Ji Yuenian jogged all the way to the classroom, chose a seat in the middle row slightly toward the back, and immediately slumped onto the desk to catch up on sleep.
The teacher arrived punctually, dressed in a plain white T-shirt with her long hair loosely draped over her shoulders.
Students trickled into the classroom one after another.
When the 8 a.m. bell rang on time, the teacher once again noticed the notorious troublemaker at the back.
Gripping her ruler, Chen Shunhui walked up to him and tapped it on the desk:
“Ji Yuenian, wake up! Stand and read the text.”
Ji Yuenian yawned and reluctantly rose to his feet, instinctively reaching for his book-only to grasp at air.
He then remembered he had rushed out in such a hurry that morning that he’d forgotten it.
“Guess I’ll borrow one,” he thought.
He grabbed the Chinese textbook from the girl next to him and, still half-asleep, began reading without realizing anything was amiss.
“Due to the previous incident, Gu Hao was hospitalized, but Su Xiaoxiao was too embarrassed to visit him directly. So she disguised herself as a nurse-only for Gu Hao to see through her act and pin her down on the bed.
Gu Hao lifted Su Xiaoxiao’s delicate chin with a devilish smirk. ‘Woman, you’ve come at just the right time. Help me vent my… frustrations.’”
Only after finishing the passage did Ji Yuenian realize something was off.
Since when did Chinese textbooks include such spicy content?
Had the Ministry of Education stopped censoring material?
A closer look made him curse inwardly-damn it!
Instead of a Chinese textbook, he’d picked up a cheesy romance novel titled The Domineering CEO Falls for Me!
But it was already too late.
Chen Shunhui snatched the novel from him, flipped through a few pages with a frown deep enough to crush a mosquito, then snapped it shut with a loud smack.
“Both of you-stand at the back of the classroom!!!”
* * * * * *
“A-Chi~ You’ve already showered three times today. Why don’t you go out for a walk?”
A mature woman lounging on the living room sofa with a face mask called toward the bathroom, only to receive a muffled “Mm” in response.
Chen Mengrou sighed helplessly.
Ever since her precious son had stumbled home like a zombie a week ago, stripped off his clothes without a word, and locked himself in the bathroom for three hours straight, he’d been acting strange.
If she hadn’t dragged him out eventually, she would’ve suspected he’d turn into the Hulk from soaking too long.
For the past week, he’d refused to leave the house, spending his days either showering or holed up in his bedroom.
Whatever had happened must’ve traumatized him.
A knock sounded at the door, followed by a sweet, lively voice.
“Excuse me,
“Who is it?”
is this Senior Jiang’s home?”
Chen Mengrou got up to answer.
Standing outside was a young, pretty girl in a school uniform, carrying a fruit basket.
Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she wore a bright smile.
“Auntie Chen, is Senior Jiang home?”
“And you are…?”
Chen Mengrou eyed her curiously.
“My name is Ji Qingchan. I’m Senior Jiang’s junior at school. I heard he’s been sick at home, so I came to visit.”
With that, Ji Qingchan-also known as Ji Yuenian-held up the fruit basket with a playful grin.
She had to thank that ridiculous CEO novel from earlier for the inspiration.
Over the past week, she’d considered visiting him, but her pride as the school’s notorious delinquent had held her back.
But now… Ji Qingchan’s reputation had nothing to do with Ji Yuenian!
Maybe this would even earn her some goodwill!
A junior, visiting, and even knowing their home address?
Hah!
Chen Mengrou’s eyes sparkled.
Her silly son had finally learned to chase after girls!!
However, she was also a smart person and didn’t lose her composure.
After inviting the guest inside, she placed the fruit basket on the living room table and called toward the bathroom, “A-Chi, are you done? Your junior has come to visit you.”
“Yeah, I know, Mom.”
The response came quickly, followed by the sound of footsteps.
The young man in the bathroom wiped his damp hair and stepped out in a bathrobe.
Ji Qingchan sat frozen in place, staring at the boy in the bathrobe with his wet hair.
Jiang Chi toweled off his damp hair, his toned upper body faintly revealing the outline of some muscle-though only a little.
It was far from the “eight-pack abs,” “Adonis belt,” or “top-tier male model” image his school fangirls imagined!
Hahaha~
I knew Jiang Chi was just a weakling.
Eight-pack abs?
He doesn’t even have two!!
Ji Yuenian laughed hysterically in his heart.
Chen Mengrou noticed Ji Qingchan staring at her son in a daze.
Her eyes flickered with a strange glint, but she maintained her maternal dignity and scolded Jiang Chi sternly:
“A-Chi, can’t you see there’s a girl here? Go put some clothes on!”
“Why are you here?”
Jiang Chi didn’t answer his mother first. Instead, his gaze settled on Ji Qingchan.
He distinctly remembered not giving her his home address-so how had she found him?
The vague three words resurfaced in his mind-scam artist.
“A-Chi, that’s no way to talk to a girl!”
Chen Mengrou couldn’t help but inwardly criticize her son’s abysmal emotional intelligence.
After shooing him back to his room to change, she turned to Ji Qingchan.
“Sorry, A-Chi’s been sick lately, so his mood…”
“It’s fine, Auntie,” Ji Qingchan waved her hand, signaling she didn’t mind.
Before long, Jiang Chi emerged from his room.
He wore a Sicamocha-style white T-shirt, paired with limited-edition KK light gray sweatpants and white sneakers.
His whole look gave off the vibe of a reliable older brother next door.
Ji Qingchan was now chatting enthusiastically with Chen Mengrou.
As her mother’s best friend, Ji Yuenian knew all too well about Auntie Chen’s hobbies and favorite topics.
Jiang Chi sat down as well, peeling apples for the two of them, though his gaze remained fixed on Ji Qingchan without wavering.
Once she had built up enough goodwill, Ji Qingchan excused herself, citing afternoon classes.
“A-Chi, what are you spacing out for? Go see her off!”
She nudged her son out the door and toward Ji Qingchan, then added, “Chanchan, I’ve heard there are a lot of creeps around lately. Let A- Chi walk you back-be careful on the way.”
“Thank you, Auntie.” Ji Qingchan clasped her hands together in gratitude.
“Mom, my gloves and mask,” Jiang Chi said, about to go back inside.
Bang!
The only response was the crisp sound of the door slamming shut, accompanied by a gust of wind.
Jiang Chi: “…”
Only then did he finally take a proper look at the girl before him.
She wore a snow-white short-sleeved blouse that hugged her delicate figure perfectly, with a slight curve at her chest that added to her enchanting charm.
Her lower half was clad in a pair of blue-and-white shorts, beneath which her fair, rosy legs stretched out straight and slender, as smooth and delicate as mutton-fat jade.
She exuded a youthful, sweet aura like the girl next door, resembling a pure gardenia flower with its refreshing fragrance.
She knew how to dress well.
Jiang Chi silently labeled her in his mind.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Ji Qingchan didn’t refuse, obediently following him as they headed downstairs.
When they reached the first-floor landing, the young man suddenly stopped.
Had Ji Qingchan not been quick on her feet, she might have bumped right into him.
Jiang Chi slowly turned around, his deep blue eyes calmly fixed on Ji Qingchan.
His voice, devoid of any emotion, flowed out in an even tone.
“Ji Qingchan, what exactly is your purpose?”