"That’s my own business," Tang Li said.
Fu Si glanced at her meaningfully, "You top students, always acting obedient to parents and teachers on the surface, but behind the scenes, you smoke and drink, going wild when you play."
Just then, Wu Xuehan returned to the dorm.
Seeing Wu Xuehan entering, Fu Si immediately shouted at her, "Your roommate, the top student from your academy, is a heavy smoker. Did you know that?"
Wu Xuehan looked bewilderedly at Tang Li.
Tang Li was still staring at that cigarette butt.
That was the one Song Baiyan had smoked and left in the ashtray at the cafe in Shangbu.
She had secretly kept it when no one was looking.
Fu Si continued, "Or do you both smoke?"
"Only you smoke, your whole family smokes," Wu Xuehan placed the takeout on the table, clarifying for Tang Li, "I’ve never seen Ah Li buy cigarettes, don’t just make stuff up here."
"I’m making stuff up? Then how do you explain the cigarette butts she keeps in the Peninsula Iron Box? Does she have a weird hobby of collecting cigarette butts?"
Hearing this, Wu Xuehan turned to look at Tang Li.
She was expecting a strong retort from Ah Li!
Tang Li no longer rushed to retrieve the cigarette butt. Instead of looking at Wu Xuehan, she faced Fu Si and said, "This cigarette, I asked for it. I’ve never smoked before, just curious, so I wanted to try it."
"I knew it was hers!" Fu Si grew more smug as his guess was confirmed, "Indeed, even top students have their rebellious moments!"
As he spoke, he glanced at Wu Xuehan, "Does your face hurt?"
She still didn’t believe Ah Li would smoke.
Tang Li didn’t argue further, picking up the Advanced Mathematics textbook instead, "Aren’t you here for a tutoring session?"
"Just now you said you didn’t have time, right?" Fu Si cocked leg.
"Indeed I didn’t, but I can make some time for you."
Fu Si felt like a serf who had turned over, looking smugly at Tang Li, "Are you so afraid that I will spill about your smoking? Considering our good relationship and the fact you’re helping me with tutoring, don’t worry, I’ll keep it to myself."
After saying that, he threw the cigarette butt back into the Peninsula Iron Box.
Then he got up to check the takeout, clearly planning to mooch a meal here.
"Ah Li, look at him," Wu Xuehan was slightly displeased.
Tang Li put the Peninsula Iron Box back in the drawer, "Since he wants tutoring, I’ll help him for a few days, the supplementary exam isn’t far off."
After the meal, Tang Li tutored them in Advanced Mathematics in the dorm.
Compared to Wu Xuehan, Fu Si’s mind was more agile.
He was basically able to apply and extend the key points that Tang Li explained.
By the end of the night, Fu Si had mastered a third of the key concepts of Advanced Mathematics Volume One. With a thick face, he scheduled to meet Tang Li at the library the next day, then contentedly left dragging his suitcase.
After showering, Tang Li sat at her desk.
Her hair was half-dry.
She held her cellphone, her gaze lingering on a message.
"Study hard, don’t overthink."
The sender was Song Baiyan.
It was received about five minutes after she had sent three messages last night.
She opened the drawer, took out the Peninsula Iron Box, and retrieved the cigarette butt.
She got up and went to the balcony.
She threw the cigarette butt off, then closed the balcony door again.
Wu Xuehan was showering in the bathroom, the sound of the running water mingling with Tang Li’s thoughts. After about five or six minutes, she pulled back her chair, took a coat, and left the dormitory to go downstairs.
It took a long time, but she finally found the cigarette butt in the messy flower bed.