**
Ji Feng had barely settled into his seat when Wang Tong, a short boy in front of him, swiveled around, whispering conspiratorially. "Ji Feng, you and Tong Lei a thing now?"
"What? No way!" Ji Feng blinked, caught off guard, then chuckled. "Who's spreading that nonsense, Wang Tong?"
Wang Tong leaned closer, voice low. "Overheard Xu Mo and Chen Yang talking about you and Tong Lei just now."
"They're gossiping about *me*?" Ji Feng frowned, shaking his head with a wry smile. "Let them talk. Who doesn't chat about others behind their backs?"
"You idiot!" Wang Tong, one of Ji Feng's closer classmates, grabbed his arm and pulled him to a quiet corner of the classroom. "Be careful, man. Xu Mo's not someone you wanna cross."
"I know," Ji Feng said, puzzled. "But what's that got to do with me?"
Wang Tong rolled his eyes. "Don't play dumb. You really hiding this from me?"
Seeing Ji Feng's genuine confusion, Wang Tong sighed. "You don't know? Xu Mo's got a thing for Tong Lei. If he thinks you're chasing her, he'll come after you."
It clicked for Ji Feng. Xu Mo's crush on Tong Lei was hardly a secret among seniors. But Tong Lei had always kept him at arm's length, and despite two years of pursuit, Xu Mo had gotten nowhere. Ji Feng, though, had no plans to pursue her—not until he'd earned the right to stand by her side.
He shrugged, unconcerned. "Thanks for the heads-up, but there's nothing between me and Tong Lei. Why would he bother me?"
Wang Tong shook his head, exasperated. "With Xu Mo's ego, does he need a reason? The guy's petty and ruthless. Plus, his dad's Deputy County Magistrate Xu Fu. Messing with you would be child's play for him."
Ji Feng nodded, smiling faintly. "I hear you, but I'm not chasing Tong Lei. He's got no cause to target me."
"You're hopeless," Wang Tong muttered, chuckling wryly. "Xu Mo doesn't care about 'cause.'"
"He'd better not try!" A voice cut in. Zhang Lei, his yellow hair unmistakable, appeared beside them, his tone icy. "If Xu Mo touches Crazy, I'll make him regret it."
Wang Tong rolled his eyes. "Lei, cool it with the tough-guy act, yeah?"
Everyone knew Zhang Lei came from money, but in Mangshi County, wealth bowed to power. Crossing an official's son like Xu Mo was a risky move, no matter how rich you were.
Zhang Lei smirked, his eyes glinting with disdain, but he said nothing more.
Ji Feng punched his shoulder, grinning. "You look more like a thug than a student, you punk."
The three burst into laughter, drawing curious glances from classmates.
During the next class, Ji Feng pushed Xu Mo's rumored grudge out of his mind, diving into his textbook. His photographic memory let him recall everything he'd studied, but rote learning wasn't enough. To truly master the material, he needed to apply it flexibly.
With his new ability, Ji Feng became a study machine, devouring new textbooks and committing their contents to memory. Having fallen behind in his first two years of high school, he aimed to conquer the senior-year curriculum quickly, then revisit earlier material. Only then could he hope to ace the college entrance exam and secure a spot at a top university.
Zhang Lei, watching Ji Feng flip through pages at lightning speed, gaped. "Crazy, you still at it? You've barely listened to the teacher these past two days—just tearing through books like a maniac."
Ji Feng grinned. "It's my secret study method. You wouldn't get it."
He couldn't reveal Intelligent Brain's existence. If anyone found out, he'd risk becoming a lab rat.
Zhang Lei rolled his eyes, chuckling. "Whatever, you weirdo. I'm out."
Ji Feng shook his head, amused, and returned to his book.
*Ding!*
The bell rang, marking the end of class. The morning had flown by, and Ji Feng had already memorized half a textbook.
"Finally, freedom!" Zhang Lei groaned. "When's this day gonna end?"
Ji Feng shot him a look. "Not everyone's a genius like you, slacking off and still acing tests."
Zhang Lei's oddity was his effortless brilliance—barely studying outside class yet consistently outscoring most.
He smirked. "Gotta hit the bathroom. Catch you later."
As Zhang Lei sauntered off, Ji Feng shook his head, ready to dive back into his book. A tap on his shoulder stopped him. Turning, he saw Xu Mo, the vice-monitor, looming with a grim smile.
"Ji Feng, step outside. We need to talk," Xu Mo said, his tone light but his eyes dripping with disdain.
Ji Feng paused, then nodded. Xu Mo slung an arm around his shoulders, the gesture falsely chummy, and led him to the corridor.
Once out of earshot, Xu Mo's voice turned cold. "Stay away from Tong Lei, Ji Feng. It's for your own good."
Ji Feng met his gaze, unfazed. "I'm already keeping my distance."
Xu Mo's eyes narrowed. "Don't play dumb. You're a nobody—a poor kid with no connections. Chasing Tong Lei? You're a toad dreaming of swan meat."
Ji Feng's expression didn't waver. "Tong Lei's a swan, sure. But who's the toad here?"
Xu Mo's face darkened. "Watch it, Ji Feng. If I catch you near her again, you're done."
He shoved Ji Feng, expecting him to stumble, but Ji Feng stood firm, his enhanced strength absorbing the push. The recoil caught Xu Mo off balance, nearly toppling him.
Xu Mo glared, eyes blazing with warning, then stormed off with a cold snort.
Ji Feng shook his head, muttering, "A powerless poor boy, huh? Big talk."
He returned to the classroom, dismissing Xu Mo as a spoiled rich kid coasting on his father's influence. With no real ties to Tong Lei, Ji Feng saw no reason to take the threat seriously.
As he entered, he felt eyes on him. Glancing up, he met Tong Lei's gaze. He offered a small smile and a nod.
Neither noticed Xu Mo watching from a distance, his face twisted with resentment. "Ignore my warning, Ji Feng?" he hissed. "I'll make you pay."
---