What are the benefits of having a desk-mate who is both a top student and your boyfriend?
For one, you can discuss difficult problems together. As long as your partner is brilliant enough, the two of you can swim in the ocean of knowledge all day long. You won’t end up fighting over an inability to solve a problem or the misery of studying.
Just look at the couple from the class next door—they had a fight and broke up on the spot because the boy was bad at Chinese and the girl was bad at math. Or the seniors on the floor above; so many pairs had already split because their grades were too far apart, making it impossible for them to get into the same university.
For the first time, Su Jingming watched several scenes of drama unfold in the hallway, a sense of satisfaction welling up in his heart. As he passed a boy and a girl, he slowed his pace.
The boy was frowning at the girl’s grades. "You need to work harder on your math. We have to get into university together."
The girl looked troubled. "Ah, I’m really no good at math. You have to help me."
As if making a solemn vow, the boy clenched his fist. "Alright, I’ll tutor you every night!"
Su Jingming cast a fleeting glance at the bright red sixty-something on the girl's test paper and let out a cold snort. Indeed, only someone like him wouldn't drag his partner down. He could even discuss advanced math problems that went beyond the syllabus with his boyfriend!
But while the two were perfectly in sync when it came to studying, they were a bit less so in other areas.
Wen Yan was not a good person!
Su Jingming had cursed him in his head countless times, and over the past few days, the frequency had only increased.
The first few days after returning to school had been relatively normal. After all, Li Yang and Ren Wei were still in the dorm. In their eyes, Wen Yan’s occasional small gestures seemed like perfectly normal physical contact.
However, when it came to things like ruffling his hair...
Su Jingming had protested many times. Sitting in his chair, he snapped, "Can you stop messing with my hair?"
"Your hair is so soft, why won't you let me touch it?"
Just as Wen Yan reached out to ruffle it again, Su Jingming dodged. He frowned. "Have you ever seen an Ultraman whose head people are allowed to touch whenever they want?"
Wen Yan arched an eyebrow, appearing to give the question serious thought before finally answering, "Mine is allowed."
His Ultraman’s face turned red.
Satisfied, Wen Yan continued to ruffle his hair.
The little hero looked like a bit of a nerd; his hair was always kept clean and neat, and it carried a faint, pleasant scent. Wen Yan lowered his gaze and leaned in slightly; it really did smell good.
Sitting in front of him, Su Jingming’s heart suddenly fell into a state of total chaos. He stood up abruptly. "Don't do that."
Wen Yan smiled. "Do what?"
He was asking despite knowing the answer, playing dumb while being full of mischief.
Su Jingming pursed his lips. Wen Yan’s fingers slid downward, and just as they were about to brush against the skin of his nape—before he could even speak—Li Yang and Ren Wei returned to the dorm with dinner. Seeing the two of them standing there, with Su Jingming’s back to Wen Yan, the roommates couldn't see the expression on Su Jingming’s face from their angle, but they could see Wen Yan’s beaming smile.
Ren Wei was silent for a few seconds. "The world of top students is truly hard to understand."
Li Yang chimed in, "Exactly. Truly incomprehensible!"
Wen Yan shook his head with a smile and didn't say anything more.
Ren Wei placed the dinner he had brought for them on the table, returned to his seat, and asked while eating, "Isn't the Gaokao coming up soon? When Li Yang and I were coming back just now, we saw another couple breaking up."
Li Yang nodded. "How many does that make today?"
"The second pair." Ren Wei actually counted them off. "At a time like this, they're still busy dating? Do seniors have no sense of pressure at all?"
Su Jingming ate his food in small bites, not participating in their conversation.
"Speaking of which, don't the teachers care about dating?"
"As long as you play the 'underground romance' game well, you can make it all the way to the Gaokao!"
Li Yang nodded in agreement. He suddenly looked at the silent Su Jingming, thought of something, and asked with a mischievous grin, "Su Jingming, if you were in a 'premature' relationship, would you care about the other person's grades?"
Suddenly put on the spot, Su Jingming’s fingers paused. He instinctively looked at Wen Yan, who was sipping soup nearby.
*Would I care about grades in a relationship?*
*Am I that shallow of a person?*
*No, I'm not.*
"No," Su Jingming muttered.
Ren Wei swallowed his food. "Top students probably take their partners along to review for exams! A 'cheat-code' life, straight to the top!"
Li Yang raised an eyebrow. "That makes sense."
Su Jingming reached toward the table for a napkin, but before he could find one, a pack of tissues was handed to him. Su Jingming recognized that hand—the fingers were long, the knuckles distinct, and a black cord was tied around the wrist. The little bell let out a soft chime.
A faint smile played in Wen Yan’s eyes. "Su Jingming, do you think you could take me along to review? Maybe I can win back that number one rank in the grade?"
Li Yang and Ren Wei didn't catch anything wrong with the statement, looking on as if watching a good show.
Under the gaze of these two outsiders, Su Jingming took the tissues with a flushed face and said stiffly, "Maybe next time, if there's a chance."
After dinner, they headed back to the classroom for evening self-study.
Along the way, they saw many seniors walking as if the wind were at their heels, clutching thick books as if terrified of wasting a single second.
"I feel like even though I'm not the one taking the Gaokao yet, I'm getting nervous. What's going on?" Ren Wei rubbed the goosebumps on his arms. "This atmosphere is terrifying."
Li Yang frowned. "I just feel more like a piece of trash."
"..."
Su Jingming and Wen Yan walked behind them. Their pace was leisurely, completely out of step with the surrounding scene.
Su Jingming brushed the hair off his forehead. The day after they had made things official, he had specifically gone to a barbershop to get his hair cut a bit shorter so he would look more sharp.
A little hero in love cared very much about his image.
Wen Yan watched these small movements. Once Su Jingming lowered his hand, Wen Yan unerringly hooked his fingers through Su Jingming’s under the cover of night.
Su Jingming’s breath hitched. He tried to pull away, but Wen Yan held on tight.
Up ahead, Ren Wei and Li Yang seemed to be discussing some gossip from the school forums.
"What are you... doing?" Su Jingming asked in a low voice.
"I just suddenly really wanted to hold your hand." Wen Yan’s expression didn't change even as they neared the teaching building and the crowd around them grew thicker.
Su Jingming: "Isn't this... not very good?"
Wen Yan lowered his gaze, casting a brief look at their intertwined fingers. "It isn't very good."
"Then why won't you let go..."
Before he could finish, Wen Yan said, "Give me a chance, Little Hero. I want to hold your hand out in the open. How about it?"
***
