Chapter 370: Break the Curse
As soon as Li Qingrong looked away, Jiang Nian understood.
Everything that happened last night…
was real!
The bet was established, and it's still ongoing.
"Do you often stay up late?" he asked curiously.
Li Qingrong hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.
"I don't."
"Oh, remember to go to bed early," Jiang Nian instinctively said, originally thinking to add that staying up late would stunt growth, but he stopped himself after glancing at her.
"Okay." Li Qingrong nodded.
Jiang Nian turned back, continuing to ponder over the chemistry problems. His chemistry base wasn't weak, he just lacked an opportunity like Qingbao had.
Speedrunning... chemistry.
The chemistry tutoring students were decided early, couldn't let Jiang Nian get every good thing.
But then again, whether or not the tutoring is effective mostly depends on the teacher, not every teacher is Qingbao.
He'd have to think of another way, or simply rely on himself.
As Jiang Nian was lost in his thoughts, he suddenly remembered Lao Liu mentioned the date for the next provincial exam yesterday, but he couldn't recall.
He thought to himself, "Could it be at the end of the month?" If so, I'm screwed.
This month there's a soccer match and a driving test. There's a lot going on; it's not overwhelming but it will definitely be distracting.
If the time is too short, he'd have to find time to make up for it himself.
What's foreseeable is that he'd end up exhausted like a dog.
But... even a dog wouldn't be this tired.
The seat next to Jiang Nian was empty; Li Hua had gone to the hallway to play soccer, and Zhizhi Baby went off to get clingy with Yao Beibei.
After thinking it over, he couldn't help but get up.
Exiting the classroom, he heard a commotion in the hallway. There was a vague thudding sound, probably from playing soccer.
At this moment, in the noisy hallway.
Class Monitor Tao Ran stood with his hands in his pockets, looking at the mountains and listening to the rain by the railing. Gotta admit, when he wasn't speaking, he seemed somewhat human-like.
This is the Minister of Rites for Class Three!
You could faintly sense a clear and refined aura flowing subtly from him.
Jiang Nian approached, ready to ask Tao Ran something. Just as he lifted his foot, Yu Zhiyi came walking over from the other end of the hall.
Then out of nowhere, appeared a human-like Li Hua with a ball, who, before you could blink, knocked over Tao Ran who was enjoying the rain.
Jiang Nian: "???"
Yu Zhiyi chuckled briefly, stopping in front of Li Hua.
"Aren't you afraid of getting caught playing soccer here?"
"What's there to be afraid of? Just blame it on Jiang Nian," Li Hua flicked his hair, pretending to be cool, "That's what happens when you're the captain."
The recently knocked down Tao Ran, who was slowly helped up by Li Hua, paused in thought, then turned to Li Hua and asked.
"Tell me, would a fox-eared girl automatically move her tail to avoid falling?"
Li Hua: "..."
Yu Zhiyi: "..."
Jiang Nian stood not far away, feeling speechless.
He's figured it out; everyone here seems to have their own special skills.
Li Hua's selling out was particularly smooth, like he was the kind to scrape Yu Zhiyi's desk paint to drink.
Jiang Nian coughed, stepping forward.
"Hua, I heard there's a traitor in the team."
As he spoke, he patted Li Hua's shoulder three times heavily, each time heavier than the last, making Li Hua grimace in pain.
"Any thoughts on this traitor?"
Li Hua immediately responded like an idiot, letting out a long "Ahhh."
"I don't know."
Yu Zhiyi watched with a smile, about to say something, but Jiang Nian waved her off, dismissing her.
Her expression instantly vanished, no longer smiling.
Jiang Nian wasn't concerned; he put his arm around class monitor Tao Ran's shoulder, leading him toward the railing. He started with a shocking statement.
"I have a thought about kemonomimi girls."
"Hmm?"
At the edge of the railing, putting some distance from Yu Zhiyi and them. Only then did Jiang Nian release Tao Ran and directly asked.
"Bro, when's the provincial exam?"
Tao Ran pondered for a moment, then looked up and asked in return.
"Were you talking about kemonomimi girls...."
"Provincial exam," Jiang Nian looked certain, not blinking, "You misheard, bro."
Tao Ran, upon hearing this, looked a bit confused.
"Even though I've been reading quite a few banned comics recently, is it that serious? I didn't think it was so bad that I'd start hallucinating."
"You need to practice moderation," Jiang Nian sighed, then changed the subject, "Alright, shall we get back to the subject of the provincial exam?"
"Could be early next month, after New Year's," Tao Ran said, lacking interest, "Anyway, the teachers said it'll be all exams next month."
"And when we return next semester, exams will become normal. And in between, we'll sprinkle in second-round reviews."
After hearing Tao Ran's words, Jiang Nian suddenly felt immense pressure.
But at least there's a bit more time, so it's not impossible to improve by 40 points. If he could score 650, he'd go back home and offer incense immediately.
Go home for the new year, and take the seat of honor.
The rain fell all morning, stopping just as school let out for lunch.
Jiang Nian flipped through Class Two's timetable and noticed Qingbao only had classes in the afternoon. Assuming she wouldn't be in the office that morning, he dropped the idea.
Esteemed teachers and accomplished students mutually make each other great.
He didn't think his chemistry problems couldn't be asked of Qingbao, considering she was the youngest postgraduate, likely having skipped grades.
Why does such educational talent exist in a county school?
Because top-tier teachers, though drawn to the capital, still some have roots they can't leave, and decide to come home to teach.
For instance, their parallel class on the third floor has a biology teacher who's a PhD from Jilin University, yet she teaches in this small county.
Also, the Southern Province's teaching staff recruitment has been shrinking. Even though they say teaching jobs aren't worth much, candidates are still as numerous as cows.
The only ones truly longing for big cities are young people.
Old, stable teachers only want to work in the small county, shop in big cities during breaks, and travel during winter and summer holidays.
But participating in training is a different story.
He preemptively sent Qingbao a WeChat message, letting her know in advance. He told her he'd be looking for her in the afternoon to discuss some study questions.
A moment later, Qingbao replied with a buzz.
"Okay, come to the office during the last minor break in the afternoon."
Jiang Nian: "OK."
You can easily tell who's young this way.
Old geezers typically like saying "good, good, good" and then add a "received."
Rustle, Qingbao sent a pink emoji. Far beneath her age, it looked incredibly cute.
"(OK)."
Do you have mind-reading skills or something?
Jiang Nian was unconvinced and replied with one.
"Cute!"
Qingbao: "Adorable!"
Jiang Nian: "????? Teacher, where did you learn this set?"
Qingbao: "I saw my younger cousins send messages this way, what's wrong? (Confused)"
Jiang Nian: "Nothing, does your cousin also attend high school?"
Qingbao: "Primary school."
Seeing this, Jiang Nian quietly closed WeChat.
But then again, comparing is not really a good habit. Being in high schools isn't worse than being in primary schools; they're all the same.
Old gang.
This kind of term is really bad; don't know who invented it.
Chen Yunyun flickered at the classroom door, and before leaving, she instinctively looked back at the spot she checked a dozen times a day.
He's still there, seemingly doing questions.
The guy didn't appear to be so studious before; he'd always be the first to dash to the cafeteria after school, but later on, he changed.
Could it be because of boys' mental maturity?
"He's really working hard," Chen Yunyun sighed, "I have to work hard too, or else I'll get overtaken sooner or later."
Wang Yuhe peeked and had an indignant tone.
"I won't get overtaken by him."
Chen Yunyun glanced at her, then smiled.
"Our scores are close, so if he surpasses me, he surpasses you too, doesn't he?"
In the hallway.
Wang Yuhe frowned, thinking that seemed right. She murmured calculations for a moment, then looked up as they descended the stairs.
"Yunyun, next time I'm getting a 640."
Her declaration caught the attention of several boys on the stairs. After all, a 640 is top five in the Olympic class.
Of course, Class Three is the head of the science Olympic competition.
A 640 doesn't necessarily ensure staying in the top five, and if the paper's easy, you might end up around sixth or seventh place.
Jiang Nian got 616 this time, rounding up to eighth place.
In front of him were Zhang Ningzhi, Yao Beibei, Chen Yunyun, Wang Yuhe, Tao Ran, the former biology class rep, and Holy Emperor.
This ranking isn't entirely fixed. Sometimes these people could shift to eleventh or twelfth place.
Occasionally, Li Hua of Chi Shi would break into the top five.
But overall, a 640 score carries a lot of weight. Even in unmonitored weekly tests, it's an extraordinary number.
So when naive Wang Yuhe mentioned that figure,
The surrounding boys experienced a range of emotions from shock to disdain, then suspicion, quickly becoming indifferent, and finally heartbroken.
Are you calling Bull Demon?
In public, don't you know bragging is illegal?
Chen Yunyun didn't find it awkward; she knew Wang Yuhe could indeed achieve it, so she nodded.
"Mmm."
Upon hearing this, Wang Yuhe's frown relaxed, and she cheerfully exclaimed.
"That way, Jiang Nian can't surpass me."
In the classroom.
Jiang Nian was immersed in work; when someone focuses, they can't feel the pain, and might even enjoy it.
Like studying, each problem makes him feel accomplished.
It wasn't until he encountered an absurd organic chemistry formula that he stopped. He rubbed his eyes, disbelieving.
"Porcupineene?"
A: Porcupineene and ethylene are homologues.
As lunchtime approached, Chen Yunyun and another girl returned to the classroom.
At the sight of someone still doing problems at his desk, they were surprised, exchanging looks, momentarily speechless.
Jiang Nian sensed someone approaching. When he looked up,
Chen Yunyun had sat in Wu Jungu's seat, and Wang Yuhe sat in Zeng You's seat, both staring at him.
"Didn't you go for lunch?"
At those words, Jiang Nian had a look of bewilderment.
"Oh~ forgot."
He stood up, his gaze passing over Wang Yuhe. Seeing her flat chest, he doubted the scene he saw at noon yesterday on the rooftop.
It must have been a hallucination; the sun had fried his brain.
"What time is it now? If there's nothing else, I'll just eat instant noodles at the convenience store."
"It's 12:45, the canteen's closed," Wang Yuhe swatted his hand, "Now you're under a gluttony curse."
Jiang Nian ignored her, thinking her childish.
He turned to Chen Yunyun, asking.
"Want me to bring you a drink from the store? As long as you don't share with her, not even a sip."
Chen Yunyun stood up, brushing off her pants.
"I'll come with you."
Wang Yuhe was left alone at the desk, sulking.
"Who cares!"
Jiang Nian almost reached the door but turned back to her.
"Come lift the curse; otherwise, how am I to eat instant noodles? If I can't get enough to eat, it's a waste of money!"
Wang Yuhe reluctantly got up, grumbling.
"Are you begging me?"
Jiang Nian snorted, "I can also cast a few curses myself."
After the three left,
The two boys left writing questions in the classroom raised their heads, exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.
This is fecking possible?