Chapter 47

“…No, it doesn’t count.”

Feigning composure, Qin Xiaoxiao instinctively followed up with a question, “Why doesn’t it count?”

“Too quick, and,” Ji Wenchen’s gaze locked firmly onto her lips, “the position is wrong.”

“…”

“Do it again…”

“Don’t say it!”

Qin Xiaoxiao’s ears, hidden beneath her black hair, were already red. “Study.”

A little adorable.

Detecting a trace of annoyed shyness in her tone, Ji Wenchen’s lips curved into a barely noticeable smile.

“Mm.” His posture remained unchanged, still watching her.

“…” Forget it, just ignore him. Qin Xiaoxiao turned her attention back to the biology exam paper.

Acetobacter… microorganisms… culture medium…

However, her usually decent focus seemed to have completely failed her. She had read the question three times and still couldn’t form even half an idea.

Qin Xiaoxiao bit her lip.

“When will you be with me?”

In the quiet, empty classroom, this sentence suddenly broke the silence.

Her heartbeat, which had just started to settle back to normal, began to speed up again.

She wanted to pretend she hadn’t heard it.

“Hmm?” Ji Wenchen’s low and magnetic voice brushed against her like a feather, teasing and lingering. “I’ve asked so many times already. Isn’t it time to be with me? Not even a little response?”

“Who said you’ve asked that many times?” Qin Xiaoxiao’s words escaped before her brain could process them.

Ji Wenchen’s bold and handsome features softened with a hint of amusement. “Haven’t I?”

“No.”

Qin Xiaoxiao continued staring at her exam paper.

If the time he said, “Be my girlfriend,” counted, then it was only three times in total.

“But,” Ji Wenchen reached out and gently pulled the pen from her hand, his fingertips brushing against the back of her hand, forcing her to turn her head and look at him, “if you count the times in my heart, it’s already been many.”

“You ask in your heart, but I can’t hea—”

“That’s why,” Ji Wenchen’s phoenix eyes looked straight into hers, “will you be with me now?”

Be with him?

Had her feelings for him reached that point?

…Did his eyes have some kind of bewitching power to captivate the heart?

Her long, thick eyelashes fluttered briefly in haste.

Qin Xiaoxiao tried to shift her gaze away as naturally as possible.

She wanted to respond, but hesitation held her back.

On one hand, she had read numerous books on adolescent education, had worked as a teacher for two years, and had even advised students against early relationships…

On the other hand, the scene of her last conversation with her mother was still vivid in her mind. Like any parent of a high school student, Mother Qin probably didn’t want her to date early. Father and Mother Qin treated their daughter—now her, Qin Xiaoxiao—so well and worked so hard. Could she really do something that would disappoint them?

Silence, a long and heavy silence.

The faint smile at the corners of Ji Wenchen’s lips and brows gradually faded.

His strikingly handsome features slowly calmed, like snowflakes falling from the sky, only to melt away as they touched the ground.

Yet, deep down, he felt a bit like laughing.

Had he been mistaken in thinking there had been a slight change in her attitude before?

Did he actually think she would relent and agree?

How confident could he possibly be…

Heh.

Ji Wenchen tugged lightly at the corner of his lips.

He placed the pen back on her desk.

“I…”

A moment later, Ji Wenchen heard her continue, “I’ll consider being with you, but only if you score in the top 100 for the next monthly exam.”

***

“Ah Hui?” Xu Yilan put down the plum branch. “Weren’t you supposed to be… why are you back so early?”

Ji Hui changed his shoes and took off his coat.

Xu Yilan stepped forward to take the coat from him, hung it up for her husband, and then went to the coffee table, promptly pouring him a cup of hot tea.

“Did you skip dinner?” Xu Yilan gently asked, holding the plum branch.

Ji Hui took a sip of tea. “I did.”

“Weren’t you going to—”

“Did you just get back from the hospital?” Ji Hui looked at his wife. “So soon?”

Xu Yilan paused her flower arranging and looked at the branch. “I felt a little dizzy today, so I didn’t go out.”

“Dizzy? Should we call Dr. Li to take a look?”

“It’s nothing serious. I feel much better now.”

Ji Hui set down his teacup. “In that case, don’t go. I’ll go tomorrow instead.”

“Ah Hui,” Xu Yilan lifted her gentle and elegant face. “You…” Realizing her reaction might have been a bit too hasty, she softened her tone. “Do you really have to go? There’s no rush, is there?”

“Whether we do it sooner or later, it has to be done. I have some free time these days. It doesn’t matter who goes.”

Xu Yilan seemed like she wanted to say something but bit her lip instead.

She knew Ji Hui was resolute about getting a vasectomy, and there was no swaying him.

Nor did she dare to voice her opposition.

Before their marriage, Ji Hui had made it clear that he didn’t want children. She had thought that once they were married, she could gradually change his mind… but now, over the past few days, he had brought the matter up again.

Xu Yilan was a woman with both a gentle appearance and a soft temperament.

She came from an ordinary working-class family and studied up to high school, where she met the handsome and charismatic young man, Ji Yao. After graduating, she chose not to continue her education and, without hesitation, married Ji Yao, who came from a wealthy family.

She became a full-time housewife and remained so for twelve years, until her husband tragically died in a wingsuit flying accident abroad, leaving Xu Yilan suddenly without her pillar of support.

Like most wealthy men, Ji Yao had drafted a will not long after their marriage. After his passing, Xu Yilan was disappointed to find that her share of the inheritance was only a few hundred thousand yuan in cash and a single property—enough for an average person to live comfortably for the rest of their life without fear of hunger or cold. But for Xu Yilan, it was far too little, likely enough to be spent within a year.

Having grown accustomed to a life of luxury, Xu Yilan was unwilling to return to an ordinary lifestyle. Yet, she lacked the means to sustain her high-standard living: she didn’t have above-average education credentials or any impressive skills. High-paying jobs were out of reach, and she absolutely refused to settle for an ordinary job.

Xu Yilan knew that the Ji family patriarch had never been particularly fond of her, but in order to maintain her refined lifestyle, she chose not to move out. Instead, she continued living in the home she had shared with Ji Yao after their marriage, which was the old patriarch’s grand estate.

Catching the attention of Ji Hui, who had long been divorced, was an unexpected delight.

Ji Hui, a man no less handsome than Ji Yao, tall, charismatic, and full of charm, naturally made Xu Yilan’s heart flutter. Moreover, this was a man with significant wealth…

Harboring some intentions of her own, Xu Yilan employed a few subtle tactics and successfully married Ji Hui.

Ji Hui was like a sturdy and flourishing oak tree, while Xu Yilan clung to him like a delicate wisteria vine, soft and compliant.

To ensure long-term sunshine, rain, and an ample supply of nourishment, she intended to bear his child.

However, after their marriage, Ji Hui remained careful about contraception… She thought she could eventually find an opportunity.

But now, Ji Hui was determined to go through with the vasectomy…

She truly had no chance left.

The housekeeper approached and asked if they should make black-bone chicken soup for dinner.

Xu Yilan snapped out of her thoughts. “Yes, make it. Ah Hui should drink more black-bone chicken soup,” she replied, her voice as soft as water.

As she spoke, a thought flickered through Xu Yilan’s mind. She curved her lips into a light smile and said, “I thought Ah Hui wouldn’t be home for dinner tonight, so I was planning to slack off a little…”

Whenever Ji Hui was home, she would always step into the kitchen—though most of the actual work was done by the housekeeper.

“Seems like you’re not too keen on me eating at home?” Ji Hui remarked.

“No, that’s not what I meant.” Xu Yilan stood up in a bit of a hurry. “Didn’t you say you were going to have dinner with… Wenchen?”

With a light, delicate smile, Xu Yilan added, “I thought it would be nice for you and your son to have dinner together. Ah… it’s my oversight. He’s probably still upset and unwilling to eat with you…”

“He’s not.”

Ji Hui unlocked his phone. “That kid’s attitude wasn’t too bad today.”

“Is that so… Then why did you come back?” Xu Yilan’s smile froze for a moment.

“He said he needed to go to school to do homework and wouldn’t be home for dinner.”

“Really…”

In truth, Ji Hui himself still found it a bit hard to believe, but he replied, “Of course it’s true,” casting a sidelong glance at his unusually talkative wife.

Sensing the impatience and coldness in Ji Hui’s tone, Xu Yilan bit the tip of her tongue and refrained from asking further.

…

At 5:10 PM, the bell for the end of the eighth period rang.

“It’s time to eat.” Ji Wenchen tossed his pen aside.

Over the past hour or so, he had been relatively well-behaved, completing one and a half exam papers.

Qin Xiaoxiao was still drawing auxiliary lines, ignoring him.

Ji Wenchen leaned back against the chair. “It’s time to eat, future girlfriend.”

Qin Xiaoxiao: “…”

Ji Wenchen: “Future girlfriend?”

Qin Xiaoxiao: “…Don’t call me that.”

“Why not?” Ji Wenchen’s elegant phoenix eyes lifted toward her. “After all, by next month, you’ll…”

“That’s next month’s matter. Besides, are you really that confident?” Qin Xiaoxiao replied expressionlessly.

Two students who had arrived early walked in through the back door, chatting. Upon seeing the only two people sitting in the classroom, they immediately fell silent.

Ji Wenchen continued as if no one else was present, “For you, what—”

“Ji Wenchen,” Qin Xiaoxiao interrupted him in a low voice, “don’t talk about this anymore.”

“Mm.” Ji Wenchen’s lips curved slightly.

After a few seconds, he asked, “So, are you coming to eat, or should I bring something back for you?”

“You go ahead. I’ve already made plans to have dinner with Wu Li.”

“Oh.” Ji Wenchen shrugged lightly, a hint of regret in his expression.

Over an hour later, Qin Xiaoxiao still received something Ji Wenchen had brought back.

A large cup of brown sugar boba milk.

“Don’t send me money,” was the first thing Ji Wenchen said after sitting down.

Qin Xiaoxiao, who had been planning to do just that: “…”

“To celebrate you finally relenting,” Ji Wenchen said, shaking his identical drink. “Come on, cheers.”

He had seen her drink this twice in the classroom before and figured she must like it.

Qin Xiaoxiao, turning her face away indifferently: “…No.”

She wasn’t sure why she had relented that afternoon.

Qin Xiaoxiao took a sip of the warm “celebratory treat.” The milk was rich and slightly sweet, the boba flavorful and chewy.

…Perhaps it was simply a desire to follow her heart, to avoid leaving any regrets.

…

The large cup of brown sugar boba milk Ji Wenchen bought was too much for Qin Xiaoxiao, who had already eaten dinner.

She managed to drink half of it before she couldn’t take another sip.

After evening self-study, Qin Xiaoxiao tossed the unfinished milk into a trash bin on her way back to the dormitory.

Yang Min was puzzled. “You carried it halfway. I thought you were going to finish it. Why didn’t you just throw it in the classroom’s trash bin?”

“…I forgot.”

“Isn’t your memory usually pretty good?”

“Ah, watch out!” Yang Min stepped forward and pulled Qin Xiaoxiao back just in time to stop her from stepping on a banana peel. “Who’s so inconsiderate, damn it? Even in school, they dare to litter like this!”

“Thanks.”

“Xiao ah, why don’t you pay more attention?”

“…” Qin Xiaoxiao bit her lip lightly.

Just after tossing the unfinished milk into the trash bin, she turned around and caught sight of that carefree figure not far away.

It felt a little awkward.

She walked about ten meters, a gust of winter night wind brushing past her.

She listened to Yang Min chatter for a few moments.

…What was there to be embarrassed about? It was just throwing away some trash.

They entered the dormitory building.

“Xiao ah,” Yang Min tugged on Qin Xiaoxiao’s arm, “do you have something on your mind?”

“No.”

“Really?” Yang Min’s face was full of doubt.

“You and… the school bully, are you two about to get together?”

Qin Xiaoxiao’s steps paused slightly. “Why do you ask?”

“I saw it on the forum. There’s a post claiming to be from one of our classmates. Not sure if it’s true, but they’ve been observing and documenting your interactions in the classroom.”

Qin Xiaoxiao: “…” Who’s that bored?

“There are tons of replies! Lots of people are saying it’s sweet, and some are even betting you two will end up together. I’ve been refreshing it every day for updates. Based on their descriptions, it really does sound kind of sweet,” Yang Min said as she quickly pulled out her phone. “Let me find it for you…”