After the first evening self-study session, Lin Dong returned. He excitedly looked around the classroom and was stunned.

"Where's Jiang Nian?"

Zeng You didn't even lift his head and casually replied.

"Don't know, probably outside."

"Alright."

Lin Dong left the classroom, searched around, and finally blocked the Guobao trio at the entrance of the bathroom.

"Finally found you."

Li Hua, next to him, looked puzzled and glanced at the two of them, "What's going on, all mysterious?"

Ma Guojun: "Chased you all the way to the bathroom."

Jiang Nian seemed to be in thought and asked.

"Did Old Liu agree?"

"Yes!" Lin Dong just informed him and turned to leave, "Remember to bring the camera tomorrow."

Jiang Nian: "OK."

"What's up? What's up?" Li Hua, like Donald Duck, was so anxious that he was spinning in circles, "Are you two playing charades?"

Ma Guojun remembered and asked.

"Is it for the video shoot?"

"Huh?"

"Stop with the 'huhs,' acting like an idiot." The big guy couldn't hold back, "Lin Dong asked you this afternoon."

Hearing this, Li Hua suddenly remembered.

"Oh, oh."

"Interviewing the whole class, why didn't you say so earlier?" He said, then added, "Wouldn't going to the internet cafe be too lowbrow?"

.....

The evening self-study session ended.

Jiang Nian thought about going to the riverside later, so he didn't even take his backpack, just folded a couple of test papers and stuffed them in his pocket.

Took his phone and headed straight out.

As for the video shoot that Old Liu approved, it was scheduled for tomorrow. He's planning to borrow Zhizhi's camera.

After all, he's not stupid.

After the shoot, people might gather around to watch. It would be strange if he kept it all a secret.

But as long as he borrowed from Zhizhi, he would have a reason to refuse if anyone asked, keeping himself safe.

It's a win-win-win.

The hallway was crowded; on the stairs, people going home from school were packed like sardines in a can.

He navigated through and made it to the riverside.

Li Qingrong was already there, and they checked their locations. After meeting up, they headed towards the bridge.

The night was like water, and the moonlight covered them.

The riverside district's high-rises twinkled with lights. Occasionally, a few voices could be heard, making it seem even quieter.

"It's been a while since we went for a walk together." Jiang Nian broke the silence, "What made you think of it today?"

He could invite the class president for a walk too.

But there was no need.

If you've invited someone, there's no point in just walking. Obviously, doing anything beyond walking was unnecessary.

Who likes to stop just before the end?

There's no need for painstaking efforts to do something irrational; that would be courting disaster.

It's already like walking on thin ice, tying explosives to oneself.

"Nothing much."

Li Qingrong walked beside him, looking towards the river, obscured by the trees, showing only a faint light.

"I missed you."

Jiang Nian stopped in his tracks, turned around slightly stunned, and was lost in Li Qingrong's unabashed gaze.

"Then can I..."

"No," Li Qingrong said.

"I haven't even said anything yet." He complained a bit, "Qingqing, you rejected me too quickly."

Li Qingrong shot him a glance, "I know what you want to say, and no, we're just walking."

"Oh."

Jiang Nian nodded, thinking that nothing was allowed. Meaning nothing physical, everything else was fine.

After all, there's an underlying precondition.

I missed you.

This shows the importance of reading comprehension; sometimes, reading is not useless, at least it makes the mind more flexible.

He stepped forward and held Li Qingrong's hand.

After a few seconds, the class president didn't pull away.

Wow! It worked!

"Qingqing, your hand is so cold." Jiang Nian said, "Let me squeeze it, warm it up, okay?"

Li Qingrong: "...."

She was somewhat speechless but also too lazy to argue. After walking a bit, they descended a staircase towards the water.

"What about you?"

"What?" Jiang Nian asked.

"Do you miss me?" Li Qingrong didn't stop walking, passing through partially obscured trees to see the river.

In the moonlight, like blue ink.

"I see you happy every day, it seems..." She turned her head, glancing at Jiang Nian, speaking calmly.

"....you're not too bothered by it."

Jiang Nian was left awkward.

He indeed felt a bit like he didn't want to go back home because he got to have some fun every day. Claiming he wasn't happy would be a lie.

You only get such opportunities sitting at the back row.

"I....."

"Kinda." Jiang Nian originally wanted to say something, but after second thought, he decided against being clever.

Simply admitted.

Showing off with rhetoric often leads to downfall.

Li Qingrong: "Hmm."

The two fell into silence, neither spoke. The water under the moon was stirred, waves rising and falling.

Jiang Nian looked at the water, thinking of nothing. He didn't plan on explaining or hiding anything.

"Qingqing."

"Hmm."

"This water is so beautiful, like the skirt of the night." Jiang Nian remarked, adding.

"Though, not as beautiful as you."

"Hmm."

Li Qingrong looked at him, "So who do you think is prettier, me or Zhang Ningzhi?"

Jiang Nian: "I'm face-blind."

Li Qingrong: "...."

Suddenly, Jiang Nian felt a chill on his waist. Then he was pinched and even twisted ninety degrees.

"Hiss~~!"

"Are you angry?"

"Hmm."

"You never used to get angry." Jiang Nian mumbled, recalling the old, cool class president.

Cold, as if nothing mattered to her.

However, Qingqing now is better. Though she gets angry, he certainly deserved it.

You shouldn't only love Zhizhi when you're touching legs.

Can only say it's deserved.

Everything has a cost, and when touching legs, destiny already marked the price behind the scenes.

But looking at it now, not being clever is correct, otherwise the class president wouldn't just be angry.

Though it's a mindset, there's still a way out.

"Before..." Li Qingrong glanced at him, her pink lips parting, "I thought you'd never stop missing me."

"Still haven't." Jiang Nian said, "Okay, I was wrong, starting tomorrow I'll miss you."

"Will chant a few lines daily, that Qingqing is the most beautiful."

"Tomorrow?" She tilted her head.

"Today."

"Hmm." Li Qingrong nodded, "This isn't entirely your fault, switching seats moved us too far apart."

Hearing this, Jiang Nian clammed up. This dammit is a trap. Even a fool wouldn't dare follow.

Qingqing, you're a bad woman! You've learned to fish!!

She asked, "Why aren't you talking?"

"Thinking about stuff, there's a class shoot tomorrow." Jiang Nian diverted the topic, talking about tomorrow's plan.

Before he finished, a fragrant breeze enveloped him.

Li Qingrong's scent was woody. A colder tone, like a spring not yet thawed.

Very faint, but very pleasant.

"Now remember my scent, you'll miss me tomorrow. Embrace me again the day after, until the seat change."

Jiang Nian slightly opened his mouth, thinking that Qingqing is truly a genius.

(Thumbs up). 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

You're the one with the solutions.

Only Qingqing could, before questioning, already have a solution ready, rather than just a quarrel.

However, Jiang Nian bent slightly.

Li Qingrong: "Hmm?"

"In your pocket..."

Said halfway through, she also realized. But didn't let go, continued holding, only after a while letting go.

"Let's go, let's head home."

In the night breeze, Li Qingrong tucked away her windswept hair, "If we wait any longer, my sister will call."

"Oh, oh." Jiang Nian was awkward.

How do you bloody leave?

This felt a bit awkward, took a deep breath, still no change, had to brace himself to move forward.

The two walked from the riverbank to Jingfu District, the orange streetlights dim.

"Qingqing."

"Hmm?"

"I feel like I might dream about you tonight." Jiang Nian said, "Alas, I really have to start missing you from tonight."

"Hmm, after the college entrance exam, you won't need to." Li Qingrong said, "What are you going to ask in tomorrow's shoot?"

Jiang Nian said, "Uh... what are you planning to do the night after the college entrance exam?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"This..... whatever's fine, but Lin Dong will be asking everyone then." Jiang Nian's eyelid twitched.

"Hmm."