CHAPTER 561: CHAPTER 457: RETURNING THE FAVOR

Jiang Nian casually asked, just to avoid any scheduling conflicts.

Fortunately, his reputation as a studious person held up. Everyone around him knew he was pressed for time, so they didn’t bother inviting him out.

That’s why it’s good to be good at studying.

"It’s fine, you guys go have fun." He smiled and said, "I was just asking, I have some plans this afternoon too."

"Oh, what plans?"

"Nothing much, just buying some stuff," Jiang Nian estimated he wouldn’t have any conflicts, "then going home to nap and work on some test papers."

"Oh oh, then be a good boy." Zhang Ningzhi waved at him as she left, "Bye-bye, I’m going to find Beibei."

Up front, Yao Beibei had also packed her things.

The seating in the classroom was being rearranged, but since her seat just needed to be moved forward, she could leave without much delay.

Jiang Nian stayed behind to swap his seat with Zhang Ningzhi’s.

A simple task.

After changing seats, Jiang Nian turned to see the class representative sitting quietly. Mimicking Zhang Ningzhi, he waved hello.

"Hello, hello."

Li Qingrong glanced up at him, her eyes as if looking at a fool.

"Hmm."

"Qingqing is really cool, not even speaking," Jiang Nian didn’t mind, turned around to tease, flipping through the books on her desk.

"Didn’t you just finish the homework assigned this morning?"

"When did you do it?"

Li Qingrong looked up, "Did it during class."

"I really want to report you, not paying attention in class," Jiang Nian immediately felt it was unfair, the gap between people was too wide.

"Feel free."

Ever since the time at the Jingfu District, when Jiang Nian had hugged her, he felt the class rep was a bit different, a subtle change.

What exactly changed was so minute he couldn’t tell.

But it was normal; the class rep was the kind of person who kept everything inside, occasionally sharing.

So, reactions and actions were always delayed.

He’ll wait and see.

If there had to be a comparison, it would undoubtedly be Han Xiao. That woman was so expressive, quite the contrast.

"What are you planning to do this afternoon?" Jiang Nian asked.

"Clean the house, some packages arrived," Li Qingrong thought for a moment, "set up internet cables, and play some games."

Hearing this, Jiang Nian had no particular reaction. Since the place was rented for the class rep, he wouldn’t casually visit.

If her parents found out, it would be too impolite.

Although he could be cheeky and carefree, he only did that to certain people. Objectively, he was still a pretty decent person.

Even with "ex-girlfriend" Xiao Song, he hadn’t had any physical contact, and rarely even joked flirtatiously.

More than friends, less than romantic.

However, when Li Qingrong mentioned playing games, it completely piqued Jiang Nian’s interest, as he also loved games.

"Hey, what game are you playing?"

Li Qingrong didn’t answer, just glanced at him.

"What games do you like?"

...

About half past noon.

On the street.

Xu Qianqian sent a message to Jiang Nian, straightforwardly.

"Where are you?"

Jiang Nian replied instantly, "Just finished eating, heading to the classroom."

"Come quickly," Xu Qianqian sent her location and dragged Song Xiyun alongside her to buy three cups of milk tea across the street.

"Hi, what would you like to drink?"

"Two cups..." Xu Qianqian skillfully ordered the usual milk teas, adding, "And one with ice."

Song Xiyun looked on curiously, unable to resist asking.

"He’s drinking iced drinks in the dead of winter?"

"Yeah, he’s been like that since he was little," Xu Qianqian rolled her eyes, "He’ll smarten up when he catches a cold."

Song Xiyun glanced at Xu Qianqian, sensing something had changed about her.

"You guys..."

Xu Qianqian: "Hmm?"

In the end, Song Xiyun changed her question.

"Qianqian, what time did you guys plan to meet?"

"Around twelve-something, said he was still in the classroom working on problems," Xu Qianqian said, "It’s strange, he’s been focusing on studying these past two weeks."

"Was he always like that before?" Song Xiyun asked.

Xu Qianqian seemed to remember something, frowned, "He was like... you know."

After a while, a figure appeared at the door.

"There you guys are!"

Jiang Nian walked over to the two girls, feeling oddly pleased to see his childhood friend and "future ex-girlfriend" together.

"When I came by and didn’t see anyone, I guessed you went to buy milk tea."

Hearing this, Song Xiyun thought that they really knew each other well. She also breathed a sigh of relief; she didn’t like being sneaky, it was too awkward.

"Here," Xu Qianqian handed him the fruit tea, "with ice."

"Oh oh, thanks," Jiang Nian took it, the three of them standing together attracting attention, "You haven’t said where we’re going this afternoon yet?"

"To a really good restaurant," Xu Qianqian said earnestly, "But the portion sizes are a bit large, me and Xiyun..."

Hearing this, Jiang Nian couldn’t hold back.

"What, do you see me as some sort of bottomless pit?"

"Isn’t the milk tea I bought for you enough?" Xu Qianqian turned her head, "Hmph, why are you so petty?"

"Is it the same thing?"

"You drank it, are you going to spit it back out?"

"Hold out your hands then."

"Ugh!!"

Xu Qianqian quickly dodged, running away while expressing her disdain.

"You’re disgusting!"

Song Xiyun, used like a pylon, was circled by Xu Qianqian but found it nice; at least the atmosphere felt normal.

"About Xiao Song Wanting an Ordinary Life"

In the end, Jiang Nian went with Xu Qianqian to the north side of town. The three took a bus, swaying all the way just to eat.

"Going so far, how good can it be?"

"Spicy enough to make you sick."

"Are you bluffing?"

Amid this playful banter, Song Xiyun opened her phone, habitually launching a puzzle game to play.

Ding dong!

An ad popped up from Pi Xi Xi, [Lowest price for a phone is only 399!]

Her finger, poised to touch the screen, hesitated and clicked in on impulse; the details page showed a configuration that could handle any mobile game.

Upon opening the purchase, the price immediately doubled.

1099.

Song Xiyun sighed slightly, swiping away the page. It wasn’t that she couldn’t afford it, but she found no need to buy it.

Her phone still worked, and buying a new one just for games seemed too... unnecessary.

"What are you doing?" Jiang Nian leaned over; he had glimpsed her looking at a phone purchase page with his peripheral vision.

He also caught sight of her old, worn-out phone, causing a slight pause.

"Nothing, just on my phone," Song Xiyun said.

"Oh, okay." Jiang Nian nodded, recalling a fragment about Xiao Song from the system’s memory.

Although college life seemed happy, it always circled back to one word.

Saving money.

But indeed, it’s tough without money.

After half an hour of rattling on the bus, the three finally arrived at their destination. An unassuming restaurant, with a small but clean storefront.

"This is it?"

"Hmm, you’ll see in a bit," Xu Qianqian raised her head, "A friend of my dad’s brought our family here once."

"How was it?"

"Really delicious, ah, you’ll find out soon," Xu Qianqian ran off, "I’ll go order, you guys sit."

"Okay."

Jiang Nian and Song Xiyun found a table near the outside and sat down. Song Xiyun was still on her phone, and he curiously glanced over.

Puzzle game?

So childish, why not play Sokoban.

With nothing to do, he looked around the somewhat dated little restaurant, his gaze lingering momentarily on the fridge.

His phone buzzed, a message from the class rep.

Li Qingrong: "The computer I bought arrived, can you set it up?"

Jiang Nian immediately sat up straight.