Chapter 37

The results of Jiang Jiawei's English proficiency competition are out. She and the female classmate who participated with her both won second prize, while the other male classmate won third prize.

The principal presented them with certificates during Monday's flag-raising ceremony.

Chen Jingyu asked Jiang Jiawei to treat her to a meal of spicy hot pot, and Jiang Jiawei readily agreed. The two walked hand in hand through the departing crowd toward the classroom.

"Jiang Jiawei".

"Eh."

Aside from Liu Xinze, Jiang Jiawei hasn't met anyone else who calls her name so seriously and clearly.

"congratulations."

"Ah, thank you~"

Chen Jingyu whispered in her ear, trying not to laugh, "Here we go again."

Jiang Jiawei pinched her.

"Keep it up, I believe you can get into the Elite Foundation Program."

"Yes, you too."

Unlike No. 1 High School, No. 3 High School does not have an experimental class. However, in the second semester of the second year of high school, the school will select a group of students to enter the "Strong Foundation Training Program" for the college entrance examination based on their overall academic performance. This is actually just extra classes, mainly evening self-study and weekends.

Once everyone was out of sight, Chen Jingyu finally let loose with her gossip, grinning mischievously, "Let's all get into the Super Junior program together~"

"What do you mean 'together'? He's a science major, I'm a humanities major."

"It's only separated by a wall, much closer than now that it's separated by a floor!"

Jiang Jiawei nudged the person with her elbow and said speechlessly, "Don't jump to conclusions."

Chen Jingyu tilted her head to look at her, "What's going on, Jiang Jiawei? Have you fallen for someone else?"

"I don't like him."

"No? Who said that during the Truth or Dare game— um."

Jiang Jiawei quickly covered Chen Jingyu's mouth and glanced at the people around them.

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Chen Jingyu's eyes darted around, then she smiled, "I know, I know, I'll definitely keep it a secret~"

Jiang Jiawei organized her thoughts, "I mean, I used to think he was a nice person, not the bookworm you all described."

Chen Jingyu nodded, giving her an understanding look, and said in a coaxing tone, "I know, I know, I'm not a bookworm~" She put her arm around Jiang Jiawei's shoulder, tilting her head to rest on her shoulder, "It's a campus romance story about academic geniuses~"

"What? I don't like him."

"You're still pretending with me."

Jiang Jiawei argued logically, "When we played Truth or Dare before, they were clearly asking about my ideal type, weren't they?"

"They're all her ideal type, so you still like them?"

"What I'm saying is, I think he fits the bill somewhat, but I haven't said I like him."

The bell rang.

Chen Jingyu went along with her words, "Okay, okay, I don't like it, I don't like it." She grabbed the person and ran away.

"I'm serious."

"The first period is math class, my darling!!! Got it!"

Before enjoying the wonderful Spring Festival holiday, you have to get through the final exams first.

This is the coldest time of year in Changqing. Exposed fingers are frozen into icicles by the cold air, and the characters written are weak and stiff, a true reflection of the text "Preface to Sending Ma Sheng of Dongyang".

The weather was extremely cold, the inkstone was frozen solid, and my fingers could not bend or straighten, yet I did not slacken my efforts.

As soon as Mu Zhengxi got off the plane, he was greeted by a strong gust of wind and sneezed twice. Changqing was even colder than Hanyang, where the temperature was below zero.

In a truly touching moment, the day before his official spring break, his mother, his dear mother, finally dispelled his countless doubts that her company had gone bankrupt and went on a business trip to Singapore.

It's a cloudy day, but my mood depends on my mood.

While cleaning, Jiang Jiawei found ten yuan that had somehow fallen under the bed. The first thing she did after finding this unexpected windfall was to buy a lottery ticket.

Ten yuan can buy five scratch-off lottery tickets.

The first short position.

The second short position.

"Jiang Jiawei!"

It was Mu Zhengxi's voice.

Mu Zhengxi?

Jiang Jiawei rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things. She walked out of the store and saw Mu Zhengxi, wearing a dark green jacket, one hand in his pocket, and a black baseball cap, crossing the street.

"What are you doing? Buying lottery tickets?"

"Yes!" Jiang Jiawei nodded, her dark pupils reflecting the dim light of the street lamp.

Evergreen remains lush and green even in winter.

A dark green knitted scarf with off-white trim was casually wrapped around her neck, covering half of Jiang Jiawei's face, her cheekbones forming pretty little parentheses. "There are three more, I'll shave them for you."

Her hair was braided. What's this braid called again? Hmm... Oh, fishtail braid, goldfish braid, fishtail braid, it goes well with her.

Mu Zhengxi tilted his head and smiled.

Did you win the lottery?

Not yet~

Mu Zhengxi raised an eyebrow. "Is your luck really that bad?" He stepped into the store, exuding an aura of wanting to help her get revenge.

Jiang Jiawei followed closely behind. Mu Zhengxi handed her the paper bag he was carrying, took the coins from the table, and scratched the remaining three bills. Jiang Jiawei leaned on the table and looked closer.

The third one is short selling.

The fourth one, I won!

"Ten yuan!!! Jiang Jiawei!!!"

The two gave each other a high five in excitement.

The stark contrast in temperature between the two hands made Mu Zhengxi bend his fingers and gently grasp Jiang Jiawei's hand. "Your hands are sweaty."

Jiang Jiawei withdrew her hand and turned around. "I'm a little hot." She handed the last lottery ticket to Mu Zhengxi. "If we win, we'll go buy milk tea."

"You do the scraping."

"You're lucky to have come."

Mu Zhengxi pulled her hand over, "You'll definitely win." He then placed the coin between her fingers and held it there.

"Then I'll get shaved."

"Um."

Jiang Jiawei hesitated before making her move, closing one eye to reveal the pattern beneath the film.

"Twenty yuan! Jiang Jiawei!"

"Really?!"

"Look!!"

"real!!!"

"Let's see if there's any left."

"Let me check, there isn't any left."

"See what I told you? You definitely won the lottery, didn't I bring you good luck!"

Holding the two winning lottery tickets, Jiang Jiawei's excited expression made her cheeks flush like heavy blush.

You can make 20 yuan on a 10-yuan cost basis.

Very good.

Besides milk tea, another must-have in winter is hot roasted chestnuts.

Chestnuts with cross-shaped cuts cracked open during stir-frying, revealing their bright orange cores. The outer skin can be easily peeled off with a gentle touch, revealing a soft, sweet filling.

Mu Zhengxi has no fingernails, so he can't pry it open.

"Reach out your hand."

Jiang Jiawei placed a whole, peeled chestnut in his palm and took the one he had destroyed.

"Is it tasty?"

The person who licked their lips said, "Delicious."

Jiang Jiawei's scarf had fallen off to one side, and Mu Zhengxi reached out to help her put it back around her neck. The scarf had the letters "jj" woven into the edge.

"Jiang Jiawei, who knitted this scarf for you? Your aunt or your grandma?"

"Grandma, my grandma knitted it. How did you know?"

Mu Zhengxi gestured with his chin, "The two letters of Jiajia are woven on it."

Jiang Jiawei curled up the corners of her mouth, as if a carefully designed little detail had been discovered with surprise. Her lowered eyelashes fluttered, and her tone was very proud, "My grandma is very capable. She can knit scarves and make clothes. She can do everything."

She placed several peeled chestnuts into Mu Zhengxi's palm.

Mu Zhengxi stuffed the whole thing into his mouth, his cheeks puffed out, and a teasing smile appeared in his eyes. He asked knowingly, "Can you do that?"

Jiang Jiawei awkwardly tucked her chin into her scarf and changed the subject, "When did you get back?"

"My flight is at noon." Mu Zhengxi took a big step and turned to stand in front of her. "Jiang Jiawei, where are my photos?"

"At home."

"Let's go back and get it now."

Mu Zhengxi pulled her arm and walked towards home, suddenly eager to see what Jiang Jiawei's life was like when he wasn't around.

"We competed at the No. 6 Middle School in the city, and their school is huge."

"They have a class, and there's a succulent area in the back row. I heard that the students in that class took care of it themselves."

Jiang Jiawei pointed to the photo and showed it to Mu Zhengxi, "This is it, isn't it interesting?"

"Hmm, where is this one from?"

"It was the beef noodles our teacher took us to eat at noon during the competition. This is naan, it's my first time eating it, and the owner is from Xinjiang."

What about this one?

"The vice principal bought the bread; it's chocolate flavored. I brought it back for Jia Yi, and he said it was delicious."

Mu Zhengxi suddenly realized that someone seemed to be missing from the house. "Where's Jiang Jiayi?"

"He went to visit his classmates. They were picking up their report cards today, and he said he was going to have dinner with them tonight."

Mu Zhengxi was pleased. "It's good to be with classmates. Jiang Jiayi has grown up."

Jiang Jiawei continued to introduce the store in the photo to him, "This is a newly opened peach shortbread shop near the bookstore. They also sell pineapple cakes and chestnut cakes, which are very delicious. I'll take you to buy them tomorrow."

Mu Zhengxi turned his head to look at her, and anyone who didn't know better would think she was working part-time as a store salesperson. His eyes lit up.

"Jiang Jiawei, what's wrong with you? You ate everything!" The tone was teasing, implying that all she knew was eating, but the corners of her mouth were turned up in a smile.

Jiang Jiawei didn't feel embarrassed at all. She smiled and said, "I'm just sharing with you." Then, suddenly remembering something, she got up from the sofa and went into the room, where she took out a paper bag.

"Give."

"What?"

"Strawberry snowflake crisps," Jiang Jiawei said. "They were made by Chen Jingyu's mother, and they're delicious."

"Did you leave this for me on purpose?" Mu Zhengxi looked up at her, asking casually, but his piercing gaze betrayed something else entirely.

"yes."

Mu Zhengxi beamed, tore open a piece, and popped it into his mouth. "In return, Jiang Jiawei, I'll give you a New Year's gift too!"

"A New Year's gift?"

Mu Zhengxi handed her the paper bag he had been carrying all the way, and took out a box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates. "This is for Jiang Jiayi." The other transparent bag contained new rolls of film and a cardboard box.

What is it?

"It's nothing really, just a free gift with the chocolates I bought at the airport, but you don't like chocolate, right?" Mu Zhengxi quickly reached out and pressed down on the box just as Jiang Jiawei was about to open it. "You can open it later." He lowered his eyes to avoid her gaze, then steered the conversation back to the photos in his hand. He licked the powdered sugar off his lips, a little unhappy. "Why aren't there any photos of you in here?"

Jiang Jiawei's attention was also diverted, "Because... I was the one taking the photos."

Mu Zhengxi stared at her face for a while, then said, "I don't believe you." He then reached out and demanded, "Give me the original film, I'll go back and develop a copy myself."

“My classmate is in there, and I have to protect his portrait rights.”

To assert his right to privacy, Mu Zhengxi pulled out two rolls of film from a paper bag and countered, "Look, I didn't hide anything." He accused Jiang Jiawei of being disloyal.

They were completely ignored.

Jiang Jiawei took the two rolls of film, examined them under the light, and then put them in her jacket pocket.

The person sitting cross-legged on the sofa didn't want to exchange, but seemed to be planning to renege on the deal.

Mu Zhengxi frowned, deliberately making a deep, angry breath, his mind racing. "Rock, paper, scissors!"

Without warning, Jiang Jiawei reacted instinctively.

"Bu! You lost!!!"

Best of three.

"OK."

"Rock, paper, scissors!"

Jiang Jiawei pointed at Mu Zhengxi, "Haha, you lost. A bet is a bet."

The person, who had been shot and slumped against the sofa armrest, didn't want to speak.

"Jiang Jiawei, I want to drink water."

"Sure, would you like some honey water? My dad just bought some winter honey, it smells really good."

Okay~

The face buried under the arm was secretly smiling.

The wind rustled the leaves.

The tree trunk, nourished by blood vessels, has grown another inch taller.

like.

It looks like a whale that has returned to the ocean from an aquarium.