Chapter Thirteen: The Eight Pillars of the Campus

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Yan Tian said solemnly, “Of course! This concerns your personal safety.”

“Could there be an occasional exception… I mean… when I go to the bathroom, could there be an exception then?” Shi Kexin lowered her head, twisting the corner of her clothes, her voice growing even softer.

“Uh…” Yan Tian thought for a moment. Perhaps girls just don’t like others to see them in such moments; this was understandable. “Alright then, only when you go to the bathroom can there be an exception!”

“Mm…” Shi Kexin responded faintly, like a mosquito’s hum. Her heart pounded fiercely. Yan Tian had to stay by her side while she bathed and slept—did that mean… ah, how embarrassing! No, no, better not think about it!

Shi Kexin had forgotten to ask why Yan Tian insisted on sticking close to her. A lovestruck young girl’s intelligence indeed plummeted to zero!

After settling things with Shi Kexin, Yan Tian resumed cooking. But it was already nearly eleven in the morning. After chatting so long with Leng Bingtong and Shi Kexin, breakfast time had long passed. By the time the meal was ready, it would be lunchtime.

No other choice. Yan Tian, a rare man comfortable both in the living room and kitchen, decisively began preparing lunch. Fortunately, Shi Kexin was virtuous; although she couldn’t cook, she could still help rinse rice and wash vegetables without issue. The two chatted idly while busy in the kitchen.

Shi Kexin finished rinsing the rice and called out to Leng Bingtong and the other four girls in the main hall, informing them that breakfast would be switched to lunch. The liveliest among them, Sun Shangxiang, immediately volunteered to come to the kitchen with Shi Kexin, rolling up her sleeves to help out.

Yan Tian found this young girl rather curious. With her exceptional beauty, she should have dominated Third High School’s social scene, yet Yan Tian had never even heard of her. Her class was right next to Yan Tian’s. Though Yan Tian never sneaked into the neighboring class, he often stood in the corridor when kicked out of his own classroom, peeking inside.

The neighboring class had three top beauties, all school-level goddesses. Although rumored to have been courted by Gao Qianduo’s wealth, these girls, though ‘picked over,’ still retained their beauty. With an appreciation for beauty, Yan Tian often glanced at these three.

But Sun Shangxiang’s abilities were clearly superior to those three goddesses. Why, then, did she lack fame? Yan Tian had never seen this figure before.

Sun Shangxiang claimed she often saw Yan Tian wandering the corridor after being kicked out, proving she indeed belonged to the neighboring class. What was going on?

Yan Tian voiced his doubts, but Sun Shangxiang only smiled without answering. Though curious, Yan Tian didn’t insist. If he couldn’t find out, so be it.

While helping out, Shi Kexin and Sun Shangxiang chattered nonstop. Surprisingly, Shi Kexin, initially quite hostile to the other girls, quickly found a kindred spirit in Sun Shangxiang.

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On one hand, Sun Shangxiang was lively and sweet-talking; on the other, she was a fan of Shi Kexin. Although Shi Kexin’s fame hadn’t reached Asia yet, her news flooded entertainment sections of some European and American portals.

Yan Tian had never seriously studied English nor cared about showbiz, so he was unaware of Shi Kexin’s achievements.

But Sun Shangxiang was different. The young beauty closely followed international and domestic entertainment news. Claiming excellent English skills and always scoring perfect marks, she had long known about Shi Kexin through Western websites and quickly grew fond of her singing style.

Moreover, Shi Kexin was currently the most popular young Chinese artist in the Western entertainment world, so Sun Shangxiang wholeheartedly idolized her.

Receiving such admiration from a top-tier beauty like Sun Shangxiang made Shi Kexin immensely proud. What had once been hostility toward Sun now melted away, replaced by fondness.

Seeing Shi Kexin so quickly embrace Sun Shangxiang as a confidante, addressing her as sister or younger sister, Yan Tian mused that this little beauty was indeed a crafted goddess: seemingly harmless, yet quite cunning beneath the surface.

Shi Kexin had been proud since childhood. Born beautiful and tall, she knew her natural advantages and was frank and unyielding with other children, save for Yan Tian. Though usually carefree, Yan Tian knew beneath her exterior lay a proud spirit that rejected others.

Yan Tian admired this pride.

At least, it ensured no other boys had the slightest chance to court her.

But now it seemed Sun Shangxiang had successfully dismantled Shi Kexin’s defenses and become one of her rare friends.

“Sun Shangxiang, are you going to school this afternoon?” Yan Tian asked, frying the yellow croaker while the two girls chatted.

“Of course, why?” she replied.

Yan Tian said, “I’ve taken a long leave. I won’t go to school until the final exams. If you go, please help me gather my textbooks—I need to study seriously.”

Sun Shangxiang laughed, “You still need to study? I remember you’re one of the famed ‘Eight Guardians’ of Senior Grade Three.”

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Curious, Shi Kexin asked, “What are the ‘Eight Guardians’? Sounds fierce!”

Sun Shangxiang chuckled, “The so-called ‘Eight Guardians’ are the eight boys who always rank among the lowest eight in our senior grade three. Haha, from first year onward, no matter the exam, they always hold those bottom eight spots, never replaced. Yan Tian is the strongest and most stable among them, always ranking fourth from the bottom. The other seven fluctuate within those eight spots.”

“Flattering, flattering,” Yan Tian replied without expression. “Positions among the ‘Eight Guardians’ require real ability.”

“Hahaha…” Shi Kexin laughed heartily.

“Hehe…” Sun Shangxiang covered her mouth, giggling.

“To sustain my glorious streak, I do have to study for the final exams,” Yan Tian boasted shamelessly.

Sun Shangxiang said, “Really? Then I’ll go to your classroom this afternoon to collect your books and bring them back tonight.”

Shi Kexin laughed for a while, then said somewhat displeased, “Yan Tian, didn’t you want to go to Peking University? Your grades are so poor—how could you get in? Should I buy you an admission letter?”

Yan Tian shook his head, smiling, “No need. Before, I didn’t study seriously because I didn’t know what good it would do or who would share my achievements. But now… hehe, I know who I’m fighting for.”

He turned back and gazed at Shi Kexin with deep affection. “Kexin, your arrival changed my mind. You are the sun in my life, and I… will work hard for you.”