Chapter 102 - Just Friends

Returning to the classroom, Tang Huaijin sat back in his seat, sighed with a headache, and took out his phone to message his sister about the matter.

Bai Yuerou glanced at him curiously and softly asked, “Jin, why are you sighing?”

After editing the message to his sister and sending it, Tang Huaijin shook his head helplessly and said, “Teacher Shen wants to do a home visit.”

Before Bai Yuerou could speak, Xia Xinya chuckled gleefully from the side, poking Tang Huaijin’s back and teasingly said, “Why, rascal, did you do something bad again?”

Tang Huaijin glared at her without good humor, about to speak when Shen Yiqiu, wearing high heels, walked in expressionlessly from behind, causing him to stop talking.

As she entered, the temperature in the classroom seemed to drop slightly.

After scanning the room with a gloomy face, Shen Yiqiu’s presence quickly quieted the students.

Squinting at Tang Huaijin, Shen Yiqiu snorted coldly and began the lesson from the podium.

The classmates noticed that Teacher Shen seemed to be in a bad mood today, so they listened attentively, not daring to provoke her.

Tang Huaijin didn’t write his own book as usual; he wasn’t foolish enough to confront Teacher Shen at this moment.

Seeing Tang Huaijin obediently sitting and listening, Shen Yiqiu couldn’t find a chance to reprimand him and could only occasionally call him to answer questions.

Gradually, the students understood what was happening. Normally, Teacher Shen never blamed the Chinese representative of her class, but today, Tang Huaijin had somehow offended her.

Tang Huaijin felt helpless; this was clearly a personal vendetta. Although the questions were easy for him, being called every few minutes was exhausting.

Fortunately, after half a class, Shen Yiqiu’s anger subsided, and she earnestly continued the lesson.

At noon, the three of them walked to the cafeteria together, got their meals, and sat down. This time, Bai Yuerou didn’t call Lin Ruoxi from Class Two to join them.

Sitting down, Xia Xinya naturally took a piece of sweet and sour pork from Tang Huaijin’s plate, teasingly saying, “Hey, rascal, you haven’t told us why Teacher Shen wants to visit your home.”

Tang Huaijin rolled his eyes and said, “Teacher Shen found out about me and Yuerou being together. She told me not to date early and wants to talk to my parents. I’ve already told my sister.”

Bai Yuerou frowned slightly, puzzled, “Our Rose Elite High School usually doesn’t enforce such things, and Teacher Shen is usually nice to you…”

“Heh… Who knows.” Tang Huaijin’s mouth twitched slightly.

Listening from the side, Xia Xinya’s eyes brightened slightly, feeling a vague anticipation for Teacher Shen’s home visit.

Seeing Bai Yuerou’s worried expression, Tang Huaijin comforted her, “It’s okay. My sister knows about us; there won’t be any problems.”

Bai Yuerou relaxed a bit, smiled gently, and said softly, “That’s good.”

“…” Xia Xinya’s hopeful expression faded, and she pouted unhappily.

As the three were eating lunch, a ponytail girl suddenly sat across from them, smiling brightly, and said, “Jin, why didn’t you take the bus today? There are so many people on the bus; without you protecting me, I’m scared.”

Before Tang Huaijin could speak, Bai Yuerou gently put down her chopsticks, intimately wrapped her arm around Tang Huaijin’s, and smiled slightly, saying, “You might be disappointed. My boyfriend won’t be taking the bus anymore. There are so many people on the bus; it’s better to be safe.”

Hearing this, Xia Xinya sneaked a glance at Tang Huaijin’s profile, bit her lip, and turned away, lost in thought.

Well, young lady, you really know how to hide. Lin Ruoxi’s gaze instantly focused on the area where the fullness and arm squeezed together, her eyes slightly cold, but her face remained calm, smiling as she said, “Look at you two, so well-matched. Rou, don’t be so hostile towards me. Jin and I are friends; you wouldn’t stop him from having normal friendships, would you?”

Bai Yuerou pursed her lips, seemingly uncomfortable with her attitude but unable to say anything, her grip on Tang Huaijin’s arm tightening slightly.

Tang Huaijin noticed, sighed inwardly, hesitated for a moment, and gently held Bai Yuerou’s hand, saying, “I’m already with Rou, Lin Ruoxi.”

“Yes, I know.” Lin Ruoxi smiled slightly and said, “So, just because you’re together doesn’t mean we can’t be friends, right? Don’t worry, just ordinary friends.”

Tang Huaijin looked at her skeptically, feeling complicated, and said softly, “Okay, ordinary friends, but we must maintain a normal distance between men and women.”

Lin Ruoxi nodded cheerfully, “Yes, just ordinary friends, like the distance with Xia Xinya.”

Xia Xinya, eating quietly, was taken aback, not expecting the conflict to involve her.

As expected, I knew this stubborn girl wouldn’t give up easily. Tang Huaijin’s face darkened, refusing, “No.”

“Why?” Lin Ruoxi asked with a puzzled expression, “Isn’t Xia Xinya also your friend? Why doesn’t she need to keep a distance?”

Xia Xinya’s face turned red, stammering to say something, but Bai Yuerou interrupted.

Bai Yuerou squinted her eyes, smiled slightly, and said, “You’re an ex-girlfriend. Haven’t you heard the saying that a qualified ex should be as quiet as if dead?”

“Heh.” Lin Ruoxi seemed indifferent to her words, still smiling as she said, “You shouldn’t be so double-standard. Jin is always active in my heart, but if you say it’s because of the ex-girlfriend status that you don’t want to be friends, I’m quite happy.”

Seeing Bai Yuerou’s slightly surprised expression, Lin Ruoxi’s lips curled into a smile, looking at Tang Huaijin, she said softly, “That means your Jin hasn’t let go of me yet, maybe he still likes me.”

This was blatant provocation, saying in front of Bai Yuerou that Tang Huaijin liked her was already very malicious. Even with Bai Yuerou’s good temper, she couldn’t help but get angry, “Watch your words; I’m Tang Huaijin’s girlfriend.”

Lin Ruoxi’s expression froze slightly, but her eyes flashed with a hint of triumph, smiling as she said, “Oh, just joking with you, why so anxious?”

“I’m just teasing, purely friends, don’t worry, Rou.”

Bai Yuerou snorted coldly, not speaking, not believing Lin Ruoxi’s nonsense.

Tang Huaijin felt quite troubled, soothingly patting Bai Yuerou’s hand, softly saying, “Alright, don’t be angry, let’s eat.”

In front of outsiders, he still had to play the role of a boyfriend. After hesitating slightly, he picked up a piece of pork for Bai Yuerou, softly saying, “Rou, have some pork, it tastes good.”

Hearing the tenderness in his voice, Bai Yuerou felt slightly better, nodded obediently, and ate the pork, her face gradually showing a sweet smile.

Lin Ruoxi knew Tang Huaijin was doing this deliberately for her to see, but her heart was still sour. Facing Bai Yuerou’s gaze, she could only put on a smiling face, pretending not to care.

Xia Xinya’s mind was now in chaos. She knew Lin Ruoxi’s intentions, and with Miss Xia’s loyal personality, she should support her best friend. But for some reason, she didn’t argue with Lin Ruoxi, just ate quietly without speaking.

Noticing Lin Ruoxi’s playful gaze, Xia Xinya felt even more guilty, glaring at her with a somewhat fierce but timid look.