Chapter 29
Evening self-study.
After being confined to the broadcasting room all day, Chen Jingyu finally got to gossip with Jiang Jiawei.
A notebook was shoved onto the table, and Jiang Jiawei glanced at the podium and opened it.
When did you two become siblings?!
Jiang Jiawei picked up her pen and began to write.
[It's a bit complicated to explain after class]
The ballpoint pen poked her back, and the other person leaned back, reaching out with their hand behind their back. The draft notebook returned to Chen Jingyu's hand.
"Teacher Fang."
The grade leader appeared at the classroom door at some unknown time.
"Eh."
"Come out for a moment."
As the sound of high heels on the ground faded into the distance, the classroom gradually became noisy.
"Can I copy your math test?"
"I just wrote it down."
"Hurry up, I'll just copy it down quickly."
"How much longer until get out of class ends? It feels like an eternity has passed."
"Can't you see it on your head?"
"Only half a class has passed."
"Did you hear? During the girls' 800-meter race today, Zhao Huaizhen from the next class fainted. It was the class monitor of Class 8 who carried her to the infirmary."
"Holy crap, the class monitor of Class 8???"
Have you seen my test paper?
How would I know where your test paper is?
"Bring me a milk tea tomorrow, I want strawberry flavor."
"I want some too! I want some too!!"
Chen Jingyu turned her head and said, "Jiang Jiawei, copy down the English reading passage for me. I'm too lazy to read it."
Jiang Jiawei took it out from under the table and handed it to her, saying, "Let me take a look at your geography workbook."
A student in the first row shouted, "Hey, the teacher's here! The teacher's here!"
The entire classroom can be muted with a single click.
Fang Caijuan didn't go into the classroom immediately. She looked around from the window, entered through the back door, stood in the center of the back blackboard and scanned the area for a minute before finally walking to the podium. Usually, she would walk with her hands behind her back. If that was the case, it meant that she might not be in the classroom to supervise the class for the time being.
As expected.
"If I hear any patrolling teachers or teachers in the office complaining to me that our class is noisy, then from tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, all students who are not participating in the school sports meet will have to study in the classroom."
This threat is quite powerful.
Fang Caijuan picked up the stack of math exercises that were half-corrected on her desk and left the classroom.
The students in the classroom suddenly slumped down as if they had no bones left. There were a few whispers occasionally, but most of them remained quiet because Fang Caijuan was a cold-blooded killer who kept her word, and even the grade leader was afraid of her.
Finally, the bell rang to signal the end of get out of class.
Chen Jingyu turned around and said, "Let's go to the bathroom."
Jiang Jiawei explained clearly the convoluted process of how Mu Zhengxi became her cousin.
"So, which of you two is older?"
"I think I'm older than him."
"Oh, it's a relationship between an older woman and a younger man."
"Are you crazy?"
"Hahaha, isn't that right? Tell me the truth, do you like him or not?"
"I don't."
"Really not?"
"real."
"Jiang Jiawei".
"Hey." Jiang Jiawei turned around and Liu Xinze, who was standing at the corner, called out to him.
The other person walked over and said, "I heard you came in fifth place in the 1500 race today. Congratulations!"
The person in front of him stood upright, and the smile on his face was not like that of a high school boy of this age, but rather had a nonchalant and unserious air about him. Even his speech sounded like that of a leader giving an official speech.
Having spent a year as classmates in high school, Jiang Jiawei was already used to it. "Thank you~"
"Then I'll be going now."
Liu Xinze nodded in acknowledgment.
"good."
Once the people had walked away, Chen Jingyu finally burst out laughing, "Are you two crazy?"
"Why does Liu Xinze still talk like that?" Chen Jingyu imitated him in a serious broadcast voice, "Hello Jiang Jiawei, congratulations."
"What will he do in the future? How will he find a girlfriend? Hahahaha."
Jiang Jiawei raised her hand and punched her lightly, laughing, "Don't imitate others like that."
"Hahahaha, why are you feeling sorry for me?"
"I didn't."
"He's really funny."
"He's just a rather serious person."
"You like this kind of seriousness, don't you?"
"Wait a minute, don't copy my English reading!"
"I was wrong, I was wrong, please, class monitor, you're the best."
"Get away from me."
"Why are you blushing, Jiang Jiawei?"
"I'm not blushing, you're spreading rumors about me."
"You're secretly pleased, aren't you?" Chen Jingyu nudged her shoulder and said meaningfully, "Congratulations, Jiang Jiawei~ I never knew Liu Xinze would take the initiative to greet people."
He was pushed away.
The second self-study period has begun.
Jiang Jiawei put away her geography workbook and textbook from the previous class, revealing the correction fluid marks on her desk in the upper left corner. Before taking out her math workbook, Jiang Jiawei leaned on the desk and looked out the window for a while.
Mu Zhengxi squatted on the flower bed next to the school gate, chewing gum with his face propped up, occasionally blowing bubbles out of boredom.
The bell rang, and the once quiet campus instantly came alive, like a lake surface where a stone had been thrown. Some impatient students raced against the sound of the bell. He stood up, and with his already tall stature and the stone block, he could easily take in the entire school gate.
The main force has already come out, but we haven't seen anyone yet.
"Hey Jiang Jiayi!"
"Jiang Jiayi!!"
Hearing someone call his name, Jiang Jiayi looked around. The teacher with him also asked in surprise, "Who's calling you?"
"I don't know—"
"Jiang Jiayi."
Mu Zhengxi appeared before them.
Jiang Jiayi was pleasantly surprised.
"Brother Xi!!!"
"Didn't you hear me calling you?"
"I heard you, but I didn't see you."
Teacher: "Jiayi, what's this?"
Jiang Jiayi's eyes crinkled into a smile, her tone excited and brimming with obvious pride, "He's my brother!"
"Oh, you have an older brother?"
A sense of responsibility welled up within him, and Mu Zhengxi straightened his back and said in a serious voice, "Hello, teacher."
"Alright then, your brother is here to pick you up. Go back now, and be careful on the road."
"Okay, goodbye teacher."
Mu Zhengxi said, "Goodbye, teacher." He added, "Come over for tea sometime." He was imitating Jiang Weichao and the others' way of greeting each other.
The teacher smiled and said, "Okay."
"Brother Xi, what brings you here?"
"Of course I came to pick you up, why else would I come?" Mu Zhengxi reached out and lifted his schoolbag in her hand. It was light and had almost no weight. She deliberately said, "Why are you walking with the teacher? Did you do something wrong? You're out so late, did you get scolded?"
"No! The teacher was explaining a problem to me a little late, so we came out together."
Mu Zhengxi patted his empty backpack. "Stand up straight. You're not tall to begin with, and you're hunchbacked."
"I've grown taller recently!!!"
"Really? I didn't notice."
Jiang Jia rolled her eyes at him, then happily grabbed his arm and pointed to the alley across the street, "I'll treat you to something. The teppanyaki squid and tofu at the place across from our school is delicious."
How was your day at school?
"fine."
Are you happy?
"It's alright, but there are too many papers, and I also have to do the ones for the competition class. It's annoying." Jiang Jia's face was full of bitterness when she said this.
"Come on, I'll take you to eat teppanyaki. Wait, what teppanyaki? Let's go back and eat duck legs. Your brother made them himself." Mu Zhengxi put his arm around his shoulder and effortlessly dragged him towards home.
They sat in pairs, facing each other in a row.
One row is today's tasters, and the other row is today's new head chef and his mentor, all with serious expressions.
Jiang Jiawei and Jiang Jiayi exchanged a glance, somewhat incredulous, then picked up the duck leg that was still on a plate in front of them and took a bite.
"Hey, don't take such big gulps! You need to savor it, savor it carefully, savor it slowly."
Suddenly stopped, Jiang Jiawei quickly released her teeth, pulled her front teeth back a step, and gave an elegant bite.
"How is it? Is it delicious?"
Mu Zhengxi watched her reaction intently.
Jiang Jiawei glanced at her father beside her and swallowed.
"tasty."
"Jiang Jiawei, you, you're not being sincere at all."
Jiang Jiawei took a big bite, her cheeks puffing out. "Wow, it's so delicious! How can it be so good! How are you so amazing!"
Mu Zhengxi thought her reaction was exaggerated and didn't believe it.
"Jiang Jiawei, you're lying."
"Jiang Jiayi, do you think it's delicious?"
"It's delicious."
"See? You don't believe me, so would you believe me if I said it tasted bad?"
Upon hearing this, Mu Zhengxi retorted, "Uncle said it's delicious!" He turned to look at his master, "Right, Uncle!"
Jiang Weichao gave him a thumbs up, "That's definitely top-notch." Even more exaggerated.
Jiang Jiawei: "Yeah~ We need to trust each other more. Why would I lie to you?"
Is it really delicious?
"Really?"
Mu Zhengxi tilted his head, looking smug. "I do have some talent for cooking, you know~"
Jiang Weichao asked, "Zhengxi, did your parents come back to visit you during your Christmas break?"
"No, my parents are both abroad."
"What about Grandma? Is she still at Auntie's house?"
"Grandma..." Mu Zhengxi paused for a moment before realizing that Jiang Weichao was subtly asking why no one in the family had contacted him. In their eyes, it must be strange for a child to be left unattended.
"Grandma is at my aunt's house. I didn't tell her when I came back. If I had told her, she would have come back."
"Next time, you should call her in advance. Otherwise, what if you faint at the airport or on the way back, like yesterday when you had such a high fever?"
"Yes, I'll say it next time."
Jiang Weichao patted his shoulder, his face bearing the kind of gentle father's smile that Mu Zhengxi had read about in the anthology of essays.
"Are you feeling better now?"
"It's all better now."
"You should continue taking the medicine for two more days and see how it goes. Don't stop now."
Mu Zhengxi nodded.
Are you staying at your uncle's house again tonight?
Won't an unsupervised wild child seem ill-mannered and leave a bad impression?
Mu Zhengxi smiled innocently, "No need, Uncle. I already called Grandma this afternoon, and she should be back by now."
The last roller shutter door was pulled down.
The road fell silent.
Home? What home? He stays in hotels all the time.
Grandma? He had never met his grandmother. He only had Jiang Wenqing. Jiang Wenqing would wait for him to come home, sometimes, but most of the time she was too busy to go home herself. However, Mu Zhengxi understood. What she was doing was important, and he could distinguish between what was important and what was not. Such a small matter as whether or not he came home should not become an unnecessary trouble that would distract her and cause her worry.
So strictly speaking, he doesn't think he's a bad kid. He just sometimes plays football and stays up a little late, but he always goes home on time.
A person, shuffling along like a tortoise kicking stones, let their thoughts drift aimlessly, light yet lingering like cotton.
"Jung-hee".
One of the tightly closed windows on the second floor was pushed open, and Jiang Jiawei's face appeared in the center of the coffin.
"ah?"
"See you tomorrow."
Mu Zhengxi stood there, saying, "See you tomorrow?"
Before he could finish thinking and respond, the window was closed again, and the curtains blocked out the light.
Tomorrow? What time is tomorrow? How long until tomorrow? What should I wear tomorrow? What should we do together tomorrow? Play cards? He's already mastered it completely and is quite good at it now. Should we play ball tomorrow? What flavor of milk tea should we drink tomorrow? Tomorrow, tomorrow… Mu Zhengxi ran wildly down the street.
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