Can't Keep Studying, Blame Shen Nian

"Holy crap!"

Ma Mingfan got more and more excited as he checked his answers, looking like he was about to fly.

"What's your score?" Chen Dong asked, puzzled.

"With the essay, maybe around 130. Sigh, I got too many wrong in the listening section."

"Not bad, Old Ma."

"Damn, I used the full two hours and double-checked it so many times."

Ma Mingfan was already grinning from ear to ear. Although he knew this joint exam was easy, seeing himself get such a score brought out an undeniable joy from the bottom of his heart.

Shen Nian also casually congratulated him, "Not bad, my Hajima is finally rising up."

"I learned from you and uninstalled my games. I feel like my future is bright."

"Keep up the good work, Hajima."

"I'm fired up!"

Class dismissed.

Shen Nian came back from the restroom with dripping wet hands, looking all over before finally spotting Chen Dong.

If he didn't wipe these hands on Chen Dong, washing them would have been a total waste.

Chen Dong suddenly felt a chill down his spine. Before he could turn around, Shen Nian slapped him on the back.

He didn't even need to think to know there was a handprint there now. Damn that Shen Nian.

"Sorry, bro. I only saw the clothes and didn't realize there was a person in them. I thought it was a rag."

"Bravo."

Chen Dong was furious. He sprinted to the restroom at the speed of light and ran back with his hands dripping wet, terrified that the water on them would dry.

However, Shen Nian wasn't in the classroom.

He stood there, drawing his sword and looking around in bewilderment.

Bad news: He didn't see Shen Nian.

Good news: Ma Mingfan was still in the classroom.

What else was there to say? They were bros, so the water on his hands was a gift for him.

The clever Shen Nian had already run to the teachers' office to restock from Yan Yuzhu.

There were quite a few teachers in the office—about half of them were present. Su Kexi was still at her desk munching on a purple rice ball, hastily putting it down when she saw Shen Nian.

Teachers had to maintain their image in front of students.

"What's up, Shen Nian? Is there a problem with the answer key?"

"Uh, I haven't checked the Chinese answers yet."

"..." Su Kexi stopped smiling.

The next time Shen Nian came to the office, she was never going to initiate a conversation again.

"You haven't eaten yet, Miss?" Shen Nian asked casually, acting like he was walking into his own home.

Being asked this instantly improved Su Kexi's mood.

Even though it wasn't a study-related question, at least he asked her something. It was better than Shen Nian walking in and immediately asking for Miss Yan. Anyone who didn't know better would think Yan Yuzhu was his homeroom teacher.

"Yeah, just got back to school."

"Wow. By the way, Miss, when the results come out, can you help me get the score rankings from No. 1 High School and those key high schools in other provinces?"

"Why, want to see where you rank?"

"Hehe, I'm aiming to be the provincial top scorer, it's hard not to care." Shen Nian stroked his chin.

Although the joint exam was easy, the students most affected were actually those in the 550 to 650 score range. For scores like 710 or 720, the impact was relatively small.

The test was easier because the proportion of basic questions was increased, but the top students could already get full marks on the basic and intermediate questions anyway. As long as they weren't careless, their scores were mostly determined by the final few difficult questions.

"The school will be comparing results anyway, so of course I can get the rankings." Su Kexi's eyes curved into a smile. "Since you're aiming for top scorer, you must keep working hard. Make the most of this final month."

"Definitely, Miss." Shen Nian grinned, showing his teeth.

"Alright, I'll find the rankings for you when the results are out. Do you need anything else?"

"Nope. I actually came here looking for Miss Yan."

"..."

Yan Yuzhu had already prepared the Wangzai milk, handing it to Shen Nian as soon as he walked over.

She thought Shen Nian wasn't coming.

"Keep it up. I'm counting on you to ace the exams so I can brag to the other teachers."

"You got it, Miss. I'll head back to class now."

"Mhm."

Shen Nian quickly scurried off, just in time for class to start.

Teachers actually cared a lot about their students acing exams. Even if they knew deep down that a student becoming the top scorer was mostly due to the student's own excellence, it still gave them bragging rights.

Now he understood why masters would boast about having taught a god.

Two rows of Wangzai milk wasn't a lot, but it wasn't a little either. Converted to money, it was about fifteen yuan. Shen Nian had lost count of how much free Wangzai he had freeloaded off the Wangzai Bishop.

Drinking Wangzai milk every day, wouldn't the teacher get diabetes...?

Although Yan Yuzhu had a lot of Wangzai... he rarely actually saw her drinking it.

Back in the classroom, Shen Nian handed out the two rows of Wangzai. He gave one carton to the two idiots sitting in front, one to the two cute girls next to him, and kept one row for himself.

He originally wanted to check his Chinese answers, but someone unexpected walked over to him.

Liang Jing pushed up her glasses and stood by Shen Nian's desk. Her voice was low and carried a hint of apology. "Um, Shen Nian, could you swap seats with Ma Mingfan? I want to sit next to him to ask him some questions."

"Sure." Shen Nian made an OK gesture.

Asking the opposite sex questions was a common occurrence in high school. Chen Qiuyu had sat next to him several times, so Shen Nian couldn't really say anything. Giving up his seat was no big deal.

"Hey, someone's looking for you," he said, patting Ma Mingfan on the shoulder.

"Uh..."

"Let's swap seats."

"Oh, okay."

Shen Nian sat in the front seat and exchanged a glance with Chen Dong.

Though neither spoke, they both understood perfectly.

Hajima, your romance luck has really arrived. I told you practicing dark arts to build willpower would be useful.

He eavesdropped for the entire evening study session, and the more he listened, the more something felt off.

He thought Liang Jing came to secretly flirt with Ma Mingfan, but they actually talked about studying for the whole period?

Shen Nian smiled in relief.

If it were him and Xia Yanchun, they definitely would have been secretly holding hands and poking each other's arms.

Ma Mingfan was still too innocent. But it was understandable; not everyone had known each other since birth like him and Chunbao.

...

After school, Shen Nian walked home with Xia Yanchun.

He stuffed the remaining row of Wangzai into Xia Yanchun's small backpack. "Drink it for breakfast tomorrow morning, it'll be great."

"I feel so bummed out, Shen Nian."

"What's wrong? It just so happens I know a psychology teacher surnamed Shen. I'll take a look at you when we get back." Seeing Xia Yanchun looking so dejected, Shen Nian gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I just feel really bummed out, I can't muster any energy."

"You're definitely just sad because you know you can't beat my score this time."

"..."

Having her thoughts exposed by Shen Nian, Xia Yanchun stopped pretending. She flailed her arms and bumped into Shen Nian, knocking him half a step into the grass by the road.

"Someone's getting anxious." Shen Nian wasn't annoyed at all; in fact, seeing Haji-chun get flustered only made him happier.

"It's all your fault. You definitely distracted me from studying."

"Wow, now comes the blame-shifting phase."

"It's not blame-shifting, it's the fundamental reason."

Xia Yanchun said righteously, poking Shen Nian's arm with her index finger. "I'm going to study as soon as I get back, and you are not allowed to bother me, got it?"

"Whatever Chunbao says goes."

"..."

With Shen Nian right next to her, would she really be able to calm down and study?

Xia Yanchun put a question mark on that thought. Anyway, if she couldn't study, she could just blame Shen Nian. When the time came, she would definitely tease him relentlessly.