Chapter 475

On the stairs.

Jiang Nian pulled out his phone, glanced at it—Yu Zhiyi had sent him a message that morning, asking how he'd decided about that matter.

"Have you thought of the terms yet?"

He glanced at the message, thinking this guy was pretty arrogant.

"Not yet. Something's been bothering me."

Yu Zhiyi: "What's wrong?"

Seeing this, he took a photo of the biology test paper and sent it over, typing:

"I was chatting with Qing Bao, and she gave me a set of biology questions. But I don't have time to do them. What should I do?"

At the other end, Yu Zhiyi had just reached the classroom.

She hadn't gone for morning exercises; instead, she'd wandered around and bought some snacks. She'd sent Jiang Nian the message just to nudge him.

Who knew he'd sent her this?

Yu Zhiyi stared at the message, stunned at first—then, when she realized what it meant, her chest heaved with fury. This guy was truly asking for it!

What's he showing off for?!

She gritted her teeth, but then remembered tomorrow's New Year's Eve party—and instantly calmed down, typing back insincerely:

"It means you're even more favored. The teacher's giving you more responsibility."

Jiang Nian: "No wonder."

"Huh?"

"Qing Bao told me: 'Who's born to be a biology class rep? Young people should try new things—go ahead, overcome your fear of the classroom.'"

Yu Zhiyi curled her legs up on the chair, gnawing her fingernails.

"Wang Ba!"

What are you even doing? Do you think being biology class rep is something anyone can just sign up for?

She feared if she kept chatting with this dog of a guy, she'd burst into curses—so she replied with an emoji.

"(Laughing)."

"(Husky pointing at someone)."

Third period in the morning.

On the podium, the physics teacher was explaining a conveyor belt model. Li Hua was playing with an eraser, rubbing stains on the desk, launching an assault on the gods.

The desk shook like it had Parkinson's—thump, thump, thump.

"Damn it, stop rubbing!" Jiang Nian snapped, pointing at him. "You're really bored enough to hurt your balls!"

Hearing this, Li Hua nodded subtly.

Then he tugged at his crotch.

"You know what? I kinda am."

"Fuck, you're so crude!" Jiang Nian retorted—then the physics teacher called his name instantly.

Li Hua grinned. Fate turns like a wheel.

Zhang Ningzhi quietly opened the problem the teacher had just explained, moved her hand away from the answer spot, and shifted the book to the side.

Seeing this, Li Hua, who'd just been splattered with ink, couldn't laugh anymore.

Jiang Nian is fucking dead!

After school.

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays are Chen Yunyun's hair-washing days.

Since Jiang Nian needed the bike, he just tagged along with them.

Under the parasol trees outside the small gate.

Chen Yunyun wore a hoodie on top and light gray jeans that hugged her firm, rounded buttocks and slender, well-proportioned legs.

"Ride a bike?"

She was curious—after all, Jiang Nian's daily routine was rigid: classroom, studying, nap—more disciplined than any girl in class.

"Where are you going?" Wang Yuhe asked directly.

"Just wandering around, buying some bubble tea," Jiang Nian said half-truthfully. "A friend has something, I'm going to help out."

"Can I get some bubble tea too?" Wang Yuhe leaned forward, staring at him—her eyes clearly said she wanted some.

"No."

"Oh."

"I'm only buying for Yunyun. Ask her." Jiang Nian grinned, inserted the key into the electric bike, and rode straight out of the courtyard.

"Then I'll ask," Wang Yuhe nodded, turning right around to ask Chen Yunyun—leaving Chen Yunyun torn between laughter and helplessness.

"He'll buy you some."

"Really?"

"Mm." Chen Yunyun let her hair down, black silk cascading like a waterfall, perfectly matching the sunlit courtyard.

Jiang Nian rode his bike, cruising the streets for a while.

When he passed the small shop Xu Qianqian and Song Xiyun often visited, he slowed down deliberately. The place was packed, bustling with activity.

He didn't spot the two girls, so he sped up and left.

Jingfu Community.

Jiang Nian ordered some food downstairs, then casually called Li Qingrong. In a few sentences, he told her his location.

He was the type: first state a time, then finish the task early, delivering emotional value beyond expectations.

Of course, the monitor's apartment was too big.

Even if you spent just one morning on it, you couldn't finish cleaning up—you could only complete some preliminary organizing work ahead of time.

There are many benefits to doing this: if anything goes wrong during tomorrow's New Year's Eve party, you'll still have fulfilled the class monitor's request.

That's what a seasoned person does.

Li Qingrong's voice was cold and emotionless.

"I'm coming down now."

Jiang Nian paused, puzzled.

"You're at the Jing residence?"

"Mm." Li Qingrong didn't hang up; the sound of a security door locking came through, then her voice vanished for a moment.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Nian asked.

After two seconds, Li Qingrong's voice came through again.

"I forgot my keys."

Jiang Nian: "????"

Li Qingrong stepped out of the residential compound, walking into the warm sunlight. She crossed the intersection and entered a beef soup shop.

The shop was old, its walls darkened with age. The sign outside read "Time-Honored Brand," drawing many customers inside to eat.

Li Qingrong entered and sat beside his table. The two boys sharing the table looked startled, their expressions tense.

Jiang Nian turned to look at her. "Locked it?"

"Mm." Li Qingrong nodded, then asked, "Should we call a locksmith now and go up together?"

"No need, we can talk about it later." He asked again, "Did you eat lunch?"

"No."

So one bowl of beef soup noodles became two.

Li Qingrong couldn't finish hers, so she used her chopsticks to split half off for Jiang Nian. She'd intended to give him the beef too, but he refused.

Jiang Nian said seriously, "I don't eat beef."

"Hm?"

"Never mind, just saying." Jiang Nian pointed at her large bowl. "Eat first. If you can't finish, we'll talk later."

"Okay."

Ten minutes later, Li Qingrong indeed had plenty left.

"I can't finish it."

Jiang Nian was speechless—he thought, she's not even pretending anymore. He didn't bother speaking, just pulled her bowl over.

Cherish food, eliminate waste!

After cleaning her bowl completely, Jiang Nian led Li Qingrong back toward the residential compound.

She couldn't help asking, "When are we calling the locksmith?"

"No need—I can open it." He glanced back at the class monitor, thinking there were probably no acquaintances here, and simply grabbed her hand to pull her along.

Through his coat, he held her wrist.

Li Qingrong didn't struggle, nor did she ask. She let him pull her silently until they reached a nearby fruit shop.

Jiang Nian released her and walked straight in to browse. Li Qingrong stayed where she was, glancing down at her wrist.

"Hey!"

"Embracing Qingqing!"

He turned back, waving to her, gesturing for her to come closer. When she approached, he pointed to the boxed fruit section and asked,

"Which one do you like?"

"Any is fine."

"Hmm..." Jiang Nian thought for a moment, then picked a box of grapes. "Let's go. We can go upstairs now."

Li Qingrong murmured an "Mm," watched him get a bag from the front desk, carefully remove the grapes, then borrow scissors.

The thin plastic box was cut by Jiang Nian into a rectangular card shape.

Oh...

Ding. The two stepped out of the elevator.

Jiang Nian stood before the security door, sliding the plastic card into the lock's gap, then tugging it back and forth.

Click—the door opened.

Ye Yanqing blinked, her cold demeanor leaving her speechless. But she felt it was too odd not to react.

So she said,

"Very impressive."

Jiang Nian turned back, puzzled—was she mocking him?

"It's fine."

He was different from most people—he had no desire to show off. He tucked away the plastic card and told her,

"Next time you lock yourself out, call me. Cheaper than a locksmith."

Li Qingrong changed her shoes and pursed her lips.

"How much do you want?"

"I haven't decided yet. Just keep it on record." Jiang Nian had wanted to say he'd deduct it from the bride price, but that sounded too tacky.

Besides, the bride price in Zhennan rose a little every two years and a lot every three. Traditional customs had more tricks than a courtesan's wiles.

Even if he opened every lock until it broke, he couldn't keep up with Zhennan's entire population racing toward prosperity through bride prices.

So he said nothing.

Unlucky.

The entire afternoon, both of them cleaned the house.

They could have hired a cleaner, but Li Qingrong seemed to have a mild obsession with cleanliness and preferred to clean thoroughly herself.

Jiang Nian's organizing skills, during this hour.

【Harmonious】.

Honestly, life with a little cheat is so convenient. Figuring it was around 1:20, the two of them wordlessly stopped to rest in the living room.

The balcony was brightly lit; Li Qingrong stood up and pulled the curtains shut.

The living room instantly grew dim.

She turned back and stopped in front of Jiang Nian. Only when he looked up did she extend her hand, revealing her pale, soft palm.

Lying in it was a key.

"Keep it."

Jiang Nian, seeing this, was momentarily stunned.

"Oh, okay."

He actually wanted to say he didn't need a key to open it—even if locked, he could find the right tool and open it precisely.

Never mind, don't get myself listed in the police records.

Jiang Nian slept for twenty minutes on the class monitor's sofa; when he opened his eyes, the class monitor still hadn't woken, lying there like a sleeping beauty.

He watched for a while, then quietly left.

The door clicked shut.

In the living room, Li Qingrong's eyes slowly opened. She stood up and pulled the curtains open; blinding sunlight instantly flooded the room.

Luckily, the cleaning was only half done.

She turned to look at the neatly organized living room and pressed her lips together.

She hadn't paid much attention earlier, but now, looking closely, she suddenly realized Jiang Nian's organizing skills were truly exceptional.

Jiang Nian entered school carrying two milk teas, gave one each to Chen Yunyun and the others, and also brought one for Baby Zhizhi, who had been angry all day.

He deliberately bought milk tea from two different shops to avoid the awkwardness of getting the same one.

Soon after, Zhang Nengzhi entered through the classroom door.

"It's so hot outside."

She had just sat down when she noticed a milk tea on the corner of her desk. She glanced at Jiang Nian, who was lying on his desk solving problems.

"Did you buy this?"

"Mm." Jiang Nian thought for a moment. "I went out during lunch for something, and on the way back, I picked one up for you."

"Oh, thanks." Zhang Nengzhi smiled.

Baby Zhizhi was easily satisfied, provided Jiang Nian acted like a human. She inserted the straw into the milk tea and instinctively turned her head to glance again.

Li Qingrong hadn't arrived yet; her seat was empty.

Hmm, no milk tea.