As the semester finals drew near, the studying atmosphere thickened. Even the laid-back freshmen paid more attention in class. No one wanted a bad grade on the winter break exam—it could ruin their whole New Year.
Still, with over a month left, many boys felt no urgency. They chatted and joked as usual, copied homework every morning, and some even pulled all-nighters, sleeping through lectures.
Yesterday after school, Gou Xuan surprisingly didn’t hassle Jin Jiahui. Others wondered: was he scared, or gathering backup?
Jin Jing entered the classroom and stuck a small note on her desk.
【Good morning】
She turned to Ye Wen, who winked back.
Jin Jiahui sat eating breakfast while reading a novel. At an exciting part, he absentmindedly gestured with his left hand.
Feng Yulan took the seat beside him. A faint minty scent drifted into Jin Jiahui’s nose. He turned and greeted her, “Lan, morning.”
“Good morning,” Feng Yulan replied softly.
“Hmm… your voice sounds different today,” Jin Jiahui said after sipping soy milk.
“Eh? Really?” Feng Yulan tilted her head.
“Well… softer than usual, a bit raspy. Almost like a little girl’s.”
“Ahem.” Feng Yulan cleared her throat. “Is that so?”
“Mm… just my feeling.” Jin Jiahui swallowed the last bite of his egg pancake, muffled. “Oh righ’, th’ homework.”
“Mm.” Feng Yulan obediently placed all her notebooks on his desk.
Jin Jiahui grabbed the top one and scribbled furiously.
“Copying homework isn’t good. What about finals?” Feng Yulan tucked her bag away, pulling out a box of pan-fried dumplings and milk. “You should study properly.”
“Too much trouble.”
“Shall I teach you?”
“Oh?” Jin Jiahui paused, hesitated, then nodded. “Alright. If you teach me, I’ll learn.”
“Mm, your English is weak, right?” Feng Yulan opened the foam box. “Oh, too many.”
“Huh? What’s wrong?” Jin Jiahui turned.
“Can’t finish all these dumplings and buns.”
“Why buy so much?”
“My sister made them…”
“Oh~. If you can’t finish, feed me some.” Jin Jiahui joked.
“Mm, dumplings or buns?” Feng Yulan asked seriously.
“Huh?” Jin Jiahui was caught off guard but answered earnestly. “Dumplings.”
Feng Yulan unwrapped disposable chopsticks, lifted a dumpling to his lips. “Open wide, ah—”
“Ah—” Jin Jiahui stuffed it whole into his mouth, chewing twice before swallowing.
A jolt shot through Feng Yulan’s hand. Warmth flooded Jin Jiahui’s body.
“Holy shit!” Luo Liangjian burst in from behind, catching the intimate feeding scene. He froze in shock.
It was 6:40 AM. School gates closed at 7:40. Only Ye Wen and a few girls sat upfront; Jin Jiahui and Feng Yulan were alone in the back.
Feng Yulan jumped at the shout, chopsticks trembling. Jin Jiahui caught them with his teeth, set down his pen, and pulled them out. “What’s your problem?” he snapped.
“…Nothing, nothing…” Luo Liangjian shook his head wildly. “You two continue…” He scrambled to his seat.
After that shout, Feng Yulan was too embarrassed to feed him again. Jin Jiahui wanted to continue but couldn’t say it. Awkward silence hung between them. More students trickled in. By 7:00 AM, Jin Jiahui finished copying.
“Here.” He placed Feng Yulan’s notebooks on her desk. Boys hunting homework swarmed over, snatching every last one.
“Here.” Feng Yulan pushed the foam box to him. “Leftovers…”
“Leave it to me.” Jin Jiahui took her used chopsticks, popping dumplings into his mouth. Feng Yulan had a tiny appetite, and her sister’s cooking was amazing. He devoured all eight dumplings and five buns.
“Cough cough… so thirsty. Water?” He thumped his chest.
“Only milk…”
Before she finished, Jin Jiahui grabbed her milk carton, jammed in the straw, and gulped down half.
Feng Yulan’s face flushed crimson. “...I already drank from it…” she whispered.
“Huh?” Jin Jiahui paused, then grinned. “Big deal.” He looked like he’d won the lottery.
Feng Yulan shot him a shy glance and turned away, ignoring him.
“Ahem, my bad. I’ll buy you seventeen cartons from the store later.”
“Really?” Her eyes sparkled.
“Mm! Really!” Jin Jiahui nodded hard. “You love milk that much?”
“Mm…”
“Big news! Big news!” Gu Fei’s chubby frame charged in, shouting. “Unbelievable! Qiu Yi asked a girl from another class to talk at our classroom door!”
Ye Wen froze. Qiu Yi主动 approaching a girl? From another class? At the door? She felt she no longer knew him. This familiar person was turning into a stranger.
After Gu Fei, another boy rushed in. “It’s the clay-figure girl from yesterday’s flea market!”
Students couldn’t hold back—even homework copiers bolted out.
Tian Yuyao’s Class 5 was on the same floor as Class 3. Everyone rushed out to see Qiu Yi and Tian Yuyao standing face-to-face. But their talk had ended. Tian Yuyao slipped back to her classroom; Qiu Yi turned toward his.
“What are you guys doing?” Qiu Yi asked, puzzled.
“Spill it—how’d you hook up with her?”
“What?”
“You sly dog! Got a girlfriend and didn’t tell us? Brothers, attack!”
…
