Chapter 468: The Timing Is Perfect

Hm?

Jiang Nian glanced at the apple in her hand, packed in a transparent crystal box, like a cluster of white flowers.

"So wasteful?"

"Not eco-friendly at all—how are you going to protect the Earth?"

"Hmph, who are you to judge?" Lin Yuxi, innocent and romantic, tilted her head up, "I don't care about the Kardashians—I'm just a girl in love!"

"You're in love? Congratulations." Jiang Nian took the apple, "When you get married, I'll give you fifty."

He learned this from Empress Fangfang—the Fifty-Yuan Banquet Rule.

"You!!!" Lin Yuxi gritted her teeth, "Senior, you're so annoying! I gave you an apple!"

"And then squeeze it?" Jiang Nian, seeing the surroundings were safe, didn't mind chatting a bit more, "Is it a wish for my safety?"

"No, I... I want to date you!"

"13-4035?" the courier shop owner called out, cutting off the conversation, "Who's package is 4035? Come and move it!"

"Me!" Jiang Nian shoved the apple into her hands.

Lin Yuxi watched Jiang Nian drag a thing as tall as a person, standing frozen in shock.

"What is this?"

"Inflatable doll. My Chen Xingyu is stronger." Jiang Nian shrugged, "Bye, I'm going home with my girlfriend."

Lin Yuxi hurried after him and shoved the box into his hands.

"Hey, senior."

"What?"

"You're so strong!" Lin Yuxi, suddenly brain-dead, ignored the main point and blurted this out randomly.

"You compliment people directly." Jiang Nian said.

"No, I mean..." Lin Yuxi's cheeks flushed crimson as she realized what she was about to say, "You're hurting yourself like this!"

Jiang Nian nodded. "But it feels good."

Lin Yuxi gasped, like a pig chasing a swallow. She quickened her steps, caught up to Jiang Nian, and blushed fiercely.

"There... there could be other solutions. If all else fails... senior... you... date me!"

Hearing this, Jiang Nian stopped.

"You?"

"W-what?" Lin Yuxi stammered, puffing out her chest, "I'll still grow! Don't underestimate me!"

She had long guessed Jiang Nian's preferences—and they were rather perverted.

The awkward senior.

"Then wait until you grow up. Far water can't quench near thirst." Jiang Nian smirked at her, waved goodbye, and walked off.

Lin Yuxi stood on the street, grinding her teeth.

"Asshole!"

She didn't believe Jiang Nian's lie about waiting until she grew up—just like how her parents had promised her New Year's money once she grew up, and still hadn't delivered.

After starting high school, she excitedly asked them for it.

They replied with one line.

"In our eyes, you're still a child no matter how old you are."

Damn it! So shameless!

Lin Yuxi watched Jiang Nian's retreating back and silently swore: before his college entrance exam, she would make him fall for her!

She heard university life was open, with lots of travel and hotel stays.

Senior definitely couldn't resist!

At noon, neither family was home.

Jiang Nian had no qualms—he carried the package up three flights in one go, marveling at his own strength.

He unlocked the door with the key from across the hall.

Kuan kuan opened the door and took the key to the apartment across the way.

He pulled out a utility knife from his pocket and sliced open the package.

A Christmas tree.

A real Christmas tree, bought from some online store. This was Jiang Nian's Christmas Eve gift—more brutal than anyone else's.

Giving gifts is actually troublesome.

Too expensive and they won't accept it; too cheap and it's meaningless.

Ordinary classmates might stick to food—after all, if the recipient can't refuse, they've already accepted the sentiment.

Jiang Nian didn't follow the usual path—he moved the tree into your house.

Don't want it? Throw it out. But first, you have to carry it yourself.

Can't lift it?

Then keep it. I can't lift it either.

He decorated it, then slipped a small chili-shaped lipstick box into a sock—whose sock? Of course, Xu Qianqian's.

He'd plucked it from the balcony—special circumstances, special handling.

Not even touched his lungs.

A Christmas tree alone wasn't enough—it was merely an unrefusable brutal move. Given his relationship with Xu Qianqian, giving her the first lipstick as a childhood friend wasn't too much, was it?

The chili lipstick wasn't expensive, but choosing the shade was hard.

Jiang Nian didn't understand much—he studied guides for a long time before placing the order. If he bought a bean paste shade, it'd be obvious he hadn't put any thought into it.

Some lipstick photos look nice, but actually putting them on is another matter.

Because of different skin tones.

After finishing everything, Jiang Nian went downstairs to fetch his bike and return to school. At the gate, he picked up several packages and simply bought a cloth bag.

He carried the packages past the main gate briefly; it was lunch break, so he couldn't get in. A few people were waiting at the gate, one squatting on the ground reciting from a book.

"Forget it, I'll go to the north gate and ride the bike over." Jiang Nian didn't want to wait and turned away.

Outside the north gate, he found the electric bike discarded at the base of the wall. He inserted the key, twisted it, and rode off immediately.

A few minutes later, the electric bike stopped in a half-open small courtyard.

Jiang Nian hadn't even dismounted when he heard the sound of trickling water coming from inside the room. The small window was tightly shut, and water streamed haphazardly across the threshold.

He felt slightly embarrassed—they hadn't returned to the classroom. He guessed they'd had their physical test and Chen Yunyun and the other girl had washed their hair and taken a bath.

He'd simply forgotten about this, overwhelmed by busyness.

Whatever, I'll just leave the bike and go.

Suddenly, a crack opened in the small window. White steam seeped out, and a girl's soft voice called out.

Suddenly, the small window cracked open a sliver. White mist seeped out, carrying a girl's soft call.

It was Chen Yunyun.

Jiang Nian heard this and thought he might have arrived at a bad time. But… now—perhaps he'd arrived at the perfect time.

Jiang Nian heard this and thought he might have arrived at a bad time. But… now! Perhaps he had arrived just in time.

He parked the electric bike in front of the storage shed—more accurately, this place was better called a bathhouse, convenient for charging.

At this moment, on the other side of the wall.

Through the window, he heard the rustling of clothes being put on inside and silently shook his head.

He was studying the Spring and Autumn Annals—he had no idea what "white round things," "gourd shapes," or "fat dragons" even meant.

He was a student of the Spring and Autumn Annals—he had no idea what "white ball," "gourd figure," or "fat dragon" meant.

With a creak, the door opened just enough for a person to slip through. Then a hand reached out, gesturing for him to come closer.

With a creak, the door opened just enough for a person to slip through. Immediately, a hand reached out, gesturing for him to come closer.

He walked over and was instantly pulled inside.

He walked over and was instantly pulled inside.

Chen Yunyun shut the door and lightly pressed him against it. The girl had just bathed; her cheeks were flushed, her eyes like spring water.

A gentle pool, ripples shimmering.

"Keep your voice down—someone behind can hear."

The room was filled with mist, but fortunately no one lived here. Wang Yuhe had already dressed and was untying her shower cap.

Judging by this, they must have washed their hair first, dried it, then taken a bath.

Just as she finished, Jiang Nian arrived.

Behind them stood another row of storage sheds, already rented out to students. Roughly two or three directly opposite were faintly audible.

Behind them stood a row of storage rooms, already rented out to students. Roughly two or three directly opposite were faintly audible.

"Oh, you'd better get dressed first." Jiang Nian pointed at Chen Yunyun's shower cap.

"Oh, you'd better tidy up first." Jiang Nian pointed at Chen Yunyun's shower cap.

Wang Yuhe finished first and walked over to Jiang Nian. The room had nothing but an empty bed frame—no place to sit.

But the bed was inside, so he naturally stayed by the door. Wang Yuhe stepped closer, standing just slightly shorter than him.

She looked up at Jiang Nian and mumbled.

"How much taller are you than me?"

Perhaps because she'd just bathed, she wore only a base layer and a coat, her chest clearly outlined.

Jiang Nian glanced at Chen Yunyun's eyes and saw she wasn't looking at him.

So he looked down at Wang Yuhe.

"Not as tall as you."

"Nonsense, you're clearly a bit taller." Wang Yuhe circled around him, "I didn't like eating when I was little, otherwise…"

"You're impressive." Jiang Nian wasn't paying attention to the conversation at all.

After a while, Chen Yunyun also finished dressing. She wore only a coat too, but lacked Wang Yuhe's natural advantage.

"Why did you come?"

Jiang Nian, ever cunning, avoided answering directly.

"Perfect—you're both here."

He pulled from the bag the gift he'd quietly opened at the gate—a small Christmas toy, one for each of them.

"Your gifts. I don't need to carry them to class."

The toys weren't expensive or cheap—just the kind you could comfortably sleep with, good in scale.

Gifts were hard to buy; too expensive looked forced.

"Wow!" Wang Yuhe gasped, then immediately covered her mouth and whispered, "For us?"

"Almost forgot—you don't get one." Jiang Nian teased her deliberately.

"I'll bite you!" Wang Yuhe snatched the toy, baring her teeth, eyes wide, "I won't give you an apple this afternoon."

"Almost forgot—you don't get any." Jiang Nian teased him on purpose.

"I'll bite you!" Wang Yuhe snatched the plush toy, baring her teeth, her eyes wide round, "I won't bring you an apple this afternoon."

"Who cares."

"You!!"

Wang Yuhe couldn't argue back, so ran off to the other side to sulk.

Jiang Nian smiled and stood by the door whispering with Chen Yunyun. The gift was small, but the sentiment was real—depends on who gave it.

He wasn't unable to afford it; it was just that there was plenty of time ahead.

Christmas wasn't really a holiday at all; it was just about responding to the apples received, all about emotional value.

High schoolers had low material desires; that would change after the Gaokao.

In short, the timing was perfect.

Like a red-hot coal tossed into the air, slowly and intensely burning, quietly filling the room with stifling heat.

Of course, remember to open the window.

Otherwise, you might suffocate.

"Can't you get in through the side door?" Chen Yunyun asked. "Feeling awkward asking the janitor now."

"Then wait until after lunch break," Jiang Nian whispered.

"Mm, rest for a bit," Chen Yunyun said gently. "You're used to napping; if you don't sleep, you'll be drained this afternoon."

The floor was covered with a rug, leaning against several cute plush pillows. The bed frame was bare—apparently no one had planned to use it.

Seeing Jiang Nian's gaze, Chen Yunyun explained naturally.

"Thought you were going to stash stuff there, so… left space."

"Oh, no need for now," Jiang Nian said, setting the bag aside and sitting down. "This place is pretty small."

"Squeeze together," Chen Yunyun said.

"I'm skinny! Don't take up space!" Wang Yuhe said proudly, rolling halfway across the rug. "Hehe, see?"

Jiang Nian only saw her chest flattened, and his eyelid twitched.

Too brutal.

"Just sleep, you talk too much," he feigned impatience. "Only half an hour left—if you don't sleep, don't hog the space."

"No way! I'll drive you crazy!"

In the end, Jiang Nian slept on the outer side. Chen Yunyun lay in the middle, Wang Yuhe slept against the wall; all three rested briefly.

There was nothing intimate about it; Jiang Nian kept a wide distance from them.

Besides, he was truly tired.

All three woke dazed by the bell, jolting upright from the soft rug, first glaring, then realizing.

Shit, overslept!

Luckily, it was just the end-of-lunch bell. Jiang Nian was about to open the door when he heard a teacher's voice outside.

There were teachers in the courtyard, and people moving about.

He wasn't worried—but…

Chen Yunyun's face paled noticeably, looking flustered.

"Someone…"

"Huh? Then what do we…?" Wang Yuhe glanced at Jiang Nian; she knew too well how awkward it would be if caught by a teacher.

Even if not their own teacher, two girls and one boy in a room…

Even if they weren't the teachers of his class, three people—a woman, another woman, and a man—were in one room.

"You two go out first. I'll wait till no one's around," Jiang Nian said calmly—he was the king of sneaking around, even if he'd never actually done it.

"You two go out first. I won't leave until no one's left." Jiang Nian wasn't worried at all—he was the King of Peeping, even if he hadn't actually peeked.

"But… won't you be late?" Chen Yunyun hesitated, stepping forward. "Maybe we should wait a bit longer."

Jiang Nian waved it off, unconcerned.

"First period is Old Liu's class—what's ten minutes late?"

Chen Yunyun thought it over and agreed, pulling Wang Yuhe along to grab their things and leave. As for their clothes… naturally left in the laundry basket.

Jiang Nian glanced at them, then looked away.

Too perverted.

"Report!"

Nearly ten minutes into the first afternoon class, Jiang Nian finally arrived late. Most eyes in the classroom instantly turned toward the door.

Old Liu asked nothing, just waved him in.

Old Liu asked you everything, then waved his hand.

Below the podium, Li Hua clenched his teeth.

"Fuck, Old Liu's such a favoritist. If I were ten minutes late, I'd be standing through class."

Love and indifference are so obvious.

"Ah, where were we?" Old Liu continued. "The New Year's plans have been finalized."

He rattled off a bunch of things, then mentioned the provincial mock exam.

"After New Year's comes the provincial mock exam—students, take it seriously. It's second only to the first mock."

After sitting down, Jiang Nian quietly passed Zhang Ningzhi a small box.

Take it seriously—it's the exam second only to the Mock Exam.

"What's this?" Zhang Ningzhi took it and found a pair of Bluetooth headphones she'd long wanted; she bit her lip.

She looked at it, wrote a few words on a sticky note, folded it, and returned it along with the headphones to Jiang Nian.

【Too expensive. I accept your sentiment.】

She looked at it, wrote a few words on the sticky note, folded it, and returned it to Jiang Nian along with the headphones.

Too expensive—I accept your thought.

Go back.

Jiang Nian unpacked the gift, wrote his reply on the back of the sticky note, and handed over just one earbud and the folded note.

Not for one person—we share it.

If you only take half, it's not expensive.

Zhang Ningzhi looked at the note, read the words several times, couldn't suppress the smile on her lips, and held the earbud in her palm.

Oh.

A pair of earbuds was too expensive a gift for him and Zhang Ningzhi's relationship. But he'd given cheap things before, so he simply split the cost in half.

Sharing it was just right.

In reality, he ended up using it all anyway. One purchase, two values—more than worth it.

I was just missing a pair of earbuds, hehe.

In this way, he slipped the gift away in half a day. The class monitor's gift had been delivered; their relationship was special.

Suddenly, a chime sounded in his mind.

Standing at the crossroads of thirty-eight, you have already established deep ties with the Youthful Era. The greatest virtue of adults is candor.

Task: Have a heart-to-heart night talk with Xu Qianqian. Reward: Skill: Trust Carving (CD: 30 days). Xu Qianqian's Memory Fragment 1.