Chapter 628

Let me buy you dinner, okay?

Hm?

At the office door, Li Hua let go of his hand, deeply suspicious of Jiang Nian's uncharacteristic kindness.

Fuck, is this a scam?

Scam what? I just missed mealtime, Jiang Nian said. Let's eat here—Ningdu meatballs.

Ten yuan a bowl? You not gonna live tomorrow? Li Hua, surprisingly, still had some common-sense grounding.

Last time, I also treated Zhang Ningzhi.

Li Hua: And then?

She didn't talk as much as you do.

Chi Shi.

Li Hua was just being polite—after all, ten meatballs were still a bit pricey for a high schooler.

After all, five yuan could get you one meat and two vegetables in the cafeteria. But since Jiang Nian offered to treat him, he couldn't refuse.

Hua, you're always stingy but spend big money. Jiang Nian turned to ask, How much is your monthly allowance?

Hearing this, Li Hua felt stabbed in the heart.

Eight hundred a month.

Walking toward the school gate, Jiang Nian paused, You eat at home, then get eight hundred a month.

Isn't that pretty generous?

When I only had three hundred a month… never mind, don't bring it up.

Generous my ass, Li Hua grumbled. I'm broke before the 20th. I even keep a ledger.

Ledger? Then where did the money go?

I don't know.

Hm?

Sometimes I make fake entries, Li Hua said. I spend too much—I just want to ease my anxiety.

Jiang Nian:???

Outside the school gate, the two sat down at the Ningdu meatball shop, ordered, and began scanning the room like lions patrolling their territory.

Fuck, you should've told me this place has hot girls, Li Hua pointed at him. Old man, you really know how to hide it.

Not that bad.

Are those two over there a couple? Li Hua lowered his voice. Holy shit, they're already dating in first year.

The shop owner, watching the two boys stare around without eating, couldn't hold back her amusement.

She hurried to cut the line and served them the meatballs first.

As Jiang Nian and Li Hua wolfed down their food, two girls approached with bowls and sat directly across from them.

Senior! Lin Yuxi called out.

Jiang Nian, mid-sip of soup, nearly choked on a meatball. Cough! How are you here?

Hmph, how can you even ask? Lin Yuxi gave him a wounded look. Senior, you haven't been to the cafeteria lately.

Jiang Nian:

》

Last semester, I was cramming for exams and had to grab quick bites nearby. I got all the points I could—now I've got nothing left.

Can't I enjoy myself a little?

You didn't go to the cafeteria either—you've got a new favorite, he said, pointing at the low-scorer. Better to question than explain.

No! I'm… Lin Yuxi got flustered. I'm just here with my best friend for meatballs.

Hi, the other girl greeted. The first-year girl hadn't fully grown into her features, but her foundation was clearly good.

Last time in the cafeteria, Lin Yuxi had been with two classmates. Less than half a year later, she'd switched to someone new.

Did you split into arts and science streams? Jiang Nian asked.

Last semester, the low-scorer had specifically asked him once: Should she choose arts or science?

Back then, Jiang Nian was too busy and casually suggested arts. He hadn't followed up since—probably she'd already decided.

Yes, this is my new classmate, Lin Yuxi grinned. Her name is Yang Hui—Hui as in flowers.

Hello, seniors, Yang Hui smiled.

Hello, Jiang Nian nodded, then introduced, This is my desk partner, Li Hua—the guy who nearly aced his science subjects.

Hearing this, Yang Hui and Lin Yuxi both froze.

So impressive!

Yeah, science is so hard, Yang Hui said. That's why I chose arts—I'm bad at science.

No need to ask about arts or science anymore.

Though dumb, the low-scorer was still obedient. After all, her strengths were all in arts.

Oh, it's nothing, Li Hua blushed slightly, smiling shyly. It's fine.

The conversation flowed smoothly after that—even with two grade levels between them, they still managed to keep up with the two girls.

Jiang Nian casually found an excuse to treat them all to drinks.

Afterward, they parted ways.

He was heading to the west gate to buy test papers; Li Hua planned to go home for a nap; the two low-scorers returned to their dorm for a nap.

Under the sunlight, on the school path.

Yang Hui linked arms with Lin Yuxi, recounting the meal, then suddenly brought up Li Hua's grades again,

"Perfect score on the science comprehensive exam—that's really over the top."

"Yeah." Lin Yuxi nodded.

She had an impression of Li Hua—after all, it wasn't their first meeting, and... so she wasn't too shocked.

"Pretty impressive."

"?" Yang Hui glanced at her, slightly puzzled, and asked, "Why don't you seem that surprised?"

"Um... do you know what score that senior got on last semester's finals?" Lin Yuxi pressed her lips together, drawing it out.

Yang Hui: "That even better-looking senior of yours?"

"Yes."

"So, what was it?"

Lin Yuxi smiled without answering, holding up six fingers three times with one hand.

Yang Hui froze.

"How much?"

"Ah, math and physics scores can't be rushed. You should take this chance to rest and solidify your foundation."

Ding!

Jiang Nian tapped open Old Liu's second voice message.

"Once next week's diagnostic test is over, I'll discuss it with the leadership and see if we can find you a tutor."

At the bookstore, he stood in front of the shelf. Listening to Old Liu's plan on one hand, he casually browsed biology test papers on the other.

Bumping up science scores really is different from humanities.

It leans way too hard on the fundamentals.

Take the simplest example—looking at the same model problem. Top students can see the variations and extrapolate to solve a whole set.

Slacker: "Big pot, your armor is so shiny!"

Still, Jiang Nian wasn't really in a rush. The new semester had just started; he needed a little time to adjust his state.

He'd crammed way too many problems over winter break in a frenzy—he needed to digest them.

In the end, he picked out a Strong Foundation biology test paper. He paid and walked out of the shop, heading toward the west gate.

After going up to the fourth floor, Jiang Nian found Little Turtle in the neighboring class and held out a test paper to her.

"Here, the test paper you wanted."

"Thanks." Ji Jiayu smiled, pulled out her phone, and asked, "How much? I'll transfer it to you."

"No need." Jiang Nian waved her off and left.

Ji Jiayu stood in place, frowning unconsciously. If he wouldn't take the money, it would be awkward to ask him for help again next time.

After a while, Chen Yunyun and the others arrived.

The elementary school kid, still haunted by the trauma of her duck feet being "Korean-barbecued," didn't dare get close to Jiang Nian again and glared at him from afar.

"I'll punch you flying!"

Jiang Nian curled his lip dismissively, then turned his head to look at Chen Yunyun, his gaze landing on her fair, delicate face.

The blue-bar skill had refreshed.

He wondered to himself—who should he tag it on?

This game of stalking itineraries really is addictive. You just have to pick the right target, or it gets pretty boring.

Take Ceng You, for instance—his itinerary is one-note.

This guy basically plays on his phone all day. He even skips sleep—passing out counts as sleeping.

Or take the elementary school kid—she spends all day doing trivial little things.

Not firing at Old Liu in class, then snacking between periods. Or washing her hair, fetching water to exercise, eating.

"What are you thinking about?" Chen Yunyun asked.

"Hmm?"

She said, "You were spacing out just now."

"Oh, I zoned out by accident." Jiang Nian said, "I was thinking about a math problem I couldn't solve this morning."

Chen Yunyun nodded upon hearing that.

"Alright."

Saying so, she handed him the bread in her hand.

"A new bakery opened by the west gate—six-tenths off for the grand opening. I bought extra, want some?"

"Sure, I'm actually a bit hungry." Jiang Nian took it casually—one bowl of Ningdu meatballs really hadn't been enough.

Suddenly, a line of blue text popped up before his eyes.

【Obtained Title: Lotus Kid】

Jiang Nian: "???"

He froze. What the hell kind of 'kid' is this? What kind of soft, dirty nonsense is this 'lotus' thing that's latched onto me?

He doesn't even smoke.

"Hmm?" Chen Yunyun glanced at him again, puzzled. "What problem? That hard?"

A problem of life—lotus...

Jiang Nian completely lost it. This had to be related to Liu Yang. Stalking his blue bar had spawned a lotus messenger.

"N-no... nothing, I'll redo it later."

Does this make sense?

Clearly something was off—Liu Yang wasn't in the classroom. The blue bar's residual duration had also expired, and Jiang Nian felt a bit of regret.

He regretted not taking a proper look at Lotus Boy before school let out.

He tried the Void One-Finger Strike, lightly tapping that title, and the text title instantly rippled with a layer of blue light.

【Lotus Boy: When you silently chant the title, a pack of unopened Lotus cigarettes randomly appears in your pocket.】

Jiang Nian froze again, still unable to hold it together.

Damn Liu Yang! Lotus Boy, you really should die, you fking thing, why won't you give me Zhonghua!!

This ability didn't list a cooldown, but the system clearly wouldn't let him use it infinitely—otherwise he'd be locked up for life.

Privately.....

He thought for a moment, then smiled at Chen Yunyun.

"The bread tastes alright."

Chen Yunyun was baffled, pointed at Jiang Nian's hand, and said, "You haven't even eaten it yet, how do you know what this bread tastes like?"

"I smelled it. Aren't they all just bread?" Jiang Nian brushed it off vaguely, while silently chanting in his heart.

【Lotus Boy】

Pocket, the right pocket.

A square, bulky bump instantly appeared—clearly the shape of that little box was already a dead giveaway.

But Chen Yunyun was right here, so Jiang Nian couldn't just reach into his pocket.

This guy doesn't touch cigarettes or alcohol—pure, wholesome pretty-boy persona. Can't let it be ruined over a pack of Lotus cigarettes. If it really comes down to it, blame Liu Yang.

Campus..... forced me to buy cigarettes, offering them up to Liu Yang.

Sigh.

But if it came to that, the innocent Liu Yang might face Old Liu's righteous judgment—after all, he's the Crown Prince of Class Three.

Suddenly, a cool sensation on his forehead.

Not because he was about to kick the bucket, but because a puzzled Chen Yunyun had placed her hand on Jiang Nian's forehead, asking with a worried look.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing." Jiang Nian finished the bread in a few bites, and at the same time changed his mind—no casually tagging people.

Hmm...... can't casually tag useless people.

"By the way, do you have any special skills?" he suddenly asked, catching Chen Yunyun completely off guard.

"Special skills?"

"Yeah, like dancing or singing." Jiang Nian nodded, "Or drawing, musical instruments, that sort of thing."

Chen Yunyun thought for a moment, then shook her head.

"I can't do any of them."

After a few seconds, she pressed her lips together and said.

"Does cooking count?"

"Doesn't count. Your mom's cooking is even better." Jiang Nian showed no mercy, shattering the last shred of the girl's little hope.

Chen Yunyun: "

She silently stood up, gave Jiang Nian a resentful glare. Without a word of goodbye, she turned and left.

Lunch break over.

"Hello hello!!" Zhang Ningzhi carried over her good mood from the morning, waving energetically in greeting.

Compared to her, the surroundings were utterly lifeless.

"Mm, good afternoon~." Jiang Nian yawned, glanced at her again, "Zhizhi, got a question for you."

Zhang Ningzhi sat down at her seat, blinked, and said.

"What is it?"

"Do you have any special skills?" Jiang Nian rubbed his chin, "Musical instruments like blowing, pulling, plucking, or striking, or something else."

"Yes! I can draw." she said sweetly.

Oh, no wonder she ended up in advertising later. Truly diving headfirst into a road of no return, but at least it's a skill.

"What's up?"

"Nothing, I'll ask someone else." Jiang Nian stood up and left, spending the whole afternoon asking several people in a row.

Li Hua: "I can—" "Get lost."

Ma Guojun: "I can copy keys, I specifically learned it."

"Bullshit."

Yao Beibei raised a middle finger.

Jiang Nian: "???"

Liu Yang wasn't asked—one Lotus Boy is enough. Recently his complexion has been looking more and more washed out, might be about to kick the bucket any day now.

Lin Dong: "Does flirting online count?

"Doesn't count."

"Special skills?" Tao Ran slowly looked up, paused in thought, then turned and said, "Did you see my tail?"

"Your mom!!"

During the ten-minute break between classes, Dong Que listened to Jiang Nian chatting with the class committee member. Her eyes lit up, and she proactively spoke up.

"I can sing, hehe."

Some people's names might be called wrong, but their nicknames never are. Like Lotus Boy, or like Little Lark.

"Oh oh, I see." Jiang Nian nodded—he didn't want a Karaoke King—"That's great, that's great."

The last one, he asked the class monitor.

Li Qingrong looked up at him and said.

"Badminton."

That was indeed impressive—he could match her evenly. The monitor's physical condition and skill had surpassed most people.

But it was useless.

After asking around, Jiang Nian gave up entirely.

In a flash, the afternoon slipped away.

The sunset drifted through the classroom, light and shadow alike. Only a few remained inside, silently solving problems amid towering piles of books.

Jiang Nian waited until just before evening self-study before going downstairs to eat.

The cafeteria had no dishes left—only cold scraps and leftovers.

He walked outside the west gate, browsed a street stall, bought a few rice balls and a bowl of cold skin noodles, and ate a few bites.

The campus lay bathed in night, the ground lit with moonlight.

The first period was Qing Bao's evening self-study; she stayed in the classroom grading assignments, as students gradually came up to the podium to ask questions.

In the second half, no one came up.

Qing Bao simply walked around the classroom, and with nothing else to do, took Jiang Nian out and brought him to the office.

"Help me grade these exam papers. Think of it as reinforcing your fundamentals."

"Sure."

After grading more than half, Jiang Nian suddenly asked.

"Teacher."

"Hmm?" Qing Bao, also grading assignments, looked up. "Do you have any hobbies?"

At this, she unconsciously pressed the pen cap against her pale, slender neck.

"What about guitar?"