Chapter 6: Brimming with Passion

That single call of “Brother Lin Le” was so sweet it melted the heart, as if soaked in honey. More than half the boys in Class Eight of the senior year felt their souls slip away.

Xu Xier was famous at Haizhou No. 1 High School for her lofty standards. She usually paid little to no attention to those who pursued her, even the city’s renowned sons of wealthy families who confessed their feelings were mercilessly trampled underfoot by her.

To the boys at Haizhou No. 1, a girl like Xu Xier was simply out of reach, almost a celestial being.

None of them could have imagined that, in their lifetime, they would witness the proud Xu Xier speaking in such a soft, coquettish voice.

Even more unthinkable was that this coy tone was directed toward Lin Le, the new transfer student that day—an ordinary, impoverished boy clad in cheap clothes.

How could this be? Everyone thought they must have misheard.

Lu Hongzhe, standing nearby, widened his eyes, unable to make sense of the situation.

If that earlier “Brother Lin Le” had been a little ambiguous, the next scene was like a bolt of lightning for everyone present.

Xu Xier entered the classroom with a radiant smile, graceful and lively.

Her gaze never left Lin Le at the back of the room, completely ignoring the shocked stares from those around her. In that moment, it seemed Lin Le was the only person in Xu Xier’s world.

Under the watchful eyes of the entire class, Xu Xier walked straight to Lin Le without hesitation and gave him a tight embrace.

“Brother Lin Le, Xier missed you so much!” Her smile bloomed like peach blossoms.

The crowd was too stunned to speak, and in the silence, one could almost hear the sound of hearts breaking in the darkness.

Xier, our goddess Xu Xier, actually said such words to that impoverished boy!

Impossible! How could this be?

What on earth did that poor kid possess to win the favor of Xu Xier, the school’s beauty?

Damn it, what do I lack compared to him? Why does the school beauty treat him with such tenderness?

No one felt it more acutely than Lu Hongzhe, who was closest to the scene.

At this moment, Xu Xier and Lin Le were hugging right in front of him, and Lu Hongzhe’s jaw almost touched the floor, mouth agape enough to fit a fist.

Lin Le sensed the burning stares and the peculiar atmosphere in the air.

He whispered to Xu Xier, “Xier, let’s step outside for now.”

Lin Le tried to lower his voice, but the classroom was so eerily quiet, it felt as if a spell had been cast—one could hear a pin drop. Lin Le and Xu Xier stood in the spotlight, every gesture and word observed by all.

Xu Xier’s bright eyes smiled at Lin Le. “Alright, Xier has so much to say to Brother Lin Le!”

Under everyone's gaze, Xu Xier took Lin Le’s arm and, like a delicate bird clinging to her mate, walked out of the classroom with him.

After a few seconds of silence, Class Eight of the senior year erupted in chaos.

“Damn, what’s going on! My goddess actually hugged a poor loser!”

“My titanium dog eyes must have cataracts, or else I wouldn’t be hallucinating!”

“Brother Lin Le? Feels like I’ve traveled to a palace drama…”

Beyond shock at Xu Xier’s actions, everyone harbored the same overwhelming question:

Who exactly is this new transfer student, Lin Le?

In another corner at the back, several boys clustered around a burly classmate.

His name was Pan Hao, captain of the basketball team and sports monitor, the most feared guy in Class Eight.

“Hao, who is this Lin Le, and what’s his relationship with Xu Xier?” a chubby boy asked tentatively.

Pan Hao snorted, sneering, “Who cares who he is, daring to touch Xu Xier—he’s doomed!”

“Yeah, Xu Xier is the girl Zhao Hu has his eye on. If Zhao Hu finds out, that kid won’t be able to walk away from this!” The boys smirked, clearly reveling in the impending drama.

Each of them had a soft spot for Xu Xier. While they knew they’d never interact with her, none wanted to see Lin Le, that poor kid, win her favor.

The mere thought of Xu Xier’s sacred beauty being touched by someone like Lin Le filled them with rage.

Pan Hao snorted and grinned, “Relax, that kid won’t last at school for more than a few days…”

Xu Xier was so stunning, every guy was interested in her, and Pan Hao was no exception.

But after learning that Zhao Hu fancied Xu Xier, Pan Hao abandoned his pursuit.

He knew Zhao Hu’s reputation. Once, a boy tried to woo Xu Xier by sending her flowers daily; after just two days, Zhao Hu broke his leg. After recuperating at home, the boy never returned.

As basketball team captain, Pan Hao should have been the center of attention among girls, but today he was overshadowed by Lin Le.

Not only had Lin Le stolen his girl, but he’d also stolen his thunder—Pan Hao vowed to teach him a lesson.

The bell rang, and Lin Le dashed into the classroom just as it started.

The way everyone looked at him had changed.

The boys, naturally, were consumed by envy and resentment—having Xu Xier’s warmth in your arms and hearing her call your name so tenderly was enough to make anyone jealous.

The girls, influenced by Xu Xier’s presence, suddenly found Lin Le, who had seemed ordinary, endowed with a certain charm.

The aura of being close to the school beauty made them feel that befriending Lin Le might elevate their own status to Xu Xier’s level.

Lin Le was oblivious to all this and had no interest in knowing.

Back when he was still the young master of the Lin family, he had known Xu Xier—they grew up together. Even when the Lin family went bankrupt and he fell from grace, this silly girl always followed him, calling him Brother Lin Le.

Aside from Chen Qiang, she was the most sincere person in his life.

Lin Le had just returned to his seat when Lu Hongzhe grabbed him in a bear hug.

“Damn, what are you doing!” Lin Le, startled, shielded his chest, almost thinking his deskmate was gay.

Lu Hongzhe wore a mischievous grin, thoroughly enjoying himself. “I’m soaking up the warmth left by the school beauty. Ah, it feels great…”

Lin Le looked disgusted. “Can you be any more perverted, man?”

Seeing the teacher enter, Lu Hongzhe let go and eagerly demanded, “Lin Le—no, Brother Le, what’s your relationship with Xu Xier?”

“We’re friends,” Lin Le replied calmly.

“Friends? You gotta be kidding! Friends can do this?” With that, Lu Hongzhe hugged Lin Le again.

“Friends can do this?” He draped his arm around Lin Le’s shoulders, leaning his head on him like a clingy bird.

“Friends can do this?” Lu Hongzhe cupped Lin Le’s face and, calling him Brother Lin Le in a silly voice, tried to kiss him.

“Lu Hongzhe!” Suddenly, a stern voice rang out from the podium—the math teacher, nicknamed the Iron Lady, was glaring icily at Lu Hongzhe, having witnessed the whole scene.

Lu Hongzhe froze in place, stiff as a board.

When the class turned to look, they saw quite the spectacle:

Lu Hongzhe, hands cradling Lin Le’s face, lips puckered ridiculously, about to plant a kiss.

“God, my eyes!”

“The passion is off the charts…”

“I never knew you were like this, Lu Hongzhe!”

Lu Hongzhe looked at the Iron Lady, awkwardly saying, “Teacher, if I claim I was blowing sand out of Lin Le’s eye, would you believe me?”

Lin Le held his head, imaginary black lines descending from his hair.

Did he forget to check the almanac before leaving home today? How did he end up with such a hopelessly idiotic deskmate…

“Believe your nonsense! Get out!” the Iron Lady roared.

“Yes, ma’am.” Lu Hongzhe tried to drag Lin Le out with him, secretly pleased at the chance to ask about Xu Xier outside.

“I meant you, not the new student! Why drag him along?” The Iron Lady exploded again.

Lin Le was grateful for such a fair judgment. Lu Hongzhe cast him a plaintive look and went out alone.

Lin Le shook his head and smiled wryly—this guy truly had no equal in sheer shamelessness…