Chapter 75 – “Likes Smart Ones”
In the long night, some had fallen into deep sleep while others lay awake.
Yang Shikun, seeing Xu Si stop responding after two questions, sent a string of messages, desperate to know if it was about Study Queen.
[Yang Shikun]: Si-ge, which girl were you asking about? [Yang Shikun]: Is it Study Queen? [Yang Shikun]: Though I’ve never dated, only held hands with girls in kindergarten, I guarantee you’re definitely in love with her. [Yang Shikun]: Are you asleep? [Yang Shikun]: Si-ge?
Xu Si looked at Yang Shikun’s stream of messages. [Xu Si]: Mm.
Yang Shikun sat up holding his phone, suddenly wide awake. But… which question was that “mm” answering?
[Yang Shikun]: Is it really Study Queen, Si-ge? [Xu Si]: Yes. [Yang Shikun]: Holy crap, I’m getting a sister-in-law, hahahahaha! [Xu Si]: Get lost. [Yang Shikun]: Sure thing, bro, hahahahaha! Xu Si: …
The next day.
Jiang Rong saw Xu Si come in, their eyes met, and just as she was about to say good morning, he looked away and walked straight to his seat beside her.
Jiang Rong: ?
Seeing Xu Si and Jiang Rong, Yang Shikun’s eyes lit up excitedly. He put his bag in his drawer and turned to Xu Si: “Si-ge, yesterday…”
Seeing Xu Si’s look, Yang Shikun licked his lips and smiled: “There were so many stars last night, haha.” Then he turned back around.
Jiang Rong, who remembered the sparse stars last night: …
During morning reading.
Jiang Rong wanted to borrow Xu Si’s Chinese textbook – her copy had too many notes and made her dizzy. Before she could ask, he pulled out his book, put it on her desk, and lay down to sleep.
After morning reading, she tried to return it with a thank you, but he just took it and stuffed it in his drawer.
Second period.
Jiang Rong needed to use the bathroom. She poked Xu Si, who silently stood up to let her pass.
When she returned from washing her hands, he wordlessly made way again.
Third period was Chinese class.
Principal He came to check the class. Jiang Rong was about to poke Xu Si but noticed he wasn’t sleeping or playing on his phone, just looking down lost in thought.
Principal He left. Teacher Li asked them to read while she discussed something with the next class’s Chinese teacher.
Yang Shikun was reading when someone poked him. Thinking it was Xu Si, he turned to find Jiang Rong passing him a note.
Yang Shikun glanced at Xu Si, wanting to say he didn’t know why Study Queen was passing him notes. Under Xu Si’s murderous gaze, he took it.
The note read: Do you know what’s wrong with Xu Si? Is he in a bad mood?
Yang Shikun licked his lips, unsure how to respond. Si-ge seemed happy yesterday though.
After hesitating, he wrote back: Si-ge probably didn’t sleep well, so he’s in a bad mood.
He folded the note and sneaked a glance back, saw Xu Si staring, avoided his gaze, and tossed the note on Jiang Rong’s desk.
As Jiang Rong read the note, she felt someone looking at it. She covered it and turned to meet Xu Si’s gaze: “I just asked him one question, I wasn’t saying anything bad about you.”
Xu Si just made a sound of acknowledgment and said nothing.
Jiang Rong read the note – poor sleep could make anyone grumpy. She tore up the note and put it in her pocket.
When class ended and Jiang Rong left, Yang Shikun turned to explain: “Si-ge, I swear I wasn’t trying to pass notes with Study Queen, she just asked if you were in a bad mood.”
After a silence, Xu Si said: “I’m not in a bad mood.” Then added: “I just suddenly don’t know how to face her.”
Xu Si rubbed his hair.
“Make a move, Si-ge.”
Before Xu Si could respond, Jiang Rong returned. Their eyes met before he looked away.
Everything had become strange. They barely spoke that class.
“Come on, Yang-dog, let’s take a bathroom break.” “Why are you being so girly, needing company to pee? Girls go to the bathroom together, but you’re a grown man needing company. Only because your daddy loves you – let’s go.” “…” Hao Ming: My native language is speechlessness.
Xu Si left again, and Luo Xing ran from the front to chat with Jiang Rong.
Cupping her face excitedly: “Qiaoqiao, you know what? This boy band leader that’s trending online is so handsome! I watched the video yesterday and almost died! So handsome, oh my god!”
Seeing Jiang Rong’s confused expression, Luo Xing realized: “Oh right, you don’t follow celebrities. It’s a Chinese boy band, all the boys are so handsome – puppy types, bad boys, wolf types, all super handsome. And their leader, he’s amazing, his legs are longer than my life!”
Seeing Luo Xing’s excitement, Jiang Rong smiled: “If you like them, they must be great.”
Luo Xing grabbed her hands excitedly: “They’re so handsome, Qiaoqiao. Such a shame you don’t follow celebrities. I watched his dance video yesterday and almost got a nosebleed!”
Jiang Rong just kept smiling as she listened.
Luo Xing excitedly listed the boy’s blood type, height, talents… everything. Seeing Jiang Rong’s curved eyes, she realized she might have talked too much: “Qiaoqiao, am I being too noisy? And talking about things you don’t know about, is it boring?”
Jiang Rong shook her head: “Not at all. Even though I don’t follow these things, hearing you talk about them is interesting.”
Luo Xing hugged her neck, about to kiss her: “Qiaoqiao, you’re my treasure!”
Seeing Xu Si sit down by Jiang Rong, she stopped. Xu Si showed no expression, just looking down at his things.
Luo Xing suddenly wondered what type of boys someone like Jiang Rong would like: “By the way, Qiaoqiao, what type of boys do you like?”
Jiang Rong thought for a moment and answered seriously: “Warm, kind, and smart.”
Falling on Xu Si’s ears, he only heard “smart.” Smart? Good at studies?
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