Chapter 160: Volume 1 Chapter 160 Study Hard, Make Progress Every Day (4)

Seeing them standing opposite each other, the surrounding classmates sensed the atmosphere was different, and they all stopped to watch the commotion.

Everyone knew Cheng Su, a school big shot; as for this transfer student who ranked first in the grade, their stereotype was: aloof and cold, suffering from a serious illness.

In his peripheral vision he saw more and more people looking over; Cheng Su raised an eyebrow, slightly lifted his chin, and his dark, deep pupils refracted a chilling glint in the light.

"Do you like it?"

Hearing the voice, the crowd no longer cared about watching the spectacle; they clutched their bags and fled in all directions, hurrying as if fierce tigers and wolves were chasing them from behind.

The whole hallway was left with just the two of them.

Jiang Zhi didn't want to cause trouble; having finally gotten a stretch of free time, she didn't need to engage the villain to complete the mission.

But Cheng Su, who was a fragment of Yun Jin's soul right before her, insisted on finding her.

She thought it over carefully; they had hardly interacted—classmates had exchanged fewer than ten sentences. The last time she helped him treat his wound, it was only because he had saved her.

Furthermore, the Main God System has a prohibition.

——No dating for minors!

She feared that if she got too close to him, the Main God would erase her tomorrow for endangering a minor.

"... If." Jiang Zhi thought it over, came up with an idea, paused, and said: "If you pass every subject on your next exam, I'll tutor you."

Her voice was even, composed and calm.

Looking at the morning report card, she saw clearly that Cheng Su's scores were all zeroes; he usually didn't even listen in class, so making him pass in a short time was undoubtedly impossible.

"Okay."

Jiang Zhi had thought he would refuse; hearing his response, she lifted her eyebrows in disbelief and forgot to speak.

Cheng Su lightly curled his lips, his body—over twenty centimeters taller than hers—leaned slightly forward, approaching her slightly dazed peach-blossom eyes; through the thin light he gazed into her dark pupils, and his nose caught the faint scent of gardenia laundry detergent emanating from her school uniform.

"By then, don't run away again."

Having said that, he didn't wait for her reaction and strode away.

Jiang Zhi stood where she was, dazed for a few seconds, then curled her lips into a smile.

The little brat is still quite confident.

Returning to Jiang Mu's clinic, this was the last day of her IV saline after falling ill.

Over these two days of getting IV drips at the clinic, Jiang Zhi discovered that in this melodramatic CEO novel, besides the male and female leads, there is also a male side character who likes the heroine without expecting anything in return.

Such male side characters are universally called 'lickdogs'; they lick until they have nothing left, yet feel self-satisfied, and when they see the heroine happy, they withdraw sadly.

This male side character often comes to the clinic, feigning illness; each time he brings a big bag of snacks, claiming he can't finish them himself and brought them for Jiang Zhi to eat.

Upon entering the clinic, Jiang Zhi saw a man sitting in a chair talking with Jiang Mu.

The man's refined speech and elegant bearing were not something an ordinary family could cultivate; his clothes were not cheap, a gold-wire glasses sat across his nose bridge, and he looked clear-cut and handsome.

"Little Zhi is back." His name was Duan Xuanming, two years older than Jiang Mu; even knowing Jiang Mu had a daughter, he didn't care.

Jiang Zhi nodded: "Uncle, hello."

Duan Xuanming lifted the snack bag from beside him and placed it near her, saying, "Tomorrow is Saturday; where would you like to go play? Uncle will drive you there."

Jiang Zhi maintained her aloof persona, shook her head, and replied, "No need, Uncle."

She felt a great pity; in fact, rather than her cheap tyrant biological father, she would rather have this male side character as her father.

But that's obviously impossible; no matter how hard Uncle Duan contends, he can't beat the male lead.

"Brother Xuanming, go home now; it's late. I'll walk home with Little Zhi later." Jiang Mu approached, holding a medicine bottle, and spoke softly.

Duan Xuanming left reluctantly.

The clinic had few people at night; now only Jiang Mu and she remained.

"Little Zhi, Mom has to go out of town tomorrow; can you stay home alone?" After giving her the injection, Jiang Mu's fingers, adjusting the IV drip switch, trembled slightly.

Jiang Zhi glanced at her hesitant expression, guessed the plot was advancing, and calmly replied, "Sure, Mom, you go."

Jiang Mu let out a breath, grasped her cool hand back, the worry in her brows and eyes dispersed, leaving only heartache.

"Little Zhi, eat well when you're home alone; I've told the neighbor auntie she'll come cook for you tomorrow."

Jiang Zhi acknowledged.

——

Saturday.

Jiang Zhi woke up early, finished washing up, and left the house.

To safely pass the middle school exam, Jiang Zhi must strive every day.

On weekends she goes to the library to read and do practice questions, ensuring her middle school exam scores rank first in the province.

Jiang Mu left by train last night; her return date is uncertain, and Jiang Zhi thinks it will take some time, only coming back after the story ends.

Taking the bus to the library, Jiang Zhi ate two buns on the way to fill her stomach, found a quiet spot, sat down, and buried herself in hard work.

When she finally broke free from the sea of problems, outside it had grown completely dark; she hurriedly grabbed her bag and went to the bus stop, waiting for the last bus.

Sitting in the rear seat, drowsiness overcame her; she closed her eyes and dozed lightly.

A male student sitting on the aisle seat saw this, instinctively stood up, and wanted to sit beside her.

Before he could sit down, a figure stepped ahead of him, its whole body blocking the girl completely, an invisible aura of danger radiating from it, wearing a coat hood, age indeterminate, taller than him.

The male student had no choice but to abandon his thoughts and return to his original seat.

The bus stop announcement echoed; outside the night was thick and deep, streetlights flickering past one after another.

Jiang Zhi dozed for a while; upon opening her eyes she heard the stop announcement, quickly rose, and unintentionally saw a black silhouette stepping out of the rear door ahead, which felt oddly familiar.

She had no time to ponder; before the rear door closed, she got off the bus.

There was still a stretch to home; she simply took out her earphones from her bag and listened to English vocabulary while walking.

Being too absorbed, she failed to notice the exhibitionist walking toward her from ahead.

The exhibitionist bared his lower half, staring intently at her, stopped before her, thrusting his waist to expose his genitals.

Jiang Zhi stopped in her tracks, not yet seeing the exhibitionist clearly, when her vision went dark; a black coat covered her whole head, and she smelled a faint soap fragrance.

Soon after came the exhibitionist's miserable scream.

"Get lost, old man!" This icy voice laced with hostility pierced the earphones and reached her ear.

Jiang Zhi lifted a corner of the coat and raised her gaze.

She saw a youth in a dark short-sleeve, his long arms dark-skinned, faintly showing vigorous muscle lines; tracing his arm to his side face, the corner of his eyes was stained scarlet, looking sinister and ruthless.

The exhibitionist, kicked and beaten by him, fled, rolling and crawling.

"Cheng Su?" she asked uncertainly.

Cheng Su paused in place for a few seconds, suppressed the negative emotions in his eyes, and as he turned, his brows and eyes returned to their usual weary nonchalance.

"How?"