Lost in her thoughts, Jiang Nuan suddenly collided with someone’s back, nearly smashing her nose against their backpack. As she stumbled backward, the person quickly turned around and grabbed her arm.
“Jiang Nuan? Why are you running in the hallway?”
It was Lu Ran, accompanied by a few classmates from the first exam room.
“I’ve got something urgent!” Jiang Nuan squeezed past Lu Ran and the other students.
Lu Ran hesitated for a couple of seconds, then turned and ran after her.
“Lu Ran! Where are you going? We haven’t finished going over the answers!” a classmate called after him, but Lu Ran didn’t respond. He just pushed through the students walking in the opposite direction, closely following Jiang Nuan’s figure ahead.
When Jiang Nuan reached the door of the grade office, a small crowd of students had already gathered, mostly from the liberal arts class. Rao Can stood among them, frowning.
Even through the wall, they could hear Director Zhang’s thunderous voice.
“Tell me what happened! If you don’t tell the truth, you’ll be expelled from our school!”
Jiang Nuan’s heart sank. She hurriedly grabbed Rao Can. “What’s going on? How could Dou Dou possibly cheat?”
“Remember that question Dou Dou gave you at lunch? It turns out it really was the final question in the liberal arts class’s math exam!”
“What?” Jiang Nuan was stunned.
So the liberal arts math exam was really leaked?
“Dou Dou had that piece of paper in her pocket, but it fell out! The silly girl saw the proctor coming and immediately bent down to pick it up, and the teacher saw it!”
“If it were me… I would’ve stepped on it and slid it under my desk so the teacher wouldn’t see it!”
“If only Dou Dou were as smart as you!”
“So Director Zhang and the proctor think Dou Dou was using a cheat sheet during the exam? I’ll go in and explain that I was the one who solved that problem before the exam!”
Just as Jiang Nuan was about to rush in, someone pulled her back. She turned around and saw it was Lu Ran.
“If you go in there and say that, Director Zhang will ask you where the problem came from,” Lu Ran said with a frown.
“It was given to Dou Dou by someone!”
“But Dou Dou isn’t willing to say who that person is, right?” Lu Ran countered.
Jiang Nuan stomped her foot. “Cheng Dou Dou, you fool! Is she trying to take the fall for that person?”
At that moment, a teacher opened the door, frowning at the students outside. “Don’t you have exams tomorrow? Why are you all gathered here? Or are you the ones who leaked the exam?”
In an instant, the liberal arts students scattered.
“Mr. Cen,” Lu Ran called out, and the math teacher for the liberal arts class immediately looked over.
“Oh, it’s Lu Ran. What’s the matter?”
Jiang Nuan was about to speak up, but Rao Can pulled her back.
“Let’s hear what Lu Ran has to say first.”
“I’d like to take a look at Cheng Dou Dou’s cheat sheet,” Lu Ran requested.
“Well… it’s better if you don’t get involved. If this affects your exam performance, your homeroom teacher will blame me,” Mr. Cen said hesitantly.
Lu Ran was one of the top students in the grade and also excelled in fencing. He had even brought honor to the school by winning at the national youth championship, making him a key student the school wanted to protect.
Just then, Director Zhang’s voice boomed from inside, “Mr. Cen, who are you talking to? Get in here!”
“It’s Lu Ran. He wants to see the cheat sheet.”
“Lu Ran? Why is he here? Well, let him in then,” Director Zhang’s voice softened noticeably when he heard Lu Ran’s name.
Lu Ran turned back and lightly tapped Jiang Nuan’s forehead.
“I’m going in. This situation isn’t hard to resolve, but Director Zhang is just angry right now.”
With that, Lu Ran entered the office.
As the door closed, Jiang Nuan grew even more anxious.
Director Zhang had a notoriously bad temper. If Lu Ran said something that annoyed him, would they both end up in trouble?
Now, Jiang Nuan was worried not just about Dou Dou but also about Lu Ran.
As soon as Director Zhang saw Lu Ran, he said, “Lu Ran, what’s the matter? Do you have a problem or need help with something?”
“Director Zhang, I just want to take a look at that cheat sheet,” Lu Ran replied.
“This is a case of a liberal arts student cheating. It has nothing to do with you, so don’t get involved. Just focus on your studies and your exams,” Director Zhang said, his tone much kinder than usual when addressing the top student.
The office was filled with a tense atmosphere. Cheng Dou Dou’s eyes were swollen from crying. She glanced at Lu Ran briefly before quickly lowering her head again in panic.
“I want to see what the problem looks like, if that’s okay. A lot of students asked me questions during lunch, so I want to check if this was one of them,” Lu Ran explained calmly.
“Oh, is that so? Well, take a look!” Director Zhang seemed to have found a breakthrough in the case. “Did any other students ask you about this problem?”
At Director Zhang’s signal, a teacher handed the heavily creased cheat sheet to Lu Ran.
Lu Ran looked at it for less than a minute before speaking.
“Director Zhang, the steps in this solution are mostly correct, but starting from the fourth step from the bottom, there’s a calculation error. The person solving it made a mistake, multiplying fourteen by two and getting twenty-four.”
“Is that so?” Director Zhang took the cheat sheet back to examine it.
Lu Ran glanced at Cheng Dou Dou and continued, “If Cheng Dou Dou didn’t steal this problem from Mr. Cen’s desk, then someone gave it to her. Since she hangs out with students from the science class, she might have shared the solution with them after getting it. There aren’t many students in the liberal arts class, so it should be easy to check who made the same mistake as on this cheat sheet. That’s likely the person who gave it to her.”
Director Zhang immediately ordered, “Everyone, stop what you’re doing! Start grading the final math question for the liberal arts class! I want to see how many people think fourteen times two equals twenty-four!”
The teachers quickly began flipping through the papers.
“Director Zhang, can I ask if Cheng Dou Dou wrote anything for that question?” Lu Ran inquired.
“She didn’t answer that question. She was caught by the proctor when she bent down to pick up the cheat sheet while the papers were being collected.”
“So she had the cheat sheet for a while but never copied it down.”
Director Zhang sighed, glancing at Cheng Dou Dou. “Her homeroom teacher, Mr. Cen, also said she’s usually very honest. But she refuses to say who gave her the cheat sheet! And how do I know she wasn’t about to copy it when she got caught?”
Before leaving, Lu Ran looked at Cheng Dou Dou and said, “A true friend would be worried about you outside. Are you sure that person gave you the cheat sheet to help you get a good grade, or were they just using you to get the answer?”
With that, Lu Ran walked out.
As soon as he stepped outside, he saw Jiang Nuan and Rao Can still waiting.
“How did it go? Are you okay?” Jiang Nuan, who had been anxiously hanging her head, immediately approached him.
Lu Ran suddenly lowered his head, and Jiang Nuan instinctively took a step back.
“What are you doing? You look like you’re about to headbutt me!”
“No, I’m just surprised that you’re actually worried about me.”
He was standing against the light, and his eyes seemed to curve slightly.
In Jiang Nuan’s memory, she had never seen Lu Ran smile so clearly.
In that moment, it felt like a sudden burst of spring warmth exploded in her heart, scattering everywhere.
“Well, I’m not worried about you anymore… Just tell me what Director Zhang is going to do with Dou Dou!”
“The teachers are all grading the final question. Did you know you made a calculation error in the solution you gave Dou Dou?”
“What?”
“Dou Dou was with you guys the entire time, eating lunch and drinking coffee, so she returned to the exam room late. Therefore…”
Jiang Nuan suddenly realized, “So the person who gave Dou Dou the leaked question copied what I wrote? And they made the same mistake on their exam paper!”
“You better not make such mistakes during your college entrance exam.”
“But… but in the teachers’ eyes, Dou Dou still cheated.”
“Director Zhang’s main concern is finding out who leaked the question and how it happened. As for Dou Dou, I took a glance at her paper, and she didn’t even write anything for that question. If she sincerely admits her mistake, the situation might not be as bad as it seems. My purpose in going in there was just to make her realize that person wasn’t worth protecting.”
With that, Lu Ran walked away.
Jiang Nuan knew that Lu Ran had already helped Dou Dou, and it wouldn’t be fair to ask him to stay and wait with them.
Finally, the teachers found the exam paper that matched the mistake on the cheat sheet.
“Director Zhang, we found it—it’s Jiang Hua!”
“Jiang Hua?”
“He’s Cheng Dou Dou’s deskmate!”
Cheng Dou Dou took a nervous step back, and Director Zhang shouted, “Are you still going to cover for him? The whole liberal arts class knows you’re here, but where is he? Do you have no sense of right and wrong? Protecting a cheating classmate is even worse than cheating!”
Cheng Dou Dou burst into tears again, crying so hard she nearly passed out. Her sobbing was even more powerful than Director Zhang’s shouting, leaving him stunned and forcing him to console her, “Calm down! This is your last chance—was Jiang Hua the one who gave you the cheat sheet? If you tell the truth, the punishment will be lighter. Stop crying!”
Finally, Cheng Dou Dou nodded.
The liberal arts class homeroom teacher called Jiang Hua, ordering him to return to school immediately, threatening to inform his father if he didn’t. Jiang Hua was fearless about everything except his dad cutting off his money, so he reluctantly came back.
Outside, Jiang Nuan anxiously craned her neck, while Rao Can slapped her thigh in excitement, “Finally! Dou Dou’s secret weapon—crying until she’s breathless! Don’t be fooled by Director Zhang’s fierce exterior; he’s terrified of girls who act like they’re going to die.”
Soon enough, Jiang Hua returned, unwillingly. He glanced at Jiang Nuan and Rao Can, then knocked on the door.
As soon as Jiang Hua entered, the room was filled with noise—Director Zhang’s trademark shouting, the sound of a desk being slammed, and the crash of a cup being thrown.
Jiang Hua insisted he didn’t cheat, but Director Zhang nearly slammed his exam paper in his face. Mr. Cen asked him to solve the problem again, but Jiang Hua couldn’t even write a few steps before giving up.
Jiang Nuan, hungry, squatted down on the ground, “When will this scolding end? I’m starving…”
Just then, she heard Rao Can’s voice above her, “Lu Ran, why did you come back?”
What? Lu Ran came back?
Jiang Nuan looked up to see Lu Ran standing in front of her, holding a bag. He lightly tapped her head.
“Here’s a bun for you. You can cosplay as a construction worker now.”
The aroma of scallions wafted from the bag, making Jiang Nuan’s stomach growl. She quickly stood up, took the bun, and started munching on it.
Lu Ran handed one to Rao Can, who thanked him.
After eating the bun, Jiang Nuan finally felt much better.
Eventually, Cheng Dou Dou came out of the office, followed by Director Zhang’s warning, “Hand in your self-reflection essay after the monthly exam! You need to recognize the flaws in your thinking and deeply reflect on them! Such low awareness will limit your future development!”
Cheng Dou Dou replied in a tearful voice, “Yes, Director Zhang!”
Rao Can and Jiang Nuan quickly grabbed Cheng Dou Dou, one on each side, and led her away.
As soon as they left the building, Rao Can began scolding Cheng Dou Dou, “Are you stupid? Do you really think Jiang Hua is a good person? He never pays attention in class, is always fighting and skipping school, and is notorious for being a troublemaker!”
“I was just afraid he’d mess with me, so I didn’t dare to say anything…” Cheng Dou Dou sobbed.
“You shouldn’t have accepted the cheat sheet from him in the first place!”
Jiang Nuan, holding onto Dou Dou’s arm, turned to look at Lu Ran.
His backpack hung over one shoulder, and one hand was in his pocket. The streetlight cast a cool glow on his face, but despite his usual distant expression, Jiang Nuan suddenly wanted to walk alongside him.
Just then, someone charged at them from behind, like an enraged bull.
Jiang Nuan screamed, “Watch out!”
Rao Can and Cheng Dou Dou also turned around, just in time to see Jiang Hua, his face twisted with rage, throwing a punch at Lu Ran.
Lu Ran tilted his chin and sidestepped, moving so swiftly that no one could see what he did. They only heard Jiang Hua howl in pain as Lu Ran twisted his arm behind his back and slammed him against the streetlight pole.
The sight left Jiang Nuan and her friends stunned.
“Lu Ran—you son of a bitch! Why are you meddling in our liberal arts class’s business? Who do you think you are? You think you’re so smart?”
Lu Ran turned his head slightly and looked at Jiang Hua, then said, “Are you the rat?”
Jiang Hua struggled desperately, but Lu Ran, with his years of fencing practice, had the strength and reflexes to completely overpower him. Despite his reputation as a troublemaker, Jiang Hua was no match for Lu Ran.
“You’re the rat! If you have the guts, let go of me! Let’s settle this one-on-one!”
“Settle what? What do you want to settle with me?” Lu Ran’s tone was slightly mocking, and Jiang Nuan noticed a hint of mischief in his smirk that she had never seen before.
Before Jiang Hua could respond, Lu Ran continued, “Compete in academics? You’re not cut out for that. Compete in character? You attacked me from behind and now want to challenge me to a one-on-one? Compete in loyalty? When Cheng Dou Dou was taken to the grade office, you acted like it had nothing to do with you and went home? Oh, there’s one thing you can compete with me on—thickness of skin. My skin is nowhere near as thick as yours. And as for shamelessness, you got caught cheating and still have the nerve to blame others?”
Cheng Dou Dou trembled in fear, and Rao Can comforted her, offering her one of the buns Lu Ran had bought.
“Don’t be scared. Just eat the bun and watch the drama. Lu Ran bought it.”
The implication was that since the bun was from the top student, eating it might reverse the bad luck from this monthly exam.
For the first time, Jiang Nuan felt that Lu Ran’s ability to roast people was actually a good thing. Watching Jiang Hua’s face turn red and pale as he struggled to respond was oddly satisfying.
Lu Ran released Jiang Hua, who, instead of being grateful, turned and threw another punch at him. Lu Ran swiftly blocked it and slammed Jiang Hua to the side again.
“Ouch…” Jiang Nuan winced, closing one eye.
Jiang Hua, unable to swallow his pride, pointed at Lu Ran and said, “Just wait—just wait until I—”
Before he could finish, Cheng Dou Dou suddenly stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face, the sound echoing crisply in the air. Jiang Nuan’s mouth dropped open wide enough to fit an egg.
“Jiang Hua! Enough is enough!”
The usually timid Cheng Dou Dou’s outburst stunned everyone into silence.
Jiang Nuan and Rao Can, worried, were about to step forward and pull her back. Jiang Hua’s eyes were as wide as saucers, clearly not expecting to be slapped by a girl.
Furious, Jiang Hua raised his fist to strike, but Lu Ran grabbed it.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Lu Ran growled.
But Cheng Dou Dou wasn’t afraid at all. Instead, she took another step forward and pushed Jiang Hua hard.
“Let him hit me! Don’t stop him! I’d rather he beat me until I’m black and blue and end up in the hospital! Then I won’t have to write that stupid self-reflection essay, won’t have to explain to my parents what a fool I’ve been, and won’t have to sit next to someone like him anymore! Go ahead, hit me! Hit me now! Everyone’s waiting! After you’re done, we’ll all go home and get some sleep! We’ve got exams tomorrow!”
With every word Cheng Dou Dou said, she stepped forward, and Jiang Hua stepped back, leaving Jiang Nuan and Rao Can dumbfounded.
When Jiang Hua’s back finally hit the light pole, he raised and lowered his fist several times, unable to bring himself to hit her. Jiang Nuan could feel secondhand embarrassment just watching him.
“Are you going to hit me or not? If you’re going to do it, hurry up! If I end up in the hospital, I won’t have to write that self-reflection! I won’t have to explain what a fool I’ve been to my parents! I won’t have to sit next to someone like you anymore! Hit me now! If you’re not going to hit me, then go home!” Cheng Dou Dou demanded, her chin held high.
At this point, Lu Ran added coldly, “Yeah, Cheng Dou Dou is still trying to figure out how to write her self-reflection essay to make it heartfelt. If you hit her hard enough to send her to the hospital, she won’t have to write it. And if you hurt her, Director Zhang will expel you on the spot. You won’t have to write a self-reflection either. How convenient.”
“I… I wouldn’t hit a girl!”
With that, Jiang Hua stormed off, but not before tripping and falling on his face, making even Jiang Nuan feel a little sorry for him.
Cheng Dou Dou stood frozen in place until Jiang Nuan and Rao Can rushed over to hug her.
“Dou Dou! You were amazing! You scared Jiang Hua off!”
Only then did Cheng Dou Dou’s hands and legs start trembling, and she kept muttering, “That was so scary… so scary…”
“You scared us too! Suddenly becoming so fierce! Little Red Riding Hood turned into a wolf!”
Still shaken, Cheng Dou Dou was accompanied by Jiang Nuan and Rao Can as they walked ahead.
They finally reached the bus stop and got on the bus.
Cheng Dou Dou and Rao Can sat in the back, talking about Jiang Hua. It turned out that Jiang Hua’s dad was a businessman who was rarely home, only giving Jiang Hua money. He often stayed after school for extra lessons with Mr. Cen, who would sometimes take his unfinished work home. That’s how Jiang Hua managed to steal the final question off Mr. Cen’s desk.
Jiang Nuan and Lu Ran sat in front of them.
Jiang Nuan turned her face to the window, catching Lu Ran’s profile reflected in the bus glass. His features were sharply defined, like they had been carved out with a knife.
When Cheng Dou Dou and Rao Can finally got off the bus, Jiang Nuan softly but sincerely said, “Thank you.”
“It’s nothing,” Lu Ran replied just as softly.
Jiang Nuan watched as the streetlights outside passed by in rows, shattered into pieces by the passing vehicles.
“Lu Ran, someone once told me that when Ms. Cai asked me to stand in the back of the classroom as punishment because Li Shuyue and I were talking, you stood up and argued with her.”
“So?”
“I just wanted to ask… why did you do that back then?”
Was it because I’m your coach’s daughter?
Lu Ran’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if Jiang Nuan had asked him the question of the century, and he couldn’t find a suitable explanation.
“Because you were crying.”
Because I was crying?
Does that mean… you can’t stand to see me upset?
Jiang Nuan kept her face turned away, but she couldn’t help smiling.
For most of the ride, Lu Ran remained silent.
But Jiang Nuan felt that this kind of silence was very comforting. It allowed her to think freely about whatever she wanted. And if she ever got bored, she knew that as soon as she opened her mouth, he would be there.
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