Chapter 4: Such a Double Standard
While Wang Haoran was communicating with the system, Xu Muyan also arrived at the classroom.
Chu Bai immediately stopped staring at Wang Haoran and ran over to Xu Muyan with a big smile.
For some reason, Chu Bai had shaved his once shoulder-length hair into a very short buzz cut. This hairstyle was not something that an average-looking person could pull off, as it highlighted all the flaws on one’s face. Chu Bai, with his ordinary looks, was a prime example of this.
When he laughed heartily, he really did look a bit ugly. However, seeing him smile so brightly, and with no mirror in front of him, he was obviously unaware of it.
“Classmate Xu, you’re here! There’s still some time before the morning class starts. I have a lot of study questions I want to ask you. Do you have time?” Chu Bai asked Xu Muyan with a smile.
“Yes, I do.”
As the class monitor and a kind-hearted person, Xu Muyan would never refuse a classmate who wanted to ask her study questions.
“Come, come, let’s go to your seat. I’ll help you with your backpack,” Chu Bai offered enthusiastically.
“No need,” Xu Muyan shook her head.
“If it weren’t for your tutoring, my grades wouldn’t have jumped from the bottom ten of the class to the middle. Helping you with small things is the least I can do.”
“You’re naturally smart. What I explained was mostly what the teacher covered in class. If you listen carefully, your grades will definitely be good.”
“No, no, it’s mainly because classmate Xu is so beautiful that I can absorb everything you teach.”
Xu Muyan couldn’t help but feel a bit shy at the compliment.
Chu Bai took the opportunity to reach for Xu Muyan’s backpack, trying to accidentally touch her hand in the process. However, he didn’t succeed.
Wang Haoran watched this scene and couldn’t help but sigh.
One must admit, at a young age, having a thick-skinned approach really helps boys in pursuing girls. Chu Bai was just like that.
Wang Haoran knew that Chu Bai’s academic improvement was entirely due to his ability to see through things. The last exam was purely a result of cheating. Clinging to Xu Muyan for tutoring was just an excuse to pursue her.
Seeing through all this, Wang Haoran couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.
When Chu Bai was about to sit at Xu Muyan’s female deskmate’s seat, Wang Haoran approached with an exercise book and directly asked:
“Xu Muyan, you did the math problems assigned by the teacher yesterday, right?”
“I did, but I’m not sure if my answers are correct,” Xu Muyan replied. She no longer disliked Wang Haoran and naturally answered his study-related questions.
“I also wrote down some answers, but I’m not sure if they’re right. Want to compare and discuss?”
“Sure!” Xu Muyan eagerly nodded.
“Classmate Xu, I was here first,” Chu Bai interrupted.
“Just a moment, okay?” Xu Muyan wanted to discuss the math problem with Wang Haoran first.
This math problem was very difficult, beyond high school math knowledge, and was a challenge exclusive to top students. Probably only Wang Haoran and Xu Muyan in the class would attempt this math problem after class.
Wang Haoran’s proposal to discuss it was something Xu Muyan was more than happy to do.
Chu Bai stood foolishly to the side, completely unable to understand what Wang Haoran and Xu Muyan were discussing, as if listening to a foreign language.
While discussing with Xu Muyan, Wang Haoran glanced at Chu Bai’s stiff expression and couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.
When it came to common language and topics, he, as a fellow top student, was much more in sync with Xu Muyan.
The handsome pair frequently exchanged glances, chatting and laughing. Those who knew they were discussing study topics understood, but from a distance, it might look like they were flirting.
Wang Haoran deliberately prolonged the study discussion, and Xu Muyan, immersed in it, unknowingly ignored Chu Bai’s presence.
Soon, it was almost time for the morning class.
“Wang Haoran, you deliberately came over to discuss problems with classmate Xu. Your real intention isn’t the discussion; you just want to get close to classmate Xu and have ulterior motives. You’re a hypocrite,” Chu Bai couldn’t hold back any longer and interrupted their discussion with a scolding tone.
Hearing this, Wang Haoran laughed directly.
This guy uses tutoring as an excuse to pursue Xu Muyan, and that’s perfectly fine. But when I do something similar, it’s not okay?
Seriously, such a double standard!
“Chu Bai, you’ve misunderstood Wang Haoran,” Xu Muyan frowned.
Previously, Wang Haoran had clearly stated that he wanted to focus on his studies and had no such intentions towards her. He even warned his underlings not to speak nonsense.
Kind-hearted Xu Muyan naturally chose to believe what Wang Haoran said.
“I didn’t misunderstand. Recently, while you were tutoring me, he couldn’t stand it. Yesterday, he had his underlings block my way after school, claiming you were his private property and warning me to stay away from you,” Chu Bai said to Xu Muyan.
Xu Muyan was surprised and looked at Wang Haoran.
“That wasn’t my doing. Fan Jian and the others acted on their own,” Wang Haoran explained.
Even if it were true, he would still give the same answer. After all, he was the antagonist. Antagonists would stop at nothing to achieve their goals, and lying was just a routine part of it.
“If you’re a man, you should admit what you’ve done,” Chu Bai tried to provoke him.
He wanted Wang Haoran to admit it so that Xu Muyan would be wary of him and keep her distance in the future.
“Hey, you didn’t seem to finish your story. It’s true that Fan Jian and the others blocked your way, but they were the ones who got beaten up, not you,” Wang Haoran shifted the focus.
“That’s because I’m strong. Those three little punks are no match for me,” Chu Bai snorted proudly.
Speaking of this, he couldn’t help but feel a bit smug.
Chu Bai was a poor student who often skipped classes and mingled with street youths. Fights were common, and over time, he had honed his fighting skills, and he was ruthless!
Wang Haoran waved and called Fan Jian over from the classroom.
“Take off your hat and show Xu Muyan how badly you were beaten.”
Although Fan Jian wasn’t the brightest, he understood that the boss wanted to complain about Chu Bai in front of Xu Muyan.
He immediately took off his hat, revealing his bruised and swollen face.
Xu Muyan had noticed something unusual about Fan Jian’s face earlier, and now she finally understood the reason. She frowned and asked:
“How… how did you get beaten like this?”
“This is considered light. Fan Tong and Qin Shousheng were beaten even worse. Even when we begged for mercy, Chu Bai chased us down and beat us mercilessly,” Fan Jian rubbed his swollen face, feeling extremely aggrieved, almost on the verge of tears.
“Serves you right,” Chu Bai said indifferently.
“Although Fan Jian and the others started it, you were defending yourself, but there should be a limit to self-defense, right?” Wang Haoran said.
“They didn’t break any bones or limbs. They should thank me for showing mercy.”
In Chu Bai’s view, he was justified, and no amount of beating Fan Jian and the others was excessive.
Xu Muyan, however, frowned as she listened.
Few girls liked violence, and she was no exception.
But Chu Bai, immersed in the pleasure of beating Fan Jian, hadn’t noticed Xu Muyan’s subtle change in expression.
Wang Haoran, on the other hand, noticed some details and felt a slight sense of satisfaction.