replied softly.

Li Rong thought for a moment, then said seriously, “I know you’ll definitely pass, but it’s only proper to give you some pre-exam blessings.”

Cen Xiao knew his success in the exams was certain. His focus was on the Nine District Assessment a month later.

Still, he patiently replied, “Oh? Let’s hear it, then.”

“Alright.” Li Rong suddenly turned his face, grabbed Cen Xiao’s collar with his fingers tightening, pulling him closer. Then, he tilted his head up slightly, standing on tiptoes, and pressed his lips against Cen Xiao’s.

Amid the fleeting friction of lips and teeth, Li Rong whispered softly, “Good luck on the college entrance exams, boyfriend.”

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