“I’m a transfer student.
I’ve been striving for a long time to get into the top – notch class where my childhood sweetheart is.
But when I transferred, I found out that my childhood sweetheart already had a very pretty deskmate.
She said to me gently, “Shen Beiqing is going to help me with my lessons, so I can’t give you the seat, little girl.”
Shen Beiqing’s eyes landed on her, showing delight.
I was stunned on the spot, my face burning.
I could only find an empty seat and sit down, not daring to talk to him anymore.
But later, Shen Beiqing blocked my way, looking confused and helpless:
“Help with lessons? Why didn’t you come to me…?”
1
All the eyes in the class focused on me.
Her tone was still soft, “Little girl, it’s not okay to try to overtake those who were here first. Shen Beiqing is going to help me with my lessons.”
In an instant, whispers rose in the class.
“She just transferred and wants to grab a seat. This transfer student is so arrogant.”
“Isn’t she Shen Beiqing’s little childhood friend? I used to see her waiting for Shen Beiqing at the door every day.”
“But she can’t just come in and grab a seat!”
“Just because she was top in Class B, she thinks she’s something now.”
It’s not like that…
I wanted to explain, but it felt like something was stuck in my throat.
I completely didn’t know where to start to tell everyone that Shen Beiqing and I had made an agreement before.
That I worked hard to get into Class A to sit with him.
He said he had arranged the seat.
My palms holding the school bag strap started to sweat.
I looked at Shen Beiqing pleadingly.
Hoping he could say something to help me explain that I wasn’t like this…
But he turned his face away and looked at that girl.
There was a smile in his eyes, “Yeah, I’ll help you with your lessons.”
The classroom fell silent for a moment.
I don’t know who started it, but someone sneered.
The whole classroom seemed to be ignited, and the laughter turned into a sea.
I blushed in embarrassment.
My mind went completely blank.
I didn’t understand.
Didn’t he say… that when I got into Class A, we would work hard together…?
2
The class bell rang.
All the classmates sat up properly.
Shen Beiqing looked at me and casually pointed to the back, “Find a place to sit for now.”
I took a deep breath.
I could only walk to the back with a burning face.
Behind me, came the girl’s lowered voice, “Shen Beiqing, your little childhood friend seems unhappy.”
“It’s okay. Let’s have class first. You listen carefully.”
“Okay.”
The girl’s voice was soft.
I didn’t see her.
But I could imagine her cute and naive look.
I forgot how I walked at that time. I just stiffly sat down in the only empty seat in the last row.
There was someone next to me.
Seemingly hearing the noise, he lifted his eyelids, glanced at me, and then buried his head again.
For the whole class.
I was in a daze. I couldn’t catch what the teacher in Class A was saying at all.
It was not until the end of the class.
Shen Beiqing stood up from the front seat and put the notebook in his hand on my desk.
“Course notes for Class A.
“I didn’t expect you to really get in. Take a look and study by yourself first.”
The cover of the notebook was pink.
It was the one I gave him at the beginning of the school year, thick with writing.
For some reason, the grievance in my heart suddenly welled up, and my eyes turned red.
Shen Beiqing was slightly startled, “What, are you touched?”
The girl behind him suddenly stood up, covering her forehead with a bit of annoyance, “Shen Beiqing, I still didn’t write down what you said just now.”
He looked back.
The notebook I had just taken was immediately snatched back by him.
“Wait a moment. Let Wu Tong write it down first.”
He took the notebook back and left.
But my tears couldn’t stop and fell down on their own.
The next moment.
A pack of tissues was thrown at me from nowhere.
My new deskmate, who had been sleeping for a class, suddenly raised his head. His cold eyes showed displeasure.
“Don’t cry next to me.”
I was frightened by him and quickly wiped my tears with the tissues.
But my eyes were uncontrollably fixed on the boy and girl in the front, who were bowing their heads to analyze the questions.
My eyes were extremely sore.
All the strangeness of the new environment.
The change in my expectations and the cold treatment from new classmates.
All these rushed into my mind one after another at this moment.
I tried to suppress them.
But the more I tried, the more I felt out of breath.
My new deskmate seemed very impatient. He simply took off his school uniform and covered his face with it, then lay down again.
3
The class bell rang.
The teacher walked in with the teaching plan.
The class started.
I don’t know if the progress in Class A was too fast.
I tried my best to keep up in this class, but I still found it obscure and difficult to understand.
My deskmate woke up.
He looked at me indifferently.
Suddenly, he said, “You got it wrong.”
My heart skipped a beat, and I looked at him blankly.
He forcefully snatched the pen from me and quickly wrote down the calculation process of this big question.
My eyes could see it.
But my mind couldn’t. I could only look at it blankly.
He frowned, “Is it that easy to get into Class A?
His voice dropped again as he continued to lie down, “The gold content is really low.”
I learned his name when I went to the bathroom.
Xu Qiao’an.
The classmates in Class A were whispering in the bathroom.
“The transfer student is sitting with Xu Qiao’an.”
“That’s just right. The one who got in through connections and the underachiever. They’re a perfect match.”
Then, there was the sound of giggling.
I don’t know where the courage came from.
I suddenly rushed out of the toilet cubicle.
I didn’t catch up with them. I only saw the backs of two girls turning the corner.
4
The curriculum pressure in Class A is high.
All the classmates are striving for a good university.
When Class A has the evening class over.
My previous class had already left for a long time.
I packed my school bag, thinking of waiting for Shen Beiqing to go together.
After hesitating for a moment, most of the new classmates had left.
Shen Beiqing stood up and finally walked towards me.
But Wu Tong called out to him. Her fair face was tinged with a bit of blush, looking a bit shy.
“Shen Beiqing, I still don’t know how to apply the formula for this question…”
Shen Beiqing’s steps stopped.
He looked at her and then looked at me with an embarrassed expression.
“It’s already very late…” I couldn’t help but remind him.
Wu Tong bit her lip, “Yes, it’s so late. And no one will pick me up at home today…”
Shen Beiqing immediately frowned.
He looked at me with an apologetic look, “You go back first. I’ll help Wu Tong with her lessons.”
He turned around and went back.
Wu Tong glanced at me intentionally or unintentionally.
Then, she tentatively asked, “Then can you send me home by the way…?”
At this moment.
My heart seemed to jump to my throat.
And then I heard him say, “Okay.”
My heart seemed to die instantly and become silent…
My blank gaze met Wu Tong’s eyes.
She raised the corners of her mouth.
She gave me a slight smile.
5
I had never left school after nine o’clock.
It was completely dark.
Only the lights of Class A were still on in the whole campus.
But the more I walked, the farther I was from the light source.
I quickened my pace.
But in the darkness, I seemed to see a figure moving in front.
My heart seemed to jump to my throat.
But when I stopped, I felt the figure getting closer.
I subconsciously took out my phone and dialed the quick – contact number.
The phone gave out a faint light in the late night.
“Doo…”
It got through!
But the next second, the call was hung up.
I was stunned.
I stupidly forgot the fear.
Until the figure walked in front of me. I was about to scream.
But before I could.
The other person spoke.
“Such a cowardly person, yet you come to Class A?”
I looked up blankly and met Xu Qiao’an’s eyes.
He said he hated the weak.
He said that if I couldn’t even handle the evening class time in Class A, I should give up as soon as possible.
He told me that no one in this world is born to help you.
After that, he turned around and left.
Leaving me in the darkness.
I don’t know how long it passed.
Vaguely, I heard the girl’s silver – bell – like laughter coming from the campus behind me.
I heard Shen Beiqing’s promise.
He said, “Wu Tong, I’ll take care of your courses from now on.”
She said softly, “But what about your little childhood friend? She finally got into Class A. Are you just going to ignore her?”
Shen Beiqing’s voice paused.
“I didn’t expect her to really pass the exam…”
The night wind blew the conversation between the two people farther and farther away.
Behind me, there was not even the last bit of light left.
I grabbed my phone and ran forward fiercely.
No one can help me.
Then I’ll go by myself!
6
I don’t remember how I ran home.
I only remember that I cried a lot after I got home.
I couldn’t even explain why I was crying.
When I woke up, my two eyes were swollen like peaches.
But when I went downstairs, I was surprised to see Shen Beiqing waiting there.
He put his hands in his pockets, “What’s wrong with your eyes?
“Is it because of the class transfer? Did you cry?”
He came over to touch my head as usual, “I was busy when you called last night. Did you need something from me?”
I dodged his hand, “It’s nothing. I pressed the wrong number.”
Shen Beiqing was stunned.
He looked at his hand, then looked at me a few times, “What’s wrong? Little Jiang Nian?”
“Nothing.”
He suddenly grabbed me and looked at me with a complicated look.
“What on earth is wrong? Are you angry?”
I turned back in confusion, “No. I’m going to school.”
Shen Beiqing followed.
He watched me all the way, wanting to say something but holding back.
I knew why he was surprised.
Shen Beiqing and I were the most typical childhood sweethearts.
His father died when he was very young.
When we were in primary school, Aunt Shen couldn’t come back from overtime work, and he was hungry at home alone.
He could only look longingly at my home across the door.
It was me who found out at that time. I filled a plate of the ribs my family had cooked for him.
He ate them deliciously.
He ate two big bowls.
So I filled two big bowls for him.
After eating, he looked at me with bright eyes.
“Jiang Nian, you’re so nice.
“I really want to be with you all the time!”
When we were in junior high school, some adolescent boys bullied me.
They cut off my braids that I had grown for a long time.
He got angry alone and fought with that boy.
Even though he didn’t win, he still said viciously to the other person, “Jiang Nian is mine. If you bully her, I’ll beat you to death!”
So he liked to touch my hair when he greeted me.
Afraid that it would be cut again.
And I had never dodged before.
7
When I stepped into the classroom.
My new deskmate was already sleeping.
Hearing the sound, he raised his head. His eyes paused and landed on Shen Beiqing behind me.
“Good morning.”
I greeted.
He looked at me and then lay down again.
When I sat down, he suddenly stood up.
He picked up his school uniform and went out of the classroom.
A few minutes later, he came back and put a bottle of cold ice water on my desk.
“Put it on your eyes. Don’t be ugly next to me.”
I looked at the bottle of water, but a warm feeling bloomed in my heart.
I said softly, “Thank you for last night.”
I knew he didn’t wait there on purpose to scare me.
Xu Qiao’an seemed very impatient.
He snorted from his nose.
Then he covered himself with the school uniform and lay down next to me again.
Does he not study at all in Class A…?
So the so – called getting in through connections that those two girls mentioned yesterday referred to his place in the class?
8
The wind blew the curtains, making a rustling sound.
Suddenly, there was a cry of surprise from Wu Tong in the front.
“Where’s my study material?!”
Obviously, it had nothing to do with me, but for some reason, my heart started to feel uneasy.
All the classmates in the class were here.
Wu Tong seemed to have searched for a long time.
Finally, she ran up to me.
Biting her lip, she hesitated, “Classmate Jiang Nian, I know you also want to study hard, but that material was something I finally organized last night.
“Can you give it back to me…?”
My mind went blank.
I immediately stood up, “What does your material have to do with me?!”
All of a sudden.
The class exploded.
“Come on, does she really want to be in the spotlight that much? She even steals materials for grades?”
“Hey, I also lost a pen the day before yesterday. Could it be her?”
Shen Beiqing frowned and walked over, “Wu Tong, look again. It may not have anything to do with Jiang Nian.”
“Last night when we left, I saw Jiang Nian hadn’t left yet.”
Wu Tong looked extremely wronged, “If it was something else that was lost, I wouldn’t care. But you know how long I spent on that material…”
Shen Beiqing pursed his lips and didn’t speak.
There was a hint of hesitation in his eyes.
“Jiang Nian, you didn’t leave last night?”
I laughed, “Yes, I didn’t leave. I heard that you were going to help Classmate Wu with her lessons.”
He was stunned.
Before he could speak, I simply pushed my books aside.
I opened my school bag, and all the things spilled on the floor.
I sneered, “Come on. Since you said I took it, come and find it!”
The things on the floor were clear at a glance.
Wu Tong’s expression froze. She looked around, then took two steps back, biting her lip.
She was extremely at a loss.
Immediately, some female classmates couldn’t stand it and stood up to defend her.
“Just because we can’t find it here doesn’t mean you didn’t hide it somewhere else.”
I recognized those two female classmates.
They were the two who spoke ill of me in the bathroom yesterday.
I took a deep breath, “Fine. Let’s call the police.”
I took out my phone and dialed the number on the spot.
Wu Tong’s eyes turned red. She still wanted to pin the blame on me, “Classmate Jiang Nian, it won’t be good for you if this gets serious. If you don’t want to give it back…
“Then I’ll rewrite it…
She sniffled, “It’s just a pity about that pink notebook. I like it so much…”
Shen Beiqing was stunned.
“Pink?”
His expression became extremely ugly. He looked at me, “Jiang Nian, the password of that password book is only known to you and me…”
The following words were self – evident.
I seemed to suddenly fall into a strange circle of having to prove my innocence.
Even though I had done nothing.
I was pressing the numbers on the phone with trembling fingers. Suddenly, a faint voice beside me interrupted me.
“Last night, I happened to have a video recording——”
His long and narrow eyes were sleepy.
He said it slowly, as if joking.
“What a coincidence.”
9
Wu Tong’s expression froze.
“Why were you there so late?!”
She gritted her teeth, “After the power outage, there was no surveillance. You said you have a video recording. Are you lying to help Jiang Nian?!”
Xu Qiao’an’s expression remained unchanged. He took out his phone and quickly sent the video to the class group.
Everyone’s phones in their pockets were buzzing non – stop.
Although I wasn’t in the group.
I heard the exclamations of my classmates.
Their faces changed one by one, and they all looked at Wu Tong with different expressions.
Xu Qiao’an turned his head.
“Don’t you want to call the police? Here you go.”
He threw his phone on my desk.
The video was still playing.
Although the filming in the dark was not clear, it was still possible to see Wu Tong’s profile.
She returned to the classroom in the dark, holding the pink notebook in her hand, and closed the classroom door.
Shen Beiqing couldn’t believe it.
“Didn’t you go back to the bathroom last night?!”
Wu Tong’s face turned green and then white.
She couldn’t explain.
I said calmly, “Call the police. Let’s find your materials.”
The girl in front of me stamped her foot. Her eyes quickly turned red, “I… I forgot I took it back to review yesterday…”
I pressed the dial key on my phone. Before it could connect, the phone was snatched away. Shen Beiqing’s face was full of disapproval, “It’s just a notebook. There’s no need to make a big deal out of it, Jiang Nian.”
“So, you gave the notebook I gave you to someone else?” I asked.
The wind blew the curtain, making half of it flutter. Shen Beiqing’s face changed. He looked at me, speechless.
The classroom was deathly silent.
Until Shen Beiqing reluctantly tugged at the corners of his mouth, “I’ll buy you two more notebooks tomorrow to compensate you.”
“No need.” I averted my eyes, my gaze falling on Wu Tong.
“You said I took your things. Now that it’s proven I didn’t, please put my desk back in order.”
She blushed.
The two women who had been speaking up for her before said, “Jiang Nian, you’re being too hard on her.”
I calmly sat down.
“Then call the police.”
Wu Tong’s eyes welled up with tears immediately.
“Jiang Nian, we’re all classmates. Do you really have to make things so difficult for me?”
I picked up Xu Qiao’an’s phone on the table and dialed the number right in front of her.
Before the call connected, she seemed to be extremely wronged. She burst into sobs and rushed out of the door.
Shen Beiqing looked at me, disappointment all over his face.
“Did it really have to end up like this?”
After saying that, he quickly ran out.
The remaining two girls looked at each other in dismay. I slumped down in my chair.
“If you don’t clean it up, we’ll wait for the teacher to come. I’ll tell her everything.”
The two girls pursed their lips. After exchanging glances, they reluctantly helped me pick up the books and put them back in place.
The class bell rang. I let out a sigh of relief.
My palms were full of sweat from clenching them. But fortunately… this time I didn’t lose…
The person next to me glanced at me, didn’t say anything, and covered his head with the school uniform again.
10
The two of them came in halfway through the class. The teacher waved them back to their seats.
Wu Tong’s nose tip was red from crying. Before turning around, her eyes met mine, and her eyes immediately turned red again.
Soon, my phone rang. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the reminder that it was a new WeChat message.
The other person said, “You really went too far this time.”
The teacher on the podium suddenly said, “Shen Beiqing, where did I stop in this problem?”
I averted my eyes, lowered my head to take notes, and tried to keep up with the progress of Class A.
11
Early the next morning, in the same place, Shen Beiqing was waiting there, holding two pink notebooks in his hands.
When he saw me, he came up to me.
“Jiang Nian, here are the notebooks for you.”
I didn’t take them.
He frowned, “Returning your notebooks.”
“No need. I don’t dare to use pink notebooks in Class A.”
He was a bit embarrassed, “Don’t be angry. Wu Tong didn’t do it on purpose.”
“Are you going to apologize for her?” I asked seriously.
Shen Beiqing was at a loss for words.
“If it’s not her apologizing, I won’t accept it.”
I walked past him.
He quickly caught up with me, getting angry, “Jiang Nian, do you think you’re all set just because you got close to Xu Qiao’an?
“He got into Class A through connections. Everyone here doesn’t welcome him. What good will it do you to be close to him?!”
I stopped, “Then who should I be close to? You?”
Shen Beiqing was silent for a moment.
“You can rely on me.”
I said word by word, “No need. I can rely on myself.”
That’s what Xu Qiao’an taught me.
No one in this world is born to help you.
I worked extremely hard in Class A, but my grades still didn’t reach the average level here.
12
The head teacher suddenly announced that the city – level physics competition was starting.
Although it couldn’t compare with the national one, participating could bring honor to the school, and everyone was encouraged to take part.
Wu Tong was the league secretary.
Before long, she filled out the form and sent it to the head teacher.
When she came back to the class, she suddenly ran up to me.
“Jiang Nian, the teacher said you’re a new student, so this physics competition is a chance for you to shine.”
I didn’t understand.
My physics was the worst among all subjects.
Would the head teacher really pick me?
Ask me to go?
Shen Beiqing also stood up, “Jiang Nian’s physics isn’t good. Why would the teacher ask her to go?”
Wu Tong turned around.
“Do you not believe me?”
Shen Beiqing just looked at her and fell silent.
I walked out, “I’ll go ask the teacher!”
Wu Tong immediately called out to me from behind, “Your name has already been submitted!”
I turned back to look.
She asked innocently, “Giving you a chance to gain experience, isn’t that good?”
“If it’s so good, why don’t you go yourself?!”
I was so angry that my whole body was shaking. My tone was very harsh.
Shen Beiqing’s eyes turned cold, “Wu Tong is just trying to help you catch up with the rhythm of Class A as soon as possible.”
Wu Tong pulled him, “Forget it, Shen Beiqing. Don’t make her angry…”
His expression was impatient. He pulled Wu Tong back to their seats.
“Don’t mind her.”
My anxious heart suddenly calmed down.
“So, shaming those who are bad at physics is the way you in Class A show unity and friendship.”
Shen Beiqing’s face darkened, “Jiang Nian, you’re being too extreme.”
He then turned his head and whispered to comfort, “Jiang Nian was in Class B before. It’s normal for her to be sensitive.”
Wu Tong nodded, looking understanding.
“I won’t argue with her.”
13
After that day, Shen Beiqing started a unilateral cold war with me.
There was no longer his figure at the entrance of the community in the morning.
The two pink notebooks were all placed on Wu Tong’s desk.
I could only grit my teeth and desperately catch up with the progress of physics problems.
The incident in the bathroom happened again.
They were laughing and chatting in the corridor.
“You’re really something, Tongtong. Sending someone like her to the competition. She’ll surely come last and make a fool of herself.”
Another person said softly, “She came here and wanted to take my seat. Why shouldn’t she pay the price?”
In the corridor, the girls giggled.
I tightened my grip on the pen holder. I tried to analyze the problem, but the pen tip hung in the air, and I couldn’t write a single word.
The person next to me seemed to wake up. His voice was calm, “When side ab just enters the magnetic field, apply Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction.”
I turned my head, looking at him in surprise.
Xu Qiao’an’s eyes were cold, “What are you looking at me for? Look at the problem.”
My heart skipped a beat uncontrollably. I quickly put the pen tip down and followed the train of thought he gave me.
Xu Qiao’an frowned.
“When solving problems, if you just imagine it out of thin air, it will definitely be difficult. First, you should consider side ab…”
He took my pen and drew the corresponding figure stroke by stroke on the draft paper…
Many things that were difficult to understand gradually became concrete.
0.5×0.8×2 = 0.8V.
When the result was written down under my pen, I looked up blankly.
“You’re… so good. Why do they ostracize you?”
Don’t all the people in Class A admire those who are strong?
Was it because… he got in through connections?
Xu Qiao’an looked at me, his gaze calm.
“People with feces in their hearts see everything as dirty.”
14
I grasped Xu Qiao’an like a life – saving straw.
As soon as the break came, I desperately asked him about the physics knowledge I didn’t understand.
Fortunately, although he seemed very impatient, he helped me sort out the thinking of every question.
The time for the physics competition was getting closer.
After the evening class, I suddenly forgot about the time. When I realized it, it was already ten o’clock.
I was shocked and quickly apologized.
Xu Qiao’an was silent and nodded.
We walked out of the class.
The moon was very bright. It wasn’t dark on the playground.
At the entrance of the community, I saw someone waiting.
In the cold wind, our eyes met unexpectedly.
Shen Beiqing’s eyes swept over me from top to bottom.
“Jiang Nian, are you getting too close to Xu Qiao’an?
He frowned again, “Look at what time it is. Is it appropriate for a boy and a girl to be together until midnight?!”
I was stunned.
“Did you finish sending Wu Tong home early today?”
Shen Beiqing’s expression froze.
After a long while, he frowned and said, “Boys and girls are different.
“You’re a girl. Don’t you know you should pay attention to the boundary?
“I’m in the same class as you. I have the responsibility to watch over you for your uncle and aunt. I can’t let you go astray.
“Staying with a boy until midnight, your uncle and aunt would stop you if they knew!”
I found it ridiculous.
“Why didn’t you have these responsibilities when I first came to Class A?”
Shen Beiqing was stunned. He licked his lips unnaturally, “I… I didn’t expect you to really get into Class A…”
“You were the one who told me to come to Class A.”
He didn’t say anything.
I sneered, “Come on. Don’t try to morally kidnap me with your so – called nobility.”
He suddenly became angry and grabbed me.
“Jiang Nian, can’t you see that I’m waiting for you here on purpose? I’m worried about you!”
“Oh, thank you.”
I paused, “Can you get out of the way? I want to go home.”
He became furious.
“What kind of attitude is this?
“I waited for you here on purpose, and you just give me a cold face, Jiang Nian?!”
“What kind of attitude do you want?” I shook off his hand and raised my voice, “All my hard work now is thanks to your good deskmate’s arrangement. Didn’t you tell me to keep up with the rhythm of Class A?!”
He was at a loss for words.
After a long time, he said, “If you wanted to make up for physics, why didn’t you come to me…”
I couldn’t help it. I shook off his hand and sneered, “How dare I waste your time.”
He was stunned, his eyes flickering. His tone suddenly dropped, “Is it because of Wu Tong?
“When I told you to come to Class A, I didn’t have a deskmate yet. Wu Tong was arranged by the head teacher later. You came later…
“You… really don’t need to care about her.”
“Stop, Shen Beiqing.” I interrupted him.
“If you want to be a love – struck person, that’s your business. I have no interest in competing with other girls. Don’t involve me in your playboy behavior. I’m busy.”
Shen Beiqing’s face changed.
I turned my body and walked into the corridor, going upstairs quickly.
He was angry behind me, “Jiang Nian, you don’t know what’s good for you!”
I walked a few steps faster and slammed the door shut.
15
On the first day of school, a notebook appeared on my desk early in the morning.
I flipped through a couple of pages. It was all about the thinking of solving physics problems.
The handwriting made it obvious who the owner of the notebook was at a glance.
I closed the notebook.
I walked quietly to the front seat and put the notebook on Shen Beiqing’s desk.
I didn’t need this anymore.
Shen Beiqing came in through the back door. His eyes immediately fell on the notebook on his desk.
His face darkened. He looked at me, “Jiang Nian, don’t regret it.”
He went back to his seat.
The notebook was slammed down with a loud noise.
I lowered my eyes and continued to write the questions left by Xu Qiao’an yesterday.
The physics competition lasted for two days.
In the venue, top students from various schools gathered.
My heart was… beating faster and faster.
I suddenly thought of what Xu Qiao’an had said.
Growing up is the inevitable path for everyone.
You can only rely on yourself…
I tried to adjust my breathing and gradually calmed down in a place I had never experienced before.
16
After the two – day competition, when I returned to the class, I heard a gentle voice.
“The contestant is back. How did you do in the exam?”
A girl by the wall sneered, “I hope you didn’t embarrass our Class A.”
The classmates’ eyes, full of scrutiny, fell on me in unison.
“Don’t worry about me.”
I straightened my back and looked at Wu Tong, “If I really embarrassed myself, you should all thank Classmate Wu. She made the decision for the teacher and signed me up.”
Wu Tong was stunned, and her face turned a bit pale.
“What are you talking about?
“I know you’re not happy to see me, but you don’t have to do this…”
Here she goes again.
She always used the method of playing the weak to rally the uninformed onlookers to criticize me.
Forcefully claiming that she was the master in Class A.
I laughed, “Is there any classmate who can add me to the class group?”
As soon as I finished speaking, an invitation from Xu Qiao’an to the group chat popped up.
I took a screenshot of the head teacher’s message and sent it to the group.
The head teacher said, “I didn’t expect little Wu Tong’s recommendation to have some vision. When she signed up privately, I thought she was being naughty.”
With a thumbs – up emoji attached.
For a moment, the expressions of all the classmates changed.
In the class group, Shen Beiqing sent a “?”
Wu Tong panicked. She nervously looked around at the classmates and forced a smile.
“You guys misunderstood. I just mentioned it, but it was really the teacher who said she was more suitable.”
None of the classmates responded.
As she smiled, her eyes turned red. She looked so pitiful when she cried.
“Don’t you… believe me?”
In the classroom, it was as quiet as a chicken.
Class A was exclusive and didn’t want to accept new – comers.
But with conclusive evidence, no one wanted to stand up and be a fool.
Wu Tong stamped her foot and ran out, heart – broken.
I quietly put my school bag on my seat.
Xu Qiao’an turned his head and glanced at me.
I don’t know if it was my illusion.
Was it…? A hint of approval…?
17
The results of the physics competition came out.
Although I couldn’t be at the top of the list, my novel way of solving problems left a good impression on the teachers.
I was given a special participation award certificate as an encouragement.
After the evening class, someone followed me.
The faster I walked, the faster he followed.
Suddenly, he grabbed me on the way, “Jiang Nian, why are you running?”
“Going home.”
Shen Beiqing was taken aback, “I mean, why do you always avoid me?”
I was confused.
He sighed.
“I didn’t know that Wu Tong would deliberately let you participate.”
“Yeah.” I nodded.
His eyes lit up, “I’m glad you understand me.
He stretched his hand towards my head again, muttering, “I’ll pay more attention to your grades from now on…”
I turned my head to avoid it.
“Do you have anything else?”
His promise stopped abruptly.
I frowned, “I still need to go home. Can you not block my way?”
Shen Beiqing looked confused, “Don’t you understand me? I didn’t know Wu Tong did it on purpose…”
I found it funny.
Even if I didn’t want to talk, I had to expose him.
“Didn’t you say Wu Tong was doing it for my own good?”
Shen Beiqing was stuck. He was speechless.
I walked around him, “Your love affairs, don’t drag me into it. I’m busy with my courses.”
“Jiang Nian!”
He called out to me.
Looking completely at a loss.
“Why have you changed like this…”
I paused, but still walked away.
I heard his lowered voice again.
“It’s just a small thing. You even won an award…”
18
Somehow, it spread in the class that my good performance in the physics competition was all thanks to Xu Qiao’an’s tutoring.
The classmates in the class seemed to have discovered a new continent.
Every day, someone would come to ask Xu Qiao’an for the solutions to physics problems. Wu Tong was one of them.
Xu Qiao’an was leaning against the wall, eyes closed, resting.
A cup of milk was placed on his desk.
Wu Tong smiled brightly, “Classmate Xu, can I ask you a question?”
I watched him quietly.
The wind from the window blew into the classroom, lifting the test paper on my desk.
I lowered my head.
He… would agree, right…?
The image of Shen Beiqing looking at her with a smile flashed through my mind.
My nose felt a bit sour. But I couldn’t say why.
Time passed by minute by minute.
There was no response.
I looked up in surprise.
Wu Tong’s smile froze on her face.
“Classmate Xu?”
Xu Qiao’an opened his eyes. His long and narrow eyes showed displeasure.
“You’re too noisy.”
Wu Tong stood there, stunned.
Tears welled up in her big eyes in an instant. She was extremely embarrassed.
She looked at me with trembling lips, “Are you doing this to me because of Jiang Nian?”
His eyes swept over her face indifferently.
“Stay away from me.”
I saw Wu Tong’s face turn deathly pale.
Logically speaking, Shen Beiqing should come to the rescue now.
I couldn’t help but look forward, and happened to meet his complex gaze.
However, he didn’t come.
The class bell rang. Wu Tong returned to her seat with red eyes.
Xu Qiao’an stared at me, meaningfully.
“Like watching a show? Not enough questions?”
My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly lowered my head to do the questions.
No?
What does this have to do with me?
I sniffed.
The sour feeling was completely gone.
19
It was Sunday, a day off.
When school resumed, it would be the third mock exam. The time arrangement was slow.
I was halfway through the questions, having an online tutoring session with Xu Qiao’an, when the door suddenly knocked.
My mom went to open the door and saw Shen Beiqing standing outside.
“Xiaoqing, auntie has cooked spare ribs. Come and have a meal together.”
He thanked her and entered, going straight to my room.
“Jiang Nian, our scores in the second mock exam were similar. If it’s the same in the third mock, let’s apply to the same school.”
He looked extremely serious.
“This time, I will definitely take good care of you.”
On the phone, Xu Qiao’an said,
“Should I step aside?”
Shen Beiqing’s face suddenly changed.
“You… you’re having an online session with him at home?”
I frowned, “What does it have to do with you?”
His breath caught, as if he couldn’t accept it at all.
“Didn’t we say we would work hard together in the future?”
“Oh.” I nodded, “But I didn’t expect your scores to be similar to mine.”
Shen Beiqing’s face turned pale.
“You… you heard that…”
He stopped halfway.
I nodded, “Yes, I was too scared to walk alone that day and happened to hear it.”
His expression was flustered.
“I just said it casually…”
My mom shouted from the kitchen, “The spare ribs are out of the pot! You two kids, wash your hands and come for dinner!”
I looked at him quietly and asked, “Shen Beiqing, does my mom’s cooking taste good?”
He knew I was referring to the promise he made.
He was stunned for a long time.
Suddenly, he seemed to lose his strength.
“I… I really just didn’t expect…”
“Yeah.” I nodded, “You thought I would never amount to much in this life and didn’t deserve to be in the same class as you.
“So you let Wu Tong target me. You probably thought that I would give up and go back to Class B anyway?”
He didn’t say a word.
I smiled.
“There’s nothing wrong with you looking out for yourself. I’ve never said you were wrong.
“But Shen Beiqing, I don’t want to associate with someone like you anymore.
“And I’m not wrong either.”
Shen Beiqing was dumbfounded.
My mom shouted again in the dining room.
I answered and stood up.
Suddenly, he rushed out of the door.
My mom looked around behind me, “Where’s Xiaoqing? Hurry up and wash your hands for dinner!”
I sat down.
“He’s not eating. He won’t come to eat anymore in the future.”
20
In the third mock exam, Xu Qiao’an took the exam for the first time.
He made a stunning debut! He ranked first in the class!
The whole class was shocked.
They surrounded his seat tightly.
“So you’re the hidden top student!”
“Top student, how do you solve this problem? Can you share your problem – solving ideas?”
His expression was calm.
He swept a glance at the classmates around him.
“I’m not a top student. I’m a student who got in through connections.”
For a moment, the classmates around him felt awkward.
They looked at each other, unable to explain what they had said before.
To everyone’s surprise, Xu Qiao’an took the exercise book of the person who asked the question.
His voice was low, echoing throughout the classroom.
I looked down through the window.
The outer wall of the school was newly painted blue. Under the sunlight, it gave off a soft glow.
Suddenly, I heard the boy’s cold voice.
“Jiang Nian, pay attention!”
“Oh!”
During the three – day college entrance examination, I realized that after coming to Class A, I had really improved a lot.
Not only in terms of scores, but also in my state of mind during each exam.
I no longer had that kind of cowardice where I felt breathless.
The scores came out.
I got 587.
I heard that Xu Qiao’an’s score was kept secret.
I didn’t know how many points he got.
After the scores were released, he called me.
“Apply to Beijing University of Technology.”
“Huh?”
“Apply to Beijing University of Technology.”
He emphasized it again.
Actually, I was considering universities in the north.
Listening to his calm voice, for some reason, I felt at ease.
“Okay.”
21
Before leaving, Shen Beiqing came to me one more time.
He blocked me downstairs, his voice hoarse.
He asked, “Jiang Nian, have you forgotten? We promised to work hard together.”
At that time, we both tacitly agreed that as long as we could get into the same school, we would be together forever.
I said word by word, “You should find the person you truly approve of.
“Obviously, that’s not me.”
I heard in the group that Wu Tong was admitted to an art school.
As soon as she got the admission notice, she blocked all her high – school classmates, including the head teacher.
He wanted to reach out and touch my head.
I took a step back and avoided him from a distance.
“Shen Beiqing, don’t act like a lovesick person in front of me.”
I paused, and then added, “You make me sick.”
I couldn’t see his expression clearly.
I turned around and left.
My mom came back from grocery shopping and thought it was strange.
“The Xiaoqing from across the street stood downstairs for a long time. That kid seemed to be in a daze.”
I shook my mom’s hand.
“Mom, I want to eat fried rice with eggs!”
“Got it. You’re such a glutton!”
My mom went to the kitchen to get busy. Suddenly, she looked up.
“When you start school, your dad and I will move to the new house. Don’t go to the wrong place when you come back during the holidays.”
“Got it, mom!”
My mom whispered, “I heard from your Aunt Shen that Xiaoqing didn’t do well in this exam. His university is far away. I don’t know if we’ll see him again…”
My hand that was packing my luggage stopped.
“Mom, there will be new neighbors in the future.”
Later, I met Xu Qiao’an on the train.
He helped me carry my luggage all the way.
Until we got out of the station.
He handed me the suitcase.
The end of his long and narrow eyes had an expression I couldn’t understand.
He said, “Go ahead, Jiang Nian. This is as far as I can take you.”
