"Campus beauty Lin is even more beautiful!"
"If I could be the campus beauty's boyfriend, I'd willingly live ten years less."
"Nonsense, would ten years less be enough for you?"
"It's been so many days since school started, and it's the first time the campus beauty has come to the piano room."
"Quick, don't block the way, make way for the campus beauty!"
The crowd parted to form a path.
Lin Yanyu walked with a professional smile, greeting everyone as she went.
As she entered the classroom, Teacher Li and Zhang Lianghui hurried to greet her.
"Yanyu, why did you decide to attend my class today?" Teacher Li's tone held a hint of playful complaint.
Throughout the entire first semester of freshman year, Lin Yanyu had only attended class twice.
However, Teacher Li wasn't worried at all.
Because Lin Yanyu had been practicing piano since childhood, her skill was already comparable to his own, and she didn't need his teaching.
"Teacher Li, I happened to be free and came to practice the piano. It's been a while since I played, so I'm a bit rusty," Lin Yanyu said with a smile at Teacher Li.
At this moment, Zhang Lianghui sidled up, all his previous arrogance gone, and stammered, "Yanyu... Yanyu, you're here?"
He seemed flustered and unsure of himself.
"Who are you?" Lin Yanyu asked, feigning confusion while maintaining her professional smile.
As an idol singer, she was long accustomed to such smiles.
Whether she knew someone or not, she would offer a friendly smile.
"I'm Zhang Lianghui, we competed in the piano competition together. I came in second," Zhang Lianghui said, growing anxious when Lin Yanyu didn't seem to remember him.
He remembered that after the competition, the school had even held a celebration banquet for him and Lin Yanyu.
They had even clinked glasses at the banquet.
He still treasured that wine glass at home.
"Oh, I have some recollection. Hello," Lin Yanyu nodded thoughtfully.
"H... hello." Zhang Lianghui's mouth twitched awkwardly.
From Lin Yanyu's expression, he could tell she didn't remember him at all.
Impossible!
He was, after all, the second-place winner in the piano competition.
If she didn't remember him?
Back then, on the podium, the campus beauty Lin had even smiled at him.
Yes, it was this very smile, friendly and warm.
It had made him fall in love with her instantly.
For the past few months, he had waited for her in the practice room whenever he had free time, just to catch a glimpse of her from afar.
Every time she came to practice, he would stand outside the door and listen.
Even his classmates knew about his unrequited love for her.
Why didn't she even remember who he was?
"Pfft..."
"Hahaha, Zhang Lianghui is truly pathetic."
"Usually, he flaunts being the second-place winner in the piano competition and acts as if he's one of Campus Beauty Lin's suitors, but it turns out she doesn't even know he exists..."
"Indeed, only the runner-up pays attention to the champion. Why would the champion care who the runner-up is?"
The onlookers whispered amongst themselves.
This made Zhang Lianghui want to find a hole to crawl into.
His legs went weak, and he staggered a couple of steps before steadying himself.
Just then, Lin Yanyu looked up and saw Su Yu behind him.
The smile on her face instantly froze.
Zhang Lianghui noticed her gaze and, as if finding an outlet, quickly pointed at Su Yu and said,
"Yanyu, this kid just used your piano. I already warned him, but it seems he didn't listen."
Kid, you're finished.
Yanyu is a germaphobe and detests others touching her things.
You dared to use this piano, let's see what happens to you now!
"Su Yu, why are you here?" her voice was filled with pleasant surprise.
Lin Yanyu hadn't heard what Zhang Lianghui was saying at all. She bypassed Zhang Lianghui and jogged over to Su Yu.
Her eyes curved into crescent moons as she gazed at him adoringly.
So happy, she had just been thinking about how to find an excuse to see him, and now she ran into him in the piano room.
The campus beauty Lin's smile captivated everyone present.
*This* was what a smile should be.
*This* was a smile from the heart.
And the man who made Campus Beauty Lin smile like this was, unexpectedly, a freshman.
"H... How is this possible?" Zhang Lianghui stared blankly at Lin Yanyu, who was beaming with joy.
He had never seen Lin Yanyu smile like this before.
And her expression.
What was with that deep affection in her eyes?
"I'm here to practice the piano," Su Yu replied with a helpless smile.
After Lin Yanyu's previous help a few times, he was already becoming quite famous among the freshmen.
Now, if Lin Yanyu showed him any more special attention, he might even become famous in his sophomore year.
"Yanyu, this kid touched your piano just now. I know you're a germaphobe, so I kindly reminded him, but it seems he doesn't care at all..." Zhang Lianghui said unwillingly from the side.
He was starting to panic.
Scold him!
Go on, scold him!!
Aren't you a germaphobe? He used your piano, and you're not scolding him?
"Is Zhang Lianghui crazy?"
"He still dares to speak up at this point?"
"Anyone with eyes can see that Campus Beauty Lin and this kid have an unusual relationship."
"Could he be blinded by love?"
"This isn't blinded by love, this is clearly losing his mind..."
The onlookers murmured amongst themselves.
Even Teacher Li on the side was giving him signals.
But Zhang Lianghui clearly didn't notice and continued to babble.
Lin Yanyu frowned, turned her head, and looked at Zhang Lianghui.
He instantly fell silent.
Coldness.
An infinite coldness.
As Lin Yanyu stared at him, Zhang Lianghui felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of ice water from head to toe.
"Do you know how annoying you are?" Lin Yanyu's voice was calm, but her eyes were colder than ever.
It was known that she had always been gentle with people, even strangers, always offering a smile.
But this kind of look had never appeared before.
"Yanyu..." Zhang Lianghui opened his mouth blankly.
"Please call me by my full name. Thank you," Lin Yanyu took two steps forward, closing the distance to Zhang Lianghui.
Taking a deep breath, she continued, "I was polite to you before because we are classmates, but that doesn't mean you can keep chattering beside me!"
"You call me noisy?" Zhang Lianghui pointed at himself, looking somewhat incredulous.
"Also, when did I ever say this piano was mine? And what business is it of yours whether I have a germ phobia or not? Who are you?"
Lin Yanyu was blunt; she was genuinely angry.
She would not allow anyone to speak ill of Su Yu in front of her, not even a little bit!
Zhang Lianghui was rendered speechless by Lin Yanyu's three questions, his mind feeling like it was exploding.
How could she say that to me?
"Yanyu... How could you say that to me?"
"After the piano competition last time, I thought you would have a good impression of me."
"After all, in the entire school, apart from you, my piano skills are the strongest."
"We share the same hobby and have similar strengths; we are a match made in heaven."
"Yanyu, you'll regret missing out on such an excellent me!"
After Zhang Lianghui finished speaking these words, the crowd erupted.
Damn, I never realized Zhang Lianghui was so narcissistic.
Who gave him such confidence?
And that he'd regret missing out on him, does he even deserve it?
"Damn it, aren't you annoying!" Lin Yanyu could no longer hold back.
The entire scene fell silent.
The onlookers' eyes widened in disbelief as they looked at Lin Yanyu.
No one had expected the usually gentle and polite Campus Beauty Lin to suddenly swear.
This immense contrast left everyone momentarily stunned.
However, hearing Lin Yanyu swear, the crowd felt an immense sense of relief.
It was like a distant fairy had suddenly descended to earth.
At this moment, Lin Yanyu appeared exceptionally down-to-earth in the eyes of the crowd.