The breakfast chat had thawed the ice between Ji Feng and Tong Lei, but their bond was strictly platonic—barely even close friendship. Ji Feng understood why she'd brought them to the cafeteria. It was partly the breakfast hour, but more importantly, she'd overheard his and Zhang Lei's teasing and assumed he had feelings for her. This was her way of setting boundaries, gently urging him not to get the wrong idea.
*Wishful thinking?* Ji Feng smiled bitterly to himself. If liking her counted as daydreaming, he'd been guilty of it for two years. But after Hu Xuehui's betrayal, he was no longer the naive boy who rushed into romance. He knew his place.
As they returned to the classroom, Tong Lei led the way, while Ji Feng and Zhang Lei lagged behind.
"Crazy, admit it—our school beauty's a catch, right?" Zhang Lei whispered, smirking slyly. "I'm telling you, if you wanna go for her, I'll be your intel guy. Deal?"
Ji Feng shook his head. "Quit it, Lei. She and I are from different worlds."
Zhang Lei frowned. "You're no worse than anyone, you know that? Your kindness, your drive, your grit—most people can't touch that. That alone makes you stand out. You're more than good enough for her."
Ji Feng smiled faintly, his gaze settling on Tong Lei's figure ahead. Her graceful silhouette, framed by her swaying ponytail and denim skirt, was breathtaking, stirring his pulse. But a stray thought crossed his mind—what lay beneath her outfit?—and he recoiled, cursing himself. *How could I think that about her?* To him, Tong Lei was a goddess, untarnished by such crude thoughts.
"Damn, Crazy, your nose is bleeding!" Zhang Lei gaped, half-laughing. "You *that* into our school beauty?"
"Zhang Lei, shut up!" Tong Lei's face flushed crimson as she whirled around, glaring. But concern quickly overtook her anger. She hurried over, offering Ji Feng a tissue. "Ji Feng, are you okay?"
Dazed, Ji Feng took the tissue and wiped his nose, seeing a streak of blood. "It's bleeding?" he mumbled, mortified. *Get a grip, you idiot.*
"It's fine! Let's keep going," he said, forcing calm. But inwardly, he wondered: *Could my new abilities include… seeing through things?*
A familiar voice echoed in his mind. *"Master, focus your mind to stimulate bioelectricity and activate the perspective function."* It was Intelligent Brain.
Ji Feng froze. He could communicate with it outside the void? *"Yes, Master. Concentration is sufficient,"* it confirmed.
His heart raced. Beyond photographic memory, he now had *X-ray vision*. Though seemingly trivial, Ji Feng knew any extraordinary ability could work wonders if used right. But using it to spy? That would degrade its potential—and himself.
*I won't use this power lightly,* he vowed silently. *Only when absolutely necessary.* Peeping could twist his mind, turning him into someone he despised.
And Tong Lei? *If I ever become worthy of her, and if she feels the same, I'll pursue her then. Right now, I'm just a poor nobody.* Hu Xuehui's rejection had left him wary of romance.
Seeing Ji Feng was unharmed, Tong Lei relaxed, and the trio continued toward the classroom.
Unbeknownst to them, two resentful eyes watched from a window above. The observer was Xu Mo, Class 6's handsome vice-monitor, whose charm captivated many girls. But now, his gaze burned with malice.
"Ji Feng, Tong Lei is *mine*," Xu Mo muttered venomously. "How dare you try to steal her?"
"Brother Xu, don't sweat it," said Chen Yang, a sycophantic boy beside him. "Ji Feng's just a toad lusting after a swan. The monitor would never go for him. You two are the perfect pair—nobody else at No. 2 High comes close."
Xu Mo's scowl eased at the flattery. He leaned in, voice low. "Chen Yang, you sit behind Ji Feng. Keep tabs on him. Report anything suspicious. I'll make it worth your while."
"Count on me, Brother Xu!" Chen Yang grinned eagerly.
Xu Mo sneered, glaring at Ji Feng below. "A dumped poor boy chasing a swan? You're courting death."
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