The two of them waved goodbye in front of the senior three building, without even exchanging contact info. Because He Minjun was focused solely on studying, she didn’t even have a phone. Plus, Jiang Nian’s words were really biting. She didn’t feel like there were any warm conversations to be had with this person. Why press so hard in the rivers and lakes when we are kindred spirits? From behind, someone quickly walked over and patted Jiang Nian on the shoulder, revealing Liu Yang, this pretentious scoundrel. He winked and made faces at Jiang Nian, asking with a look of mischief. "Brother Nian, who’s that girl?" "A senior from the extra year, why?" Jiang Nian glanced at him, "She likes to drench others, water torture style." Upon hearing this, Liu Yang shuddered. "Is there anyone in the extra year who isn’t?" "True enough." Liu Yang nodded, "My cousin repeated his year too. I heard he’d break down laughing and crying when he couldn’t solve problems at night." "Lost a game, probably?" Jiang Nian hesitated. "Hahaha!!" Liu Yang burst out laughing, considering it, "You might be right." The two of them walked upstairs with arms around each other, noticing a teacher at the stairway catching latecomers. They turned around in sync and quickly walked away. "Hey! You two students!" The teacher noticed them too, shouting, "You two, come over!" Upon hearing this, Jiang Nian and Liu Yang bolted. Honesty in confession, a life in prison. Luo Yong was left bewildered in the back, watching the two of them running toward him. "That student, come here!" Ji Ming pointed at Luo Yong, "If you run, it’ll be reported as a criticism. Which class are you from?" Luo Yong couldn’t hold it anymore and just walked over honestly. "Olympic Competition Class Four." Honest, but just a bit. "Do you know those two who ran off?" Ji Ming was getting a bit upset, it was the first time he’d seen such arrogant students. Too bad he didn’t see their faces clearly, or he’d have caught them. If this student said he didn’t know them, chances are they’re classmates. Luo Yong scratched his head, "I have mild night blindness, they were running too fast." Jiang Nian and Liu Yang, thanks to some nimble dodging, weren’t caught. They wandered around downstairs for a while before heading back upstairs. But just as they sat down, they couldn’t hold it in anymore. Li Hua had taken a screenshot of his scores and printed it out, afraid others wouldn’t see it, and stuck it on the table. Sealed with layers of transparent tape. "Damn, you’re way too pretentious?" Jiang Nian glanced at it and couldn’t help but laugh, "Ranked second?" Hearing this, Ma Guojun came over with a playful smile. "Only the individual subject ranking for math came out, so isn’t it just the second in a single subject? I guess this is his last boast." "Not the last." Li Hua proudly said, "The science composite hasn’t come out yet, although I roughly know the score." "Hehe, having high scores is just cool." Li Hua boasted, "Kneel down, become my dog!" Jiang Nian laughed and didn’t say anything, ignoring Li Hua. Instead, he turned to his deskmate Zhang Ningzhi and asked. "My math score is lower than yours, feeling a bit suicidal, what to do?" Zhang Ningzhi pondered for a few seconds and then pulled out a bread from her bag and handed it to him. "Here’s a snack for you, don’t be sad." Li Hua observed the whole scene, bewildered, and once he realized what happened, he felt uncomfortable and stopped smiling. He felt like a stray dog on the road, kicked right in the heart, losing all his means and energy. Damn, too pretentious. Scores, at this moment, lost all meaning. Yang Qiming lay on the desk, completely exhausted. He had a drip for gastroenteritis yesterday and the doctor had advised him not to eat anything strange for a week, best to just drink some porridge. Porridge offered no sustenance, making everything seem like sustenance. "So hungry, Cailang." Yang Qiming groaned, no longer interested in looking at his scores, "I’m going to starve to death." Zhou Yuting was busy solving problems, interrupted by his voice. "If you’re hungry, go eat." Feeling warmth from her words, Yang Qiming thought, no matter how cold, after a while as deskmates, feelings develop. Huang Caicai chimed in, "Bro, I totally get it. Porridge doesn’t work. No matter how much you eat, you’re still hungry." He had eaten a chicken drumstick meal in the afternoon, right next to Yang Qiming. Yang Qiming rubbed his stomach, about to start whining again. But then he saw Zhou Yuting hand him a box. "Stop moaning and go eat outside." Upon a closer look, he found it was self-heating rice. Zhou Yuting was incredibly irritated, knowing Yang Qiming scored exactly 101, on par with an idiot like herself. She just wanted to improve her score before the next round. She delved back into her work, quickly forgetting her surroundings. Suddenly, she felt some heat beside her, turning to see something strange. Yang Qiming had steam coming from his face, a puff of heat rising from under the desk. After the first period of evening self-study. Qingbao was preparing to return to the office, leaving the Class Two classroom. She saw Lao Liu reprimanding a student, who was still steaming. She couldn’t help but glance over, thinking the people in Class Three were really strange. Then, she made her way back to the office, as familiar as ever. "Teacher Zhong, when are you getting off work?" The new male teacher greeted her, but didn’t immediately leave. Qingbao looked at him, pondered for a moment, and seriously replied. "Leaving work when it’s time to leave work." "Ha... really?" The male teacher slipped away, leaving behind the words, "I’ll go first, let’s talk next time." Qingbao lay on the chair, pondering what to talk about tomorrow. "Teacher, is there any more tea?" She opened her eyes and saw Jiang Nian with a playful grin. She closed them again and relaxed her body. "Teacher, is it okay for me to keep freeloading every day ?" Jiang Nian said as he continued to move his hands. "Then score a hundred in biology as a thank you." Qingbao said casually without opening her eyes. "As long as I’m fed, my whole family won’t starve." Jiang Nian had already taken the tea leaves and was about to slip away. "Where are you from, teacher?" "Isn’t that the provincial capital?" Jiang Nian was surprised and glanced at her again, "Teacher, you came to Zhen Nan to teach?" Qingbao opened her eyes and glanced at him upon hearing this. "Nothing." Jiang Nian slipped away. Before leaving, he didn’t forget to pour hot water for Qingbao. As for the tea, he didn’t brew it since it was too late and he was afraid she wouldn’t sleep. He was just passing by, conveniently bringing something for Lao Liu. Yu Zhiyi was still worried about the jogging incident. Seeing Jiang Nian pass by from the end of the corridor and then stand together with Lao Liu whispering. Couldn’t help but be impressed, such a shameless lackey! "Fill this form out before your scores come out." Lao Liu instructed, "Cut in line first." "Teacher, what’s the benefit?" Jiang Nian asked. "Benefit? Benefit?" Lao Liu was speechless, "Why are you always thinking about benefits?" "No, it’s just that..." "A bonus of eight hundred." "Teacher, to be honest." Jiang Nian said seriously, "I’m a person who regards money as dirt, preferring honor instead." Lao Liu, with hands behind his back and a stern face. "Don’t be cheeky, you’re not the only one suitable for this... I could give it to other needy students." Jiang Nian didn’t smile, "That’s also good, showing spirit." Near the end of evening study session. Jiang Nian cleaned out his thermos. As he returned, the bell rang. He greeted and left carrying his bag. His phone buzzed, Xu Qianqian informed him. "We’ve gone to the night snack street, come over by yourself, (seriously) we’ll wait for you there." Jiang Nian sighed in relief and walked out of the campus alone. He glanced at the surrounding old low buildings. There were undeveloped lots everywhere in the county, with the real estate market skyrocketing crazily these past few years. Jiang Nian didn’t feel much about it, he didn’t need to buy a house in Zhen Nan. Moreover, once young people graduate in Zhen Nan, they either head south to Guangzhou or north to Hang City, everyone has their own path. Only very few stick around Zhen Nan for work. Google seaʀᴄh 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩·𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢·𝔫𝔢𝔱 Suddenly, his phone buzzed again in his pocket. Jiang Nian took a look and found a rare message from Li Qingrong, it was very brief. He and the class monitor usually met and talked daily, so they weren’t in frequent contact online. This was indeed Li Qingrong’s first invitation. By the river, meaning a riverside walk. It was worth going, since the provincial joint exam was over. He didn’t have to go all out anymore and could take a breather. But... haven’t her parents come back? For him to not feel guilty would be impossible. Anyway, he still maintained a... uh, classmate role. He thought about it and agreed. Jiang Nian found Xu Qianqian and Song Xiyun in front of a fruit stall, and couldn’t help but ask curiously. "Late at night, just eating these?" "What’s wrong?" Xu Qianqian felt a bit guilty, she was a little afraid of getting fat, "I like fruit, can’t I?" "Doesn’t fill you up." "I’m not really hungry, just eating a little." Xu Qianqian took some from her bowl and offered it to Jiang Nian. "Sure." Jiang Nian sat down, pretending to hesitate, "There aren’t any traces of your saliva on it, right?" With a bang, Xu Qianqian punched him once. Jiang Nian didn’t dodge, then glanced at Song Xiyun and asked curiously, "Math scores are out, how did you do?" The two females each reported a number, which left him dizzy. "Was math really that easy this time?" "More or less, not difficult." Xu Qianqian added, "Don’t worry, college entrance exams will be harder." "How did you know I wanted to ask that?" Jiang Nian was surprised. The three wandered home together, Jiang Nian glanced at the time. It wasn’t yet eleven, so he sat in the living room for a bit. Leaning against the wall, he asked. "Who usually showers first?" "Depends, whoever is free." Song Xiyun said, "Usually Qianqian goes first, and I follow." When Xu Qianqian entered the bathroom, Jiang Nian knocked on the door to say goodbye. "Oh." Xu Qianqian was a bit unused to it, "I’m showering, you don’t have to say this face to face next time." "Not face to face, there’s a door between us." Xu Qianqian: "Aren’t you afraid you’d imagine things?" Jiang Nian was speechless, grabbed his bag, and went back to his own home right across. Then he took his keys and rode his scooter into the night. Jingfu District, lights flickering.