President 19
Chen Dingning emerged from the shadows, his expression growing increasingly twisted. Clutching his phone, he stood by the roadside, muttering to himself, “I knew you were no good. And you dare to get so close to Ye Qian? Who do you think you are? I’m going to make sure the entire school knows your true colors.”
He seemed lost in his delusions.
Tang Xi, however, was completely unaware of this. He was sprinting to school, trying to avoid being late.
As a day student, his reported home address was quite far from the school. Because of this, the homeroom teacher often turned a blind eye to his occasional lateness.
But he never used this as an excuse to slack off. He managed to slip into the classroom just as the bell rang.
“Good morning.” Ye Qian greeted him gently, a smile unconsciously appearing on his face as soon as he saw Tang Xi.
“Good morning! I wasn’t late today!” Tang Xi said cheerfully as he sat down. He even turned to greet the two girls sitting in front of him.
However, they were huddled together, heads bowed over a phone, chatting excitedly. The moment they heard his greeting, they turned to look at him in unison—both wearing the same furious expression.
Chen Yuxin shoved her phone in front of him and said angrily, “Look at this.”
Tang Xi took the phone. The screen displayed a forum post:
[Breaking News! The new transfer student from Class 7, Senior Year, is shamelessly being kept by a rich man and was even dropped off at the school gate!]
Attached were several photos, clearly taken in secret.
One showed a young man stepping out of a luxury car. Another captured him smiling brightly and waving at the person inside the vehicle.
The poster had even provided a “logical and evidence-based” analysis, focusing mainly on how Tang Xi’s eyes appeared red—“as if he had cried all night”—and the fact that he was suddenly wearing brand-new designer clothes.
Recently, his rumored relationship with Ye Qian had been trending on the school’s forum. Many people immediately guessed the subject of the post just from the title. As a result, the post quickly gained engagement, with new comments popping up each time the page refreshed.
Tang Xi was at a loss. He wasn’t familiar with the forum, but even he could tell that the post was filled with malice. He also noticed that other classmates had begun sneaking glances at him.
In a small voice, he explained, “They’re lying. I didn’t… do that.” The last two words were so quiet they were almost inaudible.
It was an awful accusation. In Tang Xi’s world, this was the first time he had ever been insulted in such a cruel way.
It felt just as painful as when he was a cat and someone had deliberately thrown stones at him.
Hearing his response, Chen Yuxin slammed her desk. “It must be that coward hiding in the shadows, trying to slander you!”
Her deskmate nodded vigorously. “Yeah! We believe you.”
They were angry on his behalf.
The feeling of being trusted was strange but warm. Tang Xi was stunned for a moment, but the coldness in his heart gradually faded, replaced by warmth.
It was then that he realized—the classmates secretly glancing at him weren’t looking at him with judgment but concern.
While he was still lost in emotion, Ye Qian took the phone from his hand. The more he read, the darker his expression became. His face finally fell completely, his anger barely restrained.
Tang Xi didn’t dare to meet his gaze and secretly sighed in relief.
Thankfully, the photos hadn’t captured He Wang. It would’ve been so awkward if he had been recognized.
Ye Qian put down the phone. As expected, he didn’t mention the person in the car. Instead, suppressing his fury, he asked, “Who posted this?”
Chen Yuxin’s deskmate wore a helpless expression. “We don’t know. If we did, I’d be the first to curse them out.”
Unlike the others, Chen Yuxin was well-versed in the school forum. Without hesitation, she started tracking the IP address.
“This is a brand-new account,” she muttered with a frown.
At that moment, 1551’s voice rang out, unusually quick and urgent: [Host! I found out who’s behind the post!]
Tang Xi lowered his eyes and asked in his mind: [Who?]
[Someone named Chen Dingning. His previous forum ID was “Ou Ou.” He used to love arguing under your posts. After I permanently banned him, he actually used his parents’ phone numbers and ID cards to register again,] 1551 said through gritted teeth.
[Why would he do that?] Tang Xi was puzzled. He didn’t even check the forum that often.
He had no idea that he had already become a well-known figure at school.
1551, who had only recently become a full-fledged system, also found this person’s behavior baffling. It reluctantly explained, [Probably jealousy? Humans really are strange carbon-based creatures.]
Tang Xi’s inner cat instincts silently nodded in agreement.
However, to outsiders, his dazed expression while talking to the system made him look like a sad little puppy.
Classmates who had their phones couldn’t help but speak up for him in the forum thread.
But every single rebuttal was countered by Chen Dingning alone.
He even emphasized that he had sneakily checked Tang Xi’s records in the academic affairs office—claiming he was just a poor kid.
He was so confident about it that some students from other classes started to half-believe him.
[No way… I was just seriously shipping him with Ye Qian, our school heartthrob.]
[He looks so sweet; I never thought he’d be that kind of person…]
[Photos don’t lie, right? If this isn’t true, why doesn’t he just come out and explain himself?]
Tang Xi had the system pull up the thread’s updates. Although he was initially a little angry about the slander, the trust from his classmates gradually eased that feeling.
If someone stole his food, he would be ten times angrier.
Being smeared with a few baseless accusations? That wasn’t going to stop him from eating his cake.
His focus even shifted: [Wait… people are actually shipping me and Ye Qian?]
[More importantly, I think you should pay attention to Ye Qian right now,] 1551 hesitated.
Tang Xi finally noticed that Ye Qian, who was sitting next to him, didn’t look good at all. The air around him was so tense that the two girls in front of them didn’t even dare to speak.
“It’s okay, I can handle this,” Tang Xi gently patted Ye Qian’s shoulder.
As he was about to pull his hand back, his wrist was suddenly grabbed.
Ye Qian’s voice was low: “Come outside with me for a moment.”
“Okay…” Tang Xi had barely finished speaking before he was pulled up.
Stumbling along, he followed Ye Qian, who was clearly still fuming. He didn’t dare say a word.
This was the first time he had ever seen his usually gentle deskmate this angry.
Ye Qian led him through the corridors, avoiding people, before finally bringing him into an empty classroom on the second floor.
Tang Xi found himself trapped between Ye Qian and the blackboard, completely confused. He hesitated before speaking in a soft voice, “The teacher should be here soon.”
Even though their first-period teacher was notoriously late, that didn’t mean they could just skip class so openly.
Ye Qian acted as if he hadn’t heard him. He lowered his head slightly, eyes fixed on his small deskmate. “What is your relationship with Mr. He?”
He actually figured it out!
Maybe the surprise in Tang Xi’s eyes was too obvious, because Ye Qian explained with a hint of bitterness in his voice, “That license plate—he’s the only one in the entire city who has it.”
The moment he saw that photo, he recognized it instantly. But he didn’t say anything.
However, seeing his little deskmate looking so heartbroken just now, he couldn’t hold back anymore—he had to ask.
Shock and anxiety spilled out uncontrollably, mixed with a jealousy he didn’t want to admit.
“I’m living with him now. He happened to be heading this way, so he gave me a ride to school.”
Tang Xi didn’t know how to explain. His invisible tail seemed to bristle, and after struggling for a while, this was all he could manage to say.
Ye Qian took a few deep breaths. Who knows what he was imagining in his head, but his eyes turned red.
He looked absolutely furious.
Lying to a friend was wrong in the first place, so it made sense that he was this upset.
Tang Xi lowered his head like a guilty kitten, ready to accept all the criticism.
Seeing him like this, Ye Qian couldn’t bring himself to voice the accusations that had been on the tip of his tongue.
In the end, he just wiped a hand down his face and suddenly sounded exhausted. “Tell Mr. He about this. He’ll help you deal with it.”
His fists clenched unconsciously, and deep down, he despised his own powerlessness.
He knew that the more He Wang got involved with this boy, the worse it would be. But he couldn’t stop it.
It was the same feeling of helplessness he’d had when he went to beg He Wang to save Tang Xi. He didn’t even know if it was his plea back then that had caught He Wang’s attention and made him reach out to the boy in the first place.
Although he usually respected He Wang, when it came to this matter, his emotions took over.
He instinctively felt that Tang Xi was being deceived—tricked by that businessman who always got what he wanted.
How could he bear to be harsh with this clueless boy?
Tang Xi looked at him worriedly. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Go back to class first.” Ye Qian paused for a moment. “I’ll go talk to Mr. He myself.”
Talk about what?
Tang Xi tilted his head in confusion.
Ye Qian refused to say more. He just ruffled Tang Xi’s hair and motioned for him to go back to the classroom.
Sensing that something was off with Ye Qian, Tang Xi decided to slip away on his own. But he didn’t even make it halfway before someone intercepted him.
His round, cat-like eyes blinked as he looked at the person covering his mouth, silently urging them to let go.
Not only did the person refuse to loosen their grip, but they also pressed in closer, staring into his eyes with a fierce expression. “Who’s that man who brought you to school?”
It took Tang Xi two seconds to realize—this guy must have seen the forum post too.
“Mmph mmph?!” What does that have to do with you?!
Feeling suffocated under Shen Chensi’s pressure, Tang Xi’s attitude was anything but friendly. His big eyes glared at him fiercely.
Since he wanted to speak, his soft lips moved slightly against Shen Chensi’s hand.
Shen Chensi’s hand twitched as if he’d been electrocuted, and he slowly withdrew it, his ears turning red. “Answer me properly. Don’t try to act cute.”
Tang Xi was displeased. “That post was full of nonsense! And I wasn’t acting cute.”
Shen Chensi instinctively ignored the second half of his sentence. “I’m asking you—who was that man in the car?” His tone was firm as he leaned in closer, forcing Tang Xi against the wall.
Why would he suddenly take an interest in He Wang?
This was the very person who, in the original storyline, ultimately took down the villain.
Tang Xi’s expression turned wary in an instant. “What does that have to do with you?”
“What does that have to do with me? Hah.” Shen Chensi let out a cold laugh, angered by the way Tang Xi was instinctively defending He Wang. “You’re so protective of him, but does he even know you’re being slandered right now? Does he care?”
The warmth of his breath brushed against Tang Xi’s neck, sending a shiver down his spine. Tang Xi shrank back. “W-why are you so angry?”
He was scared now, his voice turning soft and sweet again.
Shen Chensi’s tone grew even more dangerous. “Does he also force you into a corner like this, hmm?”
Author’s note: The bad guy will be offline soon~