Before the exam started, Zhu Tong was called to the office by Shi Wenshu.
Shi Wenshu had always appreciated Zhu Tong as a student. Despite his health issues, Zhu Tong never gave up on his studies. He was diligent in class and completed his homework well. However, there was one thing about him that worried Shi Wenshu: his stubbornness and unwavering principles when it came to answering exam questions.
Although Shao Ming had already promised to help, Shi Wenshu thought it best to confirm things just to be safe.
“How have you been feeling lately?” he asked.
This was probably the most frequently asked question Zhu Tong had encountered since his return from a follow-up checkup in A City. His heart warmed, and he replied softly, “I’m much better now.”
“That’s good. But still, be careful. There’s no air conditioning in the classroom. Make sure you keep warm during the exam so you don’t catch a cold,” Shi Wenshu advised.
Zhu Tong nodded, “I will.”
After giving him another once-over and seeing that Zhu Tong indeed looked well, Shi Wenshu got to the main point. “About the final exam, I know you might not care much about your grades, but your grades are a testament to the hard work you’ve put in all semester. They are the results you’ll show your family when you go home for the holidays. Every point and every bit of progress will comfort them and make them proud of you. So, you should do your best to meet their expectations, right?”
Zhu Tong remained silent. He didn’t think his family had any expectations of him.
In fact, Zhu Tong already knew what Shi-laoshi wanted to talk about when he was called to the office. He straightforwardly said, “Laoshi, I’ll try to fill in all the answers on the answer sheet for this final exam.”
Shi Wenshu was taken aback.
He hadn’t even begun his lecture, but his student already understood?
Zhu Tong’s awareness seemed to have improved significantly.
Shi Wenshu quickly said, “That’s right. Even if you don’t know how to answer the question, any points you get for trying are still your points. The same goes for multiple-choice questions — luck is also a part of your strength. If you pick the right answer based on a gut feeling, it still shows you have a foundation of knowledge to make that judgment.”
“Understood, Shi-laoshi.”
Satisfied, Shi Wenshu nodded, “Good. Then go prepare for your exam.”
Zhu Tong nodded again and walked out of the office. Shi Wenshu watched his back with a gratified expression.
At that moment, the teacher at the adjacent desk spoke up, “Shi-laoshi, I heard that this student from your class has an unusual relationship with Shao Ming.”
“Shao Ming?” Shi Wenshu was momentarily confused but then replied, “They’re deskmates and also share a homestay off-campus. They have a good relationship.”
“What I mean is…” The teacher hesitated, “I heard that they spend almost every weekend together.”
“Really?” Shi Wenshu looked surprised but quickly showed a delighted expression. “That’s wonderful.”
“???”
Shi Wenshu said, “Luo-laoshi, you don’t know. This student of mine was very antisocial when he first transferred here. He wasn’t in good health and even ended up in the hospital after coughing up blood. I was always worried that if something happened to him, no one would know. Now that he has made friends and there are people around to look out for him, I feel much more at ease. Shao Ming is also very warm-hearted. He not only takes care of the new student but also helps him improve his grades. Look at Zhu Tong’s momentum — by the time of the college entrance exams, the top three students in my class might be from my class.”
Luo-laoshi: “…”
Seeing Shi Wenshu’s proud expression, Luo-laoshi felt his worldview was being challenged.
Was he talking about taking care of tutoring? He was hinting at the problem of puppy love! Early dating!
As a homeroom teacher, how could he be so unconcerned about the issue of puppy love among students?
Yet, despite being such a laid-back homeroom teacher, the top students still preferred to be in his class.
Luo-laoshi thought, ‘Could the reason my class’s grades aren’t improving be because I’m too fixated on preventing puppy love?’
‘Should I try to relax the rules?’
Luo-laoshi sighed deeply.
Zhu Tong walked out of the office and was greeted by a biting cold wind, causing him to shiver.
Before he could pull his collar tight, a scarf was wrapped around his neck.
Shao Ming said, “I just went to the restroom, and you already forgot to take good care of yourself. Little Young Master, what would you do without me?”
He smiled teasingly as he wrapped the scarf around Zhu Tong.
Zhu Tong, aware they were at the office door, nervously glanced around. “Why are you here?”
Shao Ming replied casually, “Came to listen to Shi-laoshi’s lecture… just the usual reminders before the exam, nothing else.”
Zhu Tong smiled as well, “Then go ahead. I’ll head back to the classroom.”
Shao Ming pushed open the office door and walked in.
After being lectured by their homeroom teacher, it felt like his soul had been purified.
At eight o’clock, the final exams officially began.
The exams lasted for two days: Chinese and Math on the first day, English and Science on the second day.
Zhu Tong had been studying hard lately, with very noticeable results. As soon as he finished the exam, he eagerly took Shao Ming’s test paper to compare answers.
Shao Ming estimated his approximate score, raised his eyebrows slightly, and said, “It looks like we can be in the same exam room next semester.”
Zhu Tong’s eyes lit up, “Really? Can I score over 600?”
His eager anticipation for a score of 600 made Shao Ming feel a mix of amusement and pity. He glanced at the test paper again, “It shouldn’t be a problem.”
Zhu Tong immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Shao Ming said, “Your hard work has paid off. Don’t worry.”
Zhu Tong felt completely relaxed, almost floating, and sincerely looked at Shao Ming, “Thank you for tutoring me.”
Shao Ming raised his eyebrows again.
Zhu Tong suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Shao Ming, hesitating to speak.
“What’s wrong?” Shao Ming asked.
Zhu Tong paused and said, “I haven’t paid you for the tutoring.”
“……”
He’s still thinking about that?
Shao Ming smiled, rested his head on one hand, and said, “Oh? How do you plan to pay? I don’t want money.”
Zhu Tong asked, “Then what do you want?”
He knew that with their current relationship, he shouldn’t be drawing such clear lines. However, it seemed like he had never given Shao Ming anything since they met.
He wanted Shao Ming to have something from him.
Shao Ming’s eyes darkened, “There is something.”
Zhu Tong asked, “What?”
Shao Ming curved his lips and said, “Repay me with your body?”
“……”
The class monitor in the seat in front couldn’t take it anymore. She turned around and glared at the wolf who was trying to seduce the little white rabbit, “Can you tone it down a bit? You’ve been showing off all over the school these past two days, isn’t it enough?”
Shao Ming immediately looked aggrieved, “When did I show off?”
Tang Nuan said, “Right, you didn’t show off. Who in the first exam room doesn’t know that a certain Mr. Study God finishes every exam ten minutes early, saying he needs to go to the restroom, and then shows up at the second exam room’s door right when the exam ends? You say you happened to pass by after using the restroom, but the restroom is by the fifth exam room, and our class is in the middle. So how do you pass by the second exam room after using the restroom without going by our class? Are you like Da Yu, who passed by his own door three times without entering?”
Shao Ming: “……”
Zhu Tong: “……”
Tang Nuan took a deep breath after saying so much and continued, “I almost tripped walking on the road today, do you know why?”
Shao Ming just smiled without speaking.
Zhu Tong, not wanting her to feel awkward, asked, “Why?”
Tang Nuan gave Shao Ming a glare and said, “Because I tripped over the foot of someone who kicked his way out of the closet!”
Zhu Tong: “?”
Shao Ming mercilessly added, “Then you need to get your eyes checked, class monitor. I heard your myopia has gotten worse?”
Tang Nuan: “……”
Tang Nuan couldn’t be bothered with him anymore. She looked at the two of them and softly asked, “Are you two really together?”
Although this was an open secret among many observant people, it was the first time Tang Nuan asked so seriously.
Zhu Tong’s heart skipped a beat.
Shao Ming smiled lightly and said, “Class monitor, you know the saying, ‘It’s better to destroy ten temples than to break up one marriage.'”
Tang Nuan said sarcastically, “Who wants to break up your marriage?”
She then looked at Zhu Tong and smiled, “I will keep your secret.”
Zhu Tong didn’t know what to say, so he awkwardly said, “Thank you, class monitor.”
Tang Nuan waved her hand generously, “No need to thank me. Just make sure he tones it down every day, or else the closet door won’t be able to hold him.”
Zhu Tong was puzzled, “What does kicking the closet door open even mean?”
Tang Nuan: “……”
Tang Nuan looked at him in surprise.
What an innocent little cutie who doesn’t know the gossip of the world.
She glared at Shao Ming again, “You’re really getting off easy.”
Shao Ming accepted her words without any objection. Indeed, he was getting off easy.
Tang Nuan explained to Zhu Tong what that phrase meant, and after seeing him stunned and then blushing, she excitedly pulled Zhu Tong into some school gossip.
At this moment, in a school group chat with the most members, a heated discussion about the two of them was taking place.
[This is crazy, the Study God really waits outside Zhu Tong’s exam room every single time! I declare this couple is solidly locked in.]
[Isn’t this common knowledge? I heard they started living together shortly after the school year began.]
[What? They started living together so early?]
[Pass it on, the Study God and Zhu Tong fell in love at first sight on the first day of school.]
[Pass it on, the Study God and Zhu Tong have been together for months.]
[Pass it on, the Study God and Zhu Tong have been kissing for months.]
[Pass it on, the Study God and Zhu Tong have been fighting on the bed!]
[Pass it on, the Study God has made it so Zhu Tong can’t get out of bed for three days…]
Zhu Tong: …
What are they even talking about?
Why would he be unable to get out of bed?
