Shi Chen sat directly opposite Pei Zhi, his eyes crinkling with a smile, a hint of amusement flashing in them. "Pei Zhi, I never would have guessed you were quite..."

Pei Zhi immediately interrupted him, "Eat quickly, I'm starving."

He picked up a mouthful of white rice with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, his eyes glued to the dishes on top. He mumbled, his words slightly slurred, "Aren't you usually quite arrogant? How can you tolerate them talking such nonsense?"

He didn't look at anyone or name names, but everyone knew who he was talking to.

A moment of silence fell over the table.

Two seconds later, a voice came from the other end: "I don't care."

Jiang Cheng spoke casually, as if he were the one being pointed at.

Pei Zhi scoffed, "Where's your enthusiasm for going against me?"

"When have I ever opposed you?" Jiang Cheng retorted.

Pei Zhi paused, his hand holding the chopsticks still.

It seems that Jiang Cheng has never caused him any trouble; it's just that he can't stand Jiang Cheng.

Pei Zhi pursed his lips, snorted, and said with a hint of disdain, "If it were me, I would have beaten up whoever spread the rumor long ago. I'd consider it a loss if I didn't beat him to a pulp."

After saying that, he lowered his head and shoveled rice into his mouth without looking at Jiang Cheng.

“Hitting someone is a serious offense.” Jiang Cheng glanced at him sideways. “You’ll also get a demerit and have to write a self-criticism.”

Pei Zhi: "..."

Has his memory improved significantly?

Just as Pei Zhi was about to retort, Jiang Cheng spoke up: "Besides, that's not a rumor."

Pei Zhi stopped eating abruptly.

Everyone else at the table was also taken aback, including Pei Xi.

She didn't expect Jiang Cheng to not just cover it up, but to admit it directly.

She looked up at Jiang Cheng's face. He had a calm expression and was eating slowly, his eyes lowered so that her expression was not visible.

The table was quiet for a while. Pei Zhi turned to look at Jiang Cheng, his chopsticks unconsciously poking at the Kung Pao Chicken on the plate, as if trying to poke a hole in it.

He looked away after only two seconds, his eyes filled with a complex and unpredictable emotion.

Pei Zhi didn't say anything more until the end of the meal.

The group cleared away their plates and then dispersed.

Pei Xi and Shen Miaoyi went to the supermarket to buy drinks. The three boys split up and each went about their own business.

Shi Chen went to the basketball court to play, Jiang Cheng went back to the classroom to catch up on sleep, and Pei Zhi... went to the restroom.

After coming out of the restroom, Pei Zhi rolled up his sleeves and bent down to wash his hands at the sink. Suddenly, someone next to him called out, "Brother Zhi."

Pei Zhi was taken aback. He rubbed his hands together and looked over. A person who had just finished washing his hands was leaning against the sink, smiling at him.

This person was short and thin, with a narrow neck, a large head, small eyes, and a protruding mouth, resembling a shaved monkey, making him highly recognizable.

Pei Zhi frowned and asked, "Zhao Xiangming?"

Zhao Xiangming nodded somewhat obsequiously, "It's me, it's me."

Pei Zhi didn't have a good impression of this person, so he didn't give him a friendly look either, and asked somewhat impatiently, "What is it?"

Zhao Xiangming rubbed his hands together, a fawning look appearing on his face. "Brother Zhi, have you heard about the scoop I've been dropping lately?"

Pei Zhi frowned even more deeply.

He knew Zhao Xiangming was referring to Jiang Cheng, so he lowered his head, looked at the water flowing from the tap, and gave a soft "hmm."

Zhao Xiangming chuckled, looked up at him, and leaned closer. "Brother Zhi, don't you hate him? Does what I'm doing mean I'm helping you?"

Pei Zhi paused, then snapped the tap shut.

The friction of metal produced a piercing noise.

"Who said we're buddies?"

"Do I need your help?"

Is it interesting to spread other people's privacy?

Pei Zhi fired off three questions in quick succession, and Zhao Xiangming's smile froze. He opened his mouth, but remained silent for several seconds.

He glanced at Pei Zhi's expression and was momentarily confused.

Zhao Xiangming is a very cunning person. He likes to flatter the powerful and belittle the weak in order to gain a sense of presence among his classmates.

The reason he dared to spread this matter so recklessly was because he knew that Jiang Cheng's family was poor and had no background. Even if he talked until the end, Jiang Cheng couldn't do anything to him.

But Pei Zhi is different.

Pei Zhi is the kind of person he can't afford to offend; he's the one who needs to curry favor with.

He had known for a long time that Pei Zhi and Jiang Cheng were at odds. When he spread this news, besides wanting to mess with Jiang Cheng and make his presence known at school, he also had a part of his intention to please Pei Zhi.

But Pei Zhi's reaction left Zhao Xiangming somewhat bewildered.

Shouldn't he be happy, then smile, pat him on the shoulder, and say, "Well done, bro"?

Zhao Xiangming looked up at Pei Zhi and realized that Pei Zhi's expression had been very bad from the beginning, almost gloomy.

He was clearly in a bad mood.

While he was thinking, Pei Zhi had already turned around and was facing Zhao Xiangming.

He was a head and a half taller than Zhao Xiangming. When he looked down at Zhao, it was like an adult looking down at a child, which was very intimidating.

"Zhao Xiangming, you're a scoundrel yourself, don't fucking drag me into this."

Pei Zhi's tone was extremely sarcastic. After speaking, he glanced at him, turned around, and strode away.