During evening self-study.

Zhou Nanye had adjusted his mindset and decided to put Jiang Mianmian’s earlier confession of her feelings for him behind him. After all, they were from two entirely different worlds.

Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Zhou Nanye found himself studying even harder than before.

Jiang Mianmian watched him as he tackled one problem after another, fully immersed in his studies.

She glanced over at Mingyao, who was slouched over his desk, lazily napping, and couldn’t fathom why someone as hardworking as Zhou Nanye wasn’t the male lead.

Unable to figure it out, she let the thought go. But after half an hour passed and Zhou Nanye still hadn’t taken a break, Jiang Mianmian couldn’t help but gently urge, “Little Nanye, take a break. You’ll wear yourself out.”

Although Zhou Nanye was in the middle of solving a problem, he immediately stopped what he was doing when he heard the concerned voice of the girl next to him. He turned to look at Jiang Mianmian, her face full of genuine care, and felt a warm sensation in his heart.

His lips curved into a slight smile, and he shook his head lightly. “No… not tired…”

His voice dropped a little as he explained, “It’s… it’s because… I want… to earn… the scho…larship, so… I have… to work… hard.”

For someone like him, studying was the only way to change his life.

Though he was naturally intelligent, Zhou Nanye didn’t dare to slack off.

Jiang Mianmian noticed his embarrassment when he mentioned the scholarship, as if he feared she would look down on him. After all, a few thousand yuan might seem like a lot to ordinary people but was merely the price of a handbag for the wealthy.

She smiled brightly and said, “Little Nanye, you’re amazing! Seeing you work so hard has inspired me to stop slacking off. I’ve decided to study seriously from now on.”

She struck a determined pose, as if turning over a new leaf, before adding, “But I don’t know if Little Nanye is willing to help me with my studies.”

Tutoring was the perfect way to close the distance between them.

“I’m… willing!” Zhou Nanye quickly agreed. He wanted so badly to repay her kindness, and if he could help her in any way, it would make him happy.

When it came to teaching, Zhou Nanye was incredibly serious.

He selected some simple problems and placed them in front of her. Because he spoke slowly, he even grabbed a piece of scratch paper to write out explanations for her.

As they worked through the problems, their heads drew closer together. At one point, Zhou Nanye’s leg accidentally brushed against Jiang Mianmian’s smooth leg beneath her skirt.

The boy’s ears turned red in an instant.

By the end of the evening, Jiang Mianmian had successfully exchanged contact information with Zhou Nanye, wrapping up her day perfectly.

Since Zhou Nanye stayed in the dorms, they parted ways as Jiang Mianmian’s home was nearby.

In the past, the original Jiang Mianmian would have chased after Mingyao to hang out. But now, she didn’t even glance at him and walked away without hesitation.

Mingyao, however, stole several glances at her. Watching her leave without looking back, he nearly died of frustration.

“Fine! Jiang Mianmian, keep pretending!” he fumed inwardly.

He grabbed Zhou Ling’er, a girl he had just met, and decided to go out for some fun with her.

When they passed by Zhou Nanye, Mingyao deliberately ignored him. Zhou Nanye, however, politely asked after Zhou Ling’er.

But Zhou Ling’er had already lost patience with Zhou Nanye. She had only befriended him because of his good looks and the opportunity to appear kind-hearted by associating with someone with a speech impediment. Now, she couldn’t be bothered.

Especially since Mingyao had casually mentioned earlier that he disliked her “stuttering friend.”

Hearing that, Zhou Ling’er decided she wouldn’t waste her time on Zhou Nanye anymore. She brushed off his concern with a curt “Mingyao is my friend” before walking away with Mingyao.

As they left, Mingyao shot Zhou Nanye a disdainful glance. Thinking about the rumors spreading today about Jiang Mianmian liking Zhou Nanye, he snorted internally.

What a joke. A stutterer? Why would Jiang Mianmian like him when someone as handsome as Mingyao was around? Ridiculous.

He conveniently ignored the fact that Zhou Nanye’s looks were in no way inferior to his own.

Zhou Nanye’s gaze darkened slightly.

So, this was the childhood friend who had grown up with Mianmian, the boy she had liked for over a decade yet who had taken her for granted?

In just one meal at the cafeteria, Zhou Nanye had unintentionally picked up a lot of gossip.

He thought to himself that if he had been in Mingyao’s position, he would have cherished Mianmian. He would never have let such a wonderful girl down.