"I estimate it won't happen in the end."

"That's true, why have a farewell dinner just for Duanwu." Zhang Ningzhi let go, still fuming.

Jiang Nian didn't continue the topic and smoothly asked, "Does your family make zongzi for Duanwu?"

"No, too many people give them as gifts." Zhang Ningzhi shook her head, "We can't finish them, so....."

"Give them to me." Jiang Nian said earnestly, holding out his hand, "I eat all except the salted egg yolk ones."

"What about the sweet ones?" she asked.

"I don't eat them." Jiang Nian shook his head, then thought for a moment and added, "I'm a student, give me the savory ones."

"You beast!!" Li Hua couldn't hold back, "You're so selfish! Why not give me some?"

"Where did a stray dog come from in the classroom?"

"Chi Shi!!"

Zhang Ningzhi chuckled and tugged at him, saying, "Stop fighting, everyone will get some."

Before long, Old Liu entered the classroom.

He took a headcount of those going home and figured out the number of boarding students, picking someone to take the lead.

"Yang Qiming, come over tomorrow to pick up the zongzi. For those staying at school, two zongzi each."

Hearing this, the class cheered.

It's probably Old Liu paying out of his own pocket again, even the day students were excited.

Jiang Nian remembered something and quickly pulled Li Hua over. Whispering quickly, he made him speak up instead.

"Teacher!! After coming back for Duanwu, will there be free evening snacks in the school cafeteria during evening study?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the class exploded.

"What the heck?"

"Really? Free evening snacks!"

"I need to bring a basin, is there a menu? I love dumplings, will the cafeteria make them?"

"Eat nonsense, it's hard to say if it's true or not!"

Up on the podium, Old Liu was taken aback by Li Hua's sudden question, caught completely off guard.

How does he know!

"Ahem!! Quiet down. Well, the school is considering it, but it's not confirmed yet."

"Keep this within the classroom, and we'll let you know the outcome once it's final, okay."

After saying this, he didn't feel too secure.

"When discussing this, don't do it as if you're from our class, teachers have it tough too."

Hearing this, the class burst into laughter.

....

Noon dismissal.

The students of Class Three were all joyous, leaving the classroom in a mess at almost lightning speed.

"Changing seats, huh!"

"Whose desk is still here?"

"Dammit!"

In the chaotic classroom, everyone had left. Jiang Nian tidied up while scrolling on his phone.

Lin Dong was about to kneel; he still couldn't find people.

Suddenly, from the back row, Li Qingrong spoke up.

"Are you free tomorrow?"

"What's up?" Jiang Nian turned to look at Qingqing, wondering if it was a long trip.

Last time, the two accompanied Li Lanying in climbing Wugong Mountain.

Repeating it on Duanwu wouldn't be impossible, but it was somewhat time-consuming.

"To make zongzi." Li Qingrong lowered her eyes, "I can't make them, neither can she, and no one's giving us any."

Jiang Nian found it awkward.

No, who is Qingqing being yin-yang to?

Is it yin-yang?

Jiang Nian coughed, "Then I'll... I'll come over tomorrow, should I buy the glutinous rice and stuff?"

"Just come empty-handed." she said.

"Alright."

"In the evening, are you going?" Li Qingrong succinctly, silently gazed into Jiang Nian's eyes.

Jiang Nian's eyelid twitched slightly; he thought if she mentioned it, then there's no need to ask if he'll go, he definitely won't.

"No... not going."

"Okay." Li Qingrong picked up her bag to leave, but softly added, "I'll wait for you at the lab building."

"Huh?"

Jiang Nian thought he heard wrong, and when he came to his senses, he noticed the class president had left, bringing a secret joy to his heart.

Qingqing is straightforward, willing to compensate for the loss.

In contrast, his world-class desk mate only knows how to use force, coercing him.

Make a note of it now, collect on it later.

The lab building.

Jiang Nian went joyously strolling over, the door to the first floor was locked, and the stone path was shaded by trees.

Sprinkles of rain had already started falling from the sky, feeling cool on his face.

"Qingqing?"

He called softly, walking past the right-angle wall, and in the next moment, someone pulled him over.

Li Qingrong was hiding behind the wall. The lab building's foundation was relatively high, and that corner was unvisited.

The wildly growing branches below, the thick shade blocked the view of the area below and the lab building's entrance.

"Don't make a sound," she said.

The two were very close, Jiang Nian only needed to lean forward slightly and lower his head to kiss her lips.

The leafy shade enveloped them, separating them from people afar.

Jiang Nian hugged Li Qingrong, bending down to her ear. The distance between them shrank further.

His breath gently, subtly landed on Li Qingrong's neck, and she stiffened slightly.

Li Qingrong's face turned dark; she said somewhat speechlessly.

"Don't let your hands wander."

"Oh." Jiang Nian said so verbally, but his hands delayed for a few seconds before moving away from her shapely rear.

Sorry, the auto-target forgot to turn off.

"Oh, right, Qingqing." He remembered something else, "Why did you tell me not to go to the gathering?"

"With Duanwu break, Lin Dong couldn't gather anyone, it ended with just us guys eating barbecue."

This was the truth, the last small break before senior year. Gathering people at this time was akin to the feat of Ultraman's father.

Alright, even Ultraman's father didn't have such influence.

Li Qingrong pursed her lips, her face a bit warm. Not knowing how to answer, she simply turned away.

"Don't know."

Jiang Nian: "????"

He asked questions to distract Li Qingrong. His hand began to sneak around again, roaming everywhere.

After a while, Li Qingrong pushed Jiang Nian away.

"I'm going back."

"Huh?" Jiang Nian was reluctant, he hadn't hugged enough, "Wanna stroll around campus a bit more?"

"The college entrance exam is soon, after the holiday we'll have only one week left."

Hearing this, the corners of Li Qingrong's mouth slightly tightened, but her steps didn't stop, only showing a faint smile.

"Yeah, one week."

....

In the afternoon, Jiang Nian rested at home for a while. At three in the afternoon, he took advantage of the rain stopping and headed to school.

He played ball for half an hour with the boarding students who hadn't left.

"Is it gonna rain?"

"Let's go."

"Not that soon, let's leave after it rains!" Yang Qiming didn't want to leave, gambling against the rain.

Eventually, with a swoosh.

A downpour!

Big raindrops pelted down, and in less than half a minute, the entire basketball court was shrouded in mist.

"What the heck!"

"Why's it raining so hard?"

"Who knows."

A group of boys didn't have time to escape, stuck at the small gate, a draught wafting a rusty smell.

Yang Qiming was feeling vulnerable, shivering.

"Does the snack shop have umbrellas?"

"Let's wait, it'll stop soon." Lin Dong said, "Sigh, it's just a pity my plan."

Hearing this, Jiang Nian chuckled.

"Why not organize a karaoke?"

"No one wants to go, everyone wants to go home." He squatted on the ground, "Forget it, I'll just stay in the dorm."

Jiang Nian didn't speak, after a while he said.

"Then let's have a barbecue tonight, invite those still at school, it's on me!!"

Hearing this, Yang Qiming quickly said.

"Then I'll cover the drinks, it's too pricey at the barbecue place. What do you want to drink, I'll buy it in advance."

Huang Caicai scratched his head, chuckling silly, "Then I'll help carry them."

Lin Dong sighed, "Alright, I'll be responsible for inviting everyone, let me cover half the bill."

Jiang Nian didn't refuse, compliantly accepting.

"Alright, I'll invite a pretty girl too. Li Hua's goddess, you better behave."

Upon hearing this, Yang Qiming and the others turned to Jiang Nian in unison.

"Huh?"

"Really inviting her?"

"Having girls, won't it be awkward?"

Jiang Nian was already making a call, the moment it connected, "Fangfang, are you free tonight?"

"What the heck!!"

"No, you..."

Yang Qiming and Lin Dong fell silent, looking at Jiang Nian, only one thought surfaced in their minds. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"You beast!"