No, how can a third party be involved in something like eye contact?
Chen Zhenzhen was astonished. She and Zhang Zhaomu could understand each other with just a glance because of their long time together and their deep understanding of each other, which had cultivated a tacit understanding. How did this person manage to do that?
"What... what are you complaining about?" she couldn't help but ask.
Xiang Qing pointed to herself, then wrote, " Zhang Zhaomu told me beforehand that if I communicated by writing, you might want to complain."
Chen Zhenzhen glared at Zhang Zhaomu, Zhang Zhaomu shrugged.
"He mentioned something about a withered white moonlight, but I didn't understand, so I looked it up." Xiang Qing wrote carefully, "He was talking about a character in a novel called Dragon Raja, right?"
"Please rest assured, although I communicate by writing, it's just that I'm not used to speaking. Even if I did speak, it wouldn't hurt anyone."
After finishing writing this, she held the notebook to her chest and waited earnestly for their reactions.
"I really want to complain right now..." Chen Zhenzhen opened her mouth, "But I really don't know where to start."
She gave Zhang Zhaomu another look.
Is your deskmate really normal?
Zhang Zhaomu couldn't help but cover her face, refusing to respond.
Xiang Qing's behavior was completely like she had done her homework beforehand and hoped to gain approval... No matter what, was it necessary to go to such lengths? I really just mentioned it casually!
"Let's continue with what we were talking about earlier," he said. " Xiang Qing, based on your understanding of your aunt, what kind of reason would she accept if you didn't go back, or at least went back later?"
Xiang Qing quickly wrote down two large characters, "Study."
"Then tell them Chen Zhenzhen is tutoring you," Zhang Zhaomu explained. "Don't let Chen Zhen's appearance fool you; he's actually quite a genius when it comes to studying. Even though I'm such a lazy bum dragging him down, he still manages to stay in the top twenty of the grade."
"You're not smart at all!" Chen Zhenzhen glared at him, annoyed.
"Wow, that's amazing!" Xiang Qing exclaimed with admiration. "When I was in No. 3 High School, although I studied very hard, my best score was only around eighty in the grade."
"That's still very strong," Zhang Zhaomu said.
"No," Xiang Qing shook her head. " No. 3 High School is much worse than No. 1 High School. That time it was a county-wide joint exam, with the same test papers. My score wasn't even in the top 300 at No. 1 High School."
Seeing the other person's disappointment, Zhang Zhaomu suddenly scoffed, "Don't humiliate yourself by saying that in front of me."
"When it comes to grades, even if you do your homework with your ass, don't even think about losing your sense of superiority over me!"
He declared emphatically, "Even if I went to No. 3 High School, I'd still be at the bottom!"
Xiang Qing was taken aback.
Humiliating himself? Is he mocking himself? But something feels... off.
She struggled to understand Zhang Zhaomu's words before finally realizing what he meant.
Then he burst out laughing.
The main problem was Zhang Zhaomu's expression; it was so proud, it felt like he was showing off.
Chen Zhenzhen rolled her eyes at Zhang Zhaomu, her tone disdainful. "What do you mean by 'doing homework with your butt'? Don't use such vulgar language with a girl like that!"
"Besides, your excuse is completely unreliable. Tutoring... Auntie will absolutely not accept that."
"I think..." Xiang Qing hesitated slightly, "... not necessarily."
She wrote in her notebook, "My mom cares most about my grades. If I tell her that I'm not keeping up with the pace of learning at the No. 1 High School and ask someone to tutor me, but that person also has to study at school and can only use weekends... based on Zhenzhen's grades, my mom would probably agree."
"They might even pay for tutoring."
Zhang Zhaomu was startled. "How much?"
Chen Zhenzhen slapped him on the shoulder. "Does it matter? How could I possibly take money! I'm asking Xiang Qing help in the first place!"
She smiled at Xiang Qing and said, "You know Auntie best. If you think it's okay, then let's say it like this. And it's not just an excuse. If you really have any problems with your studies, I'd be happy to help you."
Xiang Qing was a little touched and took the initiative to say, "Thank you..."
"You... you..."
She couldn't say it aloud, so she wrote, " Zhenzhen, you're such a good person! Just as good as Zhang Zhaomu!"
Chen Zhenzhen could sense the other person's sincerity, and her expression softened involuntarily. She said, "If you're willing to help me, we're friends. There's no need to be so polite."
Xiang Qing paused for a moment, and her handwriting trembled slightly.
"Are we already friends?" She eagerly held up her notebook and leaned close to Chen Zhenzhen.
"Yes," Chen Zhenzhen replied matter-of-factly.
Xiang Qing looked at Chen Zhenzhen, her eyelashes trembling slightly, then a smile spread across her lips, her Refined features relaxing instantly, and she nodded vigorously. "Mm!"
As if remembering something, she looked at Zhang Zhaomu again, cautiously confirming, "What about us?"
"It's been like that for a while now," Zhang Zhaomu joked. "Don't forget to pay your owed friend fees."
"Oh," Xiang Qing asked softly, "How much do you want?"
Zhang Zhaomu: "..."
"Stop bullying them!" Chen Zhenzhen really couldn't stand it anymore.
What kind of rare species is this?! It looks quite unapproachable, but its personality is as cute and innocent as a little animal!
Zhang Zhaomu is clearly the worst kind of bad wolf. It's hard to imagine what kind of behavior he would normally have with such a deskmate, given his perverse sense of humor... Xiang Qing's situation is truly dire.
Chen Zhenzhen suddenly felt a sense of responsibility to protect the little animal and prevent her from being harmed by the big bad wolf.
The united front among girls is often that simple. The ensuing conversation basically turned into a tit-for-tat exchange between Chen Zhenzhen and Zhang Zhaomu.
This was a routine the two of them had grown accustomed to, but it made Xiang Qing feel a little uncomfortable.
She desperately wanted to mediate, but couldn't bring herself to say it. By the time she finished writing and picked up her notebook, the argument had already veered into something else entirely...
So she quickly got used to watching them silently, and then she felt that this was fine too; friends should interact without any reservations.
It's a kind of ease and comfort that you can't experience by studying alone in a classroom.
Just as the bell for evening self-study was about to ring, the two escorted Chen Zhenzhen back to the classroom, Xiang Qing was still a little reluctant to leave.
She skipped along with a hint of excitement, and said in her still somewhat clumsy but labored voice, "This afternoon... I had so much fun!"
" Zhang Zhaomu... thank you!"
Zhang Zhaomu waved his hand. "Du Gouba, your most urgent task is to get rid of the habit of always saying thank you."
"Why?" Xiang Qing asked, puzzled. "Isn't this... polite?"
"Being too polite between friends creates a sense of distance," Zhang Zhaomu said earnestly. "Look, Chen Zhen and I don't need to be so polite, which is why I can let her call me 'Dad' so easily."
"Call me Dad?" Xiang Qing tried to understand again, and finally blurted out:
"Then... should I call out too?"