Chapter Twenty-Two: The Nemesis of All Boys

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Qin Anyi scratched his head. He knew perfectly well what Yang Cheng wanted to thank him for, but that matter had truly been nothing more than a simple favor on his part, hardly worth mentioning. Besides, he had already agreed to be Wang Yiran’s personal coach and had received such a generous payment; his after-school hours no longer belonged to him, and a sense of professional ethics demanded that he honor that commitment.

So Qin Anyi naturally turned to Wang Yiran. In his understanding, the time Yang Cheng had requested was already within the scope Wang Yiran had purchased, so it was only right to ask his employer's opinion.

Wang Yiran smiled gently and said softly, “Go ahead. Just remember to be home before seven. The evening hours are precious and shouldn’t be wasted lightly.”

“Phew!”

“Did I hear that right?!”

“Howl, howl, howl!”

A cacophony of strange shouts surged through the room like a tidal wave. Only then did Qin Anyi realize what had happened. Though his actions and Wang Yiran’s words seemed perfectly reasonable from their perspective, outsiders who lacked knowledge of their arrangement were bound to interpret things differently…

To others, it appeared as if he were seeking his girlfriend’s permission, and Wang Yiran’s answer seemed even more ambiguous. No doubt those lewd-minded classmates had already jumped to certain conclusions—especially since the two had just gone on a date yesterday…

If it were actually so, that would be one thing. But he was innocent, hadn’t taken advantage of anything… Wang Yiran’s answer had simply thrust him onto the hot seat, making him the enemy of every boy at Changqing No. 1 High!

What made Qin Anyi even more exasperated was that he couldn’t explain himself… Should he say he was merely Wang Yiran’s coach, training her in martial arts? Even if he did, everyone would just think it was a euphemism for something else…

Often, the more truthful something is, the less people believe it. People are used to lies and concealment, and they’ll seek out whatever “facts” best suit their desires, turning a blind eye to reality.

Qin Anyi cast a mournful glance at Wang Yiran, his face streaming with imaginary tears. There should at least be a limit to such mischief… Was it really so amusing to toy with him like this?

He forced a smile and said, “No need for all that trouble. Let me treat you instead. It’s not a man’s place to let a girl pay.”

“It’s… it’s no problem. You’ve helped me so much, I have to show my gratitude. If I don’t express it, I’ll feel uneasy inside,” Yang Cheng said, pursing her lips. The awkward situation had left her mood somewhat soured; she lowered her head, not daring to look up.

Qin Anyi continued, “Then it’s settled. Wait for me after school.”

With that, Yang Cheng scampered back to her seat. Because she was so short and her grades were top-tier, she sat in the very first row, which conveniently hid her expression from most classmates.

As Qin Anyi returned to his own seat, he glanced at Yang Cheng. For some reason, he thought he could detect a hint of disappointment on her carefully composed face…

“Damn it, Qin Anyi, you shameless bastard! How long are you going to hide things from your buddy? There’s no justice in this world. How did I end up knowing such a beast!” As soon as Qin Anyi sat down, Wei Dong began shouting and pounding him on the shoulder, wearing an expression of utter anguish—as if he’d encountered a mortal enemy.

“Me? How am I shameless? How am I a beast?” Qin Anyi looked at Wei Dong in confusion. This desk mate’s acting was superb; who knew how he’d honed such a skill?

“Still trying to hide it? Tell me! Did you finally make a move on Wang Yiran last night? What’s she like? You really are a wolf in sheep’s clothing. While countless guys can’t even get close to her, you’ve managed to win her over! Amazing! You’re truly worthy of being my brother. Come on, give me the details, and I’ll forgive you for keeping secrets from me.”

After a couple of loud accusations, Wei Dong suddenly lowered his head and grinned lewdly, looking just like one of those creepy uncles from certain movies.

Qin Anyi, both amused and helpless, pried Wei Dong’s arm off his shoulder and rolled his eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. There’s nothing between Yiran and me.”

“Come on. Wang Yiran’s always polite and friendly, but she keeps a strict distance from boys. This is the first time she’s been so close to a guy. And she herself said you should be at her house before seven, that her time is precious. My grades may not be stella