Yu Tongjie is someone who is very strict with himself, let's call him Mr. Strict.
Being strict with oneself and lenient with others, such a principle doesn't work for him. He believes that if you're strict with yourself, you should be strict with others too.
Such a person, sees everyone else as fools.
Regarding moving up to the advanced class, he thinks this is the result he deserves after working hard for a year. In his eyes, Zhang Ningzhi is someone like him.
But Jiang Nian is not.
The myth of improving by a hundred or two hundred points over a summer is simply an insult to those like him who study diligently, akin to being slapped in the face with a slipper.
Cheating, most likely cheating.
These past two days, he's been actively answering questions in class, but Jiang Nian hasn't voluntarily answered even once. During breaks, he's always seen joking around with the people behind him.
When the big exam in October comes, Jiang Nian will definitely be exposed.
The fellow student moving up to the class with him, Zhang Ningzhi, seems unable to see through all this. She seems distracted in class too; at this rate, she'll be led astray by people like Jiang Nian.
It's 10:30 PM, at Nanjiang Bay.
Zhang Ningzhi stands on the balcony letting the night wind blow, looking at the county's night scene, deeply troubled.
Fitting into the new group is even harder than she imagined, and the girls in the class seem to have their own little cliques. Some people approach her, but only to the extent of a few words.
But what bothers her more is Jiang Nian.
That person clearly talked to her on the morning when they moved to the new class, but once he had new classmates, he seldom spoke to her, even though she hinted at him.
Unfaithful guy, all my little tissues wasted!
Yesterday, she didn't exchange a word with Jiang Nian, nor did she talk to anyone in the classroom.
She leaned on the small balcony railing attached to her room, torn about whether or not to take the initiative to add Jiang Nian's QQ. Would he dislike her, did she do something wrong?
The computer notification sounded in the room, startling her as she rushed back inside.
Jiang Nian finally remembered to add her, though he even openly pulled out his phone in class to add a girl really good at blowing bubblegum but didn't add her.
Although the bubblegum was big and round, that's no excuse!
Humph, let him sweat it out for a night, pretend to be asleep. Approve him tomorrow morning and let him feel abandoned too!
Alright, just make him wait ten minutes.
Beep, as her round bottom settled onto the computer chair, she couldn't wait to click on the contacts section, and sure enough, it was...oh, Classmate Yu Tongjie.
Zhang Ningzhi let go of the mouse and sighed deeply and genuinely.
The verification message was just a name, shown as an internal group member addition. After a few minutes of silence, she initiated a temporary chat out of courtesy.
First, see if there's anything important; if not, she wouldn't simply add people.
She likes to post updates in Space, but doesn't want to bother blocking certain groups every time. For example, some photos from trips abroad, she doesn't want people she's not close to seeing.
Once rumors start, it's even harder to make friends.
Lemon Branch: "(Smile)"
On the other side, Yu Tongjie had just showered and received Zhang Ningzhi's reply. Seeing it was a temporary chat, he was curious why she didn't approve but didn't mind it much.
As long as he explains, she will understand his good intentions in the end.
In his view, he and Zhang Ningzhi are the same type. First, they both study hard and moved up the class. Second, they both come from relatively affluent families.
Third, she's very pretty, pretty enough to be isolated.
Coincidentally, he too has been isolated.
Therefore, Yu Tongjie believes he and Zhang Ningzhi should have common topics. Jiang Nian will fall eventually, and he and she should support each other, adapting to the new group.
"How's your relationship with Jiang Nian?" he messaged.
On the other side, Zhang Ningzhi, who had just stood up, subconsciously sat back down when she saw the name Jiang Nian, what does this mean?
"It's fine, I guess."
She used the word "fine" to mask her true feelings, adding "I guess" as a buffer. Whether it's good or not, and how good, the explanation lies with her.
In the new class, the person she was most familiar with was Jiang Nian, who first talked to her and helped move desks and chairs.
Actually, she really wanted to ask, "Classmate, who are you..." Yu Tongjie's name sounded familiar, but she was too nervous during their introduction on stage and forgot whose name it was.
Yu Tongjie: "I advise against you associating with him, sincerely."
Zhang Ningzhi looked at the new message, puzzled, who is he, dictating who she should associate with? Besides, in the new class, Jiang Nian was the only person she knew.
If not him, then who else!
"Because he moved up the class by cheating. Currently, there's no evidence, but based on the latest information I have, it's highly likely. There's no need for you to associate with him."
"I'm telling you this as a classmate. It's not easy moving up from parallel classes—we've put in tremendous effort, staying up late every night studying drills and reading."
"So, I don't want to see your hard work wasted. Associating with someone like Jiang Nian who doesn't study will only lead to you being misled and sent back to the parallel class."
In front of the computer, Zhang Ningzhi was stunned, looking at the long message in the temporary window. For no known reason, she suddenly felt extremely angry, her hands trembling.
Jiang Nian didn't cheat, they were in the same exam room!
He prepared diligently for every exam, arriving early each time. There were no cheat sheets on his desk, and his conduct was respectful and proper during exams.
Why! One statement could negate all of someone's efforts!
She shakily typed a few words on the keyboard.
"Jiang Nian didn't cheat!"
On the other side, Yu Tongjie frowned, Zhang Ningzhi is too naive. She was easily fooled by Jiang Nian; that kind of person cheats, what could he not say?
"The fact is he was only mediocre in parallel classes last semester."
Plop, a tear dropped on the computer desk, Zhang Ningzhi's eyes were red. She wanted to retort, but didn't know how, so she closed the window instead.
She herself had been accused of cheating in the past, being suspected for a long period. Having experienced those dark days, she knew how unpleasant being doubted felt.
She opened the class group, found Jiang Nian among the chat members, clicked Add. In the verification message, she filled in Zhang Ningzhi and after thinking, added the word Tissue.
Beep, an instant approval.
[Jiang Yue Nian Nian Hopes for Similarity]:"Hmm? You're staying up too?"
Zhang Ningzhi wiped her tears and suddenly laughed. She intended to tell him about what just happened, but didn't want him to think she gossiped too much.
So she said, "(Embarrassed) Someone said bad things about you."
Jiang Nian: "That someone isn't you, is it?"
Zhang Ningzhi blushed, "Of course not."