Everyone in School No. 1 Knows My Boyfriend | Chapter 11 | Hidden Talents and Monthly Exams | Novela.app

Chapter 11 - Hidden Talents and Monthly Exams The following morning, the aroma of a freshly prepared breakfast greeted Si Bin the moment he pushed open his bedroom door. Still half-asleep, his mind was a fog of lingering dreams; he had completely forgotten that he had a guest staying over. Dressed only in his pajamas and a pair of loose boxers, he padded downstairs with heavy, uncoordinated steps. Da Bai, who had been sleeping faithfully outside his door, poked its head out of its nest. The cat let out a long, luxurious yawn before trotting down the stairs after its master. On the dining table sat a bowl of lean meat porridge and a perfectly fried egg, the steam rising in inviting curls. It looked far more appetizing than the cold toast Si Bin usually scrounged up. Lin Murun was by the front door, leaning over to pull on his shoes. Hearing Si Bin’s descent, he looked up. "I noticed you didn't have any bread for breakfast, so I took the liberty of using your kitchen." "Huh?" Si Bin rubbed his messy hair, his eyes bleary as he offered a sleepy grin. "Thanks, man. I usually just grab something on my way out." "I’m heading back to the dorms to change first." Lin Murun finished tying his laces and stood up. He looked at Si Bin, his expression flickering with a strange, hesitant light. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke up, his voice tinged with a rare awkwardness. "You... it might be better if you took care of that yourself." Without waiting for a response, he turned and vanished through the door. Si Bin blinked, confused. He noticed that the tips of Lin Murun’s fair ears had turned a faint, telltale crimson. Puzzled, he looked down, only to realize that his loose boxers were doing a poor job of concealing a very prominent morning physiological reaction. Si Bin stood frozen. Suddenly, every ounce of sleepiness was shocked out of his system. *** Lin Murun successfully retrieved his spare key and returned to the dormitory. He changed into a fresh set of clothes, socks, and shoes. To be safe this time, he tucked the key securely into his pencil case rather than leaving it in a pocket. Cheng Song hadn't returned yet, but he had sent a text message to let Lin Murun know he was safe, adding a desperate plea for the "Scholar" to lend him his class notes. Although they were in different classes, both were in the Liberal Arts stream, and the curriculum was largely identical. Cheng Song had complained more than once that the teachers' PowerPoint slides weren't half as detailed as Lin Murun’s meticulous notes. Lin Murun arrived at the classroom early. Only a few students were scattered about the room, the morning air still cool and quiet. Since morning self-study hadn't officially begun, he pulled out the advanced exercise book he had borrowed from Si Bin and began working through the problems. "Is that a workbook you bought yourself?" a voice asked from beside him. Lin Murun looked up to see Jiang Yuxi, the Geography class representative. Jiang Yuxi was a refined-looking boy with a gentle disposition and a reputation for being helpful. He was the type who stayed late every day to lock the windows and doors without being asked. Unlike the "straight-man" types who only knew how to tell girls to "drink more hot water" when they were sick, Jiang Yuxi was attentive and considerate. He often volunteered to tutor female classmates, making him one of the most well-liked boys in the grade. "I borrowed it," Lin Murun replied simply. "The angles of these questions are quite novel," Jiang Yuxi said with a smile, leaning in slightly. "Do you mind if I take a look for a bit?" "Not at all." Lin Murun shifted his chair to make room. "Thanks a lot." Jiang Yuxi pulled up a stool and sat down. Behind them, Huang Hao glanced at Jiang Yuxi for a moment before silently returning to his own work. Lin Murun hadn't been at No. 1 High School for long. Aside from the few students sitting immediately around him, he wasn't well-acquainted with most of the class, Jiang Yuxi included. They had never spoken before today, but Jiang Yuxi seemed naturally sociable. He asked Lin Murun for help with a few difficult points, his attitude impeccably polite. Before leaving, he even gave Lin Murun a bottle of soy milk as a "thank you" for sharing the workbook. As the bell for morning reading approached, Li Xi stood on the podium to lead the class. It was then that Huang Hao, who had been silent the entire time, leaned forward and tapped Lin Murun on the shoulder. "Don't get too close to Jiang Yuxi," he whispered, his voice low and warning. Yu Qianyi, sitting nearby, overheard and blinked in surprise. "Why? He seems like a really nice guy." Huang Hao lowered his eyes and offered no further explanation. Lin Murun looked across the room toward Jiang Yuxi’s seat by the window. The boy was flipping through his Chinese textbook. Sensing Lin Murun’s gaze, Jiang Yuxi looked up and offered a polite, friendly smile. Over the next few days, Jiang Yuxi found various excuses to come over and look at the workbook. Each time, he brought small snacks—sometimes soy milk, sometimes a rice ball—remaining polite without being overly familiar. On the surface, there seemed to be nothing wrong with him. Even Yu Qianyi benefited, occasionally receiving a small treat. She often ended up laughing at his jokes during the breaks. Only Huang Hao remained cold, refusing to speak to Jiang Yuxi and maintaining a "do not disturb" aura whenever he was near. "I’m really grateful for your help lately. I’ve learned so many new techniques," Jiang Yuxi said one afternoon, his tone warm. "By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask—could I borrow this workbook to make a photocopy? I feel bad constantly bothering you here. I don't want people to think I'm a nuisance." His words seemed pointed, perhaps a subtle jab at Huang Hao’s obvious coldness, yet he spoke as if merely stating a fact. "I’m afraid not," Lin Murun declined. "This belongs to someone else. I only borrowed it myself." Jiang Yuxi looked troubled for a moment, his brow furrowing in thought, but he eventually nodded. "I understand. Forget I asked." *** With the monthly exams only a week away, the students were caught in a tug-of-war between the dread of the tests and the excitement for the upcoming National Day holiday. During the Friday class meeting, Teacher Li set aside twenty minutes to discuss preparations for the Arts Festival. As the end of the period neared, the Arts Representative finally narrowed down the program to two main acts. "I think we should focus our efforts on Li Menglai’s piano solo," Shen Hao suggested. "The music teacher is always complaining that our class choir is perpetually out of tune." Many students agreed, either out of genuine support for Li Menglai or because their Grade 11 schedules were too packed with competitions to commit to a group performance. "I personally suggest that Li Menglai find a partner for a duet," Teacher Li said from the doorway. "In my experience, solo acts are more likely to be cut during the screening process compared to collaborative ones." "Does anyone else play the piano? You could do a four-hands piece with Menglai," the Arts Representative asked the class. "Teacher, why is the second piano kept on the stage of the Music Building?" a student asked. "Don't we need to file an application for that?" "Yes, and you'd be responsible for moving it yourselves," Teacher Li noted, effectively vetoing the idea. Chen Lin muttered to herself, "Maybe an electric piano? Or a different instrument?" "What about a violin duet?" Yu Qianyi raised her hand. "Don't we have someone in our class who plays the violin?" All eyes turned toward Jiang Yuxi. Li Menglai nodded in agreement. "A piano and violin duet would be perfect." "Lin Murun plays the violin too," Li Xi said, turning to look at him. "Right? I saw you at the music shop a few days ago." Lin Murun nodded simply. It had been a coincidence. Li Xi’s younger cousin was learning the cello at Xingyue Music Shop. When Li Xi went to pick her up, she had run into Lin Murun. They had chatted briefly, and clearly, she had remembered. Jiang Yuxi was momentarily stunned, but he quickly recovered with a smile. "I haven't practiced in a while. I didn't expect to have a rival this time." His words implied a desire for fair competition. The bell rang, signaling the end of class. Teacher Li stepped up to the podium to wrap things up. "Then it’s settled for now. The three of you should discuss the repertoire after class. If anyone else wants to volunteer for a duet, feel free to step forward." "You really play the violin?" Yu Qianyi rushed over to Lin Murun’s desk the moment the teacher left. "Yes," Lin Murun replied. "I heard the shop owner say you worked there part-time over the summer?" Li Xi added, turning to Yu Qianyi. "The owner said Lin Murun is incredibly talented!" "It’s alright..." Lin Murun explained modestly. "The shop belongs to a friend of a relative. I occasionally help out with the students." "Then why didn't you say anything earlier?" Li Xi asked. "If I hadn't happened to know, you would have missed a chance to show off your talent." "He’s just being low-key," Yu Qianyi teased, grabbing Li Xi’s arm. "Come on, let’s go! We need to hit the canteen. Those Grade 10 kids are like locusts; if we’re late, we’ll be left with nothing but soup." The two girls ran out hand-in-hand. "You guys better hurry too!" Li Xi called back over her shoulder. Zhou Xuan waved to show he understood. "Let’s go. It’s Friday, so the Grade 10s don't have evening self-study. The kitchen won't prepare as much food," he said, pulling out his meal card. "If we're late, there really won't be anything left." As they stepped out of the classroom, they ran into Jiang Yuxi coming out of the teachers' office. He was carrying a heavy stack of graded workbooks. He greeted them politely. "Heading to lunch?" "Yeah," Zhou Xuan replied curtly, clearly having no intention of making small talk. Jiang Yuxi looked slightly embarrassed. He gave Lin Murun a small smile and carried the workbooks back into the classroom. "You don't seem to like him very much?" Lin Murun asked. Zhou Xuan was a top-ten student, but he usually carried himself with a lazy, half-asleep demeanor. He was the type to avoid trouble at all costs, refusing even to be a group leader. He rarely showed his likes or dislikes, blending into the background of Class 2 like air. It was unusual to see him show such overt coldness. "Mmm..." Zhou Xuan hummed thoughtfully, his brow furrowing. "You can discuss the duet with Li Menglai as much as you want, but don't seek out Jiang Yuxi alone." This was the second time Lin Murun had been warned to keep his distance. Though he was curious, he wasn't one for gossip. Since neither Huang Hao nor Zhou Xuan wanted to elaborate, he didn't press them, simply nodding and keeping the advice in mind. The repertoire was decided that evening during self-study: the classic "My Heart Will Go On." Li Menglai had participated in many competitions and was an experienced performer. She had chosen this piece despite some reservations; while a familiar melody easily resonated with judges and the audience, any flaw or mistake would be immediately obvious to the listeners' ears. Jiang Yuxi promised to practice hard. Lin Murun, as usual, simply nodded, leaving Li Menglai unsure of how confident he actually felt. *** Once the weekend passed, exam week arrived. Cheng Song spent his days clutching his book of common mistakes and groaning in despair, only to realize that the "Scholar" had started commuting from home. "Lin Murun! The exams are right around the corner! Why don't you stay at the dorm and squeeze in a few more hours of study?" Cheng Song looked up from a pile of test papers, watching Lin Murun pack a bag of laundry. "It’s fine," Lin Murun said, finishing his packing. "What are you doing going home every day?" Cheng Song asked curiously. "You never used to go back until the weekend." "Practicing the violin," Lin Murun replied. He offered a rare word of encouragement: "Relax, the monthly exams aren't that scary." Then, he made a clean exit with his laundry bag. "Practicing the violin?" Cheng Song scratched his buzz cut. "What violin?" Thursday arrived, bringing with it the first monthly exams of the semester. Seating was arranged based on the previous semester's final results. Since Lin Murun hadn't taken those finals, he was relegated to the very last exam hall. When the seating charts were posted, the students of Class 6 were abuzz with gossip. There were fewer Liberal Arts students than Science students at No. 1 High School, with only six classes per grade. Aside from the two experimental classes, the rest were parallel classes with no official ranking, but the exam halls were still filled from Hall 1 to Hall 6 based on grades. Naturally, no student wanted to be in the last hall. The students of Class 6 had never seen anyone from the experimental classes in the sixth hall, yet today, two had appeared. One was Lin Murun, and the other was Si Bin, who had recently switched from the Science stream to Arts. When the two met at the entrance of the exam hall, Si Bin took the initiative to greet him. "What a coincidence. Let’s grab lunch together after the exam." "Sure," Lin Murun agreed. "Remember to turn in your paper early," Si Bin added before heading to his seat. The first subject was Chinese, Lin Murun’s strongest suit. The classical prose section was somewhat difficult, but he navigated the paper smoothly. By the time he finished his essay, there were still five minutes left. He did a final check of his answer sheet and turned it in three minutes before the bell. Si Bin had already been waiting outside for ten minutes. Seeing him emerge, he said calmly, "Let’s go." The hallway was already dotted with students who had finished early. They weren't discussing answers; instead, they were grabbing their bags and sprinting downstairs. "Where are they going in such a rush?" Lin Murun asked. "To eat." Just then, the bell rang, followed by a roar of noise from the floors below. Lin Murun watched as a dense tide of students surged from every direction toward the canteen. "Now you know why I told you to turn it in early," Si Bin said, looking back. Lin Murun rubbed his nose, looking a bit sheepish. "The Grade 10 freshmen just finished their military training last week," Si Bin explained. "If we don't beat the rush, we won't even get a drop of hot soup." No. 1 High School had a massive canteen, but even it couldn't comfortably hold the entire student body at once. Lin Murun hated heat and crowds, which was why he usually stayed in the classroom for an extra half hour with Zhou Xuan to study while Li Xi and Yu Qianyi fought the crowds. However, today was different. Midday rest was precious during exams; without proper energy, one’s performance in the next subject would suffer. Watching the Grade 10 students charge like a pack of hungry wolves, Lin Murun felt a wave of pressure. Just as he was considering settling for a bun from the convenience store, Si Bin spoke. "We’re going to the faculty canteen." "Do you have a faculty meal card?" Lin Murun asked, surprised. Si Bin pulled a card from his uniform pocket, holding it between two fingers with a casual smirk. "Yeah. My mom got it as a perk when she donated a teaching building."