CHAPTER 552: CHAPTER 450: LET ME KNOW WHEN THE TEACHER COMES

"Then I can’t do it either." Jiang Nian was straightforward.

Love can deceive, but physics cannot.

"Actually, you could skip it, the third question..." Li Qingrong tried to suggest another solution, which was not to do it.

"I want to score 650." Jiang Nian replied.

Upon hearing this, Li Qingrong glanced up at him. Without saying anything further about skipping the third question, she began explaining it for the fourth time.

During lunch.

Jiang Nian didn’t mention anything about looking for a place, staying calm for now. He planned to find a suitable place first before telling the class monitor.

It’s uncertain if it’s even necessary, just in case..... you know.

"What are you thinking about?" Li Qingrong glanced at him and put down her chopsticks, "You seemed distracted earlier, something bothering you?"

"No, Qingqing, you’re really pretty."

"Hmm."

During the break in evening study, the classroom was noisy.

Lin Dong yawned. The championship match yesterday afternoon almost drained his energy, and he hadn’t fully recovered in the past two days.

Class Three won the championship, and he made an indelible contribution.

"Dong Bro."

Someone patted him.

"Hmm?"

He turned his head and found it was his deskmate, Sun Zhicheng. Most of the people in their group had gone out, leaving just the two of them in their seats.

"Ah Cheng, what’s up?"

"I have a question, Dong Bro." Sun Zhicheng hesitated for a long time, and seeing no one around, he asked, "Do you think I look like a simp?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Dong drew a sharp breath.

Oh no, the simp is asking for validation.

It’s like when people suspect they have been cheated on, even though they cannot see it themselves, they can feel it, so they ask those around them for confirmation.

What color do you think is on my head?

The simp is the same way.

"Ah Cheng, why are you asking this?"

"Just asking casually." Sun Zhicheng laughed awkwardly and explained, "I’m not the type to be a simp."

In fact, he was only reviewing Yang Qiming’s sarcastic remarks from that day.

He wasn’t even pursuing anyone anymore, so how could he be called a simp?

In comparison, Yang Qiming was the real simp. The girl wasn’t interested, yet he kept pestering and even confessed.

Purely idiotic.

Admittedly, he had done similar things himself.

But can you even compare them?

At least he was a slow burn, with two years of acquaintance as a foundation, not capable of opening his heart to just anyone.

So, he hoped to get an answer from Lin Dong to support his claim.

Lin Dong glanced at him, his expression somewhat complicated.

"I don’t think so."

Hearing this, Sun Zhicheng was pleased inside, but didn’t show it on his face.

"I knew it."

Lin Dong: "...."

Being a simp requires action, Sun Zhicheng was pure unrequited love. Chen Yunyun was practically that thing, and he was still warming up.

However, Lin Dong wasn’t concerned about these things.

Christmas Eve was coming up soon, and he had his eye on the business of wholesaling apples. But for the sake of face, he didn’t want to personally get involved in the "stink of money."

But alas, the "stink of money" was too tempting.

As he knew, in a parallel class downstairs, a boy wholesaled apples last year and made a thousand yuan overnight.

And that was with him not even being good at selling, if it were him... he would’ve long since!

....

Jiang Nian did homework the whole night, never lifting his head.

He worked so hard mainly to make up for the time wasted on the football match, but others might see it differently.

Li Hua’s opinion was that it was all an act, every time he saw Jiang Nian studying. He was reminded of those eight points he fell behind by, making him uncomfortable.

"What are you doing, Nian?"

Jiang Nian didn’t respond, pretending not to hear.

An idiot disrupting my studies?

Sod off!

This made Li Hua even more uncomfortable, sighing, he said.

"Brother, you’ve changed. You used to at least chat between classes occasionally. Now you’re just like a robot, no feelings."

The chatting was too extraordinary, who would do such a thing during recess!

"Group leader, don’t disturb others’ study!" Zhang Ningzhi’s head emerged, "You don’t study and won’t let others study, that’s too much."

"I..." Li Hua’s face turned red.

He turned to look at Jiang Nian, thinking, byd, come out and say something. How is this man’s war, and he’s hiding behind a woman?

Seeing a brother do well, it was more painful than being killed.

Why can’t you stop trying so hard?

Jiang Nian looked up and glanced at Li Hua. Without saying a word, he just made an ’eight’ gesture with his chin.

"Chi Shi!" Li Hua broke down.

Huang Fang was used to this but also felt a slight pressure. So she worked even harder on her problems, continuing the internal competition.

Ma Guojun had no opinion on it, he was still copying Li Hua’s math homework.

The current school progress was in the second round, focused on making up for gaps. The materials were thinner than the first round, in absolute streamlined style.

Then what about the third round?

The third round was survival of the fittest; there’s nothing in it. Straight-A students were godlike, slackers were waiting for the holidays, and those in the middle were anxious.

By doing some test papers and spacing out, a day passes just like that.

Empty minds, confusion in life.

Zhou Yuting was pretty confused now, already feeling the pressure of the third round. Fortunately, it was only the provincial joint exam for now, and there was still time to catch up.

As for the one to catch up to, naturally it was Jiang Nian with his 616 points.

As she passed by from the back row, seeing Jiang Nian not even looking up during the break, she felt suffocated; the other party was even more diligent than her.

How high do you intend to climb?

This guy’s ambition, terrifying as it was.

After school.

Jiang Nian was walking home with two girls. One of the reasons he buried himself in evening study was largely for this.

He thought, wouldn’t it be great if Li Hua could see this.

"What are you thinking about?" Xu Qianqian glanced at him, "You’ve been happy since school ended, hasn’t stopped until now."

"Isn’t it because of Xiao Song, the more the merrier." Jiang Nian said casually.

"Huh?" Song Xiyun got a bit anxious.

For this, Xu Qianqian didn’t mind. This guy barely spoke a few truthful words, probably just ran into some good thing tonight.

"Ran into a little romance?"

Hearing this, Jiang Nian nodded.

"Not gonna lie, there have been a few these days. Mostly juniors, and some daring ones, even inviting me out at night."

He didn’t exactly lie, but he didn’t agree either.

Boys should protect their kidneys when they go out. If they get drained, so be it. But if someone digs them out, who can you complain to?

"Oh, why aren’t you going?" Qianqian shook him.

"Well, because I’m not interested in girls." Jiang Nian said bluntly, "It’s boring. I’d rather go home and cook you guys a midnight snack."

That was pure nonsense.

Qianqian glanced at him, remained silent.

Thinking, if he’s not interested in girls, then... what am I considered? That night, in the dark hallway, did he treat me like a brother?

Then he’s quite the queer.

Song Xiyun was shivering throughout, not daring to speak.

Whether Jiang Nian is into girls or not, she doesn’t know. Because between Jiang Nian and her, there’s quite a platonic vibe, yet it doesn’t feel like normal friendship.

As for her feelings towards Jiang Nian, she’s not quite sure either.

But... occasionally she wonders, if they were really together, they’d probably be a pair that wouldn’t be forgiven or blessed.

Such thoughts flicker and pass by.

Like a dragonfly on the water, leaving faint ripples.

Back at home.

The three stayed at Qianqian’s house, with Jiang Nian busy in the kitchen. Though it wasn’t much trouble, it took just a few minutes to boil water and prepare the ingredients.

With the remaining time, he leaned against the kitchen door, playing on his phone.

Occasionally glancing at the two girls laughing and playing in the living room, his eyes slightly narrowed. He unconsciously ordered some jelly and popping candy online.

Last time, he had "borrowed" Qianbao’s jelly and hadn’t returned it yet.

What’s the popping candy for?

For eating during class, kids shouldn’t touch it.

"Are you guys buying apples for Christmas Eve next week?" Song Xiyun suddenly looked at Qianqian, then glanced at Jiang Nian.

"No." Qianqian shook her head, "We Chinese don’t celebrate Western holidays, plus the idea of Christmas Eve is too boring."

"Same here." Jiang Nian put away his phone, "That’s just a scam. How could people eat apples on Christmas Eve?"

"If we eat apples on Christmas Eve, does that mean we eat lovers on Valentine’s Day? But then again, people do ’eat’ lovers on Christmas Eve."

Song Xiyun: "..."

"Ignore him, he’s talking nonsense again." Qianqian rolled her eyes, "Apples are given out, but not many people actually eat them."

"True." Song Xiyun nodded, instinctively including Jiang Nian in the decision, "So we’re not buying them this year?"

Qianqian nodded, glancing at Jiang Nian with a meaningful look.

"I’m not buying, but who knows about others. Some people were quite generous before, giving away twenty-yuan apples just like that."

Being mentioned, Jiang Nian turned to look at her.

"And then?"

"Twenty yuan?" Song Xiyun exclaimed, looking incredulous, "Are there really apples that expensive? Who did you give them to?"

Friend, do you want to kill me?

Jiang Nian was already feeling awkward. Who could he possibly give a twenty-yuan apple to? Of course, it was for Tingzi, who else?

Tingzi in her first year was truly impressive, the chosen one.

I’m confused, but not blind.

"Ahem, well... the stuff in the kitchen is about ready. Let’s have the midnight snack. What do you two want to drink?"

Qianqian pouted, "Cola."

Treating guests as family, the three of them simply drank cola together.

In the winter night, with the bright lights of the living room. On the dining table, three glasses clicked together, making a crisp sound.

"Cheers!!"

Jiang Nian woke up in the middle of the night, groggily opening his eyes. Mistaking it for dawn, he reached for his phone and squinted his eyes instinctively.

Checking the time, it was three in the morning.

He realized there were still two more hours until daylight, enough time to sleep a bit more.

Great!

The next day.

Jiang Nian returned with hot water, glanced at the Friday schedule, sat down, and began working on problems until his phone buzzed.

Strange, this early in the morning.

Who could it be?

He looked up to see the empty classroom, and Huang Fang in the front row quickly covered her ears, not listening.

Unnecessary, Fangfang.

The message was from Lin Dong, who said he was contemplating selling apples last night. He got so excited that he couldn’t sleep.

Selling apples at school is like opening a gym in a rural area.

But can they sell?

If they do sell, it mainly depends on two things, whether the year group bans apples, and whether they can find good-looking boxes.

Christmas Eve apples are the real-life version of buying the jewel box and returning the pearl inside.

They aren’t eaten, just for show.

Coincidentally, Jiang Nian is quite the expert at showing off. Lin Dong asked the right person, so he gave him some suggestions.

After that, he typed another message.

"Are you planning to sell them yourself?"

Buzz, Lin Dong replied instantly.

"I haven’t found anyone yet, but Hu Nianzhong approached me yesterday. I don’t quite trust that guy, last time he was nuts."

"Brother Nian, interested in joining?"

"No." Jiang Nian declined.

He figured his next goal should be to earn ten thousand. Christmas Eve apples won’t earn that much, the market is small.

Even if I earned twenty per apple, it would take until the year of the monkey.

Besides, getting classmates to help means giving them a cut. I can’t expect them to see me as a brother while I treat them as slaves.

Overall, it’s a thankless task.

Plus, on Friday, my "winning" has reset. The "good news" hasn’t been used yet. Planning to search for housing first and then activate it.

Money’s limited use in senior year: study fun making money.

"I won’t join, but if you’re getting into it." Jiang Nian typed, "I have a reliable candidate who can help."

Although Feifei is introverted, she doesn’t shy away from finding opportunities. Upon observation, she’s not just a pretty face.

Lin Dong: "Who?"

"A girl, you can’t just ask boys to help, right?" Jiang Nian replied and briefly explained the situation.

Only mentioned she has a tough background and is hardworking.

Lin Dong: "Alright, I could use someone like that."

Jiang Nian: "I’ll ask her first."

Early self-study.

Li Hua memorized two words and was already sleepy, patting Jiang Nian and said.

"Let me know when the teacher comes."

"Sure."

Upon hearing this, Li Hua lay down promptly. Finding the desk too hard, he used an English textbook as a pillow and began snoring.

A few minutes later, the year coordinator pulled him up.

"Wake up!"