Chapter 433: Who Is the Coward

Hm? Vice principal?

Old Liu's ultimate goal.

"Who cares, let whoever it be whoever." Jiang Nian walked forward. "Pure nosy busybody — is it his job to manage students?"

Class Three's morning-run formation circled another lap.

"No, where's Jiang Nian?" Li Hua was panting like a bull, eyes wide. "That bastard — how is he not waiting by the track?"

"Forget Jiang Nian, the guy already ran off!" Ma Guojun gasped between breaths, cursing. "Shit! Why won't they stop?"

"They can't be starting a fifth lap, can they..."

"Shit, isn't that Jiang Nian?" someone shouted. "His mom — how do you run off without your bros?"

"The first lesson in life for a Zhennan person should be benevolence and righteousness."

"byd, who's that girl next to him?" Li Hua, sharp-eyed, reflexively turned green with envy. "Born lucky, huh — picking up chicks even during morning run?"

In the formation, Zhang Ningzhi pressed her lips together at the words.

She did want to look, but the moment she raised her head, her view was blocked by the rather bloated crowd piled up at the edge of the track.

Mm, unhappy.

Chen Yunyun, on her fourth lap, had already pulled Wang Yuhe off to the side, walking slowly along the plastic track.

Quite a few people slacked off like this — so many they even formed a massive procession.

Chaos, total chaos — the entire sports field had turned into a boiling pot of porridge.

Gao San students have the heaviest rebellious streak — most of the time they obey management, but when they meet something outrageously over the top, they absolutely won't put up with it.

Still want us to run?

I'll drop dead for you right now!

At the exit.

The student council cadre glanced at him expressionlessly and stretched out a hand to block Jiang Nian.

"No exit here."

"I'm from the Science Zero Class, and this is my classmate with asthma." Jiang Nian pointed at Xu Shuang, who was instantly dumbfounded.

Asthma? Me?

Xu Shuang froze, her mind racing over what reaction to give.

In fact, that dazed look of hers, in the eyes of the student council people, had already been automatically classified as the aftermath of an asthma attack.

Never seen one before — what if it's real?

The student council at a key high school is fairly pure — just doing work to temper themselves.

Gao San students are all very busy, getting crazier the higher the year. There's nothing much to manage either — just checking classes, taking attendance, maintaining daily order.

Tools, plus security guards.

"Fine, fine, go on through." The student council members stepped aside, then casually blocked the people behind. "No exit here."

Once Xu Shuang was out of the sports field, she was completely dumbfounded.

"What has the formation even turned into!"

From the broadcast came the leader's scolding voice.

"Those people walking over there — which class are they from? This time we'll stop at here, tomorrow ah..."

"... tomorrow if you still don't run well..."

Xu Shuang glanced back, then quickened her pace two steps to catch up with Jiang Nian.

"Seems like they stopped."

"The intensity is almost on par with the fitness test." Jiang Nian curled his lip, disdainful. "A few people have to die before they come to their senses."

"Mm." Xu Shuang turned to look at him, couldn't help asking, "How did I suddenly have asthma?"

"Made it up."

Xu Shuang had originally wanted to find a pretext to ask him about the card-drawing thing. But hearing Jiang Nian respond like that, she was instantly at a loss for words.

The two parted ways at the Gao San building — Xu Shuang went upstairs.

Jiang Nian headed toward the office, originally just wanting to see if Qingbao was in the office and chat for a bit while he was at it.

Who would've thought he'd be called over, forced to walk the other way.

"You skipped again?" Old Liu was a bit speechless, standing at the office door. "They haven't dismissed yet, right? Where's our class formation?"

"Teacher, didn't you skip too?"

By rights, the head teacher should be present during morning run.

But Old Liu had too many roles, too heavy a burden on his shoulders. More importantly, he also liked to show off — so he let go entirely.

"How is that the same?" Old Liu jabbed a finger at him, then glanced toward the sports field. "Forget it, tell me what's going on over there."

In the office, Jiang Nian wrapped it up in a few sentences.

The tea on the desk sat untouched — he didn't feel like drinking it.

A bit anxious.

Jiang Nian only wanted to chat with Qingbao, not gossip about the leadership with a middle-aged uncle. Have a heart, can you let me go?

"Oh, then it's really over." Old Liu's mouth was twitching so hard he could barely hold it back. "If it were me, I would definitely... handle it like this, like this."

You freaking — still daydreaming.

(Husky pointing at someone) Old Liu, you really — check if there's a reverse bone growing out the back of your head.

"Teacher, has the biology teacher come yet?" Jiang Nian asked, casually fiddling with the cute little ornament on his desk.

What would that old thing know about ornaments — obviously the teacher's wife's handiwork.

"She has no class this morning. What do you need her for?" Old Liu asked. "If it's a study question, I can ask her for you."

No need, Jiang Nian already had Qingbao's WeChat.

But since we usually had nothing to discuss and saw each other almost every day, there was no need to chat—just drop by his office if anything came up.

But after passing through Old Liu's hands, it wasn't entirely meaningless—it represented a certain attitude, the demeanor of an inner-disciple.

"No rush, I'll wait until afternoon." Jiang Nian stood up, glancing down, "Hey, Teacher, what's this on your desk..."

Left the office.

Jiang Nian was called again—this time by Qian Bao, who was preparing to leave for the day.

"Hey, what's that in your hand?"

The old woman took two steps over.

She examined the small trinket in his hand, not at all shy, picking it up and playing with it for a moment.

"Pretty nice. Where's it from?"

"My homeroom teacher gave it to me. If you like it, take it." Jiang Nian wore a face like a "suffering in silence" emoji. "Come to think of it, I actually kind of..." Qian Bao grinned.

"Then take it." Jiang Nian froze.

"Just kidding—you'd go complain to the boss if I took it." Qian Bao returned the trinket, waved her hand, and turned away.

"Bye, I'm going to practice driving."

Jiang Nian had no interest in driving practice—the instructor would handle everything for him. He didn't need to show up; he just had to wait for next week's exam to get his license.

All told, he could get his license by the end of the month at the earliest.

At this moment, the students returning from morning run came back.

Jiang Nian slowed his pace and was caught up to at the classroom door by a group from Class Three. In the dead of winter, their foreheads were drenched in sweat.

"Fuck! Bastard!"

"Chishi, Jiang Nian!"

"Damn, he's got the luckiest ass—ran the fastest!"

Hearing this, Jiang Nian immediately ran upstairs. Not because he feared being caught and "A Lu Ba'd," but because they were covered in sweat.

If he brushed against them even once, Baby Zhizhi would despise him.

He stood on the fifth floor for a while, sensing no pursuers below. Only then did he exhale, pull out his phone, and stand by the stairwell playing with it.

Aren't you afraid of teachers?

A teacher from the Liberal Arts Olympiad managing students from the Science Olympiad?

Dozens of notifications popped up on his screen—mostly app alerts. Only one was useful: a message from Coach Tian.

"Driving test scheduled for next Thursday. Want to practice for an hour the day before?"

Jiang Nian replied, "No need."

The Zhennan City Test Route Three only had one route—he'd driven it several times and memorized every checkpoint in his head.

In fact, the only real difficulty was the first gear shift.

Most people couldn't time it right, but Jiang Nian specialized in "precision." Since the start of practice, he'd made zero mistakes.

To be honest, the Machine Soul was delighted!

Before returning to the classroom, Jiang Nian slipped the small trinket into his pocket.

He wasn't that stupid—Class Three couldn't afford a second trinket. But Class Four could.

After the third class ended, Li Hua grabbed Jiang Nian's collar.

"Bastard, confess! Who was the girl who left with you during morning run today?"

"Zero Class. Just happened to be going the same way."

"Really?" Li Hua stared at him, his face like a "Piggy Hero" emoji. "I don't trust you. Swear on it."

"Swear, swear—I'll find one just like her too." Jiang Nian swore casually—it cost him nothing.

Speaking of money, why the hell didn't the system give him a task? Another hundredfold return—earn ten thousand, get a million in a critical hit.

Would be pure bliss.

He wanted money so badly—he dreamed of it! So badly! If he could earn over a million, he'd spend every last cent.

So badly!

"Cough! Let go!" Li Hua's face turned red, his voice weak. "I... I can't breathe—let go quick!"

"Oh, sorry!" Jiang Nian, embarrassed, smoothed out Li Hua's crumpled clothes. "I was just thinking, got distracted."

"Fuck you!"

Li Hua, barely surviving, waved his hand.

"Since you spoke good fortune..."

Zhang Ningzhi didn't believe Jiang Nian's lies—she turned and glared at him. She thought: how many coincidences could there be? There was definitely something off.

"Liar."

"I swear on Li Hua's hundred years of romantic luck..."

"Hey, you fucking—"

The noon classes were dreadfully dull; before he knew it, dismissal came.

Jiang Nian went downstairs and waited by the door of Class Four. He caught Xu Qianqian just in time and slipped the trinket into her hoodie hood.

"Here's a gift. Bye."

After saying that, he turned and walked away.

Before turning, he deliberately glanced at Song Xiuyun. Their eyes met—Song immediately flinched away as if burned. Song had too much of a crush.

"Hey, who let you touch my hood! You..." Xu Qianqian reached back to pull the trinket from her hoodie, turned around—and found him gone.

"Furious! This guy is so annoying!"

"What is it?" Song Xiyun smoothly changed the subject without leaving a trace.

"I don't know, haven't looked closely yet." Xu Qianqian opened her palm, revealing a small ornament. "It's kinda ugly."

Even though she said that, she still tucked the ornament into her pocket.

"Let's go, if we're late there'll be a lot of people."

"Oh oh, okay." Song Xiyun nodded, her thoughts complicated at the same time.

Previously she thought about keeping accounts, but later she owed Jiang Nian too much. Roughly estimating, paying it all back might take until after college.

She did the math, part-time jobs would need...

Eating from someone softens the tongue, she subconsciously helped Jiang Nian out of the awkward situation. Doing so, on the contrary, could make her feel a bit better psychologically.

Similar to, paying interest.

Jiang Nian had no idea about this at all, and hadn't taken it to heart at all. After all, from start to finish, it was Song Xiyun who insisted on paying back.

Actually it was just something done in passing, the money wasn't spent on Song Xiyun either.

It's just that this Miss clung to her principles, even the five thousand from the scratch-off lottery. She split half to Jiang Nian, and later when she returned it to him, what could he do, he could only accept it.

After the meal.

Jiang Nian had just come out of the cafeteria, a melancholy look on his face.

Recently after switching seats, there's no class monitor's hand to touch anymore, really not used to it. Chances to chat have also decreased, online...:

Even fewer words.

Mulling it over in his heart, how could he get to touch the class monitor's little hand.

Ding— the panel popped up again.

【Standing at the crossroads of thirty-eight years old......】

Seeing this, his eyelids twitched.

This damn system every time it pops up, has to emphasize age. Pure pressure monster, fortunately he's only eighteen 【You reunite with Baby Zhizhi, go on a date, gain forgiveness, untie her heart knot, in a high-end restaurant, she confides ten years of experiences.

After the breakup, she quit the advertising company. Later she also secretly returned to Zhennan many times to find you, but at the critical moment didn't have the courage to meet.

The day you got engaged, Baby Zhizhi took over her father's company out of town, from a small employee all the way up to senior management. Six years running the company, she lost interest in her career. Carrying the confusion of life, she returned to Guangzhou to settle down.

She casually bought the narrow, dark house you two once lived in, strolled around on sunny days, tidied it up a bit.

While chatting, she shed tears of emotion, if only she could have met you earlier back then. She frankly said what she wanted most was to return to school, to become desk-mates and attend a class together.

Mission: Revisit old places with Baby Zhizhi, become desk-mates and attend a class together. Reward: Skill: Good News (Cooldown seven days).】

Outside the cafeteria.

Jiang Nian finished reading the mission panel, and couldn't help but stop his steps. Seeing "high-end restaurant," he already knew who paid.

Hehe, rich lady hungry hungry.

But when he saw the words "advertising company," he immediately wasn't hehe anymore.

Why is it an advertising company again?

This also means that himself, Baby Zhizhi, and the ex-wife, all three entered the advertising company, and might have even met back then.

Hmm...... a bit hard to hold it together, the ex-wife and Xu Qianqian also know each other.

Zhennan really is a place outstanding in talent and spirit, and indeed very small. Small enough that going around in circles, you can still end up knowing each other.

Then, looking further down.

He couldn't help but feel some emotion, truly the world is unpredictable. The soft and cute Baby Zhizhi, in the end actually also became a workaholic.

But the move of buying the house, really is...... a huge loss.

But this money belongs to the future, so Jiang Nian couldn't really point fingers. But this also shows that Baby Zhizhi is still soft-natured.

This mission is basically free, but what kind of cringeworthy skill is 【Good News】, supermarket discount?

But having a new skill is always a good thing, skills are far more precious than money.

Jiang Nian bounced upstairs, beginning to look forward to the afternoon's class.

Before lunch break.

Chen Yunyun and Wang Yuhe, with their hair draped after blow-drying

walked into the classroom together, glanced at Jiang Nian doing the test paper, the two girls exchanged a look, and quietly walked to Jiang Nian's side. They slightly lowered their heads, their scattered long hair covering their faces.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

Jiang Nian caught a glimpse of the shadow from his peripheral vision, only then pulling himself out of the state of being immersed in the test paper, and turned his head to look.

"Holy shit!!"

He suddenly leaned back, his hand randomly grabbing Chen Yunyun's little hand. Being startled was real, but he wasn't actually scared stiff.

In broad daylight, where did these female ghosts come from to deliver benefits at the door?

Chen Yunyun, hehe.

The hand is also soft, his luck is really good.

Flying high.

"Ah!!" Chen Yunyun's face immediately flushed crimson, she subconsciously squatted down, "It's me..... you, you let go."

"Ah...... so ticklish."

"Oh oh, sorry." Jiang Nian grabbed once then let go, "What were you two just doing? Scared me to death."

He only stood on the moral high ground!

Pointing fingers!

Chen Yunyun tidied her hair, brushed it behind her ears. Thought about it, simply used a hair tie to tie a fluffy low ponytail.

:. Thought I'd scare you."

Jiang Nian pointed, "Then you two are quite despicable."

"Heh heh, didn't expect you to be such a scaredy-cat." Wang Yuhe said smugly, pushing her hair aside with her hand. "I must have scared you half to death!"

"Oh, then you've got some nerve." Jiang Nian nodded. "Tonight I'll scare you — I'll open voice chat in the group and tell you ghost stories."

"So, do you dare?"

Hearing this, Wang Yuhe got a little chicken.

She was most afraid of ghost stories — once as a child, after hearing a classmate tell one, she needed the bathroom in the middle of the night but didn't dare leave her blanket.

In the end, the next morning her mother gave her a fierce beating.

"I'm not coming, I don't dare listen to ghost stories." Chen Yunyun said, blushing, not daring to look at Jiang Nian. "I... I'll have nightmares tonight."

"Fine, you don't have to listen." Jiang Nian nodded, then turned to look at Wang Yuhe. "What about you — are you a coward?"

"You're discriminating!" Wang Yuhe said indignantly.

"She admitted it, so you should too." Jiang Nian sat back down in his chair. "After all, you are just a..."

"Hmph, I'm not!" Wang Yuhe refused to admit it to the death.

Suddenly, a clever idea struck her.

Voice chat lets you mute someone on one end — all she had to do was cut off his voice, and she wouldn't hear the ghost stories.

She really was a genius!

"Fine! Bring it on!" Wang Yuhe said with forced bravado. "I'll show you just how big my courage is — I'm afraid of nothing!"

Jiang Nian pointed at her. "Don't even think about muting me — in the middle I'll insert num"

"bers, and make you type them out on the keyboard!"

Hearing this, Wang Yuhe froze on the spot.

It's over!