Green Tea Top Student Falls in Love with Me - Chapter 53

The New Year was approaching.

With the children on break, the once-quiet village was now filled with laughter. Firecrackers popped and fireworks bloomed in the sky one after another as the celebration drew near.

However, Shi Wangui was in a foul mood today. She had gone to the convenience store with Sun Yi to buy snacks, only to run into the last person she wanted to see.

Seeing someone new beside Shi Wangui, Jiang An’an remarked sarcastically, “And here I thought your feelings were so deep. It hasn’t been that long, and you’ve already replaced her with someone else?”

Sun Yi, having a short fuse, wasn’t about to take that. “If you don’t know how to use your mouth for speaking properly, I don’t mind teaching you a lesson.”

Shi Wangui knew Jiang An’an was doing this on purpose. Jiang An’an knew Sun Yi was their close friend; she said it purely to annoy her and ruin the start of her New Year.

“I could never compare to you. Who knows how many people you’ve cycled through,” Shi Wangui retorted casually before pulling Sun Yi away.

The streets were already dressed for the New Year. Almost every household had hung red lanterns, and those with children featured colorful fairy lights. As soon as it got dark, the lights made the houses look like playrooms, catching the eyes of the little ones.

“Wanwan, that girl is seriously sick,” Sun Yi grumbled. She hadn’t liked Jiang An’an even before knowing her history, and now she despised her.

Shi Wangui shrugged. “What can we do? Liang Jie isn’t any better.”

Since the self-reflection assembly, Liang Jie hadn’t gained any ground. People avoided her out of fear she would snitch on them too. Eventually, she had to resort to letting people copy her homework and explaining test papers just to trade for a sliver of friendship so she wouldn’t be completely alone.

As for why she “wasn’t any better,” ever since that incident, Liang Jie would occasionally tell the homeroom teacher about the bad things the group did. This included skipping class, bringing phones, chatting, and more. She even spread baseless rumors, such as claiming Shi Wangui had dated many people, “rumoring” that Wen Youren fought outside and was into smoking and drinking, or saying Sun Yi had stayed at a hotel with an ex-boyfriend and Wang Hu was a “simp.”

Although no one could prove who the primary source was, everyone was smart enough to figure it out.

The teacher had been furious about the class-skipping, repeatedly warning them that the next time would mean calling their parents. Consequently, the four of them had poured all their energy into studying. As a result, all four ranked in the top twenty for the final exams.

Normally, the teacher wouldn’t disclose the grades, but since their improvement was so massive—and knowing Shi Wangui and Wen Youren were at odds with their parents—she had privately let them know. There was one condition: their winter break homework had to be completed perfectly, and she intended to check it personally.

To this, they could only say: it would have been better not to know the grades.

Sun Yi said indignantly, “My friend told me Liang Jie was the one who started the rumors. But that girl is a total coward. She never goes out alone; except for going home, she hides in the classroom.”

Shi Wangui remarked, “She has the malice but not the guts. Jiang An’an has both.”

When they got home, Wen Youren had already prepared a large table of food, just waiting for them to return with the drinks. It was a coincidence: usually, everyone spends the New Year with family, but this year the parents were all busy with their careers. In the end, they all agreed to let the kids spend the holiday together.

Wang Hu was helping carry the dishes. He couldn’t cook, so he settled for being an assistant. His eyes lit up when he saw the girls return. “Wow, you bought Coke! My favorite.”

Shi Wangui, cold as a splash of icy water, said, “We just like Coke. No one actually knew what you like to drink.”

Wang Hu: “It’s fine. I can still have a sip.”

Wen Youren had been busy since morning. This was her first New Year with so many people—all of them friends, with no unpleasant people to face, no terrible relatives to tolerate, and no need to please anyone.

Shi Wangui put down the drinks and headed straight for the kitchen. She hugged Wen Youren from behind and said warmly, “Happy New Year to the 17-year-old us.”

“It isn’t even our birthday yet. Why are you so eager to add a year to your age?” Wen Youren teased. While others wanted to claim they were younger, these two preferred using their nominal age.

Shi Wangui wasn’t having it. She gripped her waist and swayed. “I don’t care. Before 18, we use the nominal age. After 19, we use the actual age. That’s how I’m counting it.”

Eighteen meant being an adult, and being an adult meant freedom. She could openly tell everyone: “This is my girlfriend, Wen Youren.”

After basking in the shocked gazes of others, she would brag about how good their relationship was. Wen Youren never gave her the cold shoulder; whenever a spark of an argument appeared, she would immediately admit fault, leaving Shi Wangui with no reason to stay mad.

Wen Youren turned around. “Go eat. I cooked all your favorites.”

“Roger that!” Shi Wangui stood on her tiptoes and gave Wen Youren a quick kiss on the cheek.

Sun Yi and Wang Hu: “Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Back at school, they had worried the two were confusing friendship with love. They rarely saw them being affectionate in public; the most intimate thing they did was Shi Wangui sitting on Wen Youren’s lap. Even when classmates joked about whether they liked each other, Shi Wangui neither got angry nor responded.

Since the confession wall incident had been handled quickly and there was no definitive proof, people had stopped mentioning it.

Shi Wangui used all her strength to push the two towards the table. “Eat, eat!”

At the table, they raised small glasses filled with soda, offering blessings and planning their New Year’s Eve visit to Teacher Wang’s house.

Teacher Wang lived alone. Customs varied in their area: some preferred a reunion dinner at night, while others had it at noon. Teacher Wang’s tradition was a night dinner, so the group had stayed home for lunch. They wanted a New Year’s moment to themselves first.

Halfway through the meal, Shi Wangui said, “I ran into Jiang An’an again today.”

Wen Youren asked, “Did she say anything bad to you?”

Shi Wangui thought for a minute. “Not really. This is her home, after all; it’s normal to run into her. We just ignore her.”

Wen Youren placed a chicken wing in her bowl. “Good.”

Sun Yi occasionally grumbled about the couple’s public displays of affection. “We should consider the single dogs during the New Year.”

“Hahaha!” Wang Hu didn’t mind. He asked, “Was Shi Wangui already acting strange with Wen Youren a long time ago? I remember the first time she got drunk, she mentioned how Sun Yi shouldn’t talk about President Shi or President Wen. Did you have feelings even then?”

Shi Wangui: “…”

When was that? Why don’t I remember?

Sun Yi laughed. “You have no idea how low Wanwan’s tolerance is. What could she possibly remember? It’s a miracle if she can even remember that she ate dinner by the next morning.”

Shi Wangui: “…”

She truly didn’t remember. She vaguely recalled drinking once, but did she do something embarrassing back then?

Shi Wangui said fiercely, “Shut up! If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll tell Teacher Wang that you didn’t write your last assignment yourself and copied Sun Yi instead.”

Wang Hu: “I’m shutting up.”

Sun Yi: “Hahaha!”

Wen Youren didn’t laugh openly, but she said with suppressed amusement, “After we finish, let’s pack some food to take to Teacher Wang’s. There are no buses today, but there’s an uncle going to town at 3:00 PM. We can catch a ride.”

“Okay!”

Teacher Wang was home alone. Her eyes lit up when she saw the students. “Come in, come in! Isn’t it freezing outside?”

Wen Youren: “It is a bit cold. Happy New Year, Auntie Wang.” The others followed: “Happy New Year, Auntie Wang.”

On normal days, she was a strict teacher, but today she was just their Auntie.

“Happy New Year, happy New Year.” Teacher Wang led the children into the room and gave each of them a red envelope. “Study hard in the new year. I’m looking forward to your university admission notices.”

Seeing the others too shy to speak, Wen Youren answered for them, “We will. Thank you, Auntie Wang.”

Auntie Wang hadn’t cooked much for lunch, just a bowl of noodles. Now that the children were here, the groceries she had bought were finally put to use. She shooed the kids into the living room and went to the kitchen to cook, refusing any help.

Wang Hu marveled, “Auntie Wang is so nice. Free tutoring, giving her all, and now even New Year’s money.”

Wen Youren said, “Auntie Wang has lived alone for years. She is a truly wonderful person.” Shi Wangui added, “If Youren says she’s good, she’s definitely good.” Sun Yi: “Tsk.”

Shi Wangui ignored her. She was very happy today. Her aunt had sent a large red envelope and even felt guilty for not being able to come back and buy her new clothes, so she sent a second large envelope.

As for Shi Qin as long as she didn’t think about him, it was fine.

A new year had begun. she was 17 now. In another year, she would be 18. She could take Wen Youren to see her mother then. She would have to explain clearly: Wen Youren was different from Wen Yiyue. One was good, the other was bad. She couldn’t let her mother dislike the wrong person.

Thinking of this, Shi Wangui felt a wave of warmth and leaned closer to Wen Youren.

In contrast, Wen Youren felt a strange unease. Her mother had sent her a WeChat message: “Watch yourself,” with no follow-up. Her heart was racing with an inexplicable anxiety.

Suddenly, Shi Wangui’s phone rang. The screen showed it was her aunt calling.

Shi Wangui was curious. Aren’t Auntie and Shi Qin abroad? Why would she call me now? She was curious, so she answered.

“Hello, Auntie.”

Shi Wangui’s expression had been joyful when she picked up, but in an instant just one single instant, it changed.

Her aunt said: “Are you and Wen Youren together? Are you really a couple? How could you be in a relationship?”

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