CHAPTER 452: CHAPTER 379: ACTING LIKE A JERK

Evening self-study.

Jiang Nian emerged from the administration building and plunged into the night.

At the just concluded awards ceremony, the bosses spoke for half an hour, making everyone drowsy, and it took the last ten minutes to finally start the awards presentation.

"Hey, slow down."

A slightly familiar voice rang out from behind, stopping Jiang Nian.

"Why are you walking so fast? I’ve been calling you for ages at the stairs, and you didn’t even look up. It’s so frustrating!"

Hearing this, Jiang Nian paused and turned around.

"What do you say?"

"What should I say?" Han Xiao’s chest heaved with anger, as she gritted her teeth and said, "No, am I going to eat you?"

Jiang Nian pondered for a moment, "Can’t say for sure."

"Jiang Nian, you idiot!" Han Xiao said as she shoved the gift box she was holding into Jiang Nian’s hands, "Here, have this, I don’t need it anymore."

The gift box was given by the school, containing a plaque for the Motivational Star award along with prizes like notebooks and pens.

The most valuable item inside was a prepaid meal card worth 200 bucks.

Jiang Nian had no idea how this big idiot Han Xiao got her hands on these prizes, but he definitely didn’t believe she participated in the six-city joint exam.

Bought it with money, planning to show it off on TikTok, huh?

"Ah, I can’t accept this," Jiang Nian said while reaching into the gift box to feel around, "It’s really not appropriate."

The next second, he fished out the most valuable meal card. Then, right in front of Han Xiao, he stuffed it into his pocket.

After doing all this, Jiang Nian returned the gift box to her.

"Better hold onto it; after all, it’s an honor."

Han Xiao clutched the gift box: "....Get a grip, Jiang Nian."

"Not talking to fools, why did you suddenly come back to school?" Jiang Nian, considering the meal card, decided to chat with her for five minutes.

"Dropping out is fine, studying isn’t the only path."

"Drop your mom!" Han Xiao couldn’t hold it anymore, burst out, and pounded him, "I’ve said it hundreds of times."

"Art! I’m an art student!"

Jiang Nian replied with an "oh," and then asked.

"So, can you draw?"

"Drawing..." Han Xiao took a deep breath, seemed to think of something, and took a step back, "Jiang Nian, I’m leaving."

"Are you?" Jiang Nian hesitated for a moment, "Then you should cooperate well with the doctors for treatment, don’t give up hope for survival."

Han Xiao: "..."

"I’m going for an exam, not dying." She gnashed her teeth, "Just got a whim to see the school suddenly."

"Oh oh, hope you ace the exam." Jiang Nian also responded rather offhandedly, talking like experienced foxes discussing folklore.

As expected, Han Xiao sighed.

"After tonight, the next time we meet will be after the new year. Honestly, I’m not entirely confident, been anxious till now."

"Jiang Nian, I’ve always considered you my best desk buddy, friend."

She bit her lower lip and shyly glanced at Jiang Nian.

"...Can I give you a hug?"

"Bro, your map of Yan Country got a bit long." Jiang Nian grinned, "Of course, my dear friend."

With that, he opened his arms.

The administration building’s lobby was empty. Several massive pillars were enveloped in the red glow emitted by the countdown electronic board for college entrance exams.

"Really!" Han Xiao’s eyes shone, and ignoring all pretense, she licked her lips, ran a few quick steps, and jumped directly forward.

Whoosh, Han Xiao leapt into the air.

Jiang Nian swiftly moved aside while casually patting her head.

"This building’s sheltered."

Saying this, he turned around and walked away.

...

Second evening self-study, the classroom was brightly lit.

Jiang Nian returned from the teacher’s office with another meal card in his hand. This one was Old Liu’s cafeteria monthly card with a fixed amount of 600.

A daily meal expense of thirty bucks, can’t exceed the limit. If unused, it still deducts thirty daily, equivalent to forced consumption.

Honestly, could it be owned by that person?

Sort of bossy.

Zhenan Middle School had three cafeterias, initially with one food court in the west and another in the north. But students complained about not having enough to eat, so a small cafeteria was built anew.

This time the reward was a meal card specifically issued by the small cafeteria.

Old Liu didn’t care to compete with the school for meals; he could still live on soft rice at home. So, he casually handed the meal card to Jiang Nian.

Jiang Nian wasn’t particularly interested in the small cafeteria either; the taste of the food was quite ordinary with frequent servings of fried tofu.

This shit—is this for human consumption?

If eaten every day, maybe the tofu seller got cozy!

But ultimately, it’s all about money; the taste is one thing, having the card another, so he decided to grab it first.

His school day’s obsession was to recover the tuition.

Entering the classroom, there was another chorus of "wow."

Facing the commotion, Jiang Nian appeared rather composed. He had already hidden the plaque in his pocket in advance, to avoid being trolled with sarcasm.

Look at me! Look at me! What am I?

Motivational—Star!

Yeah, that’s what it’s about, Li Hua.

"Yo yo yo, the Motivational Star is back!" The eldest Li Hua came forward, rummaging through the gift box for a while, "Ah, where’s the plaque?"

"Thrown away." Jiang Nian was drinking water one-handed, while pulling out the exam paper with the other, "By the way, did you see something I dropped?"

"What?"

"Lost eight points, any thoughts?"

Li Hua: "..."

Zhang Ningzhi listened the whole time, hiding his mouth and laughing on the side.

"So cute."

Nonetheless, Zhizhi, who said this, was even cuter.

Of course, this cuteness wasn’t to describe Li with a score of 608, but rather thinking, Jiang Nian had surely achieved something.

"Did you finish your homework?" he asked.

"Yes, do you want to copy?" Zhizhi didn’t resist, already accustomed to having homework copied, and expressed understanding.

After all, Jiang Nian went to the administration building right from the evening study.

"Certainly, flip the homework book to that page." Jiang Nian was somewhat elated, "Stack them all together, put it on my desk."

"I’ll finish this exam paper first, then I’ll copy it..."