Chapter 22

Chi Ning turned to glance at him, and Ye Xinran immediately shut up. "Won't say it."

Ye Xinran was not much of a talker. He walked Chi Ning to the school gates and only withdrew his gaze after watching him get into a private car.

When he turned around, he met Qin Heng's eyes.

Their gazes crossed for an instant before quickly shifting away. At the same time, they both thought:

What bad luck.

Qin Heng was so annoyed by this bad luck that he felt sour. He even thought that if he could be in Chi Ning's class, or Class Two, that would be great.

Class One and Class Two were on the same floor. That way, whenever he wanted to see him, he would not have to climb from the first floor to the top floor.

There would be a placement exam in the second semester of senior year. If he worked harder and started studying properly now, could he possibly make it to Chi Ning's side?

The thought surfaced and lingered in his mind.

Until the next day's opening ceremony, when Qin Heng stood in Class Eighteen's formation and saw Chi Ning on the flag-raising platform delivering a motivational speech.

The boy wore a school-uniform shirt neatly tucked into his uniform trousers. His short hair was soft and smooth, and he looked clean and bright. Qin Heng knew how that hair felt when gripped in his hand—soft, just like Chi Ning himself.

His clear voice carried across the field through the microphone, stirring a response and drowning out the scattered doubts and murmurs on the field.

Because of its ranking, Class Eighteen stood at the very edge of the field, with only Class Seventeen beside them. Yet Qin Heng still noticed that many people looked at Chi Ning the moment he went onstage.

Including Yue Yaozong, whose front tooth Qin Heng had knocked out.

A lewd smile hung on Yue Yaozong's face. "I heard you two got a room? How did the young master taste? Was he fragrant and sweet all over?"

Qin Heng swept him a cold glance. "How many beatings do you think that mouthful of teeth can take?"

Yue Yaozong fell silent. His eyes shifted, settling on Chi Ning on the stage.

He could not beat Qin Heng, but Chi Ning looked awfully weak.

Zhang Qiuwen clicked his tongue. "Chi Ning usually looks so well-behaved. Who knew he could say so many pretty things just to encourage people to study? He didn't seem like this before, did he?"

A girl standing in front of Qin Heng turned back and said to Zhang Qiuwen, "Exactly. Whenever it was his turn to speak before, he always said as little as possible. We girls never even got the chance to look at him a little longer."

The girl with pink nail polish clicked her tongue. "The power of good writing really is something. Even I feel like studying now."

Chi Ning was being praised, and for some reason Qin Heng felt proud as well.

The little wolf in his mind started howling again. [You were just thinking about getting into the same class as him, and now he's seriously giving a motivational speech. He has you in his heart. He must have said this especially for you.]

Just as he thought that, Chi Ning said from the flag-raising platform, "In senior year, every second counts. I hope none of you will grow complacent in victory or discouraged by defeat. Those who did not work hard in your first and second years of high school should seize this year's opportunity..."

The corners of Qin Heng's mouth rose uncontrollably. Those who had not worked hard in their first and second years of high school—wasn't he talking about him?

Chi Ning continued, "I once heard students from Gangnan International School say that No. 1 High School was merely a public school. Its college admission rate could never compare to that of private schools, and no matter how well we studied, we could only end up working for others."

These words caught everyone off guard. Wang Quan had not expected Chi Ning to be so bold, and sweat broke out across his forehead.

Chi Ning lowered his eyes. He had not wanted to give a motivational speech, but slacking off in private was one thing. Since he had stepped onto the stage, he should complete the task.

He could not exactly say, "I didn't want to give this speech either. The teachers just kept asking me over and over." That would be far too discouraging for the other students. Worse, everyone might think he had gotten the speaking opportunity through special privileges.

That would not be good for Teacher Wang, nor for Class One.

Chi Ning held the microphone, his tone resolute and forceful. "What I want to tell everyone is that this is not the truth. Gangnan International School will pay for its arrogance next year. The future belongs to the majority."

"The economy is taking off, and opportunities are everywhere. The best opening is right in front of you. No wealth comes from nowhere. If you cannot be an heir, then become a pioneer."

"The college entrance examination is the best opportunity. You can use it—use this exam to break free from the framework and platform you have lived in since childhood, and see this world."

Chi Ning paused, then said softly, "The opportunity is in your hands."

The crowd below fell silent for a moment before thunderous applause erupted.

Wang Quan said, "Holy shit."

Wasn't this far more stirring than all that "the grass grows and orioles fly, and another school season has arrived" nonsense?

The dean beside him patted Wang Quan's shoulder with his pudgy hand. "This speech is pretty good. Did you write it for him?"

Wang Quan frowned and waved a hand. "You're joking. Could I write something like this? He prepared it himself."

The dean gave a half-smile. "It's written well enough. I just wonder how many points he'll get on the placement exam. This summer, heh... gossip papers have been full of his sensational stories."

The dean lingered over the words "sensational stories," his expression teasing and mocking. "A little improper, isn't it? He shouldn't have been allowed onstage."

Wang Quan's brows drew together more tightly. "Since the students respectfully call you teacher, you should have the awareness to set an example! How can you gossip about a student behind his back? If it affects the student's mental state, can you bear that responsibility?"

The dean's face darkened.

After all his years at the school, this was the first colleague who had shown him so little respect. The principal was his uncle—what teacher at No. 1 High School dared to confront him like this?

He scoffed. "Then just wait and see his grades... Or better yet, why don't you ask him directly what relationship he has with that student from Class Eighteen?"

The dean slurred his words. "A recommended admission quota can be revoked. If his character is improper, I can report it to the target university and have them cancel his spot."

Wang Quan was so angry he breathed heavily.

The dean felt better. He lifted his chin toward Chi Ning, who was walking toward his class formation. "There he is. Why don't you ask him whether he wrote that speech himself?"

Wang Quan rolled his eyes and waved at Chi Ning. "Chi Ning, come here."

"What is it, Teacher Wang?"

Wang Quan reached for the stack of papers in Chi Ning's hands. "Let me see your original draft. Did you write it yourself? How did you write something so damn good?"

Chi Ning rubbed his nose. "No."

The students nearby, who had pricked up their ears, could not stay still. They even felt deceived.

We were genuinely motivated. We thought you sounded so sincere that what you said had to be right, but now you're saying you didn't write the speech?

The dean said cheerfully, "See? Chi Ning couldn't write something at this level."

Wang Quan was stunned too. "You really didn't?"

As he spoke, he unfolded the stacked A4 sheets.

The snow-white paper reflected the sunlight, and there was not a single word on it.

The first page was blank.

The second page was blank.

The third page was blank too.

Wang Quan: Huh?

Chi Ning gave a dry cough. "Didn't you insist that I go up there and speak?"

He paused.

"I wouldn't call it writing it myself. Mainly because I didn't write anything. I just roughly organized my thoughts, then said whatever came to mind and tried to make it sound better."

Wang Quan: ...I'm numb.

The students nearby who had been watching were numb too.

Why was God Chi a god?

He really was something else.

The dean's face flushed red. After all the sarcasm he had thrown at Wang Quan just now, every word seemed to have slapped him across the face.

He worked in administration and did not teach, but that did not mean he had no shame.

Eager to regain some ground, he asked in a low voice, "Do you know that Qin Heng from Class Eighteen?"

Chi Ning raised a brow and glanced at him. After thinking for a long time without figuring out who he was, he turned to Wang Quan.

Wang Quan said, "It's fine. Just tell the truth. Your teacher has your back."

As soon as Chi Ning stepped down from the stage, the students on the field began leaving in groups.

When Qin Heng passed Class One's formation, he happened to hear the dean's question, and his steps stopped at once.

He looked at Chi Ning and pricked up his ears.

"We know each other," Chi Ning said. "What do you mean by asking that? Are you telling me not to associate with them?"

The dean hesitated. "That's not it."

Qin Heng's shoulders relaxed.

Then the dean puffed out his grease-filled belly and pressed on aggressively. "The papers said you two are dating and got a room together. Is that true?"

Chi Ning: ...

The Class One students surrounding Chi Ning were somewhat displeased.

"How can you even ask something like that?"

"It's obviously made up."

"Yeah, yeah."

"I think you just have a problem with our Chi Ning."

Chi Ning raised a hand and looked at the dean's face, letting out a soft laugh.

The day he had lived with Qin Heng, Qin Heng had personally said they were not brothers.

Then the next day, during their phone call, he had said, "It doesn't mean anything."

Chi Ning had originally thought that pretending to date for a while and fooling the paparazzi would be fine, but now he decided to forget it.

Qin Heng definitely would not be willing.

Chi Ning's tone was utterly even. "I'm not dating him. Our relationship is average, and as for getting a room together, that's even more impossible."

Qin Heng: ?

How was their relationship average?

Chi Ning had eaten his iced bayberry, received his gold medal, slept in his bed, and worn the red string he had braided!

He had worked with Chi Ning until dawn, used the same bathroom, worn the same pants and the same clothes!

Even the apartment Chi Ning rented was registered under his name!

Just the day before yesterday, Chi Ning had pestered him on the phone, asking what their relationship was and what things meant.

How the fuck had it become average after turning around?

They were not even friends anymore?

Chapter 22

As soon as Chi Ning finished speaking, the dean's face twitched.

Average relationship, and he gave you a gold medal?

The paparazzi's stories might be fake, but the photos had to be real, right?

This student looked so obedient and well-behaved, yet he did not hesitate in the slightest when lying.

The man could not stop himself from sneering. "I'll be waiting to see your placement exam results."