Chapter 37

The anniversary school celebration event is still scheduled for the end of next month, and the uproar quickly subsides.

In its place, there is the looming midterm exam at the beginning of November, akin to a towering mountain that cannot be crossed, weighing heavily on the students’ minds.

“This is a test of your abilities, and it’s time for you to see what you’ve learned in the two months since the start of the second year!” The physics teacher admonished from the podium, swinging his arms. “Especially some students, hmm? You, for example. Look at the scores on your papers. Do you think you deserve the chair you’re sitting on? I think if it could answer, it might score higher than you!”

The whole class was chastised into silence, heads bowed.

Usually, at times like these, the only one in the class who might and dared to resist such tyranny was someone at the only desk in the front row of their classroom.

Some students looked over with anticipation, but the result was somewhat unexpected.

The boy sitting there not only showed no intention of arguing back, but for once, he hadn’t even prepared his usual classroom nap setup. Instead, he held a paper in his hand, his brow slightly furrowed, his handsome face cold as he flipped through the test paper from last month.

…Could it be that even Brother Yan sometimes struggles with physics?

Many students in the class whispered to each other, their eyes shining with curiosity.On the podium, the physics teacher delivered a long speech, took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, and when he looked up again, he noticed the commotion among the students.

Noticing the shared gaze of several students, the physics teacher frowned.

“Why are you all looking at Shang Yan? He got another perfect score this time! If you could achieve his grades, I wouldn’t even be upset if you skipped my physics class every day for gym!”

As he spoke, the physics teacher casually glanced at the midterm test paper in Shang Yan’s hand.

The bright red score on top made him furrow his brow.

“…Shang Yan, whose paper are you holding?”

Shang Yan remained silent, his elegant profile becoming even more stern.

He let go of the paper, gently tapping it on the desk.

With a light “pat,” the timid kid beside him flinched.

After a few seconds, Su Miao Miao, who had been shrinking towards the corner with her head lowered, mustered the courage to raise her hand, her delicate fingertips peeking out from her sleeve.

“Teacher, the paper is… mine.”

“Oh, Su Miao Miao’s, huh?” The physics teacher looked awkward.

He knew that this new girl, Su Miao Miao, had some health issues, so he didn’t want to be too hard on her about her grades.

Clearing his throat, he softened his tone.

“Since you have such an excellent classmate, you should learn from them… If your classmate can get a perfect score, you should at least aim for half, right?”

The reaction to Su Miao Miao’s physics score caused some students in the class to chuckle under their breath.

Su Miao Miao kept her head down, her small ears turning red with embarrassment.

As the bell for the end of class rang, the physics teacher left the room.

But Su Miao Miao knew very well that the “torture” was far from over.

“Miao Miao darling, let’s go get some water, will you come with us…”

The word “no” trembled three times in Qi Wenyue’s mouth, then she fell silent under Shang Yan’s gaze.

Quietly, she turned and gestured to Liao Lanxin, heading silently towards the back door of the classroom.

Only then did Shang Yan retract his gaze.

He leaned to the side, his left hand dropping onto the desk behind him, completely blocking Su Miao Miao’s last escape route.

“…”

Su Miao Miao slowly and carefully leaned her head against the wall.

Then, she quickly glanced at Shang Yan.

Oh…

Especially fierce.

Su Miao Miao quickly lowered her head again.

Shang Yan couldn’t help but chuckle at her.

He reached out and tapped the paper lying quietly on the desk, just like its owner.

“48 points, hmm?”

“…”

“I’ve been busy with training for two weeks, and when I come back for the first test, you give me such a big surprise?”

“…”

“Did you go to the self-study room when I asked you to before?”

This time, Su Miao Miao finally responded. She lowered her head and explained softly, “My leg was hurting, so I didn’t go.”

Upon hearing this, Shang Yan lowered his gaze and glanced at the girl’s calf.

Su Miao Miao recoiled slightly.

Seeing Shang Yan’s expression soften, she cautiously continued, “I didn’t catch up on the first two weeks of classes before school started, so I couldn’t understand later.”

The girl seemed a bit aggrieved, her voice trailing off softly and lightly, and she even tucked her head into her clothes after speaking.

Shang Yan’s eyes flickered to the slender, fair neck that was revealed.

The slight melancholy from earlier dissipated. Now, faced with this girl’s demeanor, he couldn’t muster any annoyance.

He reached out and ruffled the girl’s hair.

“Starting today, you’ll go to the training sessions every evening and weekend, and I’ll start tutoring you. Got it?”

Su Miao Miao hesitated for a moment.

She always rode with the Wen family’s car, going to and from school with Wen Susu. If she were to attend tutoring sessions in the evenings and weekends, she would have to bring it up with the Wen family… But she didn’t want to ask anything from them.

After a moment of silence, Shang Yan glanced sideways at her.

“—Having trouble?”

Su Miao Miao hesitated, feeling conflicted, but she decided to be honest with Shang Yan.

“I’m currently staying at Wen Susu’s house, and we go to and from school together, so it’s not very convenient…”

Shang Yan’s gaze shifted slightly, then he nodded nonchalantly. “Then I’ll take care of transportation.”

Su Miao Miao: “?”

“Before the midterm exams, if your grades don’t improve…”

Shang Yan’s tone carried a hint of threat as his gaze slowly fell on the girl’s leg.

Su Miao Miao froze in place.

“…”

After two seconds, she slowly withdrew her leg, tucking it underneath the empty space beneath the chair.

For some reason, a faint blush tinted the girl’s earlobes.

The boy next to her couldn’t resist adding with a smirk, “Looks like you know what I’m going to say.”

Su Miao Miao: “…”

How could she have such a master?

Su Miao Miao held back, took her thermos, and stood up. “Master, I want to get some water.”

“No. Sit down and correct your mistakes,” Shang Yan said without moving.

“Why are you getting water if you couldn’t even score half on the physics test?”

Su Miao Miao: “…”

Feeling frustrated, she almost cried.

Despite feeling wronged, Su Miao Miao, knowing she was at fault, slowly sat back down.

Before she could even put down her thermos, it was suddenly taken from her palm, and the boy next to her stood up and walked away from his desk.

A few minutes later, the bell rang for the next class, and Shang Yan still hadn’t returned.

The last class was a homeroom meeting, and the homeroom teacher, Li Shijie, stepped up to the podium, scanning the class as usual. His gaze then stopped at the first desk.

“…Where’s Shang Yan?”

Su Miao Miao, who had been worrying, anxiously looked up at the sound of his voice.

But it was a voice coming from behind her, from Qi Wenyue.

“Teacher, I saw him during break. The hot water heater in our building is broken, so he went to the neighboring Building 4 to get water.”

“…”

Su Miao Miao, seated in front, was stunned.

“Oh, I see,” Li Shijie furrowed his brow, opening his meeting notebook. “Then we’ll—”

Before he could finish, a figure entered through the front door of the classroom.

“Teacher.”

Shang Yan nodded to Li Shijie, acknowledging the greeting, and then went straight to his seat.

The thermos, now cool to the touch from the autumn chill at the end of October, was placed back into Su Miao Miao’s hands.

The boy who had done all this remained calm and composed, as if nothing had happened, as if he hadn’t just crossed two buildings and half the campus to fetch that bottle of water.

Su Miao Miao’s emotions churned inside her for a long time.

Then, slowly, she hugged the thermos tightly to her chest.

She turned her face to look out the window.

As evening approached, the sunlight outside turned golden, painting the clouds in the sky with brilliant and mottled colors.

A small leaf, carried by the gentle breeze, twirled playfully in the air.

The autumn chill was also warm….

The homeroom meeting followed its usual routine, summarizing the events of the past two weeks.

The highlight, of course, was the recent midterm exams, including the improvement or decline in scores compared to the previous exams, the change in the class’s average ranking within the grade, and the number of students in the top ten and top fifty in the grade…

Once the midterm exam summaries were over, Su Miao Miao, who had been on edge, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

As it seemed to be nearing the end, Su Miao Miao lifted her head to look at Li Shijie.

At this moment, Li Shijie closed his meeting notebook.

“There is one final matter.”

As soon as they heard “final,” even the most drowsy students in the class perked up, eagerly awaiting the end of this lengthy monologue.

After a moment of contemplation, Li Shijie began.

“At the request of the higher authorities, the school has decided to organize an autumn outing in early November to ensure the comprehensive development of students in morality, intelligence, physical health, aesthetics, and labor skills.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole class paused for a moment, then erupted into cheers.

Li Shijie raised his eyebrows and sternly silenced them.

“Quiet down.”

The class fell silent.

Li Shijie continued, “Participation in this autumn outing is voluntary. Anyone who doesn’t want to participate can voluntarily opt out.”

The students in the class laughed.

—

Such a rare opportunity, who would be foolish enough not to…

“Teacher.”

At the front of the classroom, Shang Yan lazily raised his arm.

“I’m not going.”

“…”

The whole class was silent for two seconds.

Even Su Miao Miao, sitting nearby, looked at Shang Yan in astonishment.

As if reminded by the girl’s surprised expression, Shang Yan hesitated for a moment before saying, “Oh.”

All eyes turned to him.

“By the way.”

Shang Yan smirked and pointed at the girl.

“She’s not going either.”

Su Miao Miao: “…??”