Chapter 618: Qi Xue's Return Gift

Li Lanying got out of the driver's seat wearing oversized sunglasses. She glanced sideways and couldn't help muttering to herself.

Hmm?

What are those two talking about, standing so close together?

Embracing Qingqing is truly rotten to the core — not letting me listen is one thing, but last time she wouldn't even let me find Jiang Nian. She guards against her own sister.

Honestly.

Jiang Nian actually wasn't used to wearing things on him, and only planned to wear it for a few days. After a while, he'd quietly take it off.

Yeah, took it off in the shower and forgot to put it back.

Anyway, he'd always find a suitable excuse.

He could have just said it straight, but Li Lanying was there. It wouldn't be good to go back and forth with the class monitor and risk an unpleasant scene.

"Fine, but I've heard jade isn't good for the body."

Li Qingrong: "???"

"Ahem, just something I heard," he said.

"Who said that?"

"My cousin," Jiang Nian rubbed his face. "You probably don't know him — big head, thick neck, really good at flipping a wok."

Li Qingrong: "....

Jiang Nian was about to say more when he turned his head and met Li Lanying's shady, damp gaze, giving him quite a fright.

This perfectly fine older-sister type — why does she always like to peek?

"Let's go," she said.

Saying so, Li Lanying pulled open the passenger door. Because they'd be taking the airport expressway in a bit, and she was the seasoned driver.

"Mm."

On the road, Jiang Nian drove steadily while listening to Li Lanying talk. The older woman sure was chatty.

Even though it was their first meeting, his first impression of her was that she was hard to approach.

"You drive pretty steadily."

"Indeed."

Li Lanying suddenly sighed. "Although the old hometown is a bit boring, staying in Zhennan is still pretty comfortable."

"Small county towns are indeed pretty comfortable." Jiang Nian hadn't been listening to a word she said, just casually brushing her off.

"Snail noodles are pretty good too." Li Lanying narrowed her eyes.

"Mm, not bad."

"I usually eat snail noodles with my nostrils — actually pretty convenient."

"Indeed convenient."

Li Lanying: ".

6

Li Qingrong in the back seat turned her head and looked out the window. The curve of her lips unconsciously lifted slightly.

After a while, the car slowly drove into the airport parking lot.

Thud thud thud — a few sounds, and the group got out of the car. Li Lanying put her oversized sunglasses back on, looking like strangers need not approach. Only then did Jiang Nian notice the older-sister type was wearing a trench coat. Under the big sunglasses, her cherry-like small mouth was covered in dark lipstick.

In the airport terminal, the two sisters were saying goodbye.

Jiang Nian stood not far away, giving the two women some private space. Seeing them hug, he suddenly had an epiphany.

So

the class monitor hugging people at the drop of a hat — she learned it from Li Lanying.

No wonder it's so natural, not shy at all.

Only someone like him — an introverted, pure-hearted high school boy — would be unable to adapt to such intimate gestures of closeness.

After a while, the two sisters suddenly looked at him in unison. Jiang Nian couldn't help feeling puzzled and looked back too.

Mm, no one behind him.

Li Lanying waved him over.

"What's up?" he asked.

"I'll bring you a gift next time — what do you want?" the older-sister type asked. "A computer, or a bicycle?"

Clearly, these were things he didn't have.

Jiang Nian: "???"

"No need, just give one to Embracing Qingqing," he instinctively refused. "It's too expensive, and I'm not lacking anything."

Li Lanying sized him up for a moment, then suddenly spoke.

"How about a guitar?"

Jiang Nian: "Huh?"

The older-sister type still left. On the return trip, only Jiang Nian and Li Qingrong remained. This time, Li Qingrong sat in the passenger seat. Since they weren't taking the airport expressway, they'd only switch from the Heping elevated road to Zhennan Avenue.

Jiang Nian drove in silence, then suddenly spoke.

"Embracing Qingqing."

"Mm."

"Let me ask you something — why would your sister want to give me a guitar?" Jiang Nian shot her a glance and asked.

"Could it be she saw the artistic cells on me?"

Although the older-sister type Li was both sharp-tongued and sexy, who among them wasn't dashingly handsome? He was the dashingly handsome part; the "forcing people" part was Li Hua.

"No, she has an electric guitar gathering dust," Li Qingrong said.

Jiang Nian: "

No matter what, even Li Lanying's dusty guitar—it definitely wasn't cheap. Better than nothing.

"Then why did your sister suddenly think of giving me a gift?"

"You gave her one, it's her habit."

"I see." Jiang Nian nodded. Knowing a rich woman was nice. "Your sister's a bit domineering."

"If you don't like it.....

"It's alright."

Jiang Nian actually wanted to say, bring on more.

But he still had to save face.

Li Yujie's departure, however, gave Jiang Nian quite a bit of time to spend with Li Qingrong. The two even went out for a meal.

Taking advantage of the time before school let out, they parked outside the west gate.

Jiang Nian bought a few cat treats, and accompanied Li Qingrong through the faculty apartments, arriving at the big rock around the corner to feed the cats. Three-Flower Lady had an even build, clean fur. She lay lazily on the rock, seemingly unafraid of people.

Seeing Li Qingrong approach, she even leaned over.

"She recognizes you?"

"I rarely come." Li Qingrong said.

Jiang Nian lowered his head, "Then she recognizes the cat treats. What luck—getting Embracing Qingqing to feed her meals."

Most guys aren't very interested in cats and dogs as pets. Playing with someone else's is fine, but raising one themselves, forget it.

Hearing this, Li Qingrong turned her head to look at him.

"Are you envious?"

"Are you going to feed me?" Jiang Nian raised an eyebrow, imagining the scene of himself lying in the class president's arms eating.

He couldn't help it, the corners of his mouth already curving up.

"No feeding." Li Qingrong refused.

"Oh."

Jiang Nian wasn't disappointed. The class president only said feeding meals wasn't allowed. But lying in her arms should be fine.

Besides, eating while lying down isn't good for digestion.

His stomach wasn't great, couldn't handle such a heaven-defying way of eating.

Li Qingrong was carefully feeding Three-Flower Lady cat treats. Jiang Nian watched from the side, with no intention of stepping in.

"What's this cat's name?"

"Don't know."

"Don't know? What a unique name?" Jiang Nian was slightly stunned, "Come to think of it, quite the romantic flair."

Li Qingrong: ".....

"Embracing Qingqing, do you really like cats?" Jiang Nian asked.

If the class president really liked them, he could keep an eye out next time for any kittens available for adoption near the school.

For small matters like this, asking Old Jiang and the others would do the trick.

"Not raising one." Li Qingrong was decisive, then gave her reason, "I don't feel lonely."

"Alright then." Jiang Nian nodded.

The reason was indeed reasonable, but he wasn't sure—was the class president hinting at him, to chat with her more.

After all, Li Lanying had left Zhennan.

Even if the class president wasn't lonely, living alone in a four-bedroom apartment. In the dead of night, there'd always be some discomfort.

The afternoon school bell rang, and the two took the opportunity to leave.

The unfinished cat treats were squeezed onto a leaf.

Three-Flower Lady licked seriously, occasionally looking up. In her amber pupils, the backs of two humans were reflected.

"Meow."

Evening self-study.

Zhang Ningzhi was still curious about where Jiang Nian went in the afternoon, but couldn't ask directly, so she could only glance at him from time to time.

Ting yi yi—Jiang Nian couldn't take it, caught her and asked.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"Nothing." Zhang Ningzhi looked innocent, stroking a carton of lemon tea, "Just looking."

Jiang Nian: "

He knew Zhang Ningzhi was reminding him. She was the one who fed him every day, all sorts of food and drinks.

Bai Yanlang...

"Oh, then keep looking." Jiang Nian said.

Zhang Ningzhi puffed up angrily, "My lemon tea!"

"That trick doesn't work on me. When have you ever seen me care about face?" Jiang Nian smiled, looking indifferent.

Having said that, he snatched the lemon tea right over.

"Hmph!" Zhang Ningzhi glared at him, turned her head and ignored him, "Won't bring you any next time!"

He didn't care about that.

If next time won't work, the time after that will. Perfect for switching things up during this period, mooching some of Qian Bao's yogurt to drink.

Li Hua had a sudden whim, pulled out an apple and started.

"Believe it or not, I can open this bare-handed."

Jiang Nian: "What are you after?"

"Sharing! Once you open it, both of us can eat." Li Hua couldn't wait to show off the technique he'd learned.

Ma Guojun put down his pen, and Ceng You turned around.

The three of them gathered around Li Hua's apple, watching him go from blushing to outright furious.

"Can you do it?"

"It's limp."

"Red Stone!!"

Li Hua gave up and placed the apple on the table.

"If you're so good, you go ahead."

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Nian snatched the apple off the table. A sharp crack echoed as the apple split in half.

Crack!

Jiang Nian did it again, turning it into four pieces.

"What do you say?"

Li Hua: "Say a fucking what."

"The apple's also cosplaying Shang Yang," Ma Guojun grinned. "Everyone's had a turn—each of you take a slice."

First evening self-study session ended.

Jiang Nian, bored, poked Zhang Ningzhi.

"Huh?"

"What are you doing!" Zhang Ningzhi yanked her arm hard, still pouting. "I'm doing problems now!"

After a while, Jiang Nian handed her a small note.

"Wanna go for a walk?"

"No," Zhang Ningzhi refused as expected.

"Alright," Jiang Nian said, not expecting her to agree. He stood up and left the classroom. "I'm going to pee."

The task required walking around school and eating something at the gate. Neither condition was currently possible, but he was just giving her a heads-up so she wouldn't be mad next time. After making up, she couldn't refuse.

Outside, he felt hungry again.

So he went downstairs to the cafeteria. By the time he walked there, the bell for second evening self-study had already rung.

Jiang Nian didn't care—he rushed to the cafeteria and ate a round of fish balls. Halfway through, a figure stood before him.

He looked up—it was Xu Shuang.

"Small world," she said.

"What are you doing here?" Jiang Nian looked bewildered, and

pulled his tray back slightly. "There's more fish balls over there."

Xu Shuang was speechless. "I'm not hungry."

"Oh, okay." Jiang Nian nodded, glancing behind him. "Where's your brother? Haven't seen him in a while."

Big genius, Xu Yuanshan, sitting in prison.

"He's in class, didn't come out," Xu Shuang said. "I was just upstairs, hanging out in the dorm."

The Zero Class dorms are right above the cafeteria.

Two-person rooms.

Washing machines, air conditioners, refrigerators—all fully equipped. Basically, no different from a small studio apartment.

More importantly, they're close to the school gate and damn close to the classroom building—utterly convenient.

Day students stared in silence; boarding students wept.

"Do the dorms really have refrigerators?" Jiang Nian asked the question he'd wondered about for ages. "How big?"

"Small fridge," Xu Shuang said. "One point five meters."

"Shit!" Jiang Nian blurted out a curse. "Being good at studies really lets you do whatever you want."

A refrigerator isn't a necessity. If the dorms come with one, it's pure luxury.

"You could too—switch classes," Xu Shuang said. "If you want to get into Zero Class, the school leaders would be happy to help."

"Don't joke," Jiang Nian waved her off, clearly not believing her.

Xu Shuang smiled but said nothing.

"Maybe."

Jiang Nian had assumed Xu Shuang would say hello and leave. But to his surprise, she sat down.

"There's something I wonder if you'd be interested in?"

Business opportunity.

"Sure," Jiang Nian perked up.

By the time second evening self-study was halfway through, Jiang Nian finally left the cafeteria, and thinking of Xu Shuang, he sighed.

"Ah, the high-class family."

Next time, I'll ask the monitor.

He walked all the way back to the Gao San building, stopping by the first-floor teacher's office on the way—didn't see Qing Bao.

But he ran into another familiar face.

Tap tap tap.

"Come in," Qi Xue didn't look up; her desk was piled high with review books. "Hmm? Why are you here?"

It had been three days since school started—this was their first meeting.

"Teacher, hello."

Jiang Nian grinned and greeted her.

"I just went to the cafeteria to grab something and happened to drop by. Didn't expect you'd be here too—what a coincidence. Actually, he just wanted to make himself familiar."

After all, he was different from the other students—he'd been inserted in. Making himself known would prevent Teacher Qi Xue from forgetting him. "Alright."

Teacher Qi Xue was busy grading exams, yet still glanced unconsciously at her desk, thinking: was this chaos…

or not?

She glanced again at the trash bin, and her stress surged instantly.

"Teacher, shall I help you tidy up?" Jiang Nian said casually—he had the 【Harmony】 skill anyway.

Organizing and storing? A matter of minutes.

He'd originally been troubled—after all, even a skillful housewife can't cook without rice. Baby Zhizhi and the others all kept their things neatly arranged.

Since meeting Teacher Qi Xue, 【Harmony】 had finally found its use.

"I'll… myself…" Teacher Qi Xue tried to resist—after all, it was a new year, a fresh start. "Never mind, you do it."

Jiang Nian froze, thinking: what a terrible line.

"Mm."

After nodding, Teacher Qi Xue buried herself again in grading exams. A few minutes later, she snapped back to awareness—her workstation was clean.

Even though she'd seen it many times before, she was still awed by Jiang Nian's organizing ability.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, Teacher." Jiang Nian didn't dawdle—he turned to leave. "I'll go back to self-study now."

"Hey, wait." Teacher Qi Xue stopped him, rummaged through her drawer, and handed him something.

Jiang Nian took it and had a look, finding it was a set of exam supplies. Same series, with "Success in the Imperial Examination" written on it.

Jiang Nian took it and looked—it was a set of exam supplies. All from the same series, marked with "Golden List Success."

"The school gave it to me, I won't use it." Teacher Qi Xue waved her hand. "Tomorrow afternoon during self-study, come find me at the office."

"The school gave it to me. I don't need it." Teacher Qi Xue waved her hand. "Tomorrow afternoon, during small self-study, come to my office."

Jiang Nian carried the things out — this counted as an unexpected windfall. Just as he was about to head upstairs, he ran into Yu Zhiyi coming down. "Mm?

Jiang Nian picked up the items and stepped out—it was an unexpected gain. Just as he was about to head upstairs, he met Yu Zhiyi coming down. "Huh?"

"Where were you?" Yu Zhiyi asked him, then remembered how he'd snapped at her at lunch, and stiffened her face. "I'm telling Qing Bao."