In the blink of an eye, the sky darkened. Before evening study, Jiang Nian reluctantly left his seat. He had finished half of the chemistry test on the desk, and his mind was full of chemistry problems. At this time, the cafeteria no longer had food. But he could go out through the school’s West Gate to eat since there were many types of food on the food street. He turned around, and Li Qingrong stood up as well. "Hmm?" Jiang Nian was puzzled, thinking to himself that the class leader might just be going to the bathroom. It was indeed quite convenient, so he didn’t say anything. The two left the classroom one after the other and stopped at the staircase. He went down the stairs and looked back to find Li Qingrong still following him. Li Qingrong tilted her head, looking cold and distant, silently turned her gaze away. "Where are you going?" Jiang Nian thought for a moment, "Bathroom." This time, it was Li Qingrong’s turn to be stunned, not knowing how to respond for a moment. After speaking, she could only turn around and prepare to go back to the classroom. The class leader’s intentions were too obvious. "Hey, wait..." Jiang Nian took the role of an honest person, "I’m actually planning to go to the bathroom and then head out of the West Gate to find something to eat." Li Qingrong thought about it and then turned around to follow him. She had activated automatic following mode. Jiang Nian couldn’t help muttering to himself, wondering why the class leader could hide things so well. Why not say it directly and instead talk outside the school? After relieving himself in the bathroom downstairs, Jiang Nian walked out the door. Li Qingrong stood by the flowerbed not far from the sink, almost blending into the night. From afar, her expression seemed somewhat indifferent. After a minute, Jiang Nian shook off the water from his hands and walked toward her. "What’s wrong with you today?" Li Qingrong shook her head without speaking. As the saying goes, women fear persistent suitors, and Jiang Nian was a very patient person. After walking a bit, as they were about to leave the school gate, he turned his head again and asked. Luckily, the class leader didn’t keep it a mystery and spoke straight to the point. "My parents are coming back next month, and I don’t want to stay at home." "Hm?" Jiang Nian was stunned, unintentionally getting involved in a family conflict, "Then rent a place, and hide away." He offered no comfort, nor did he inquire further. He directly addressed the problem. He thought to himself that the class leader wasn’t short on money. If she just didn’t want to see her parents, then finding a place to stay would be safe and hassle-free. Zhen Nan’s security was pretty good; finding a place for two thousand would be top-notch. Two thousand bucks could get you to live in a central area in the city. Not to mention in a county adjacent to the city; with a fully loaded budget, you could find quite a decent shelter. If the class leader lacked money, then he’d be even happier. He was eager to repay the favor since the driving school VIP treatment was yet to be repaid. The friendship felt like an outstanding debt, which didn’t seem right. At the entrance of the food street. The city lights gradually came on as the night fell. The cold evening breeze blew across the brightly lit street, opposite the neon light signs of the food square street. Li Qingrong listened to his words, stunned for a while. Jiang Nian almost unconditionally stood by her side, making her feel a sudden sense of relief, with a warm current surging up in her chest. "I can’t find a place..." "Leave it to me," Jiang Nian said directly, "If you’re unhappy next month and want to run away, just message me." "Okay." Li Qingrong nodded. She accompanied Jiang Nian sitting at a small stall, watching him order a bowl of Fuding Pork Slices and a bag of fried chicken fillets. Originally, she had prepared a lot to say in response to Jiang Nian’s questions. However, none of it was used. Jiang Nian didn’t know what the class leader was thinking. Most of the time, she was in a daze or watching people go by, with a slight smile at the corners of her mouth. She seemed to be in a good mood, maybe even a bit...happy? He didn’t understand, but as long as the result was good, that was fine. This month was destined to have a lot of things happening, but Jiang Nian was completely indifferent. The more things, the less troubling, the more the merrier. In front of the food street. Two figures rushed out. "Brother Xiaofan, it’s almost time for class," Cao Yang quickly caught up, "Are we still going out to eat? We might get caught." He had been reprimanded before and couldn’t help but feel uneasy. The school couldn’t expel Zhang Xiaofan, but it could easily trouble him. Informing the parents would result in a beating. "Coward, what are you afraid of?" Zhang Xiaofan sneered, "What’s the grade leader? Ji Ming is nothing either." Compared to having Cao Yang with him, he preferred the strategist Zeng Yunde. Unfortunately, Zeng Yunde had to rush to the emergency ward at noon, his face swollen like a pig’s head. After finishing the IV, he chose to go home and recover. Cao Yang was truly cowardly, growing so big in stature for nothing. Last time, he crashed into a tree while cycling and didn’t even check if he was missing any pieces. Instead, he checked the tree; what a worthless scaredy-cat. Suddenly, Cao Yang patted Zhang Xiaofan. "Bro, bro, look at who that is over there." Zhang Xiaofan had not intended to eat here; he looked down on these small stalls on the plaza, thinking they lacked class. He was just planning to walk through to the restaurant at the end of the food street to eat. "What is it?" He was a bit impatient and turned his head to look in the direction Cao Yang was pointing, "Wow, isn’t that...." Under an old tungsten light bulb in a makeshift windproof tent. Jiang Nian was sitting at a table with a girl, her back was very beautiful. She was very tall, with a pretty high ponytail. Just by looking at the back, you could tell she was a big beauty. Her slender, cold-white neck, with a small patch of skin exposed to the cold wind, looked smooth and fair under the bright orange light. Zhang Xiaofan was infuriated by the scene in front of him. No, he’s got another one? Damn it, Jiang Nian, why don’t you just die! At this moment, he had to admit he felt a bit jealous, despite never liking lemons, a sour taste filled his mouth. "Damn! Let’s go see!" Zhang Xiaofan couldn’t hold back; he had to find out, "What kind of person is this? Damn it!" "Bro, calm down." Cao Yang, ever the coward, pulled him back, "We’re just eating; it’s not worth it." There was another thing he didn’t say; if beaten up, how would they eat? "Don’t stop me!" Blinded by jealousy, Zhang Xiaofan rushed forward, "Damn it, Jiang Nian, you..." Before he could finish, he naturally saw Li Qingrong’s face. Halfway through cursing, he got stuck. Unwilling to continue, not because of Jiang Nian, but because Zhang Xiaofan recognized Li Qingrong and shivered all over. His connections with Sheng Zeyang and Lv Xuan were not due to his liking for dealing with them, but because that was the limit of his networking. Going further, those people wouldn’t acknowledge him. As for Lv Xuan and Li Qingrong, they were worlds apart, not even in the same circle of friends. So, when he saw Li Qingrong raising her gaze at him, he wisely stopped the cursing. But the words had already been spoken, he needed to make amends. Zhang Xiaofan’s face instantly turned red, "You... this... good student, it’s almost study time, how come you’re out here too?" Jiang Nian was confused, wondering what’s gotten into this idiot. Talking like a discipline master, even mentioning good students. "Don’t act crazy here." Li Qingrong glanced and then lowered her eyes, peeling off the last strip of white from the tangerine flesh, handed it to Jiang Nian. This scene almost froze Zhang Xiaofan’s eyes. The tall Cao Yang who caught up was also dumbfounded. No way, addicted to peeling tangerines? Had one in the cafeteria at noon, now again! Jiang Nian took the tangerine, glancing at Zhang Xiaofan standing like a nervous recruit, thinking this was very odd. If it were just him there, the words spoken would have been filled with foul language, but with the class leader present... Also, after moving to class three. His temperament had become more restrained, no longer as rebellious as when he used to hit the gym, his temper had changed from overt to covert. Mostly it was because Zhang Xiaofan was too beneath him; arguing with him would be degrading. "Nope, just remember to return for class on time." Zhang Xiaofan said earnestly, making Jiang Nian’s back feel a chill. In an instant, the self-restraint practiced for several months disappeared. "Are you possessed by Ji Ming?" Jiang Nian had trouble keeping a straight face, "So much responsibility, you might as well become the grade leader." Zhang Xiaofan didn’t care what Jiang Nian said, he remained calm inside. If he was really brainless, he wouldn’t be getting along with Sheng Zeyang. "Anyway, just remember." Finishing his words, Zhang Xiaofan, not asked for this, left immediately. As if he was just a righteous passerby reminding Jiang Nian to return to the classroom on time. Cao Yang was left dazed and confused, not understanding why brother Xiaofan changed his tune. He quickly caught up out of curiosity. "Bro, what happened just now?" "Don’t mention it; I almost kicked an iron plate." Zhang Xiaofan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, cursed Jiang Nian under his breath. Cao Yang remained puzzled, couldn’t help but ask again. "Who’s the iron plate? Jiang Nian?" "He doesn’t deserve it!" Zhang Xiaofan sneered in contempt. "Then it was...?" Cao Yang thought about it, with only those two at that table, it could only be either Jiang Nian or that girl, "That pretty girl huh?" Thinking about the girl’s face, Cao Yang couldn’t help but gasp a little. "Bro, that girl seems quite unapproachable." "Go, go, go!" Zhang Xiaofan was annoyed, "Even eating can’t shut your mouth." Sun Zhicheng was hurriedly heading back to school from the other end; having delayed his meal that afternoon, he hurried right into Zhang Xiaofan and the others in an encounter. He got a jolt and turned into the nearby bookstore. Zhang Xiaofan’s car key-eye, and the two tires were damages he inflicted. Revenge felt good, but getting caught would be no laughing matter. Fortunately, it seemed those two were not after him and hurriedly headed to the other side. Sun Zhicheng breathed a sigh of relief, bought two pen refills from the bookstore, and continued his route after looking around. As he passed a snack stall, maybe because he was walking too fast. He only saw a blur in passing, but even just a glance, he recognized Jiang Nian and that cool figure. Whoa, out on a date this late? In Sun Zhicheng’s eyes, it was normal for those two to date. But he didn’t expect they’d be out this late with class approaching. He suppressed his excited thoughts, hung his head, and continued toward the lit-up school ahead, with his heart feeling bright as well! At the small stall, Li Qingrong turned to look around. Near evening study, the number of students on the road was already few, making the food street seem empty, with some stall owners taking a break. The bustling night was quietly becoming silent. Yet Jiang Nian and she still stayed there, as if they were eloping. She lowered her eyes, suddenly having a premonition. If she suggested not wanting to return to school, Jiang Nian might follow through. The night breeze blurred her thoughts, and her heart went quieter. Ultimately, Li Qingrong abandoned that idea. Having experienced it once, there was no need to repeat the same feeling. Time spent together could be infinitely extended, three hours..... Maybe take a walk by the river.... Li Qingrong felt slightly tempted. "What’s wrong?" Jiang Nian finished eating, wiped his mouth with two tissues, "Head back to the classroom, or stay outside for a walk?" At that moment, Li Qingrong’s eyelid twitched. "Let’s go back to the classroom." The night sky was a sort of translucent deep blue, blending oddly with a yellow hue, appearing a gradient of gray mist. Walking back to school, Li Qingrong lowered her eyes slightly. His grades weren’t great, and evening self-study time was precious for absorbing the outcomes of solving problems during the day. While walking by the river was exciting, it couldn’t compare to mundane perseverance. Timing it just right. They walked one behind the other into the bustling classroom, with a crowd standing in the aisle chattering, unlike usual. Jiang Nian was puzzled, pulled Li Hua over to ask. Li Hua raised his eyebrows, "I heard we’re going to the administration building for a speech later."