With a faint, confident smile on his lips, Chu Yi introduced himself with composure and poise.
Instantly, the entire class was captivated by his astonishing charm score of thirty-seven.
"Wow, is this the new transfer student?
He's so handsome—and he looks rich too."
"Looks rich? He transferred from a noble academy. His background must be extraordinary."
"Deskmate, he's too handsome. Hurry up, secretly snap a few photos with your phone and show me!"
It wasn't just the students who were stunned—even Xia Yuehan, who had met countless elite young men from prominent families, couldn't help but glance at him a few more times, taken aback by his refined aura.
Only one person clenched his fists tightly at that moment.
His gaze fixed furiously on the podium, teeth grinding.
"Chu. Yi."
The name escaped his lips with a fury that seemed to shake the air.
His state of agitation did not go unnoticed. Xia Yuehan, as class president, approached him out of concern.
"Ye Fan, are you alright?
Are you feeling unwell?"
"I'm fine, class president," Ye Fan quickly composed his expression, calming himself before replying.
He pretended nothing had happened, masking his earlier outburst. Yet from the podium, Chu Yi had already taken note of Ye Fan's reaction.
He glanced playfully at Ye Fan's seat, but in his heart, there was a flicker of surprise.
To think Ye Fan had arrived earlier and claimed the seat beside the school belle...
Still, it wasn't much of an issue.
After all, the story was just beginning.
Who would ultimately win Xia Yuehan's heart remained uncertain.
On the podium, Teacher Xu Qian felt the introduction had gone on long enough and prompted Chu Yi to pick a seat.
"Alright, Chu Yi, now that you've introduced yourself, find a place to sit for now.
If you want to change seats later, just let me know."
A seat, huh?
Chu Yi's eyes gleamed with contemplation.
Where should he sit?
Truthfully, if left to his own desires, he would certainly choose to sit beside Xia Yuehan—the central heroine of the entire novel.
But Ye Fan was already sitting next to her.
If he made a move now, it would surely provoke conflict in front of everyone.
And such confrontation, so early on, would be unwise.
He had only just arrived. His favorable impression was built solely on his appearance.
He couldn't possibly compare to Ye Fan, who had spent over two years with the class.
Moreover, Ye Fan had once been top of the school, and his reputation had only been enhanced by the sympathy he garnered after being dumped.
Chu Yi simply couldn't compete with that—yet.
So for now, it was best to lie low.
Suppressing his initial impulse, Chu Yi descended from the podium.
"Ahhh, he's walking over here! He's coming this way—so exciting!"
"Please sit with me! Sitting next to Chu Yi would be like a dream come true... he's so handsome!"
The girls seated on the left side of the classroom were already buzzing with excitement, joy dancing on their faces.
Only Ye Fan, watching Chu Yi approach, tightened his grip under the desk, his fists clenched so hard they turned white.
He swore to himself:
If Chu Yi dared to ask for his seat, dared to take the seat beside Xia Yuehan—he would absolutely refuse.
Thump, thump...
The footsteps drew closer.
Ye Fan's heartbeat thundered in his chest, his lower body half-raised from his chair.
He was ready. If Chu Yi stopped beside him, he'd stand up immediately and confront him.
Here he comes...
Chu Yi's steps brought him to a stop—directly before Ye Fan.
The scent of refined cologne lingered in the air. Ye Fan could smell it clearly.
"Excuse me," Chu Yi asked gently, "may I sit in your seat?"
"No!" Ye Fan blurted out, louder than he intended. "I'm not changing!"
The abrupt outburst stunned the class. Everyone turned to look at Ye Fan with confusion.
Chu Yi, however, smiled lightly.
"My friend, what's the matter?
I never said I wanted your seat."
What?
Not his seat?
Ye Fan blinked. Only now did he realize—Chu Yi had been addressing the plain-looking girl with a few freckles seated behind him.
He had overreacted.
Seeing all the curious eyes on him now, Ye Fan knew he had to offer an explanation—lest he become the class laughingstock.
After a moment of strained thinking, he forced a smile and turned to the class.
"I was just... worried that if Chu Yi sat behind me, he might not be able to see the board clearly.
I mean, I am a bit tall."
He even gestured to his seat to prove his point.
"Oh, I see."
Though a few classmates looked unconvinced, they nodded in agreement.
Relieved, Ye Fan finally felt his nerves settle.
But then—
A single remark from Chu Yi made the tension skyrocket again.
"Well, since you're being so considerate of me," he said with a slight smirk, "why not let me take your seat then?
I think it's a pretty good spot."
What!?
Take Ye Fan's seat?
The entire classroom erupted in astonishment.
That seat—next to one of the school's top three beauties—had never been shared with any boy in three years.
The fact that Ye Fan got to sit next to Xia Yuehan was already a shock.
But now, this new transfer student wanted that very seat?
Excitement bubbled in the air as if a drama were about to unfold.
Many of the boys were secretly cheering. They had been jealous of Ye Fan for a long time.
"Well?" Chu Yi's smile widened as he noticed the beads of sweat forming on Ye Fan's brow. "What do you think, my friend?"
You walked right into this—how could I let the opportunity slip?
"I... I..." Ye Fan stammered, panicking under pressure.
In the end, he clenched his jaw and said:
"Chu Yi...
There's no way I can give up this seat.
I need Xia Yuehan's help with my studies."
"Couldn't you ask someone else then?" Chu Yi feigned innocence. "Isn't there also a class study rep?"
"I... I..." Ye Fan's face turned pale.
He finally realized—he had walked right into a trap.
But he couldn't give up this seat. He'd silently adored Xia Yuehan for years.
How could he let someone else take his place?
He was ready to snap back—to reject Chu Yi outright.
But just as he was about to speak—
Chu Yi suddenly chuckled and waved a hand.
"Alright, alright. I was only joking."
"How could I take the class president's seat from you? It's all yours."
"I'll sit here instead."
"What?"
He gave up?
The class was dumbfounded.
He had Ye Fan cornered—just a bit more pressure and he could have sat beside Xia Yuehan.
Why did he retreat?
Even Ye Fan was stunned. The words he'd prepared died in his throat.
Only Chu Yi understood the subtlety of his move.
Unlike Ye Fan, who fixated on Xia Yuehan, Chu Yi had noticed Teacher Xu Qian's subtle frown on the podium.
She was clearly weighing the situation.
And he didn't need to guess her conclusion.
One was her proud student, Ye Fan.
The other—a stranger she'd met only twice.
The scale would tip toward Ye Fan.
So, it was best to quit while ahead.
Besides, wasn't this a strategic retreat?
Turning to the plain-looking girl, Chu Yi smiled and asked:
"Mind if I sit here?"
"O-of course not!"
The girl, clearly not a protagonist in any story, was instantly flustered by his dazzling smile.
She stood up in a hurry, vacating the seat for him.
"Thank you," Chu Yi said warmly.
That simple phrase made her cheeks flush crimson.
"N-not at all..." she mumbled, before scampering off to share a desk with a friend, unable to look him in the eye.
Ah, youth.
Chu Yi watched her with mild amusement, smiling inwardly.
Meanwhile, Ye Fan breathed a sigh of relief.
He didn't know why Chu Yi had backed off—but at least he'd kept his seat, and his chance to stay close to Xia Yuehan.
He settled into his chair again, visibly more relaxed.
On the podium, Xu Qian's brow also eased. Her opinion of Chu Yi improved slightly.
So composed, not at all like a typical spoiled rich kid.
She hated nothing more than schoolyard bullies who pushed others around.
Ding—congratulations, Host. Favorability with Xu Qian increased by 5. You have significantly altered the plotline.
You have obtained 3 Luck Points from Xu Qian.
Reward: 500 Villain Points.
A mechanical voice echoed in Chu Yi's mind.