School life is still quite nostalgic.
In the last two-plus months, there was basically a mock exam every week.
Xu Musen's grades had always been pretty good, it was just during this period he was busy courting Yao Mingyue that his grades started to slip a bit.
But he had a solid foundation.
In his previous life, he was afraid his grades wouldn't be good enough to get into the same university as Yao Mingyue.
But later, he guessed that even if he really did poorly on the college entrance exam, Yao Mingyue would still apply to the same university as him, giving him a surprise while also getting a chance to grip him tightly!
For Yao Mingyue, who had already achieved financial freedom, what was more important than choosing a good school was holding on to her good husband, right?
In a sense, she was quite sweet to Xu Musen.
It's just that Xu Musen really wasn't fortunate enough to enjoy it, and to get rid of her, he'd have to get into one of the top universities and put his application out of sync with hers.
Xu Musen took a deep breath.
To study hard to avoid being kept by a rich woman!
A man should strengthen himself!
During class, Yao Mingyue would always act as if she was turning around inadvertently.
In the past, Xu Musen always liked to stare at her back during class, sometimes even nearly drooling.
Thinking back on these things would make Yao Mingyue especially pleased, but she didn't know how many times she had turned back that morning.
However, Xu Musen had focused solely on his book the entire morning, which almost made Yao Mingyue break the pen in her hand.
Am I not even as good-looking as a couple of chemical equations?
By noon, it was time for lunch.
"Moriko, you did great today, studying all morning, not even going to pee when called."
He Qiang stretched his neck.
"Good kidneys, no frequent urination," replied Xu Musen as he also closed his book.
"Get lost!"
He Qiang spit out, "After lunch, meet me in the back garden of the sports field."
Xu Musen raised an eyebrow, warily looking at his good brother, "Isn't that place meant for couples to date? What do you want?"
"Beat it, beat it, beat it! I have something serious to tell you."
Xu Musen smiled, closed his book, and stood up.
His gaze, however, met Yao Mingyue's precisely.
During lunchtime, Xu Musen used to always stick to Yao Mingyue and have lunch with her.
But now, Xu Musen patted He Qiang's shoulder, "Let's go, Qiang Zi, I'm treating you to a chicken leg today."
He Qiang also saw Yao Mingyue's expressionless face at that moment, feeling a strong sense of oppression.
His good brother did indeed have a hard time sometimes.
The fraternal loyalty in He Qiang's heart!
All of a sudden, he clutched his stomach, "No, I can't. I have frequent urination! I need to go to the restroom first, you go ahead and eat."
After speaking, He Qiang slipped away like a black catfish.
Xu Musen: ...
He saw a flash of pride in Yao Mingyue's eyes. She deliberately slowed down, waiting for Xu Musen to strike up a conversation.
Xu Musen kept his usual expression, and exited through the back door, even running a little as he headed towards the dining hall.
Yao Mingyue watched his retreating figure, clenching her fists.
"Ming Yue, I'm sure he's just too embarrassed to talk to you. Boys all want to save face, maybe he's running to get a seat for you in the cafeteria," said Liu Ruonan, the girl with short hair, laughing as she spoke, "After all, didn't he always save you a spot so you could dine together?"
Yao Mingyue's face eased a bit, but the girl's pride still made her snort, "Who needs him to save a spot."
Although she spoke like this, her steps were noticeably lighter as she started walking toward the dining hall.
The high school cafeteria, lining up for food was as intense as the Normandy landings.
As the saying goes, growing boys can eat one out of house and home.
At this age, it was the final sprint for growth spurts, and everyone had a frighteningly large appetite.
Xu Musen went to get a plate of grilled meat over rice, along with a chicken leg, then made his way to a corner spot to start chowing down.
Yao Mingyue and her best friend also entered the cafeteria. Yao Mingyue, with her naturally aloof aura, always made people subconsciously maintain a certain distance from her.
Especially the boys, who despite often bringing her up in conversations, would blush and lose all courage to even stand with her upon seeing her in person.
Her short-haired best friend also benefitted from this, hardly ever having to queue up in the cafeteria.
Both of them ordered a bowl of tonkotsu ramen and a plate of fruit salad.
Yao Mingyue could always spot Xu Musen in a crowd at a glance.
And indeed, there were empty seats next to Musen.
"Hehe, see, I told you he's just too shy."
The short-haired friend chuckled and said.
Yao Mingyue's lips curved slightly, and the two of them walked over and took their seats directly.
Of course, her considerate friend still chose to sit with an empty seat between her and Xu Musen.
Xu Musen, gnawing on his chicken leg, smelled a familiar scent and knew who had arrived without even lifting his head.
Relentless...
"Xu Musen, stop being so coy as a guy. If you want to make up with Ming Yue, just apologize, all right? Why so awkward?"
The short-haired friend took the initiative to speak up for Yao Mingyue.
Chewing on his chicken leg, Xu Musen glanced at Yao Mingyue, who still had her cool expression.
"Why should I apologize?" Xu Musen's gaze rested on the girl.
Liu Ruonan choked, "You... you said those harsh words to Ming Yue last week..."
"What was harsh about that? I've admitted I'm nothing but a toad and respected her wishes by not chasing after her any longer. Isn't that good enough?"
Xu Musen's tone was calm, even somewhat amused.
Those around them, ready for a spectacle, were all taken aback.
Yao Mingyue bit her lip tightly. Her phoenix eyes narrowed as she looked at Xu Musen, not quite able to understand the person in front of her anymore.
Her friend Liu Ruonan was also at a loss for words and soon felt somewhat indignant.
"Are you kidding me? Just because your confession was rejected, you think it's okay to belittle her? You could've just apologized and still be friends with Ming Yue. And aren't you saving a spot for her even now?"
She said pointedly,
"Who said I was saving a spot for you? You sat down yourselves. Don't flatter yourselves, will you?"
Xu Musen felt amused and a bit helpless.
He and Yao Mingyue used to be inseparable in the cafeteria, and over time, everyone knew that within three steps of Xu Musen, there would be Yao Mingyue.
So even when Xu Musen dined alone, there would always be one or two empty seats beside him that no one dared to take.
His remark turned Liu Ruonan and Yao Mingyue into instant clowns... or rather, Harley Quinns!
Yao Mingyue gripped her chopsticks so tightly that she almost snapped them, her eyes laser-focused on Xu Musen.
Being publicly humiliated, Liu Ruonan felt her freckled cheeks flush with anger: "Xu Musen! Are you even a man? Even if your confession failed, there's no need to insult someone like that!"
Xu Musen felt annoyed, with half the cafeteria looking over, disturbing his meal.
He quickly shoveled the rest of his food into his mouth and stood up, carrying his tray as he walked away.
"How can he be like this, Ming Yue, you..."
Liu Ruonan, with her freckles reddened from anger, was speechless.
"Crack!"
Yao Mingyue's chopsticks snapped in her hand. She watched Xu Musen's retreating figure, struggling to keep her emotions in check.
"Xu Musen..." she spoke to herself deliberately, word by word.
People around her began to look away from Yao Mingyue, unsure what to make of the situation.
A sweltering summer day.
They all felt a sudden chill, sensing that... perhaps in the future, Xu Musen might pay dearly for this.