Drama Queen Reborn as a Top Student!-Chapter 668 - 270 harbored ill intentions

a.m., hotel restaurant.

Xu Si glanced at his wristwatch, "Why hasn’t Rong Xianning come down yet? Everyone’s waiting on instructions from the team leader."

Ge Qi received a call from Fang Hui and signaled the others with his eyes to stay quiet.

"Director Fang."

Fang Hui immediately launched into an impatient inquiry, "Where is Rong Xianning? Why isn’t he answering my calls?"

Ge Qi’s gaze turned colder, but his tone carried a veiled hint of flattery, "The team leader might not be up yet. You know, he always goes to bed very late."

"Do you think he’s like you all, who can’t be woken up in the mornings? He’s an extremely disciplined individual; something like this wouldn’t happen. The organizers just called—due to unforeseen circumstances, the event time has been moved up by an hour. You need to leave for the styling studio within half an hour, or you won’t make it. This is your team’s first public outing as a group. You absolutely cannot be late. Go check if something happened to Rong Xianning."

Ge Qi smirked faintly, "Director Fang, didn’t you say the team leader is incredibly disciplined? How could he be unaware of today’s importance? Perhaps he’s in the shower? That might be why he didn’t answer your call."

"Stop wasting time. Go to his room and have a look. I’ll call back later."

The voice of a secretary came through on the other end before Fang Hui hurriedly hung up the phone.

Ge Qi set down his phone and continued eating his breakfast as if nothing had happened. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Xu Si shot him a glance, "Didn’t Director Fang tell us to go find the team leader?"

"What’s the rush? He’s the team leader; everything he does should set an example."

"Time’s running out. If we’re late, our team’s reputation will be ruined."

"That wouldn’t be our fault anyway." Ge Qi declared resolutely, fixing his gaze on the others with a subtle warning buried within.

Du Yuchun ate in silence. Xu Si hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head.

But no one saw the fleeting cold smile that flashed deep within his eyes as his gaze dropped.

Just then, Feng Cheng walked in from outside, cheerfully greeting everyone, "Ah, everyone’s here!"

He walked over to the buffet table, picked up milk and sandwiches, and placed them on the table next to Ge Qi and the others before turning to grab more items.

Ge Qi squinted as he stared at him, "You sure know how to act like a loyal lapdog, preparing breakfast for him. But do you think he cares about your effort?"

"What I do is up to me; whether he appreciates it is up to him."

Feng Cheng’s tone carried a peculiar pride in his "lapdog" persona.

Ge Qi rolled his eyes, "Pathetic."

Humming, Feng Cheng returned to the table with his tray.

Xu Si sighed, "Director Fang just called. The event’s been moved up by an hour. We have to leave within half an hour, but the team leader still hasn’t gotten out of bed. If we miss the time, we’ll be in trouble."

Feng Cheng frowned and glanced at Xu Si, about to counter when Ge Qi cut him off, "This is our first public appearance as a team. If we’re late, how do you think the media and the public will judge us? How will we uphold the image of the ’positive and energetic youth’ the company crafted for us? Rong Xianning relies on his massive fanbase and their unconditional support. Even the company pampers him, cleaning up every mess he causes. But us? We have no fans, no company backing. If the public doubts us, how will we recover?"

Feng Cheng’s eyes widened in shock, "What... what are you saying?"

Du Yuchun sighed, "The team leader is indeed being a bit excessive this time. It’s hard not to suspect he’s doing it on purpose."

He may have the confidence to act recklessly, but they don’t.

"Hmph. Feng Cheng, that’s the man you’ve been sucking up to. To him, you’re worth less than a dog." Ge Qi sneered coldly.

Xu Si chimed in at the perfect moment, "The idol market is fiercely competitive. Because of our team suddenly rising to prominence, many rivals in the industry are waiting for a chance to take us down. Aren’t we just handing them ammunition? Sigh..."

"If you all keep dithering like this, you’ll really be late."

A crisp voice suddenly interrupted Xu Si.

This voice was truly gifted, as if heaven itself had blessed it—clear as mountain streams, resonant as drumbeats, pure and pleasant, capable of stirring one’s soul.

It was far too familiar!

Ge Qi turned his head in disbelief and saw a slender youth entering the room.

He wore a white tracksuit, a black baseball cap, and a colorblocked sports sling bag slung across one shoulder, walking in leisurely.

Though lean, the youth had long limbs, perfectly proportioned as a clothes model. The tracksuit he wore was as fresh and striking as a lotus after the rain, a sight for sore eyes.

As he approached, under the brim of his cap revealed a face with rosy lips and bright teeth—a beauty unmatched in its refinement, yet exuding calm and poise well beyond his years.

Ge Qi abruptly stood up. The drag of his chair screeched sharply against the floor.

"You... how are you here?"

Feng Cheng retorted irritably, "Judging by your attitude, it seems like you really didn’t want Aning to show up here. What, did you assume Aning wouldn’t wake up, and that you could smear him for arriving late to the event?"

Rong Xianning walked up to the dining table, picked up his glass of milk, held it briefly under his nose, and took a light sip.

Ge Qi noticed this gesture and subtly narrowed his eyes.

"Too bad your plan didn’t pan out. Even if the sky falls, Aning wouldn’t be late."

Xu Si observed Rong Xianning’s energized demeanor—it was clear he had exercised earlier in the morning. When Rong Xianning passed by, Xu Si caught a faint scent of soap, as if he had taken a shower post-workout and changed into fresh clothes.

Now Rong Xianning donned the brand sponsor’s showcase outfit. The sponsor had required them to wear its clothing during the event.

Du Yuchun snapped to attention, suddenly standing up, "What are you all waiting for? Hurry and change into your outfits, or you really won’t make it."

Du Yuchun and Xu Si left the restaurant in haste.

Ge Qi cast a deep glance at Rong Xianning and smirked, "Director Fang couldn’t get through to your phone and called mine instead. Seems I misunderstood. You’d better call Director Fang back when you can."

With that, he turned and strode away.

"Those three had awful intentions, to slander you behind your back like that. I’m so furious!" Feng Cheng angrily took a bite of his sandwich.

Rong Xianning finished his last bite, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and replied in an indifferent tone, "People can say whatever they want; let them."

Feng Cheng furrowed his brows as though realizing something, "That’s strange. Ge Qi should know you well enough to understand you’re not one to sleep in. Why did he seem so certain just now that you wouldn’t wake up?"

Rong Xianning’s lips curled slightly as he rose slowly. "Here’s some advice: when you’re outside in the future, don’t eat anything someone else has touched."

With that, he strode away.

Feng Cheng stared at him blankly, looking down at his emptied plate. "What does Aning mean?"

Though he couldn’t fully grasp the implications, he knew Rong Xianning’s words always carried logic. He simply needed to follow them.

From now on, he vowed not to casually eat food or drink water that had passed through someone else’s hands.