"What's going on over there?"

Hearing this, Yang Qiming curled his lips.

"Showing off."

Although he looked down on Sun Zhicheng, after making peace, he couldn't provoke him again for no reason.

So he had to focus his attention on his female desk mate. Thinking that there's only a month left, there was still a lot to be achieved.

Even if he hadn't had a decent romance in senior year, ending with singing "Your Desk Mate" wasn't bad at all.

Maybe, it would even move her.

"How's your revision going?"

"Hmm? It's okay, I guess." Ding Qiulan was surprised and added, "Physics is a bit hard, can't understand it."

Yang Qiming laughed heartily, exuding confidence.

"Honestly, I don't get it either, haha! Looks like we're two of a kind, don't you think?"

Upon hearing this, Ding Qiulan looked disgruntled.

"What kind?"

"Well...." Yang Qiming realized he misspoke, and sweat broke out on his forehead. Suddenly, a light bulb went off.

"Great minds think alike!"

Ding Qiulan: "...."

This guy is so crude, you can't expect wisdom from him. Great minds think alike, what kind of compliment is that?

Could he be provoking me?

....

During the last self-study period, a crumpled small note rolled onto Jiang Nian's desk.

"Hmm?"

He opened it and saw only three words.

"Stop touching!╰（‵□′）╯"

"Oh."

Jiang Nian retracted his hand from the thigh he had been touching during the previous self-study sessions, having gotten a bit used to it.

Not to mention, sitting in the back corner really was nice.

The class monitor wasn't around!!

But it was limited to touching thighs, sometimes when he wanted to hold hands, Zhizhi would smack it away. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Though it made sense, getting caught would be the end.

Touching thighs... at most was a bit pervy.

Zhang Ningzhi glanced at Jiang Nian's retreating hand and couldn't help but puff her cheeks.

This guy, calling it pervy isn't even right.

His hand would just rest there, sometimes staying still while solving problems, just resting quietly.

But, he just liked to touch.

Big pervert!!

Not sure if he acted the same with the class monitor when no one was around; she'd probably hit him too.

"Are you done revising?"

"Ah?"

Jiang Nian was taken aback by her mood shift. Women's moods were unpredictable; she was sulking one minute.

The next, she was all friendly.

"Pretty much, focused mainly on Physics. Biology and Chemistry are lighter, and I don't need to look at English at all."

Li Hua, listening beside him, couldn't help but comment.

"I'm about the same. Sigh... don't need to look at Biology, Chemistry, or Physics, just hard to memorize English words."

Suddenly, Jiang Nian's back hurt like he'd been hit by a boomerang, and he pointed at Li Hua.

"Seriously, who's talking to you?"

Li Hua laughed smugly.

"Getting worked up?"

"Worked up my ass!"

In front, Huang Fang felt awkward, like she'd been bitten by two dogs while walking down the road.

She slowly turned her head to glance at the two in the back row.

"..."

Zhang Ningzhi was long immune to this; after all, her relationship with Jiang Nian was the best in the world, unshakeable.

Noisy and chaotic, soon the evening self-study was over.

Jiang Nian packed up his things, ready to go home. Passing by the classroom door, he greeted Li Qingrong casually.

"Qingqing, I'm heading home."

"Mm."

Li Qingrong nodded, also shouldering her bag and following him in the corridor, "Have lunch together tomorrow?"

Jiang Nian was slightly stunned, but agreed nonetheless.

"Sure... sure."

The corridor was crowded, and when they reached the staircase, he asked casually.

"Is your sister going out tomorrow?"

"No, she's not."

"Then how come..."

"No special reason." Li Qingrong tilted her head on the dim stairway, looking at Jiang Nian beside her.

Then she leaned in slightly, gently moving closer.

"Switched seats, we're too far apart. Rotation takes a whole week, I'm not used to it."

Jiang Nian was startled, not expecting the class monitor to be so straightforward.

"Alright then."

He had been through plenty, was used to this routine with the class monitor. But he couldn't help but feel a bit touched.

Would future him become insensitive?

Half moved, half worrisome, Jiang Nian walked out the school gate, waving goodbye to Li Qingrong.

The night wind blew, his heart was in turmoil.

Thinking over and over, there seemed to be only one path. Regardless of the situation, he had to push through.

Trust in the wisdom of future generations.

The future self would still be Jiang Nian, but not related to the current Jiang Nian. All men are mortal, better them than me.

With these chaotic thoughts, he headed towards home.

On the way, he met an old man, pushing a tricycle selling sweet potatoes late at night, finding it curious, selling sweet potatoes this season?

Hmm...

After returning home, Jiang Nian visited next door. The two girls were serenely studying for their comprehensive subject exams.

Xu Qianqian looked up, slightly puzzled.

"Come, have a seat."

"Oh, okay." Jiang Nian found a place to sit, feeling a bit more at ease, "Where are you in your revision?"

"Just browsing randomly," Song Xiyun said, feeling a bit sleepy, "Without you here, we were planning to sleep."

In the past, most of these topics were discussed with Qianqian, he could never get a word in, now.....

After living together for so long, working towards the same goal, with weekly gatherings and talks.

Gradually, he got used to the three of them being together; they got to know him better and could join in on conversations.

There wasn't any messy thoughts involved, just truly admired the other person.

Suddenly, Jiang Nian took out something. Wrapped in layers of newspaper, it hit the table with a thud.

"What's this?"

"Open it and see for yourself."

"Roasted sweet potato?" Song Xiyun was shocked, glancing at Xu Qianqian, who asked, "Where'd you get it?"

Jiang Nian was smug, "On the street."

"Hey, don't snatch it!"

...

The next day.

Someone turned over and woke up, reaching for an old-fashioned tape recorder. Most people hadn't seen one, palm-sized.

A battery-powered kind, with a tape inside.

Click, press play.

In the melodious prelude, "The King of Ancient Babylon issued the Hammurabi Code, engraved on black basalt...."

In the song, he opened the curtains with a swish.

Damn! It's raining!

In the morning, comprehensive subjects exam, Zhenan Middle School was shrouded in rain. By the second half, the rain even seemed to intensify.

By noon, the exam was over.

Xu Shuang held an umbrella, walking alongside Zhao Yiqiu on the school's internal path. Following the crowd, heading towards the West Gate.

"Qiuqiu, will your plan work?"

"Of course!!" Zhao Yiqiu said confidently, "No guy doesn't like pretty things, especially not Jiang Nian, he'd definitely appreciate it."

"But..... wouldn't that be awkward?" Xu Shuang expressed doubt, blushing at the thought of it.

But past facts proved, Zhao Yiqiu truly understood Jiang Nian, whether it was his tastes or thoughts.

Hmm..... she was the expert.

She couldn't figure it out either, but on second thought, Qiuqiu was a Daoist; she could tell fortunes.

If uncertain, she could cast a divination.

"Nothing awkward about it." Zhao Yiqiu was puzzled, "Besides, he definitely likes you, boss."

"Why?"

"No reason, just..... intuition." Zhao Yiqiu squinted, "He often secretly looks at you."

"Rea... really?"

"Yeah."

Zhao Yiqiu put in effort to recall, and remembered something, "When we were entering the mountain, he kept insisting on carrying you."

"I suggested taking turns, but he refused."

"Ah?"

Xu Shuang's face heated, she hadn't thought much of it before, just felt some gratitude, but thinking back now.

That.... happened just nearby while she was relieving herself.

Although there was a wall corner, he probably heard it. Doing such embarrassing things, what now.

"You..... you seem to have a point."

"Yeah, yeah." Zhao Yiqiu chatted away, "Boss, would I lie to you? Just go for it."

"He'll definitely like it, I guarantee."

Xu Shuang covered her face, feeling a bit hot.

"Let me think about it."

The raindrops fell on the umbrella, pattering. Mixed with the noisy crowd, gradually drifting away at the school gate.