The plot took an unexpected turn, and the situation took a sudden twist.

Looking at the school beauty, who had rushed out and stood protectively in front of him, Lin Ran once again felt a large question mark slowly appearing on his forehead:

“?”

What’s going on now?

As the acknowledged "ice queen" of the school, Su Qingyan had always maintained a distant and cold demeanor, both in class and among her peers. She had very few friends and rarely participated in any of the private activities or dramas that other students were involved in.

But now, here she was, suddenly stepping up to confront Shen Lingshan?

Lin Ran’s sharp mind quickly kicked into gear. With the wisdom of a mature man in his thirties, his brain began to analyze the situation at full speed—

First, he ruled out the possibility that Su Qingyan was stepping in to defend him, a nobody in her eyes.

So—

Lin Ran turned to look at his school beauty deskmate again, and a light of realization appeared in his eyes:

【She has a grudge against Shen Lingshan.】

...

Shen Lingshan and Cui Qianqian were also taken aback by the sudden turn of events and felt a bit flustered.

Especially when facing Su Qingyan, the tall and graceful school beauty, with her cold yet striking beauty—

Shen Lingshan, the so-called "flower" of Class 7, couldn’t help but feel somewhat intimidated.

In terms of both figure and looks, as well as popularity, she was clearly at a disadvantage.

So, she instinctively took a small step back, her heart filled with confusion as she exchanged glances with her best friend.

Shouldn’t they have no history with Su Qingyan? Why was she suddenly standing up to confront them?

Though lacking confidence, Shen Lingshan didn’t want to appear weak in front of the crowd in the hallway. She forced herself to meet Su Qingyan’s gaze and said stiffly:

“Su Qingyan, we’re talking to Lin Ran. What does it have to do with you?”

Cui Qianqian quickly added, trying to back her friend up:

“Yeah, what’s your relationship with Lin Ran? We’re talking to him, so why are you butting in?”

But as soon as she finished, Su Qingyan shot them a cold look, and Cui Qianqian’s voice trailed off weakly.

What’s my relationship with Lin Ran?

【He saved me to the point where he willingly got hit by a truck to protect me, what do you think our relationship is?】

【I’ve even kowtowed to his parents and called them ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad,’ what do you think our relationship is?】

Inside, a mini version of Su Qingyan was angrily standing up and delivering an impassioned speech!

But on the surface, she remained as calm and composed as ever, her expression unchanged. She simply said in a neutral tone:

“I’m his deskmate.”

With those words, the boys in the hallway who had been eavesdropping let out a collective sigh of relief, their faces showing clear relief.

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Phew, so they’re just deskmates, nothing more...

Shen Lingshan and Cui Qianqian also relaxed. Cui Qianqian smirked, her tone dismissive:

“So you’re just deskmates? I thought it was something serious…”

Su Qingyan’s face remained as indifferent as ever as she glanced at Shen Lingshan, who also looked unimpressed, and a hint of mockery flashed in her eyes.

“And you?”

“What’s your relationship with Lin Ran?”

“I—” Shen Lingshan instinctively opened her mouth but was suddenly stumped. After all, her relationship with Lin Ran was even more ambiguous, and she really couldn’t answer this question.

In a moment of panic, an idea flashed in her mind, and she blurted out:

“I’m good friends with Lin Ran!”

Cui Qianqian quickly nodded in agreement, adding with enthusiasm:

“Exactly! And we’re the kind of good friends who could hold hands!”

She then shot a smug and challenging glance at Su Qingyan.

After hearing this, the mocking look in Su Qingyan’s eyes only deepened.

“Is that so?”

“So, you’re telling me you have to get him to run errands for you just to hold hands?”

Shen Lingshan’s face flushed crimson in an instant!

Cui Qianqian couldn’t stand it and loudly defended her friend:

“He’s doing it willingly! We didn’t force him!”

But Su Qingyan ignored the two girls, turning to Lin Ran instead. Her tone was as calm and detached as if she were offering advice.

“From now on, keep your eyes open when making friends. Don’t get involved with people who are just looking to take advantage.”

She paused for a moment, as if remembering something, and added casually:

“And—”

“If you really want to hold hands with a girl…”

“Hold mine.”

“No need to run errands. It’s free.”

...

Her words hit like a bombshell!

All the students in the hallway, including Shen Lingshan, Cui Qianqian, and even Zhao Ke, were stunned into silence, their heads spinning as the shocking revelation echoed in their minds!

The next moment, the scene before them completely stunned everyone into a state of daze!

It was the early summer of 2007, and the sun was bright and clear.

In front of the Yuxiu Teaching Building at Yunan High School, the trees and grass were lush, and the sunlight filtered through the thick branches, casting a patchwork of golden spots on the floor of the hallway outside the classroom.

Countless tiny particles of dust floated in the air, glowing faintly, dancing like little sprites.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the cool and captivating school beauty stretched out her fair arm and naturally placed her hand into the palm of her deskmate, Lin Ran.

It was like a princess extending an invitation to her loyal knight.

Then, she turned her hand over and firmly grasped his.

Without hesitation or reserve, she held his hand and decisively locked eyes with the stunned crowd.

...

For Lin Ran, this moment was equally bewildering. He hadn’t yet processed what was happening when he suddenly felt a soft, cool sensation in his palm.

Before he could react, his right hand was already being held and pulled forward by that delicate, fair hand.

Su Qingyan’s calm, instruction-like voice rang out:

“Class is starting. Let’s go back to our seats.”

Then, with a gentle pull from her hand, Lin Ran was led back to the classroom in front of the eyes of all the stunned students in the hallway.

Just then, the bell for class suddenly rang loudly!

“Ding Ling Ling!!—”

The sharp bell shattered the heavy silence in the hallway.

Many students, still dazed from the earlier scene, scrambled to return to their classrooms.

Only Zhao Ke stood rooted to the spot, still processing the shock.

He glanced at Shen Lingshan and Cui Qianqian, who were equally dazed, and then at the receding figures of Lin Ran and Su Qingyan.

With genuine awe, Zhao Ke couldn’t help but exclaim:

“Holy shit—”

“That’s impressive!!!”