Spend Summer Chapter 4

Pushing Her Luck

Ji Zhao didn’t argue with that. Instead, she nodded repeatedly in agreement. Indeed, our classmate Shen Wan is the reliable one.

As she spoke, Ji Zhao crossed her arms over her chest and swayed slightly. Then I’ll be counting on you, Classmate Shen Wan~

Shen Wan gave a soft mm and asked, Then Teacher, may I head back first?

Li Yuanfang lowered her head and began writing lesson plans, saying casually, Go ahead. Just don’t forget the speech.

Shen Wan glanced at Ji Zhao, who was watching her with wide eyes, but ignored her and walked out of the office.

Ji Zhao followed behind Shen Wan like a little chick, her head held high and her chest out, looking spirited.

Back in the classroom, lessons continued.

Shen Wan listened with full concentration, occasionally looking down at her book and then back at the blackboard.

Time passed quickly, and by the final period, the students were all looking forward to rushing to the cafeteria to grab food.

A new contractor had taken over the cafeteria this semester. The food tasted decent, though no one knew how long that would last.

Ji Zhao glanced at the teacher sitting at the front and secretly scribbled a note, sliding it over to Shen Wan. It read: Want to go to the cafeteria together?

Shen Wan glanced at it. The hand holding her pen paused, and she shook her head in refusal.

Ji Zhao was used to Shen Wan’s silence and took the note back without feeling hurt at all.

Hmph! Fine, ignore me then. Let’s see if you can still ignore me when we have to write that speech later! Ji Zhao huffed to herself with a hint of pride.

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When the bell rang ending class, Lin Jiayue and Ji Zhao followed the other students out slowly.

Shen Wan watched her classmates leave one by one, then pulled a steamed bun and a jar of Lao Gan Ma out of her bag.

The bun had been given to her by Sister Zhang at the breakfast stall, and the Lao Gan Ma had been bought a month ago.

Shen Wan carefully tore the bun open, dipped it in a bit of the Lao Gan Ma sauce, and slowly put it in her mouth.

She chewed very slowly. This was a method she had discovered to stay full; eating slowly made the brain believe it was consuming more, thereby warding off hunger.

After finishing the bun, Shen Wan tightened the lid on the Lao Gan Ma and put it back in her bag, planning to head out to the restroom.

She went to the playground first, sitting on a flower bed and watching the boys play basketball. As the wind blew past, her groggy mind gradually cleared.

Students who had finished eating also began passing by the playground.

Shen Wan stood up, intending to return to the classroom.

By the time she got back, many students were already in their seats. Shen Wan entered through the back door and walked straight to her desk.

Ji Zhao didn’t seem to be back yet. Shen Wan relaxed slightly; she really couldn’t handle Ji Zhao’s gaze, which always made her want to retreat.

Shen Wan leaned down to look into her desk, intending to take out her math workbook, but then she suddenly stopped.

In the dim space of the desk cubby, two boxes wrapped in plastic bags lay quietly.

Shen Wan’s eyes widened. She didn’t understand; she hadn’t brought these things. Whose were they? Had someone put them in the wrong desk?

Shen Wan took the two plastic bags out and unwrapped them. Both contained medicine.

One was Yunnan Baiyao spray, and the other had a name she hadn’t heard of, appearing to be an ointment.

Shen Wan was puzzled. Were these for her?

As soon as the thought appeared, she immediately shook her head to dismiss it. They probably weren’t for her.

At least, that was what Shen Wan believed.

Since they weren’t hers, they must have been placed there by mistake.

Shen Wan turned to look at the empty seat next to her. She pursed her lips, thinking of returning them to Ji Zhao.

In the end, she put them back in her desk cubby. That way, if they didn’t belong to Ji Zhao, she could take them directly to the teacher without having to speak to Ji Zhao again.

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After carefully putting the medicine away, Shen Wan took out her math workbook and continued working.

Her progress was faster than the math teacher’s; she was already on the third-to-last lesson.

The earlier problems were quite basic. Shen Wan’s pen moved rapidly, requiring almost no thought until she hit the final question and got stuck.

She unconsciously knitted her brows, her pen tip tapping against the desk with a dull thud.

This was the scene Ji Zhao saw when she walked in. The girl by the window had her head slightly lowered, the afternoon sun casting a glow on her profile. Her long eyelashes were cast downward, creating soft shadows.

Ji Zhao immediately flashed a bright smile and strode to her seat.

Lin Jiayue, who had been left behind, was speechless. Like a drama queen, she thought: Leaving me behind again! Now that she has a new favorite, there’s no room for the old one!

She hurried to catch up and sat in her own seat, sending Ji Zhao a resentful look.

Ji Zhao ignored the look, her tone cheerful. Little deskmate, we meet again.

Shen Wan couldn’t stop complaining in her head. Of course we’re meeting, class is about to start. However, her face remained cold as she gave a simple mm.

Then, she took the two plastic bags out of her desk and asked, Are these yours?

Ji Zhao looked at them with confusion. Hadn’t she only left one ointment? Why was there Yunnan Baiyao too?

Unable to figure it out, Ji Zhao simply stopped thinking about it and answered Shen Wan’s question. That ointment is mine. I might have put it there by mistake.

Shen Wan nodded and pushed the ointment toward Ji Zhao. Then I’m returning it to you.

Ji Zhao shook her head, acting cute and pleading. My dear deskmate, could you help me keep it for a bit? I don’t have any room left here. Please, please!

Shen Wan’s hand holding the medicine paused. She looked up at Ji Zhao, who was putting on the same pleading act as before, her eyes sparkling as she looked at her sincerely.

For some reason, Shen Wan’s refusal got stuck in her throat.

Ji Zhao was one to push her luck. Sensing Shen Wan’s hesitation, she immediately used both hands to push the medicine back onto Shen Wan’s desk, her mouth never stopping. I knew you were the best, deskmate! Thank you~

That thank you blocked whatever Shen Wan was about to say. She stared blankly as Ji Zhao pushed the medicine back to her.

Finally, Shen Wan sighed and put the medicine into her desk. Fine, but you’ll have to get it yourself when you need it.

Ji Zhao beamed. Her deskmate might look cold, but she was actually quite kind-hearted.

Having found the owner of one medicine, Shen Wan looked at the other one with difficulty. She decided to get up and take it to the teacher.

Shen Wan stood up silently and walked to the teachers’ office.

At that moment, Li Yuanfang was organizing exam papers, planning to use the evening self-study period to test the students’ levels.

Hearing a knock, she said calmly, Come in.

Shen Wan slowly pushed the door open and said, Hello, Teacher. I found a bottle of Yunnan Baiyao in my desk, but it isn’t mine.

Li Yuanfang looked up, glanced at the medicine in Shen Wan’s hand, and said, Oh, that’s for you. You weren’t here yesterday. I prepared a back-to-school gift for the whole class, and that’s your share.

Shen Wan paused. To be honest, she didn’t believe Li Yuanfang’s explanation. What kind of teacher would prepare such a gift?

But since Li Yuanfang said so, Shen Wan wouldn’t challenge her. After saying thank you, she returned to the classroom.

By now, the students had begun their self-study.

Returning to her seat, Shen Wan was a bit dazed. Ji Zhao had dropped her previous cheerful and smiling demeanor and was now looking at her book seriously, her brow slightly furrowed as if thinking over a difficult problem. Her hair fluttered in the breeze coming through the window.

Shen Wan walked behind her slowly, her movements careful for fear of disturbing her.

It wasn’t until she sat down and saw that Ji Zhao was still solving the problem that she breathed a sigh of relief.

Shen Wan first put the medicine from the teacher into her bag, then lowered her head to study the final math problem again.

After thinking for a good while, Shen Wan’s brow relaxed, the corners of her eyes curving slightly. The scratching sound of her pen against the paper filled the air.

Having solved the problem that had troubled her for half an hour, Shen Wan looked up at the clock on the blackboard. It was already 1:40, twenty minutes before class started.

Shen Wan put down her pen, closed her book, and rested her head on her arms to sleep for a bit.

Ji Zhao’s face was right in front of her. Her eyes were closed, her eyelashes trembling slightly. Shen Wan paused, then turned her head to face the wall.

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Shen Wan was a light sleeper and woke up as soon as the bell rang. She rubbed her tired eyes and looked around. Most of the students were still sleeping, including Ji Zhao.

Perhaps disturbed by the bell, Ji Zhao frowned and turned toward the aisle.

Shen Wan got up and went to the restroom.

The bone-chilling cold water splashed on her face, chasing away her drowsiness. She looked into the mirror; the person inside had a cold expression. Water droplets slid down her cheeks and splashed onto the counter, making a faint sound that was almost inaudible amidst the noise.

Lin Jiayue, can you help me think? Suddenly, a bright voice came from behind.

Is that Ji Zhao? The thought immediately jumped into Shen Wan’s mind.

Sister Zhao, I really don’t know how. You’ve given so many speeches before, why are you taking this one so seriously? the other person replied.

Shen Wan was certain now; it really was Ji Zhao.

She looked around, her first instinct being to hide.

Maybe she felt guilty for overhearing their conversation, or maybe she just didn’t want to see Ji Zhao?

But as the voices drew closer, Shen Wan blinked hard. Wait, why should I hide? It’s not like I wanted to eavesdrop!

Shen Wan pretended as if nothing was wrong. She turned around and walked forward without looking left or right.

As she got closer to Ji Zhao, Shen Wan encouraged herself. It’s just being recognized, it’s just a greeting!

She turned her head. Ji Zhao’s eyes were curved into crescents, her lips turned up to reveal two sweet dimples as she waved at her.

What’s there to smile about? What’s so funny at the restroom entrance?! Shen Wan didn’t want to deal with her and gave a faint mm, wanting to leave quickly.

Then, she was stopped by Ji Zhao’s words. Deskmate, should we discuss the speech during evening self-study?

Shen Wan was always very serious about her tasks, so she agreed.

Realizing there really wasn’t much to say at a restroom entrance, Ji Zhao smiled and waved. Then I’ll see you later!

Shen Wan nodded and left.

Lin Jiayue’s voice came from behind.

Sister Zhao, you’re giving a speech with Shen Wan?! No wonder, no wonder…

Shen Wan didn’t hear the rest.

Ji Zhao watched Shen Wan’s departing figure and interrupted Lin Jiayue. No wonder what?