Chapter 17: Oh damn, wait—what the hell, girl, you're this toxic?

The fantasy of a lopsided weakling dog—bad at English, killer at math. Worshipped by ten thousand, favored by teachers, the class beauty on her knees licking his boots.

In reality, bad at English, trash at math.

Even though the English teacher had called him out last semester, this semester she still couldn't match him to a score of 140. It gave off a "no such person exists" kind of absurd vibe.

Back at his seat, classmates in front, behind, and to both sides turned to look at him one after another.

Jiang Nian felt a bit embarrassed, coughed once and spread out his test paper, pretending nothing had happened.

Although the English teacher had repeatedly forbidden chatting, she still couldn't hold back the enthusiasm of the surrounding classmates. One by one they stared at Jiang Nian eagerly, faces full of disbelief.

"Holy shit, you really memorized all 3,500 of them?"

"Yep, pick any one."

"Jiang Nian, can I borrow your test paper?" a girl at the desk in front asked shyly. "I want to see how you wrote the essay."

"Mm, sure."

In the neighboring group, Zhou Yuting pinched a corner of her English paper, as if falling into an ice cavern. Jiang Nian scored 573? Over forty points ahead of her? Was there still any hope of moving up a class?

In principle it was survival of the fittest—anyone who crossed the line had hope—but in actual operation, a parallel class basically only had one slot for moving up.

The reason was simple too: the good students had all been sent away. The class level dropped straight from the top of the parallel classes to the bottom—so why would the head teacher keep dragging along a garbage class?

So regarding the class-advancement policy, every head teacher was fairly conservative. If a student was genuinely outstanding enough, the parents would demand it anyway—might as well let them go without a fuss.

If it was just a chance to move up, the head teacher would generally take a gentle-conversation approach.

Are you sure you want to go? Young man, what's ahead is~~hell, you know!

You drive a Mazda, why squeeze into a gathering of Mercedes and Rolls-Royce owners? You can't keep up with the pace, and even if you go you might get returned.

Usually at this point, the student chickens out.

After moving up there are still two major exams—if your grades fluctuate too much you'll be advised to withdraw. They don't care whether you cheated your way up or just couldn't keep up, everyone gets advised to withdraw.

Carrying your desk into the honors class is certainly glorious, but carrying your desk back to the original class—that's just too embarrassing.

Thinking of this, Zhou Yuting couldn't help but clench her fist. Five slender white fingers curled together unconsciously, knuckles pale, trembling slightly.

One English exam, and her honors-class dream was ruined.

New class, new persona, new simps....... Thinking of those bespectacled rigid bookworms unable to prostrate themselves beneath her pomegranate skirt, Zhou Yuting ground her silver teeth to dust.

Jiang Nian! It's all his fault!

"What do you want with me?"

Noon, a shady corner of the basketball court, beneath a lush canopy of trees.

Jiang Nian held a red bean popsicle in his hand, tore open the wrapper and licked it once, then looked up curiously at Song Xiyun, who had forcibly dragged him out here.

"So mysterious, can you tell me now?"

As for Song Xiyun, he hadn't had much contact with her before—due to Xu Qianqian's connection. Add in the recent period of running around for the diagnostic exam, and after a few back-and-forths they were fairly familiar.

"Where did you go last night?" Song Xiyun's expression was unnatural.

Jiang Nian glanced at her suspiciously, thinking her expression looked like a wife who'd caught her rich husband cheating—wanting to confront him but afraid of divorce...... what's this all about?

New play plot? Pinru's wardrobe?

Sister, we seem to be Embracing Qingqing.

Song Xiyun wore a loose white summer school uniform, with light-colored pants on the bottom. A pretty-cute-style girl, looks above eighty points, dressed rather plainly.

Damsii, no can do.

"Didn't do anything, was in the classroom doing evening self-study." He slurped his popsicle.

"Liar!" Song Xiyun's face flushed red. "You weren't in the classroom at all, you clearly went out!"

I really wasn't on Shenyang Street, the era of wild stunts has ended.....

Jiang Nian slurped his popsicle and started answering nonsensically, "How did you know I scored 573?"

Who asked you!

Because a father knows his daughter best.

"Wait, you scored 573?" Song Xiyun looked shocked, froze for a moment then asked, "How much? You scored how much?"

Jiang Nian grinned, slurping his popsicle.

"Since you've asked so sincerely, then I shall......."

Song Xiyun did some quick mental math, "Doesn't that mean you're moving up a class? Even if the cutoff were higher it couldn't exceed 550—your score would be mid-tier even in the science honors class."

"Yes." Jiang Nian slurp slurp.

Song Xiyun was speechless. "Can you put down your popsicle? You're making me feel sick."

"Want a taste?" He held it out.

"Duck-essary, thanks." Song Xiyun steadied her emotions, remembered her purpose, took a deep breath and asked, "Last night, did you sign up for a gym membership?"

"Holy crap, you're stalking me?" Jiang Nian was suddenly startled. "Addicted to your crush?"

"Less narcissistic!" Song Xiyun couldn't quite keep up with Jiang Nian's meme jokes, and started feeling sorry for Xu Qianqian in her heart—wondering how her good bestie could stand him.

Anyway she couldn't stand it, so angry she wanted to throw up.

"Then how did you know I went to sign up for a gym?" Jiang Nian seemed to return to normal, squinting his eyes at the sweltering playground under the blue sky and white clouds.

Waves of hot wind, mood at ease.

"Aren't you curious why I'd know you signed up?" she countered.

"Why?" Jiang Nian was a bit absent-minded.

"Because you signed up through my mom."

"Oh, huh?" Jiang Nian looked up. "That person was your mom? I was wondering why the auntie looked so familiar, but your mom's temper is way better than yours."

Song Xiyun became a bit shy again. "I just wanted to ask, why did you suddenly sign up, and spend so much money buying classes?"

"Working out, duh. How was I supposed to know that was your mom."

"How do you explain buying classes when you don't even have time to attend them?" Song Xiyun pressed her lips together. "And with your build, being on the basketball team—what kind of fitness are you even working on?"

"There's no rule that basketball players can't work on fitness..." Jiang Nian trailed off mid-sentence, suddenly pausing. He looked up at Song Xiyun, catching her cautious, uncertain gaze.

In that moment, he seemed to realize something.

"Wait, girl, you don't think I have feelings for your mom, do you? Damn, are you really that dirty-minded?"

"What?" Having her thoughts exposed, Song Xiyun's defenses crumbled instantly, her face flushing red in an instant. "No, that's not what I meant, I just... happened to know."

"My mom was worried you'd have no time for class and the money would go to waste. Um... I think the same way. Your money didn't come from nowhere either, so if you want to refund the classes..."

"No need, mind your own business." Jiang Nian waved his hand. "I was already planning to get a card and buy classes. Even if I don't buy from your mom, I'd buy from someone else."

"Really?" Song Xiyun asked.

"Mm-hmm, if there's nothing else, you may withdraw."

"Hmph." Song Xiyun's suspended heart finally settled. "Hehe, then I'm off. I have to tell Qianqian you scored 573."

Watching Song Xiyun's departing back, Jiang Nian fell into thought.

That person is a bit dirty-minded.

Ding! 【Thirty-eight-year-old you, on your first day getting a card and working out, sees initial results from buying classes. Determined to turn things around, you decide to add sixty more sessions.

Mission: Repurchase sixty classes. Reward: 30,000 RMB】