After the minor character transforms into a beauty, she steals the heart of a tycoon's son.

Someone in the crowd sneered, their mockery undisguised.

Fang Zhaoyang looked in the direction of the sound and saw the faces of several aristocratic students.

They stood at the front of the crowd, arms crossed, with indifferent expressions.

Fang Zhaoyang's heart sank an inch.

Si Lin stepped forward and spoke, "You think your enemies are the four great deacons?"

Fang Zhaoyang struggled to lift his eyelids and looked at his superior, Lin, through the bloodstains and broken glass.

He stood there, wearing a black shirt, very tall, with a casual, nonchalant air about him as he looked down at people.

"How could your enemy be us, the Four Great Deacons?" Si Lin's voice was indifferent.

"We were merely acting as a protective shield, granting them a few privileges."

His gaze swept across the faces of the noble students around him.

"Those who truly dislike you commoners who are so eager to climb the social ladder and try to gain power are all the nobles present."

Si Lin paused, then chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Oh no, officially we're now called a conglomerate family."

As soon as he finished speaking, a chorus of agreement echoed across the playground. The political upheaval more than a decade ago that ended the aristocratic system had been a source of deep resentment for everyone.

Fang Zhaoyang knelt on the ground, looking at the people around him.

Those he thought he could awaken, those he thought would be moved by his accusations, now stood opposite him, looking at him with disgust.

Si Lin turned to leave.

Fang Zhaoyang suddenly got up from the ground and lunged at Si Lin with all his might.

The crowd gasped in surprise.

Si Lin didn't even turn around, he just turned to the side.

Fang Zhaoyang missed his target and stumbled forward, heading directly in the direction of Ruan Tang and the others.

Lin Xiaokui instinctively stepped back.

But Fang Zhaoyang rushed in too fast, and before he knew it, his blood-stained hands reached out wildly—

"what!"

Song Tian screamed and dodged backward.

Ruan Tang was pulled so hard that she stumbled, her glasses were knocked askew and fell to the ground.

Fang Zhaoyang's hand grasped at empty air, and he fell to the ground, landing right at Ruan Tang's feet.

He raised his head, his face covered in blood, his eyes bloodshot, staring intently at Ruan Tang.

Ruan Tang lowered her eyes and met his gaze.

Two seconds later, Fang Zhaoyang suddenly grinned, and blood seeped from between his teeth.

"You women, do you... do you see clearly?" he said hoarsely.

"These are... the deacons you admire... the four great deacons..."

Before he could finish speaking, a shiny black leather shoe stepped on his back and ground down hard.

Fang Zhaoyang groaned and slammed his face into the ground.

Si Lin withdrew his foot and his gaze fell on Ruan Tang's face.

Without the glasses to cover it, his entire face was fully exposed.

Her facial features were exquisite and beautiful, with slender eyebrows, large and charming eyes, a straight nose, and full lips.

But her skin wasn't fair enough; it had a dull, yellowish hue, the kind that comes from years of malnutrition.

Although her hair was black, the ends were somewhat dry.

He exuded a dusty, rough aura.

Like a pearl covered in dust, you can vaguely see the luster inside, but the layer of dust on the surface makes you not interested in wiping it.

Si Lin took two steps forward.

He was 193 cm tall, and when he stood in front of Ruan Tang, he cast her in shadow.

Ruan Tang had no choice but to look up at him.

"Is this newcomer?" Si Lin asked.

His voice was soft, carrying a hint of drowsiness, as if he had just woken up.

Ruan Tang thought that this man, being an ordinary person, was no less handsome than a spirit or monster. No wonder the system said he was the darling of Heaven.

Regardless of what he thought in his heart, he still nodded obediently on the surface.

"What's your name?"

"...Ruan Tang".

Si Lin nodded, bent down to pick up the black-rimmed glasses from the ground, and looked at them in his hand.

"Damn it," he said, casually tossing his glasses back to the ground, then suddenly attacked, his long, slender fingers pinching Ruan Tang's chin.

Ruan Tang was forced to tilt her face up, completely exposing herself to his gaze.

Everyone was watching as Si Lin pinched the chin of a strange girl and carefully examined her face.

Lin Xiaokui was about to say something, but Wen Yan stopped her with a look.

Pei Heng also looked over, raised an eyebrow, and showed interest in his eyes.

Si Lin stared at Ruan Tang's face for a long time.

Those eyes are truly beautiful.

Her pupils were very dark and bright, with slightly upturned corners, giving her an indescribable allure when she looked at people.

Yet his eyes were pure and innocent.

People around started whispering.

Si Lin snapped out of her daze and released her grip. "Your eyes are beautiful, but it's a pity that you grew up in an ordinary family and have such rough skin."

Ruan Tang lowered her eyes and did not reply.

Si Lin's gaze fell on her face, and he said, "Little girl, don't wear glasses anymore. They're covering the only part of your face that you can see."

After saying that, he turned around and raised his chin at Fang Zhaoyang, who was still lying on the ground, "That's enough for today."

Wen Yan raised an eyebrow: "Not playing anymore?"

"This is boring," Si Lin said, putting his hands back in his pockets and walking towards the supercar.

The silver-gray sports car let out a low growl and sped away from the playground first.

Pei Heng whistled and got into the Ferrari.

Wen Yan smiled and got into the Lamborghini.

Ji Yan was the last to get on the bus. Just before the door closed, he glanced at Ruan Tang.

As soon as the four people left, the pressure on the playground suddenly eased.

Some people started to step forward and punch and kick Fang Zhaoyang.

A group of people huddled together, excitedly discussing what had just happened.

Many more people turned their gazes toward Ruan Tang, their eyes filled with curiosity, scrutiny, and envy.

Lin Xiaokui pulled Ruan Tang's hand and pulled her back a little, standing in front of her. "It's okay, let's go back to the classroom."

Song Tian leaned closer and whispered, "Ruan Tang, are you alright?"

Ruan Tang shook her head, bent down to pick up her glasses from the ground, and put them back on her face. "I'm fine."

-

When the three returned to the classroom, the bell had not yet rung.

Lin Xiaokui pulled Ruan Tang to sit down, her face looking very unpleasant.

She stared at Ruan Tang for a long time, her lips moved, then closed again.

Song Tian wisely refrained from joining them, instead sitting in the front row and glancing back every now and then.

Lin Xiaokui finally spoke, "Tangtang, do you know how dangerous that was just now?"

Ruan Tang took off her glasses, wiped them with her sleeve, and put them back on. "I know."

Lin Xiaokui's tone became urgent, "You don't know."

"Si Lin is the head of the stewards; he's not someone you can mess with."

"He saw you today, and someone will come looking for trouble for you tomorrow."

Ruan Tang turned to look at her.

Lin Xiaokui's expression was very serious, her brows were furrowed, and her eyes were full of worry.

"He complimented your eyes, do you know what that means?" Lin Xiaokui held her hand.

"Last year, there was a girl whose face was slashed the next day after Wen Yan casually complimented her on her beauty."

"But Wen Yan just said it casually and didn't take it to heart at all."

Ruan Tang didn't pull her hand away, letting her hold it, and said softly, "I know you're doing this for my own good, I'll avoid them from now on."

Lin Xiaokui stared at her for a few seconds, then sighed, "I don't want to hurt you, Tangtang. We're best friends, and I don't want anything to happen to you."

My best friend.

Ruan Tang lowered her eyes and looked at her wrist, which was being held.

Lin Xiaokui's palms were hot and sweaty, she was really anxious.

But she was thinking about something else entirely.

In the original story, Lin Xiao Kui's parents spared no expense to send her to Sheng Lan, hoping she would snag a rich husband.

Her family lived in the suburbs. Her father ran a small building materials store, and her mother was a housewife. They were not destitute, but they were certainly not rich either.

Why would a family like that go to such lengths to get their child into a prestigious private school?

Lin Xiaokui won the chemistry competition award, which was based on her ability, but that doesn't mean she doesn't want to climb higher.

Ruan Tang raised her eyes and looked at Lin Xiao Kui.

She had already let go of her hand and walked over to find Song Tian.

The two chatted and laughed.

Lin Xiaokui's smile was very sincere; her teeth were white, and her eyes were curved.

Like the sun.

But even under the sun, there are shadows.