Chapter 460: The One Who Will Win

Actually, Jiang Nian was just saying it for the sake of saying it.

Said not to send anything, then sent it anyway.

Discrepancy creates surprise, but he was racking his brain over what to give each girl—couldn't be identical, yet had to mean something.

Too expensive and they'd refuse; too cheap and it wouldn't show sincerity.

Truly a century-old puzzle.

"By the way, Xi Yun!" Xu Qianqian said again, "What have you decided about what I mentioned this afternoon?"

"I…

Hearing this, Jiang Nian's ears perked up, and he began listening silently.

"What thing?"

"I don't know—I haven't told my mom yet," Song Xiyun shook her head, her voice growing softer, "Let me think about it some more."

Jiang Nian leaned over, "What thing?"

"None of your business," Xu Qianqian dismissed him.

"This afternoon you were moving flowers, calling me 'good big brother' left and right. Now it's evening and suddenly it's none of my business?"

"Pfft! Who called you good big brother?!" Xu Qianqian punched Jiang Nian's arm, "I didn't say that—don't go making up rumors!"

After a bit of roughhousing, Jiang Nian learned the full story.

Song Xiyun's mom returned to her natal home, originally to attend a funeral. Their relationship was average at best—she just went through the motions.

Her grandfather felt his time was running out: his wife had passed, his younger son was frail, so he gathered his children and drew lots to divide the gold.

Yes, actual gold.

The pieces varied in size; by the end, they started fighting. Song Xiyun's mom got unlucky and took a few blows.

Her face was bruised purple and blue—she couldn't go to work.

She was in the middle of requesting leave when the gym owner also wanted to quit—he figured she'd been away nearly a week already, might as well close up.

Thus, Song Xiyun's mom got the gold. Plus a little extra compensation—but she was now completely unemployed.

She was utterly lost.

Small county towns had few jobs; if she really had to find one, only the garment factory offered immediate work.

Her mom had always worked outside, returning to Zhennan only because Song Xiyun's grandmother had passed away. With her daughter studying alone and in poor health, she'd accidentally taken a job out of personal interest.

Now unemployed, a friend invited her to start a snack group-buying venture—low cost, minimal investment needed.

"Then why not come live with me?" Xu Qianqian said. "The spare room's always empty. Aunt Zhao can still go out to work."

"I… I'll think about it some more—it's too much trouble for you," Song Xiyun hesitated, unsure what to decide.

Hearing this, Jiang Nian became more interested in the snack group-buying.

"Is your mom's friend reliable?"

"Hmm, probably," Song Xiyun herself couldn't be sure, "Losses… probably won't be too big. Maybe."

"Oh okay." Jiang Nian didn't care much, vaguely replied, "Snack group-buying's fine—there's even profit to be had."

The two girls also half-understood and shifted topics.

"Xi Yun, why's your hometown so chaotic?"

"Isn't the countryside supposed to be simple and pure?"

The countryside wasn't pure at all—just because people didn't move around. Information was sealed off, so explosive events never spread.

Just like slow carriages let you wander freely.

"That's not true," Jiang Nian interjected. "The older generation just had conservative thinking. They were probably the type—ruthless, quiet, secretly doing wild things."

"That's hard to say—older generations are just conservative," Jiang Nian chimed in. "They're probably the type who're ruthless but say little, quietly pulling shady stuff."

"Take this example: why did parents' generation assume 'not coming home' meant fooling around? Because they really were fooling around."

"Take this example: why did that generation assume not coming home meant running wild? Because they actually were running wild."

"People can't imagine things they've never done. So their generation's behavior might've been far more open than ours."

"Silver handkerchiefs, forced melons that quench thirst—"

"Stop it!!" Xu Qianqian covered her ears, refusing to let her mind be polluted, "Don't say such nonsense!"

"Stop talking!" Xu Qianqian covered her ears, unwilling to let her spirit be polluted. "Don't say all that nonsense."

Song Xiyun smiled faintly, her worries momentarily diverted.

"Yeah, that's way too outrageous."

Girls are like this—the more you comfort them, the sadder they get. Find something they care about, shift their focus, and they'll calm down.

Of course, Jiang Nian had no intention of comforting them—he was just teasing the girls.

Indeed, it worked wonders.

Troubles came fast and left fast; the two girls happily went upstairs again.

Seeing Song Xiyun was down, Jiang Nian didn't disturb them—he went straight home.

From his own perspective, he naturally hoped Song Xiyun would live with Xu Qianqian—familiar, company, easy.

Whether she'd actually move in? Still undecided. Some things weren't his to worry about; how it ended? That was another matter.

Whether he'd stay or not—the outcome wasn't settled yet. Some things weren't his to worry about; how it ended was another matter.

Jiang Nian arrived at class to find Lin Dong looking hollow-eyed, slumped over his desk, desperately catching up on sleep.

Jiang Nian arrived at the classroom and ran into Lin Dong, who looked utterly drained, sprawled across his desk, desperately catching up on sleep.

"Don't ask," Lin Dong lifted his head. "Didn't go back to the dorm at all. Went to pick up inventory yesterday—rented a storage house."

"Don't mention it—I didn't even go back to the dorm," Lin Dong lifted his head. "Yesterday I went to pick up the goods and rented a place to store them."

"Where?"

"There's a small door by the cafeteria that leads straight to the teachers' apartment." Lin Dong raised his eyebrows. "I rented it for a week, got it for a hundred bucks."

Hearing this, Jiang Nian felt a slight surprise.

"A week? How did they agree to rent it to you?"

"Oh, I actually have to thank you," Lin Dong explained. "The girl you introduced me to? She's really capable."

"The apartment—

she found it yesterday, going door to door. It happened that someone was about to move away and didn't plan to repeat the year.

"She said she had no hope of retaking the exam and planned to go straight to junior college. She's going to work in the south for half a year, then come back to take the college entrance exam again."

"Huh?" Jiang Nian raised an eyebrow, thinking this guy was pretty bold. "Public junior colleges aren't easy to get into—just like that, you're leaving?"

"Who knows? Maybe she just made up an excuse," Lin Dong said. "Anyway, the warmhearted guy felt sorry for the girl and agreed."

"Then what's your deal?" Jiang Nian didn't understand.

Lin Dong ran his fingers through his hair. "All the goods are stored in that storage room—you think I can sleep in the dorm with them there?"

Jiang Nian stared for a long moment, then slowly raised one thumb.

"Cool."

"Meh, it was average. Last night I nearly froze to death," Lin Dong sniffled. "Got any Cold Relief?"

Jiang Nian nodded. "Shennong has some. I'll grab you two packs."

In the sixth group, Huang Fang in the front row listened to their conversation. She couldn't help but be surprised—there were too many tough people in this class.

"Huang Fang, good morning," Jiang Nian said, taking two Cold Relief packs from Li Hua's desk, then greeting her.

"Oh, uh, good morning," Huang Fang replied listlessly.

After a while, when Jiang Nian returned to his seat to work on the test, she couldn't help turning back and whispering to him.

"Lin Dong and the others... are... selling apples?"

"Mm? What's it to you?" Jiang Nian glanced at her and teased, "Huang Fang, you gonna send me one?"

"No, I'm broke," Huang Fang shook her head, then added, "Besides, I wouldn't dare send one."

"Haha."

Jiang Nian actually liked having someone who knew his secret but would never betray him.

Don't worry, Huang Fang.

From today on, you're the Crown Princess.

"Don't worry—I'll give you some if I get too many," Jiang Nian smiled. "You know I can't take them home."

"No no!!!" Huang Fang jumped, her face turning pale. "Don't drag me into this—I want to be a good person!"

"Who knows? Maybe you should tell the teacher," Jiang Nian said, channeling Leon Lai.

Huang Fang whimpered, "Just don't! Or I'll go down with you—I'll tell everyone about your stuff..."

"Hey hey hey, stop!" Jiang Nian pointed at her. "You've got it wrong—I'm giving you apples without packaging."

"Huh?"

"I'll peel off the wrappers, toss them all in a bag," Jiang Nian lowered his gaze. "Just help me out—eat them."

Hearing this, Huang Fang finally exhaled in relief.

As long as it wasn't some grand public delivery of apples, she dared not get involved—she didn't want to die with Jiang Nian.

Too much of a loss. She hadn't lived enough yet.

"Hmm... how are you so sure you'll get lots of apples on Christmas Eve? What if you only get three or four?"

"Hmm… how are you sure you'll get a lot of apples on Christmas Eve? What if you only get three or four?"

"Then I'll call your mom."

On the other side, Building C, Grade 10.

The Grade 10 freshmen, having been in school for one semester, hadn't fully adjusted to high school life—but some bonds had already formed.

Unbeknownst to them, they would face class reassignment in the second semester of Grade 10. For them, Christmas Eve was both new and unfamiliar.

"Hey, Xiao Liao, who are you planning to give an apple to?"

"I don't know."

"First time ever giving an apple—I don't know who to give it to."

"Just give it to a guy in our class, right? Who else? Unlike Xiao Xi—she's way more impressive, giving apples to Gao San seniors."

During break, Lin Yuxi quietly pulled out her phone, glanced at the chat history, and pressed her lips together.

Hearing this, several people turned to look at Lin Yuxi. They saw her fair skin, her face like a lotus rising from water—fashionable yet girlish.

Several boys' expressions changed slightly; they felt uneasy inside.

Damn it, what's so great about those old Gao San guys?

But out of face, they couldn't show it. They pretended not to care, sneaking glances at Lin Yuxi, the top student in class.

Her desk-mate giggled. "I've seen that senior—he won the basketball tournament, and I heard he's the team captain. Tall, handsome."

"True, but in the end, he'll still bow at Xiao Xi's feet," another girl chimed in. "Hey, any progress?"

Hearing this, Lin Yuxi looked up.

"It's not even started yet—don't go spreading rumors. I'm chasing him because I like him, not for romance."

"If you like someone, isn't it to be together?"

"I guess so—I can't explain it well," Lin Yuxi said, though in her heart, she thought differently.

She silently thought: I'll win.