Chapter 25: Wang Kan's Opening Exam...
Wang Kan achieved her goal of ranking among the top 100 in her grade and scoring 89th in her class in the entrance exam, even slightly higher than Fang Minzhou had expected.
He studied diligently, but he was also lucky, guessing several multiple-choice questions with extremely low success rates. This exam also happened to test some minor knowledge points that she had mentioned during the winter break. In short, he might not be so lucky next time.
But seeing that Wang Kan was about to set off firecrackers to celebrate, Fang Minzhou didn't want to spoil his fun.
She was also quite happy, mainly because besides the positive results in her teaching, she herself did even better, ranking third in her class. With half of high school gone, she finally broke into the top twenty in her grade – a great start to the new year, wouldn't you say?
However, she remained calm and composed on the surface, reminding herself to avoid arrogance and impetuosity. Although Wang Kan teased her about being so modest, who was like him?
Even Sun Tong wasn't as arrogant as him.
Speaking of which, Sun Tong was again the top student in the class. While admiring her, Fang Minzhou couldn't help but secretly compare the narrowing score gap between them.
On the first day of winter break, Wang Kan tentatively asked her what would happen if he didn't do well on his entrance exam. She replied casually that it was just an entrance exam, but sitting on the bus home, she realized for the first time that it was a rather serious problem: what if she didn't do well...
Fang Minzhou made this decision almost without much thought; it was a decision she couldn't hesitate about.
Unlike the midterm exam last semester, when she stubbornly tried to prove she wouldn't be influenced by Wang Kan, and she succeeded, what if she does poorly again? Should she continue to prove herself by not changing her deskmate?
So what exactly is being proven in the end?
Whether she wanted to admit it or not, Fang Minzhou knew that the reasons were the same, but the motives were no longer pure. She felt that she hadn't crossed any lines, but that was self-deception. Only someone on the verge of breaking the rules would insist that they hadn't really done anything wrong.
Therefore, if she does poorly on a test, she must rationally and quickly turn things around. She has been studying diligently throughout the holiday, and the difficulty of the tests at the start of the semester is generally not very high. It would be really unacceptable for her to do poorly.
Her grades will tell her most objectively whether she has the right to sneak candy during class.
So what was originally just a normal entrance exam in her eyes suddenly became an exam that made her nervous.
Fortunately, she did well on the exam, and Ms. Zhan didn't mention changing seats. It was only then that Fang Minzhou realized that, given Ms. Zhan's personality of preferring to avoid trouble, she wouldn't bother organizing another seat change unless absolutely necessary.
However, there are still some things to be aware of.
During the two weeks at the city library at the end of winter break, she and Wang Kan sat at opposite ends of a corner table. No one around them knew them, and the library's quiet atmosphere made it a relatively safe environment for Fang Minzhou. So she indulged Wang Kan and herself.
Wang Kan, however, was completely unsuspecting. After the exams at the start of the semester, he was all smiles. He would glance at her during class, and after class, he would try to chat with her. One evening during self-study, he even brought her a cup of milk tea.
There weren't many people in the classroom, and no one cast strange glances at them, but Fang Minzhou's back stiffened completely.
In the eyes of most classmates, she and Wang Kan must have had many conflicts, after all, the argument during that self-study class was very memorable, and even Fang Minzhou herself thought so.
The friends in the front and back rows, though... they were also unaware of what had happened between them.
They need to keep their distance, as if they hadn't seen each other much during the winter break.
Fang Minzhou put the milk tea back on Wang Kan's table.
Wang Kan took it as just her being polite, and said, "Teacher Fang, consider this as payment for your tutoring."
As soon as he spoke, some classmates looked over, and Fang Minzhou suddenly felt like she had become a target. It would seem even more suspicious if she argued with Wang Kan over a cup of milk tea, but she really didn't want to drink it, so she pushed the milk tea to Ouyang Qian.
"I'll treat you to a drink next time," Wang Kan said to Ouyang Qian.
Ouyang Qian understood Wang Kan's expression and Fang Minzhou's facial expression.
Watching a play requires sunflower seeds, peanuts, and ham sausages, but there were none of those. A cup of milk tea would be fine too. Besides, she had to stand on Fang Minzhou's side no matter what, so Ouyang Qian chuckled and poked the milk tea's seal with a straw.
The crisp "pop" sound also punctured Wang Kan's pink bubble.
Okay, he admits he got a little carried away, but what did Fang Minzhou mean?
"Are you trying to avoid suspicion?" The tree-lined path leading out of the school's side gate was deserted except for the two of them.
Wang Kan followed behind Fang Minzhou, stepping on her long shadow. Evening self-study was over, and he wanted an explanation.
A foggy winter night, damp and quiet.
"We don't have anything to hide, do we? We didn't do anything wrong. I can't even buy you a cup of milk tea, and you ignore me when I talk to you. What if I ask you a question later?" Wang Kan complained. He was exaggerating at first, but he started to sound a little aggrieved. He had done pretty well on the test, but Fang Minzhou hadn't shown any appreciation. "So what if I do poorly on the next test? Are you going to...?"
Under a tree on a street corner, some distance from the station, Fang Minzhou turned around, and Wang Kan stopped as well.
"Wang Kan," Fang Minzhou called out to him, having already decided what she wanted to say.
“…Hmm.” Wang Kan’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
The streetlights cast a dim, yellowish glow, as if they were melting.
Fang Minzhou sighed slightly, "You're studying for yourself."
Wang Kan: "..."
To be honest, Fang Minzhou's words made him want to laugh a little. What an old-fashioned line! But her expression was so serious that he could only reply earnestly, as if making a solemn vow: "Yes, I know."
"You can ask me questions, but..." Fang Minzhou hesitated, though she had already prepared her words, she still felt a little ashamed to say it.
Wang Kan held his breath for most of the day, but before he could hear the next half of her sentence, he lost his patience. He was willing to accept the execution warrant if it was really her. "But what? Can you please stop taking such long breaths?"
Fang Minzhou glared at him immediately, but then looked away, her voice drifting over: "...I don't plan to date in high school."
Wang Kan's mind went blank, and the teasing remark slipped out: "What you mean by not planning to is that it's not impossible, depending on the situation?"
Fang Minzhou's slightest sense of shame vanished instantly.
She was just being tactful; she wasn't playing word games with him.
"I won't date in high school," Fang Minzhou corrected forcefully.
Wang Kan responded with an "Oh".
Well...
This is much better than the worst outcome he could have imagined.
A well-behaved girl like Fang Minzhou would never dare to have a relationship too early. He had already guessed that if given a choice, she would rather sit under a tree and be hit by apples than steal one.
At this very moment, he couldn't believe that Fang Minzhou didn't like him at all; even if there was only a little, it was still a sign of liking.
Wang Kan's calmness surprised Fang Minzhou. After the surprise, she couldn't help but curse herself for being narcissistic. Otherwise, she would have liked to see what he did.
"So when do you plan to talk?" Wang Kan asked slowly, "The moment you graduate from high school?"
Fang Minzhou: "..."
I don't want to talk to him.
"I know you're worried that early romantic relationships will affect your studies. But don't you think this conclusion has no scientific basis?"
Fang Minzhou was stunned by Wang Kan's utterly absurd words.
"What?!" Fang Minzhou's heart skipped a beat. This was not what she meant at all. "What's it to you?"
"Hey, you said it yourself, you won't date in high school."
Fang Minzhou grew anxious, "Can't you focus on your studies?"
"I'll let it go. But besides studying, you still need to sleep, eat, and rest a little, right? So..." He was vague about the last few words.
Unable to argue with him, Fang Minzhou turned and left.
Wang Kan caught up, half serious and half roguish, "What? Am I wrong? Then tell me, what do you want me to do? I can't control myself... Either you let me not even ask you a question, but we're still deskmates after all..."
Fang Minzhou suddenly turned around, and Wang Kan almost bumped into her, but she didn't flinch, she was really angry: "We're just deskmates! Don't say anything nonsense at school, don't give me anything, and don't follow me home!"
"...So I'm going to my relative's house?"
Which relative are you?
"I have a relative."
"Nobody believes you," Fang Minzhou said harshly. "Don't follow me!"
Wang Kan surrendered with both hands, obediently standing still, watching Fang Minzhou walk away with her ponytail swinging back and forth, then touched her neck and smiled.
Back home, Fang Minzhou was still fuming. Her mother asked her if she wanted a late-night snack, but she said no and went to take a shower first.
After drying my hair and calming down a bit, I started to feel regret again and sat cross-legged on the bed, lost in thought.
Zhao Ningying knocked on the door and came in. Seeing this scene, she couldn't help but laugh. "What's wrong? Are you too tired?"
“No…” Fang Minzhou said.
"Go to bed early after you've finished your homework. Don't stay up so late every day," Zhao Ningying said, putting the milk on the table. Fang Minzhou nodded.
While drinking milk, Fang Minzhou checked her phone and received a text message from an unknown number:
Fang Minzhou,
Hello!
I'm Wang Kan, your deskmate this semester. This is my phone number (please don't block me, remember to save it! ^_^)
I think the rules of conduct for deskmates that you just mentioned make a lot of sense. However, I would like to add my personal opinion: In addition to helping each other with studies, good deskmate relationships should also involve mutual communication and understanding in daily life. Therefore, showing care for each other and occasionally giving each other gifts (such as milk tea) are friendly gestures that help enhance friendship and grow together. What do you think?
Please consider the above suggestions as appropriate.
Your deskmate:
Wang Kan
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