Chapter 135

The competition results and monthly exam scores were released on the same day. Mo Yin’s performance in both areas was excellent—just slightly behind Li Xiu.

Mo Yin held the result slip in his hand, feeling neither happy nor sad.

The gap was smaller than before.

As long as he continued to work hard, he expected to surpass Li Xiu as soon as the mid-term exams.

At that moment, the announcement over the speakers called for Li Xiu, Mo Yin, and Zhong Jiaming to report to the office.

The Physics teacher was very pleased with their performance this year, smiling and saying, “Congratulations to all of you, you didn’t disappoint.” The Physics teacher pointed at the three of them with a pen while smiling, “You’ll have the opportunity to go even further now!”

A few minutes later, the three of them walked out of the office together.

Zhong Jiaming looked at Li Xiu and Mo Yin, hesitated for a moment, and didn’t speak to them.

The Physics teacher had just informed them that the three of them had been selected for the provincial team. They would participate in the provincial team training with students from other schools and then compete in the national competition.

This result had been long-awaited by Zhong Jiaming. He had started preparing for this path during the summer after graduating from junior high. In his freshman year, he tried participating in competitions, made it to the semifinals but didn’t make it to the provincial team. In his sophomore year, he didn’t participate in the preliminaries, focusing on overcoming his weaknesses in mathematics. That year, Li Xiu went, but fortunately, Li Xiu didn’t pass either.

During a family dinner, their parents discussed this matter.

“He just had a sudden impulse. We don’t plan to let him go down this path in the future; it’s not necessary.”

“Yes, Li Xiu’s grades were casually chosen by the school, but it’s different for Jiaming. He can’t go abroad, there are too many restrictions, too few choices.”

“You can’t say that. Every child has their own path.”

“Children with good aptitude have more options.”

Zhong Jiaming listened quietly, feeling his ears gradually heating up. Li Xiu’s success was greater than his, and Li Xiu’s failure was also greater than his.

What Li Xiu achieved effortlessly was something he needed to work hard for two years to accomplish, and Li Xiu did it better than him…

Zhong Jiaming clenched his palm slightly, stopped in his tracks, and Li Xiu and Mo Yin didn’t wait for him, continuing to walk ahead. Although the three of them hadn’t communicated after leaving the office, they had clearly divided into two groups. Zhong Jiaming looked up, the two didn’t get too close, but the invisible aura made it clear that they were on the same side.

Classes were suspended, luggage was packed, and they took the high-speed train to the neighboring city for training at the university.

Li Xiu’s choice once again faced opposition from his family.

“When you chose the science stream, you said studying science would be more helpful for that path. You convinced me back then. Now, are you straying too far? Seems like you’re going off track?”

From the call from the other end of the planet, the father’s calm tone carried an invisible pressure.

Li Xiu said, “It won’t delay me.”

“Hmm.”

“Li Xiu,” the father coldly chuckled, “You’re not as smart as you imagine, and I’m not as foolish as you think.”

“I just want to give it a try,” Li Xiu said, “No other thoughts.”

“You better not act on your own.”

After the final warning was delivered, Li’s father hung up the phone.

Mo Yin was packing his luggage and said, “Your father made a good point.”

Li Xiu put down his phone, his arm resting on the chair back. He raised his chin on his arm and asked, “What?”

Mo Yin zipped up the suitcase, finding it a bit stiff. He rubbed some soap on the zipper, finally closing it. As he stood the suitcase upright, Mo Yin looked at Li Xiu and said solemnly, “You’re not as smart as you think.” He was about to surpass him soon.

Li Xiu smiled, his eyes squinting, “You’re absolutely right.”

After speaking, he laughed, shaking the chair along with himself.

Mo Yin glanced at him, thinking there was nothing funny about it, but he was somewhat used to Li Xiu’s slightly eccentric laughter. He bent over to push the suitcase to a corner, and then Li Xiu hugged him from behind.

Psychological studies show that it takes about twenty-one days to form a good habit.

Their lips met, moist and soft, tongues gently exploring, and in just three days, Mo Yin had gotten used to kissing Li Xiu… Mo Yin thought to himself: kissing surely isn’t a good habit.

This was Mo Yin’s first time taking a high-speed train. He had checked the strategies online in advance and simulated the process in his mind several times. The boarding process went smoothly without any mistakes.

“We’ve arrived, we’ve arrived.”

The leading teacher stopped and directed the three students to their seats.

Mo Yin sat in the window seat on the left side as indicated on his high-speed train ticket. The high-speed train seats were much softer and more spacious compared to bus seats, and Mo Yin was quite satisfied. He lightly bounced up and down in his seat, enjoying the soft touch of the seat.

Zhong Jiaming looked at Li Xiu, who was checking the ticket and seat.

Zhong Jiaming lowered his head and sat down. As soon as he sat down, Mo Yin, who was sitting next to him, turned his face. Mo Yin’s gaze only lingered on Zhong Jiaming’s face for a second before passing by, showing no desire for communication. Zhong Jiaming hesitated, pinched the high-speed train ticket, and whispered, “If you want to switch seats…”

“Doesn’t matter.”

Mo Yin looked out the window at the passing people, “It’s the same no matter who I sit with.”

Zhong Jiaming looked at Li Xiu.

Li Xiu, holding the high-speed train ticket, was looking at Mo Yin. The leading teacher who had already sat down pulled Li Xiu, “Sit down.”

Li Xiu didn’t say anything and sat in the window seat on the other side.

For some reason, Zhong Jiaming felt a subtle sense of joy when he saw Li Xiu sit down.

In the eyes of people like Mo Yin, both he and Li Xiu were the same—strange and aloof.

Perhaps Li Xiu thought he was somewhat special, but it was just an illusion. Li Xiu was the same as him. At least in this matter, he hadn’t lost to Li Xiu. Thinking that Li Xiu might feel the same frustration as him, Zhong Jiaming felt a lot more relaxed.

The train departed.

As the train accelerated, Mo Yin’s expression gradually relaxed. The train was smooth, and the scenery flying past outside made him feel the speed, as if riding the still wind towards the distance, making him can’t help but smile.

Zhong Jiaming glanced at Mo Yin. The faint smile on Mo Yin’s lips contrasted starkly with his usual cold demeanor.

Zhong Jiaming took out his phone, opened the music player, adjusted the earphones, and handed one earphone to Mo Yin, “Want to listen to music?”

Mo Yin glanced over, and Zhong Jiaming nervously held his breath. Despite being clearly rejected before and told that Mo Yin didn’t want to be friends, Zhong Jiaming still chose to try, perhaps to prove something…

Mo Yin took the earphone.

A smile appeared on Zhong Jiaming’s face. He controlled himself from looking at Li Xiu and handed the phone to Mo Yin, “What do you want to listen to?”

Mo Yin glanced at his phone screen, which displayed an English song by default. He smiled and realized that listening to English songs didn’t help with English. He chuckled, and Zhong Jiaming chuckled too. The next moment, Mo Yin gently placed the earphone down, letting it rest on the phone screen. He said to Zhong Jiaming, “Don’t talk to me.”

Mo Yin took out his own phone, a cheap second-hand domestic brand, quite slow. He had uninstalled most of the apps inside, keeping only the latest listening exercises copied from the English teacher. He put on the earphones, indicating that he couldn’t hear, and turned to look out the window, focusing on the scenery outside.

Zhong Jiaming’s face fell, but he struggled, “Don’t you want to listen to English songs?”

Mo Yin ignored him.

Zhong Jiaming forced a smile, “What did I do to make you dislike me so much?”

Zhong Jiaming thought Mo Yin wouldn’t answer that question. Slowly sitting up, he heard Mo Yin say, “I don’t dislike you.”

Zhong Jiaming immediately turned his body back towards Mo Yin, surprised, “Really?”

Mo Yin, holding his backpack, glanced at him sideways, “I just don’t like you.”

Zhong Jiaming froze.

Mo Yin looked back out the window, his expression indicating that he wouldn’t say another word to Zhong Jiaming.

After sitting stiffly for a while, Zhong Jiaming sat back down, his mind blank for a moment, thinking: What about Li Xiu? He doesn’t like him, but could it be that he likes Li Xiu?

Zhong Jiaming shook his head at his own speculation, looking at the next seat. The leading teacher had already put on an eye mask and neck pillow to rest, while Li Xiu was leaning against the window, exuding a similar aura to Mo Yin.

Suddenly, Zhong Jiaming felt it was all quite meaningless.

The high-speed train would arrive in forty minutes.

One class period’s worth of time.

As the announcement sounded, Zhong Jiaming stood up. In the corridor, he unconsciously noticed that Mo Yin and Li Xiu were walking together again. Li Xiu walked behind Mo Yin, and they seemed not to be angry. As Mo Yin moved forward, his left cheek was suddenly poked. He immediately turned to the left to see who it was, and his right cheek was poked as well. Mo Yin turned to glare at the mischief-maker, and Li Xiu smiled. He smiled brightly, and Mo Yin turned his head, elbowing Li Xiu back. Li Xiu continued to smile, and although Zhong Jiaming didn’t know what Li Xiu whispered to Mo Yin, Mo Yin’s lips also curved slightly in satisfaction.

“Too heavy-handed.”

When Li Xiu said it the second time, Mo Yin gave him another nudge.

Li Xiu used his arm to block the hit and chuckled lightly.

Mo Yin pushed the luggage, following the leading teacher, looking straight ahead without glancing sideways, while also being cautious of Li Xiu suddenly acting up.

It was at this moment that Mo Yin’s phone vibrated.

Mo Yin’s heart tightened, but he relaxed when he saw it wasn’t the school’s number. However, when he saw it was from Zhou Ren, he was slightly taken aback. He momentarily paused his steps, then immediately continued forward. This slight pause was noticed by both Li Xiu and Zhong Jiaming.

Zhou Ren hadn’t contacted him in a long time, so why now…

Just as Mo Yin was pondering, a message from Zhou Ren came in.

—[Darling, look back.]

Mo Yin subconsciously stopped and turned back.

Li Xiu and Zhong Jiaming also stopped and turned back.

In the crowd, a well-dressed man was waving towards their direction. Although it was a brief wave, it was clear that he was waving at them.

Zhong Jiaming looked at Mo Yin.

Mo Yin seemed to not recognize the man at all. With an indifferent expression, he turned his head and continued walking forward.

At the exit, the leading teacher asked them to wait in place. “I’ll make a call to the teacher who will pick us up.”

Mo Yin stood silently in the shade, holding onto the luggage. Li Xiu stood beside him, and Zhong Jiaming, through Li Xiu, observed Mo Yin, wondering who the man they just greeted was. Since Mo Yin was the first to turn back, it should be someone he knew. The man looked to be in his twenties, exuding a nouveau riche vibe. Zhong Jiaming, coming from a different background, had learned to discern people’s “class” from a young age.

How could Mo Yin know someone like that?

“Xiaoyin—”

A warm voice sounded behind the boys. Mo Yin didn’t turn around, but Zhong Jiaming did.

Zhou Ren said, “Is it Xiaoyin? I hope I didn’t get it wrong?”

At that moment, Mo Yin finally turned around, quietly looking at Zhou Ren.

Zhou Ren smiled, “I saw your school uniform from afar and guessed it might be you. Turns out, it really is you!”

“Hey hey hey—”

The leading teacher approached as a grown man was talking to the students. “What’s going on? Excuse me, who are you…”

“Oh, I’m Xiaoyin’s…” Zhou Ren glanced at Mo Yin and smiled, “relative. You’re a teacher, right? Where are you going? Need a ride? My assistant has come to pick me up. How about we go together?”

The leading teacher looked suspiciously at the man in front of him. Considering Mo Yin’s family background, where did this affluent relative come from? He looked at Mo Yin, and Mo Yin said, “Distant relative.”

Mo Yin looked at Zhou Ren and calmly said, “My dad was hospitalized a few days ago. Have you visited him?”

Zhou Ren’s face tensed up. Last time at Mo Yin’s house, he was quite startled and embarrassed by the incident. He was scared by a child, which he found both embarrassing and unworthy. He quickly shifted his attention to a young star he was chatting with, who had acted in a web series as a high school student. However, his portrayal in the series was quite different from the reality. Zhou Ren was enjoying his meal, occasionally remembering the taste he didn’t get to savor fully, licking his lips in reminiscence.

Today, coincidentally, he was on a business trip here and saw a group of boys in front of him. They all stood tall and proud, and the one in the middle had a back that looked particularly like Mo Yin’s. He couldn’t resist and called and messaged Mo Yin. When Mo Yin turned around, Zhou Ren almost slapped his thigh.

That innocent face, those innocent eyes, wasn’t that his pure little darling?!

After not seeing him for a while, he felt that Mo Yin had become even more charming. Unable to control his expanding infatuation, he thought it wouldn’t hurt to exchange a few words or flirt a bit, so he went over to say hello.

When Mo Yin mentioned his father, memories from that day immediately flooded Zhou Ren’s mind. It was almost nauseating for him. Zhou Ren waved his hand, forcing a smile, “Next time, next time—I need to go now. Goodbye, Teacher.”

The man got into a black Porsche, and before getting in, he waved at the group one last time, looking frivolous and somewhat like he was fleeing.

The leading teacher was a bit confused. Just then, his phone rang, and he answered it, ushering the children, “The car’s here, the car’s here—”

Several people boarded the minibus, where other students from different schools were already seated. The leading teacher was at the front, greeting people, “You guys go in and take a seat.”

Zhong Jiaming walked to the front and took a seat in the third row. Li Xiu walked in the middle but didn’t sit next to Zhong Jiaming. Instead, he took a step back, standing in the aisle without sitting down. When Mo Yin walked past with his head lowered and reached Zhong Jiaming’s row, his arm was grabbed. Mo Yin looked up, and Li Xiu was looking at him, pulling Mo Yin’s arm towards himself and saying, “Sit here.”