Chapter 15
Half a month after the start of the new semester following the summer vacation, the second-year high school students faced their first mock exam of the semester. In the words of their homeroom teacher, Chen Xiaoyan, "If you don't take a test after coming back from vacation, you'll all forget your own capabilities."
The school's internal exams produced results very quickly. Jiang Huaiyu's name spread throughout the offices on the afternoon the results were released, to the point that even the principal went to see Jiang Huaiyu's exam paper.
"Total score 728..." The principal held the report card in both hands, his voice trembling slightly. He looked at Chen Xiaoyan, the homeroom teacher of Class 5: "What's the situation with this student? Teacher Chen, do you know anything about him?"
Chen Xiaoyan was also bewildered: "Jiang Huaiyu only transferred here half a month ago. All I know is that he and Lu Mingxiao are cousins, and the guardian information is filled in as Lu Mingxiao's parent, Li Qing... I don't know anything else."
"Lu Mingxiao?" The math teacher held the perfect score test paper, her face beaming with uncontrollable smiles. Hearing Chen Xiaoyan's words, she couldn't help but add a touch of sarcasm in her tone: "They're relatives, how come their grades are so different? Is Lu Mingxiao even his parents' biological son?"
“Teacher Zhang!” Chen Xiaoyan raised her voice, staring seriously at the teacher: “Lu Mingxiao’s grades have improved a lot compared to last year. His scores in each subject have increased by about 20 points, and his total score has increased by more than 100 points. How much progress is that? No matter how good Jiang Huaiyu’s grades are, she just transferred to our school. What does that have to do with you? It’s not good for you to be so harsh on your own students.”
Teacher Zhang's expression changed, and she looked somewhat embarrassed: "I was just saying it casually, Teacher Chen, you don't have to get so angry, do you?"
Chen Xiaoyan ignored her, only thinking about calling Li Qing after get off work to talk about the two children's grades, which were both good news.
...
"My God, classmates..." Liang Jing exclaimed dramatically, one foot on a chair, "What is this? This is a score that will be recorded in the school's history! 728 points, more than 80 points ahead of the second place! It's incredible! Do you know what the principal said back then?"
He cleared his throat and adopted a deep tone: "We will fulfill all of Jiang Huaiyu's needs, as long as they are not excessive! It's not impossible for him to ride me to school!"
"Hahahaha..." Zhuoran laughed uncontrollably, kicking Liang Jing in the butt: "You big mouth, the rumors are getting more and more outrageous. I don't know if Jiang Huaiyu can ride the principal, but if you keep spreading rumors, the principal will have your dad treat you to Seven Wolves liquor if he hears it!"
Jiang Huaiyu raised his hand and asked, "Seven Wolves... what is that?"
"The brand of the belt..." Liang Jing jumped off the chair, not forgetting to wipe the chair clean for the classmate. He looked at Jiang Huaiyu curiously: "Genius, where did you fall from the sky? Are you putting on a divine descent performance here?"
As Jiang Huaiyu was considering how to answer, he felt a weight on his shoulder. Lu Mingxiao's arm was draped over his shoulder.
"He is actually the heir of a wealthy and powerful family. He received an elite education from a young age. The tutors he hired were all professors from prestigious universities. You know, the crown prince in ancient times? That's pretty much the treatment he received."
Liang Jing: "Tch~ Brother Xiao, you can talk a lot more nonsense than I can."
Jiang Huaiyu smiled slightly, pursing her lips.
Lu Mingxiao took out his phone: "How dare you talk to your father like that? Don't you want the spicy snacks you ordered for lunch?"
"Yes! Yes!" Liang Jing immediately flattered, "Brother Xiao, there's also Crispy Shark and Corn Sausage."
Zhuoran also raised his hand: "And mine! Brother Xiao! My instant noodles..."
"Brother Xiao! Butter cookies..."
"Class is starting, class is starting," someone said in the group chat. "Hurry back to your seats, the old man will be here soon..."
...
At noon after school, Lu Mingxiao took Jiang Huaiyu to his small warehouse. Li Qing also bought Jiang Huaiyu a bicycle, so that it would be more convenient for the two of them to go to and from school. Now, it would be more convenient for Lu Mingxiao to deliver goods.
The small warehouse has a very simple structure. It was originally used as a garage. In the square little room, Lu Mingxiao also put up several rows of shelves to put the things in categories. There was also a small refrigerator inside.
"How was it? Not bad, right?" Lu Mingxiao leaned against the shelf, raising his eyebrows smugly. "You did so well on the exam, you can eat whatever you want, it's on me."
Jiang Huaiyu took out her phone and glanced at the orders: "Let's pack the things first. Hurry up. It's good that you know about the limited number of slots, otherwise we really wouldn't be able to handle it."
"I know what I'm doing." Lu Mingxiao started packing snacks according to the message in the WeChat group: "Besides, we have to leave most of the customers for the school supermarket, otherwise what if they get desperate and report us to 'Convex Lens'?"
Jiang Huaiyu: "A convex lens? What's that?"
Lu Mingxiao: "It's the nickname of the Dean of Students because his head is both bald and round."
Jiang Huaiyu: "...Good image."
In order to avoid being discovered by the teachers, Lu Mingxiao chose the "shipping location" on the spot. Today, he chose the small woods on the west side of the school. Students came one after another to pick up their things. Lu Mingxiao sat on a small stool to hand out snacks, while Jiang Huaiyu sat on another small stool to collect money.
The two of them were surrounded by their classmates and didn't notice that a boy was staring at them from around the corner of the school wall.
He wore thick glasses, was very tall but thin, making one worry that he might fall over in the wind. He also had dark circles under his eyes, and his pale complexion and prominent cheekbones gave him a very sinister look.
Despite the sweltering heat, he was wearing a long-sleeved autumn school uniform. On his thin, bony hands, there were two long, thin, bluish-purple marks, as if they had been made by a bamboo pole.
Under the shade of the tree, a cool breeze blew by. Jiang Huaiyu frowned slightly, keenly sensing something. He looked up, his gaze passing through the crowd and landing on the corner.
All I could see was a tall, thin figure from behind.
...
The lunch break is two hours long. The small warehouse is closer to the school, so Lu Mingxiao puts his lunch in the small refrigerator in the morning. After delivering the items, the two of them can come back for lunch and a nap.
The food was quickly heated up, and the two sat around the small table to eat. Jiang Huaiyu brought up what had just happened: "I felt like someone was watching us."
"Who? Did you see the convex lens?" Lu Mingxiao put a piece of twice-cooked pork on his plate: "Don't just eat chilled cucumbers all the time, eat some meat."
“It wasn’t the director, it was a boy, very tall, probably about your height, but extremely thin, abnormally thin…” Jiang Huaiyu frowned, then added, “He should be wearing glasses, I think I saw a reflection in them…”
"Oh! Fu Yucheng, right?" Lu Mingxiao said, "There aren't many people in the whole school around my height, and he's thin and wears glasses, so it must be him. Why is he staring at us?"
Jiang Huaiyu shook her head: "I don't know, but the name sounds familiar..."
“He was the second-place student who was more than 80 points behind you. But then again, before you came, he was always number one. Our educational resources are limited, so his score is already quite high…” Lu Mingxiao paused slightly and raised an eyebrow: “Why was that kid peeking at you? I heard he often studies until the early hours of the morning in the dorm, doesn’t make friends, and even eats the school’s cold noodles because they’re cold and quick to eat, saving time for studying… Although the school promotes this as ‘hard work,’ I think it’s a bit of an obsession.”
Lu Mingxiao's expression grew increasingly grim as he spoke: "He seems to value grades quite a bit, almost to the point of being obsessive. Now that you're in first place, and the gap is so huge, it's unlikely he'll surpass you. Would he try to trap you out of jealousy?"
Jiang Huaiyu: "...I think he can't beat me. Although he's very tall, he's too thin. He looks like he's floating when he walks."
Lu Mingxiao thought for a moment and said, "That's true. He doesn't seem like the type of person who would fight with others."
...
After lunch, with more than forty minutes left before class, Lu Mingxiao laid out a thick mattress in the corner, covered it with sheets he had brought from home, and the two of them lay side by side on it for a nap.
The half-finished sparkling water beside them was bubbling away, carrying a hint of grape sweetness. A small fan was spinning, making Jiang Huaiyu's hair sway softly. The two, who were planning to take a nap, quieted down. Jiang Huaiyu didn't like lying flat, so she turned over and faced away from Lu Mingxiao, saying, "I'm going to sleep."
Lu Mingxiao rested his head on his arm, staring at the mottled ceiling, with one long leg crossed, and inexplicably found it hard to fall asleep.
He gently lowered his leg and turned to face Jiang Huaiyu. Unexpectedly, Jiang Huaiyu was fast asleep and unconsciously turned over, almost rolling into his arms. Lu Mingxiao was startled and dodged backward, rolling directly off the mattress.
Lu Mingxiao: ...
Why did he dodge? It's inexplicable. If it were Li Rui, he would have kicked him already…
But this is not Li Rui.
Lu Mingxiao glanced at the time and decided it didn't matter whether he slept or not. He simply pulled over a small stool, sat up, and propped his chin up to look at Jiang Huaiyu.
His parents really know how to give birth to such a good-looking child.
Jiang Huaiyu has long, thick eyelashes that connect with the outer corners of his eyes in an upward curve. His nose is also very beautiful, with a high and smooth bridge and a slightly upturned tip, making it a very delicate nose shape. His lips are also beautiful, with a light color and a subtle cupid's bow, giving them a soft appearance...
Wait, you can't tell it's very soft just by looking at it, right?
Touch it?
Lu Mingxiao was startled by his own thought, and then felt that he was being really inexplicable.
In the afternoon class, everyone was drowsy in English class, but Jiang Xiaoyu, who had a good nap at noon, was full of energy. He was called up by the English teacher to read the text. His pronunciation was standard and fluent, and his voice was pleasant and clear. The students who were originally drowsy suddenly perked up. After Jiang Xiaoyu sat down, someone shouted "One more time!" which caused everyone to laugh in good-nature.
Lu Mingxiao gazed at the sparkling Jiang Huaiyu, his eyes unwilling to look away, but he spoke softly to Liang Jing.
"You know, my relative has a child who's really good-looking and cute, and I just want to touch and pinch him whenever I see him... Is that a little abnormal?"
“It’s perfectly normal.” Liang Jing yawned. “It’s perfectly normal for you to want to kiss him.”
Lu Mingxiao: "...Is this normal?"
Liang Jing: "Haha~ That's only human nature."
Author's Note:
I fell asleep in the early hours of the morning; that's only natural. [Please!]
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