Chapter 107: The Department Beauty, the Campus Belle, and the Village Flower

"Yingying, Xiaoqing, here's some water. Have a drink." Qin Tian stepped forward, positioning himself directly between the two groups.

"Thank you." Jiang Yingying smiled as she took the water; Qin Tian had successfully eased the tension for them.

The group opposite them was led by Shangguan Xiaocong, a spoiled rich kid from the capital who had been pursuing Jiang Yingying since last year. Once summer break began, Jiang Yingying hadn't heard a peep from him. Who would have thought that as soon as the semester started, this toad would come crawling back again, thicker-skinned than ever.

Shangguan Xiaocong frowned slightly, annoyed that his plans had been disrupted by this sudden arrival. He leaned to the left, trying to catch a glimpse of Jiang Yingying and Shen Xiaoqing, but Qin Tian shifted to the left as well, blocking his view. Shangguan Xiaocong scowled and shifted to the right, only for Qin Tian to shadow his movement perfectly.

Shangguan Xiaocong was baffled. Does this guy have eyes in the back of his head? Why does he move exactly where I move? He tried to stand taller to look over, but he realized he was short and simply no match for Qin Tian’s height; he couldn't see past him.

"Move aside!" Shangguan Xiaocong snapped, grabbing Qin Tian’s arm to shove him away. But to his shock, he couldn't budge him at all. He tried again with more force, but Qin Tian remained as steady as a rock.

Shangguan Xiaocong narrowed his eyes. He had run into someone who knew martial arts! He had spent his summer break training in a remote location and had made significant progress; he was confident he could take on ten men at once. He hadn't expected to be humbled on the very first day of school.

"There seems to be a flea behind us. Shall we go somewhere else? I’d hate for us to get bitten and start itching all over," Qin Tian remarked, comparing the jumping Shangguan Xiaocong to a flea.

"Sounds good!" Shen Xiaoqing nodded repeatedly with a laugh. Jiang Yingying covered her mouth to hide her giggles.

"What do you mean by that? Who the hell are you?" Shangguan Xiaocong stepped around to the side.

"The boss of the Heavenly Circus!" Qin Tian pointed at himself.

"Boss of the Heavenly Circus?" Shangguan Xiaocong paused, confused. What was that? A circus performer?

"Let’s go." Qin Tian prepared to take the girls away.

"Wait!" Shangguan Xiaocong stepped forward to block them.

"Mr. Flea, is there something else?" Qin Tian asked.

"My name is Shangguan Xiaocong! I’m having lunch with them, so if you’re smart, you’ll get lost!" he barked.

"Did you agree to have lunch with him?" Qin Tian asked, feigning confusion as he looked at the girls.

"No," they both shook their heads in unison.

"See? They said no. Now, please move," Qin Tian shrugged, and with a casual flick of his hand, he shoved Shangguan Xiaocong aside.

Shangguan Xiaocong stumbled, nearly falling to the ground. Once he regained his balance, he stared at Qin Tian in shock. He realized Qin Tian was truly formidable.

"How dare you touch our boss! Get him, boys!" Shangguan Xiaocong’s lackeys rushed forward.

Qin Tian frowned slightly. He didn't want any trouble on his first day, but sometimes, trouble found you whether you wanted it to or not. Just as he prepared to defend himself, Shangguan Xiaocong held up a hand to stop his men.

"Leave your name," Shangguan Xiaocong said, staring at Qin Tian.

"I won't change my name or hide my history. I’m Qin Tian, boss of the Heavenly Circus!" Qin Tian declared with an air of dominance.

"I’ll remember that." Shangguan Xiaocong gave him a long, deep look before turning to leave with his men.

Qin Tian was surprised. He had expected a fight, but they simply walked away.

"Qin Tian, Shangguan Xiaocong is very good at holding a grudge. Be careful," Jiang Yingying warned.

"Holding a grudge?" Qin Tian narrowed his eyes. He didn't care if the guy could hold a grudge; if he dared to provoke him again, he’d turn him into a Ninja Turtle!

Since the coast was clear, the three of them stayed in line. After waiting nearly an hour, they finally completed their registration. Qin Tian shook his head; waiting so long just to sign a paper to prove he was there was a huge hassle.

"Should we eat back at the dorms or go to a restaurant?" Jiang Yingying asked.

"Let’s go out. It’s too late to cook," Qin Tian said, checking his watch. It was already noon, and by the time they bought groceries and cooked, it would be two o'clock.

"Okay," Jiang Yingying agreed. They headed to the school cafeteria, where the first two floors served fast food, and the third floor featured decent private rooms with better food at a higher price.

"Gong Miaomiao is here!"
"What? Gong Miaomiao is here?"
"Quick, let’s go see!"

As soon as they entered, the cafeteria erupted in chaos. Many people dropped their utensils and sprinted outside. Qin Tian was confused—who was this Gong Miaomiao? Was she a big celebrity filming on location?

"Xiaoqing, who is this Gong Miaomiao? Is she a big star like Mi Xue?" Qin Tian asked. He knew Shen Xiaoqing was well-versed in pop culture.

"Her? Don't compare her to Mi Xue. That’s an insult to Mi Xue!" Shen Xiaoqing replied.

"Oh."

"She’s the school beauty," Jiang Yingying explained from the side.

"School beauty?" Qin Tian was taken aback. That explained why so many people were rushing to catch a glimpse.

"Do you want to go see?" Shen Xiaoqing asked, looking at him playfully.

Qin Tian instinctively wanted to say yes, as he had never seen a "school beauty" and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. But with two beautiful women right in front of him, he couldn't possibly say that.

"Forget it, just look at the department beauty instead," Shen Xiaoqing said with a smile.

"Department beauty? Where?" Qin Tian asked, puzzled.

"Right here, closer than you think," she said, nodding toward Jiang Yingying.

Qin Tian’s eyes widened. Jiang Yingying was the department beauty? Jiang Yingying’s face turned bright red. She was indeed the department beauty, and on the unofficial school beauty rankings, she was ranked second.

"Hmph, isn't that Jiang Yingying? With a new sucker on the hook?" A voice that sounded melodic yet grating to the ears suddenly rang out.

Qin Tian looked up and saw a girl with a very average figure and plain features. He frowned. Did she just call him a sucker?

"That’s Gong Miaomiao," Shen Xiaoqing whispered in his ear.

"This is the school beauty? Are these people blind? I think she looks more like a village belle!" Qin Tian nearly gagged. She wasn't exactly ugly, but to call her a school beauty? He wasn't buying it. She wasn't even as pretty as Jiang Yingying!

"What did you say? You called me a village belle?" Gong Miaomiao had overheard him and was now glaring at Qin Tian with pure rage.