“Students who sweated a lot just now, go to the washroom to rinse off and change into clean clothes. Later we’ll eat at Mingxiang Restaurant across from the school!”

Seeing it was about lunchtime, Han Yuanfeng stopped chatting with the Second-Year Class 6 homeroom teacher and called out to his students.

Hearing this, several students whose clothes were soaked with sweat took out their prepared change of clothes and headed to the washroom to shower.

Lin Zichen and Shen Qinghan didn’t go since they hadn’t sweated much and were still clean.

* * *

About ten minutes later.

The students who went to shower returned.

Seeing everyone was back, Han Yuanfeng told them to grab their belongings and get ready to eat.

Before leaving, he looked at the Second-Year Class 6 homeroom teacher and smiled, “Brother Jie, after I bring my students to eat, I’ll send you the bill on WeChat, remember to pay up.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll honor the bet. I won’t cheat you.”

“Quick, everyone say thank you to Brother Jie.”

“Thank you Brother Jie!!!”

The First-Year Class 1 students laughed as they shouted.

* * *

Mingxiang Restaurant.

First floor, Han Yuanfeng booked a large private room with three big tables, just enough to seat the whole class.

During the meal, everyone recalled the duels in the gymnasium.

Talking about who performed well in class.

Talking about who was especially tough on the other side.

The most discussed was Lin Zichen’s match against the fat boy.

With Lu Gang being instantly defeated by the fat boy in the previous round as contrast, Lin Zichen kicking the fat boy off stage was especially shocking.

Whenever they thought about it, the word “awesome” appeared in their minds.

Except for Lu Gang, in his mind the words were ‘I’m done.’

In the last round he was instantly defeated by the fat boy, in the next, Lin Zichen instantly defeated the fat boy.

The back-to-back comparison turned him into a background character.

Pain, unbearable pain!

Who can understand the pain of accidentally becoming a background character and being remembered like that!

Lu Gang roared in his heart.

On the other side, Han Yuanfeng stood up with a beer, raising his glass to the room, “Thanks to Zichen, we got this free meal today. Come, everyone, raise your glass to him!”

“Zichen’s awesome!”

“Awesome!”

“Brother Chen is mighty!”

The students all raised their drinks, smiling as they toasted Lin Zichen.

Even those boys who once disliked him out of jealousy were now smiling, eager to be on good terms.

Lin Zichen’s performance on stage had been too strong. In the future, he could become a Gene Fuser, with limitless potential.

Everyone realized this, wanting to get close to him, thinking maybe they could cling to a powerful old classmate someday.

After all, first-year students were generally 16 years old, nearly adults.

Even if they sometimes acted childish, they understood basic pros and cons.

Not dumb enough to avoid befriending a genius and instead make him an enemy.

“Brother Chen, how do you usually train at home? Got any secrets?”

“By the way Brother Chen, I don’t think we’ve added each other on WeChat yet, let’s add now.”

“Brother Chen, I posted a video of your match with the fat boy on Moments. My older sister saw it and wants to meet you. She’s a senior in the Elite Martial Arts Class.”

“….”

After the toasts, the conversation centered around Lin Zichen.

Many turned to talk with him, flattering him, trying to grow closer.

Lin Zichen felt they were too enthusiastic, a bit uncomfortable, even annoyed.

But since it was a social meal, he just smiled and gave minimal responses.

Meanwhile, Shen Qinghan by his side mostly stayed quiet, listening calmly.

She refilled his drink when empty.

She peeled shrimp and placed them in his bowl.

Quiet and considerate, embodying the perfect image of the gentle girl next door.

“Tsk tsk, Qinghan, you’re so virtuous. Whoever marries you in the future will be truly blessed, like their ancestors’ graves are smoking with luck.”

Seeing Shen Qinghan peel shrimp for Lin Zichen, Han Yuanfeng, a bit tipsy, teased her.

Li Chuxin smiled at Lin Zichen, “Zichen, truly blessed, huh!”

Lin Zichen only smiled silently.

Shen Qinghan blushed, lowered her head in shyness and quietly ate, pretending nothing happened.

Thankfully, the topic quickly passed.

Everyone ate, drank and chatted without paying further attention to her.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

* * *

Half an hour later, everyone was full.

But no one left.

They chatted enthusiastically in the room.

Shen Qinghan picked up an orange to peel for Lin Zichen, to ease his after-meal greasiness.

Just halfway through peeling, a sudden urge to pee hit.

Sudden and urgent.

‘Why does my body have this flaw, it’s so annoying…’

She felt troubled.

She leaned toward Lin Zichen and whispered, “Xiao Chen, I’m going to the restroom.”

“Mm, go.”

He responded.

She put down the orange, pressed her legs together tightly and quickly walked to the restroom.

At the door, she heard familiar voices.

Two girls from class were chatting.

“Did you see? Shen Qinghan was pouring drinks and peeling shrimp for Lin Zichen again, totally like a servant girl, always waiting on him.”

“Of course, how else do you think she got into the elite class? By constantly flattering Lin Zichen, pleasing him and using his connections to get in.”

“Jealous, I wish I had a genius childhood friend like Lin Zichen.”

“What’s there to be jealous about? She can lick boots in school, but once Lin Zichen meets excellent women after entering society, he won’t care about her.”

“True, with their strength gap so big, they’re destined to drift apart.”

“….”

Outside the restroom, Shen Qinghan listened, feeling miserable.

She wanted to say, she was Lin Zichen’s childhood friend, not his servant girl.

But her timid nature stopped her.

Just as she turned to leave for another floor, the two girls came out.

Seeing her, their faces stiffened in embarrassment.

Pretending not to notice her, they quickly walked past.

“Not a servant girl, a childhood friend…”

Shen Qinghan pursed her lips, her voice full of humility, sadness and growing heaviness.