Chapter 222

The whole class stood for English morning reading.

Zhang Ningzhi had switched seats with Li Hua during morning reading, standing behind Huang Fang, and the two whispered to each other beneath the reading noise.

Jiang Nian originally thought they were discussing studies, but when he leaned closer, he realized they were just chatting idly.

He had a stereotype. Even top students are human.

Anyway, since we're in Gao San, nobody avoids whispering.

But for Jiang Nian, whispering wasn't his intention.

Although he rarely handed in homework, loved chatting during evening self-study, and occasionally dropped by the office to mooch snacks or rummage through drawers, he knew he was a good student.

If they didn't let him chat, he'd become Happy Superman.

Huang Fang spoke about fishing in rivers as a child, her tone flat.

"When I was little, the river was huge and the water was clean—the fish we caught tasted fresher. In summer, people often fished or electrofished in the river."

"There were mountain springs too, trickling down from halfway up the hill, forming small stone pools along the way—you could catch shrimp and little crabs in the crevices between the rocks."

"Now it's gone bad—the river level dropped, the water's polluted. The fish we pull up smell like dirt; we only eat fish we raise in our own ponds."

"I tried catching fish in the city park too, but I didn't catch any," said Zhang Ningzhi.

This surprised Jiang Nian—Zhang Ningzhi looked like she'd transferred from a big city; it was hard to link her with fishing.

"How did you catch them?"

"With a net—the kind sold outside park entrances," Zhang Ningzhi said seriously, trying hard to show off how skilled she was, and how tough the park fish were.

"I bought a pink net—I almost caught one."

Jiang Nian froze. Baby, isn't that just a kid's fishing net?

Then again, if you're fishing by a park lake, you could trick dumb fish with bread, then strike suddenly with a small net.

When he voiced his brilliant idea, half the group stared at him fixedly.

He felt uneasy. "What?"

Zhang Ningzhi said, "That's too sneaky. How can you trick fish?"

Hearing this, Jiang Nian dismissed it.

"If even someone as skilled as you can't catch them, these aren't ordinary fish—you need to hit hard."

Zhang Ningzhi blinked, dazed.

"That actually makes sense."

Ha, Baby Zhizhi is so cute. Such a good girl must be protected, held in the palm of the hand, kept away from other girlfriends.

Wu Jun Gu, hearing this, asked curiously.

"If you sink a large net underwater and scatter bread crumbs on top, and wait for the fish to gather, wouldn't that let you catch them all at once?"

He'd never fished—he was just theorizing.

"Not really," Empress Fangfang chimed in. "A big net's too heavy underwater. By the time you lift it, all the fish are gone."

"Oh, I see," Wu Jun Gu said, embarrassed.

"Wu Jun Gu's a typical spoiled brat—he's never fished," Ceng You chimed in, glancing up. "Unlike Jiang Nian—he even knows about virus-isolation treasures."

At this, Wu Jun Gu and Ceng You, who shared the same dorm, both laughed.

Li Hua looked confused—he didn't get the joke.

"What virus-isolation treasure?"

Ceng You smirked mysteriously, glanced at Wu Jun Gu, and grinned.

"Ask Jiang Nian."

Li Hua turned to Jiang Nian, only to find the bastard had already sat down and was earnestly doing problems. Clearly, he had no intention of explaining—he was now an outsider?

Bastard, he's gone stone-cold!

Morning reading was halfway through.

Chen Yunyun was reading Yi Lin; she'd already memorized all the vocabulary. Reviewing gaps wouldn't hurt, but outside reading materials circulated in class and were hard to borrow.

Like Yi Lin, Reader, Youth Digest, Classroom Inside and Outside. Occasionally, you'd see Hui, Huahuo, or Gushihui passing from hand to hand.

The most sought-after was still Gushihui—mostly in the boys' hands.

Chen Yunyun wanted to read it, but had to wait; she settled for borrowing an Yi Lin she hadn't read yet. But as she read, one article grew increasingly strange.

She turned to Wang Yuhe and couldn't help asking.

"Yuhe, if an American supermarket lost power and opened its gates to let people take items for free, would anyone really leave money behind?"

Wang Yuhe, who'd been timing her breath-holding with her watch, exhaled and thought a moment.

"Fake. Our middle school teacher said even without a power outage, they wouldn't pay."

Chen Yunyun nodded—it was absurd, yet oddly normal, fitting her stereotype of Western powers.

Sun Zhicheng, sitting behind her, leaned forward to add.

"Actually, things there are pretty good—I have a cousin who moved abroad. She got robbed on the street of a bag, and within an hour, it was recovered."

Chen Yunyun was surprised. "So good security?"

"No, my cousin paid a little to get the local gang to retrieve it," Sun Zhicheng shrugged. "Paid extra to have the thief beaten up."

"Ha, so inclusive?" Lin Dong, hearing the story, also leaned over. "By the way, English test in first and second periods—Zhicheng, let me copy yours."

Lin Dong had been in good spirits these past two days—he'd made money last week, and this week learned Yang Qiming had once again, damn it, fallen in love. What a damn surprise.

No need to translate—this isn't Nan Tong.

Now he didn't have to guard against Qiming's cousin all day—they were both lustful devils. As long as he liked women, they were brothers on the same side.

"No way. Can't you do it yourself?" Sun Zhicheng flatly refused.

Lin Dong shrugged, unconcerned.

"Then I'll call Qi Ming my cousin. I'm too lazy to do English." With that, he turned and tapped Yang Qiming's desk, gazing at him with tender eyes.

"Cousin, let me copy your English."

"OK, no problem," Yang Qiming agreed happily. The weekly quiz wasn't strictly monitored. "Leave it to me—I'll pass you a note after I finish the multiple choice."

Yang Qiming was in good spirits too. Life was just ups and downs and ups and ups.

His buddy was doing better too.

The wound of betrayal never heals, unless you start a new one. He was now addicted to chatting with "An An"—not investing real feelings, just killing time.

She was a green tea, and a bit pragmatic.

And then?

Buddy, don't you spend money on Genshin Impact?

One 648 yuan spent all my grandpa's minimum living allowance, and still got a wrong pull.

So, would a nimble dog from the mountains dream of a sweet little sister who plays games with you, sends you voice messages, and sends photos and video calls?

And all that doesn't cost 648—just a bubble tea.

This isn't some green tea—this is a cost-effective, thoughtful little sister.

Joyfully, he gained both love and brotherhood.

Sun Zhicheng watched their sweet interaction and felt a tightness in his chest.

He already had Jiang Nian as a rival in love—how could even your mom's brother have someone stealing his heart?

"Cough, cough."

He cleared his throat, tugged Lin Dong, and whispered low.

"Did Yang Qiming win the lottery recently?"

"Oh, no, not at all," Lin Dong shook his head.

"Good," Sun Zhicheng exhaled in relief.

"He's in love."

"Dead. Not living anymore," Sun Zhicheng's face collapsed. The next second, he flushed red. "No, Brother Dong, I'm not jealous—I'm just discussing."

"Huh?"

"Discussing. Purely objective," Sun Zhicheng's face slowly reddened as he gestured urgently. "This situation—assume it has nothing to do with anyone in our class."

"Oh?"

"Someone fell in love. No relation, not referring to anyone!" Sun Zhicheng gritted his teeth. "Brother Dong, how ugly must his partner be?"

"Wait, I have a photo of his partner." Lin Dong pulled out his phone from his pocket and opened album x.

Sun Zhicheng was eager, not wondering why Lin Dong had a photo of Yang Qiming's partner. Logically, no one should save such digital data.

"Let me see."

He leaned in—and his face turned even redder.

"This girl must have some kind of disorder—congenital intellectual disability. I've heard people say some folks pretend to care just to get close to the disabled."

"Normal people? I've got video of his partner dancing too." Lin Dong scrolled through the album and played a silent clip of a vibrant, beautiful teenage girl dancing.

Sun Zhicheng slumped in his chair, eyes vacant, murmuring.

"Is his partner... even real?"

"I heard she goes to City No. 1 High. Not as good as City No. 2, but her grades aren't bad," Lin Dong kept stabbing, piling on the blows.

"Her best friend is pretty too—just not good at dancing, but sings decently."

Sun Zhicheng had lost all strength and strategy. He wanted to kneel before Lin Dong and beg: give me her contact.

But when he thought of Chen Yunyun, he firmly gave up.

One heart can't hold two people.

When he was young, he heard the story of the monkey picking up sesame seeds and dropping the watermelon. Sometimes, your best friend is right beside you, and the one you like sits right in front—this is happiness.

Suddenly, Lin Dong spoke up.

"Her best friend's chest is huge."

Sun Zhicheng's face turned green. He couldn't hold it—he collapsed onto the desk, convulsing violently.

Lost the watermelon.

Lost!

Lin Dong, curious after admiring the photos, shook Sun Zhicheng.

"A Cheng, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just remembered something sad." Sun Zhicheng rubbed his face over and over, still choosing to smile at life.

Morning reading ended.

The first exam of the morning was English. The hallway was full of students heading to the bathroom.

After all, exams lasted two hours straight. You weren't forbidden from leaving, but asking permission to go to the toilet was a hassle.

Jiang Nian went to the bathroom just before the bell rang. On his way back, he saw Chen Yunyun and Wang Yuhe coming up the opposite staircase, and was greatly puzzled.

"Where did you two go?"

"To the bathroom," Chen Yunyun said. "Before every exam, the girls' restroom has a long line, but the admin building is always empty."

"Really? Won't you run into a teacher?" Jiang Nian asked.

"Just say you're looking for the homeroom teacher—he has an office in the admin building anyway," Chen Yunyun wasn't fazed. "Actually, nobody really cares."

Just then, all three spotted Qian Bao holding exam papers at the far end of the hallway. Instantly, no one spoke—they turned and slipped into the classroom.

(End of Chapter)