Chapter 24 Dissatisfied [VIP]

Chapter Summary: Should we skip class to see the stars or not?

Changing seats will not have much impact on Fu Xianyin.

It doesn't matter who her deskmate is, or what the environment is like, as long as Fu Xianyin has a desk, she can study on her own.

Yin Zexuan sat next to her for a few days and was also amazed by her efficiency.

Whether in class or out, weekday or weekend, Fu Xianyin's learning efficiency is incredibly high as long as she gets into it.

The key is that she is not only efficient, but also hardworking.

Sometimes, when Yin Zexuan wanted to sneak a break during self-study, he didn't dare to stop when he saw Fu Xianyin's focused profile.

No wonder they scored 692.

Yin Zexuan has truly experienced what it means for someone more talented than you to work even harder than you.

Yin Zexuan even felt that with Fu Xianyin's encouragement, his ranking in the next monthly exam would jump several places.

Fu Xianyin rarely spoke to other students in class.

Before Yin Zexuan and Fu Xianyin became deskmates, they had no interaction whatsoever except for exchanging math homework.

When the seating chart was first released, he thought that Fu Xianyin might not even know who Yin Zexuan was.

However, during the few days he spent sitting next to Fu Xianyin, he discovered that Fu Xianyin was much easier to get along with than he had imagined.

For example, when he asked her a question, Fu Xianyin would give him a hint or two whenever she had time. The girl had a very clear logical mind; she could figure out where he was stuck after going through the problem a couple of times, and with just a little guidance, Yin Zexuan would have a sudden realization.

Furthermore, Yin Zexuan also discovered that even top students sometimes struggle with their homework, and they would become flustered when classes were changed at the last minute. Even top students have subjects they're not good at; every time he asked a question in chemistry class, he could hear Fu Xianyin quietly reciting:

"Don't ask me questions, don't ask me questions."

But the top student doesn't seem to have much luck.

Basically, Fu Xianyin would be asked questions every time.

However, this time, the luck was exceptionally bad.

Fu Xianyin stood up nervously and tapped her fingertips on the table.

The chemistry teacher repeated the question: "The larger the radius of the alkali metal's sphere, the higher its melting point, and the greater its reactivity, right? Three, two, one, answer."

Fu Xianyin blinked, her voice slightly weak: "That's not right."

The chemistry teacher, however, didn't let her off easily and continued to ask, "Why is it wrong?"

Why is that wrong?

She doesn't know.

While scratching her head in frustration, Fu Xianyin glanced down and saw a hint that Yin Zexuan had written on the draft paper.

She quickly replied, "Because the larger the radius, the lower the melting point."

Chemistry teacher Hu Weiming nodded in satisfaction, a kind smile on his face: "Hmm, not bad."

Just as Fu Xianyin was about to sit down, the chemistry teacher said, "You're Fu Xianyin, right? You're the top student in the grade, and you're a new student who transferred here not long ago."

Fu Xianyin nodded.

Hu Weiming continued, "I've seen your report card. All the other subjects are perfect, except for chemistry, right..."

Fu Xianyin lowered her head.

A chemistry score of 77, even with an exam that wasn't particularly difficult, doesn't quite match her total score of 692.

Hu Weiming didn't make things difficult for her, only saying, "Put more effort into chemistry."

Fu Xianyin hurriedly sat down.

After class, Fu Xianyin let out a long sigh, stretched, and lazily lay down on the table.

A large autumn school uniform jacket was draped over her body, and the breeze outside the window ruffled her ponytail, with a few strands of hair falling onto Yin Zexuan's arm.

Do you drink milk tea?

Fu Xianyin turned to him and suddenly asked.

A few strands of long hair on her arm returned to her back with the movement. Yin Zexuan was stunned for a moment, then nodded blankly.

Fu Xianyin smiled and said, "Want some mango pomelo sago? I'll treat you to some during the long break later. Thank you for saving my life in chemistry class."

"No, no need."

Yin Zexuan scratched his head, a little embarrassed, and said, "Actually, I'm quite happy to know that you're not good at chemistry. It's just that I have some skills that are a little better than yours, and I can help you."

Fu Xianyin's smile deepened, and Yin Zexuan belatedly realized that his words were ambiguous, so he quickly corrected himself, "That's not what I meant, I just felt..."

“I know.” Fu Xianyin smiled and said jokingly, “You don’t need to explain, that’s what you mean.”

Before Yin Zexuan could say anything more, Cheng Zhaozhao called out from the back row, "Yinyin, are you going to the restroom?"

"Here you are."

Yin Zexuan watched as the girl beside him stood up, supported by the table, and walked from the aisle beside the bed to the podium. Then Cheng Zhaozhao took his arm, and the two of them said something, their faces breaking into smiles.

During the long break, Cheng Zhaozhao had to finish her homework in the classroom and couldn't accompany Fu Xianyin to buy mango pomelo sago. Lin Anxu, who was wandering around, overheard Fu Xianyin going to buy mango pomelo sago and said:

"Sis, I'll buy it for you, so you don't have to make a trip. It'll have extra crispy popsicles, right?"

Fu Xianyin: "It's okay, I'll just run it myself, consider it exercise."

Lin Anxu: "Okay, let's go then."

The two of them went out through the front door. Lin Anxu casually tapped Gu Linzhao's table and said, "Brother Zhao, want to go to the convenience store?"

When Lin Anxu asked the question, Fu Xianyin leaned against the door frame and looked down at him.

After the switch, apart from occasionally going back to the dormitory together at night, Gu Linzhao and Fu Xianyin didn't talk much.

Gu Linzhao looked at Fu Xianyin and asked, "Are you going too?"

Fu Xianyin nodded.

Song Yaoge held the pen, and the tip of the pen poked several dots on the blank question paper.

Then she saw his deskmate stand up and say to Fu Xianyin, "Okay, let's go then."

Song Yaoge was excited when she first sat next to Gu Linzhao.

That evening during self-study, she couldn't concentrate on her studies at all. She had never been so close to Gu Linzhao before; she could smell the fresh scent of laundry detergent on him, the little gesture of twirling her pen while thinking about problems, and the furrowed brow when she encountered difficult questions.

These were things she had never experienced before.

Upon seeing the seating chart, Song Yaoge felt that she too could enjoy the right timing, location, and people to get closer to Gu Linzhao, just like Fu Xianyin.

However, things did not turn out as she had hoped.

Gu Linzhao never initiated conversations with her. Occasionally, when she mustered the courage to ask him a few questions, she couldn't understand the formulas he gave.

She and Gu Linzhao were really just ordinary classmates.

Song Yaoge lowered her head sadly.

My gaze fell upon the blank math homework on the table.

Song Yaoge's already saddened heart became even sadder.

At the milk tea shop, Fu Xianyin called out to the auntie inside, "Two cups of mango pomelo sago, and one extra crispy boba on each."

Gu Linzhao's eyes flickered.

Lin Anxu said, "Two cups? Sis, can you get one for Cheng Zhaozhao too?"

Fu Xianyin pointed to the Oreo milk tea that had already been made and said, "Zhaozhao, drink this. I brought it for my deskmate."

The words "deskmate" seemed to trigger a certain stress response in Gu Linzhao.

Without even thinking, Lin Anxu asked, "Your deskmate? Isn't Brother Zhao here?"

Fu Xianyin chuckled, "Is your memory stuck last week? My deskmate is Yin Zexuan."

The freshly made milk tea would take a while, so Lin Anxu went to the convenience store to buy snacks first, while Gu Linzhao stayed at the milk tea shop to keep Fu Xianyin company while she waited for the mango pomelo sago.

Fu Xianyin looked at the person leaning against the wall, somewhat puzzled: "Aren't you going to buy milk tea?"

Gu Linzhao: "I won't buy it."

Fu Xianyin: "Then why don't you go to the convenience store or the cafeteria?"

Gu Linzhao: "I'm not going."

Fu Xianyin didn't understand: "Then why did you come here?"

Gu Linzhao was speechless for a moment.

What do you mean, why did you call him over here?

They've only been in a different position for a short time, and they're already trying to get rid of him?

Earlier, she hadn't eaten dinner, so he accompanied her to a convenience store to eat. She was in a bad mood, so he accompanied her to a walk to cheer her up.

These purposes are purely about companionship, and both of them are very accepting of this.

Why is it that now, even when I buy her a cup of milk tea, she has to ask me a question?

Moreover, Gu Linzhao didn't think she wanted to hear the words "I'll stay with you" from his mouth at all.

He could even imagine the horrified expression on Fu Xianyin's face after he said those words.

The girl opposite him was still tilting her head to look at him.

He lowered his eyes and said, "Just came out for a stroll."

"oh."

Fu Xianyin nodded, turned around, and continued to wait for the two cups of mango pomelo sago.

Gu Linzhao watched her retreating figure and suddenly felt a little annoyed.

She bought mango pomelo sago for Yin Zexuan.

What I bought wasn't the regular version, but the extra crispy boba version that she developed herself.

Gu Linzhao's thoughts suddenly drifted back to the first day he sat next to Fu Xianyin. He noticed that Fu Xianyin was in a bad mood, and when he and Lin Anxu came to the milk tea shop, he inexplicably grabbed a cup of mango pomelo sago for Fu Xianyin. Then, Fu Xianyin pulled him aside and gave him a mini lesson on mango pomelo sago.

He looked up at the bar, where two glasses of mango pomelo sago were ready. Fu Xianyin was carrying two bags, the bright yellow juice swaying in the bottles.

One of these two cups was bought for Yin Zexuan.

So, will the same lesson about mango pomelo sago that was taught to him be repeated on Yin Zexuan?

Whoever she sits next to, she will buy them mango pomelo sago.

She acts that way no matter who she sits next to.

Snap

Fu Xianyin snapped her fingers in front of Gu Linzhao and asked curiously, "What are you standing there for? Let's not buy it."

She was carrying three cups of milk tea, two of which were mango pomelo sago in her left hand, while her right pinky finger, which was snapping his fingers, was hooked around Cheng Zhaozhao's Oreo milk tea.

Gu Linzhao didn't speak, but held out his hand to her: "I'll carry it for you."

Fu Xianyin did not refuse and handed the Oreo milk tea in her right hand to Gu Linzhao.

Gu Linzhao's gaze, however, fell on the two glasses of golden mango pomelo sago placed side by side.

He felt like he was having an episode because he heard himself say, "Give me the mango pomelo sago, two cups, the heavier one."

Fu Xianyin looked up at him.

Sigh, Fu Xianyin thought to herself, her deskmate's kind and wise persona was practically glued to her.

No, her deskmate is Yin Zexuan now.

Why did she subconsciously think of Gu Linzhao when she mentioned her deskmate, just like Lin Anxu, even though they had changed seats a week ago?

While she was lost in thought, Gu Linzhao perceived it as her wanting to refuse but not knowing how to begin.

The dissatisfaction in my heart gradually grew.

Before he could say anything more, Fu Xianyin handed him the two cups of mango pomelo sago.

"Thank you, class monitor."

Fu Xianyin smiled and naturally took the Oreo milk tea that Gu Linzhao was holding, and then hung the two cups of mango pomelo sago back up.

The cold fingertips touched my warm fingers.

Gu Linzhao felt his breathing slow down for a moment.

"Why are her hands still so cold?" Gu Linzhao thought to himself.

We've moved everything to the window, but with the sun shining so brightly, it still doesn't feel warm.

"They're here, they're here."

Lin Anxu's loud and boisterous voice came from outside the door, and Gu Linzhao was instantly brought back to his senses by the piercing sound.

Lin Anxu looked at the milk teas in their hands and asked, "Sis, are you done buying? Let's go then."

"Parent-teacher conference tonight, no evening self-study, awesome!"

Lin Anxu sipped his iced tea and said happily, "Sis, Cheng Zhaozhao, a few classmates, and I are planning to eat stir-fry at the school gate tonight. Do you want to join us? We don't have to go to evening self-study anyway, so let's relax."

Fu Xianyin glanced at Gu Linzhao and subconsciously asked, "Are you going?"

Lin Anxu: "Brother Zhao? He can't go even if he wants to. He's the class monitor, so he can't avoid the parent-teacher conference."

Fu Xianyin pursed her lips and said, "I probably can't go either. My parents want me to stay at school."

Lin Anxu said with some regret, "Oh well, it's okay, we can make another appointment later."

Lin Anxu quickly changed the subject. Like Cheng Zhaozhao, he was the type who could talk happily even when no one was responding.

The fallen leaves were piled up on the roadside, forming a thick layer.

Fu Xianyin stepped on it, and the leaves shattered with a crunching sound.

The day she returned to her dorm after the seating arrangement change last week, she sent messages to both Chen Huimei and Fu Dongyuan.

The message to Chen Huimei was to inform her of the upcoming parent-teacher meeting, while the message to Fu Dongyuan was to report on her academic performance and grade ranking.

After sending the message, Fu Xianyin sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for the Grim Reaper's scythe to fall.

Unexpectedly, Death changed his scythe.

Fu Dongyuan's news came first.

Fu Dongyuan: [You did well on the exam.]

Fu Dongyuan: [Is there a parent-teacher meeting at No. 1 Middle School on Monday evening? Please send me the time and address.]

Fu Xianyin was taken aback.

She's been alive for seventeen years, and Fu Dongyuan has never even attended a parent-teacher conference for her. His presence sometimes makes Fu Xuanyin forget that she actually has a father.

Just as she was lost in thought, Chen Huimei called.

She sounded tired, as if she had been doing something.

"Yinyin, is there a parent-teacher meeting next week? What time is it?"

Fu Xianyin hesitated for a moment, but still told Chen Huimei, "Mom, Dad just asked me about the time and address of the parent-teacher conference."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a cold laugh: "Heh, your dad? Fu Xianyin, you've grown up and you think your mom is useless now, haven't you? You think you don't need your mom anymore now that you have your dad, you think you have Fu Dongyuan?"

here we go again.

Fu Xianyin numbly turned on the speakerphone on her phone, then mechanically unfolded the quilt, folded it into a tofu block, unfolded it again, and folded it into a tofu block again.

She couldn't hear what Chen Huimei was saying, nor did she want to, and just kept repeating the same actions.

After repeating this countless times, the other end of the phone fell silent.

Fu Xianyin said, "Then I'll tell Fu Dongyuan that you're going to my parent-teacher conference."

Chen Huimei's voice sounded extremely tired, and her throat was hoarse.

She said, "Let him go."

“He’s your father, he should go.”

After saying that, Chen Huimei hung up the phone.

Fu Xianyin opened the chat window with Fu Dongyuan and entered the time and location.

Fu Dongyuan never came.

Half an hour after the parent-teacher meeting began, Fu Xianyin received a WeChat message from Fu Dongyuan's secretary:

[Miss, Mr. Fu has an unplanned business engagement today and won't be able to attend.]

The window seat was empty, and Fu Xianyin peered into the classroom from the doorway.

Inside the classroom, Gu Linzhao was collecting feedback forms written by parents.

On an empty table, the one by the window, piled high with papers and completely deserted, stands out starkly.

The white light, like the gleam of a sharp blade, made Fu Xianyin feel as if it were blinding her.

Before Gao Ying entered the classroom, Fu Xianyin stood next to her, head down, and whispered, "I'm sorry, teacher, my parents... have something come up and can't come to the parent-teacher meeting."

Gao Ying sighed, waved her hand, and indicated that she understood.

She went into the classroom to continue the parent-teacher meeting. Gu Linzhao placed the collected parent feedback forms on the podium, said something to Gao Ying, and then came out of the classroom.

Fu Xianyin couldn't help but glance at her desk again.

Fu Dongyuan didn't come, and she didn't want to call Chen Huimei anymore.

She didn't want to hear Chen Huimei complain about Fu Dongyuan, nor did she want to hear Chen Huimei say things like, "You should have let me come earlier, you only have me left."

Fu Xianyin suddenly felt ridiculous.

After all these years, why does she still have expectations of Fu Dongyuan?

She's already seventeen, Fu Dongyuan has always been like this, and she's told herself countless times not to have any expectations of them, so why...?

Why is it that in the depths of my heart, there is still a hidden place where tender shoots have sprouted, hoping that a wisp of sweet rain will descend?

But this land is as dry as the Sahara.

Fu Xianyin was amused by her own analogy. She leaned against the wall and burst out laughing. Suddenly, she felt something and looked up to meet Gu Linzhao's eyes.

Fu Xianyin felt that she must look like a madwoman right now.

Her face was droopy, her eyes were downcast, yet the corners of her mouth were pulled up like a marionette.

The corridor lights went out, and the shadows enveloped Fu Xianyin, giving her a sense of security and allowing her to survive in this moment.

She slowly lowered her eyelashes and remained silent.

Gu Linzhao looked at the person in front of him, his words circling back and forth.

After a while, he turned and left.

Fu Xianyin heard the noise and looked up, only to find that the person who should have walked away was standing not far away, tilting his head to look at her.

Aren't you coming?

In short, by the time Fu Xianyin came to her senses, she was already walking on campus with Gu Linzhao.

With her schoolbag on her back, she looked at the bright stars and moon in the sky and suddenly blurted out:

"Birds chirp among the trees, stars float on the riverbank."

Gu Linzhao chuckled lightly: "You're quite cultured."

“Right?” Fu Xianyin was not modest at all: “The 139 in Chinese didn’t come for nothing.”

"Let's see if they can influence me and I can get 139 in the next monthly exam."

Gu Linzhao said, "Do you know what can only come to mind when I look at this?"

Fu Xianyin asked cooperatively, "What?"

Gu Linzhao: "The moon is bright and the stars are few; crows and magpies fly south."

Even though it wasn't funny, Fu Xianyin couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips into a smile.

She said, "But stars are not rare, and there are no magpies at our school."

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen such a dense cluster of stars,” Fu Xianyin sighed. “The last time I saw this was…”

Gu Linzhao just smiled.

Fu Xianyin rolled her eyes at him and saw that Gu Linzhao had stopped smiling, but there was still a hint of amusement in his eyes.

He asked, "Is the phone still charged?"

Fu Xianyin lit up the screen to show him and said, "It's basically full."

She swallowed hard and asked, "What are you going to do?"

The silvery moonlight gently shone down, casting a layer of shimmering diamond-studded gauze over the two of them.

The boy's smile was incredibly alluring, like a demon from the moon descending to seduce her.

He said:

"Skip evening self-study and look at the stars."

"Are you going or not?"

[Author's Note]

Happy Children's Day to all the readers!

555 Please, my dear readers, leave a comment so I know someone's still reading. It's so cold, so cold, so cold on campus! I need to wrap myself up in my blanket!