The Midterm Exams Begin

In the blink of an eye~

As the autumn wind grew colder, a tense yet excited atmosphere filled the campus. The annual midterm exams had quietly arrived.

At dawn, the first rays of sunlight pierced the thin mist and fell across Long Aotian's desk. He was already seated there, a fine fountain pen clasped tightly in his hand.

He began answering the questions, the pen tip dancing across the paper and leaving behind neat, forceful lines of writing. Every question, whether simple or complicated, was like a toy in his hands. He took them apart and solved them one by one.

Time slipped by amid the tense yet orderly atmosphere. At last, Long Aotian finished writing and turned to look out the window.

He had to admit, unlike the oppressive feeling of exams in his previous life, the classroom was gradually filled with the sound of papers turning. It was the relief of his classmates as they finished one question after another.

Gradually, the first session, the second, the third, the fourth...

For Long Aotian, this midterm exam had been like a leisurely stroll, without the slightest pressure or burden.

At last, the midterm exams were over...

"Whew!" Long Aotian, seated at his desk, gently rubbed his temples. He turned to look out the window and thought, I wonder how Sakura's doing. I should go check on her.

Long Aotian stood and headed for the classroom door, making his way to Class D.

In the corridor, students were either discussing the exam questions in groups of two or three or walking alone with their heads lowered in thought.

When he reached the hallway outside Class D, he found it unusually quiet, a stark contrast to the other classes. But Long Aotian paid it no mind. He reached the classroom door, glanced around, and quickly spotted Sakura.

Sakura didn't notice Long Aotian's arrival. Her brow was furrowed, as if she were thinking about something.

He went over and quietly watched her. Only when Sakura turned around and their eyes met did she break into a surprised, delighted smile.

"Aotian, what are you doing here?" Sakura's voice held a note of disbelief and delight.

Long Aotian gazed at her gently. "We just finished the exam, so I wanted to come see you."

"Are you all right? Did the exam go well?" Sakura smiled softly, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

Long Aotian nodded. "It was fine. None of the questions were difficult, so it must have gone well. Why are you frowning? Did you run into a question you couldn't solve?"

"No. I was thinking about you. I just didn't dare go to Class A to see you. I didn't expect you to come here." Sakura shook her head and murmured softly to Long Aotian.

"Huh? Long, what are you doing here?"

A girl's voice came from ahead.

"I came to see Sakura." Long Aotian looked over and saw Kushida Kikyo.

"We didn't add each other as friends at the library last time. Want to add each other now?"

Kushida Kikyo flashed a sweet smile.

"Sure." Long Aotian took out his phone and added her. "Sakura, you're pretty close with her in Class D. Has she caused you any trouble?"

"No. Sakura's just rather shy, but she's pretty cute. I like her."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Horikita Suzune had also noticed them. They both glanced over, then looked away.

At this time, most of the students had gone to eat or left the classroom after the exam. For some reason, though, these two still hadn't left.

"Mm-hmm. Kushida, we're going to get something to eat, so we'll leave it there." Long Aotian turned to Sakura, ready to take her hand. "Come on, let's go eat."

Just as he reached out, Sakura suddenly slapped his hand away and murmured, "People are here."

"Hm?" Long Aotian was a little surprised. Was there really such a huge difference between how she acted in the dorm and how she acted outside?

"All right, all right."

Sakura got up and walked out alongside Long Aotian. In the hallway, he leaned closer to her and said, "Let's buy some ingredients, then go to your dorm. I'll cook for you."

"Really?" Sakura smiled happily, but then turned to look at Long Aotian in surprise. "You can cook? Why was I always the one cooking before?"

"Um... I was always a guest at your place. Wasn't it only natural for you to cook?"

"True." Sakura nodded, her expression turning into one of overwhelming warmth and anticipation.

"By the way, how many points do you have left?"

Long Aotian suddenly remembered Class D's situation and asked.

"Over forty thousand." Sakura took out her phone, turned on the screen, and showed it to Long Aotian.

"Not bad. Let me hold on to your points for now. I'll give them back in a few days."

"Okay." Sakura didn't question him and handed him her phone.

When he returned it, the balance showed ten thousand points.

"The ten thousand points will come in handy later. If anyone asks you for points, just give them some." He spoke gently as he reached out and patted Sakura's head.

"Okay~"

The two of them seemed to draw even closer.

In the kitchen, Long Aotian got busy. He opened the refrigerator, picked out fresh ingredients, then skillfully chopped and stir-fried them. Every movement was fluid and strong.

Before long, the kitchen filled with the enticing aroma of food. Long Aotian brought the delicious-looking dishes to the table one by one. As Sakura looked at the beautifully prepared meal, a feeling she couldn't put into words welled up inside her.

"Sakura, try this piece of meat. Open up. Ah~" As he spoke, Long Aotian picked up a piece with his chopsticks and held it steadily to Sakura's lips.

"?" Sakura froze for a moment, then broke into a radiant smile and took a bite.

"Mmm, it's delicious!" She looked at Long Aotian, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

Long Aotian sat down to eat as well...

"Sakura, if Kushida Kikyo invites you to the celebration later, remember to go and then tell me about it." Long Aotian spoke as he picked up his chopsticks and ate a few bites of meat.

"Okay." Sakura replied, picking up a piece of meat and holding it to Long Aotian's lips.

"Would you be interested in coming to Class A later?"

"I'll do whatever you say." After speaking, Sakura looked at Long Aotian's chopsticks and furrowed her brow.

"?"

He was confused for a moment, then understood. This girl, honestly... Long Aotian picked up his plate and chopsticks and moved beside Sakura. He picked up the meat from her plate and fed it to her relentlessly.

"Mm-mmph!" Sakura's mouth was under an endless assault, and she let out an indistinct sound.

Long Aotian looked at Sakura and smiled with satisfaction, then handed her a glass of water.

"Whew." Sakura took a sip of water and swallowed the meat, then glared at Long Aotian.

"Cough, cough, cough."

He took a tissue and wiped Sakura's mouth. Then he pulled her into his arms and rubbed her soft, delicate hands as he fell into thought.

Ever since coming to this school, it seemed he'd only been spending time with Sakura. He'd barely met anyone else, so very little had happened. For the most part, he'd gone through the plot alone, without interfering.

Maybe in the novel, the things that happened to him would only be a passing mention, covering a day or perhaps half a month. But ever since coming to this world, Long Aotian no longer cared about that.

He lowered his eyes to Sakura's face. Her clear, limpid eyes seemed veiled by a thin layer of mist, shimmering with embarrassment and a trace of nervousness. Two lovely blushes gradually bloomed on her cheeks like peach blossoms in the morning sun, lending her face a tender, vivid charm. The blush spread from within until her whole face was tinged with a faint rosy hue, making him want to reach out and gently touch her, to feel her softness and warmth.

Long Aotian released her hand and slowly leaned his face toward hers.

After a while~

In the kitchen, Long Aotian skillfully picked up a dishcloth and turned on the faucet, adjusting the water to a comfortable temperature. The sound of running water and the gentle clink of dishes intertwined, forming an ordinary yet warm melody of daily life.

Before long, Long Aotian came out of the kitchen and saw Sakura asleep on the bed. He reached out and pulled the blanket over her.

It was only natural that she'd be tired after a day like this. He yawned; he was getting sleepy too.

He took a bottle of drink from the refrigerator and found a place to sit. After taking a sip, he looked at Sakura's peaceful, serene sleeping face, as if the whole world had come to a standstill.

Her face looked especially gentle, like a lily blooming quietly, giving off a faint fragrance.

Her breathing was soft and even. Each rise and fall was like a gentle musical phrase, playing a soothing melody in the still night.

The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, as if she'd come across something wonderful in her dream. Her happiness and contentment showed without her meaning to, and a faint blush colored her cheeks.

Long Aotian got up and went to the bedside, puzzled. "Is she having a nice dream? Why's she smiling so foolishly?"

P.S. Oh wow, I think I've had a bit of a revelation. I'm starting to understand how I should write this.