Chapter 12

On the third floor, in the boys' restroom of the senior high school, two boys were washing their hands. One of them said, "Hey, have you heard? There's a new figure at our school. They say even Brother Bing dares not provoke him."

"Of course, I know," the other replied mysteriously, "Do you know who he's with?"

"Huh? You know that too? Who is it?"

The other boy said smugly, "Hehe, Baihe Chasi! Such a formidable person, can Brother Bing provoke him?"

His classmate gasped and said, "No way... So that's why Brother Bing backed off. That guy has such a strong backer. Hey, do you know how he and Brother Bing got into it?"

He only knew that something happened the day before yesterday. A guy from their school fought with Brother Bing and a few hooligans, came out unscathed, and later Brother Bing tried to find out more about the guy, saying he would cripple one of his hands. After that, it was said that Brother Bing was scolded by his boss, and the matter was dropped. But he still didn't know the cause of the incident.

The guy beside him became even more smug and said, raising his eyebrows, "You don't know? It's because he couldn't resist the beauty. He took the girl Brother Bing had his eye on."

The other group in the restroom got excited and asked, "Hey, who are you talking about?"

"It's Wang Bo from Class 2-7, nicknamed Wang Dali. The day before yesterday, at Shuiqiao Scenery Garden, he fought eight guys and won."

"Oh, him. Who's his girlfriend?"

"I don't know, but she's from our school. They say she's quite fair-skinned and devoted to him. She didn't betray him even after being beaten up. It's not easy."

"What are you guys talking about so enthusiastically?" A new boy who had just entered the restroom asked, then passed the news back to the classroom. By lunchtime, the gossip had spread almost throughout the entire school.

During the lunch break, Wang Bo was walking around the school. People he knew would nod and greet him, while those he didn't know would point at the band-aid on his eyebrow and whisper, making him feel puzzled.

In the classroom of Class 2-7, a few girls who were well-informed gathered to discuss the incident, exaggerating Wang Bo's fight against eight guys as if they had seen it with their own eyes. One girl said wistfully, "I wonder who that mysterious girl is. They must love each other deeply."

Yu Jia casually asked, "By the way, Lu Lu, weren't you having tutoring nearby? Did you see them that day?"

Lu Lu, who had been listening with bated breath, suddenly trembled and shook her head, saying, "No, I didn't see them."

A girl from the same tutoring class said, "Lu Lu was absent that day, she didn't come."

The girls discussing the matter were stunned for a moment, and the one who spoke felt something was off. The lively scene suddenly quieted down, and everyone looked at Lu Lu. Her pale cheeks turned red instantly, and her eyes blinked rapidly. She steeled herself and said, "What are you looking at? I just had something to do and didn't go to tutoring."

Yu Jia immediately thought of Lu Lu's strange behavior when she met Wang Bo that morning. She stared at her and asked, "You're that mysterious girl?"

Lu Lu lowered her head and didn't speak, her face turning even redder. She hadn't expected the rumors to spread so quickly and to involve her so soon. Seeing her tacit acknowledgment, the others were enlightened, and their curiosity flared up. They crowded around her, asking for details about that day.

Lu Lu couldn't resist the pressure and stammered a few words. Later, unable to bear it, she slammed her hand on the desk and said, "Enough! I really have nothing to do with him! It was just an accident, and I was just coincidentally saved by him!"

The classroom fell silent. Wang Bo happened to walk in and heard this, staring at her, thinking: Didn't we agree not to tell anyone?

The girls immediately left Lu Lu and went to ask Wang Bo what had really happened and how far things had progressed between him and Lu Lu.

Wang Bo couldn't handle the situation and kept looking at Lu Lu for help, unsure whether to speak or not. How did they know so much? What was going on?

Lu Lu took a deep breath, walked over, and grabbed Wang Bo's hand, pulling him out of the crowd. "Come with me."

She dragged Wang Bo out of the classroom, and the group of girls followed to the door. Liu Yan and Jin Xiaoli, who had just returned from lunch, saw this scene. Lu Lu's eyes met theirs, but she ignored them and continued to pull Wang Bo towards the stairs.

Seeing this, Liu Yan's face darkened, and Jin Xiaoli asked the girls at the door, "What's going on? Why did Wang Bo get pulled away by Lu Lu?"

The girls chattered, recounting the gossip they had heard. The story had taken a different turn, with the heroic rescue part being downplayed and the tragic love story being more popular. Since the parties involved hadn't clarified the situation, Liu Yan's face grew increasingly grim as she listened.

She walked back to her seat in a daze, took out her homework, but couldn't write a single word, just staring blankly.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Jin Xiaoli nudged her, "Do you believe in rumors? We don't even know what really happened. You know how girls can gossip. They can turn a rumor into solid evidence. I don't think it's that complicated. If they really had something going on, wouldn't it be obvious?"

"I'm not worried about what happened before," Liu Yan said dully, "I'm just thinking about what might happen in the future."

Jin Xiaoli smiled slightly, "Are you worried? Still won't admit you have a crush on him? Finally, the truth is out?"

"Hmph," Liu Yan plopped onto her desk, pouting and poking her chubby arm, "You still have the heart to tease me. What if they really get together? What do we do then?"

"If you're worried, go check it out," Jin Xiaoli said nonchalantly, "Actually, Wang Bo owes Lu Lu a favor, and you owe Wang Bo a favor. If you really compare, you're not at a disadvantage. If you put yourself out there, you might have a good chance."

"Compete? I don't want to," Liu Yan spat, "No girl chases a boy. Giving him a chance is enough."

"That's not necessarily true," Jin Xiaoli said, stirring the pot, "Lu Lu might already be confessing. It's no wonder. Which girl wouldn't be moved by such a thing? It all depends on Wang Bo's resolve. But I doubt it. A girl like Lu Lu, who is so proud, is like a goddess to boys. If she confesses..."

As she spoke, she saw Liu Yan suddenly stand up and rush out of the classroom like a gust of wind. Jin Xiaoli was stunned for a moment and muttered, "I went too far."

Beside the library of Guanglin High School, there was a small grove of trees, a quiet place. Lu Lu brought Wang Bo there. They walked quickly, and her chest heaved as she panted. Wang Bo stopped behind her and asked, "How did everyone find out about that? I didn't tell anyone except my parents."

"I don't know how it spread," Lu Lu said coolly, recounting what had happened at lunch, then asked, "What are you going to do?"

"What do you mean, what am I going to do?" Wang Bo asked, confused, "Even if I say it didn't happen, who would believe me?"

"That's not what I mean!" Lu Lu turned around sharply, "They're saying I'm your girlfriend. What are you going to do about it?"

She couldn't bring herself to say "girlfriend" and used "woman" to convey the seriousness of the rumor.

Wang Bo was stunned by the question, staring at her heaving chest, unable to speak for a moment, and swallowed involuntarily.

Lu Lu glared at him angrily, "Are you deaf?"

Wang Bo hesitated and said, "I'll go and explain to them that we're not like that."

"Can you explain to the whole school?" Lu Lu pressed.

This had become school news and wasn't easy to clear up. Even if the parties involved denied it, the rumor would stick. They were in a bind.

Wang Bo scratched his head and said, "What can I do? I really can't think of anything."

"Do you have a crush on anyone?" Lu Lu asked coolly.

Wang Bo said urgently, "What does that have to do with this?"

"Just answer my question, do you or not?" Lu Lu stared at him, trying to read his thoughts.

"No, no," Wang Bo's face turned slightly red. He had a crush on someone, but he would never admit it.

Regardless of whether he was telling the truth, Lu Lu felt a bit relieved and ordered him, "Find a girlfriend quickly. Then everyone will know we're not together, and the rumors will be cleared up."

"What, what!" Wang Bo stammered, "Where am I supposed to find one? It's not that easy. You're making it sound so simple. You're already being called my girlfriend. Which girl would want to date me? Besides, you're so popular. Isn't it easier for you to find a boyfriend? Why make it hard for me?"

"You're so tough now, who would dare to provoke me?" Lu Lu said disdainfully, "If that doesn't work, you can find someone to act. Can't you do such a small thing? Are you not a man?"

Wang Bo said, suppressing his anger, "It's not that I don't want to, but it's not as easy as you think. Even if I find someone to pretend, they have to be willing to help."

"I can help," a clear voice said from the side. Wang Bo turned his head and saw a pretty girl with short, neat hair standing under a tree, smiling at him.