Chapter 329 Then Touch Me

Jiang Nian wasn’t idle either; he ran to the comprehensive science office on the first floor during the break between classes.

He had given the biology exam paper to Qing Bao yesterday, but she was busy proctoring and grading, so the experience points were pushed to Tuesday.

Entering the office, Jiang Nian habitually flattered, “Teacher, you look so beautiful today.”

Qing Bao looked up from her seat, “Wasn’t I beautiful yesterday?”

“Huh?” Jiang Nian froze in embarrassment.

“Ahem, come here.” Qing Bao strategically drank some water, as if having won a round.

You’re very smug, aren’t you, Qing Bao!

“Teacher, have you finished reviewing the papers?” Jiang Nian walked towards the desk by the window, changing the subject.

“They’re graded. Pull up a chair and sit down.”

The desk was covered with exam papers, and the sunlight shimmered like Broken Gold (broken gold) on their surfaces.

“Okay.” Jiang Nian was as well-behaved as Crayon Shin-chan.

The long class break ended.

The preparatory bell for the third class rang, and Xi Bao left the office with an English exam paper, preparing to go upstairs to Class 3.

“Teacher, wait for me.”

Xi Bao heard a voice from behind her and turned around on the stairs. Seeing Jiang Nian emerge from the comprehensive science office, she said sourly,

“You passed by the English office but didn’t even say hello.”

Jiang Nian had just caught up and, hearing this, couldn’t help but say,

“But when I first came, you weren’t in the office either.”

“Ah? Is that so…” Xi Bao was embarrassed.

Alright, alright, so the bad woman plays like this, huh?

If he hadn’t happened to glance over today, he might have had to eat this fruit of guilt!

“Teacher, you’re a bit…” Jiang Nian attacked unceremoniously.

“Let’s not talk about that. Have you scheduled your Module 1 exam?” Xi Bao clattered up the stairs, forcefully changing the subject.

“Yes, I’m taking the day off on Thursday.” Jiang Nian hadn’t outsmarted Xi Bao; old ginger is spicier, and his attention was immediately diverted.

“What a coincidence! I’m also scheduled to take Module 2 on Thursday.” The old woman acted cute, winking.

red stone, the old woman who loves to frame people, quieted down after being confessed to by a student.

Jiang Nian was speechless but still said politely,

“Teacher will definitely pass with flying colors.”

“I think so too. If you don’t pass, you’re done for.” Xi Bao went up the stairs in her Doc Martens and long cotton skirt.

Jiang Nian quickly followed, rushing ahead to the fourth floor and entering the classroom.

As per tradition, Monday was for tests and Tuesday for reviewing the papers. Thus, the third English class felt particularly uneventful.

The only amusement came after the third class ended. A group of boys poured out of the classroom and gathered in the corridor to sunbathe.

Li Hua suddenly had an idea and, with a flash of inspiration, asked,

“Hey, don’t you think the idiom ‘Guan Zhong Kui Bao’ (seeing a leopard through a tube, meaning to see only a small part of a larger picture) sounds a bit vulgar?”

Hearing this, Jiang Nian and Ma Guojun looked at each other.

“What the hell?”

“He’s been posted on Xiaohongshu, a low-life man.”

“No, I’m just having an academic discussion.” Li Hua defended himself, “I don’t have any other vulgar thoughts. Just tell me if it sounds vulgar or not?”

The three stood in a row by the corridor railing, silent for three seconds.

Jiang Nian turned his head and suddenly said,

“What if I said… ‘Zuo You Kai Gong’ (shooting with both hands, meaning to do two things at once)?”

Ma Guojun found it hard to hold back, “Shut up, a scene is already playing out in my head.”

“Hey! You little rascal.” Jiang Nian pointed at him, deliberately saying, “You watch movies without any pure love, don’t you? Drag him out and feed him to the dogs!”

The sky was high, the clouds were light, and the sun was warm.

Li Hua blurted out, “‘Lai Ri Fang Chang’ (there will be ample time in the future), so who is Fang Chang? Also, will someone be named ‘Jiu Sheng Qing’ (love born over time)?”

The three fell into thought.

Noon dismissal.

“Going home for lunch?” Jiang Nian asked Zhang Ningzhi, who was tidying her desk.

“Yes.” Zhang Ningzhi replied, then added, “I heard someone say there’s a very cute cat by the teachers’ apartments in the west gate area.”

“Cats… aren’t they all cute in you girls’ eyes?” Jiang Nian was a bit speechless.

“That’s true, but that cat is different.” She leaned closer, her big eyes sparkling with longing.

“How so?” Jiang Nian felt a bead of sweat.

“That cat’s paw-tucking posture is especially cute; it’s chubby, and its fur is very clean,” Zhang Ningzhi said softly.

“Really? Have you touched it?” Jiang Nian turned to look at her, gazing at Zhang Ningzhi, who visibly blushed.

Her face turned red.

She pursed her lips, looking away, stammering.

“I’m afraid it will scratch me.”

“Hahaha, Zhang Ningzhi is a Dragon lover.” Jiang Nian laughed.

“No, I’m not! I’m not talking to you anymore!” Zhang Ningzhi’s sore spot was hit, and she got a little anxious, turning around and leaving in a huff.

After lunch.

Jiang Nian left the cafeteria, originally intending to go straight upstairs.

However, after glancing at the west gate, he immediately walked towards the small open gate. Outside the small gate was a path, right next to the basketball court.

Above were tall plane trees, and the direction it led to was the teachers’ apartments.

Several electric scooters were parked by the roadside, newer models. They looked fashionable, but in reality, they were a bit like Lu Bu paired with a dog (an odd match).

They clearly belonged to students, mainly for getting around and looking cool.

Jiang Nian walked forward, sparse sunlight falling on the path. He planned to casually encounter the cat, take a photo, and send it to Zhang Ningzhi.

I’m not a Dragon lover; I’m just teasing her.

What’s the point of doing this?

No point, just to solidify a running gag to tease Zhang Ningzhi. Whenever a cat is mentioned, it’s immediately “Zhang Ningzhi is a Dragon lover.”

There was a large yellow dog circling a tree by the road, then circling another. He didn’t see a cat, but he did see a mouse flash by in the dry ditch.

This was the area between the cafeteria and the teachers’ apartments. There was a large dumpster outside the alley, even feeding the mice until they were plump and shiny.

The sun made Jiang Nian a little sleepy. He walked along the path, and with a ‘click,’ he accidentally stepped on a dry branch by the roadside, breaking it.

Finally, he saw the cat at an inconspicuous corner.

It was a raised yellow stone, and a calico cat was lying there. Its fur was very clean and tidy; it didn’t look like a stray.

It must be cared for by someone nearby. Good looks indeed prevent starvation.

The cat lay lazily in the sun, its eyes squinted. It looked truly bored, with an air of “strangers, don’t come near me.”

Jiang Nian saw it from afar and thought, “I’m just taking a picture to tease a beautiful girl.”

Don’t worry, I won’t fawn over you.

He took out his phone, intending to stop at a not-too-far, not-too-close distance. But just as he lifted his foot, someone appeared on the uphill corner.

Li Qingrong’s attention was entirely on the cat, holding a cat treat stick in her hand. She looked a bit nervous, her posture somewhat stiff.

It seemed she was also afraid of being scratched.

Typically, people with higher intelligence are less likely to stick their faces close. Whether a cat scratches or not depends entirely on its mood.

Execution or death penalty, it depends on the intensity of the TikTok battle.

“Ahem, you’re here too?” Jiang Nian spoke up first, to avoid any awkward encounters later.

For example, the cat looking at Li Qingrong and then jumping away.

“Hmm?” Li Qingrong turned her head, the dazzling sunlight disorienting her for a moment, and the cool aloofness on her face faded quite a bit.

After recognizing Jiang Nian, her whole body stiffened.

“You…”

“I surrender, I didn’t see anything.” Jiang Nian said proactively.

Hearing this, Li Qingrong was speechless. But her gaze towards Jiang Nian was a bit resentful; being caught by him was a bit…

Jiang Nian, however, didn’t notice and walked over to Li Qingrong’s side.

“You just need to tear open the cat treat packaging. Someone has fed it before. The cat is used to it and should come over on its own.”

He wasn’t interested in the TikTok-fueled debate about feeding stray cats, which could lead to a ‘death penalty’ and implicate nine generations; he was only interested in people.

People feed cats, people are bad; cats scratch people, people are bad.

What, you’re from Zhennan?

Then never mind, you’re not bad.

If someone is cyberbullied and jumps to their death, who will maintain the bride price economy?

Li Qingrong squatted down and tore open the cat treat. She held the treat out, her fingers long and slender, with distinct knuckles.

Jiang Nian wasn’t a hand fetishist, but he still looked a few more times.

Honestly, the class monitor’s hands were truly beautiful. The skin on the back of her hands was fair and delicate, her wrists like frost and snow, and her slender fingers like jade scallions.

The Creator isn’t entirely fair; there’s always a bit more favoritism for some people.

“Where did you buy the cat treat?” Jiang Nian asked.

She looked up, hesitating for a moment before saying,

“At… at the pet store on the street outside the tax bureau.”

“The tax bureau, that’s a bit far.” Jiang Nian estimated the walking distance from the school to the tax bureau, then asked, “Have you eaten?”

Li Qingrong maintained the posture of enticing the cat to eat the treat. The calico cat indeed moved, slowly and leisurely walking towards her.

The corner where they were was a four-story building. Sunlight fell on the white-washed wall of the first floor, the pure white wall reflecting a halo.

By the concrete path, a few people were playing basketball in the distance on the court.

Jiang Nian walked to her side and squatted down with her.

The calico cat licked the treat single-mindedly, its tongue curling and uncurling, and the treat visibly shortened.

Li Qingrong clumsily squeezed the treat with both hands, then lowered her gaze for a moment and answered the question.

“Not yet.”

“There’s a good Sanxian Noodle shop near the school.” Jiang Nian asked another question, “Are you on a diet recently?”

Li Qingrong finally reacted, turning to look at him with a serious expression.

“Am I fat?”

“Very slender, golden ratio.” Jiang Nian couldn’t help but find it amusing that even the class monitor cared about such things as being fat or thin.

“Sanxian noodles are purely meat-based; I was afraid you might have dietary restrictions.”

“Have you eaten?” Li Qingrong still maintained the posture of feeding the cat.

“I have. I’ll watch you eat.” Jiang Nian didn’t use high emotional intelligence, stating directly, “I want to spend more time with you.”

Plop, the cat treat fell to the ground.

The calico cat froze, its small cat head filled with great confusion.

It looked up at Li Qingrong, seeing the human female feeder’s panicked eyes, her face visibly reddening.

The cat was bewildered, “Quick, pick up the cat treat!”

“Otherwise, what will I eat!”

“TikTok, speak for me!”

Li Qingrong snapped back to reality, realizing her gaffe. She hurriedly picked up the cat treat, fumbling to continue feeding… “Mmm.”

The calico cat didn’t leave immediately after eating.

Instead, it stayed put, tucking its paws. Like a maid awaiting payment after serving a guest, it remained in place.

Li Qingrong’s mind was a bit muddled; she stared blankly at the cat.

“It’s waiting for you to pet it,” Jiang Nian reminded her.

“Oh, okay.” Li Qingrong seemed to wake from a dream, reaching out to stroke the calico cat, then nervously asked, “And then what?”

Hearing this, Jiang Nian couldn’t help but laugh.

He thought, “Is there a specific procedure for this? If you like it, pet it longer; if you’ve had enough, just leave. Are you going to get a loan for the cat?”

Calico cat bride price loan.

He half-jokingly said, “Then pet me.”

As soon as the words fell, Li Qingrong hesitated for a moment. She looked down at the hand that had just petted the cat, then extended her other hand.

Rustle.

The class monitor reached out and stroked Jiang Nian’s fluffy hair, then withdrew her hand. The same procedure as petting a cat, truly meticulous.

Jiang Nian was stunned, having his head petted by the class monitor.

At certain moments, words truly fail to describe. He only remembered the sensation of touch at that moment, the breathing of the girl before him.

The sun climbed higher, and the two stared blankly at each other, wide-eyed.

One dared to speak, and the other dared to act.

Until Jiang Nian stood up, pulling Li Qingrong up with him. He openly touched her hand; the sensation was cool and soft.

“Let’s go, let’s eat.”

“Mhm.” Li Qingrong spoke very little.

Jiang Nian had long been accustomed to this. He simply took it as her nature, not liking to talk much and waste energy.

Before leaving, he took a photo of the calico cat.

The two walked in silence along the concrete path towards the main street.

In the alley next to the cafeteria, two cool electric scooters rode in, each carrying a young man on the back seat.

Their faces were a bit red, probably from drinking alcohol with their meal. As they rode in, all four were loudly laughing and cursing.

Jiang Nian pulled Li Qingrong to the side, and they moved a bit closer to each other.

Out of the alley.

Li Qingrong followed behind Jiang Nian for about two hundred meters. They stopped in front of a noodle shop with a new sign.

Sanxian Noodles.

“Do you eat green onions and cilantro?” Jiang Nian asked.

Li Qingrong hesitated for a moment, then finally shook her head.

“No.”

It was close to lunch break, so there weren’t many people in the shop.

Li Qingrong washed her hands at the shop entrance.

Jiang Nian spoke to the owner, then grabbed two bottles of soy milk, paid for them, and took two small bowls.

Although he had already eaten, he couldn’t just sit there and watch if he brought someone to eat noodles.

He ordered a slightly larger portion of Sanxian noodles to share with the class monitor.

Li Qingrong sat quietly at the table, not playing on her phone or looking around. Her gaze met his briefly, then fell.

Seeing Jiang Nian take two sets of bowls and chopsticks, she spoke.

“I don’t eat much, you can… eat more.”

“Is it because you’re still thinking about what I asked you, if you’re on a diet?” Jiang Nian scalded the bowls, pouring the rinsing water into the trash can.

“Class monitor, you really hold a grudge.”

Hearing this, Li Qingrong visibly became unhappy.

“I didn’t.”

“I don’t believe you, unless you eat normally.” Jiang Nian looked up at her, unable to help but smile, “I’ve already eaten.”

Li Qingrong was a bit hesitant; she had indeed planned to eat only until she was half-full.

“Mhm.”

Silence fell over the table again, and Jiang Nian also entered power-saving mode. Since they wouldn’t feel awkward even without talking, there was no need to speak.

“Sanxian noodles are here!” The owner brought the bowls to the table, “Condiments are self-serve, let us know if you want to adjust the taste.”

“Alright, boss, your service is really good.” Jiang Nian was direct, “My classmate recommended me here, no wonder business is so good.”

“It’s alright, just average.” The owner seemed a bit embarrassed, then added, “Hey, do you eat braised eggs?”

“They’re on the house, no charge.”

So, a small plate with a braised egg appeared on the table.

Li Qingrong lowered her head and ate the Sanxian noodles without making a sound. She used a spoon to drink the soup, taking small sips.

Her pink lips were coated with a faint sheen of oil.

She didn’t know what topic to start, so she passively waited for Jiang Nian to initiate. What if he didn’t?

Then she would be unhappy, but she wouldn’t show it.

Although Li Qingrong ate slowly, she felt her appetite was much better today than usual. And because she remembered his words, she chose to eat normally.

“Class monitor, what do your friends call you?”

“My name.” She ate a noodle.

“Oh, I see.” Jiang Nian lowered his head to eat his noodles. Calling her by her full name felt a bit awkward. “Then… what about your family?”

Li Qingrong froze, then after a long while, she quietly said,

“Qing… Qing.”

“Why not call you Rongrong?” Jiang Nian asked, following up, “Or Rong Bao, Qing Bao, wouldn’t that sound better?”

Li Qingrong’s hand holding the chopsticks trembled slightly, and she turned her face to the other side. She pursed her lips, forcefully suppressing a huge wave of embarrassment.

“I… I don’t know.”

“Alright, I’m thinking about what would be a suitable way to call you.” Jiang Nian began to probe.

After a long pause, Li Qingrong finally uttered,

“You… whatever.”