Chapter 504: Before the Big Exam
"Put me next to you, otherwise it will be hard for us to find."
"Sure, sure."
This kind of conversation kept happening in the corridor. Under the dim light, shadows of people carrying books back and forth were everywhere.
Nie Qiqi originally wanted to move books with the class monitor to show off her eagle-like womanly strength.
"Hmm?"
"Class monitor, where are your books?"
Li Qingrong responded while tidying up her desk.
"He moved them."
"Huh?" Nie Qiqi was momentarily stunned.
Clearly, she knew the "he" the class monitor was referring to. It could only be that shameless Jiang Nian.
She was almost exploding with anger. What was Jiang Nian doing, poking his nose into other people's business like a meddling dog!
After thinking it over, she had to settle for second best.
"Hey, where are your books?"
Cai Xiaoqing glanced at her and replied.
"Jiang Nian just moved them out, said he saved a spot for me. I wanted to refuse, but... he insisted."
In an instant, Nie Qiqi's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"He wanted it and you just gave it? What about me?"
"How would I know." Cai Xiaoqing said helplessly, picking up her shoulder bag and preparing to leave, "Figure it out yourself."
She'd already gotten tired of saying she was awesome.
She just didn't expect that Jiang Nian managed to boss around not just the class monitor, but even Cai Xiaoqing too. Wasn't this bullying the honest ones?
Must even the pure white friendship be tainted!
"Bastard!!" Nie Qiqi was so angry that she was almost going to awaken her Evil King True Eye, "Shameless scoundrel, don't let me catch you!"
Meanwhile.
Yang Qiming had just cleared his desk, and Huang Caicai had already taken his book basket.
He turned his head and spotted Tingzi silently moving books.
"Can you handle it?"
Zhou Yuting, who had spent her entire evening self-study under pressure, was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, turning to look at him.
"Who do you think you're looking down on?"
Yang Qiming: "?"
Wang Yuhe had already finished moving his books and helped Chen Yunyun too. Still not satisfied, he helped the other girls in the dorm move their books.
"You're amazing, stronger than the boys."
"Really?" Wang Yuhe smiled bashfully, gaining confidence and swagger as Yu Zhiyi praised him tirelessly.
Truly a powerhouse.
Of course, most people didn't have anyone to help them. Because they didn't secure a spot, they had no choice but to move them to the first-floor office.
Risking it all, huffing and puffing up and down the stairs.
Lin Dong originally wanted to place his next to Yu Zhiyi, so after getting books, he'd have a reason to converse more.
Genius idea, genius mind.
Why not just move them directly?
Because he couldn't compete with Wang Yuhe, that steel-like woman had already hoarded all of Yu Zhiyi's book baskets.
So he settled for the next best thing.
He showed up the moment Wang Yuhe started helping with moving books and secured a spot beside her, placing his books with a grin.
"What a coincidence."
Yu Zhiyi was busy complimenting Wang Yuhe and didn't have time for Lin Dong.
"Yeah."
Lin Dong realized it was hopeless and turned to leave. Halfway through, he wondered what Jiang Nian would have done just now.
Jiang Nian moved his books and then went home without dragging his feet.
Anyone below 650 is just an ant.
Li Lanying would describe Jiang Nian as dull, not because Jiang Nian was pretending to be an honest and naive character.
But because it wasn't necessary.
An iron key coated with a bit of gold dust is still an iron key. There's no need to say more, just firmly unlock the door.
The creaking iron door will give you the answer.
Jiang Nian knew exactly what he needed to do. His current goal was a 650 on the mock provincial exam, to win his bet with the class monitor.
As for everything else, that's a separate matter.
"The lottery has been refreshed; there's still a balance on the 'letterhead'. It should be enough to write an argument for tomorrow's Chinese."
"Damn, it'd be nice to unlock a new skill."
......
At the school gate, two girls stood side by side.
"Hurry up! You're so slow." Xu Qianqian looked at him disapprovingly, "You drag every time, I don't want to wait for you anymore."
"Oh, got held up with something." Jiang Nian joined them with his bag, "By the way, did you move your books?"
"We finished moving in the afternoon."
"Hmm?"
"Ha, surprised?" Xu Qianqian raised her fair chin, "The grade team wouldn't allow it, guess where we put them?"
"First floor?"
Song Xiyun couldn't help but laugh, "We covered them with a cloth in the corner of the stairs and got a triangular warning sign from the auntie."
"Didn't get noticed by the leaders?"
"Of course not!" Xu Qianqian boasted triumphantly, "That's the genius of Xu. You must admit."
"That's really clever of you guys. I spent ages looking for a spot upstairs." Jiang Nian's reply was somewhat clumsy.
Xu Qianqian glanced at him, "Tsk, serves you right."
Jiang Nian didn't mind. If necessary, being a bit dim was fine; as the elders say, taking a loss is a blessing.
He deeply believed in this.
Under the streetlights, the three of them strolled towards home, their shadows scattered.
"Xiyun, have you finished reviewing?"
"Almost."
As they passed a snack stall, Xu Qianqian suddenly stopped. Then, turning to look at Jiang Nian, she didn't move any further.
"Really, you're this easily satisfied?"
"How audacious!"
Song Xiyun pondered for a while and thought that since she'd join them for the meal later, she should side with Xu Qianqian.
So, she chimed in.
"She's just hungry."
"Fine, two votes outweigh one." Jiang Nian pretended to be helpless and said, "Alright then, let's go with your decision this time."
Because he was also hungry, their two votes outweighed his one.
If it were something else, that would be another story.
The figures were bustling in front of the barbecue stall, and on this side of Zhennan Street, only a few fixed places offered late-night snacks, like some stir-fried noodles and skewer stalls.
The owner glanced at them and said eagerly, "Pick whatever you want to eat, this side is three bucks, that side is five."
Xu Qianqian looked over, feeling uninterested.
"Don't know what to eat."
"Then should we go somewhere else..." Song Xiyun hesitated for a moment.
"They're all the same, nothing outstanding." Jiang Nian interrupted their conversation, "If you really want something delicious, you'll have to go to Zhennan."
"Just make do for now, and after the province-wide exam, we'll go together."
When Jiang Nian made a decision, Xu Qianqian instinctively felt it made sense. If she had to choose herself, she would be indecisive instead.
Song Xiyun, however, didn't bother to think much about it, she was fine with anything.
Soon, the skewers were on the table.
Neither of the two girls realized that they subconsciously accepted Jiang Nian's lead and the triangular structure.
We were talking about eating.
While they were eating, there was a commotion from a nearby stall. The clinking of beer bottles created a crisp sound.
Then, someone started yelling loudly.
"What's going on over there?" Xu Qianqian curiously asked.
"They're arguing, don't get involved." Jiang Nian said while eating a skewer, "Once they're done fighting, they'll see me with two girls and might come over to beat me up."
Song Xiyun looked at him shocked, raising her head.
"Huh?"
"Pssh!" Xu Qianqian gave him a disdainful look, "Your imagination is something else, thinking you'd be with two girls, come here for a beating."
"Do drunks reason with you?" Jiang Nian retorted.
"Hmm..."
"I suppose you're right."
The two girls glanced at the shouting drunks over there, hurried up their eating pace, and quickly dragged Jiang Nian away.
Once they entered an alley, Xu Qianqian patted her chest and said,
"That was scary, I'm not going there next time."
Song Xiyun's psychology was not as strong as Xu Qianqian's, and she was still somewhat shaken.
"Indeed, we shouldn't go again."
Jiang Nian, however, seemed unbothered, though his mind was still preoccupied with the upcoming exams, making him look somewhat anxious.
Even so, he still sat for a while in Xu Qianqian's living room.
"Don't just sit there, go pour me some water." Xu Qianqian lay on the couch and nudged Jiang Nian with her pink sock.
"Then you'll have to wait." Jiang Nian didn't want to move either, reclining on the couch, "Wait until Xiao Song is done showering."
"You're something else..." Xu Qianqian got up to get water herself, "No lingering, I'm about to shower."
"You're showering in the living room?"
"You're the one showering in the living room!"
After a while, Song Xiyun, having finished her shower, saw that Jiang Nian had already left, so she tidied up the messy pillows on the living room sofa.
...
The next day.
Jiang Nian sprang from his bed, ready to get going.
After a quick wash, he packed lightly and went downstairs. He didn't buy buns, hurriedly entered through the school gate, and prepared to exit through the West Gate.
There was a decent three-flavored noodle shop there, which suited Zhennan's taste.
He usually found it too far and rarely went. A few days ago, he decided to treat himself to a deluxe version of three-flavored noodles before the exam.
It's not about the money, it's just a guy's happiness.
Upon passing the school gate, Jiang Nian deliberately glanced over.
Sure enough, Feifei wasn't there.
"She said she'd hold on until the provincial exam, and she really stuck to it until then?"
"The persistence of a top student is truly principled."
Jiang Nian, in a hurry, exited through the West Gate.
On a cold winter morning, a bowl of steaming hot noodles made him feel revived.
Because of the slight delay, he was a bit late returning to the classroom.
The classroom was quite full, and Fangfang was there refreshing routinely. Zeng You was already nestled in for review, indicating he was serious when he said he'd study hard.
"Hello hello, Fangfang."
Hearing this, Huang Fang looked back at him.
"If Zhizhi finds out you imitate her, you're done for."
"Oh, just don't tell her." Jiang Nian said nonchalantly, "Besides, she can't always bully honest folks."
Huang Fang: "..."
Morning study session.
According to the arrangement, Zhang Ningzhi and Jiang Nian's desks were paired together, while Li Hua's desk was aligned with the table next to them.
Today, Zhang Ningzhi wore a knitted cardigan and simple off-white pants that concealed her leg shape.
From a distance, she looked cute and relaxed.
"Did you check your exam pouch?" She gave Jiang Nian a nudge, reminding him, "Remember to bring a 2B pencil, do you have an eraser?"
"I brought them, you're like a little teacher." Jiang Nian felt a bit awkward, "If I forget, I can borrow from someone."
At this, Zhang Ningzhi puffed her cheeks in frustration.
"Hmph, just reminding you."
She had tied her hair in a simple ponytail today, making her look very capable.
"I'm not talking to you next time."
Jiang Nian didn't mind at all, even taking the opportunity to sneak a small bag of bread from her desk.
"Suit yourself."
"You!!!" Zhang Ningzhi was almost angry to death, thinking this guy's skin is too thick, yet she could do nothing about him.
Li Qingrong was absent-minded, looking down at the materials on the table.