Chapter 105

Zhennan is full of students dating early; oh my, the campus atmosphere is concerning.

Jiang Nian rode a rusty bicycle through the midday streets, spotting plenty of junior and senior high couples walking shoulder to shoulder, though hand-holding was rare.

He locked his bike outside a wooden-bucket rice shop and sighed involuntarily.

I'm truly blooming a lotus in the mud.

【Ding ding, bike locked.】

After eating, Jiang Nian slowly headed toward the school gate.

On the Gao San floor, he glanced at the door of Classroom A304—Xu Qianqian and Song Xiuyun weren't there. Maybe they were double-occupying the restroom, or napping in the small grove.

Just then, Song Xiuyun walked toward the classroom from the restroom side, shaking her hands.

She looked up and saw Jiang Nian from afar, freezing on the spot. As she hesitated whether to turn and run, Jiang Nian had already approached.

"Run? Am I going to eat you?"

"I wasn't running!" Song Xiuyun protested bitterly.

"Oh oh, I thought you should've run." Jiang Nian stopped before her, studying her closely, "What'd you eat for lunch?"

Song Xiuyun blushed slightly—this tone, questioning whether a primary schooler ate properly, was ridiculous. But under the creditor's intimidation, she could only answer softly.

"Cafeteria. Ate with Qianqian."

"Fine, lying to me won't make you grow taller." Jiang Nian casually cast a magical curse, then asked, "By the way, where's Xu Qianqian? I need to find her."

Song Xiuyun tensed up. "I don't know."

"Don't you really know, or can't you say?" Jiang Nian leaned closer, suddenly noticing Song Xiuyun was quite lovely, "Hmm, covering for her, huh?"

"Best friends forever, but don't forget you owe me a thousand. If you can't pay it this lifetime, pay it in the next—my authority is higher."

Song Xiuyun was utterly stunned. How could this guy come up with so many twisted logic lines? Even "higher authority"? Did he think Gao San girls were idiots?

Facing his devilish threat, she turned her head away and huffed.

"A measly thousand yuan—I'll pay it back."

"If I find you're skipping meals to save money, I'll steal your meal card and top it up with three thousand." Jiang Nian grinned, "If you won't tell me where Xu Qianqian is, I'll top it up anyway."

"You!! How can you be like this!" Song Xiuyun knew others might just talk big, but this guy actually did outrageous things—and he truly had the money.

"So what? Don't like it?" Jiang Nian wore an expression of total confidence, "Where's Xu Qianqian hiding? I won't make it hard—you just nod if I guess right."

"The small grove?"

Song Xiuyun's pupils shrank, her face instantly turning uneasy.

"No."

"Oh oh, then forget it." Jiang Nian turned and walked away—clearly heading toward the small grove.

Song Xiuyun panicked. "Why aren't you asking anymore?"

"Suddenly don't feel like asking. Cement sealed my heart." Jiang Nian walked off briskly, brushing her off, "If Xu Qianqian wants to hide, fine, let it go."

Liar! He's already sprinting toward the small grove! He clearly figured it out!

Song Xiuyun couldn't catch up, standing on the corridor, suddenly feeling guilty, muttering to herself.

"Can't blame me—the city's too cunning. He didn't follow any script. Now, will Qianqian punish him?"

Xia Tian's small grove was stifling, but recent cooling had brought late autumn.

Xu Qianqian wasn't a typical good student—in fact, she knew how to enjoy life.

If she claimed the pavilion in the small grove early, with a gentle breeze blowing, she could finish homework and then nap there—quieter and more comfortable than the classroom.

Jiang Nian wandered through the small grove, interrupting three couples confessing their feelings, before finally finding her.

Beneath the banyan tree, autumn sunlight shimmered gold, cool wind brushing past.

Xu Qianqian was still doing homework, a delicate watch beside her. She sat backward on the railing, feet dangling and swinging in the air.

Jiang Nian watched from afar, suddenly thinking she'd look even better barefoot.

Xu Qianqian looked up and saw him—her face instantly filled with terror. She tried to stand, stumbled, and began gasping.

He strolled over, seeing her eyes glistening, and laughed.

"Are you cooling your tongue?"

"Get lost!" She was aggressive, "I don't want to see you!"

Near the pavilion stood the teachers' family dormitory, facing Zhennan Street. Occasional voices and passing students' footsteps formed white noise.

"Hahaha, you don't want to see me, but I thought of you all night last night." Jiang Nian tossed the parcel aside and, while she was stuck, pinched her cheek.

"You're not wrong, huh? Xu Qianqian."

"Stop pinching! Just die already!" She swatted his hand away, furious, "Didn't I apologize to you? You ate my buns and fish balls!"

She extended her hand, revealing a palm pink and pale.

"Spit it out."

Seeing Jiang Nian actually about to spit into her palm, Xu Qianqian yanked her hand back in horror.

"How disgusting!"

"Is it? I don't find it disgusting." Jiang Nian leaned in, "Saliva isn't dirty inside the mouth. I have an immature thought—"

"Don't say it, thanks." Xu Qianqian was already sweating little beads, "I feel my legs are already cured from your grossness. Bye."

Whoosh—a parcel flew into Xu Qianqian's arms.

"What… is this?"

Xu Qianqian had already seen it—the opened parcel revealed a corner of a JK skirt. One glance told her exactly which brand it was.

"Why did you buy this?"

"Returning your gift. You never wondered how I knew your size?" Jiang Nian deliberately derailed her focus, "You probably forgot—you were asleep then."

Xu Qianqian: "."

She didn't bother arguing with Jiang Nian; he never ran out of things to say.

"School doesn't allow skirts."

"Try it at home—after Gao San, you'll be able to wear it."

Xu Qianqian held the JK skirt and fell silent for a moment.

She bought only discounted single skirts, thirty to sixty yuan each. It wasn't that she lacked money—in fact, she had plenty of pocket money—but since she couldn't wear them out anyway.

"You're so nice to me—are you up to something?"

Jiang Nian couldn't hold back his expression and smiled shyly.

Xu Qianqian's face darkened instantly. "You're not actually interested in me, are you? Snap out of it—I treat you like a eunuch, and you're thinking like this?"

What the hell is a eunuch.

"Xu Qianqian, I've always had a dream of being a young master." Jiang Nian fidgeted. "But I never dared tell anyone—I just want to watch someone dance in a skirt."

"If you want to be a young master, go to a KTV—stay away from me!" Xu Qianqian grabbed the JK skirt and her homework and hurried off, though her steps weren't fast.

Jiang Nian caught up from behind. "Relax, I won't accuse you of puppy love."

"You actually thought about this?" Xu Qianqian sneered.

In the cool, shaded path, the two walked side by side toward the Gao San building. Turning into a narrower path, the basketball court was enclosed by tall chain-link fencing.

At noon on an autumn day, the partially open plastic basketball court was empty.

Only Xu Qianqian and Jiang Nian walked along the path, one behind the other, neither close nor far apart.

"Puppy love? Not really." Jiang Nian followed behind her; sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling his face as he smiled. "Gao San is the Infinite Tree of Heaven, not the Love Tree."

"Dating is pointless—everyone's too busy. Who cares about your spring sorrow and autumn melancholy? Couples' affection is too shallow—it can't even hold back a fart."

Xu Qianqian was speechless and turned to him.

"Can you stop stuffing weird things into perfectly good sentences? I actually thought your 'Infinite Tree of Heaven' line was nice—now I'm nauseated!"

"Crude words, but true logic." Jiang Nian couldn't resist tapping her head. "Everyone is an independent individual; no one should stop for another."

Hearing this, Xu Qianqian suddenly felt a pang of bitterness in her chest.

What if Jiang Nian gets into a trash undergraduate school next year…

She nodded. "You're right. When you graduate from New Oriental, I hope you'll flip my dishes with more force."

Xu Qianqian looked up, dead serious.

"I'll wear Chanel every day, carry a Louis Vuitton bag, and take care of your business. I hope you remember I'm sentimental—even if you're a loser like you... boohoo."

Jiang Nian laughed and reached for Xu Qianqian. "Ha, come here—I'll get you some USD from the kitchen."

"No need. I believe in the people—I only use RMB." Xu Qianqian ran off, faster than a rabbit.

The two chased and played until they reached the Gao San building and finally stopped.

On the third floor, they parted ways.

Xu Qianqian returned to the classroom, her breath still uneven. She carefully slipped the skirt into a gap in her book basket and covered it with books.

After doing this, she spread her exam paper out on the desk.

The classroom was quiet; only about ten students chose to nap here at lunch.

Xu Qianqian held her pen, her chest rising and falling gently, unable to focus on the questions. Her mind kept replaying his words—the next line after "Infinite Tree of Heaven."

【Zhennan is too small—who knows what the future holds? You must keep moving forward first. When you shine brightly, look back and see if I'm still flipping your dishes.】

Suddenly, she realized Jiang Nian had changed—he seemed full of spirit, as if even if he ended up flipping dishes, it would be in a 211 university.

Jiang Nian had just climbed the stairs when he ran into Chen Yunyun leaving the classroom.

That was normal—she and Wang Yuhe disliked bringing homework back to the dorm for lunch naps. They always napped in the classroom, doing a bit of homework before sleeping.

Judging by her expression, she was probably heading to the restroom.

"Hey." Jiang Nian whistled. "What a coincidence—you're also relieving yourself? Let's go together."

Chen Yunyun had just stepped out of the classroom and nearly lost her composure. This guy—what face did he have to say such abstract nonsense? He was completely wasting heaven's gift.

"Not a coincidence—gender difference."

Even so, the two walked side by side down the long corridor toward the other end of the stairwell.

Chen Yunyun suddenly blurted out, "Jiang Nian, have you ever been confessed to?"

"Huh? Are you confessing to me?" Jiang Nian walked on, idly opening his task panel—the task was already completed, reward in use.

So I can eliminate fatigue once a day now? What if…

He had a bold idea.

"Who would confess to you!" Chen Yunyun snapped.

"If you're going to stand under the Gao San building with a heart of candles, I like red ones." Jiang Nian looked dead serious. "I value ceremony—I hope there are flowers."

Chen Yunyun: ". Now you're picky."

"I'm not picky—I'm reading your attitude." Jiang Nian said. "Your indifference is just you refusing to give me emotional value."

"Even confession is like this—can't imagine what comes next. Don't say you want 'quiet'—I'm already dating 'Quiet.' Don't try to dodge responsibility."

"Women." He pointed a finger. "I reject meaningless communication. I hate cold treatment."

"How about it? Do you love a guy like me—honest and straightforward?"

"Huh? Why aren't you answering?"

Chen Yunyun was stunned by Jiang Nian's barrage of remarks. By the time they finished talking, they'd reached the restroom door. Only then did she suddenly remember her original purpose—she quickly asked before parting.

"What if someone confesses to me?"

Jiang Nian laughed. "Ha, I'll just watch the show."

Chen Yunyun entered the restroom, pulled out her phone, logged back into her main QQ account, found Sun Zhicheng's contact, frowned, and tapped in.

She replied seriously.

"Little friend, don't play with your cousin's phone, okay? Gao San isn't a romance drama—your sister doesn't want her first confession used for a prank."

"Even though you're still young, your sister still hopes you'll study hard, okay?"

"Youth is mountains high and seas wide, waters flowing east—may your heart aim for the vault of heaven, your aspirations soar high and far."

Chen Yunyun walked out of the restroom and suddenly spotted Jiang Nian standing by the railing playing with his phone. She quickly washed her hands, splashed some water on her face while she was at it, and sidled up beside him to give him a pat.

"Hey, you didn't leave first?"

"I was thinking, what if you—"

"Hold it, I get it." Chen Yunyun deflated instantly. Walking side by side with him, she complained, "How much longer do we have to endure Gao San?"

"No idea. Every day I want to die." Jiang Nian's voice was slightly irritated. "Even beggars can pick a day to go to work, but school can't stop for a single moment."

"I really want to ask for leave."

"Me too. Oh, right." Chen Yunyun's voice drifted off little by little. "Just before lunch break, the math teacher handed out two more test papers, said they're due the day after tomorrow."

Jiang Nian: "What a shitty school!"

1:40 in the afternoon.

Sun Zhicheng was walking the road to school, his steps light and quick. The afternoon sunlight fell on him, exceptionally warm.

He'd received Chen Yunyun's reply at noon—whether she believed it or not. In any case, the fact was what it was: just push the confession onto the cousin and be done with it.

A confession recalled, finally at ease.

He wore a relieved smile on his face. As for Chen Yunyun's last words, they couldn't help stirring up quite a few feelings in him too—he really should study hard from now on.

The road ahead was still long; there'd be no harm in confessing after graduation. He still had a chance.

After entering the classroom, he saw Chen Yunyun sprawled on the desk sleeping.

Until the first afternoon class began, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Great, this time it really was safe.

The first afternoon physics class was halfway through, and seven or eight people were sparsely standing at the back of the Sanban Sect classroom.

Li Hua was having trouble holding on too, eyelids drooping, yawning nonstop.

He was just about to stand up, planning to drag Jiang Nian along to the back to listen to the lesson standing up.

He turned his head and suddenly discovered that kid listening to the lesson full of energy. Not a trace of weariness on his face at all, as if he'd slept three hundred full sleeps.

Jiang Nian turned to look at him, the corners of his mouth curving into a Nike swoosh, mouthing silently.

"Weak~ling."