Chapter 4: I’ll Give You an Advance

“Forty-nine points, forty-nine points, just one point short.” Kui Ming muttered in frustration, looking dejected, like a big dog that had been ambushed on the street.

Just one more point, and he would have reached the standard they had agreed upon.

Kui Ming’s head drooped, and he looked rather pitiful.

Xie Jun took the initiative to hold his hand and gave it a gentle shake. “The questions were indeed a bit difficult this time.”

Kui Ming kept his head down, looking embarrassed. Though it was hard to tell how much of his act was genuine and how much was just playing pitiful, Xie Jun’s heart softened.

“Kui Ming.”

“Mm?” Kui Ming responded sullenly.

Xie Jun held Kui Ming’s head with both hands, stood on tiptoe slightly, and kissed the corner of his lips. “I’ll give you an advance this time.”

Kui Ming froze completely, his eyes gradually lighting up, brighter and brighter.

Xie Jun noticed the overly excited look in his eyes, but before he could finish saying “No,” Kui Ming had already lunged forward, pressing his lips against Xie Jun’s.

“No…” Xie Jun’s voice was muffled.

His lips were captured and sucked on, and a slick tongue slipped into his mouth.

Xie Jun felt as if he had been thoroughly licked inside and out by an overly enthusiastic large dog.

The nearby streetlights flickered gently, their blurred edges of light blending together for a long moment before slowly separating again.

Xie Jun walked beneath the streetlights with his backpack, and a faint blush tinting the edges of his ears. Kui Ming stuck closely by his side, looking obedient, as if someone had taken hold of his invisible leash.

“I was wrong.” Kui Ming’s attitude in admitting his mistake was quite sincere. “Can you give me a lighter punishment?”

Because he broke the rules, Xie Jun had punished him by banning hand-holding for a month.

“How about half a month, just half a month?” Kui Ming pleaded. “No, actually, how about a week? One week, okay?”

“No.” Xie Jun suppressed a smile at the corner of his lips. “What’s this? Bargaining down lower and lower?”

“I promise, I’ll improve by 100 points on the next exam.” Kui Ming tugged on Xie Jun’s sleeve. “Reduce my sentence, please.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Their figures gradually disappeared into the distance, their voices fading beyond earshot.

…

The homeroom teacher walked into the classroom and saw Kui Ming writing diligently, nodding with satisfaction.

Look at this kid, ever since he became deskmates with the class monitor, his grades have improved significantly, and he even dyed his hair back to black. He used to sleep through morning study sessions, but now he’s actually studying seriously.

When the class monitor volunteered to be this kid’s deskmate, the teacher had been hesitant. It seems that this academic mentoring arrangement is working out well!

The homeroom teacher nodded in satisfaction and walked away.

However, if he had gotten a little closer and taken a good look at Kui Ming’s desk, he would have realized that the boy wasn’t working hard on his studies, but he was pouring his effort into writing a love letter.

“I was wrong, I promise I won’t do it again next time…”

He had even drawn two little figures, with one of them admitting their mistake.

Below that was a string of cheesy compliments.

Then, he drew another pair of little figures, with one of them pouting.