Xia Nuannuan returned to school just as the bell for the end of lunch break rang.
As she climbed to the third floor where her classroom was located, two girls walking hand-in-hand to the restroom, who happened to be passing by the stairwell, saw her. Their eyes lit up immediately, and they eagerly surrounded her.
"Xia Nuannuan, we heard Qin Tian went to your house for lunch. Is that true?"
"Was it your parents' idea? Have they approved of you two dating yet?"
The two girls bombarded Xia Nuannuan with questions, leaving her completely stunned.
When she finally came to her senses, Xia Nuannuan's pretty face flushed crimson. She decisively chose to play dumb. "What are you talking about? No!"
"Don't pretend. Zhang Peng said everyone in the class knows."
"Exactly."
The two girls looked at her with disbelief.
"Alright, Qin Tian did come to my house for lunch."
Xia Nuannuan admitted helplessly. Seeing the excited expressions on the two girls' faces, she quickly changed the subject. "But it was because my parents wanted to thank him for helping me improve my grades. No, it's not what you think..."
"No need to explain, we understand."
One of the girls interrupted her.
"Yes, we all understand."
The other nodded in agreement.
Seeing the knowing and subtle "I've seen through everything" expressions on her classmates' faces, Xia Nuannuan knew any further explanation would be futile.
"Um, I'm going back to the classroom now."
Xia Nuannuan, her face flushed with embarrassment, hastily said goodbye and then ran towards the classroom.
The two girls stared blankly at Xia Nuannuan's retreating figure, their faces filled with undisguised envy.
"It's so nice to find such beautiful love during the final stage of high school!"
"Yeah, it's truly enviable. Why doesn't such good fortune happen to me!"
"Sigh! Stop dreaming when you've just woken up. Let's go to the restroom, then head to the supermarket to buy some snacks to console ourselves."
"Agreed!"
...
...
Xia Nuannuan ran to the back door of the classroom and peeked inside.
Seeing no one coming out from the back, she quickly ducked her head and entered the classroom, walking towards her seat with furtive steps.
She never wanted to face those embarrassing questions again.
However, this was destined to be a futile attempt.
The moment she walked into the classroom, the gazes of her classmates began to fall on her one after another.
Qin Tian also saw her, a calm and composed smile appearing on his handsome face. He stood up to make way for her.
Xia Nuannuan quickly walked in and sat down at her seat.
In the front row, Cui Ying and Qiu Man had already turned their heads, staring at her intently.
The hushed whispers and discussions around her grew louder.
Compared to the first and second years, there were actually more people secretly dating in the third year.
One reason was that everyone was more mature. At seventeen or eighteen, when hormones were at their peak, it was easy to develop feelings for the opposite sex.
Another reason was that with graduation approaching and the overwhelming pressure of studying, many boys and girls craved a romantic relationship to alleviate this stress.
Even though the school and teachers repeatedly warned against it, most classes had one or two couples.
However, these clandestine pairs were unknown to many classmates, let alone their parents and teachers, truly achieving a state of "only heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know."
For Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan to be so open about it, even eating at each other's homes, seemed unbelievable to everyone else.
In the eyes of their classmates, the development between these two was too rapid.
It had only been about ten days to half a month since Qin Tian had fiercely protected Xia Nuannuan that day, and then they had both made a dramatic comeback as if they had cheated.
Or perhaps they had been together before, and the others simply didn't know?
Everyone's minds were filled with questions and curiosity.
"It's all Zhang Peng's fault, that scoundrel. Don't mind what others think. Just act like nothing happened."
Qin Tian said with a gentle smile to comfort her.
"Mmm!"
Xia Nuannuan replied with her head lowered.
"Brother Tian, you really came back alive. Congratulations, congratulations."
Speak of the devil, a mischievous voice suddenly came from behind.
Qin Tian turned his head, his sharp gaze fixing on the approaching figure.
Zhang Peng, who was walking from behind, felt a chilling killing intent and stopped in his tracks, not daring to get any closer.
"Come here, I want to have a chat with you."
Qin Tian beckoned with a smile.
"Brother Tian, do you think I'm that foolish?"
Zhang Peng smirked, winking at him from his spot.
"You damn chatterbox, why is your mouth so big? You should change your name to Zhang Big Mouth from now on."
Qin Tian said resentfully.
"Pfft!"
"Hahaha..."
The surrounding classmates burst into laughter upon hearing this.
Xia Nuannuan also couldn't help but stifle a laugh, covering her mouth and chuckling.
Zhang Peng's face darkened, and he said with feigned innocence, "Brother Tian, it's not my fault. I was just eating quietly in the cafeteria when the class monitor and Liao Juan came over, and then others quickly filled up all the seats around."
He then put on a pitiful expression, his eyes filled with a mournful gaze. "Even if you sewed my mouth shut, they would have ripped it open!"
"Hahaha..."
The laughter of the people around them grew even louder.
The quiet and sleepy atmosphere after the lunch break was instantly swept away. The students in the classroom were all invigorated.
"Alright, if sewing it shut won't work, then I'll staple your mouth shut today. Anyone got a stapler to lend me?"
Qin Tian scanned the room.
"I do, I do!"
Cui Ying from the front, always eager to stir up trouble, actually took a stapler out of her drawer and handed it to him.
"Thanks!"
Qin Tian took the stapler, stood up, and stared coldly at Zhang Peng.
"Holy cow, Brother Tian, I was wrong, I was wrong. You don't have to go this far, do you?"
Zhang Peng took a step back in fear, apologizing and admitting his mistake repeatedly.
"It's too late. Stick your mouth out here!"
"Ah—"
Without another word, Zhang Peng turned and bolted out of the classroom.
"If you've got guts, don't run!!"
Qin Tian chased after him, stapler in hand.
"Hahaha..."
The laughter in the classroom was deafening, as if it were about to lift the ceiling.
Xia Nuannuan was also laughing so hard she was bent over her desk, her stomach beginning to ache.
In fact, this was also done intentionally by Qin Tian.
With this playful banter between him and Zhang Peng, the attention the classmates were giving Xia Nuannuan was diverted.
They didn't run far before they ran into Li Yanwang, who was on his way to class with a textbook.
"What are you two doing!"
Li Xueping shouted loudly.
Qin Tian and Zhang Peng stopped in their tracks, looking in surprise at the stern-faced Li Yanwang.
"Who told you two to run like this in the corridor?"
Li Xueping reprimanded them in a deep voice.
"Uh... nothing, nothing. We were just fooling around. We'll head back now."
Zhang Peng grinned sheepishly and turned to leave.
Qin Tian followed suit.
"Stop!"
Li Xueping commanded with an irrefutable tone.
The two stood still, frozen in place like statues in a game of Red Light, Green Light.
Naturally, they were then subjected to a barrage of scolding.