Seven thousand seven.

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Zhang Yunyi: "......"
Xu Shishi: "......"
Both of them fell silent.

Shen Mingrui’s enthusiasm remained undiminished; he animatedly analyzed the situation for them: "This isn’t an ordinary jelly, it’s full of affection. Actually, if you think about it, that makes sense. In this day and age, no one writes love letters anymore; they just give food. With the weather this hot, chocolates would melt, so jelly is perfect."

Receiving no satisfying response, he picked up the jelly and interrogated the people around, "Did you give this, Ren Simin? Was it you?"

Ren Simin was on the verge of vomiting. "Get lost!"

After asking around with no one claiming it, he inquired about classmates who hadn’t returned to the dorm after lunch break, "Did anyone see who it was?"

A classmate yawned and shook his head, "No. I think maybe someone dropped it by mistake."

Shen Mingrui refused to accept that possibility. Returning to his seat, he stared at the jelly, then kicked Zhang Yunyi’s chair lightly. Before the teacher arrived, he whispered, "Number One Sister, this glorious and arduous mission is yours..."

Before Zhang Yunyi could agree, he shook his head and muttered to himself, "No, she’d be embarrassed."

Xu Shishi still found it hard to believe, "Who would secretly like you?"

It wasn’t that Shen Mingrui was particularly ugly or unappealing; if he weren’t so playful, his looks might fool some people. But the problem was that he was such a lively character, friendly with everyone. The phrase “secret admirer” applied to him made people cringe.

Shen Mingrui ruffled his hair, "Can’t help it, I’m just that popular."

Zhang Yunyi burst out laughing, "So what do you plan to do?"

This question stumped Shen Mingrui. After pondering, he hesitated, "Forget dating. I don’t have enough money for two people."

He had been planning what tactics to negotiate with his parents for a higher allowance. Dating wasn’t something you could negotiate with words alone. Should he buy food and drinks for the girl? Should he give gifts? Thinking it over, his heart cooled instantly. "I’m not just anyone. Not everyone who secretly likes me can win my heart."

Across a few desks, Chen Kuo could also hear the commotion and glanced back.

Zhang Yunyi was laughing heartily.

He looked away indifferently, opened his textbook, held a pen in his right hand, and twirled it skillfully between his fingers.

Perhaps it was the afternoon nap or the effect of the coffee, but Zhang Yunyi wasn’t sleepy at all during the first biology class. All the knowledge she had learned seemed to have been temporarily stored away in her brain’s recycling bin. She believed it was only a temporary deletion; as long as she worked hard enough, she would retrieve it eventually.

The class bell rang.

Zhang Yunyi waited eagerly. The biology teacher had just stepped out, and she rose lightly, walking over to Fei Shijie’s desk. "Fei Shijie, how much was that coffee? I’m paying you now."

"About six yuan," Fei Shijie sat up straight.

He knew that even if the beauty were blind, she wouldn’t be interested in him, but he still sat upright honestly.

Zhang Yunyi was about to take out the money when Fei Shijie added, "You don’t have to pay me; Kuo Ge gave me the money."

She was slightly surprised and looked at Chen Kuo.

Chen Kuo had been reading, but upon hearing his name, his thoughts briefly escaped the sea of problems. His peripheral vision caught a pale hand resting on the desk, thin veins visible beneath the skin. He lifted his eyes and met Zhang Yunyi’s bright, moist gaze.

Zhang Yunyi was ready to pay, but then had a sudden idea and withdrew her hand. "I don’t have small change. How about this, class monitor, I’ll give you before evening self-study!"

Connections between people are like this—though physically distant, many points lie between, linked by the tip of a pen, one point touching another, eventually forming a line.

She smiled radiantly at him.

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He said "Okay," and that gave her a reason to continue awkward chatting with him after evening self-study.

He said "No need," and next time if they met at the convenience store, she could return the favor.

Never overdo the flattery; steady and gentle progress is the proper way.

Chen Kuo did want to say "No need." He wasn’t very warm-hearted toward classmates, but if he bumped into someone at the convenience store and was in a good mood, he might offer to buy a drink. Clearly, he also remembered the bottle of mineral water he had just finished and didn’t refuse, simply acknowledging with a sound.

"Class monitor, thank you~"

Zhang Yunyi floated back to her seat.

Fei Shijie turned to look at her, then at Chen Kuo, feeling something was odd but couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

"What are you looking at?" Chen Kuo frowned, a shiver running through him as Fei Shijie kept staring.

Fei Shijie grinned, "Looking at my son."

This naturally earned him an elbow to the ribs from Chen Kuo, and they began their “fight,” punch and kick—a form of entertainment during the ten-minute break.

A cup of coffee had forced Zhang Yunyi through two biology classes. Thinking about the upcoming physics class, she went to wash her face in the restroom, still feeling a wave of melancholy. Those who didn’t know might think she was training her endurance.

Ah, Zhang Yunyi, your name could well be ‘hard luck.’

The happiest moment of the day was surprisingly spent in the cafeteria.

She recalled that in her previous life, she had eaten a lot at this time too—an affordable and tasty bowl of rice with toppings, then dragged Dai Jia to the convenience store to buy snacks. Dai Jia was influenced and ended up buying two bags of crispy noodles.

The weather was wonderful today. The corridor outside the classroom was bathed in soft golden light from the setting sun.

Nature is the greatest painter; this scene was breathtakingly beautiful.

Chen Kuo was helping the class committee carry test papers from the teacher’s office. In the long corridor, a girl bent over the railing, revealing a slender, pale waist, her chin resting on her arms as she gazed leisurely at the distant sky. The rosy sunset light illuminated the side of her face.

He quietly looked away, carrying the thick stack of papers into the classroom and placing them on the podium.

Evening fell, and the temperature dropped a few degrees.

Lights gradually spilled from the windows of the teaching building, the sound of students laughing and playing echoed, and songs played over the school broadcast. Zhang Yunyi’s gloomy mood ended as she returned to her seat, resting her face in her hands with a serious expression, as if contemplating some cosmic matter.

Her gaze wandered aimlessly.

After a few seconds, it came back around, and she looked toward Chen Kuo’s back, remembering she still owed him six yuan. She hurriedly searched her pockets and found some money. The five-yuan note was a bit crumpled, so she smoothed it out, then found a coin in her pencil case.

She stood, took a couple of steps, then returned, reaching into her desk and just touching some snacks.

"Class monitor!"

Chen Kuo was focused on playing a racing game on his phone. The sudden call startled him, causing his fingers to slip and the game to glitch. He slowly looked up; since he was sitting and she was standing, from his angle she seemed backlit by the light.

"Coffee money."

Zhang Yunyi even had the attitude of delivering documents to a leader as she placed the six yuan on his desk.

Chen Kuo nodded casually, "Okay."

He looked down, wanting to resume his game—the round was almost lost. He had no idea when she had left, but when the bell rang and he reluctantly exited the game, he caught sight of a Crispy Shark snack on the five-yuan note and froze.

Instinctively, Chen Kuo turned his head to look at Zhang Yunyi.

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She was chatting happily with Xu Shishi, laughing so hard she bent forward and backward.

"Where did that come from?"

Today Fei Shijie was on duty. He had gone out with the trash can, washing his hands at least five times and frowning on his return. He glanced at the Crispy Shark on Chen Kuo’s desk and still found it curious.

Some classmates asked Chen Kuo for help, and the more clever ones would buy him a drink or something, but he almost never accepted.

Those who knew him a little better understood he didn’t like snacks.

Chen Kuo didn’t answer but said, "If you want it, I can give it to you."

Fei Shijie refused, "I dislike that stuff the most."

No sooner had he spoken than the teacher came in, and shortly after, the classroom quieted down. Chen Kuo’s seat was quite conspicuous, and the Crispy Shark on his neat desk stood out even more. Before the teacher looked over, he grabbed it quickly and stuffed it into his sweatpants pocket, a trace of helplessness flashing across his brow.

Test papers were passed from the front. Zhang Yunyi wrote her name then got stuck.

She read the questions carefully one by one. If anyone could hear her inner voice now, she would surely be wailing: What kind of human suffering is this?!

...

There was even worse suffering ahead.

This test was just students doing problems, open-book or closed-book depending on their own discipline. But she was not disciplined. She kept flipping through the book, even pulling her ponytail holder down. After one evening self-study session, she went to the restroom exhausted.

She hoped no one noticed her, or else it would be hard to avoid suspicion of frequent bathroom trips.

Why else would someone dash to the restroom every class like clocking in?

After nightfall, the restrooms had no classrooms nearby, and the light was dim. After a few steps, she heard a familiar male voice and realized the boy just ahead was none other than Boss Chen Kuo.

"What's up with Teacher Jiang?" a teasing male voice said, "Did he mix up the papers? The questions are too easy, boring, a waste of time."

Zhang Yunyi: "?"

Chen Kuo’s mood wasn’t great but he replied, "Maybe he knows we haven’t gotten back into the groove yet."

Zhang Yunyi: "??"

Ha ha ha ha ha!

Bring it on, bean paste buns!!

"What’s wrong?"

Chen Kuo slipped one hand into his pocket and touched the Crispy Shark. His shoulder twitched. "Nothing."

At most, he was a bit curious about what kind of big favor she wanted.

Asking for a morning self-study or evening self-study excuse?

Senior year—better have a decent reason, not just the usual rosy-faced "I’m not feeling well."