Chapter 22

Chi Ning turned to glance at him, and Ye Xinran immediately shut up. "Not saying it."

Ye Xinran was not much of a talker. He walked Chi Ning to the school gate and only looked away after watching him get into the 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 irritated by the bad luck that his teeth ached. He even thought that if he could be in the same class as Chi Ning, or in Class 2, that would be great.

Class 1 and Class 2 were on the same floor. That way, whenever he wanted to see Chi Ning, he would not have to climb from the first floor all the way to the top floor.

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

Once that thought surfaced, it lingered in his mind.

Until the next day's opening ceremony, when Qin Heng stood in Class 18's formation and saw Chi Ning on the flag-raising platform delivering an inspirational speech.

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

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

Because of its ranking, Class 18 stood at the very edge of the playground, with only Class 17 beside it. Yet Qin Heng still noticed many people looking toward him the moment Chi Ning took the stage.

Including Yue Yaozong, whose front tooth he 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 all sweet and fragrant?"

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 as he fixed his gaze on Chi Ning on the stage.

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

Zhang Qiuwen clicked his tongue. "Chi Ning usually looks so obedient. Who knew he could say so many nice things just to encourage people to study? He did not seem like this before, did he?"

A girl in front of Qin Heng turned back and said to Zhang Qiuwen, "Yeah. Whenever it was his turn to speak before, he barely said anything. 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 else. It even makes me want to study."

Chi Ning was being praised, and Qin Heng inexplicably felt proud too.

The little wolf in his head started howling again. [You were just thinking about testing into the same class as him, and now he is seriously giving this speech. He has you in his heart. He must be saying this specifically 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 arrogant in victory or discouraged by defeat. Those of you who did not work hard in your first and second years, 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—was he not talking about Qin Heng?

Chi Ning continued, "I once heard students from Gangnan International School say that No. 1 High School is only a public school after all. Its university admission rate will never compare to that of private schools, and no matter how well we study, we can only end up working for others."

No one had expected those words. Wang Quan had not expected Chi Ning to be so bold, and sweat broke out all over his forehead.

Chi Ning lowered his eyes. He did not want to give a speech, but slacking off in private was one thing. Since he was already standing up there, he should finish the task.

He could not exactly say, "I did not even want to give this speech. The teachers asked me again and again." That would be far too discouraging for the students. Worse, everyone might think he had gotten the chance to speak through special privileges.

That would not be good for Teacher Wang, nor would it be good for Class 1.

Chi Ning held the microphone, his tone firm 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 era to come 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 nothing. If you cannot be an heir, then become a founder."

"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 the 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."

Was that not far more inspiring than all that nonsense about spring grass growing and orioles flying, and another school season arriving?

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

Wang Quan frowned and waved his hand. "You must be joking. Could I write something like this? He prepared it himself."

The dean smiled without smiling. "It is written well enough. I just wonder how many points he will get on the placement exam. This summer of his... Heh, the gossip papers have been full of his wild stories."

The dean savored the words "wild stories," his expression teasing and amused. "A little improper, no? He should not have been allowed up there."

Wang Quan's brows furrowed tighter. "Since the students respectfully call you Teacher, you should have the awareness to set an example! How can you gossip about students behind their backs? If it affects a student's mental state, can you bear the responsibility?"

The dean's expression darkened.

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

He sneered. "Then just wait and see his grades... Or better yet, go ask him directly what his relationship is with that Class 18 student."

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

Wang Quan was so angry that he panted heavily.

The dean felt a little better. He lifted his chin toward Chi Ning, who was walking back toward the class formations. "There he is. Why not 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 hand. "Let me see your original draft. Did you write it? It was that impressive?"

Chi Ning rubbed his nose. "No."

The students nearby who had been listening closely immediately could not sit still. Some even felt deceived.

We were genuinely moved by that speech. We thought you sounded so sincere, so what you said had to be right. And now you are saying you did not write it?

The dean chuckled. "See? Something at that level is not something Chi Ning could write."

Wang Quan was stunned too. "You really did not?"

As he spoke, he unfolded the stacked A4 papers.

The snow-white pages reflected the sunlight. There was not a single word on them.

The first page was blank.

The second page was blank.

The third page was blank too.

Wang Quan: Huh?

Chi Ning coughed lightly. "Didn't you insist that I go up there and say something?"

He paused. "It does not really count as writing it myself. Mainly because I did not 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 turned red. After mocking Wang Quan so much just now, all those words 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 win one back, he asked in a low voice, "You know that Qin Heng from Class 18, right?"

Chi Ning raised a brow and glanced at him. After thinking for a long while and still failing to figure out who this 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, the students on the playground began leaving in groups.

When Qin Heng passed Class 1's formation, he happened to hear the dean's question, and his steps immediately halted.

He looked at Chi Ning and pricked up his ears.

"We do know each other." Chi Ning said, "What do you mean by asking that? Do you want me to stop associating with them?"

The dean mumbled, "Not exactly."

Qin Heng's shoulders relaxed.

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

Chi Ning: ...

The Class 1 students gathered around Chi Ning were somewhat displeased.

"How can you even ask something like that?"

"It was obviously made up."

"Yeah, yeah."

"I think you just have something against our Chi Ning."

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

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

Then the next day, over the phone, Qin Heng had said, "It doesn't mean anything."

Chi Ning had originally thought that pretending to date for a while to fool the paparazzi would be fine. But now, forget it.

Qin Heng definitely would not agree.

Chi Ning's tone was utterly calm. "We are not dating. We are not particularly close either. As for getting a room together, that is even more impossible."

Qin Heng:?

How were they not particularly close?

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

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

Even the apartment Chi Ning rented was under Qin Heng's name!

Just the day before yesterday, Chi Ning had kept pestering him over the phone about what their relationship was and whether it meant anything.

How the hell had they become "not particularly close" after turning around?

They were not even friends anymore?

Chapter 22

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

They were not particularly close, yet he gave you a gold medal?

What the paparazzi wrote might have been fake, but the photos were real, were they not?

This student looked so obedient and well-behaved, yet he did not hesitate at all when lying.

The man could not stop himself from sneering. "I'll wait and see your placement exam results."