Chapter 627: The Beast of Class Three

The three of them walked home in silence, cutting through the alley and heading upstairs.

Before going inside, Xu Qianqian turned around slowly.

"Hey, are you hungry..."

"Shut up, we're not eating a late-night snack again." Jiang Nian covered her mouth and shoved her, along with the door, inside. "Careful you don't eat yourself to death."

Click. The door opened again, revealing Xu Qianqian's resentful face.

"I'm not going to get fat!"

Xu Qianqian really wouldn't get fat—she'd been slim-waisted since she was little. Heaven dotes on the beautiful; no matter how much she ate, she stayed slender.

But he couldn't eat anymore.

During the movie-watching session in evening self-study, Jiang Nian had eaten an entire table's worth of snacks just to convince Zhang Ningzhi that he really hadn't eaten his fill.

That was no easier than eating a proper meal.

After Jiang Nian got home, he went through his usual routine of washing up and doing practice papers. Only late at night did he finally pick up his phone, glance at it, and reply to messages.

He Minjun was still typing away—she had completely lost it.

"(Sweating little yellow bean) If it really won't work, just switch to a single room, won't that do?" Jiang Nian sent the message with a slightly exasperated buzz.

This repeater still hadn't gone to sleep.

He Minjun: "(Ghost) I'm already living in a single room, it's just that the bed is a double."

As she said that, she filmed a short video and sent it to Jiang Nian.

In the frame, moonlight drifted quietly into the room. The small room had whitewashed cement floors, and across from it stood a double-decker iron-frame bed.

Setting aside how spartan it was, the room was indeed quite clean.

The window faced the Gao San boys' dormitory building; the lone north gate stood in the night, a slanted streetlamp slicing down a strip of dim yellow light.

The honking of passing trucks rose from time to time, breaking the night's stillness.

Jiang Nian: "Anyway, don't rush it."

"Do you have a plan?" He Minjun sent an eager meme. "I can pay you a commission."

Jiang Nian: "No, I'm planning to block you."

He Minjun: "???"

"Help me out, I don't have many friends I know. If I can't find a roommate to share the rent with, I'll be eating wind next month."

Seeing that, Jiang Nian replied seriously.

"What about your friends?"

He Minjun: "They went off to college."

"I see, why don't you go then?" Jiang Nian poked at He Minjun's sore spot every now and then, not afraid she'd get angry.

Sure enough, she didn't take it to heart. She just sent a speechless meme, then went right back to the topic from before.

"Help me out, please!"

"Got it, I'll ask around for you." Jiang Nian made a promise, while quickly running through his memory.

Among the people around him, who needed a roommate.

Hmm, almost no one.

"Thank you so much! (Hands pressed together)" After sending that message, He Minjun fell silent.

Jiang Nian swiped out too, scrolled Douyin for a while, then dropped his head and fell asleep.

The next day.

"Hello hello! Morning, Fangfang!" Zhang Ningzhi walked into the classroom with a bright smile, clearly in a good mood today.

She even, for once, greeted Jiang Nian.

In the past, it had always been an indignant little smack. Or an eye-roll. Or simply ignoring him outright.

"Good morning."

"Morning." He gave Zhang Ningzhi's calf a little pinch, got smacked in return on the spot, and immediately stopped looking so pleased with himself.

Baby Zhizhi was happy because... a date.

Though Jiang Nian hadn't admitted it was a date—she was the one who thought it was one.

When the time came and they got tired of walking, they'd just find a bookstore and refuse to leave. He might get hit for it, but that would be next week's Jiang Nian getting hit.

What did that have to do with this week's Jiang Nian?

He always took things in stride, so he rarely had worries.

But speaking of bookstores, he still hadn't bought the practice papers for Xiao Jiayu. He'd have to slip out at noon and pick a biology workbook to hand in.

"Got anything to eat?" Jiang Nian naturally wouldn't pass up the chance to plunder his good seatmate while she was in a good mood.

"I brought a sandwich, want some?" she said cutely.

"Did you eat breakfast?"

"Nope."

"Then you eat half, and give me the rest." Jiang Nian said, "Oh right, is this sandwich imported?"

Zhang Ningzhi rolled her eyes—as if she didn't know what he was after.

"Dream on."

"It's domestic? Then that'll do too." He nodded. "I'm not that picky, domestic stuff tastes the same."

After saying that, Jiang Nian added.

"Speaking of which, you still owe me a bottle of imported water from the sports meet. Haven't seen you pay up—total little liar."

Zhang Ningzhi: "

"Can't be bothered talking to you, you're not worthy of hearing it!!" she huffed, and started sneaking Jiang Nian's famous quotes again.

The precious group culture of the sixth group has been tragically leaked....

Jiang Nian: "Huh?"

Zhang Ningzhi won one back, and giggled again. A girl's mood is like the weather — sunny one moment, rainy the next.

She split the sandwich in two and handed the bigger piece to Jiang Nian.

"Here you go."

"Thanks." Jiang Nian swallowed it whole without really tasting it, then looked at Baby Zhizhi again.

"This sandwich of yours... what's the filling?"

Zhang Ningzhi immediately laughed until her stomach hurt, pointing at him and shouting "Zhu Bajie." The group turned to look, eyes glazed.

First thing in the morning, and they're already flirting.

"Stoned." Li Hua had just walked into the classroom and immediately got force-fed dog food. "My eyes are about to go blind."

He wanted to roast this couple, but he was afraid Zhang Ningzhi would hold a grudge and stop sharing snacks with him.

"Jiang Nian, you are one damn animal!"

"Huh?"

"Iron animal!" After cursing, Li Hua grabbed his Run Tian mineral water bottle and went to fill it up — without even bringing his water card.

The long break between classes.

"I brought duck feet." Wang Yuhe showed off in front of Jiang Nian. "I'm taking them to the morning jog, so you won't eat them."

Saying so, she stuffed them into her jacket pocket right in front of Jiang Nian.

"Can't eat them, that'll kill you with frustration!"

"I already said I won't eat them — who exactly are you trying to frustrate?" Jiang Nian looked indifferent. "Go on, it's time for the jog."

"Oh, oh." Wang Yuhe turned and left.

The moment she turned, Jiang Nian reached out with one hand, precisely snagged the duck feet from her jacket pocket, and slipped them out.

This scene was caught by Chen Yunyun.

She: "

Sometimes, she couldn't figure it out either. Every single time, Wang Yuhe fell for Jiang Nian's tricks, and yet she was always so easy to fool.

In the end, she'd end up crying from frustration.

Once the hurt faded, she'd want to get back at him. And so, in the end, it became an endless loop.

In the classroom.

Yang Qiming was about to get up for the morning jog when he was tripped by a bag. He scratched his head and picked up the snacks.

"Yesterday's snacks weren't finished — who wants spicy sticks?"

In his hand was a bag of Maozai spicy sticks — the long, thin rectangular kind, with a rather mild flavor.

Ding Qiulan turned her head. "The smell is strong, don't eat them at your seat."

"Bro, I'll eat them." Huang Cailang said.

Sun Zhicheng happened to pass by and chimed in.

"Exactly, go outside to eat."

Huang Cailang, who wasn't the fiery type, scratched his head and said.

"Heh heh, got it, got it."

Hearing this, Yang Qiming, who had been smiling, immediately changed expression. He lifted his chin and stared straight at Sun Zhicheng.

"Is it in your way?"

"I can smell it — eating spicy sticks in the classroom is just plain immoral." Sun Zhicheng wasn't really targeting Cailang.

He was purely siding with Ding Qiulan, and now he'd gone and butted heads with Yang Qiming.

"Cailang, don't go out." Yang Qiming waved his hand grandly, ripped open the bag of spicy sticks, and stuffed them into his mouth from both sides at once.

"So what if I eat them? One pack isn't even enough for me! Later I'll buy ten packs, one for each of you!"

Ding Qiulan froze, her mouth slightly open.

Sun Zhicheng was also stunned for a long moment, speechless. He tossed out a "then eat, then," and sauntered out of the classroom.

He hummed a tune, quite pleased with himself.

Yang Qiming grew anxious — sure enough, he hadn't misjudged him. Just a brave but brainless type; a few short sentences from him and the guy had embarrassed himself.

No brains, and he'll be a loser his whole life.

During the morning jog.

Jiang Nian went downstairs and wandered into the Integrated Sciences office. Seeing Ye Yanqing wasn't there, he turned and headed to the Chinese office instead.

"Teacher, I've got something for you."

The moment he produced a potted succulent from behind his back, Old Liu froze for a second, then stood right up the next moment.

"Don't give me something so expensive."

"Teacher, calm down." Jiang Nian said. "It's home-grown, not worth much, and I'm not only giving one to you."

Old Liu: "Alright then. I keep some 'Ice Jade' at home too — easier to care for. You really startled me just now."

"Uh....." Jiang Nian was stunned. The thing really wasn't worth much at his place. "If you don't want it, I'll give it to the Biology....."

This was entirely off the cuff, but it was also a kind of test. If Old Liu firmly refused, it would be hard for the teachers after him to accept.

"Leave it here. Every now and then, you have to let a bit of bad wind blow in." Old Liu sat at his desk and crossed one leg.

"I've really never seen this kind of succulent before — it'd be nice in the office."

Old Liu was actually quite pleased. The few yuan it cost didn't bother him, but he valued the students' respectful attitude.

Jiang Nian: "...

He set down the potted plant, then was pulled by Old Liu to drink tea. He eagerly showed off the tea set and began to write with a flourish.

This old fart, now he's gotten into tea.

Probably can't handle it anymore.

A few minutes earlier, Old Liu had made some small talk, then shifted to chatting about next Friday's Hundred-Day Pledge Rally.

"Have you finished the draft?"

Hearing this, Jiang Nian was dumbfounded.

"I write it myself?"

Old Liu shot him a look, took a sip of tea, and raised an eyebrow as he spoke.

"If not you, am I supposed to write it for you?"

"Sure."

"Huh?" Old Liu nearly spat out his tea. "You actually want me to write it? What a nerve!"

"Teacher, this is a good thing." Jiang Nian said.

"Sigh, you!" Old Liu instantly pulled the husky-pointing-at-you meme face. "You write it first, then let me review it."

After teaching this long, it was the first time he'd seen a student with such thick skin.

"Teacher, you handle the big picture." Jiang Nian said shyly. "I won't write it—I'd probably mess it up."

Old Liu:

:"

North"Teacher, think about the vice principal's future."

In the end, the ambitious old fart still compromised. Of course, he couldn't admit it directly—he really wanted to get ahead.

"What vice principal or not! It's all for the sake of serving the students."

When the long break ended, Yu Zhiyi thumped her waist.

Carrying books every day—when will it ever end? Still, compared to running exercises, carrying books was clearly easier.

Although running didn't exactly make her chest hurt, after a long time, who could say.

Her figure was completely unsuited for exercise. Even if she had to exercise, it should be something like yoga—body-sculpting workouts.

She went upstairs, walking down the corridor.

She saw Jiang Nian leaning alone against the railing playing with his phone, and her eyes lit up. She walked over with light steps.

"Hey, how dare you?"

"Huh?" Jiang Nian turned his head.

Yu Zhiyi pointed at the thing in his hand. "You dare play on your phone in the corridor? Aren't you afraid Ji Ming will catch you?"

Jiang Nian thought, What a weirdo. Why would Ji Ming confiscate his own phone for no reason? Would playing on his phone affect his getting 666 on the exam?

Besides, if it got confiscated, he'd just have Old Liu get it back.

If that didn't work, he'd have Little Softshell Turtle steal it back.

When it came to connections...

He glanced at Yu Zhiyi, his gaze lingering on her chest for a moment, then looking straight again. "Got nothing better to do?"

"I don't have balls." Yu Zhiyi scoffed.

Jiang Nian rubbed his chin. "In that case, can I kick you? It probably wouldn't hurt, right?"

"You pervert!" Yu Zhiyi's face instantly went pale.

He sneered. "Likewise."

When the two of them had nothing going on, there really wasn't much to talk about. Apart from work matters, every topic had a slightly risqué tint.

"Heh." Yu Zhiyi turned and walked away, still with light steps—clip-clop-clip-clop—and in even better spirits.

Jiang Nian watched her back, a puzzled look crossing his face.

"What a masochist."

The morning classes were dull, and he barely endured until school let out. When the bell rang, Li Hua jumped straight up.

"Class is over, class is over!!"

The last period was Qian Bao's, and she was still packing up. Hearing Li Hua's loud commotion, her face immediately turned complicated.

"Li Hua! Get over here!"

"Huh?"

"You're so happy class is over? Is my class really that hard to sit through?" Qian Bao beckoned, signaling him to come up.

"No, Teacher, I've always been like this." Li Hua's face scrunched up like a bitter melon, the picture of June snow.

Jiang Nian rubbed his chin. He had to admit he wasn't a good person.

Because every day he assumed the worst of others, which wasn't right. But he'd said it from the start.

He wasn't a good person.

You could only say it was understandable—after all, everyone had two sides. Just as Li Hua pretended to be sunny, it was actually a façade.

In short: sun-fake.

So at this moment, Jiang Nian didn't hesitate and shouted loudly.

"Teacher, Li Hua said you've always been really old."

Hearing this, Li Hua instantly froze stiff.

"Your mom!!"

"Teacher, Li Hua said you're as old as my mom." Jiang Nian poured oil on the fire. "You're old enough to be his mom."

"Eat shit, eat shit!!"

Qian Bao's face went dark, a death smile.

"All of you, get over here!"

The two were dragged off to the English office. Li Hua had planned to strike first, but he saw Jiang Nian pull out a succulent from behind.

"Huh?" He froze, his scalp tingling from the flex. "No... Jiang Nian, is it really necessary, damn it?"

Hacki-nian, to escape punishment... grinding this hard?

You f*cking—! (Donnie Yen laughs)

Winter had already passed; it was early February, the weather was slightly warm today, and Qian Bao was wearing a fairy-like dress.

The older woman still had her charm, looking visibly younger.

"What is this?"

"We grew too many at home, they were taking up too much space," Jiang Nian said. "I gave some to Teacher Liu as well, and to you too, teacher..."

"Oh, so it's not just for me?" That old woman Qian Bao immediately put on a Lin Daiyu expression.

Jiang Nian had no idea how she managed to make such a scene.

A woman acting young might be an instinct,

Li Hua was drenched in cold sweat, a bronze rookie who had wandered into a high-end match. He stood to the side like a backdrop.

Jiang Nian, you son of a bitch!!

You've tormented me!

Qian Bao still fell for the gesture, played with the succulent for a while. In a great mood, she let the two of them go.

After leaving the office, Li Hua wiped his cold sweat and grabbed Jiang Nian by the collar.

"You big beast!"