When the Physics Class Representative handed back the graded quizzes, Lin Mo stared at the bright red “92” in the top right corner for several seconds.
Rank: 6.
A small commotion broke out around him, and several students who were usually good at physics turned to look at him. Zhou Xiaoyu asked bluntly, “Holy crap, Lin Mo, what kind of medicine did you take? Didn’t you just get in the sixties last time?”
Lin Mo didn’t say anything.
“It must be thanks to our Study Representative, right?” Zhou Xiaoyu said with a grin. “I saw it. Your group has been soaking in the library every day lately.”
“What do you mean ‘thanks to her’? How come you don’t see our own hard work?” Wang Hao slammed his quiz onto the desk, his voice loud enough for half the classroom to hear. “But seriously, Lin Mo, you have to treat the Study Representative to a meal! Without her, with our level of physics, we would’ve been toast on this exam!”
Li Wei nodded repeatedly. “Exactly! The Study Representative helped so much, you have to show some appreciation!”
Lin Mo instinctively looked toward Shen Qingyue’s seat.
She was currently looking down, organizing her notes. Her school uniform collar was neat, and her ponytail was tied meticulously. Sensing his gaze, she looked up and adjusted her glasses. After meeting Lin Mo’s eyes, she quickly looked away.
The tips of her ears were a little red.
“Then… I’ll go ask her.” Lin Mo finally stood up and walked to Shen Qingyue’s desk.
A few boys nearby started catcalling, but Zhou Xiaoyu glared them into silence.
“Um…” Lin Mo began. “Shen Qingyue, thank you for the help with this quiz.”
The pen in Shen Qingyue’s hand paused. “There’s no need to thank me. It’s the result of your own hard work.”
“Wang Hao and the others want to… they want to treat you to a meal as a thank-you.” Lin Mo intentionally used more formal language. “Do you think you’ll be available?”
Shen Qingyue remained silent for a few seconds, her fingers unconsciously curling the corner of her notebook.
“There’s no need to spend money,” she said softly. “Everyone’s progress is the result of collective effort.”
“Study Representative, don’t be so polite!” Wang Hao leaned over at some point and slapped the table. “Today after school! That Sichuan Restaurant across from the school — I’ve wanted to go there for a long time!”
Li Wei also came over to help. “Yeah, Qingyue, just think of it as our group’s first team-building event.”
Shen Qingyue looked at the three pairs of expectant eyes in front of her. When her gaze landed on Lin Mo, she yielded.
“…Okay.” Shen Qingyue lowered her head, her eyelashes drooping.
“Awesome!” Wang Hao cheered.
Lin Mo breathed a sigh of relief and said sincerely, “Thank you, Shen Qingyue.”
Shen Qingyue didn’t speak again. She simply lowered her head and continued organizing her notes. Her movements were a bit disorganized, and the redness on her ears had spread all the way to the base of her neck.
***
The private room in the Sichuan Restaurant wasn’t large, but the decor was cozy. Strings of decorative chili peppers hung on the walls, and the air was thick with the aroma of Sichuan peppercorns and hot oil.
The four of them sat around a circular table. Wang Hao enthusiastically ordered several signature dishes and a few bottles of soda.
“Today, we drink until we drop!” Wang Hao poured orange juice for everyone. “Even if this is what we’re drinking.”
Li Wei teased him, “Oh, please. We still have Early Self-Study tomorrow morning.”
Lin Mo sat directly across from Shen Qingyue. She had taken off her school uniform jacket and was only wearing a white shirt, with her sleeves neatly rolled up to her forearms. She was very quiet during the ordering process, only nodding slightly when Wang Hao asked if she could eat spicy food.
The food arrived quickly.
The oil in the boiled fish was still sizzling, the spicy duck blood stew was steaming, and several stir-fried dishes were perfect in color, aroma, and taste.
“Come on, let’s toast the Study Representative for the first cup!” Wang Hao raised his glass.
The four of them clinked glasses. The rim of Shen Qingyue’s glass only lightly touched her lips before she set it back down. She ate quietly, her movements refined and almost silent.
Halfway through the meal, the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open.
Everyone looked up.
Su Qing was standing at the doorway.
She wasn’t wearing her school uniform today either. Instead, she wore a light beige knit cardigan over a simple white T-shirt and dark jeans. Her long hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and her face held a perfect amount of surprise.
“Lin Mo?” Her gaze swept across the room before landing on him. “What a coincidence.”
The chopsticks in Lin Mo’s hand clattered onto the table.
“Pre — President?” Wang Hao was the first to react. “Are you here to eat too?”
“The Student Council just finished its regular meeting. I was getting ready to head back.” Su Qing waved a brown paper envelope in her hand. “Perfect timing. The Student Council has some materials for you, Lin Mo. Take them back and fill them out.”
She walked into the room and naturally placed the envelope next to Lin Mo’s hand.
“President, join us!” Wang Hao’s enthusiasm was perpetually ill-timed. “We’re currently thanking the Study Representative! It’s perfect that you’re here. You can be our witness!”
“Is this… appropriate?” Su Qing looked at Shen Qingyue with an inquiring expression.
Shen Qingyue put down her chopsticks and gently wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin.
“If President Su doesn’t mind, please have a seat.” Shen Qingyue’s voice was gentle and calm, betraying no emotion.
“Then I’ll be intruding.” Su Qing smiled and naturally pulled out the chair next to Lin Mo — the spot originally left open for the server.
As she sat down, a faint fragrance wafted over from her.
Lin Mo’s entire body went stiff, and he could only bury his head in his food. He could feel Su Qing’s leg lightly brush against his under the table before she quickly moved it away.
It felt like a silent warning.
Although another set of silverware was added, the atmosphere had clearly shifted. Wang Hao was still excitedly talking about funny things that happened during their group study sessions, and Li Wei chimed in occasionally, but for the most part, the only sound in the room was the clinking of utensils.
“By the way,” Su Qing picked up a piece of sautéed broccoli with her chopsticks and turned toward Shen Qingyue with a polite smile. “I’ve always heard that Study Representative Shen has excellent grades, but I didn’t realize you were so good at tutoring others as well.”
She paused, her gaze sweeping over Lin Mo.
“Lin Mo has been praising you constantly since he got home lately. He says your explanations are exceptionally clear, even more helpful than the private tutors he’s had before.”
She spoke the words “since he got home” very softly.
Lin Mo choked and quickly grabbed his water.
Shen Qingyue put down her chopsticks, picked up her tea, and lowered her head to blow gently on the floating tea leaves.
“I’m just helping him organize his thoughts,” she replied, her voice remaining calm. “Lin Mo is a hard worker and catches on quickly. It’s rewarding to teach a student like him.”
She gracefully deflected the credit while subtly praising Lin Mo.
Su Qing’s smile deepened.
“He really is. He’s been like that since he was little. He looks carefree, but he actually knows what he’s doing.” She turned to Lin Mo, her tone as affectionate as if she were talking about her own child. “By the way, didn’t you mention before that you were jealous of how ‘smart’ Shen Qingyue is and told me I should learn from her more?”
Lin Mo’s hand shook, and the piece of fish on his chopsticks fell back into the bowl.
“Did… did I say that?” his voice sounded dry.
“Of course you did.” Su Qing blinked. “Just last Tuesday night, when we were having dinner at my house. You said, ‘How can Shen Qingyue be so smart and focused? I wish I had half of her composure and brains.'”
Lin Mo felt a wave of hesitation. ‘Did I really say that? Even if I did, the original wording couldn’t have been like that, right?’