You Like The Smart Ones? You Should Have Said So Sooner! - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: I Really Was Forced

Sitting in the corner, Jiang Mengqian quietly took in the interaction between the three of them.

Her eyes held the same joy as theirs, but also a lingering, inseparable hint of envy.

Hiding her gaze behind her lashes, she let her eyes fall softly on the tall boy, watching his figure as it radiated light and color. Even this small act brought her a sense of satisfaction. Eventually, she silently withdrew her gaze, returning once more to her own grey and desolate world.

In Lin Zhixia’s words, although their class had been collectively disqualified because of those unlucky jerks from Class 3, in the hearts of their classmates, Class 18 was the true number one of this basketball tournament.

To commemorate this, Lin Zhixia and Duan Momo drew a makeshift certificate and taped it to the blackboard at the back of the classroom.

Yu Canxing had been sent to the hospital for an X-ray, which revealed a fractured right leg. Yet, after only three days of leave, he returned to class with “unyielding spirit” despite his physical setback.

On the day of his return, the entire class cheered, making Yu Canxing feel quite embarrassed.

However, under everyone’s watchful eyes, his gaze silently drifted toward one person—his front-row neighbor, Ye Jun.

And Ye Jun was looking back at him.

After class, Yu Canxing poked Ye Jun. “Hey, why did you start a fight back then?”

When he entered the school gates, he had seen the disciplinary notice for Ye Jun and Feng Cheng posted on the bulletin board. Seeing Ye Jun’s name next to Feng Cheng’s disgusted him to no end.

Ye Jun turned around, the corners of his cold eyes tilting slightly with a hint of playfulness. “You don’t know why I hit him?”

Yu Canxing choked on his words, not expecting Ye Jun to be so blunt.

His ears turned slightly red as he asked, “Then… you got a disciplinary mark. Don’t you regret it?”

Ye Jun glanced at him, feigning confusion. “Regret what? I hit him because I didn’t like the look of him.”

He clearly saw Yu Canxing pause.

“You hit him just because you didn’t like the look of him?” Yu Canxing asked, gritting his teeth slightly.

“Otherwise, what did you think?”

“…” A murderous intent flashed in Yu Canxing’s eyes. “Well, I don’t like the look of you right now. Can I hit you?”

A triumphant smile flashed in the depths of Ye Jun’s eyes.

“Give it a rest. Auntie Jiang told me to take good care of you,” Ye Jun said seriously. “That idiot tripped you. If I didn’t give him a beating, how could I report back to her?”

Yu Canxing curled his lip. “Tch. My mom looks at you like her own son; why would you need to give her an explanation?”

Ye Jun had lived with Yu Canxing’s family since they were kids and grew up alongside him. He raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond.

Like a biological son… how could that ever compare to the real thing? Over the past few days, having helped Auntie Jiang at the hospital, he could naturally see how worried and heartbroken she was for Yu Canxing.

On the other side of the room.

Song Ying stared at his phone, typing away furiously.

Song Ying: ?Song Ying: What do you want now? Spit it out.Song Ying: If you play me like last time, I’m blocking you immediately.

The screen buffered for a moment, showing that the other party was typing.

Ji Chenxiang: QAQ, I state once again, I really was forced.

Song Ying frowned impatiently. He was just about to diss Ji Chenxiang when the latter dropped a bombshell.

Ji Chenxiang: Old Man Mo went to find you.

In an instant, Song Ying’s mind went blank.

His phone continued to vibrate incessantly as Ji Chenxiang bombarded him with messages.

Ji Chenxiang: That day I messaged you before, Old Man Mo contacted me asking for your number and address. I didn’t give it to him.Ji Chenxiang: I thought it was better not to disturb you, so I didn’t tell you.Ji Chenxiang: QAQ, but I didn’t expect him to corner me at A-University. I was rock-solid! I resisted to the death! But in the end, I was defeated.

Ji Chenxiang had stepped out of the school gates this morning with a sunny mood, ready to try a new breakfast shop.

Suddenly, a roar from not far away nearly scared his soul out of his body. By the time he realized what was happening and tried to bolt, he was caught by the ear and dragged back by Mo Weixin.

As soon as he saw Mo Weixin’s white beard, Ji Chenxiang didn’t even wait for the teacher to speak; he closed his eyes and confessed everything.

“Teacher Mo! Song Ying is repeating his senior year at Dong’an No. 2 Middle School! He lives in Unit 1, Room 202, Building 6 of Chaoyang Road Community! He went to Dong’an in July and enrolled in August. His number is 151… if that doesn’t work, I can push his WeChat to you!”

Mo Weixin stared at him and gave a cold huff. “At least you’re sensible.”

Song Ying had no heart to read the rest of Ji Chenxiang’s messages. His thoughts were pulled back to that sweltering midsummer not long ago.

The sun had been massive that day, the temperature so high the ground seemed to ripple with heat waves.

Because it was the first day of the College Entrance Exam (Gaokao), the school gates were swarming with parents, creating a deafening clamor.

But Song Ying had a splitting headache. The surrounding noise buzzed incessantly in his ears.

The security guard had barred him from the gates. Mo Weixin’s angry reprimands echoed in his ears, and the judgmental looks from the crowd felt like they were swallowing him whole.

“What are you even doing here at the testing center now? Why didn’t you just come two minutes later? You could have missed the entire first subject!”

“What did I tell you before? Don’t get too close to that mother of yours! Why won’t you just listen!? Huh!?”

“Do you really want to stay here until you kill me with anger!?”

“Speak! Are you a mute!?”

Song Ying’s phone was still vibrating, but he ignored whatever else Ji Chenxiang was saying. He flipped the phone face down and collapsed onto the desk in exhaustion.

The classroom was hot. Although the fans were on, that bit of luxury wind couldn’t reach their corner in the last two rows.

The weather felt exactly like that day—suffocatingly hot.

Song Ying felt dazed, trying his best to empty his mind and stop thinking.

Suddenly, a cool breeze brushed across his feverish neck, dispelling some of his agitation.

His mind was still muddled. After a long moment, he sluggishly turned his head to look behind him.

It was Qin Mian, holding a book and fanning him from behind.