After showering, Shen Nian returned to his room. There were over a hundred test papers waiting for him—enough to kill a man if he actually tried to finish them.
He had no intention of doing his National Day homework. Just the ten sets of monthly exams alone amounted to eighty papers. Even if he wrote ten a day, he’d still have ten left by the end of the holiday.
Talk about grinding yourself to death.
Shen Nian locked himself in his room and didn’t emerge until 2 a.m.
Four test papers done. Hell yeah!
So hellish that his brain was fried, and even his usual energetic recovery couldn’t keep up.
The next day, at 6 a.m., Shen Nian dragged himself out of bed. No fight, no survival.
He kept grinding until noon.
With his mind now eerily clear, Shen Nian began pondering the meaning of life. The universe is so vast—how could humans be the only ones in it?
Guess writing test papers had triggered his post-nut clarity moment.
He’d bought two Xiaomi "Super Write" pens, but even those didn’t seem enough.
Out of stamina, he decided to take a quick break to recharge. He video-called Xia Yanchun.
While waiting, he smoothed his messy hair. After a few rings, Xia Yanchun’s fair face appeared on the screen.
She didn’t speak, her eyes filled with mild confusion. They lived next door—why was he calling instead of just coming over? What an idiot.
"If you’ve got nothing to say, you’re just wasting my time. Bye."
After a long pause, Shen Nian just stared blankly at her. Xia Yanchun felt a little embarrassed and tapped his face on the screen, shrinking his video to the corner.
"I’ve been writing test papers since 6 a.m. Pretty impressive, huh?"
"Liar. You’re always full of it." Xia Yanchun didn’t buy it.
If he’d said he started at 10 a.m. and wrote for two hours, she might’ve believed him—because that’s exactly what she’d been doing. But 6 a.m.?
Do you even realize it’s National Day break?
Are you seriously telling me a high school senior woke up at 6 a.m. on the first day of vacation to do homework?
Xia Yanchun knew some top students from their school. Sure, they were hardworking, but even they didn’t go this hard on the first day of break. Who the hell wakes up at 6 a.m. to grind without rest? Some kind of superhuman?
Shen Nian expected her disbelief and didn’t bother explaining, just grinning like an idiot. Yanchun was adorable when annoyed.
Honestly, seeing her pouty face instantly lifted his mood. That’s what she was good for.
"What’s so funny? Didn’t brush your teeth last night? There’s something stuck in them."
Shen Nian’s smile vanished. He grabbed a mirror to check—yep, there was something.
Now the smile transferred to Xia Yanchun’s face. Hilarious.
"Next time, don’t bare your teeth if you haven’t brushed them, got it?" She smirked. "So why’d you call? If there’s nothing important, I’m hanging up. I’ve got homework to do."
"Damn, you’re actually doing the National Day homework? Teachers don’t even check it—they just go over the answers. What a waste of time. You’d be better off doing a couple pages of Five-Three."
"If you actually do the papers yourself, it’s just like regular practice. Only people who copy answers think homework is a waste of time."
Shen Nian’s face darkened. After all, he was the type to leave everything until the last minute and rush through it.
Take summer homework, for example. He’d bet the teacher wouldn’t check it—until Su Kexi announced in the group chat the day before school started that it would be collected. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have touched a single word.
"Feels like you’re targeting me specifically."
"Took you long enough to notice."
"Alright, alright. You’re something else." Shen Nian pointed at her like an accusing Husky.
Xia Yanchun pressed her lips together, amusement flickering in her eyes. "So you’re saying the test papers you’re writing aren’t homework?"
"Just scribbling for fun."
"Are you really writing test papers?"
"Of course." The camera wobbled as Shen Nian showed her his desk—strewn with messy piles of papers. "I’m terrifyingly strong right now."
Xia Yanchun adjusted her own camera to reveal her desk. Though she was also writing test papers, hers were neatly arranged.
"Alright, alright. Open the door. I’m coming over to study. As long as we’re together, nothing else matters."
"No."
"Too bad. I’ll just get the key from your sister. Heh heh heh."
"Get lost!"
The call ended. Xia Yanchun hurriedly put on her bra, then padded to the fridge in her slippers.
Opening the freezer, she stared at the last four peanut ice cream bars and shed a single tear of defeat. She couldn’t protect anything.
Refreshed after chatting with Xia Yanchun, Shen Nian left his room. The exhaustion had faded, and his usual vigor was restoring his body. Right now, he felt pretty good.
After grinding for half a day in great condition, Shen Nian had a bold idea—but he wouldn’t tell a soul.
Shen Yue was sprawled on the couch watching TV, giggling at a popular variety show.
"Geh geh geh geh—"
"What kind of laugh is that?" Shen Nian grimaced.
"Awake? I bought you breakfast. It’s in the kitchen, but it’s noon now, so… just deal with it."
Shen Nian smiled gratefully and fetched the takeout container of preserved egg and pork congee from the kitchen, plopping down beside Shen Yue.
"Wow, you actually didn’t make me go buy food for you. A miracle."
He took one bite and immediately frowned.
"Why does it taste so fishy?"
"Ahaha, must’ve forgotten to add ginger at the restaurant. Haha."
"You cooked this yourself and put it in a takeout box to trick me, didn’t you? You absolute—"
Shen Yue froze, then stayed silent.
Busted. Oops.
Can’t a sister try to be diligent and make breakfast once in a while?
Shen Nian sighed and forced himself to finish it. "Let’s just… order takeout from now on, yeah? Maybe we should demolish the kitchen."
"What’s that supposed to mean? Are you calling me a bad cook?"
"Who said that?"
Who was being subtle? He was outright insulting her.
"Hey, are you going back to our hometown tomorrow?"
"Eh… I’ll go on Mid-Autumn Festival day. Too much hassle otherwise."
"No worries. I’ll go for you. Just Venmo me 200."
"Ugh, scram. Don’t interrupt my show. Go buy me some chips from the supermarket when you have time."
"You’re hopeless."
Shen Nian strutted into Shen Yue’s room. It was even messier than his—clothes strewn everywhere. What a disaster. Whoever married her was doomed.
He vaguely remembered her not being like this before. It started after she began working. Office life ruins people.
With practiced ease, he pulled a small key from the top of her closet and announced,
"Taking the key. I’m going to Xia Yanchun’s place. Won’t be back for dinner."
·
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Starting tomorrow, back to double updates o(=•ェ•=)m
Yanxi reminds you: Due to Tomato’s request for 3M+ daily updates straining the servers, we now recommend using other sources from fellow creators.
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