Chapter 280: Luck Is Better Than Connections

In the afternoon, they continued going over the test papers.

That's how Gao San is—test one day, review the next.

Hold on a bit, there's PE on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday, English and Chinese back-to-back give you a breather, and then Saturday looms ahead—just thinking about the weekend brings hope again.

Occasionally, school activities interrupt—everyone carries stools to the playground for assemblies.

That's even more enjoyable.

The most enjoyable thing is skipping class during class time; the most cruel thing is not getting to skip school during vacation—that's pure Grand Minister-level torture.

The last period is a short self-study session.

"Everyone stay behind after school to sweep the floor—don't try to run!" Li Hua stood up and patted Ceng You on the shoulder. "No excuses. Sweeping won't take long."

Ceng You turned around, speechless.

"Group leader, just report my ID number."

"You ran the fastest—you're the one I have to watch," Li Hua said without embarrassment; he was a veteran group member. "Want to leave early? Sweep. Finish, and you're free."

"No thanks, I'll take out the trash instead," Ceng You volunteered.

Wu Jun Gu turned around and glanced at Li Hua.

"Me too."

They shared a dorm and were in the same small group—Wu Jun Gu and Ceng You's relationship had grown steadily better.

They were always paired up, coming and going together.

Perhaps it was unavoidable.

Wu Jun Gu had switched from day student to boarding student because of Yu Zhiyi, and was temporarily placed in.

He had no boarding experience and needed to bond with someone.

He and Lin Dong had grown distant over Yu Zhiyi's matter; by contrast, Ceng You—who showed little interest in girls—was clearly a better bonding partner.

Having secured the two of them, Li Hua sighed in relief.

As long as someone took out the trash, it was fine—strictly speaking, as long as they did some work. It didn't matter how much, just that they did something.

Jiang Nian never lifted his head, busy solving physics problems.

The weekly quizzes still had some effect—even drops of progress were progress. Even if he was still stuck at formula-based problem-solving, unable to adapt flexibly.

But it didn't matter, because even if he could, he couldn't change it.

Science subjects—you just don't get them if you don't get them.

Jiang Nian calculated for a long time, then put his pen down. He'd do it tomorrow.

Zhang Zhizhi leaned over and glanced at him, curious what he'd been fiddling with for so long. She stared for a few seconds, hummed, and opened her mouth to speak.

"Stop—I know you can do it," Jiang Nian held up a hand to halt her. "I don't want to see this problem today. I'll ask you tomorrow."

Hearing this, Zhang Zhizhi puffed out her cheeks.

"You don't even know this?"

Holy shit, Jiang Nian nearly choked.

Baby Zhizhi had fallen into darkness—how aggressive had she become?

"No, I'm not incapable," he coughed, trying to save face. "I just find this kind of problem disgusting. I want to look at it tomorrow."

"Oh," said Zhang Zhizhi.

Jiang Nian was genuinely rattled. Seeing no one around—Li Hua didn't count—he reached under the desk and pinched Zhang Zhizhi's thigh.

The texture was soft, with astonishing elasticity.

"You!" Zhang Zhizhi's face flushed red, and she punched his arm in fury. "You—"

Li Hua, drawn by the commotion, turned his head to look.

"What are you doing?"

"Free fighting. Wanna join?" Jiang Nian swung his fist, ready to throw a rising dragon punch at Li Hua. "I hit you first, then you hit me back."

"Nope, not interested," Li Hua refused to join their play.

He had little interest in girls right now, mainly because he hadn't met anyone suitable in Gao San. If he settled for someone now, he'd waste his opportunity cost.

Suppose A is great, but you won't meet her for another year. But you're currently desperate, so you choose B. That will inevitably alter your life path.

Li Hua remembered the monkey story about picking up sesame seeds—but life isn't a straight line. There are peaches, watermelons, sesame seeds to choose from.

Life is countless crossroads, countless choices.

If you choose B, you turn a different direction—and never meet A. No matter how things end with B, you're no longer on your original path.

You can fall in love countless times, but you can't meet the right person at the right time. Once you've used up the chance, you can only stand aside and watch.

Why is A so great, yet got messed up by XX?

Because XX didn't step down when he met B.

Li Hua learned this from Jiang Nian—asked him if he'd ever dated. Answer: still a virgin. Asked again: zero dating experience. So flashy, so annoying.

He couldn't be as flashy as Jiang Nian, but he was good at summarizing. Jiang Nian hadn't even dated yet—why was he in a rush? Just enjoy Gao San.

After school, Group Six split up to clean the classroom.

By the back door, Jiang Nian lazily mopped a small stretch to kill time. He had to wait until Zhang Zhizhi and the others finished sweeping before he could mop—bored, he waited.

Chen Yunyun and Wang Yuhe got up from their seats, apparently planning to walk together back to the dorm for dinner and hot water.

The two girls walked out the back door. As Chen Yunyun passed Jiang Nian, she smiled and greeted him. Wang Yuhe deliberately stomped harder on the floor.

Jiang Nian used the mop handle like a cane, propping himself up as he rolled his eyes in deadpan disgust.

Elementary school kids are such fucking immature brats.

Still, Chen Yunyun seemed unusually quiet lately, and her grades had skyrocketed. People say girls change dramatically at eighteen—but why did hers change in grades?

Sigh. Everyone else is fine—only I'm the worst.

Jiang Nian thought of Li Hua's remark about "a five-hundred-point stray dog," and immediately got angry.

"It's all Li Hua's fault!"

Li Hua was mopping the other side; hearing this, he looked up in confusion and immediately flipped him the middle finger.

"Idiot!"

He ignored Li Hua and turned toward another direction.

Zhang Nenzhi was still sweeping; her pace wasn't slow. Estimating it was about done, he began mopping from behind toward the front, soon catching up to Baby Zhizhi.

"Hi."

"Not fast, thank you." Jiang Nian reached out, cutting her off, "It's just that I'm more capable, so I'm more efficient."

Zhang Nenzhi pouted; boys always took things too seriously in strange ways. Suddenly remembering the matter at hand, she tilted her head slightly and asked Jiang Nian.

"Do you have time later?"

With that expression, even if you didn't have time, you'd have to make time.

The beauty is invincible.

Wait, where's my ID? I clearly put it in my pocket before leaving.

"Of course I do. What's up?" Jiang Nian leaned on the mop handle, an involuntary smile spreading across his face, as if expecting something.

"Oh, the courier arrived."

At this, his expression instantly lost all interest.

"Fine."

After cleaning, the two left the classroom together.

Going downstairs, Jiang Nian turned to ask her.

"What to eat?"

The girl immediately stopped walking, beginning to think about what to eat.

"Chunwangju?"

"Hold on, Young Lady, if you say that, I really won't dare go." Jiang Nian cut off Baby Zhizhi's intention to treat him to something nice—he'd think it was a wedding banquet.

Chunwangju was a high-end small restaurant, not too far from school. It was unique in Town South, but the prices weren't pretty; most people couldn't afford it.

Even more expensive than the steak place in the county center—it was top-tier among the top-tier.

"Oh, okay." Zhang Nenzhi looked slightly displeased.

Jiang Nian understood: Zhang Nenzhi just wanted to take him somewhere good. It didn't mean other small eateries weren't fine—in fact, she wasn't picky at all.

"Let's go eat clay-pot soup. It'll do."

"Okay, I'll follow your lead." After leaving school, Baby Zhizhi became unusually obedient.

Jiang Nian didn't feel anything about it.

When Baby Zhizhi the Immortal punched her own arm, she wasn't like this—this demeanor was probably because she was shy outside.

Hey, isn't this the classic case of being a bully at home?

Friendship points must be heavily deducted.

Winter darkness came early; as they exited the school's main gate, the streets on both sides were already lit, colorful neon signs flickering.

Jiang Nian and Zhang Nenzhi walked side by side, attracting a few glances along the way.

Actually,

Zhang Nenzhi's heart was also uneasy; her face was merely holding up. Secretly adjusting her breathing, she kept her cheeks from gradually flushing red and hot.

Many young couples passed by, all going out to eat together like this.

Tap—a male voice suddenly sounded beside them.

"Brother Nian."

Hearing this, Zhang Nenzhi stopped with the person beside her. She assumed it was Jiang Nian's friend, but then recognized him as a classmate from Class Three.

She thought for a moment and remembered his name.

Hu Nianzhong, who had been on leave.

So, he'd come back to school?

Jiang Nian was talking to Hu Nianzhong, his expression calm, with no sign of impatience.

"Take a day off?"

"Yeah, went home to visit."

Zhang Nenzhi hid behind Jiang Nian; her cheeks slowly reddened, like a streak of rouge spreading from her Bai Xi face all the way down to her neck.

She'd run into a classmate.

So embarrassing.

Fortunately, Hu Nianzhong also noticed Zhang Nenzhi beside him and didn't chat long—just solemnly thanked him a few times, said they'd talk again, then left tactfully.

After Hu Nianzhong left, the two continued walking down the street.

Zhang Nenzhi asked curiously, "Do you two get along well?"

"Not really. Why ask that?" Jiang Nian turned his head, glancing at Zhang Nenzhi.

"Nothing, I just felt…" Zhang Nenzhi trailed off, then smiled, "Never mind. Your social circle seems pretty good."

"Mm, sort of." Jiang Nian stopped walking, glancing at her, "My luck is even better than my social circle."

Zhang Nenzhi met his gaze, and her face flushed red again.

The rouge deepened and deepened, as if it wouldn't fade.

"Is that how it is?"

"Mm."

Zhang Ningzhi walked against the faint streetlight, lifting her small face, her eyes curving into crescents.

"Then I'm pretty lucky too—just you don't know it."