"Chi Shi!"

Li Hua, feeling his self-esteem hurt, thought carefully. Ever since these two troublemakers got promoted, he hadn't had a good day.

Who let them move up!

Senior year building, by the greenery near the bulletin board. Jiang Nian walked in front while Zhang Ningzhi trailed half a step behind.

She watched Jiang Nian hurriedly and couldn't help but grab his clothes.

"Slow down."

"No, it'll get crowded soon." Jiang Nian grabbed Zhang Ningzhi's arm and pulled her to run forward.

"Huh?"

There were quite a few people running, all rushing for the tofu in the cafeteria and the fish balls that hadn't sold out yet.

"Don't... don't run so fast." Zhang Ningzhi felt a bit embarrassed, always feeling like someone was watching her.

In fact, she was sticking closely to Jiang Nian.

"Alright." Jiang Nian slowed down, opting to walk quickly towards the cafeteria, as it was only a few steps away.

Nearing the cafeteria, Zhang Ningzhi felt a bit shy, "Hey, why do you think they're all looking at me?"

"Because I'm holding your hand."

"Huh?"

Zhang Ningzhi's face turned red, and she let go of Jiang Nian. It was quite embarrassing in front of so many people.

She was also a bit annoyed, wondering why he didn't remind her.

But then she thought, Jiang Nian wasn't afraid of being seen. Maybe, he only did this with her.

Would the class monitor let him hold hands when there were many people?

Probably not.

Thinking this, she couldn't help but purse her lips. She felt happy again and decided to treat Jiang Nian a bit better.

"What are you smiling about?" Jiang Nian glanced back at her. The cafeteria was crowded, so they stood close together.

"Huh? Nothing..." Zhang Ningzhi shook her head, feeling a bit dizzy, with his scent filling her nose.

"Do you want fish balls? The dried tofu is quite tasty too." Jiang Nian casually asked, noticing Zhang Ningzhi didn't answer.

"Then I'll choose for you, a bit of each."

"...Okay." Zhang Ningzhi was used to Jiang Nian making decisions, willing to try even if it might not taste good.

She rather liked this feeling of not having to worry, just waiting to be served.

After a while, Jiang Nian returned with two plates, placing the smaller one in front of her.

"Eat up."

"Alright." Zhang Ningzhi ate gracefully, chewing slowly, but halfway through she saw a hand reaching out.

Jiang Nian: "I knew you couldn't finish it?"

Zhang Ningzhi: "...."

This guy, sometimes good, sometimes bad.

Suddenly, a voice called out.

"Jiang Nian?"

"What a coincidence, you're here too."

Hearing this, Zhang Ningzhi turned her head. She saw a girl with a ponytail, looking quite delicate, walking over.

With one hand tucked in her pocket, like a boss.

"I'm here with the boss, just grabbing a 1.5 breakfast." Zhao Yiqiu said casually.

"Oh." Jiang Nian understood and then introduced Zhang Ningzhi, "This is my friend, Zhao Yiqiu."

"She's a Daoist, with a bright future."

Hearing this, Zhao Yiqiu's eyes couldn't help but light up. The boss herself said she had a bright future.

That future indeed seemed very bright.

"Yes, yes."

"Oh, hello." Zhang Ningzhi was a bit bewildered, about to say something, when she saw another tall girl approaching.

She didn't need an introduction this time, she recognized the other person. Not just once had she seen them on stage, behaving intimately with Jiang Nian....

"You're all here." Xu Shuang came over, her gaze landing on Zhang Ningzhi, "Is this your girlfriend?"

Zhang Ningzhi blushed, nudging Jiang Nian.

"What?"

"Aren't you going to explain?" She didn't mind herself; she'd only be shy. She just didn't want to be mistaken for someone else's happiness, it would feel a bit empty.

Jiang Nian didn't explain, only introducing, "This is another friend of mine, Xu Shuang. She's very rich."

Xu Shuang: "...."

You really know how to highlight the key points.

He didn't bother either. He couldn't just say in school, "This is my boss," it would sound like being a kept man.

Zhang Ningzhi's face turned even redder, feeling like the three were all staring at her, so she said, "I'm his deskmate."

Jiang Nian suddenly added, "A good deskmate, the best in the world kind, just coming out to grab a bite."

With a bang, Zhizhi covered her face.

Too embarrassing.

How did she not notice before, this title really is...this person too, how could he say it so easily.

And with such a casual tone, as if it was only natural.

Zhao Yiqiu was stunned, what a long title. She couldn't quite remember, she should be a good partner instead.

A man more physically capable than her had the qualifications to be the boss.

Xu Shuang: "..."

She didn't find it cheesy, but rather a bit envious.

"Oh, I see." Xu Shuang played it cool, pretending to be indifferent, "How about we have a dormitory gathering on Sunday?"

"Qiuqiu wants to eat hotpot, it's no fun with just two people."

Jiang Nian didn't think much about it; after all, at the dorm. They'd cooked hotpot before.

Besides, since Xu Shuang suggested it, he didn't have to worry about the ingredients.

High-end package.

"Sure, save me a pair of chopsticks."

Hearing this, Zhang Ningzhi pursed her lips. Thinking to herself, big pig's knuckle, is hotpot really that good, just go eat it!

But then, when she thought about how she had promised her parents and couldn't make plans with Jiang Nian on Sunday.

She suddenly felt dejected, and didn't even feel like getting jealous.

After all, Jiang Nian wasn't the least bit guilty. Most likely, they were just ordinary friends, except for that Xu Shuang.

So annoying.

.....

Walking out of the cafeteria.

Xu Shuang frowned instinctively; her sixth sense told her there was definitely something more to those two's relationship.

The deskmate was so pretty, a real sweetheart.

So bothersome.

Zhao Yiqiu was in a good mood, having a future ahead. Plus, there's hotpot to eat on Sunday, how wonderful.

"Boss, what's up with you?"

"Nothing, just thinking about what to have for hotpot." Xu Shuang's gaze cleared, "What do you like to eat?"

"Corn, beef, shrimp paste....."

Noon, after school.

Zhang Ningzhi, pouting, hadn't spoken to Jiang Nian since returning from the cafeteria. Before leaving, she pinched him.

Jiang Nian: "???"

He didn't mind though, since if Zhizhi was truly mad, she'd say she'd never share snacks with him again.

So far, snack privileges were still in effect.

Outside the classroom, Yuan Zhengchuan from class one entered and called out Xie Zhihao, leaving with arms around each other's shoulders.

"Why's that guy back?" Sun Zhicheng noticed and commented, "The two class spies are mingling together."

"They're surely up to no good!!"

Lin Dong spoke leisurely, "They can't stir up much trouble."

Yang Qiming added, "Forget about trouble, there's an eight percent discount at a newly opened hot pot restaurant on Metallurgical Avenue, it's on me!"

Huang Caicai perked up, giving a thumbs up.

"Bro, Cailang thinks you're really cool."

"Really? I think so too." Yang Qiming laughed heartily, raising his hand to call everyone out.

Sun Zhicheng, having just reconciled with Yang Qiming the day before, didn't want to embarrass him so soon.

"Let's go, let's go, drinks are on me."

"Ah Cheng! You're a real hero." Lin Dong patted his shoulder, feeling great about everything.

The group left, arms around each other's shoulders, and on Metallurgical Avenue, they ran into Xie Zhihao and Yuan Zhengchuan.

Xie Zhihao was standing at a phone store's entrance, inside were Yuan Zhengchuan and a sixty-something old man.

The group, curious, moved closer.

"What's going on?"

Hearing the commotion, Xie Zhihao jolted in surprise. Seeing it was Lin Dong and the others, he sighed in relief.

"On a part-time job."

Sun Zhicheng: "???"

Yang Qiming peeked inside, kindly reminding, "Robbing a phone store, huh? You'll go to jail for that."

"What's what? We're defending rights here." Xie Zhihao explained, "Helping someone defend their rights, getting a cut."

"That phone store ripped the old man off of four thousand bucks, gave him a broken phone, Yuan Zhengchuan came to me for help."

Lin Dong asked, "His grandpa?"

"No, his client." Xie Zhihao said as the group heard a gasp, turning to see what was happening.

They saw the old man collapse on the ground, blood spreading out.

"Holy crap!!"

"Someone died, damn!"

"Call the police!"

Sun Zhicheng pulled out his phone, "What's the number for 110?"

Xie Zhihao panicked, hurriedly stopping them, "Hey, hey, hey, guys don't call the police, it's fake blood."