We ordinary people also need to fall in love.

Why would anyone say he comes from a poor family? Why would anyone say he's a kept man? And why would anyone compare him to cow dung?

Li Mubai's mind went blank for a moment, buzzing, and it took him a while to slowly come back to his senses.

Those vicious and harsh rumors seemed to deliberately avoid those around him, and even Xie Shu and Chen Qiuhe were completely unaware of them.

"What are you thinking about?"

Xie Shu's gentle voice rang in his ears, pulling him back from his wandering thoughts.

Chen Qiuhe and Deng Yi also stopped what they were doing and looked at him at the same time.

"I've finished my dictation, now I'm waiting for the next one."

Li Mubai gently tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing a faint smile.

Since the last time, this activity room has become their regular afternoon gathering place—he needs to take dictation, and Chen Qiuhe also needs to take dictation. By getting together, they can actually save a lot of time.

"Huh? I've already started writing the next one, and you're still stuck on the previous one!" Chen Qiuhe curiously leaned over and glanced at his notebook.

"Oh, I was spacing out just now."

Should he tell Xie Shu about the rumors? He curled his fingertips slightly, then gave up the idea.

Forget it, it's just nonsense. Maybe in a few days, nobody will care anymore.

I don't know why the first evening self-study session on Sunday always includes the news broadcast, and Wu Changguo always takes the opportunity to return to his office.

Hearing the increasingly loud noise, as the class monitor, he felt he should intervene, so he raised his voice:

"Everyone, please be quiet and don't make too much noise. Teachers will be patrolling during evening self-study."

The noisy classroom was quiet for only a brief moment before it quickly returned to the hushed chatter, eventually coalescing into a buzzing cacophony, interspersed with a few barely audible chuckles.

"What's all the noise about! Your class is the noisiest on the whole floor!"

A hoarse, stern voice boomed from the front door, and the classroom fell silent instantly.

Zhong Jianjun, the director of teaching affairs, stood at the front door with his hands behind his back. His slightly aged face was devoid of any smile or kindness, and his expression was frighteningly stern.

"Does Class 3 even resemble an honors class anymore? Look at Class 4, a regular class, they're quieter than you guys! If you can't stand being in an honors class, then voluntarily apply to be transferred to a regular class!"

After Zhong Jianjun finished speaking, the classroom fell into a deathly silence. The sound of the news broadcast on the computer continued, but no one paid any attention to it.

He strode to the podium, turned off the evening news broadcast, and swept his cold gaze across the entire class:

"Where's the class monitor?"

Li Mubai stood up silently.

Upon seeing him, Zhong Jianjun's brows furrowed slightly. He had a deep impression of Li Mubai. Last time, Li Mubai fought with Xing Yi and then put pressure on the school through Xie Shu's family, which ultimately affected Xing Yi's mentality and caused his grades to drop.

Although Xing Yi should bear the main responsibility for the fight in reality, in his eyes the matter was neither a big deal nor a small deal, and did not need to be dealt with to the fullest extent. Why should he be publicly criticized?

Zhong Jianjun is a person who only cares about grades. He himself admits that the only thing students need to do in school is to study hard and get good grades.

Therefore, he wouldn't say he particularly disliked Li Mubai, but he certainly didn't have much affection for him either.

"As the class monitor of the top class, you can't even manage class discipline?" Zhong Jianjun's voice was icy. "If you can't manage it, then find someone who can."

"Teacher, I... okay."

He wanted to argue that he had already warned his classmates, but they wouldn't listen. However, he hesitated and realized it wouldn't be appropriate to say it.

"Teacher Zhong, the class monitor has already taken charge." A clear yet firm voice suddenly rang out.

"The class monitor still needs to be able to command respect." Seeing that it was Xie Shu, Zhong Jianjun's tone softened a bit. He glanced around one last time and said, "Alright, continue studying. Don't let me hear your class's voice again."

Li Mubai sat down with his head down.

Maybe they're right...

"I'm so angry! How can this dean of students not distinguish right from wrong?" As soon as evening self-study ended, Chen Qiuhe turned to look at Li Mubai.

Xie Shu also turned around.

"Teacher Zhong is right. Perhaps the class monitor's job is to do the best and be able to win everyone's respect." Li Mubai forced a smile.

"The class monitor has to be the best? I think my class monitor in the first year of high school was a complete slacker, and his grades weren't as good as mine," Chen Qiuhe retorted.

"Maybe it's because we're in the honors class, so the requirements are different."

"No, I'm talking to you, why are you always trying to argue with me?"

"Um—I'm sorry." Li Mubai apologized immediately.

"Alright, alright, I forgive you." Chen Qiuhe waved her hand helplessly.

"Don't worry too much, just focus on your studies. Midterms are coming up soon," Xie Shu comforted her softly.

"Um."

Li Mubai nodded, seemingly unconcerned, or perhaps keeping his feelings hidden.

After evening self-study, Xie Shu, Chen Qiuhe, and Deng Yi had already returned to their dormitory, while Li Mubai walked alone on the road with his schoolbag on his back.

A boy always walked faster than the girls who strolled leisurely, and he passed by the girls from Class 3.

The people behind them seemed to recognize that this was their class monitor, and recalling the recent rumors and what happened during evening self-study, they immediately huddled together and whispered and laughed.

The hushed voices reached Li Mubai's ears; he only heard their laughter and didn't know what they were talking about.

He quickened his pace and turned the corner. A girl from Class 3 walked towards him from the direction of the convenience store. She didn't say anything, just glanced at him quickly before looking away.

Back in the dorm, Yang Kun approached him cautiously:

"Laobai, is your family... facing difficulties?"

"fine."

In the past, this might have been true, but things have improved in recent years.

"Is someone spreading rumors again?" Zhao Feng poked his head out.

"Yeah, I don't even know where these people got their rumors from, even saying that people can't afford cell phones. Isn't that nonsense? I argued with them, but they still didn't believe me."

"Who's talking?" Li Mubai raised his eyes, his tone calm.

"Uh—Zhang Qian and the others asked me about it, but they heard it from someone else."

Rumors are like an invisible net; by the time you realize it, you're already firmly wrapped up, not even knowing where to break free.

Li Mubai didn't say anything more, silently picked up his toiletries, and prepared to rest.

"That's just how it is in liberal arts classes. When there are a lot of girls, they tend to play mind games. Don't take it to heart, Li Mubai," Wang Rui said, putting down his extracurricular book to comfort him.

"Damn it, if I encountered someone like Lao Bai, I'd just commit suicide in front of them and leave them with psychological trauma," Yang Kun cursed.

"Then you're a werewolf, even more ruthless than a ruthless person."

"Those who offend my men, no matter how far away, will be punished!"

The boys in the dormitory joked around, trying to ease the atmosphere.

Li Mubai lay silently on the bed. His anger was never a volcanic eruption, but rather an undercurrent beneath the surface.

Some people say he comes from a poor family, which proves there's some truth to that. What led to that conclusion? His shoes? The car his parents used to pick him up and drop him off?

Li Mubai suddenly remembered the incident when he ran into Huang Lingling while helping out at the restaurant during the May Day holiday...