City: I Started As A Rich Second Generation Villain - Chapter 38: Li Xixue’s Tea Art
Gu Junqing explained the problems clearly and even covered several related question types, earning silent admiration from both teachers and classmates.
Su Chen felt a pang of regret for not standing up earlier to help Li Xixue.
He had been too busy laughing to himself and sighed in frustration.
It was a perfect chance to earn some goodwill, but I missed it, he thought.
Still, watching Gu Junqing speak with such ease and confidence, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of admiration.
Although he knew how to solve the problems as well, he couldn’t explain them as thoroughly or draw broader connections like Gu Junqing.
Of course, he didn’t think this meant he was inferior—just that their educational backgrounds were different.
Or so he told himself.
What Su Chen didn’t realize was that there was indeed a significant gap between his learning ability and Gu Junqing’s, not to mention their IQs.
After finishing the explanation and helping Li Xixue ease her embarrassment, Gu Junqing sat down.
Li Xixue remained standing awkwardly by herself.
Yu Miaojin sighed and asked, “Li Xixue, how did you even make it to middle school, let alone high school, with grades like these?”
“Huh? Do you need good grades to go to school? I thought you just had to donate money,” Li Xixue replied, genuinely puzzled.
Yu Miaojin froze, took a moment to collect herself, and was about to say something more.
But Li Xixue’s next remark left her completely speechless.
“Oh, right—this whole teaching building, and even these desks, were sponsored by my dad,” Li Xixue added, as if it had just occurred to her.
The entire class fell into stunned silence.
Yu Miaojin quietly closed her mouth and simply gestured for Li Xixue to sit down.
Seeing that her words had silenced everyone, Li Xixue obediently sat down without another word.
“Miss Li, did you really have to announce your family background and let everyone know how rich you are?” Gu Junqing couldn’t help saying, exasperated.
“Well, the teacher asked a question, so I had to answer, right?” Li Xixue sounded slightly wronged.
“You silly girl, the teacher just wanted to see your attitude. Do you think she didn’t already know you got in through connections?” Gu Junqing lightly tapped her on the head, somewhat shocked by her naivety.
“Ouch, that hurts,” Li Xixue whined in a soft, pitiful, and somewhat adorable tone, making Gu Junqing reluctant to scold her further.
Then again, only someone this naive would repeatedly clash with her family without considering alternative perspectives.
For instance, she could become the family’s outcast, run away from home, and return three years later with a charming child fathered by a high-quality man to shock them all—now that would make a good novel plot.
As for who that high-quality man might be, it went without saying.
Gu Junqing silently mused over the scenario, too amused to continue the conversation with Li Xixue.
Seeing that Gu Junqing didn’t tap her again, Li Xixue breathed a sigh of relief.
But then she suddenly sensed a sharp, almost murderous gaze directed at her and Gu Junqing.
She turned and saw Murong Wan—the same girl who had locked eyes with her earlier.
Realizing it was Murong Wan, Li Xixue glared back fiercely. After all, this annoying woman had laughed the loudest earlier.
Then, as her gaze shifted, she noticed Murong Wan closely watching her interactions with Gu Junqing.
A realization struck her—Murong Wan must like Gu Junqing, which was why she glared so intensely whenever Li Xixue got close to him.
Seizing the opportunity, Li Xixue turned back and wrapped both arms around Gu Junqing’s arm.
“Brother Junqing, teach me how to study.”
Watching Li Xixue’s sly eyes and Murong Wan’s murderous gaze, Gu Junqing inwardly groaned. This girl had absolutely no talent for academics but had mastered ninety-nine percent of the art of harem intrigue—with the remaining brain space likely filled with water.
Gu Junqing picked up a water glass and asked, “Do you want some water?”
“I’m asking you to teach me how to solve problems—preferably hand-in-hand!”
Now that they were “besties,” Li Xixue didn’t mind physical contact. Moreover, the mere thought of irritating Murong Wan thrilled her—she was clearly getting carried away.
“Forget it, you’d better not drink any water.”
Gu Junqing crossed his legs, withdrew his hand, set down the glass, and stared blankly at the problems Teacher Yu was explaining on the blackboard. Of course, he was mainly looking at Teacher Yu while occasionally glancing at the questions.
“Your head already has enough water. If you shook it, I bet it’d make a splashing sound.”
Li Xixue rolled her eyes. “If you won’t teach me, then don’t! And here I thought we were good friends!”
“I think we’d be better off as bros. Compared to me, you act more like a guy.”
Gu Junqing’s blunt remark clearly stung Li Xixue, and she seemed to hear Murong Wan’s faint laughter in the background.
“Hmph!”
Feeling utterly defeated, she snorted and turned away, focusing on the lesson. Soon, however, she grew drowsy, completely lost as to what the teacher was saying.
Wahh, I don’t want to learn about functions, calculus, or parabolas. I want to go back to elementary school and study ‘chickens and rabbits in the same cage,’ wahh, Li Xixue lamented inwardly.
Thus, she chose to forgive Gu Junqing and started chatting with him again.
Gu Junqing sighed helplessly—this airhead was truly something else. Yet her appearance was deceptively charming. Though she seemed naive and sweet on the surface, she was even more so underneath. Due to her stunning, slightly aloof looks, she was often mistaken for being cold and distant.
In reality, having grown up in the privileged Li family, she had been well protected by her parents and lived a carefree life. Hence, she appeared rather innocent, though she was genuinely kind-hearted.
Gu Junqing reflected on this… until he saw Li Xixue still provoking Murong Wan and decided to retract his earlier thoughts.
Class finally ended amid Li Xixue’s constant chatter. For the first time, Gu Junqing found a lesson unbearable, and the thought of being desk mates with Li Xixue for so long made him feel uncharacteristically hopeless.
As soon as school was out, Li Xixue switched to an unapproachable expression.
Then she came face-to-face with Murong Wan and Luo Ningyu.
Rivals meeting, eyes blazing with hostility—though they didn’t yet realize they were rivals. That didn’t stop them from disliking each other on sight.
“Gu Junqing, who is she?” Murong Wan asked icily.
Gu Junqing quickly explained that she was a childhood friend he hadn’t seen in years, so they had simply caught up for a bit. Hearing this, Murong Wan and Luo Ningyu relaxed somewhat. After all, Li Xixue had not only clung to Gu Junqing but also kept provoking them, putting them in a foul mood.
“Brother Junqing, didn’t you say I was your bestie? That you missed me so much and called me Sister Xixue?”
Beside them, Li Xixue tugged at Gu Junqing’s arm, whining pitifully.
At this, Gu Junqing really wanted to smile and say to Li Xixue:
“Could you please not be so two-faced, little sister?”
Unfortunately, he couldn’t.