After confirming that Xiao Shang was indeed in a good mood, Chen Bing stopped joking and said directly, "What else could it be? You seem a little off today."
"What's wrong? I've always looked like this." Xiao Shang looked herself up and down to make sure that, from an appearance standpoint, she hadn't changed at all.
Just then, the green light turned on again, so Chen Bing turned the handlebars and started the electric scooter. Following the wind's call, he shouted back, "It's about the math Olympiad!"
What's wrong with the Mathematical Olympiad?
"Knowing you as I do, after hearing how difficult it is to win a provincial award, shouldn't you be worried and start to doubt your own abilities? Based on past experience, this is the time for me to comfort you, say some comforting and considerate words, help you deal with the difficulties, and then, after successfully comforting you, you can reward me with something out of gratitude."
"W-what?!" Xiao Shang felt a little ashamed, wondering if this was really how Chen Bing perceived her. After thinking about it carefully, she realized that it seemed to be true.
From the transition from primary to junior high school a long time ago, to the high school entrance exams later, and then to the subject selection not long ago, and many other things, it seems that the process is always the same.
Oh, I was so easily fooled!
Xiao Shang felt a pang of shame again, realizing that Chen Bing had manipulated her step by step.
Bringing herself back to reality from these chaotic thoughts, Shang Yunmiao changed the subject, saying, "Well, anyway, I'm fine now. Aren't difficulties meant to be overcome?"
"Oh, is that so?"
After drawing out a long syllable, Chen Bing stopped speaking as if she was pondering something.
And so, quietly, the two returned home. After Shang Yunmiao got out of the car with a cute "heave-ho," Chen Bing suddenly asked again, "Really, you don't need me to comfort you at all? Really, you don't feel frustrated at all?"
"No way! I'm not going to stay a kid forever. Besides, I haven't even taken the exam yet, and it's still uncertain whether I'll pass the preliminary round. Chen Bing, you're underestimating me!"
Xiao Shang's voice sounded confident and assertive, as if he really had no problem.
While feeling relieved, Chen Bing couldn't help but have other thoughts.
Well, all she did today was kiss her just now, and the young and vigorous Chen Bing was clearly not satisfied yet. Right now, taking advantage of Shang Yunmiao's high spirits, she could squeeze some more out of her.
Guided by this thought, Chen Bing grinned and said, "It's not that I'm looking down on you, it's just that I'm really worried. How about this, if you can prove to me that you're really in a good mood right now, I'll admit that you're really fine."
Although it was unclear what value Chen Bing's admission would have, the heroine Shang Yunmiao openly stated that there was no problem.
"Okay~ How do you prove it?"
"It's simple. When you're in a bad mood, the shy and introverted Xiao Shang definitely won't take the initiative to kiss me. After all, this kind of thing only happens when you're in a good mood. So, if you can kiss me with enthusiasm right now, I'll just assume you're really okay."
This little trick is so obvious that even a fool like Shang Yunmiao could see it at a glance.
She looked at her with an expression that seemed to say, "Huh? Chen Bing...you?" as if asking, "Do you really think she's a fool?"
Fortunately, Mr. Chen was a respectable man and had accumulated some influence with Xiao Shang over the years; otherwise, Shang Yunmiao's gaze might have been like looking at trash. Being looked at like trash by a beautiful girl might excite otaku, but Chen Bing would absolutely find it unbearable.
To avoid losing face with Xiao Shang, Chen Bing scratched his head, chuckled, and said, "Just kidding, just kidding. You should go home and get some sleep; you have to get up early tomorrow."
After saying that, Chen Bing waved his hand and then put his hand on the handlebars to leave.
"Um... wait a minute."
Hearing Shang Yunmiao's shy "wait a minute," Chen Bing's heart skipped a beat, and then she couldn't help but feel anticipation and joy.
He turned his head and happened to see Xiao Shang's cute face coming closer, and then "smack!" she kissed his left corner of his mouth.
Judging from the position of the kiss, Chen Bing could easily tell that Xiao Shang originally wanted to kiss her on the cheek. However, due to the height difference, the kiss landed a little lower, and then, because Chen Bing turned her head, it was slightly off-center.
Although it didn't hit the intended spot, it can still be considered a kiss, and it happened in a better place.
Taking a shy step back, Shang Yunmiao put one small hand behind her back and raised the other hand in front of her chest, waving to Chen Bing.
"Bye-bye, I'm going home now?"
The girl was bathed in the soft light of the moon and the gentle glow of the streetlights, and the April breeze caressed her hair. She seemed to be standing in the very heart of youth.
Snapping out of her daze, Chen Bing swallowed the teasing remark, "I didn't react just now, let's kiss again," and then raised a hand with a smile, saying, "Okay, bye-bye, go home and get some rest."
After giving Chen Bing a sweet smile, Shang Yunmiao swung her cute ponytail, skipped and hopped to her front door, then pushed open the door and disappeared from Chen Bing's sight.
After taking about three seconds to calm herself down, Chen Bing, with a forced smile, returned home.
The girl, like a pure and beautiful moonlight, greeted him sincerely before going home. Hmm, this pure and youthful scene seems nice to use occasionally to lift one's spirits.
It can only be said that youth is indeed beautiful at times. Because in our memories, it includes a girl we liked, our younger selves, funny friends, interesting gossip... but only at times.
It's often said that youth is only meant to be reminisced about, not revisited. The best of high school is found in our high school fantasies, and the best of high school is found in our high school memories. There's definitely some truth to that.
Revisiting the place, although many things became easier and more pleasant, Chen Bing could still vaguely sense the oppressive atmosphere around him.
If she's already in this state, then Shang Yunmiao, who is still some distance from top universities and needs to work hard to win the Olympiad, must be feeling even worse.
Although Shang Yunmiao had high expectations and fantasies about high school since childhood thanks to Shang Zhengxin's promotion, as the first year of high school came to an end, she began to feel tired from the daily routine. Even the well-behaved and serious Shang Yunmiao occasionally started to feel tired.
In this state, April quietly passed and May came to a close, with only one week left until the Asatsu City preliminary round of the 37th Mathematical Olympiad.
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