Chapter 616

Ah?

Jiang Nian blinked in surprise; it had barely been a blink since before New Year's Eve, and Li Qingrong was already preparing to leave Zhennan.

Then again, the Lantern Festival had already passed.

So the class monitor… would she be living alone again?

He asked, "When?"

"Tomorrow afternoon," Li Qingrong lowered her gaze, then added, "I want to see her off, but I can't drive."

Hearing this, Jiang Nian suddenly understood.

"I'll do it."

She said, "But there's class."

"Take a leave—I'll tell Old Liu," Jiang Nian said. "He has class in the afternoon; no problem."

"Mm-hmm," Li Qingrong nodded.

Seeing this, Jiang Nian hurried off to flush the toilet. When he came out, he ran into Yu Zhiyi at the sink.

"Hi," she waved. "Small world."

Splash—the faucet gushed water in a steady stream.

Jiang Nian bent over to wash his hands, saying casually, "Yeah, you're here to flush too?"

Yu Zhiyi: ".

…Can't you be a little more civilized?"

"You're so picky," Jiang Nian gave her a dead-eyed stare. "Are you a fairy? Don't you pee?"

"You're such an asshole!" Yu Zhiyi's chest nearly exploded with rage.

Suddenly, a figure passed between them. The girl greeted Jiang Nian as she walked by.

"Hi."

"Mm," Jiang Nian nodded.

After the girl passed, Yu Zhiyi frowned.

"Class rep from the next class?"

"Yeah, Liu Yang's girlfriend," Jiang Nian leaned back against the railing and nodded. "I wonder if Old Liu knows."

Yu Zhiyi didn't care about that; she turned and asked suspiciously.

"Are you two close?"

"Not at all."

"Oh, I see," Yu Zhiyi wanted to say something but held back. "Hey, if you…"

As her voice trailed off, the self-study bell rang.

"Gotta go," Jiang Nian turned and walked straight to the classroom without pausing. "I haven't finished my test paper."

Yu Zhiyi gritted her teeth. "You have such a terrible personality!!"

Third-period evening self-study.

Sun Zhicheng was tired from wearing his glasses, but ten minutes ago, Chen Yunyun turned around once, and he gave up the thought.

His heart had long since turned cold.

He wandered in thought for a while, then looked up at the front row and saw everyone was writing assignments with their heads down.

Sun Zhicheng: ".

He turned his head and happened to see Lin Dong secretly chatting on QQ. After a moment's thought, he patted Lin Dong's shoulder and asked.

"Dongge, do I look like a cultured scoundrel?"

"What?"

Lin Dong thought he'd hallucinated. He looked again at the bespectacled Sun Zhicheng and fell into thought.

"Scoundrel?"

"A cultured scoundrel?"

"Ah… yeah, kind of," Lin Dong was confused why Ah Cheng kept asking such strange questions.

Sun Zhicheng's confidence surged—he decided not to take off his glasses tonight.

Just then, Wang Yuhe turned around. She glanced at Sun Zhicheng, puzzled, and said to Chen Yunyun.

"Yunyun, are you also getting glasses?"

"Mm."

"Sun Zhicheng's glasses look pretty nice."

"Huh?" Chen Yunyun turned around. She had mild myopia and had been considering getting glasses during the New Year.

After all, the second semester of Gao San was the most critical period—intense study load, and myopia tended to worsen.

Sun Zhicheng's face showed no expression, but inside, a storm raged.

On the first day of school, he'd agonized over his outfit all afternoon. All that effort, and no one noticed.

He'd nearly given up.

Luckily, Chen Yunyun had noticed him. All his effort was worth it.

Sun Zhicheng's lips trembled; his gaze was tender, and he feigned casualness. "Want me to introduce you?"

The waiting seconds were unbearable.

In the instant he blinked, he slowly closed his eyes, tense, ready for the final verdict.

Just three words were needed to say yes.

Chen Yunyun's lips parted slightly and spoke.

"Ugly."

After evening self-study ended.

Jiang Nian glanced at his phone: Song Xiuyun had coughed and fallen ill. Xu Qianqian had taken sick leave and gone home with her after getting the injection.

"Ill?"

He felt slightly puzzled; he had taken Song Xiuyun to the hospital for a checkup last time, and there had clearly been nothing serious.

"Is she okay?"

He sent a WeChat message, and Xu Qianqian replied instantly.

"Just a cold."

"Hmm."

Seeing this, Jiang Nian finally relaxed. After what had happened before, caution was unavoidable.

Among the three, Song Xiuyun had the weakest health.

Still, she needed to exercise. Her body was this weak, and it would surely rain heavily during the Gaokao days.

It would be a waste to let her studies wear her down.

He walked home alone, carrying his bag, just stepping out of the school gate. On the street packed with students, he spotted someone familiar.

More precisely, a familiar back view.

"What are you looking for?"

"Ah?" He Minjun jumped, turned around, and saw Jiang Nian. "You scared me to death."

Jiang Nian: "???"

"I left my keys in the room. I'm looking for a locksmith's number," He Minjun said, pulling out her phone.

On it was a photo: "Locksmith search...: Police station registration."

"Oh, you're looking for the landlord," Jiang Nian said casually. "Or... you live alone?"

She replied, "Not originally. But my roommate took a leave of absence and went to Guangdong to work."

"Work?" Jiang Nian looked incredulous.

"Yeah, she plans to apply for college through the single-recruitment exam," He Minjun said. "She's checked the scores and application fees."

Damn, is it really this practical?

Jiang Nian was stunned.

"Alright, then call your landlord. He should have a spare key. Locksmiths start at sixty."

He Minjun shook her head. "I don't want to call the landlord."

"Then keep looking. I know a locksmith's number." Jiang Nian took her phone and typed.

"Then keep looking. I know a locksmith's number." Jiang Nian took the phone and typed.

"Hmm, you really should thank me," Jiang Nian said as he typed. "He charges cheap."

"Mm, you really should thank me." Jiang Nian typed as he spoke. "His rates are cheap."

"Fifty. Even forty-five if you bargain—he'll still come out." He handed back the phone and turned to leave.

After walking a while, sudden footsteps rang out behind him.

"Um... could you...?" He Minjun held her phone against her chest, nervously saying, "Come with me while they open the lock?"

Jiang Nian turned to look at her. "What?"

He Minjun whispered, "I'm too scared alone. Just stand beside me—I can pay you."

He Minjun said meekly, "I don't really dare go alone. Just stand beside me, and I can... pay you."

He Minjun stared back, growing increasingly nervous. Waiting for judgment, her teeth trembled slightly.

"I have something else to do."

Hearing this, her heart plunged to the bottom. Still, she forced herself to smile, stiff and unnatural.

"Okay... alright, thank you."

Just as He Minjun turned away, Jiang Nian spoke again.

"Don't take too long."

He Minjun froze. Her eyes, like dead wood meeting spring, slowly filled with moisture, as if a dried spring began to flow again.

He Minjun froze, Ye Yanqing's eyes like dead wood meeting spring. Slowly, from a dried-up spring, they grew glistening and wet.

"Mm. Where do you live?" Jiang Nian asked.

"Mm, where do you live?" Jiang Nian asked.

"Outside the North Gate."

Jiang Nian stood in the dark alley, glancing at the lit security booth and the pitch-black dormitory building behind it.

The building on the left was called Migrant Workers' Apartment, but the conditions... were too shabby—even migrant workers wouldn't stay.

So they patched it up and rented it out at high prices to students.

The building on the right was He Minjun's residence. They climbed the stairs to the sixth floor and walked along the outer corridor.

They stopped at the third door.

"Can I call the locksmith now?" She pulled out her phone, seeking Jiang Nian's approval.

"Can I call the locksmith now?" She took out her phone and checked with Jiang Nian.

"Huh?"

"Didn't bring it?" Jiang Nian turned to ask her.

"I brought it." He Minjun, dazed, rummaged through her bag and handed it to him.

"Brought it, here you go." He Minjun was half-asleep, but she still rummaged through her bag, pulled out her school badge, and handed it to him.

"Call now?"

Jiang Nian didn't answer, only walked to the security door. He gave it a slight push, then slid his student ID into the gap.

One second later, a sharp click sounded.

The door swung open like that.

He Minjun stood frozen, her phone dropping to the floor. She swallowed hard, then asked after a long pause.

"Master, what do you do for work?"

"Giant baby," Jiang Nian said flatly. "Your door wasn't locked—any card would've opened it."

"Any card?" He Minjun looked bewildered, but picked up her phone. "Then... then I'll pay you."

After all, it was a skilled trade, and fast.

Even though after her roommate left, she had to pay all the rent, there were still three months left—she could grit her teeth and make it.

"Is sixty-five okay?"

She remembered Jiang Nian saying locksmiths started at sixty. The one he recommended only charged forty-five.

"If you're not satisfied, I... add five more?"

Jiang Nian thought for a moment. "Give me forty."

"Okay."

On the other side, Building Five.

Lin Dong had just finished showering and was brushing his teeth at the sink by the window. Opposite him stood the old apartment building, still brightly lit.

"Fuck."

He spat foam, muttering under his breath.

"Gotta say, dorm life's better. You can turn the lights off whenever the hell you want—no one controls you."

"True. That idiot dorm supervisor turned off the lights before the bell rang," Ceng You rolled over on his bed, agreeing.

Wu Jungu's bed was empty, piled with belongings. He wasn't staying on campus this semester—he'd returned to his aunt's place.

"I'm so jealous..."

9

Lin Dong casually turned toward the window—and froze.

"Fuck! That's not..."

"Ceng You!"

"Come quick, you fucking bastard."

"What the hell?" Ceng You, phone in hand, rolled over and glanced. "I'm already in bed!"

"Jiang Nian! Jiang Nian's across the way!" Lin Dong swallowed his foam. "And there's a girl!"

"Holy shit!" Ceng You leapt out of bed, barefoot, running over. "Where? Where?"

Lin Dong pointed—and the other roommates saw Jiang Nian across the building.

"What are they doing?"

"Opening the door. Didn't go in yet," Ceng You squinted. "Now the transaction's starting—the girl's paying?"

"Never thought Jiang Nian had a side gig."

"Left?"

"So fast?"

"Call and ask—you'll know." Lin Dong pulled out his phone and dialed.

Jiang Nian was about to head downstairs when he answered.

"What?"

After hearing the full story, Lin Dong and the others felt bored. Someone else asked about the senior in the bathroom.

"Aren't your friends staying there?"

"Ask."

"I'll ask..." Jiang Nian had been about to refuse, but hadn't left yet. "Might as well ask."

Knock knock knock.

Through the peephole, He Minjun saw Jiang Nian outside. She blinked, suddenly tense for no reason.

Oh, the door opened.

"W-what's wrong?"

"Didn't I just take forty from you?" Jiang Nian said. "I'm returning twenty. I have a question."

He Minjun stared at him, bewildered.

"Huh?"

Jiang Nian got home close to midnight, carrying a bag of fruit bought with money earned from his trade.

Knowing the two women across the hall were still awake, he knocked.

"Back so late?" Xu Qianqian opened the door a crack. "Where'd you go?"

"Earned some money."

Jiang Nian didn't elaborate, handed the fruit to Xu Qianqian. "Earned this—bought fruit for both of you."

"Huh?" Xu Qianqian glanced at him. "What are you babbling about? What money are you making at this hour?"

"Door unlocking," Jiang Nian lay down on the sofa. "A friend locked his keys inside—asked me to open it."

"Ohhh." Xu Qianqian glanced at the fruit—clearly a thank-you gift. "You can unlock doors?"

"Any lock."

Xu Qianqian rolled her eyes at the remark.

"Shut up."

Just then, Song Xiuyun stepped out wearing her pajamas. The two changed the subject in tacit understanding.

"Why didn't you buy grapes?"

"They're for the sick, not for a glutton."

"Get lost!"

"Ribbit! Ribbit!" Jiang Nian bowed, "Your humble servant pays homage to Great Toad King."

"You want a beating, don't you!" Xu Qianqian blushed in annoyance.

Upon hearing this

?? Song Xiuyun burst into laughter.

"What toad?"

Jiang Nian glanced at her and pointed at her.

"You're laughing so hard your snot bubbles…"

"No!" Song Xiuyun flustered, her face flushing instantly, "I just have a cough, no runny nose."

Xu Qianqian crossed her arms and leaned back on the sofa.

"Ignore him—he's always like this."

Jiang Nian stayed a while, chatted with the two women, reminded Song Xiuyun to exercise, then returned home.

The next day.

After washing up, Jiang Nian arrived at the classroom early—his first time getting there before Huang Fang. Both front and back doors were locked; he couldn't get in.

Morning mist was thick, carrying a bone-chilling chill.

After a while, Huang Fang arrived.

"Fangfang, Fangfang, come quick!" he waved, "Did you oversleep? I've been waiting for you a long time."

"No," Huang Fang's voice was slightly hoarse.

Jiang Nian frowned, "You caught a cold too?"

"Too?" Huang Fang was baffled.

Jiang Nian didn't answer. While fetching water, he found four packets of cold medicine in the wild zone and tossed them to the weak Huang Fang.

"Drink some sugar water."

Huang Fang: "...... I don't need it, I'll be fine soon."

"Oh."

Just before morning self-study, Li Hua arrived. Seeing Huang Fang slumped on the desk, he learned the full story and pulled out cold granules.

The box was empty.

"Fuck, where's my medicine?"

"Damn it, Jiang Nian, you bastard!" Li Hua spun around, instantly locking onto the culprit, "You took my cold powder again!"

"Nope," Jiang Nian replied calmly.

"Let me search you."

"What? What's there to search on me?" he said, "You can't bully an honest man like this!"

"Red Stone!" Li Hua turned red, "You do nothing but trouble all day."

Eventually, Li Hua found the cold granules in Zhang Ningzhi's desk.

"Your mom!!"

"This... this isn't even my desk," Jiang Nian grinned, "Besides, Fangfang won't take yours."

Li Hua shoved the box into Huang Fang's hands, "I'm the group leader—who dares refuse me!"

Huang Fang:

E