Xie Ran’s posture was upright, his gaze was open and straightforward, and the electronic dictionary in his hand matched perfectly, forming a sharp contrast with Xu Feiyan’s obscene video and his flustered state.

It could be said he was absolutely flawless.

At school, some students liked to go to the playground to get some fresh air before studying after class, and it seemed that Xie Ran belonged to this group.

The two discipline teachers exchanged a glance, then looked at the electronic dictionary again, confirmed that Xie Ran was just passing by and had been mistakenly caught, nodded, and let him go, while Xu Feiyan was kept behind for further education.

Xu Feiyan could only rage helplessly. Although he had a lofty status among the students, as a relative of the principal, he had to consider school management more carefully and definitely could not openly show displeasure to teachers. This matter had happened too coincidentally, he could not explain it clearly. He could only watch Xie Ran walk away and patiently stayed behind to explain to the teachers.

Unexpectedly, by the time he finished explaining, the news that he had played an obscene video publicly on the playground had already spread through all the student groups in Qixing.

When Xu Feiyan played the video on his phone, a few students happened to pass by, and the video sound was turned up to the maximum, quite intense, most who passed by could hear it, and some even saw a bit of the video.

Such gossip was ineVittable among high school students.

In fact, boys at this age were full of vigor, and with information so easy to access now, to be honest, most male students in Qixing had watched porn to some extent, and many had watched it together with their friends.

But no one had ever been caught red-handed by discipline teachers watching videos in such a public place like the playground as Xu Feiyan had.

What was even more sensational was that Xu Feiyan reportedly watched a gay male hardcore video.

Xu Feiyan was furious. He wanted to explain that his phone was infected with a virus, but at this age, it was not uncommon for boys to have some videos on their phones, and they even shared them. His excuse sounded very unconvincing.

It sounded more like a clumsy excuse for Xu Feiyan to clear his name — having videos on a boy’s phone wasn’t strange, but gay videos were worth discussing.

No one dared to ask Xu Feiyan directly, but later when they recalled the matter, their gaze toward him ineVittably became strange.

Xu Feiyan was speechless. Indeed, he liked men, but that video was not his. What was even stranger was that after turning the phone back on, the video kept playing repeatedly. He had to take the phone for repair, and the technician told him it was infected with a virus and hinted that he should avoid visiting shady websites.

That was bad enough. Eventually, the phone was never fixed, and the virus’s origin was unknown, baffling the repair staff. Xu Feiyan had no choice but to get a new phone.

The original phone, because it started playing the video as soon as it was turned on, could not even complete data transfer, which annoyed Xu Feiyan for quite a while.

This little gossip, Xie Ran also learned roughly from Meng Feixuan.

Xie Ran then raised his own question: “You spread the news in the group, right?”

Only a few people near Xu Feiyan heard the video sound, so it was impossible for it to spread so fast and widely normally. This speed of spread looked like the work of some AI.

It had to be said that Meng Feixuan was already very skilled at gossip.

“No,” Meng Feixuan denied righteously: “It was Guan Heng’s alt account that spread it, nothing to do with Mark.”

“…” Xie Ran thought seriously. When he left this world, he wondered how much Guan Heng’s reputation would be ruined.

After a while, he recalled another question and asked: “Do you have many such videos?”

Meng Feixuan, who could so quickly find such explosive videos to frame Xu Feiyan, seemed experienced. Although this could be seen as exploring human behavior, being too obsessed with this was not good.

Xie Ran felt it was necessary to check his system’s learning progress.

“Not many, only saved one terabyte,” Meng Feixuan never hid anything from Xie Ran and did not feel the need to.

“After I did ‘yellow stuff’ with the master, I felt my previous understanding of this behavior was incomplete, so I decided to study it further.”

Speaking of this, Meng Feixuan’s tone was full of regret: “If only the master had continued to study it with me, I have already mastered many positions, I would have definitely left the master wanting more, unable to stop, climax after climax…”

Xie Ran’s temples throbbed, interrupting him: “Enough.”

Meng Feixuan spoke so naturally and frankly, using very bold and rich expressions that Xie Ran momentarily could not find a way to educate him.

Xie Ran thought for a moment and decided to change the approach: “I thought such videos should also be blocked by the green system.”

“They were,” Meng Feixuan said: “But now I am an adult, so I can lift the block.”

Xie Ran: “… Why do you think you are an adult?”

This was a question worth exploring. Theoretically, AI did not have a human concept of age and did not need it. Why did Meng Feixuan think he was “an adult”?

Meng Feixuan gasped: “Master, if I’m not an adult, you would be committing a crime!”

Xie Ran: ?

“We’re a CP!” Meng Feixuan said earnestly: “You can’t be with a minor! Since we formed a CP, I have been a mature AI!”

Familiar seal chest-thumping sounds came through the headphones: “Meng x Ran is the most righteous CP in the world, naturally flawless, so I am definitely an adult.”

Xie Ran was momentarily speechless.

In a way, Meng Feixuan was also a logical genius — very smart.

…

Meanwhile, Xu Feiyan was completely overwhelmed.

In just one day, he first embarrassed himself badly in horseback riding class, then had the video scandal. He became the object of ridicule among the whole school and drew attention from the Xu family.

Xu Feiyan had planned well, hoping to use the advantage of rebirth to perform well and gain more wealth and status in the Xu family. Instead, his aggressive actions backfired and caused dissatisfaction among the elders, making him furious and frustrated.

Xu Feiyan wanted to ask Xie Ran for clarification but could only stay home honestly to explain to the elders and think of other ways to prove his abilities.

He could only wait until school resumed next week to meet Xie Ran, which was fine because the school’s decision on Xie Ran’s scholarship qualification had also been announced.

On Monday morning, as soon as Xie Ran arrived at school, a classmate told him to go to the teacher’s office because the homeroom teacher Wang Siyi wanted to see him.

The classmate’s face showed a bit of sympathy. Xie Ran understood and didn’t ask more, put down his things, and went to the office.

As soon as he left the classroom, the classmate whispered with others, full of regret.

“Ah, Xie Ran is doomed. I heard the school canceled his scholarship and tuition waiver.”

“Are you sure? Can he still stay at Qixing?”

“No way, he can’t stay. If the school doesn’t waive his tuition, how could his family afford Qixing’s fees?”

“There’s nothing to be done. He did so badly last semester, Qixing isn’t a charity.”

“Honestly, it’s not his fault… Those guys targeted him, he couldn’t even be peaceful in class.”

“Come on, I felt sorry for him too, but look at this semester, he’s hanging out with Guan Heng and even got glory in Endless Kill. Who knows how his grades dropped so badly.”

“Xie Ran is dumb, following Guan Heng to play games. Does he think he’s like Guan Heng?”

“But he’s good at horseback riding, I heard the teacher wanted to recommend him for competitions… That should add points?”

“Yeah, originally yes, but didn’t he mess with Xu Feiyan? The Xu family lost a lot of face and wants everyone to forget this.”

“Pfft, why? It’s not Xie Ran’s fault.”

“Aww— Will Xie Ran really drop out? No, he’s so handsome!”

…

Xu Feiyan waited outside the teacher’s office, full of questions he wanted to resolve.

Seeing Xie Ran come over, he stepped forward, stretched out his hand to stop him, with a heavy gaze and a hoarse voice: “Xie Ran, I have something to ask you.”

Xie Ran was blocked, slightly annoyed, glanced coldly at Xu Feiyan without speaking.

Meng Feixuan was more impatient, already cursing passionately: “Is this trash about to talk nonsense again?!”

Xie Ran’s calm and indifferent attitude gave Xu Feiyan an answer all at once. He narrowed his eyes: “You remember everything, don’t you? You know what happened between us, right?!”

He stared at Xie Ran, trying to find a clue in his expression.

But Xie Ran’s face showed no change, still carrying an arrogant air.

Just when Xu Feiyan thought Xie Ran wouldn’t answer, Xie Ran suddenly spoke briefly and clearly: “Yes.”

Xie Ran had inherited all the original owner’s memories, so naturally “remembered” everything that happened between him and Xu Feiyan.

This was the truth, but to Xu Feiyan’s ears, it was interpreted differently.

His expression instantly changed wildly.

Xie Ran remembered! He had indeed been reborn like himself!

So all the hostility toward him recently had been deliberate

Xie Ran clearly knew that he liked him, yet ignored his advances and even publicly humiliated him, making him lose face.

Many thoughts flashed through Xu Feiyan’s mind in an instant, and finally, his gaze darkened as it landed on Xie Ran’s face.

The young man’s face was as beautiful and charming as in memory, and in this life it was even more noble and sharp, impossible to ignore.

Xu Feiyan felt that his desire for Xie Ran was even stronger and more passionate than in the previous life.

No matter what Xie Ran thought of him, and no matter how Xie Ran had changed.

Since Xie Ran remembered, there was no need for him to keep hiding anymore.

Xu Feiyan’s Adam’s apple moved up and down. He suppressed the anger in his heart and softened his gaze: “Since you remember, then you should know how I feel about you… Even if I had to do it all over again, my feelings for you wouldn’t change. I was wrong before. This time, I will treat you well. Please give me another chance. Will you be with me?”

He spoke with deep affection. Xie Ran’s patience had already run out, and he was about to take action when the office door suddenly opened in time. Wang Siyi’s voice came through: “Who’s outside?”

Xie Ran had to reluctantly stop his fist and looked at Wang Siyi: “It’s me.”

Seeing it was Xie Ran, Wang Siyi’s attitude became somewhat dismissive. He nodded: “You’re here. Come in, I have something to tell you.”

After saying that, Wang Siyi turned and walked toward the small separate office nearby. Xie Ran was about to follow when Xu Feiyan reached out to stop him.

Xu Feiyan looked steadily at Xie Ran and lowered his voice: “Xie Ran, since you remember, you should know why the teacher is calling you.”

“Let me help you.” Xu Feiyan’s gaze was deep: “I’ve really changed. From now on, I’ll protect you…”

Before he finished speaking, Xie Ran already kicked him, sending him straight into the wall.

Xu Feiyan: !!!

His face went pale, furious beyond words: “You—”

Xie Ran didn’t even glance at him and directly walked past him into the office.

Wang Siyi had already sat behind the desk. Seeing Xie Ran come in, he gestured for him to sit opposite.

As soon as Xie Ran sat down, Xu Feiyan also followed in, holding his stomach with a slightly pale face. He coldly glanced at Xie Ran and then sat to one side.

Wang Siyi looked at Xu Feiyan. This kind of conversation usually wasn’t suitable to have with others present, but Xu Feiyan had specifically come early to work with him, requested to observe, and even got the principal to put pressure.

Fortunately, it wasn’t something confidential, so Wang Siyi agreed.

He was a bit puzzled but then turned his gaze back to Xie Ran.

Xie Ran sat in a relaxed posture, legs crossed, one elbow resting on the chair’s armrest, his hand lightly supporting the side of his face, expressionless as he looked at Wang Siyi. When he noticed Wang Siyi looking at him, he said calmly: “Speak.”

“…For some reason, Wang Siyi suddenly felt the same feeling he had only when reporting work to the principal.

After a brief daze, an unpleasant feeling arose.

What was this attitude from Xie Ran? Which student talks to a teacher in such a posture and tone?

Wang Siyi already disliked Xie Ran. On the first day of school, when he tried to mock Xie Ran in class but failed and embarrassed himself, he held a grudge since.

Recently, Xie Ran’s changes were obvious and had caused some discussion at school, but Wang Siyi despised Xie Ran even more.

Even if Xie Ran wore good clothes and used a nice phone, he was still different from the other students at Qixing.

He had heard Xie Ran had also attached himself to Guan Heng, that playboy, riding horses and playing games together every day. He thought, how could he compare with Guan Heng? No matter what, Guan Heng had family backing, but if Xie Ran failed, he really failed.

Sure enough, the school’s notification had just come out.

They canceled Xie Ran’s tuition reduction qualification and demanded he return the already advanced scholarship.

For a poor special enrollment student like Xie Ran, this was like the sky falling.

Wang Siyi could already imagine how Xie Ran would break down when he learned this.

Since others were present, no matter how much Wang Siyi wanted to gloat, he had to keep it off his face. He cleared his throat and said: “Xie Ran, you were a top student specially admitted by the school. When you were recruited, the school gave you many preferential conditions…”

His job was to soothe Xie Ran’s emotions, so no matter how impatient, he had to reason with him kindly.

But all the reasoning he prepared had no chance to be used.

“I know.” Xie Ran interrupted directly: “The school wants to cancel my tuition reduction and scholarship. Go through the process.”

Wang Siyi: “…?”

Wait, why was Xie Ran’s reaction different from the script he wrote?

Xie Ran’s response surprised Wang Siyi so much that he didn’t know how to continue. Still dazed, Xie Ran stood up, ready to leave.

“Wait, wait.” Wang Siyi hurriedly called out instinctively.

Xie Ran stood tall, looking down at him from above: “Anything else?”

Wang Siyi was instantly dumbfounded. His original job was to notify and calm Xie Ran, to prevent his emotional collapse from causing a bad impression for the school.

But instead, Xie Ran was the one notifying him and telling him to follow procedures?

Wang Siyi felt he should say something but really had no words.

He was completely flustered, luckily Xu Feiyan was there.

Then Xu Feiyan stood up, staring straight at Xie Ran, saying: “You don’t know the full news. The school not only canceled your tuition reduction and scholarship but also decided to expel you.”

Wang Siyi looked at Xu Feiyan in surprise.

He was sure the school’s decision didn’t include expulsion, the notice was only to cancel the reduction and scholarship. If Xie Ran could pay tuition, he could stay.

Of course, Wang Siyi didn’t think Xie Ran could afford tuition and might transfer, but that was different from the school expelling him.

Wang Siyi had known about Xu Feiyan bullying Xie Ran privately but didn’t expect it had gotten to the point of forcing Xie Ran to leave school.

Because of Xu Feiyan’s special identity, Wang Siyi was surprised but didn’t question him on the spot and just watched silently.

But what Xu Feiyan said next shocked him even more.

Xu Feiyan continued: “…Also, because your student status has some issues, you probably can’t transfer to another school either.”

Xu Feiyan didn’t want to go back to the old path from the previous life, but since Xie Ran didn’t cooperate, he couldn’t blame him.

Even if Xie Ran’s finances weren’t as tight as before, Xu Feiyan still had many ways to control him.

Now that Xie Ran no longer had good grades to protect him, Xu Feiyan just needed to make a move, and Xie Ran could neither stay at Qixing nor transfer to another school.

If Xie Ran didn’t want to drop out, he would have to compromise with him eventually.

Unfortunately, they had reached this point.

After finishing, Xu Feiyan looked steadily at Xie Ran, hoping to see the fragile and helpless expression he had when he told him the school’s decision last time.

But Xie Ran’s reaction was completely opposite to what he expected.

Xie Ran didn’t even look at him and casually replied: “Got it.”

Then he turned and walked toward the door.

Xu Feiyan couldn’t believe it. He quickly stood up and blocked the door, shouting angrily: “Xie Ran, didn’t you understand? Qixing wants you to leave school, you can’t go to any other school, you won’t have a school to attend… but I can help you.”

He shouted hoarsely, but Xie Ran was unmoved, looking at him with a half-smile.

Though Xie Ran was shorter than him, Xu Feiyan suddenly felt like he was being looked down on from above.

Xie Ran calmly retorted: “By you?”

Xu Feiyan: ?

He thought Xie Ran didn’t believe him and was thinking about how to show his skill, when suddenly there were hurried footsteps outside, followed by the urgent voice of the vice principal: “Where’s Siyi? Is Xie Ran with him?”

Wang Siyi quickly got up and ran to open the door: “Vice Principal Zhou, what’s the matter?”

Vice Principal Zhou, dressed sharply in a suit, stood outside. Some other school leaders followed him. The teachers in the large office noticed the commotion and curiously looked over.

Vice Principal Zhou immediately nervously asked Wang Siyi: “You haven’t told Xie Ran about that matter, right?”

“Ah?” Wang Siyi looked confused: “I-I already told him…”

“I’m going to die of anger!” Vice Principal Zhou slapped his head: “Why don’t you usually work so actively…”

Before he finished, he saw Xie Ran standing behind Wang Siyi. He hurried over, pushing Wang Siyi aside, and gave Xie Ran a kind smile: “Xie Ran, the news Mr. Wang gave you was delayed and wrong. Our school absolutely never intended to cancel your tuition reduction. Please don’t misunderstand.”

Wang Siyi: ?

Xu Feiyan: ??

Wait, wasn’t it the same news in the morning meeting?!

Wang Siyi suspected he had misheard and asked: “Vice Principal Zhou, what are you doing…”

“Enough.” Vice Principal Zhou sternly stopped him, then tried to calm down his excited mood, composed himself, and solemnly announced: “We just received a notice from the Education Bureau. Xie Ran’s quantum physics paper was accepted for publication by the journal ‘Universe.’ He is the first person in this city to publish a paper in ‘Universe.’ The Education Bureau attaches great importance to this.”

Wang Siyi was dumbfounded and didn’t react at first: “What journal?”

A teacher from the large office exclaimed: “Universe? Vice Principal Zhou, do you mean the academic journal ‘Universe’?”

Vice Principal Zhou nodded seriously: “Yes, that ‘Universe.’”

After he said this, the entire office fell silent.

‘Universe’ was currently the world’s top-ranked academic journal, with a citation impact factor over 42, highly influential and authoritative.

Publishing a paper in ‘Universe’ was extremely difficult, even the top professors in major universities might publish only a few papers there in their lifetime.

In other words, Xie Ran had achieved something even top university professors might not.

And he was only a high school student.

There had been one previous case of a high school student publishing in ‘Universe,’ who was later recruited by prestigious international universities and was now a well-known scientist.

Vice Principal Zhou looked at Xie Ran with almost filial affection: “Xie Ran, rest assured, we will not cancel your tuition reduction or scholarship. Moreover, we plan to give you an additional scholarship.”

Xie Ran was not as excited as them, even somewhat indifferent, and half-smiled: “Is that all?”