The next day, Jiang Yumo felt drowsy during the early self-study session.
During early self-study, usually people read aloud, some people recite Chinese classical texts, and some people recite English vocabulary.
When the bell for early self-study finally rang, Jiang Yumo happily went to the cafeteria with her friends to buy breakfast. Cancelling morning exercises for the third year students was truly the wisest decision made by the school leaders! The school’s broadcasting station played popular songs, some students went for walks, some went to the cafeteria for breakfast; it was a unique vitality that belonged to the campus.
When Jiang Yumo returned to the classroom, she noticed that Ning Zhiyu was standing in the corridor.
She felt that Ning Zhiyu was waiting for her!
She immediately quickened her pace, walked over, and patted Ning Zhiyu on the shoulder. Ning Zhiyu was leaning against the railing, looking at the sky. When Ning Zhiyu turned around and saw Jiang Yumo, Ning Zhiyu smiled.
Jiang Yumo asked, “Are you here to find me?”
Although Class 3 was on the same floor as Class 1 and Class 2, there was a staircase corridor separating them. Usually, the students from the other two classes would stay on the other side even if they were wandering around.
Ning Zhiyu nodded, “Didn’t I say that I would lend you my notes? I sorted them out and brought them to you.”
Jiang Yumo : Waaahh!
She was so touched!
When Jiang Yumo took the notes, she keenly noticed that Ning Zhiyu’s palm was cut and it looked scary. She raised her head in surprise and asked, “Are you injured?”
Ning Zhiyu clenched her hand and covered her palm, “Just a scratch, looks scary but it’ll be fine in a couple of days.”
Jiang Yumo said, “How did you get hurt? Did you apply any antiseptic?”
Ning Zhiyu smiled, “Just slipped and fell on the way back home, it’s nothing. I already applied iodine yesterday.”
“Well, you should take care of yourself,” Jiang Yumo said, “Or, do you want me to ask my Mom what medicine is good to heal quickly? My Mom works at a pharmacy, she knows a thing or two.”
Ning Zhiyu shook her head, “Thank you, but it’s okay. I bought some medicine myself.”
She lowered her eyes. She remembered what happened yesterday and didn’t know whether to say she was lucky or unlucky. At least that guy was generous when he gave her money. For a moment, she wanted to scold him for being impolite, not even saying sorry after bumping into someone, with no trace of apology on his face or in his eyes. Such people were really rude. But it only lasted a few seconds, and she hid all her emotions, took the bills from him.
Sometimes she was also confused, as she felt so old at the age of seventeen.
She liked Jiang Yumo very much, because… Jiang Yumo was the kind of seventeen-year-old girl she wanted to be.
Jiang Yumo and Ning Zhiyu had completely different life circumstances. Yet they admired each other. Jiang Yumo admired Ning Zhiyu’s intelligence, and Ning Zhiyu admired Jiang Yumo’s innocence and happiness.
When school was over at noon, Jiang Yumo didn’t hurry home. Instead, she went to a nearby boutique stationery store and finally found a hand-crank flashlight under a shelf. This flashlight was very small, about the same size as her slider phone, and didn’t take up much space in her backpack. It was also very convenient, as it didn’t need to be charged or have its batteries replaced. Just squeezing and pressing the inside would generate electricity.
She chose a light purple one and paid for it.
In fact, she didn’t feel like she had done much, just giving Ning Zhiyu a ride home on a rainy day when her father offered. It was just one thing.
But Ning Zhiyu had done several things for her. She had lent her sanitary pads before, then bought her jasmine honey tea, and this time she had even lent her a notebook.
Ning Zhiyu was really kind!
So, she decided to give Ning Zhiyu this small gift as a token of her gratitude.
Today was the Mid-Autumn Festival.
After buying the flashlight, Jiang Yumo entered the residential area of Ningcheng People’s Hospital. Her maternal uncle’s family was hosting a festival meal, and by the time she arrived, the food was already prepared.
The relatives in Jiang Yumo’s family were quite simple. Her paternal grandparents had two children, her father and her father’s younger brother. Her father’s younger brother was now a middle school teacher. Her maternal grandparents originally had three children, but her youngest aunt passed away in her early twenties due to illness.
The relationship between relatives was good.
“Come, wash your hands.” Uncle greeted with a smile, “Today your aunt cooked your favorite crayfish.”
Jiang Yumo smiled playfully, “Then I’ll temporarily cancel my diet plan for today.”
Aunt came out with the dish, “Why would a child like you go on a diet? Don’t be silly!”
Jiang Yumo slipped into the bathroom. Uncle and Aunt both liked her a lot, and she had her own room here. In the bathroom, Jiang Yumo saw her cousin, Chen Shuhang, admiring himself in the mirror. “Brother, you can’t do anything fancy with your few strands of hair.”
Chen Shuhang laughed and flicked her forehead with his fingers, “Daring to mock your Brother, you’ve become bold.”
The siblings1 exchanged a few more words, and Jiang Yumo thought of something. She lowered her voice and asked Chen Shuhang, “Brother, did you have any students preparing for art exams in your senior high school class?”
Chen Shuhang thought for a moment, “Yes, why? Are you interested in art exams?”
Jiang Yumo shook her head, not really, but nodded at the same time, “Not really, I just wanted to ask. If it’s difficult, then I’ll give up.”
When she was little, her parents had sent her to learn folk dance.
After entering high school, she didn’t dance much, but she would still take a few classes with her teacher once a month, considering it as a way to exercise.
She had also heard from Yan Qing that there were students preparing for art exams in Fifth High, some were studying painting, some were studying dance. If they weren’t good at academics, well-off families would send their children on this path. She also knew her own grades were not excellent, nor were they poor. She was not particularly smart to begin with, even if she knew the future, she wouldn’t turn into a different person, nor would her grades soar like a rocket in her third year of high school. Such things did happen in novels, but certainly not to her, she knew her own talents well.
If she hadn’t dreamt of the original plot, she might have just finished her third year of high school like this.
Now… she actually wants to change her future a little bit, like trying to get into a better university.
Chen Shuhang pondered for a moment. “That’s also a way. I have a classmate who had poor grades in the first semester of the first year of high school, but later his parents sent him to study art. He learned painting, and in the end, he got into a good school. Of course, he had talent in this area, and being an art student doesn’t necessarily mean it’s easier than being a regular student in the college entrance exam. Well, you will understand in the future, none of the paths are easy. However, since you have learned dancing for so long… you can also give it a try. I don’t know much about this, but I have a classmate who is an art student, and also learning folk dance. Let me give you her contact information, you can add her when you have time, and she can give you some advice.”
Jiang Yumo nodded eagerly, “That’s great!”
She paused for a moment, and added, “Don’t tell my parents or Uncle and Aunt about this for now. I want to understand it first.”
Actually, it’s a bit late now if she really wants to go down this path.
Many students have already decided on their direction in the first year of high school. She is now in the first semester of third year of high school, which is a bit late.
In the first year of high school, her parents also considered the path of art students, but she didn’t agree. To put it bluntly, she was lazy at that time and was scared by the thought of having to go to school and dance class every day. At the beginning, her parents sent her to learn dancing without expecting her to achieve anything, purely because at that time, the Children’s Palace2 in Ningcheng was renovated, and there was a trend among parents to send their children to learn a special skill. Then, there was a dance teacher who said Jiang Yumo had good potential, so her parents agreed and sent her there.
She had intermittently learned for several years. Initially, she really enjoyed it, but as time went on, she became annoyed with it!
The reason she refused in high school was not only because she was lazy, but also because she didn’t want to dance every day. She was almost fed up with it.
But now the situation is different. When she compares it, she realizes that things she used to dislike have become endearing compared to flying in the air every day.
Chen Shuhang smiled and ruffled her hair, “I know, you’re a third year in high school, trying to get into Brother’s school.”
Jiang Yumo : “…”
That’s definitely not possible!
After dinner, the four elders played rock-paper-scissors to determine who would do the dishes.
Finally, Father Jiang and Uncle went into the kitchen, while Mother Jiang and Aunt sat on the sofa chatting while playing cards.
Chen Shuhang copied his classmate’s QQ contact number for Jiang Yumo.
After leaving her Uncle’s house, Jiang Yumo couldn’t wait to search the number.
She didn’t dare to take out her phone at her Uncle’s house before.
Because the school teachers had warned the students not to bring phones to school, so if she took it out, her Mom would definitely nag at her.
The search results came out.
Jiang Yumo frowned. What’s going on? The gender is listed as male? Isn’t it supposed to be a Sister?
She looked again and saw that the location was Ningcheng.
Oh, she remembered. When Sun Mengting registered, she also set her gender as male. She said it would block those creepy guys who randomly add girls.
So that’s why!
Jiang Yumo double-checked the number again to make sure it was correct, and then sent a friend request with a message : “Hello, I am Chen Shuhang’s younger sister. Please accept my request, pretty please~”
After sending it, she didn’t get a response.
Jiang Yumo thought for a moment… Maybe the person hasn’t come online yet, so she decided to wait patiently!
After all, university freshmen have just started their vacation.
Jiang Yumo arrived at the school early, and there weren’t many people in the classroom at this time. She quietly crossed the invisible boundary line and arrived at Class 2. Coincidentally, she saw Ning Zhiyu’s deskmate coming in, so she crouched down and walked over softly.
Ning Zhiyu’s deskmate was a boarding student and usually worked hard in studying. She came to the classroom to do homework even during the noon break.
She was startled by Jiang Yumo.
Jiang Yumo placed the flashlight she bought into Ning Zhiyu’s desk, and with a smile on her face, she said to the deskmate, “Classmate, could you please tell Ning Zhiyu that this is from me?”
The deskmate looked puzzled, but still hummed in response.
“Thank you,” Jiang Yumo said.
After Jiang Yumo left, the deskmate hesitantly reached into the desk and took out the small bag, only to find a purple flashlight inside.
Instantly, her mood turned sour.
She couldn’t understand why Ning Zhiyu would rather be friends with students from the regular class than with her. Wasn’t she better than that person from Class 3? Her grades alone has beaten that person!
Feeling unhappy, she couldn’t focus on the knowledge points in her textbook anymore. She decided to go out for a walk. When she reached the corner, she bumped into a junior high school classmate who was getting water.
The junior high school classmate was also surprised, “Xu Min, are you here to fetch water too?”
“Yeah.” Xu Min leaned against the wall. She saw that there was no one around, because she felt very frustrated, she complained to her junior high school classmate, “Zhang Xu, do you think I have poor social skills?”
Zhang Xu chuckled, “Why would you say that? I saw you have quite a lot of friends on your social media. Your message board was filled with comments!”
Xu Min felt defeated, “Talking about that annoys me. I’ve been sitting with my deskmate for a year, but she won’t add me as a friend on social media. Am I that unlikeable?”
“Your deskmate?” Zhang Xu had met Xu Min’s deskmate before. “You mean Ning Zhiyu, the top student?”
“Yes.” Xu Min poured out her frustration to Zhang Xu, who was an old classmate and known for keeping secrets. “She doesn’t hang out with our class, but prefers to hang out with students from Class 3. That Jiang Yumo keeps giving her small gifts, you know… I just can’t understand why Ning Zhiyu would want to hang out with her and not with us. It’s bewildering!”
Zhang Xu pondered, “That is strange. We have monthly exams coming up soon.” He paused for a moment before casually saying, “You know how some students always ask for answers before exams, right? Your honors class will be taking the same exams as us. Maybe Jiang Yumo wants Ning Zhiyu to give her the answers. We have a parent-teacher conference after this exam.”
Every time before monthly exams, some students would beg others for answers. Zhang Xu had done it before too.
Xu Min’s eyes lit up as she suddenly realized, “That’s actually possible! I knew it!”
As they were discussing the likelihood of this possibility, they suddenly heard a heavy thud from the direction of the wall. A bottle of Coca-Cola had been thrown and it lay on the floor, with bubbles fizzing inside, as if about to burst through the bottle.
Both of them instinctively turned to look and their expressions became awkward.
Duan Ye leaned against the wall, looking at them with a faint expression.
Just as the two of them were feeling uneasy, Duan Ye casually pointed at Zhang Xu, “You, come here.”
Zhang Xu dared not move.
Duan Ye seemed to be getting impatient, “Don’t make me say it a second time.”
He didn’t know when it started, but he suddenly realized that he found talking to certain people annoying.
More precisely, talking to people who didn’t know their place was annoying.
Fortunately, the way to shut these people up was simple.
- in China, when the family relationships are close, cousins (especially from the same grandparents) are also considered siblings ↩︎
- an institution in China where children can take part in various extracurricular activities ↩︎