I don't know basketball, but I can play other sports.

Xia Yanchun was sleeping soundly, so Shen Nian didn't disturb her. After watching her for thirteen minutes and two seconds, he left the classroom.

When Xia Yanchun was asleep, you could gently poke her cheek and she wouldn't wake up. So adorable.

The afternoon class didn't have many key points. The teacher lectured up front, and Shen Nian studied his own stuff down below. With the help of the system, he had already finished the entire "Five-Three" workbook for the science comprehensive subjects. The book, which used to close neatly, was now swollen a full circle, packed with who knows how much ink and effort.

It was utterly boring, just a trivial task, something anyone with hands could do.

Hehe, maybe he could sell it to junior students later.

Being ranked eighth in the whole school definitely made him a top student among top students. A top student's complete "Five-Three" workbook, with some problems having different solving ideas and answers from the standard ones—wasn't that just like the "Fen Jue"?

The old-timer had already finished writing the "Fen Jue," so you'd have to cough up some cash to show your appreciation, right?

His business sense was truly terrifying.

When ordinary people buy workbooks, they either get the full set or just the science comprehensive and math ones. It's rare to see someone buy just Chinese or English, as if these two subjects are inherently inferior in science-focused classes.

Actually, most people in science classes think these two subjects are less important than math and integrated science. There are several students in the class who aren't bad at science but are weaker in Chinese and English. When they review, their first thought is still math and integrated science.

Playing to your strengths and avoiding your weaknesses.

But the college entrance exam looks at the total score. Improving from 60 to 90 is much easier than going from 80 to 100.

Fortunately, Shen Nian wasn't lagging in any subject anymore.

Now, Shen Nian was an all-subject warrior.

For the past two weeks, the system had been quiet. Shen Nian just studied on his own, living a very ordinary school life, bickering with others every day, and going home to bicker with his dear Chun Bao. It was blissful.

There was also a PE class on Tuesday afternoon.

Because it was cold, everyone was too lazy to run, just lazily walking on the rubber track in a messy cluster.

They had to finish two laps no matter what.

Li Shiyan, who always seemed to have her period during PE class, miraculously didn't this time. She walked with Xia Yanchun, chattering about something funny.

"How nice..." Chen Dong sighed.

"What's nice?"

"Walking like this."

"Oh, right, your girlfriend has a foot injury, so even walking is hard, huh."

"Yeah, that's why it's nice. She can only go places in a wheelchair." Chen Dong scratched his head. "Probably won't be better even after the New Year. I asked her recently, and she's confirmed she'll repeat the year. Sigh."

After saying this, Chen Dong added, "And she's not my girlfriend, don't say that."

Shen Nian ignored him. "Aren't her family around? Tell her family to make her some bone broth, cook her some calcium-rich, easily absorbed food."

"Of course they are. They're usually taking care of her. I just go see her on weekends... By the way, is bone broth useful?"

"Should be, that's what I see online."

Shen Nian had just remembered it from watching a lot of cooking tutorials recently. He'd never actually made it, so he wasn't sure if it was truly effective. Maybe it only had a minuscule effect.

No bone broth, no matter how useful, could be more effective than the medicine prescribed by the hospital.

Unless it was bone broth he made himself.

He could certainly make her a bowl of soup to help her recover faster, but she was Chen Dong's childhood friend. Sending soup to show concern felt a bit weird, like people might think he was trying to steal her.

He'd really become the "other guy."

Shen Nian pinched his chin. "Your girlfriend is repeating the year, you're not going to repeat it too, are you?"

"How could I? Her repeating is her business, what's it got to do with me? You think I'm an idiot?"

"Whoa, aren't you?"

"Damn you, take this kick!"

When it came down to it, Chen Dong wasn't a fool. Who knew what score you'd get if you repeated a year?

Plenty of people score lower after repeating. He also didn't have the confidence of a top prizewinner like Shen Nian or Xia Yanchun.

In other words, the kind of person who forces someone else to repeat the year with them—everyone is better off missing them.

To avoid Chen Dong's flying kick, Shen Nian had already run over to the group of girls.

After finishing the walk, many people went to the basketball court to watch a game. Shen Nian was confused at first, but after asking Lin Xiyuan, he found out that someone from another class had challenged them to a friendly match this Sunday.

Last Sunday during evening self-study, he was probably reading in Chun Bao's room.

Basketball games are pretty common in high school. They happened in both freshman and sophomore years, not too formally organized, and the school allowed them. Some classes even pulled the PE teacher to referee.

For these student-organized matches, there's no reward for winning, but losing means losing face.

Shen Nian wasn't interested, but he couldn't resist since both his dear Chun Bao and Li Shiyan were going to watch, and his "good son" Chen Dong was playing. So he went to join the fun.

"I heard their class has two sports-specialty students, and one used to be on the school team."

"Aren't sports students not allowed to play? If they hurt their feet, all their training these past two years would be wasted."

"Addiction, I guess. Not our problem."

A few girls whispered among themselves. Shen Nian squeezed through and stood next to Xia Yanchun. "Since when do you watch basketball?"

"Just sitting around over there anyway." Xia Yanchun muttered. "Can you play?"

"I can't play basketball, but I can play other things." Shen Nian stroked his chin.

"...?!"

Xia Yanchun suspected he was making a dirty joke, but had no proof.

What if he meant badminton?

This guy would definitely turn it around and say she was the dirty-minded one.

Xia Yanchun snorted. "Badminton? Who can't play that? I could easily beat you."

"Pfft, you? Let's have a match."

"Can't be bothered." Xia Yanchun knew he had good stamina and wasn't about to compete with him. That would just be asking for trouble.

Comparing grades was one thing; in that area, she had been crushing Shen Nian for twelve years.

Shen Nian pointed a dramatic finger. "At first glance, it's obvious. Verified as all talk. Can you be a little more honest, Class Monitor? Is it so hard to admit someone else is good?"

"Go away."

"Hey!"

Someone shouted, and a basketball went 'whoosh—' flying over.

Xia Yanchun had been busy arguing with Shen Nian and only reacted when the ball was already flying towards them. She was scared half to death.

Actually, the ball wasn't flying fast. But for girls who don't play basketball, a ball flying towards your face is terrifying. You always feel like it's going to smash your nose flat the next second, even if it's slow.

Of course, it also couldn't be ruled out that Shen Nian just had fast reflexes.

Shen Nian raised a hand and intercepted the ball.

"Sorry, man!" A boy from the other class clasped his hands together and bowed in apology towards them.

Well, in that case, what else was there to say? Shen Nian just threw the ball back.

"Scared?" He tugged on Xia Yanchun's sleeve.

"Not really."

"Looked to me like you were about to cry."

"Stop spreading rumors." Xia Yanchun pouted. "Anyone would be scared if a basketball flew at their face."

"Right, right, the Class Monitor makes a good point."

Yan Xi reminds you: Due to Tomato requesting over three million daily visits causing excessive server pressure, it is now recommended that you use sources from other big shots.