Faced with Zhuang Zi'ang's question, Su Yudiel didn't answer directly. Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes widened, and she stared into Zhuang Zi'ang's eyes. "Tell me the truth, do you have a secret you're hiding from me?"

  Zhuang Zi'ang's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly averted her gaze. Yes, he had a huge secret that he didn't dare tell Little Butterfly. He had no future.

  Zhuang Zi'ang's guilty reaade Su Yudiel giggle. "What are you afraid of? I'm not f you to tell me. Everyone has secrets. If you don't want to talk about them, that's perfectly fine!"

  Zhuang Zi'ang raised his eyes, smiled with relief, a a surge of gratitude towards Little Butterfly. That's right, everyone has secrets, and it's not necessary to reveal them all. If she didn't want to talk, he shouldn't pressure her. When she was ready, she would tell him. Even if the name ‘Su Yudiel’ was fake, the person standing before him was real. As long as they cherished each other and ehe present, that was enough.

  They ate their ice cream and chatted about random things. Little Butterfly chattered on, telling y jokes she had read somewhere. As usual, she started ughing before she even got to the pune. Zhuang Zi'ang watched her quietly, a smile naturally f on his lips.

  Most of the time, this girl was so optimistid cheerful as if she didn't have a care in the world. At the same time, she was also deeply emotional, capable her eyes out over the death of a stray cat, so pitiful that it would melt even the coldest heart. When Zhuang Zi'ang was with her, he could temporarily fet about the pain in his life. She was sweet like honey, but also deadly like poison.

  Suddenly, a few boys approached and sat down by the flower bed.

  "Zhuang Zi'ang, the exams are ing up, and you're still in the mood to hang out with a girl a ice cream?"

  The speaker was Deng Haijun from Css 15. He sistently ranked first in his css. The others with him were also top students from different csses. However, because of Zhuang Zi'ang's exceptional performahey could only take turns being sed p the grade.

  Zhuang Zi'ang was like that arrogant kid in a game, standing at the peak and shouting down to the others. "Keep trying, everyone! Good luck getting sed pce! I'm rooting for you!"

  In school exams, they all tried their best to surpass Zhuang Zi'ang, wanting to taste the feeling of being number one. But when they represehe school in petitions, they were often teammates, w together under Zhuang Zi'ang's leadership t glory to the school. So, their retionship was a bit like that of frenemies.

  "Haijun, I hear you're aiming for first p the grade?" Zhuang Zi'ang teased.

  "Of course, whie of us isn't aiming for first pce?" Deng Haijun snapped.

  Before each exam, they all geared up, determio take down Zhuang Zi'ang. But when the results were annouhey were all like defeated roosters with their tails between their legs. This guy was just too good.

  Zhuang Zi'ang thought for a moment and said with a smile, "Since we're such good buddies, how about I let you have it this time? I could just skip the exams."

  "Skip the exams? Could you bear to do that?" Deng Haijun was surprised.

  "I've been sg off tely. I don't feel like taking the exams," Zhuang Zi'ang said, feigning nonce.

  The other top students exged plicated gnces.

  "It sounds like you're doing us a favor."

  "I want to beat you fair and square, not have you chi out."

  "I've never believed that you're uable. I'm going to win against you at least once before we graduate."

  ...

  These top students had a sense of mutual resped admiration. They had also heard that Zhuang Zi'ang was going through some difficulties, frequently missing csses. So they had agreed to e and find him, hoping to ence him to pete fairly.

  Su Yudiel, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. "Zhuang Zi'ang, you're that good at your studies?"

  Zhuang Zi'ang chuckled. "Not really, I just happen to look good pared to these guys."

  Deng Haijun and the others looked embarrassed. Are you talking about us? Haven't you ever heard of not kig someone when they're down?

  Su Yudiel patted Zhuang Zi'ang's shoulder. "Why would you skip the exams? You o take them ahem all."

  "Who are you? You talk big," Deng Haijun said, gng at Su Yudiel. This top student was a bit i his eyes, girls were not divided into beautiful ly. Even someone as pretty as Su Yudiel was just an obstacle on his path to academic success. He thought Zhuang Zi'ang hanging around with a girl was a sign of him sg off.

  The old Zhuang Zi'ang was actually quite humble. Every time he took the first pce, he always said it was luck, encing others to do their best. But now, it's time to unleash his true self.

  He looked at Su Yudiel. "You really wao get first pce?"

  Su Yudiel nodded. "Of course."

  "If I get first pce, will you agree to do something for me?"

  "If it's not too unreasonable, I'll sider it."

  Hearing this, Zhuang Zi'ang's gaze sharpened. A smile appeared on his lips. He stood up and looked down at Deng Haijun and the others sitting by the flower bed.

  "With all due respect, in my opinion, you all suck!"

  His words were clear, sharp, and incredibly arrogant.

  Little Butterfly burst into ughter.

  Deng Haijun and the others turned red with anger, wanting to tear Zhuang Zi'ang apart.

  "Damn, you're really looking down on us."

  "I won't be able to rest until I've ground you into the dust."

  "Where's my sword? I'll tear him limb from limb."

  ...

  Seeing their indignant expressions, Zhuang Zi'ang also ughed. He patted Deng Haijun's shoulder. "Didn't you want a fair petition? I won't go easy on you."

  Deng Haijun punched him lightly. "Don't get ahead of yourself. I've been studying like crazy this month."

  The css bell rang.

  Zhuang Zi'ang and Su Yudiel walked upstairs together, separating at the er of the sed floor.

  "Dummy, you do it!"

  "Same to you."

  Deng Haijun and the others, who were following behind, heard Su Yudiel's niame for Zhuang Zi'ang and were once again speechless. If he's a dummy, what are we?

  After the st css iernoon, the school dismissed the students a bit ter than usual because they had to set up the exam rooms. Zhuang Zi'ang checked the time. It was already past 6:10 PM.

  He couldn't help but message Little Butterfly: "Did you get on the bus?"

  Little Butterfly quickly replied: "Yes, see you tomorrow."

  Zhuang Zi'ang had nothing else to do, so he decided to check out his assigned exam room. Each had 30 seats, with the examinee's name and student ID number pasted oht er of each desk. The schoed the exam rooms based on the number of strokes iudents' surnames. Zhuang Zi'ang's neighb examinees also had the surname Zhuang.

  Zhuang Zi'ang ted. Zhuang has six strokes, Su has seven. Su Yudiel's exam room should be nearby. He searched the s further down and soon found the exam room for students with the surname Su.

  He checked each desk, from the first to the st, over and ain. There was no student named Su Yudiel.

  Zhuang Zi'ang stood in the exam room, stunned for several minutes. He repyed every moment since he met Su Yudiel in his mind. More and more things didn't add up.

  Little Butterfly, what are you hiding from me?