"Since the class monitor is treating us to dinner, Ding Xiaoyu, don't be so polite," Xia Xiang said from behind the group, "If you don't mind, I can join you too."

"It wasn't me who invited him, it was him!" Jin Baosan exclaimed as he turned around. "Ah! Sister Xiangxiang, what a coincidence?"

"What a coincidence!" Xia Xiang was instantly delighted. "I'm so lucky to have a meal treated by the class monitor."

"Haha, it's a misunderstanding!" Jin Baosan quickly pleaded for forgiveness.

"Doesn't Class 1 have a tradition of treating new classmates to a meal? I'll call and ask the boss," Xia Xiang said, taking her phone out of her backpack.

"Yes, yes, please!" Jin Baosan gestured an invitation, but his heart was bleeding.

How could this person be like this! Just because he knows Wang Da Dong, he acts all smug and arrogant! What a despicable person!!!

Xia Xiang: I saved my timid and introverted male classmate effortlessly.

Ding Xiaoyu: You're not wrong, I hate violence the most.

——

Xia Xiang silently followed the group, occasionally giving perfunctory answers to Jin Baosan and the others' strange questions.

"Thank you for helping me today. This is the third time." Ding Xiaoyu saw that she was frowning and looking impatient, so she changed the subject.

"No need to thank me, it was my fault for meddling," Xia Xiang said, a slight smirk playing on her lips.

“I know you, you little devil. Even if I hadn’t interfered today, you wouldn’t have been bullied by Jin Baosan and his gang.”

"Have we met before?" Ding Xiaoyu asked.

Why was her gaze so complicated? There was a strange sense of familiarity mixed with a deliberate distance.

“I grew up abroad and this is my first time back, so I’m not sure if we’ve met before.”

Ding Xiaoyu nodded seriously and said calmly, "We probably haven't met before. If I had met you before, I wouldn't have no recollection of you."

Xia Xiang: ? ? ?

"I mean, my memory is pretty good," Ding Xiaoyu explained casually.

As they were talking, the food stall arrived—

"Xiangxiang, there's a super delicious giant mango shaved ice here!" Jinbao said obsequiously, turning his head to see Wang Dadong and Wang Yase sitting together.

"Ah! Dong-ge, King Arthur, how did you two end up together!"

Wang Dadong: "Jin Baosan! Who says we can't eat ice cream together?"

Xia Xiang and Ding Xiaoyu arrived to find this scene.

"Xiangxiang, didn't you say you went back? How come you're here, and with this new classmate?" Wang Dadong asked, somewhat surprised.

"Oh, Class Monitor Bao is treating us new classmates to ice cream, of course we have to give him face."

Xia Xiang moved a chair to their table and called Ding Xiaoyu over as well.

"Are you two very close? You were so protective of him this morning? And now you're having supper together?" Wang Yase asked Xia Xiang with a strange look in his eyes.

Could he be her boyfriend? His taste is so weird, liking this kind of goofy, simple-minded guy?

“We’re not close, and you don’t need to know about me.” Xia Xiang was a little unhappy and glared at Wang Yase. “New classmate, we should still maintain some social distance.”