Chapter 175

Introverted lickspittle?

What the hell?

Lin Dong stood frozen, watching Jiang Nian turn and walk away.

Just then the bell rang, leaving him no time to think further. He turned his head and saw Yu Zhiyi bouncing out the door, and his heart stirred again.

It's class time, where are you going?

Yu Zhiyi turned back and saw it was Lin Dong calling her; she instinctively frowned.

The biology teacher's office, why? Are you going too?

She'd been annoyed with Lin Dong lately—after all, without him stoking the fire, she and Wu Jun Gu would never have argued so fiercely, nor broken up so quickly.

But recently, she'd come to terms with it: breaking up was better.

You can't go back; the Gaokao moves forward anyway. Better to travel light and start anew.

That said, no matter what I choose, Lin Dong's still an idiot. But since we're in the same class now, no need to make things awkward.

Lin Dong scratched his head. "Haha, you're so funny, I thought you were going to the bathroom."

Yu Zhiyi gave a perfunctory smile. "You're funnier."

After saying that, she immediately rolled her eyes.

Any other business? If not, I'm leaving.

"None." Lin Dong had recently been studying The Guiguzi and, on a whim, decided to show off his emotional intelligence. "Go ahead—the biology teacher calling you is definitely good news."

Hearing this, Yu Zhiyi looked at him with a complex expression.

"Because I switched classes. Only one gifted student per class. Jiang Nian scored eighty in biology. Guess why the teacher called me?"

Lin Dong opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word, still trying desperately to save face.

Saiwen Shi

"Saiwen?" Yu Zhiyi's lip twitched. She turned and walked off. "I'm not talking to you anymore. You boys are so childish—always Saiwen or Dijia."

Li Hua happened to be coming up the stairs; the office interrogation was over. He was energized, and from afar heard Yu Zhiyi's words; he instinctively rebutted.

"What's wrong with Dijia?"

Yu Zhiyi didn't hear the idiotic remark that followed; she walked straight downstairs.

First floor.

Looking at the biology office lit up ahead, her heart churned with mixed emotions.

When she switched classes, she'd already anticipated this.

But there was no choice—two gifted students in one class made no sense. Who the biology teacher would pick between Jiang Nian and herself was never in doubt.

Knock knock knock.

Come in.

The brightly lit office held only Zhong Qing alone.

She rubbed her eyes, then pointed to a seat beside her as Yu Zhiyi approached.

"Bring a chair, sit over here."

Yu Zhiyi nodded, had just sat down when Zhong Qing pulled out the score sheet. Her heart sank—she knew what was coming.

"Teacher, I know I only scored sixty-eight this time."

"Mm. Improvement."

"Huh?" Yu Zhiyi looked up. "But teacher, last time I scored seventy-one."

"This exam was harder. Minor fluctuations are normal." Zhong Qing glanced at her, then pulled out a photocopy of Yu Zhiyi's answer sheet, marked in red ink.

Yu Zhiyi took the black-and-white photocopy and stared, dumbfounded.

"What is this?"

"Your answer sheet. I was too busy grading to review it properly, so I printed a copy." Zhong Qing said. "I took a quick look and made some notes."

"Overall, the gifted program has had some effect."

Seeing Yu Zhiyi still staring blankly at the paper, Zhong Qing didn't continue.

"Take your time and look it over."

In the silent office, Zhong Qing unscrewed her thermos and took a sip of hot water.

Three minutes later, Yu Zhiyi looked up.

"Teacher, I'm done. I know where I need to focus next."

"Good. Your initiative is what matters." Zhong Qing set down her thermos, her tone serious. "You switched to Class Three, right? Only one gifted student per class."

Yu Zhiyi lowered her head. She'd already known the outcome and didn't blame the biology teacher. In fact, seeing the photocopy, she felt a quiet pang of guilt.

She regretted not studying harder during the gifted program.

The biology teacher was so dedicated, yet she hadn't tried her best. She'd distracted herself with other things, failed to reach seventy, and now felt ashamed.

But it was too late to say anything. The path ahead was hers alone to walk.

Thinking of this, she looked up and smiled.

"I understand, teacher."

"Good. Remember to complete all assignments I give you on time." Zhong Qing said sternly. "Opportunities like this are rare. Don't waste them."

"Huh?" Yu Zhiyi's mind went blank.

Wasn't she supposed to drop out of the gifted program? Why "next time"? If it were just extra tasks, fine—but "opportunity is rare" made no sense.

This clearly meant she was staying in the gifted program.

The biology teacher had chosen… her… over Jiang Nian?

Any questions?

"Teacher, where's Jiang Nian?" Yu Zhiyi asked, her head buzzing.

"He's already reached an excellent level; he doesn't need further enrichment," Zhong Qing said, as if it were obvious. "Don't you want enrichment?"

"No no no!!!" Yu Zhiyi shook her head like a rattle, her tone firm. "I do! Teacher, I'll work hard!"

"Hmm, go up first," Zhong Qing had wanted to analyze further, but seeing her emotional state, she gave up. "Oh, by the way, go call Jiang Nian."

"Alright, goodbye, Teacher."

Yu Zhiyi went upstairs, her mood instantly swelling. The sudden emotional rollercoaster nearly brought tears to her eyes.

Upstairs, Class Three's classroom.

Jiang Nian turned in his seat and asked Li Hua.

"I still think you're wrong—what's Seven's mom's name again?"

"Marsha."

"Never heard of Marsha. My family's poor—I've only seen Diga," Jiang Nian rubbed his chin, as if pondering a century-old riddle. "I think Ride King is better."

"True, the older generation really knew how to have fun," Li Hua put down his pen and joined the serious discussion. "Childhood friend versus girl from nowhere—funny."

"I used to just watch Ladybug's Ride King, now I realize how great her figure is."

"Eh! You pervert," Jiang Nian sneered. "Hua, you're the real monster—even you can't let go of her mom's firefly."

"Hehe, credit to the artist," Li Hua said modestly.

Before he finished speaking, Yu Zhiyi entered the classroom.

Li Hua fell silent at once, snatching up his pen to pretend he was diligently working. He was utterly embarrassed—after all, the row ahead still sat Wu Jun Gu, his ex-boyfriend.

Jiang Nian showed no reaction—he was a non-stick pan.

He glanced at Li Hua, then at Wu Jun Gu, whose body was tense. He clicked his tongue, then openly lifted his head to glance at QQ Candy.

Then, pretended nothing had happened.

No guilty conscience, no ghost knocking at the door—Li Hua really was a weakling!

Yu Zhiyi stopped at the edge of Li Hua's desk; several gazes turned toward her.

She first looked at Wu Jun Gu, saw him slumped over his desk, absorbed in homework as if the world didn't exist. She sighed inwardly, but didn't dwell on it.

"Jiang Nian, the biology teacher wants you downstairs."

Hearing this, Zhang Ningzhi turned curiously to look at Yu Zhiyi—and couldn't look away.

Such a shameless body.

"Oh oh," Jiang Nian nodded.

After delivering the message, Yu Zhiyi returned to her seat with a complicated mood.

She didn't know how the biology teacher would tell Jiang Nian about the enrichment program, nor whether he'd think she was behind it—her heart was uneasy.

After a moment of daze, she picked up the pen on her desk.

Qing Bao let go of the pen in her hand; it rolled lazily along the pages with a gurgle.

Footsteps sounded at the office door; she looked up.

She guessed it must be Jiang Nian. She silently thought: if I'm right, I'll rush home tonight and sleep an hour earlier.

Jiang Nian appeared at the door and knocked.

"Teacher, you called me?"

Qing Bao hummed in acknowledgment, sighed in relief, her gaze distant. She'd guessed right—she was already thinking how to time her departure perfectly to get home quickly after work.

"Help yourself to a chair."

She treated Jiang Nian more casually—this student wasn't so sensitive.

"Alright." Jiang Nian pulled over a chair and sat beside her, glancing at the desk. "Teacher, your set of quick-dry pens is so beautiful!"

Qing Bao stared at the unopened box of three brand-new quick-dry pens, hesitating for several seconds.

"If you like it, I'll give you one."

"Thank you, Teacher."

Jiang Nian's words made Qing Bao's heart tighten—she couldn't shake the feeling that this student's actions were too practiced, his motives slightly complicated.

"Teacher, do you collect quick-dry pens?" he asked casually.

"Hmm, because I use them often," Qing Bao didn't rush to mention enrichment, wanting to see what else he'd do. "Practical tools—buy extra ones to keep on hand."

"True, even practical tools can be this beautiful—Teacher, your taste is excellent," Jiang Nian complimented offhandedly. "By the way, Teacher, why did you call me?"

"Hmm, there are currently two students in biology enrichment," Zhong Qing wanted to say it plainly, but found herself unable to summarize. "Can you guess?"

Jiang Nian looked puzzled. Was Qing Bao being this abstract?

Out of nowhere, she made him guess.

But this gave him the perfect chance to shine—he turned his clever little brain.

"Found a new sect?"

Qing Bao: "..."

She realized she'd perhaps overestimated Jiang Nian's intelligence—no, she'd underestimated his mental circuitry.

"According to regulations, each class can have only one enrichment slot. Now that Yu Zhiyi has transferred to your class, if your class still has two, it's unfair to Class Two."

"Oh oh, so someone has to be cut?" Jiang Nian asked.

"Yes, after much deliberation, I chose Yu Zhiyi," Qing Bao said slowly. "Your biology score is already excellent; further enrichment won't benefit you much."

Jiang Nian showed little reaction, just nodded.

"Alright."

Qing Bao hummed, then continued.

"Your foundation is solid, but your techniques are lacking—you don't need dedicated enrichment time for biology. I'll assign you problems individually; if you don't understand, just come to me."

"Hm? Hm?" Jiang Nian was confused.

From inner disciple to direct disciple?

"Do you have any questions?" Qing Bao asked.

Jiang Nian said nothing, his gaze flicking toward the box of quick-dry pens on the table.

Qing Bao fell silent.