CHAPTER 331: CHAPTER 291: IT’S NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT, BUT WHAT I HAVE

"Where are we going to eat?"

"That fried noodles place on North Gate Back Street, for five yuan."

"Then let’s hurry, it’ll be packed later."

"Wait, are you really taking homework back to the dorm?"

The stairs after school were crowded with people, the noise mostly about meeting for late-night snacks and laughter.

"Hey, don’t push me," Qianqian complained, walking on the inside of the stairs. "I’m almost squished into the wall; push any more, and I’ll be flat."

"You weren’t round to begin with," Jiang Nian said, but he still made some space for her. "Did your teacher say no Saturday morning study session?"

"Yeah, there’s some coming-of-age ceremony," Qianqian said, pursing her lips.

With so many people on the stairs, she didn’t feel like talking much. It wasn’t until they fully descended the stairs and separated from the crowd that she let out a long breath.

The chilly night breeze blew away all the stuffiness.

Jiang Nian knew very well that neither of their families’ parents would attend the coming-of-age ceremony. One side was just lazy, while the reasons on Uncle Xu’s side were quite complicated.

"So what time are you heading to the classroom on Saturday?"

"No idea, we’ll see," Qianqian hesitated for a moment as she walked. "If someone opens the door, then just like usual."

Jiang Nian was just making small talk; he still had to go back and deal with some test papers.

He was feeling a bit overwhelmed, five or six test papers in one night. No matter how he wrote, he had to carve out extra time from sleep to catch up—only managing to write a little before bed.

They passed a snack stall with steam wafting out, and both stopped simultaneously.

Qianqian and Jiang Nian exchanged a glance, and suddenly she stretched out her hand.

"Rock-paper-scissors."

She won and happily started ordering.

"Boss, four fish balls, two radishes, what’s that? Never mind, just give me some. And those greens, grab a handful."

"Can you finish all that?" Jiang Nian stood behind her.

Zhennan Street stretched on in the distance, the night silent.

Qianqian turned her head upon hearing that.

"Aren’t you here too?"

Before Jiang Nian could feel touched, the next line came.

"Pay up."

"You’re something else, Qianqian," Jiang Nian was exasperated, scanning to pay.

"Are you having morning sickness? Then you really shouldn’t eat fish balls," Qianqian said, putting her bag aside, her eyes curving like a crescent moon in laughter, "Guess I’ll just have to make do."

After Jiang Nian paid, he went to get some more food. He held two pairs of disposable chopsticks and a small dish of cilantro.

Both of them were easy to please, with no food aversions whatsoever.

A few seconds of silence passed before Jiang Nian pulled out a math test paper.

Qianqian immediately reacted, "Jiang Nian, really, are you trying to disgust me?"

Jiang Nian indeed wanted to mess with Qianqian a bit. After all, even a top student doesn’t have endless enthusiasm for studying. Everyone needs a break sometimes.

This is just a human’s weak spot.

Can’t remember who wrote it, probably some classic.

"First up is the ’sin of envy’ Qianqian, can’t stand seeing me strive, can you?" Jiang Nian suddenly acted coy, glancing at her.

"Are you secretly into me and afraid that I’ll suddenly get smart, making it harder for you to fool me?"

Qianqian was momentarily speechless, quite shocked.

"How long have you had this illusion?"

"Since middle school, always felt you were up to no good with me."

"I like watching the clueless dance around; as long as I pretend to listen intently, they’ll feel encouraged and make more jokes."

Just then, the boss brought over the spicy hot pot.

"Qianqian, your tongue is really sharp," Jiang Nian said, pulling out a chair to make some room on the table.

"Hmph, same to you," Qianqian snapped apart a pair of disposable chopsticks with a pop, adding, "But I do hope you get a little smarter."

That was Qianqian’s honest wish. Only fools could be led around in circles by someone like Zhou Yuting; she couldn’t manipulate idiots.

If only Jiang Nian had been a bit smarter back then, he would’ve been wrapped around her finger.

Even if it was manipulation, at least she’d guide him to a top-tier school. What could Zhou Yuting offer him? A direct admission or a third-tier school?

Qianqian remembered there was a couple in class four, a girl who led a boy by his grades. If he went up a certain number of places, he could get a kiss or even play footsie.

A bit gross, but she thought if she did it, it wouldn’t be so revolting.

Double standards, so what.

Jiang Nian didn’t respond, using the sparse light to look at the test paper.

He pretended to be absorbed like a diligent student but casually stabbed a fish ball with his chopsticks, hitting it dead center to pop it in his mouth.

Suddenly, Qianqian asked.

"How are things going with that person whose last name is Zhou?"

"Cough, cough, stop talking nonsense," Jiang Nian almost choked on the fish ball, struggling to swallow, "Am I dating a Bull Demon?"

"Isn’t she in the same class as you? No old flames rekindled?"

"If you don’t know how to phrase it, don’t say it, okay? Learning things all over the place," Jiang Nian was a bit embarrassed but didn’t show it, "Haunting ghosts of the past?"

"Isn’t history written by the victors?" Qianqian casually said while eating her snack. "Will Zhou Yuting be the victor?"

"Absolutely not... You know what, Qianqian, are you done?" Jiang Nian didn’t want to continue a meaningless conversation.

"Getting anxious?" Qianqian raised her eyelids, glancing at him.

As the saying goes, within five steps lies the cure.

Jiang Nian was indeed a bit flustered. Anyone would be, being reminded of embarrassing history. Not everyone is like the famous emperors; some people need to save face.

Not a Chongqing noodle kind of face, though.

"Not flustered, just feels like I’ve been burdened with a wrongful accusation. A good horse doesn’t go back to graze old fields, and besides, I didn’t taste it anyway."

"Didn’t taste? So, did you want to taste it back then?"

Back then, he did indeed want a taste. After all, Zhou Yuting’s grass looked quite tender.

But by that summer, he no longer viewed Zhou Yuting through rose-colored glasses. Even if the system didn’t intervene later, he should’ve started aiming for tier-two schools.

"You’re just hating for no reason; there’s no logic," Jiang Nian decided not to argue, the truth would eventually prevail, "I lost all feelings for her a long time ago."

"Does that mean you’ve found a new little Zhou Yuting?" Qianqian teased.

Jiang Nian stayed silent, "Not likely."

"Your orientation changed?"

Damn, Jiang Nian felt like lifting Qianqian off the ground.

How could her words be so venomous?

"Fine, fine, whatever you say it is," Jiang Nian gave up, burying himself in his snack, "The truth is, things are irreconcilable."

Qianqian’s lips curved into a slight smile at his words.

"Tsk."

Jiang Nian was somewhat uncomfortable now, but he pretended to be indifferent, eating his snack and looking at the test paper.

Ten minutes later.

They finished their late-night snack and slung on their backpacks, heading home.

Qianqian glanced at him, "Why so silent? Need some alone time?"

Jiang Nian shook his head, "Not really, I’m calculating the scores for each subject, wondering how much I need to score over 600 in the upcoming Six Cities exam at the end of the month."

Hearing this, Qianqian recalled what Jiang Nian said after the last joint exam—a certain someone with a strong face forced himself to aim for over 600.

"Oh, that, well, good luck," she said.

Jiang Nian nearly snapped at her nonchalant tone; everyone has their limits.

His limit wasn’t exactly 590, but it was close. In the short term, his scores could fluctuate around this range.

Aiming for over 600 isn’t just about scoring 601. It means consistently scoring over 600; otherwise, he’d only be fooling himself in the end.

As they reached the alley entrance, Jiang Nian suddenly turned to look at Qianqian behind him.

"What if I score over 600?"

"What if?" Qianqian was baffled.

"Wanna make a bet? Without a bet, I have no motivation." Jiang Nian actually wanted to clear his tarnished history, to silence the naysayers.

"But I don’t have anything I want."

"Wrong, Qianqian," Jiang Nian leaned closer, looking down at her with intense eyes, "A bet isn’t about what you want, but what I have!"

"Huh, and what do you have to bet?"

"Good question, let’s not do something cliché. How about something more refreshing?" Jiang Nian thought for a moment, "I have a teddy bear by my bed, you like stuffed toys, right?"

"Ugh, get lost. You use that teddy bear as a footrest by your bed!" Qianqian said with disdain.

Unmasking him so blatantly, Jiang Nian felt a bit awkward.

"Alright, how about a cliché deal, I’ll cover lunch and dinner for you and Song Xiyun for a week. If I lose, I’ll transfer the money directly, would 500 yuan for lunch suffice?"

Qianqian knew Jiang Nian had money, and 500 yuan sounded fair. It would pressurize Jiang Nian and bring some benefits for herself and Xiyun.

"Alright, so what do I need to offer?"

"You... have to agree to one condition of mine."

Hearing this, Qianqian took a step back, crossing her arms.

"What do you want?"

"Don’t be narrow-minded, am I really that kind of person in your eyes?" Jiang Nian was a bit speechless, "What I mean is, it’ll definitely be something you’re willing to do."

Qianqian thought it over and took another step back.

Jiang Nian: "?????"

No, why is this becoming more and more convoluted?

"Ahem, I’m saying it’ll be something you can easily achieve," he added again, "Something very normal and not against public order or morals."

After a moment’s hesitation, Qianqian agreed, considering the lunch budget.

"Fine then."

Going upstairs, Jiang Nian felt in good spirits.

First, he’d clear his past disgrace; he couldn’t keep letting Qianqian’s sarcasm get to him. This kind of issue couldn’t be explained away; it was better to eliminate it from the source.

Qianqian glanced at him, unsure why he was so pleased, so she said.

"You’re looking forward to seeing Zhou tomorrow..."

Before she could finish, Jiang Nian pinched both her cheeks.

"Enough, Qianqian!"

"Oooh, let... go!"

Jiang Nian even applied a bit of force to knead back and forth, making Qianqian’s face feel like dough. It was soft to knead, unlike her sharp tongue.

"I’ve endured you all the way!"

After breaking free, Qianqian quickly changed shoes and entered her home, giving Jiang Nian a fierce glare.

With a bang, the door closed heavily.

Jiang Nian didn’t care, turning back to insert the key into the lock, going home to freshen up.

"Serves you right."

Around eleven at night.

Jiang Nian straightened up from his desk, having completed most of his math test paper. He picked up his phone to check the class’s small chat group, noticing there were 99+ new messages.