It is illegal to deceive fools.

Shen Nian couldn't be bothered to argue.

Anyone who disrespects Sanguosha is a bad person.

Ignoring Shen Yue, Shen Nian went to the hallway and knocked on the opposite door.

The sound of pattering footsteps grew closer before stopping behind the door—probably checking through the peephole to confirm it was Shen Nian before cracking it open slightly.

"What do you want?"

"Nothing, just bored and felt like annoying you."

Xia Yanchun was instantly irritated.

"Can you just die?"

"Nah, I haven’t lived enough yet."

"Then piss off." Her tone was sharp. Remembering Shen Nian’s shameless behavior last night, she wanted to kick his ass.

Last night, she’d practically been held hostage by him—blatantly against her will. She could’ve called the police.

Earlier, she’d posted about it on Xiaohongshu, recounting the incident without embellishment. The sisters on the platform unanimously agreed that Shen Nian deserved the death penalty. And yet, she’d still let him tuck her hair behind her ear—such saintly forgiveness.

Shen Nian just stood there silently, staring at Xia Yanchun until her anger started to waver.

Seeing her deflate, he suddenly grinned, reached out, and lightly pinched her ear before brushing her hair back. "Why so explosive? Your period isn’t due until mid- or end of the month, right? Why’s it early?"

"It’s not that. I just don’t like you right now. Can you die?"

"Already said no. Bro just finished another practice test. Impressed?"

"Impressed my ass. More homework doesn’t mean better. You gotta actually focus and learn. Mindlessly writing is useless—like summer homework. Copying ten times won’t teach you as much as solving one problem properly."

"What’s with the lecture? I did it all seriously, okay?"

"Then congrats, you’re amazing."

"Obviously. Goodnight, Chun-bao. I’m gonna rest. Sleep early—I’ll bring you breakfast tomorrow."

"Like I care. I never asked you to, by the way. You’re doing it on your own."

"Yeah, yeah."

With that, Shen Nian bolted. Xia Yanchun returned to her room, stuffing books into her bag for school tomorrow.

Somehow, her mood had improved.

---

The next day.

First day back after break.

Shen Nian brought Xia Yanchun congee, but she’d already eaten at home. By the time she got to school, there were only minutes before the bell.

Most of the class was slumped over, still dreaming of the holiday bliss.

Everyone suffers post-vacation withdrawal—from office workers to elementary kids, even teachers. Su Kexi looked half-dead during her classroom inspection.

But teachers have a special talent for targeting students.

"Anyone not reading properly will be called up to recite poetry," Su Kexi warned, hands behind her back. The threat alone had everyone burying their faces in their books.

Truly a graduate of the "Genius Nursing Home"—one sentence and she’d subdued an entire class of troublemakers. Terrifying.

Shen Nian couldn’t be bothered to read, just going through the motions. Chen Dong in front of him did the same, while Ma Mingfan was oddly energetic, reciting loudly.

Su Kexi walked over, nodding approvingly at Ma Mingfan’s enthusiasm.

Clearly didn’t do the holiday homework—needs investigating.

Chen Dong? Casual and quiet—definitely finished.

Shen Nian? No need to check. Obviously didn’t do it.

Su Kexi had a condition: the panicked faces of students who hadn’t done their homework made her want to laugh.

Shen Nian shuddered—his "bad woman radar" was tingling. Someone worse than young Xia Yanchun was nearby.

Morning reading ended, only for the school’s idiot administrators to hijack the PA system, trapping everyone in a twenty-minute speech.

More effective than Blue Silver Entanglement.

While one leader droned on, others patrolled for discipline.

Shen Nian spotted the bespectacled "fish-seller" uncle and tensed. So I stood you up once—you gonna publicly humiliate me now?

Finally dismissed, Chen Dong dragged Shen Nian and Ma Mingfan to the snack shop.

"Hey Chen, did Ma Mingfan ask you for websites this break?" Shen Nian elbowed him.

"Nah, the kid’s learning self-sufficiency."

Ma Mingfan puffed his chest. "I quit. Too many pimples. From now on, I’m doing it rationally—with discipline, planning, and moderation. Self-improvement starts today."

Chen Dong: "Why today?"

Ma Mingfan stayed silent. Classified.

Shen Nian elbowed Chen Dong again. "What about you?"

"Bruh, why you asking? And ease up on the elbows—you just wanna hit me."

"You laughed when I asked Ma Mingfan. Hypocrite." Shen Nian pointed accusingly.

"You first."

"Been three months for me."

"That a joke?" Chen Dong’s eye twitched.

"At that point, see a urologist. Ask if they’ve got good prescription meds—for a friend," Ma Mingfan added sagely.

"If you won’t believe the truth, why bother?"

Shen Nian gave up, scamming a Coke from Chen Dong and an egg-wrap bread from Ma Mingfan as compensation.

Back in class, half the students were already asleep—even Xia Yanchun was napping at her desk. Shen Nian wanted to sneak a hug, but no chance now.

His tiny desk-mate Li Shiyan, however, was awake.

"Where’s my big bro’s red envelope? You never sent it."

"Huh? Who’s your big bro? I don’t know~"

"Chen Dong’s my bro. You stole twenty bucks; he got two cents. You should be ashamed. Send me ten right now—I’ll forward it to him."

"..."

Li Shiyan blinked.

Huh. Chen Dong only got 2 cents in a 100-yuan red envelope…

I got a thousand times more.

Poor guy.

Must… not… laugh—

Pfft—

"O-okay… I’ll send Chen Dong ten at lunch, hehe… g-giggle…"

"Can you not laugh mid-sentence? It’s creepy." Shen Nian sighed. How is someone this gullible?

Can’t even bully her properly.

"You actually believed me? Was just messing around." He clicked his tongue, dropping the act.

Scamming idiots is illegal.

He dug out a mini five-nut mooncake from his bag and tossed it to her. "Here, eat up."

"Ooh, thanks Shen Nian!"

Li Shiyan beamed.

Sure, Shen Nian had tricked her countless times, but she’d also scored tons of free snacks from him.

Some were probably meant for Xia Yanchun, but who cared? Free food was free food.

Plus, during the holiday, Shen Nian had spent his own money buying her game tokens.

So maybe he was 98% evil… but 2% decent.

Yanxi reminds you: Due to Tomato's daily requests exceeding 3 million+, causing excessive server pressure, we now recommend switching to other top-tier sources.