There’re Always Paranoid Thoughts to Monopolize Me - Chapter 22.1

Huo Jun had already darkened his expression the moment he saw Huo Jingyan.

The brothers, Qiao Jin and Qiao Yu, behind him were even more stunned, staring for several seconds before lowering their voices and moving closer to Huo Jun.

Qiao Jin: “Brother Jun… isn’t that your family’s old man’s adopted son? Why did he suddenly show up here—and he’s going to be our teacher?”

Qiao Yu clicked his tongue, “This is clearly shady, they’re trying to play an open plot with you, Brother Jun.”

“……”

Huo Jun sneered coldly, reached out to pull the brim of his baseball cap lower, covering his cold, handsome face.

Even though he sat blatantly in the most conspicuous seat in the front row, Huo Jun had no intention of hiding his plan to “sleep in class.”

Qiao Jin and Qiao Yu exchanged glances, secretly astonished—

It looked like this was going to be a confrontation!

However, the subsequent developments surprised Qiao Jin and Qiao Yu a bit—even though they were both sure that Huo Jingyan had already seen the sleeping Huo Jun, Huo Jingyan didn’t show any reaction at all.

He was nothing like the cunning Huo family adoptee they had heard about.

Until—

“So, could the three class monitors stand up so I can get to know you?”

“…………”

In the gentle voice that made all the girls in the elite class swoon, Qiao Jin and Qiao Yu exchanged expressionless glances.

Qiao Yu mouthed silently: Here we go.

Qiao Jin sighed, looking troubled as he glanced at the front row. The black baseball cap covered the boy’s face, and even from this close distance, he could only vaguely see a sharp, pale jawline.

——

Huo Jun slept soundly, unaffected by Huo Jingyan’s words.

At the same time.

In the other two sections of the multifunctional hall, as soon as Qin Yan heard Huo Jingyan’s words, she eagerly stood up. On the far right, Qin Ke seemed somewhat surprised.

Urged quietly by Gu Xinqing behind her, she came to her senses, stood up, and walked towards the podium.

Seeing the class monitors of the first and second-year elite classes already standing, only the left section of the multifunctional hall, the third-year elite class, remained motionless.

In the only occupied seat in the front row, Huo Jun slept brazenly.

The previously lively atmosphere instantly cooled to freezing point.

Especially the first and second-year girls, who mostly looked at Huo Jingyan with either panic or worry—in that moment, they suddenly remembered that there was such a devil-like presence in this multifunctional hall.

Others, however, became curious—wanting to see how Huo Jingyan would handle this.

Under the focus of everyone’s gaze, Huo Jingyan smiled calmly. After Qin Yan and Qin Ke walked to the podium, he smiled lightly.

“Only you two?”

“……”

Qin Yan’s eyes flashed, showing an apologetic and embarrassed smile.

“Teacher Huo, please don’t be angry, Senior Huo Jun is just like this, even the principal can’t change him.”

Huo Jingyan glanced at her lightly.

In that glance, there seemed to be a deeper meaning, and for a moment, Qin Yan almost felt that all her unspeakable, dirty thoughts were seen through by Huo Jingyan.

She shuddered inwardly, but when she looked again, she found that Huo Jingyan’s eyes and expression were as gentle and warm as before.

Qin Yan nervously swallowed, lowered her eyes, and clenched her hands—

It must be her illusion, it must be…

This time, she absolutely would not let such a good opportunity slip away.

In terms of being likable, how could Qin Ke, with her wooden and stony personality, compare to her quick wit and flexibility?

Comforting herself with this thought, Qin Yan’s smile grew even brighter.

She looked up again, her smile at Huo Jingyan becoming more evident.

Huo Jingyan reacted as usual, “It seems he doesn’t want to be this class representative at all, does he?”

Qin Yan: “Senior Huo Jun is the least interested in these matters, teacher.”

“Hmm, that’s fine, let’s remove him from the options.”

Hearing this, Qin Yan felt a surge of joy in her heart.

However, Huo Jingyan’s next words froze her smile on her face—

“How about this.”

Huo Jingyan looked down at the two girls with completely different expressions, smiling.

“As my class representative, managing relationships with the three classes is the most important thing—whichever one of you can bring Huo Jun to me, will be the class representative—how about that?”

“…………”

Qin Yan’s expression stiffened for several seconds.

She became anxious, her palms sweating, until a few seconds later when she suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

Qin Yan slightly restrained her smile, tucking the stray hair in front of her forehead behind her ear. She first glanced at Qin Ke beside her, then turned to Huo Jingyan and spoke gently:

“If you want to choose this way, Teacher Huo, then choose Qin Ke. She’s always good at handling relationships and has a good relationship with Senior Huo Jun.”

“……”

Beside her, Qin Ke’s figure paused.

Perhaps because she was standing in front of Huo Jingyan, whom she regarded as a father and brother, Qin Ke was completely enraged by Qin Yan’s obviously backhanded compliment.

A long-absent feeling of frustration rose in her heart.

Qin Ke turned her face to look at Qin Yan’s hypocritical smile, and in her extreme anger, she chuckled lightly.

“It’s the first time I’ve heard you praise me like this—thank you.”

“……”

Qin Yan’s smile stiffened slightly.

She clearly did not expect the usually reticent Qin Ke to counterattack so briefly and beautifully within such a short time. She looked at her beside her in surprise and resentment.

Qin Yan wanted to say something more, but quickly became alert—Huo Jingyan, judging by his resume, was not a fool. If she showed too much malice towards Qin Ke, Huo Jingyan would certainly notice.

This would be detrimental to her goals, something she had to avoid.

Thinking this, Qin Yan looked at Huo Jingyan with hopeful eyes—hoping he would understand the subtle implication in her words, recognize the past connection between Qin Ke and Huo Jun, and change the selection criteria.

To Qin Yan’s astonishment, however, Huo Jingyan thought for a few seconds and then really smiled faintly, agreeing readily—

“Alright, let’s do as she says.”

He looked at Qin Ke, smiling.

“As long as you can bring Huo Jun over, the position of my class representative will be yours.”

Qin Yan: “??!!”

That was not the purpose of her words.

Qin Yan looked at Huo Jingyan in disbelief. But facing that unchanged smiling face, she couldn’t tell if Huo Jingyan really didn’t understand or was deliberately pretending not to.

Jealous and unwilling, Qin Yan looked at Qin Ke again.

Qin Ke was also obviously surprised by Huo Jingyan’s handling of the situation.

She looked at Huo Jingyan in amazement, while Huo Jingyan in her view smiled gently, his eyes warm.

“What’s the matter, do you have difficulties too?”

Qin Ke felt relieved.

——

Indeed, this was the same Huo family’s butler she knew from her previous life—always gentle and wise.

Qin Yan’s schemes might fool others, but they could never fool Huo Jingyan.

However…

Qin Ke hesitated, glancing in the direction of the third-year elite class—to get the position of art appreciation class representative to get closer to Huo Jingyan, if she had to wake up Huo Jun—she simply couldn’t do such a brazen thing.

In the silence that left Qin Ke in a dilemma, a cold sneer came from behind her and Qin Yan—

“What about now?”

“……”

Qin Ke was startled and turned around, only to see that Huo Jun had already removed his baseball cap and walked to her side, stopping there with a lazy yet sharp and prickly gaze.

“Teacher Huo,” Huo Jun raised his phoenix eyes slightly at Huo Jingyan. Though looking up, he still exuded a mocking contempt.

Qin Ke looked at Huo Jun in confusion.

She was used to his mad dog personality, but most of the time, he couldn’t be bothered to speak to anyone—yet now, Huo Jun was showing clear provocation toward Huo Jingyan, actively provoking him. This was completely out of character for Huo Jun.

The most likely and reasonable explanation was… these two knew each other and had an old grudge.

Qin Ke’s eyes flickered.

Could Huo Jun really be related to the Huo family?

Before Qin Ke could finish thinking, Huo Jingyan behind the small podium already laughed.

“That really puts me in a difficult position.” Huo Jingyan and Huo Jun locked eyes for two seconds before he looked away and said with a smile, “Then let’s see how you perform in this class—afterward, I’ll decide who to appoint.”

As soon as he said this, the other girls in the class grew faintly excited.

Some braver ones raised their hands and asked with a smile, “Teacher Huo, if we perform well, can we be your class representative too?”

Huo Jingyan smiled gently.

“Of course.” He looked down at the three class monitors. “You can go back now.”

Qin Yan’s expression was stiff.

Qin Ke nodded and returned to her seat.

For the rest of the class, the students’ enthusiasm was indeed unprecedented.

It was obvious that the PPT was not made by Huo Jingyan himself; whenever there was a slight mistake or error in the text, he would correct it with a smile.

When roughly introducing the different styles of major Western painting schools, although each school’s illustration was unmarked except for its name, Huo Jingyan could still describe the painters, their inspiration, the background of the creation period, and the highlights of the artworks, like he knew them by heart.