Chapter 71 You want to turn the tables on the butterfly, don’t you?

On the stairs.

Jiang Nian, sensing Zhang Ningzhi around the corner upstairs, stopped and looked at her. Zhang Ningzhi’s face was as calm as water, but her heart was bubbling like boiling water.

Sunlight freely streamed through the corridor, casting a clear Yin and Yang line. Zhang Ningzhi’s earlobes were slightly red. She stopped, watching the sunlight fall all over the young man’s shoulders.

“What’s wrong?”

Zhang Ningzhi asked knowingly.

Jiang Nian sighed, pointed, and said, “Your shoelace is untied.”

“Ah?”

Zhang Ningzhi abruptly looked down. Her shoelace was indeed untied, a long white strip dragging on the side. She secretly thought it was so embarrassing. Just as she squatted down, she heard him say again,

“How did your hairpin fall out?”

The girl was instantly bewildered by his series of feints, her mind unable to keep up. The Daiyu-esque literature she had been brewing all morning instantly went blank.

“It didn’t fall out. I put it away.”

“Oh~”

Zhang Ningzhi felt a little guilty from his meaningful “oh” and hurried away like she was fleeing after tying her shoelace.

On the other side.

Under the sun on the sports field, Yu Tongjie panted, supporting himself with his hands on his knees, stopping on the red track. Sweat blurred his eyes, stinging them so he couldn’t open them.

“You’ve got to be kidding, how can he run so fast?”

He wiped a hand across his forehead and looked towards Li Qingrong on the track, half a field away.

No, is this the pace for a 3000-meter race?

Yu Tongjie was left behind by Li Qingrong in the first lap. Every time he was overtaken by a lap, he was again left behind within a hundred meters. He couldn’t keep up, absolutely couldn’t keep up.

Holy crap, is he even human?!

No wonder she told him he could give up if he couldn’t hold on, but he wouldn’t give up!

In the afternoon.

In the office, Jiang Nian approached Old Liu and explained in advance that he might need to take leave in the afternoon for the sports meet.

Old Liu frowned, looking like it was very difficult.

“The Academic Affairs Office just issued a notice yesterday, stating that all sick leave and personal leave requests from students during the sports meet will be rejected. You’re asking for leave at this time, this…”

“That’s what they say, but Teacher, you must have a way, right?” Jiang Nian didn’t back down. He felt fully justified in asking for this leave; it was his legitimate right.

Old Liu was not someone who would renege on a promise, so he uttered that classic line.

“In principle, no.”

Just then, Old Liu wanted to drink tea. He picked up his thermos and pondered for a moment.

“Look at this empty thermos, Jiang Nian. Do you think the water will automatically go into Teacher’s cup?”

Jiang Nian couldn’t hold back. Alright, alright, you old geezer!

You’re acting like you’re out of breath even though I just called you fat.

“Of course it will, Teacher.” Jiang Nian respectfully stood up and made tea for Old Liu.

Jiang Nian eagerly watched Old Liu blow on the white steam from the cup repeatedly before taking the first sip. Only then did Old Liu act as if he suddenly remembered something, slapping his head and asking,

“Teacher, there’s one more thing. Wu Jungu wants to ask about the procedures for transferring to boarding school.”

Hearing this, Old Liu immediately put the thermos on the table, his expression displeased.

“Why is there still something? I’ve already done my best to approve your leave. Why is someone from your group suddenly asking to transfer to boarding school? I know Wu Jungu.”

“He absolutely doesn’t need to board. Are you going to speak up for him too?”

Jiang Nian was a bit embarrassed, “We’re in the same group. I just asked a question; I couldn’t just refuse, could I?”

Teacher, I really want to improve.

“Alright, alright.” Old Liu waved impatiently, “For that, his parents need to call me, and he needs to write an application, buy insurance, and pay the boarding fees.”

“Thank you, Teacher.” Jiang Nian quickly slipped away.

After returning to the classroom, he first relayed Old Liu’s words to Wu Jungu. The latter expressed his thanks, then frowned and turned away, lost in thought.

Zeng You, however, was unusually excited upon hearing it, with an expression like he was dragging a good girl into trouble.

“Jun Ge, you’re going to board?”

Wu Jungu didn’t deny it, his frown deepening.

“Ah, I’m considering it.”

“Come on! Our dorm just happens to have an empty bed, but the only downside is it’s next to the toilet.” Zeng You was excited, no longer even looking at his novel.

“Our idiotic dorm supervisor, who has less hair than a chicken, loves to turn off the lights early.”

“Do you sleep well? Every dorm has someone who snores. Our dorm is a little better.”

Zeng You rattled on and on. With each point he made, Wu Jungu’s face grew a shade paler.

“Stop talking, stop talking.”

Li Hua poked Wu Jungu and said,

“Actually, it’s nothing. Just don’t search online; they make it sound like entering a concentration camp. Our key high school doesn’t have that much stupid stuff.”

Zeng You nodded, “Indeed, at most, they’ll borrow your shampoo.”

Jiang Nian listened from the side, offering no opinion. He rested his hands on the desk, pondering whether he could catch the bus back to his hometown after finishing the 3000-meter race tomorrow.

Xu Qianqian needed to ask for leave, and her Homeroom Teacher would definitely approve it, and she might even start today afternoon.

While there was no class, he discreetly, yet openly, pulled out his phone from his pocket and glanced at it. Xu Qianqian had indeed sent him a few messages. He opened them to see:

“I got my leave approved. Waiting for my dad to pick me up.”

“【Photo of the school gate】”

“Good luck with the sports meet. Don’t come in last.”

“【An emoticon that would infuriate a Korean person】.”

Jiang Nian: “.”

Damn it, Xu Qianqian’s messages were too strong; he didn’t know who she learned that from.

He really wanted to reply, “I also got my leave approved. I’m going back to my hometown tomorrow to visit.”

But then he thought better of it and gave up. He’d check if his parents had time first. In previous years, when they were free, both families would go back together to pay respects.

Xu Qianqian’s mother is truly a very good person. One can only say that China has its own Eri Yi.

It’s understandable that Old Xu hasn’t moved on all these years.

Not saying anything first wasn’t to give her a surprise. It was because if Xu Qianqian saw the message, she would definitely reply with a Heaven-Defying emoticon.

【Wanting a Heaven-Defying butterfly, right?】

Being too familiar isn’t always a good thing.

In the aisle, Li Qingrong walked over with several athlete numbers and paperclips. Zeng You jumped in fright, instantly covering the spare phone on his desk with a book.

Then he closed his eyes, thinking, Brother Nian, it’s not that I’m not saving you.

It’s too late.

I’ll revive you after watching some ads another day.

However, Li Qingrong merely glanced at Jiang Nian, who was looking at his phone, with no expression on her face. She placed the numbers on Li Hua’s desk and left without saying anything.

Zeng You turned his head, “??????”

Jiang Nian had already sent the message, “Can the JK cheerleading outfit still be redeemed?”

Swish, Xu Qianqian replied almost instantly.

“Who promised you that!”

Jiang Nian chuckled, put away his phone, and looked up to see Li Qingrong’s retreating back as she walked to the podium. He couldn’t help but stare for a few extra seconds. Had the Class Monitor changed her hair tie today?

Not sure, he’d look again.

He turned his head and saw his own bib number, yellowish and a little dirty.

Li Hua played with it for a while, then pinned it directly onto himself, asking as he did so,

“Hey, do I look handsome?”

Jiang Nian was speechless, “Handsome my ass, are you running for me?”

“Then forget it, I have my plan for tomorrow.” Li Hua took off the bib number and tossed it to Jiang Nian, “I’m going to bathe and burn incense, wash my hands clean. I’ll be in the classroom, hehehe.”

Jiang Nian nodded, “Brother Hua, is your masturbation ritual that strong?”

He couldn’t help but give a thumbs up.

“Strong. Whoever becomes your girlfriend will receive flowers even on Qingming Festival.”