After making up her mind, in order to avoid contact with Lin Youyou, the usefulness of Tang Leyan’s small circle once again became apparent.

‘Gotta cling tight to the thigh, otherwise if I’m alone I’ll probably get eaten clean by Lin Youyou before I even notice. Right now I’m the lackey of the universally adored, talented in both academics and martial arts, heavenly-beautiful Great Campus Beauty Tang and I’m practically guard-level! What’s Lin Youyou compared to that? Didn’t she just taste my body once before? Strictly speaking it wasn’t even me, I was still bean-sprout me back then. I won’t take responsibility for things I didn’t do!’

Thinking this, Fang Tong hurriedly pleaded pitifully to Chu Xinxi, “But she’s not a good person. Back when we were classmates she bullied me plenty. If she bullies me again, you have to help me, okay?”

As she spoke, Fang Tong secretly pinched her own thigh hard, squeezing out two tears.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry. Don’t worry, I won’t ignore it. Even if others would, I won’t.”

Seeing her reddened eyes, Chu Xinxi rummaged out tissues and wiped them, though nothing came off.

“Cough… I got too emotional.”

Watching Fang Tong, who was usually indifferent, react so strongly just from seeing the transfer student, Chu Xinxi assumed something terrible must have happened.

‘Bullying someone so soft and gentle? What a bad person!’ Chu Xinxi thought.

Feeling the near maternal warmth radiating from Chu Xinxi, Fang Tong’s agitation eased.

‘If Lin Youyou tried anything now, it wouldn’t be a one-on-one stomp, it’d be a 1v5 team fight! Everyone on our side is overpowered! Especially Tang Leyan, the ultimate weapon! Though Tang Leyan liked touching her too, after recalling Lin Youyou’s actions, Tang somehow felt comforting. I’m really pathetic…’

Still, even if asking Tang Leyan meant owing more favors, Fang Tong believed Tang just saw her as a friend.

‘With her popularity and model part-time work, how could she like someone as invisible as me?’

Acting immediately, Fang Tong glanced back.

Tang Leyan happened to look away from the podium and noticed.

Truthfully Tang felt a bit sour.

She’d put effort into arranging those two together as seatmates in Shang Jing’s eyes, and was proud.

With Chu Xinxi beside Xiao Tong she felt reassured.

Yet seeing them chatting closely stirred regret.

‘Had they been that close? Still, it was Chu Xinxi, she was trustworthy.’ Tang Leyan thought.

More important was the transfer student.

At first she thought it was paranoia, but now she was certain.

At least ninety percent of that scanning gaze targeted Xiao Tong.

How did she know? She herself did the same.

‘This Lin Youyou definitely had something with Xiao Tong.’

What exactly?

Would Xiao Tong tell her?

She always knew Xiao Tong’s charm would be discovered.

A new challenge on day one, love is troublesome indeed.

But after so long, Xiao Tong glanced her way first.

It was late but acceptable.

She raised her brow toward Fang Tong.

Receiving the signal, Fang Tong gestured anxiously toward the stage and empty seat behind, hands clasped pleading.

With Tang’s intelligence she’d understand, don’t let Shang Jing give the transfer student seat choice.

Otherwise Lin Youyou would sit at Xu Yanling’s place.

She’d caught Lin Youyou glancing over five times already.

‘Damn, I used to admire Yanling’s rule-breaking attitude. Twenty minutes late and still absent? If she were here, Lin couldn’t replace her seat.’

But now Shang Jing was annoyed, making the seat vulnerable.

Seeing the urgency, Tang Leyan quickly understood.

Did Xiao Tong fear the transfer student would request that seat?

It was possible and she was clearly hostile.

From first sight Tang sensed similarity, a shared target.

Yet Xiao Tong’s fear suggested deeper history.

Pride mingled with jealousy.

‘No, I must be upright! Anyone who bullied Xiao Tong deserved punishment. Still, only acting cute when needing help?’

She felt used.

Even if she had feelings and secretly rejoiced at being relied upon, the intent was too obvious.

It made her uncomfortable.

And with Xiao Tong’s current nature, when would she cozy up to her?

Opportunities like this demanded pressure.

So Tang did not agree immediately, instead waiting.

Seeing her smile, Fang Tong felt like escaping wolves only to enter tiger jaws.

But Tang was more reliable than Lin.

‘I’m not a naive idiot anymore!’

She nodded firmly.

Tang instead wrote on paper and tossed it.

Fang Tong opened it.

One word.

Compensation.

‘Do I really have to say something like Please, I’ll do anything! like in trashy adult comics before you help?’

What do you want? she wrote back.

Weekend date.

Seeing this, Fang Tong blushed.

‘Did it have to sound so suggestive?’

Tang had invited her out before, but she always refused.

If rumors spread she’d be wrapped up like a street-food roll by classmates.

This was unexpected exploitation.

But needing help, who else could resist Lin Youyou?

Just us two, and nobody we know sees us!wrote her condition.

Deal!