"No." A single word with no emotional fluctuations floated in through the window.
"See that? I knew it!" Wang Lu'an said proudly.
Yu Fan ignored him. He pulled the chair over and sat back down with his arms crossed.
Zhang Xianjing pouted regretfully, "You already have a girlfriend?"
"No."
"Then why not? You don't want to be in a relationship? Or do you have someone you like?" Zhang Xianjing looked at his uniform and guessed, "Or you don't like people with bad grades?"
"No." Chen Jingshen said, "I just don't like you."
Zhang Xianjing, "...."
Wang Lu'an, "...…" He looked at the top student's cold profile and threw away his original intention to get the other party to help him with cheating during exams, "Damn, this top student is too blunt with his words."
Yu Fan was busy playing with his lighter. He wasn't surprised.
That annoying face saying annoying things. It seemed quite appropriate.
Zhang Xianjing was only upset for two seconds, "I know but it's okay. You just don't like me right now. We can take it slow, I am very patient. I've actually noticed you back in first year. I've even watched your competitions during the sports festival. I didn't expect you to transfer to my class this year…."
Chen Jingshen's expression finally showed some changes. He lightly raised a brow and stared at her for a few seconds, seemingly in thought.
A while later, he asked, "We're in the same class?"
Zhang Xianjing, "...."
Zhang Xianjing smiled stiffly, "I've been sitting in front of you this entire day."
Chen Jingshen tried to recall, "Sorry, I have no impression."
Do you have facial blindness? I've been turning my head back so many times today until my neck almost snapped yet you're saying that you have no impression?
Zhang Xianjing was almost unable to maintain her expression. She opened her mouth wanting to say something when, suddenly, the school bell interrupted her.
Chen Jingshen also heard it. He looked towards the school field and then looked back, "Do you need anything else?"
"Yes." Zhang Xianjing told herself to calm down, "Then can we start off as friends? Can I add you on WeChat?"
"Don't have it."
"...What?"
"I don't have WeChat."
Even after Chen Jingshen left, Zhang Xianjing was still standing there, not moving.
Just as Wang Lu'an who had watched his fill got ready to leave, Zhang Xianjing suddenly turned her head and walked over.
"Tell me, Wang Lu'an!" Zhang Xianjing stood outside the window and grabbed Wang Lu'an by his collar, "Am I pretty?"
"Pretty! Very pretty!" Wang Lu'an stammered.
"Then why is Chen Jingshen treating me like that?"
"Exactly!" Wang Lu'an then asked, "How did you know that we're here?"
"Noticed you a long time ago already. How much have you guys smoked? It stinks here." Zhang Xianjing let go of him and looked towards the other person who hadn't spoken a single word the entire time, "Yu Fan, what about you? Am I pretty?"
Yu Fan, "Whatever."
Zhang Xianjing laughed. She leaned against the window, "I didn't see it earlier but your face is quite colourful."
Wang Lu'an, "You don't understand. Those are my brother's honorary medals."
"You want this honour?"
"No thanks." Wang Lu'an laughed foolishly and then asked Zhang Xianjing, "Hey, have you really liked Chen Jingshen since first year?"
"Nah, no way. Would I have held back until now if I did?" Zhang Xianjing said, "I was just speaking nonsense."
"…." Wang Lu'an was confused. "Then it was love at first sight?"
"Not really."
Zhang Xianjing brushed back her hair, her expression returning back to her usual beautiful and flamboyant look.
"I just thought that he looks pretty handsome, and he's also smart. If I get together with someone like this, I probably no longer need to worry about my future exams." Zhang Xianjing thought for a moment and still wanted to give it a try, "Do you guys think I have a chance?"
Yu Fan didn't even raise his head, "No."
"I also think that…." Wang Lu'an was halfway through saying this but when he was met with Zhang Xianjing's threatening glare, he immediately changed it, "It's mainly because top students have rather special preferences. Maybe Chen Jingshen just happens to not like your type?"
"Then what type does he like?"
Wang Lu'an became more enthusiastic. He started gesturing with his hands, "The types that have their hair all tied back, small eyes, thick lips, wears -8.00 dioptre glasses, studies all the time and would have a few pimples on their skinny face ——" "Bullshit." Zhang Xianjing paused and then asked, "Would it be too late for me to get a pair of glasses made up?"
Annoyed by their chatter, Yu Fan stood up and walked out.
Wang Lu'an's sleeve was still in Zhang Xianjing's grip so he hurriedly called out, "Where are you going?"
"Home." Yu Fan said, "You two have fun."
"Who's fucking having fun with her? Wait for me, let's leave together. What if someone stops you again…..Hey, my ancestor, my clothes are about to tear….."
Zhang Xianjing didn't let go. She thought of something and called out to the leaving figure, "Yu Fan, don't speak of this matter to the others or I'll tell Fangqin about you getting into a fight with the neighbouring school——" "Do what you want." Yu Fan tossed out those words as he went upstairs with both his hands in his pockets, "Remember to tell her that I won."
"...."
-"Top Student, did you bring your phone to school?" Wu Si looked at the person who had just returned to the classroom.
Because of Zhuang Fangqin's special habit of changing the seating twice a semester, the students were currently sitting in seats of their choosing at this moment.
As a transfer student, Wu Si naturally sat next to the other transfer student.
When they were in class one, their seating had always been arranged according to their rankings. Before this transfer, Wu Si would have never imagined that there would be a day where he would be Chen Jingshen's deskmate.
Chen Jingshen sat down and began to organise his desk, "En."
"I heard some vibrations just now." Wu Si said, "From inside your bag."
Wu Si didn't have any intention to peek but, because they were seated so closely together, he couldn't help but accidentally catch a glimpse of Chen Jingshen's phone screen.
It was a messaging interface. He managed to catch sight of the words 'mother', 'help you transfer class' and 'come home early'.
Although he didn't see the full message, he was able to make a connection with those words —- The top student's parents seem to be unhappy with the arrangements and want him to transfer classes. This was quite an understandable reaction. His parents also wanted him to transfer to another class but they unfortunately didn't have the ability to get the school to do it.
Just as Wu Si internally lamented over the top student leaving before he could get some benefits off from him, he saw Chen Jingshen put the phone back into his bag and then randomly pull out a stack of problems to work on.
He was stunned, "Top Student, school is over. You're not going home?"
"En."
A while later, Chen Jingshen could still feel a hot gaze lingering on him. He looked over, "Need something?"
Wu Si smiled nervously, "It's nothing. There's just a problem…that I've been struggling with. I went to the office earlier but the teacher wasn't there. I was wondering if you could take a look at it for me. Of course, if you're too busy then it's fine..." "Show me."
"Huh?" Wu Su was stunned for a moment. He then reacted and presented the problem to him with both hands, "Here, here, here. Please."
Wu Si was very satisfied.
He happily left the classroom with his bag, leaving Chen Jingshen alone in the classroom.
His phone in his bag continued to vibrate.
As if he couldn't hear it, Chen Jingshen continued to work through his problems.
The afterglow of the setting sun cast a layer of gold across the entire school campus.
After finishing another paper, Chen Jingshen flexed his wrist. He saw the pen stain on the side of his palm and proceeded to get up and walk towards the bathrooms.
After he was done washing his hands, from the corner of his eyes, he caught sight of someone downstairs. Chen Jingshen paused for a moment before stopping in place.
Yu Fan stood impatiently outside the director's office with one hand in his pocket and his back leaning against the wall.
His other hand was being held be the director and brought to the nose—— "Don't you feel like a pervert?" Yu Fan asked.
"What nonsense!" Hu Pang grabbed his hand and questioned, "You said you didn't smoke but why does your hand smell of cigarettes?"
Yu Fan tilted his head and didn't say anything.
Thanks to Wang Lu'an jinxing him earlier, Yu Fan was found himself stopped by the director before he could even leave the school gates.
He had bumped into Fat Tiger who had just returned from a meeting and the other party had insisted that he could smell cigarettes on him from more than ten metres away.
Even a dog's nose wouldn't be this good.
"Not saying anything now?" Hu Pang let go of him, "Bring your parents over tomorrow!"
For a moment, Yu Fan's expression contained a trace of irritation and disgust.
But he soon returned to his original expression, "Not possible."
"Why? You want me to get Teacher Zhuang to personally give them a call?"
"It's no use calling either."
"What do you mean?"
"There's no one at home."
"I have no mother." Yu Fan looked back and smiled self-deprecatingly, "And the other one's dead."
"….."
Hu Pang stood stunned in place for a long time before he could return to his senses.
"You…." He was still in shock, "Why haven't I heard about this from Teacher Zhuang…."
Yu Fan said indifferently, "Probably wanted to help keep it a secret."
Hu Pang was silent for a long time before he rubbed his balding head in loss, "Uh, I really didn't know about this…..You live alone right now?"
"I guess." Yu Fan looked towards the darkening sky, "I don't need to call my parents over, do I?"
Who would dare call them here?
Hu Pang coughed, "No need."
Yu Fan straightened up. Just as he was about to bid goodbye to Fat Tiger, his shoulder was grabbed.
"But you still broke the school rules and need to be punished." Hu Pang patted his shoulder reassuringly, "Let's do this. Go back to your class and write me a 2000 word reflection. You can go home after you've handed it in."
"....."
"I'll be playing chess at the school gates. You can go there to give it to me."
Yu Fan very slowly went back upstairs. From the corridor, he looked towards the school gates.
And his eyes met Hu Pang's eyes who had been looking in his direction.
Hu Pang and the old security guard had a chess set set up on a table outside their office. When he saw him, he immediately waved his hand and mouthed —- Hurry and write it!
Yu Fan clicked his tongue and proceeded to enter the classroom.
He didn't expect there to still be people in the classroom at this time.
In the setting sun, Chen Jingshen didn't raise his head despite hearing his movements. The only sound in the classroom was the rustling sound of writing.
Yu Fan's gaze subconsciously scanned over Chen Jingshen's desk. He saw a thin piece of paper there that looked like a draft of some sort.
Neither of them spoke. Ignoring the presence of the other person, Yu Fan went over to his seat and sat down. He proceeded to pull out his phone to kill time.
There were several unread messages.
[Wang Lu'an: You were caught by Fat Tiger?] [Wang Lu'an: Haa, why did you go back to the classroom? I'll wait for you at the school gates.] [-: He's making me write a 2000 word reflection.] [Wang Lu'an: ….What do we do then? How long will you take? Do you want me to find an example online for you to copy?] [-: Not writing it. Can't be bothered.] [-: You can go home. I'll go out through the back later.] Except for Fridays, the school's back gates were usually not open. When Fat Tiger gets too absorbed in his game of chess, he plans to sneak out through the back by climbing over the wall there.
After replying to those messages, Yu Fan pulled up the Snake game on his phone and started to play it with a hundred times more focus than usual.
The surroundings were very quiet. Because there were no distractions, he was performing particularly well this time. Towards the end, his snake was almost about to fill the screen and his phone constantly reminded him that he was just a little away from breaking the record.
The harsh sound of chair legs scraping against the ground broke the tranquillity in the classroom.
Yu Fan didn't pay it any attention. His slender fingers continued to swipe back and forth across his screen.
He heard the other person in the classroom stand and it was followed by the rustling of paper.
Finally leaving?
Just as Yu Fan thought that, he heard the other person's footsteps. It was coming closer, seemingly heading his way.
Not the front door but the back door?
Because there was no one else in the classroom, Yu Fan's sitting posture was quite unstrained —— Most of his body was leaning outside of his desk and his legs were casually stretched out, blocking the aisle.
Sensing the other party approaching, Yu Fan lazily retracted his legs.
Two seconds later, the other party stopped in front of his desk.
"Classmate Yu." Chen Jingshen's voice sounded from above. His tone was calm and without emotion, no different from what he heard earlier when he was smoking.
He was reaching a critical moment in the game. He was only three hundred points away from breaking the record.
Yu Fan continued to stare intently at the screen. He didn't answer him.
About half a minute later, noticing that the other person was still standing in front of his desk, Yu Fan knitted his brows. He habitually threw out the words, "No homework."
When people in his class spoke to him, nine times out of ten it was to ask for him to hand in his homework.
"I'm not asking about homework."
"Then what do you want?"
Chen Jingshen stared at his small hair whorl for a moment before taking out an envelope from his pocket and holding it out with one hand.
The moment he held it out, Yu Fan reflexively raised his head.
Yu Fan felt that he was only distracted for less than a second. He didn't even see what that thing was before he quickly looked back at his game——-And then he saw the ultra big snake he had grown for the last ten minutes hit the wall and die.
He was only 77 points away from breaking the record.
Fucking hell.
Yu Fan threw his phone onto his desk and stood up in annoyance, "You want to fight? Can't you fucking see that I'm busy?"
He glanced at the pink envelope in Chen Jingshen's hand and then raised his head and asked, "What's the meaning of this? A challenge letter….."
?
Wait a minute?
What colour was the envelope?
Yu Fan's voice faltered. While maintaining the air of wanting to beat the other party up, he lowered his head back down and took a closer look.
Chen Jingshen's fingers were long, slender and defined, and his nails were neatly cut. At this moment, it held a familiar pink envelope with a red heart shaped sticker sealing it shut.
"Classmate Yu."
Yu Fan stiffly raised his head.
With his bag hanging from one shoulder, Chen Jingshen placed the letter on the desk and pushed it closer, "Please accept my love letter."