This Is an Ordinary Class

Flame City Private Academy

The lecture hall for the open class was located on the first floor of the North District Academic Building. As a tiered classroom, it could accommodate around 400 to 500 people. At the moment, however, only seven or eight students were scattered sparsely across the seats.

Since class hadn’t started yet, everyone was occupied with their own affairs, occasionally exchanging a few words. The overall atmosphere was far from harmonious.

What’s more, there was something eerie about the scene—

At the very back of the room, near the wall, a lone girl sat quietly in her seat. An empty table in front of her was neatly arranged with a tea set, but what was most striking was the suffocatingly frigid aura that enveloped her.

The other students kept their distance, unwilling to take even half a step closer, as if afraid of inviting misfortune.

Especially in her immediate vicinity, even the ticking of the clock seemed to slow. All noise faded away, leaving only her—still and indifferent, like a statue.

Suddenly, her gaze shifted toward a certain spot—

The doorway, where a young man and woman were walking in side by side.

When the pair noticed the icy girl sitting in the corner, their steps faltered, their expressions complicated.

"So, why is Club President Ji here so early?"

Su Cheng was surprised. He had come early on purpose today, yet Ji Qingyi had arrived even before him.

But after a moment’s thought, he realized the answer.

When in doubt, it was always Liu Qingyue’s fault!

He watched as Ji Qingyi, with her delicate fingers, gracefully ground tea leaves, brewed the water, and lifted an exquisite teacup to her lips with noble elegance. After taking a sip, she set the cup down and turned her gaze toward them—silent, yet expectant.

Though she said nothing, Su Cheng still approached with Li Guanqi in tow.

"President, why are you here so early?"

Su Cheng sat beside her and greeted her normally, but Ji Qingyi remained cold and detached, her voice light and indifferent.

"You’re simply earlier than usual today."

Su Cheng: "Huh?"

Ji Qingyi stared at him expressionlessly before shifting her gaze to Li Guanqi, who was seated beside Su Cheng. Her tone lifted slightly. "Li Guanqi."

"Senior Ji, is something the matter?"

Li Guanqi turned to look at her.

Ji Qingyi suddenly fell silent. After a long pause, she poured a cup of tea, then spoke again, her words quick and oddly soothing: "Nothing. I merely wished to share this sentiment with someone who appreciates tea."

With that, she lightly pushed the teacup—filled precisely to seven-tenths—toward Li Guanqi, who caught it effortlessly and examined it briefly.

Meanwhile, Ji Qingyi picked up the teapot again to refill her own cup, speaking casually as she did so. "A tea master’s artistry is the union of skill and practice, creating something even more beautiful. Brewing tea is the product of that union."

She took a small sip, then set the cup down and glanced at Su Cheng, her tone flat. "Don’t you agree?"

"Uh… yeah!"

Su Cheng blinked, then nodded reflexively, though he found her words utterly baffling.

She didn’t even offer him tea, yet she was asking him cryptic questions.

This was outright bullying! How unreasonable!

Beside him, Li Guanqi lifted the teacup and took a sip. Then, with her middle and index fingers pressed together, she lightly tapped the table in a gesture of thanks and said to Ji Qingyi, "Thank you for your hospitality, Senior."

"Though I must admit, I’m not very knowledgeable about tea. I hope you won’t mind."

Li Guanqi was impeccably polite, and Ji Qingyi gave a faint nod in response before falling silent again.

Watching the two of them converse as if he weren’t even there, Su Cheng couldn’t help but feel like a third wheel.

Still, he had a nagging sense that this was the calm before the storm.

Sure enough, the next moment, Ji Qingyi set her cup down and spoke coolly. "Junior, don’t wait until the tea goes cold. It loses its fragrance."

Su Cheng’s mind raced as he tried to decipher the hidden meaning in her words.

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior."

Li Guanqi nodded and lifted her cup again.

"My seat is inconvenient. Would you mind refilling her cup?"

At that moment, Ji Qingyi handed the teapot to Su Cheng.

Su Cheng froze for a second before understanding. He stood and poured tea into Li Guanqi’s cup until it was seven-tenths full. But just as he was about to pull back, something—or someone—poked him from the side, throwing him off balance.

The seven-tenths suddenly became ten-tenths.

Su Cheng: "?"

A question mark practically materialized above his head as he stared at Li Guanqi with a face more miserable than if he’d been crying.

Because a full cup of tea was a gesture of dismissal.

If Li Guanqi didn’t know better, she might think he was telling her to leave!

For her part, Li Guanqi looked at the overflowing cup, her expression blank but her mind working at lightning speed.

First, she knew this wasn’t Su Cheng’s doing—Ji Qingyi had orchestrated it.

But she couldn’t let it show. If she insisted on staying, Ji Qingyi would notice just how close and in sync she and Su Cheng were.

Moreover, if she refused to leave now, Ji Qingyi’s polite approach would turn into outright hostility. What started as mere exclusion could escalate into targeted retaliation.

So, the smartest move was to leave immediately. This would also prove that, despite appearances, she and Su Cheng weren’t as deeply connected as they seemed. A miscalculation on her part.

After a whirlwind of thoughts, Li Guanqi stood, looked at Ji Qingyi, and said, "Senior, I’ll excuse myself for now."

With that, she picked up her bag and walked out without another word.

Su Cheng, still holding the teapot, was at a loss. He frowned, torn between options—until another hand, pale and slender, wrapped around his wrist and gave it a light squeeze, signaling him to keep pouring.

Su Cheng: "…"

His lips twitched. This wicked woman!

She’d chased away his little comforter!

With a sigh, he resigned himself to explaining things later. He poured the tea and muttered, "Drink."

Ji Qingyi lifted the cup, took a refined sip, then glanced at him briefly before lowering her lashes to watch the ripples on the tea’s surface.

"She seems to understand you very well."

Her detached voice cut sharply through the quiet classroom.

Su Cheng blinked, then smiled at her. "President, don’t you understand me too?"

Ji Qingyi didn’t answer. She simply gazed at her teacup in silence before finally saying, "Not well enough."

Su Cheng was at a loss for words.

"Have some tea." She slid a cup toward him. Without hesitation, he took the teapot and poured himself a serving.

Staring at the emerald-green liquid, inhaling the rich aroma, his thoughts spun in endless circles.

Would his little comforter even come back?

Meanwhile, more students began trickling into the classroom. When they spotted Ji Qingyi and Su Cheng by the window, their eyes widened in surprise—but they dared not stare too long, quickly finding their own seats instead.

"Is that Su Cheng in the back?"

"Yeah, it’s him."

"No wonder he gets to share tea with Ji Qingyi."

The two boys in the front row were whispering among themselves, and the trio at the very front overheard. Among them, a lively and sunny-looking girl in a school uniform with a neat bob cut asked, "I really don’t get it. Doesn’t Su Cheng feel scared being around someone like that?"

In all of Flame City Private Academy, who would dare to meet Ji Qingyi’s gaze?

Only those with unyielding resolve, impeccable integrity, and no fear of others prying into their past could do so.

This was their shared understanding.

Beside her sat a thin, frail-looking girl wearing thick glasses, who shook her head at the question and muttered softly, "You just don’t get it. Su Cheng may come from a humble background, but he’s exceptionally talented. Honestly, I think they’re quite well-matched."

"Isn’t he just an archery champion?"

"Not at all!"

"Do tell!"

Hearing this, the girls immediately huddled together, chattering excitedly.

"The archery championship is just one of his achievements!" The frail girl’s eyes sparkled with admiration as she continued, "He’s a rare polymath—classically trained in music, a master of multiple instruments, winner of the Henry violin and piano competitions, gold medalist at the Royal Conservatory of Music, skilled in guitar and drums, champion in ballet and popping, top three in youth Go rankings, and he’s also won notable awards in swimming, skiing, skateboarding, table tennis, martial arts, and more!"

As her words sank in, the surrounding girls gasped in unison, their faces filled with disbelief as they glanced back at Su Cheng, almost blurting out, "This guy… is terrifyingly impressive!"

However, though their discussion was hushed, it still reached Su Cheng’s ears. Holding his teacup, his hand trembled slightly as his mind reeled in shock.

I’m actually this amazing?

Wait, no.

Hey, stop making up wild stories about me!

After a brief moment of stunned silence, he internally screamed in protest, but his expression remained perfectly composed, not betraying a hint of his inner turmoil.

Beside him, Ji Qingyi set down her teacup and cast him a curious glance, her tone laced with amusement. "As expected, I still don’t know you well enough."

Su Cheng forced a strained smile and explained, "I didn’t even know I had these skills myself."

……………………

"How did you know all this?"

"Yeah!"

Just then, the two girls from the front row turned to the one who had made the grand introduction and asked, puzzled, "How do you know Su Cheng can do all these things? Do you know him?"

"Of course not! I made it all up. But I figured he must be something close to this, otherwise how could he be with President Ji?"

………………………

"Phew."

Hearing this, Su Cheng let out a quiet sigh of relief and casually took a sip of his tea, commenting, "In closed environments like this, rumors and exaggerated stories spread endlessly."

"Indeed. Fabricating or embellishing statements to draw attention—clearly, this child lacks a sense of security, hence the need to seek validation through extreme exaggeration."

Ji Qingyi swiftly analyzed the behavior, her icy expression almost mocking the foolishness of those in the front row.

Su Cheng stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I see… As expected of our president. Though, we ordinary folks usually just call this ‘bragging.’"

Ji Qingyi shot him a sidelong glance, as if looking down on a vulgar commoner, and took a slow sip of tea. "Such crude language is beneath my ears."

This counts as crude?

Su Cheng blinked but didn’t argue, silently drinking his tea instead.

Now he finally understood the difference between himself and Ji Qingyi. Truly, she was the epitome of noble elegance—even her sarcasm carried an air of sophistication that made people willingly submit to her presence. As for him?

He was just a crude commoner~

"After class, I’ll be visiting the Practice Department."

Suddenly, Ji Qingyi set down her teacup and leveled a calm gaze at Su Cheng.

Su Cheng perked up. "Is there something you need?"

The thought of the impending clash between the two girls made his legs tremble and his head ache.

It wasn’t that he was cowardly—he just didn’t dare offend either of them.

"Nothing out of the ordinary. There’s a task I’d like your club to assist with." Her tone was unhurried. "You’ll learn the details later."

"Alright." Seeing she wouldn’t elaborate, Su Cheng could only agree.

Ji Qingyi’s lips curved faintly as she gave him a deep look before turning away, picking up a book as if the conversation had never happened.

Time passed minute by minute.

The classroom gradually grew livelier until three figures appeared at the door.

Li Guanqi, Xuan Ying, and Zhao Yan entered but didn’t head straight for him. Instead, they took empty seats in the front row, chatting while occasionally glancing his way.

"Cornelia, are you really going over there?"

At the entrance, Ailiya and Cornelia walked in hand in hand. The moment Cornelia spotted Su Cheng, she dragged Ailiya toward the back row. Ailiya hesitated, asking worriedly, "Are you sure?"

"It’s fine! She’s just a person with one mouth, two hands, and a head. Besides, last time I had tea and even dinner with her—she’s nothing like the rumors say!"

Cornelia brushed it off. In her mind, during their last encounter at Su Cheng’s place, she had outwitted Ji Qingyi with her intellect and courage.

Ji Qingyi?

A mere loser!

Defeated and pathetic!

"Damn, aren’t you afraid your dad might show up too?"

Su Cheng’s eyes widened in disbelief at Cornelia’s boldness.

Truly a hero—a future prime minister in the making!

"Classmate Ji, long time no see."

Cornelia plopped down beside Su Cheng and greeted Ji Qingyi casually, as if they were old friends.

Meanwhile, Ailiya fidgeted nervously, deeply concerned about Cornelia’s mental state.

Ji Qingyi frowned, studying her briefly before glancing at Su Cheng. With a faint nod, she replied, "Indeed, it’s been a while."

Cornelia’s arrival immediately drew the attention of Xuan Ying and the others.

"So this is the unknown variable," Xuan Ying mused, her expression serious. "But she’s on familiar terms with Ji Qingyi?"

She resolved to visit the library again after class.

Zhao Yan, however, was surprised. "Another formidable rival," she remarked, eyeing Xuan Ying with a sigh.

Li Guanqi, meanwhile, kept her head down, scrolling through her phone without reaction, as if this were entirely expected.

At the same time, a commotion erupted at the classroom entrance.

"Wow!"

Gasps of amazement filled the room.

At the entrance appeared a slender and graceful young woman with an upright posture, exuding an aura of cool elegance. Her jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, her fair skin flawless, and her delicate features strikingly beautiful. She carried herself with the aloof, icy charm of a snow lotus blooming atop a mountain peak.

Amidst the murmurs of admiration, Gu Ruoxue remained unfazed, her expression calm as she walked toward the back rows. Her gaze briefly flickered over Cornelia before settling on an empty seat beside Ailiya, where she took her place without hesitation.