Chapter 642: Not to Be Mentioned in the Same Breath

Jiang Nian."

Old Liu inspected the class formation, then wandered over to the backstage. Calling it backstage was generous—it was really just a single wall.

Below were two small restrooms, for the people at the sports field to use.

"Hm?" Jiang Nian turned his head.

The students in that circle were also drawn in by Old Liu's voice. Only then did Old Liu notice his own class monitor was also there.

Liu Yang had even said everyone was assembled!

Li Qingrong glanced at Old Liu, her expression barely changing, and spoke up.

"Teacher."

"Mm." Old Liu's heart immediately tensed up, but he held back the urge to complain and looked at Jiang Nian to ask,

"How's the prep going?"

"Pretty good, memorized about seventy or eighty percent." Jiang Nian said breezily, "If it doesn't work out, I'll just look down and read from the script."

"Alright." Old Liu nodded.

Speeches like this can't be too short—read out a third of it and basically no one cares whether the person up top is going off-script.

Even the leaders hope you'll read through it faster.

Only then did Old Liu notice. It wasn't just Li Qingrong here—there was also another tall girl standing nearby.

Hm?

The two girls, one on each side, had practically sandwiched Jiang Nian.

Old Liu broke out in a cold sweat on the spot. He had an impression of this girl—she'd shown up at basically every big event.

What was her name, Xu Shuang?

Crap, if I'd known, I wouldn't have come over.

"Ahem, I've still got some class stuff to deal with." Old Liu turned and retreated, "You all carry on, I'm heading off first."

Jiang Nian: "???"

He immediately gave dead-fish eyes, watching Old Liu walk away. In his heart he thought, Zhongdeng really is unreliable—I'd been counting on him to bail me out.

Now, he'd stumbled straight into the White Tiger Hall.

Actually, Jiang Nian himself didn't understand what had happened. In any case, he'd just arrived backstage not long ago and greeted Xu Shuang.

Almost at the same time, Li Qingrong showed up.

The student council people saw it too, but no one asked questions. They just let the class monitor pass through backstage as if no one else were around.

The patron Xu Shuang didn't leave either, just stood there quietly.

byd, the atmosphere is weird.

If Jiang Nian had a guilty conscience, it would actually be easier to handle. He had a hundred ways to get himself through the crisis.

The problem was, between him and Xu Shuang, everything was clean and proper.

Only filthy monetary transactions.

"Ahem, I'll probably be going on stage in a bit." Jiang Nian broke the silence.

Li Qingrong nodded, "Mm."

"Alright, when you go up later remember to walk to the left, I'll swap your mic for you." Xu Shuang said a couple of lines and took the opportunity to leave.

Swapping the mic, to prevent gagging.

"Alright."

With the patron gone, Jiang Nian's pressure immediately plummeted.

He'd been dragged into this for no reason, but no point worrying about it now.

"Embracing Qingqing, I saw a scrunchie yesterday....

Meanwhile.

At the sports field, the Gao San group sat in rows by class. At the front of the formation, red flags fluttered under the blue sky and white clouds.

Girls in front, boys behind, two by two in their spots.

Up on stage, a leader with a belt cinched over a beer belly was blabbering on. Behind Class Three, a group of boys was chatting.

"What's there to chat about over there, students?"

As the words fell, the whole venue went silent.

"What are you mumbling about?" Li Hua's mouth didn't move, the voice squeezed out from between his teeth, "Total idiot."

Big fatty Ma Guojun's jowls jiggled, as if he was holding back laughter, and he turned his head with a grin.

"Li Hua, don't you think the name Han Li sounds pretty dirty?"

"What....." Li Hua muttered it twice, instantly baffled, "Bro, are you really that degenerate?"

Ceng You played on his phone while half-listening, then looked up with a smile.

"What about Naruto then?"

They were all guys around them, cracking dirty jokes wasn't a big deal. The more they talked the more worked up they got, going all out.

"Answering actively in class—don't you think that's a good thing?"

"It is indeed a good thing.

Old Liu had appeared behind them at some unknown point. Listening to these idiots going wild, he couldn't help but speak up.

"Ahem!!"

"My turn, my turn......" Li Hua had only said half when he heard that cough, and was scared half to death.

"I told you guys I wasn't coming!"

Hearing that, Ma Guojun and Ceng You were both a bit speechless.

Damn it, you bitch!!

Fortunately, at that moment the leaders on stage finished speaking. The male host rattled off a couple of lines, and they moved into the student representative speech segment.

Old Liu wasn't a strict man either — he lectured for a bit, then left with his hands clasped behind his back.

"Listen carefully, stop whispering down there."

"Oh."

On stage, Jiang Nian came from the left. Passing by Xu Shuang's side, he took the microphone from her hand.

The moment it was in hand, the byd entry popped up.

【Clean Microphone】.

Fine then — could only say the rich sugar mommy had pulled her weight.

The relationship between the two couldn't be made public. After all, the transactions were pretty outrageous, but it really was very much a Jack-of-All-Trades kind of deal.

Originally, Jiang Nian wanted to peek at Xu Shuang's blue bar.

This move, though, actually moved him. He decided to leave Xu Shuang's privacy alone and find someone else to spy on later.

After he got on stage, Class Three erupted in a wave of heckling.

"Jiang Nian!!"

"Holy shit, he actually pulled it off."

"Zhizhi, Jiang Nian and that girl definitely have something going on — last time too..." The big yellow girl was still pushing.

When someone from class got up as student representative to deliver the hundred-day oath on stage,

the people of Class Three naturally cared a bit more.

Jiang Nian wasn't nervous, though. Dressed in his school uniform, under the nine-thirty morning sun, he recited the script smoothly.

He gave off a very steady, top-student kind of vibe.

In reality, he'd only memorized half. Once no one was listening, he was going to pick up the script of shame.

On stage, Vice Principal Gao glanced at Jiang Nian. Seeing him in a plain school uniform, he couldn't help but nod.

A teachable lad.

Though really, it was just Li Hua's ten yuan pulling its weight.

"Oh oh." Zhang Ningzhi didn't pay much mind to the slander — Jiang Nian had already explained it last time.

She cupped a hand over her eyes against the sun, and in her line of sight only Jiang Nian on stage remained. In the spring light, the boy's figure was tall and slender.

Listening to that voice, so familiar on ordinary days, now reciting the script in a very solemn tone.

Zhang Ningzhi couldn't help but puff out her cheeks, the corners of her lips curving up slightly.

"If I take a photo, I probably won't get caught, right?"

"Got it."

"Huh?" She turned her head, looking at Yao Bei Bei with a strange expression — this woman had just been going hard against Jiang Nian a moment ago.

"Can't help it." Yao Bei Bei spread her hands. "The bastard actually looks pretty good in it — no contradiction there."

Actually, he was wearing a school uniform.

But in this moment of universal attention, the golden edge cast by the sunlight added an extra filter to Jiang Nian.

Zhang Ningzhi said, "Then send me one."

"Sure."

Gao Si's formation was at the edge of the field. He Minjun had been dazed ever since the moment Jiang Nian stepped on stage.

Thinking back to what she'd said this morning — how she'd vowed to drag the speaker off the stage —

her face instantly flushed red.

So embarrassing!!

She didn't dare imagine how awkward the next meeting with Jiang Nian would be — or how long he'd tease her about it.

"So handsome!!"

He Minjun's arm was shaken hard by another girl, who was fawning over him while snapping photos with her phone.

"Repeating a year — this moment makes it all worth it."

Hearing that, He Minjun was completely numb.

"Is it really worth all that?"

"Of course it is, don't you get it?" The girl said solemnly, "It's a school uniform — that's what looks the best."

He Minjun: "... I guess, I know him."

"Huh?"

The hundred-day oath — the swearing-in segment.

All the Gao San and Gao Si students stood up one after another, and the field instantly became a surging sea of orange

and white.

"I swear!!"

All the procedures done, the students on the field scattered like birds and beasts.

Jiang Nian hadn't dressed up, and didn't need to change clothes. He crumpled the script, tossed it, and slipped straight into the flow of people.

He had just stepped into the shadow of the teaching building when someone tapped his shoulder.

"Hey, hold on."

The moment he heard the voice, he knew exactly what kind of heart-stopping sight was behind him. He turned around — sure enough, it was Yu Zhiyi.

"Something up?"

"What do you mean — can't I come find you if nothing's up?"

"If you're fine, get out now!"

"You!!" Yu Zhiyi's chest heaved with rage, her figure, though draped in loose clothing, stood out unmistakably.

Can only say, she's truly powerful.

"Qing Bao wants you in the office—she has something for you." Yu Zhiyi tossed out the words and left with pride.

She squeezed through the crowd, even drawing several boys to step aside for her.

For a girl with such a curvaceous figure and not an ugly face—except for her front, she wasn't fat anywhere else.

Boys naturally give her preferential treatment, even pretending to ignore her on purpose, using reverse psychology to win her attention.

That's how anime plays it—unavoidable romantic comedy.

"The Red Eyes of the Crimson Eclipse."

Jiang Nian didn't think she was a swan—just a bit of a dumbass.

"Got it."

He didn't go upstairs; instead, he went to the Integrated Science Office. Found Qing Bao preparing lessons, so sat down quietly.

"Teacher, you called me?"

"Mm." Qing Bao didn't look up, still writing furiously, "Wait a moment—I'll be done soon."

"Oh."

Seizing the chance, Jiang Nian carefully studied Qing Bao. The blue stripes were long gone; her face was serious and stern.

While grading, her eyes radiated focus.

Two minutes later, she set down her pen, leaned back in her chair, rubbed her temples, and exhaled in relief.

Her pale white swan-like neck, smooth jawline, radiated a beauty blending youthful and mature qualities.

Lightly mature.

"I've found a test for you—review and reinforce your knowledge." Qing Bao pulled open a drawer, "Do it under timed conditions."

"Oh, okay." Jiang Nian took it.

Hearing his casual attitude, Qing Bao still felt uneasy and reiterated:

"Don't do problems sporadically—strictly time yourself."

"Mm-hmm."

Leaving the office, Jiang Nian held the test paper in hand, about to head upstairs, when he heard footsteps again.

He turned to see Teacher Qi Xue walking with a breeze.

In the sun-drenched corridor, her shoulder-length short hair trembled slightly, even the strands dyed golden yellow.

"You came just in time."

Teacher Qi Xue didn't greet him—got straight to the point.

"Come to my office—mark the questions you got wrong on your diagnostic test, take a few photos to do at home."

"Huh?"

"Huh what?" Teacher Qi Xue stopped walking, the rapid rhythm on the floor halting, "Don't you have time?"

Jiang Nian snapped back to attention. "I have time."

"Then come." Teacher Qi Xue walked straight into the Math Office, "Wait a moment."

She powered on her computer, preparing to pull up Jiang Nian's answer sheet.

As for the questions, Teacher Qi Xue had taught them twice across two classes—basically, just glancing at the answers let her recall the questions by heart.

During the boot-up, she glanced at the test paper in Jiang Nian's hand.

Hmm. Biology test.

Jiang Nian waited, one hand gripping the test paper, the other resting on his thigh, fingers tapping his knee.

Suddenly, Teacher Qi Xue asked out of nowhere:

"Didn't you get full marks in biology on your last final?"

"Yes." Jiang Nian nodded, slightly hesitant, then couldn't help asking, "Teacher, how do you know?"

"I checked your grades." Teacher Qi Xue said.

Jiang Nian nodded. He hadn't expected her to know this—he'd assumed she only paid attention to math-related data.

In truth, he'd underestimated the value of 666.

That score, that rate of improvement—even school administrators occasionally took a glance.

To have a clear picture, to have something to say at meetings,

Like that guy Hua—he was remembered by the leadership for two years. Every meeting, they brought him up. He'd practically become their BYD white moonlight.

The computer booted up. Teacher Qi Xue searched for the digital answer sheet.

Jiang Nian had nothing to do, yet dared not stare too much at Teacher Qi Xue—first, he didn't know her well; second, her aura was too intense.

Even a bit sharp.

A glance revealed Teacher Qi Xue's slim build—not bony, but full where it should be, looking exceptionally disciplined.

Precisely because of this, she radiated pressure.

"This question of yours—"

Teacher Qi Xue began lecturing from the screen without notes, her speech as rapid and fluent as beans pouring from a bamboo tube.

Jiang Nian didn't dare slack off—he snapped to attention and listened intently.

Teacher Qi Xue rattled off the explanations without flinching—she even connected the test's key points and concepts into a coherent whole.

Finished, she flipped straight to the next problems and assigned homework—all in under ten minutes.

Jiang Nian could tell she hadn't prepared beforehand—but when selecting questions, she picked them out in mere seconds.

It can only be said that it's truly professional.

"Go finish it and come see me tomorrow," Teacher Qi Xue closed her reference book. "Come in the afternoon."

"Alright." Jiang Nian nodded.

After the morning's ordeal, the students in Class Three were utterly exhausted.

By the middle of the third class, everyone was too sleepy to stay awake.

Li Hua picked up his backpack from under his chair, pretending to rummage through it, then buried his head inside to sleep.

"Damn it!" Jiang Nian shot him a sideways glance, thinking it was insane: "Did you drown in your backpack?"

Li Hua was too sleepy to respond.

At the other end of the aisle, Ma Guojun wasn't doing much better. Staring at the blackboard, his pupils were completely unfocused.

Ceng You was the most ridiculous—he was asleep against the wall, mouth open, drooling profusely.

As soon as class ended, the whole class collapsed.

Jiang Nian wasn't sleepy; he calmly worked on his math problems. As he wrote, he felt his arm being prodded.

"Hm?"

He turned his head and met Zhang Nenzhi's gaze. She had buried her face in her arms, leaving only a pair of grape-like eyes visible.

Pure, slightly dim-witted.

"This morning, I took some photos," Zhang Nenzhi said, lips pressed together. "Do you want to see them? I'll send you a copy."

Jiang Nian paused, then didn't refuse the girl's kindness.

"Alright."

After a while, his phone vibrated. He glanced at it under the desk, the image slightly blurry, as if wrapped in golden light.

After school at noon.

Wang Yuhe skipped over to the metal locker, unlocked it with her key, and checked the duck feet.

She carefully counted them—the number was correct.

She heard Chen Yunyun calling her at the classroom door, so she quickly locked the locker.

"Coming!!"

White-gold sunlight streamed through the corridor.

Most of the students had left the classroom; Jiang Nian finally rose leisurely and strolled toward the metal locker.