Green Tea Top Student Falls in Love with Me - Chapter 6

Weekend evening self-study sessions were supervised by the homeroom teacher. Over the past two months, everyone had figured out her routine: she would check homework, with math and English being mandatory, while Chinese was occasionally inspected. Usually, after checking the assignments, she would spend about ten minutes scolding the class before allowing them to make up any unfinished work.

So, Shi Wangui only copied the math and English homework both were quick to complete with numbers and letters, and the content wasn’t extensive. She planned to finish the rest whenever the teacher decided to collect it.

After copying the assignments, Shi Wangui took out her earphones, hiding them under her loose hair as she secretly listened to music. During evening self-study, the teachers generally didn’t mind whether the girls wore their hair down or tied up, as long as they appeared energetic and presentable during daytime activities.

Since it was the homeroom teacher’s session, everyone was exceptionally well-behaved and focused on their studies. The homeroom teacher was notoriously unpredictable you might look up, tired from studying for too long, hoping to gaze at the moon outside the window, only to find not the moon, but the teacher’s stern face staring back at you.

That wouldn’t be a dream; it would be a nightmare.

Suddenly, the homeroom teacher clapped her hands, signaling for everyone to look up. She announced, “Class, the additional winter uniforms we ordered have arrived. I’ve just brought them back with a few other teachers. The two sets cost 399 yuan in total. Remember to ask your parents for the money and bring it tomorrow.”

No. 8 Middle School had strict uniform requirements. Previously, there were four sets, but the winter uniform hadn’t been finalized at the start of the school year, so the tuition fee only covered the four sets. Now that the winter uniforms had been produced just in time for the approaching cold season, they could be worn in another month or two.

399 yuan, Shi Wangui silently repeated the price in her mind. If it weren’t for the initial lump-sum payment at the beginning of the school year and considering her recent attitude, Shi Qin definitely wouldn’t give her the money. There was no point in subjecting herself to the humiliation of asking.

Shi Wangui opened her wallet, which contained only five hundred-yuan bills and a few scattered ten-yuan and one-yuan notes. With about half a month left until next month, over a hundred yuan could last her more than ten days if she budgeted carefully. But no, she needed to save half for next month just in case Shi Qin withheld her living expenses again.

No one was hiring her for fights lately. Such gigs were rare, and Shi Wangui had standards: she wouldn’t target good people or bully others indiscriminately.

After mulling it over, she still had to buy the uniform. Shi Wangui reluctantly took out four hundred-yuan bills. If only they hadn’t changed the design this year, she could have bought two used sets from the senior students.

Then, Shi Wangui noticed the bread Sun Yi had given her. She hadn’t eaten it yet, as she wasn’t very hungry earlier and planned to save it for when she got hungrier at night. She placed her hand on the bread for a moment, the plastic wrapper crinkling softly, but her seat was too far back for the teacher to hear.

Forget it, she’d have it for breakfast tomorrow. Then, she could buy two steamed buns for lunch, which would be enough for the day. She withdrew her hand.

Shi Wangui took out her ID card and studied it carefully. December 24th, she hadn’t even turned sixteen yet. With over two years left until she turned eighteen, at this age, she couldn’t even find a job if she tried; no one would hire someone so young.

“By the way, students,” the homeroom teacher sitting at the podium spoke up again, “there’s a sports meet next week, and I’m not sure how many will participate. But there will be lots of plastic water bottles around. The principal just messaged in the group chat, urging students to take them away or collect them after the event. If you’re willing, you could gather some to sell and maybe buy yourselves a milk tea.”

Shi Wangui had no interest in joining the sports meet, but she did want to collect bottles. She just felt too embarrassed to do it alone after all, even when hiring enforcers, they consider their image. But if she had company, it’d be different; then she wouldn’t be alone, she’d be doing it for the class.

Sure enough, as soon as class ended, Sun Yi rushed over cheerfully and said, “Wanwan, Wang Hu, let’s go collect bottles together! We can earn some money, and I can go watch a movie with my boyfriend.”

“Miss, you really come up with ideas out of nowhere.” Wang Hu suddenly stopped and added, “I’ll follow Shi Wangui’s lead. If Sister Shi goes, I’ll go.”

Sun Yi tugged at Shi Wangui’s hand and pleaded, “Wanwan, will you go? Will you?”

Shi Wangui replied, “Okay, let’s go!”

“Tomorrow, I’ll ask my parents for more money anyway. They don’t really care about me, so I’ll save up to go out during the New Year,” Sun Yi said.

Shi Wangui asked, “You’re not spending New Year’s at home?”

Sun Yi shook her head, then pulled out a pen and a long sheet of scratch paper. She drew a very long straight line and added a few twists and turns, explaining, “This is the distance between me and my partner. During the New Year, the adults will all be playing cards or mahjong, so why shouldn’t we go to the amusement park or check out the haunted house?”

“By the way, Wanwan, what are your plans for this year?”

Shi Wangui wasn’t sure. In the past two years, Shi Qin would have gone to find Wen Yiyue, but this year they were married, so they might actually stay home. She still preferred to spend it alone because Shi Qin would give her some money, and her aunt would give her New Year’s red envelopes that would be her living expenses for the next year.

“I don’t know. If I’m home, I’ll hang out with you then.”

“What about you, Wang Hu?”

“I’ll definitely be around.”

“Then it’s settled! The four of us will go out together, to the amusement park.”

Wang Hu protested, “Wait, four people? You mean you’re bringing your boyfriend? Then Sister Shi and I would just be third wheels.”

Sun Yi laughed, “You could find a girlfriend too, and Wanwan could find one as well.”

Shi Wangui immediately covered her ears she had no interest in dating. Whenever this topic came up, she stayed silent. Luckily, just as it was mentioned, class started.

Wen Youren also returned from outside, probably having been called by the teacher, though it wasn’t clear what for.

“The teacher said boarding students can go to her office to call their parents for money,” Wen Youren said.

Shi Wangui turned her head and retorted, “Childish. I don’t need to make any calls.”

I have my own money. I’m more mature than you. I don’t need to call anyone.

Wen Youren said calmly, “That’s fine, because I wasn’t planning to ask either.”

The underlying message was: Don’t think about dragging me down.

Shi Wangui: “…”

“I’ve noticed you’re really pretentious.”

Wen Youren: “Then you’ve noticed correctly. Class has started; don’t disturb me.”

Fuming, Shi Wangui thought about bothering Wen Youren like she did during the last geography evening self-study, but she held back because the homeroom teacher had just entered the classroom and sat at the podium, working on lesson plans.

Shi Wangui could only vent her anger on a note:

[Last time I told you not to leave after school, why didn’t you wait for me?]

Wen Youren was currently bent over her math problems, ignoring the note Shi Wangui passed her. She simply pressed it under her textbook and continued scribbling calculations on her scratch paper.

Seeing this, Shi Wangui wrote again:

[Don’t you dare leave after school.]

Wen Youren still pressed it under her book without a glance.

Shi Wangui persisted, scribbling:

[Whoever doesn’t show is a coward.]

This time, Wen Youren finally reacted. She swiftly wrote a few words:

[I don’t want to bully a child.]

Shi Wangui read it and was speechless. “Don’t push it. I’m the school bully you should ask around about my reputation,” she muttered under her breath.

Wen Youren replied calmly, “Look at those people outside the window. Aren’t they all school bullies too? Yet here you are, sitting in the classroom.”

Their voices were hushed, and their seats near the back offered some cover convenient for their whispered exchange and, later, for Shi Wang’s escape.

Shi Wangui skipped class or rather, she didn’t plan to go far, just far enough to prove a point to Wen Youren. So she boldly walked out from the back and stood by the window, flipping Wen Youren the middle finger.

“Teacher, someone’s skipping class,” Wen Youren announced without looking up, raising her hand.

Shi Wang: “…”
Sun Yi: “…”
Homeroom teacher: “…”
The whole class: “…” Damn, skipping the homeroom teacher’s class? How could anyone have the guts?

The homeroom teacher hurried to the front door. “Shi Wang, come to my office.”

Shi Wangui never expected Wen Youren to pull such a move. She was stunned this was a tactic she’d never considered. So dirty. Oscar-worthy for “Best Scheming Dog.”

After what felt like ten minutes of scolding in the office, Shi Wangui returned but only to grab her homework. The teacher had warned her: skip class again, and she’d do her work in the office.

“Can’t take a joke, you coward,” Shi Wangui grumbled while packing her things.

Wen Youren merely lifted a section of her hair on the right side, revealing a black earbud camouflaged against her dark locks, invisible unless she meant for it to be seen. And she did mean it, teasing without words: I’m saying I can’t hear you, but you know I heard everything.

Shi Wangui stopped her muttering as the teacher urged her to hurry up. She secretly slipped a crime novel into her bag, flashing it at Wen Youren as a warning.

It wasn’t so bad being in the office. The homeroom teacher stayed in the classroom to monitor, while other teachers were either helping students or busy with their own tasks. No one would bother her there.

About ten minutes before the end of class, the homeroom teacher sent the class monitor to call Shi Wangui back. By then, Shi Wangui was deeply engrossed in her book mentally thanking her luck that the homeroom teacher hadn’t come herself, since the novel belonged to Wang Hu.

After school, Sun Yi walked Shi Wangui back to the dorm, saying she wanted to see what her roommates were like. If they dared gang up on Shi Wang, Sun Yi wouldn’t let them off easily.

By the time Shi Wangui and Sun Yi arrived, the other three roommates were already back. Not wanting Sun Yi to stay too long since it was getting dark and unsafe to walk back alone Shi Wangui urged her to leave.

As soon as Sun Yi left, Wang Yuyuan asked, ” Shi Wangui, when did you go to the classroom today?”

Shi Wangui rolled her eyes, what kind of people were these? She couldn’t be bothered to respond.

Seeing that Shi Wangui wasn’t answering, Wang Yuyuan raised her voice and said, “I’m talking to you.”

Shi Wangui retorted, “If you’re sick, just say so. I don’t have time to talk to you.”

Liang Jie tugged at Wang Yuyuan’s hand and then said calmly, “Were you the last one to leave the dormitory?”

Shi Wangui set down her backpack, took out her washbasin, stood up, squinted slightly, tilted her head, and looked at them, saying, “So what if I was?”

Without waiting for them to say anything else, she picked up her things and left.

Wang Yuyuan said angrily, “It must have been her.”

But Liang Jie didn’t say anything. Instead, she turned to Wen Youren and said, “Hello, I’ve heard of you. You have excellent grades. I think we shouldn’t let Shi Wanguistay here. From what I know, you dislike her too, right?”

Wen Youren was in the middle of solving an unfinished problem when she heard this. She merely snorted lightly and ignored them.

Wang Yuyuan said, “We’re talking to you. Just because you have good grades, does that mean you can be so rude?”

Wen Youren put down her pen, stood up, and looked down at them, saying, “And just because I have good grades, does that mean I can falsely accuse people?”

Before Liang Jie could speak, Wang Yuyuan continued to demand justice, “Is this a false accusation? This is the truth.”

Wen Youren returned to her seat and said calmly, “Then let me tell you, not only do I dislike Shi Wangui, I dislike you both as well. So don’t bother me, and don’t think about dragging me into your little clique. It’s boring. You two can play this game by yourselves.”

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