Qiao Rui shot Xu Yi a meaningful glance, as if to say, "This person doesn't understand straightforward words."
He mustered up the courage and asked, "What?"
"Teacher You said my textbook won't be given to me until next week, so can I study with you these days?" Xu Yi added, fearing that Qiao Rui would refuse. "Don't worry, I won't write on your books. I have my notebook."
Qiao Rui breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought it was something else."
He, like a generous young master, tossed his English textbook onto her desk. "Here, it's for you. You can even draw turtles on my book."
Xu Yi: "..."
...
While Yu Na was giving her lecture, she noticed Song Yan in the back row secretly passing notes with the student in front of him. Jiang Yu, sitting beside them, unabashedly slept on his desk.
On the other end of the back row, Qiao Rui lazily leaned against the chair back, listening to the lecture with indifference.
But judging by his posture, he wasn't absorbing anything at all.
It was Xu Yi, on the other hand, who was diligently taking notes with her head lowered.
Her English book was placed in the middle, while her notes were written in her own prepared notebook.
Yu Na walked down from the podium and headed towards the row where Song Yan was.
At that moment, the note reached Song Yan's hand, and Yu Na arrived just in time.
She took the note expressionlessly.
"Are you still not tired of calling parents before the final exam?"
Song Yan forced a smile that looked even more pitiful than crying. "Teacher Yu, I'm sorry..."
"How many times have you said that?" Yu Na didn't unfold the note, instead throwing it into the trash can.
Then, she patted Jiang Yu's desk, but he showed no response.
Yu Na didn't bother to call him either.
She turned her head and noticed Qiao Rui was observing the scene with great interest.
Rather than approaching that side, Yu Na returned to the podium and called his name. "Qiao Rui, read the passage we just discussed."
"..."
Qiao Rui was startled.
Xu Yi discreetly moved the textbook towards Qiao Rui and pointed with her pen to the passage he was supposed to read.
Standing on the podium, Yu Na naturally noticed this slight movement but pretended not to see it, considering that they were new students.
With Xu Yi's help, Qiao Rui successfully finished reading the passage. Yu Na had nothing more to say, except for a reminder, "Sit up straight and pay attention in class."
She ignored him and continued with the lecture.
Qiao Rui's attitude had improved considerably, and he said to Xu Yi, "Thanks for being my desk mate."
This time, Xu Yi didn't give him a glance. "No need."
Qiao Rui felt that this female desk mate was interesting and leaned closer to her with ill intentions. "I think being desk mates is great. So, from now on—"
Xu Yi interrupted him, reminding him, "I want to listen to the lecture."
Qiao Rui: "...?"
Throughout the entire class, Xu Yi's gaze was fixed on Yu Na or the blackboard, never wandering for a second.
Meanwhile, Qiao Rui lazily leaned against the side, observing his desk mate.
She must have noticed Qiao Rui's gaze, but she didn't spare him a glance.
After class, she finally spoke to him again, "What did you want to tell me earlier?"
Qiao Rui sneered, "I forgot."
"...Oh." Xu Yi didn't mind. "Thank you for the book. I'll trouble you again next class."
The more Qiao Rui thought about it, the more something felt off. How did he feel like he was being treated like a tool again?!
...
Xu Yi was very focused in class, even during self-study sessions. She never lifted her head, devoting all her attention to studying.
At first, Qiao Rui thought it was just a passing interest for her, but he later realized that she was genuinely serious about her studies. She wouldn't give anyone a friendly face if they tried talking to her during class.
On the other hand, the new transfer student, Jiang Yu, would always sleep during class.
That day during the self-study session, the teacher was in a meeting.
After the meeting, Yu Na didn't return to the office. She planned to make a surprise visit.
Their class was known for its lack of discipline, and with the teacher absent, it was even more unruly.
Yu Na walked straight to the back door of the classroom and, as expected, saw Qiao Rui sitting at his desk, secretly reading a novel.
He used his Chinese textbook as a cover, placing the novel behind it and propping the book up. This way, when the teacher was at the podium, they could only see him reading the Chinese textbook.
Entering the classroom through the back door, Yu Na quietly approached Qiao Rui from behind and mercilessly snatched his book. She took a look and realized it was a suspense novel.
Qiao Rui was startled and his heart skipped a beat when he saw the book being taken away.
He turned around and met Yu Na's indifferent face.
"..."
Yu Na didn't waste any words. She simply said, "I'll personally hand this book over to your parents."
Qiao Rui thought, it's over.
Personally hand it over to his parents... Wouldn't that mean directly giving it to Xiao Chen?
With Xiao Chen's protectiveness over his wife, what kind of nightmare awaits Qiao Rui once Yu Na throws a tantrum?
Without giving him a glance, Yu Na took the book and returned to the podium.
Qiao Rui nudged Xu Yi, who was reading a book beside him. "Why didn't you remind me?"
"I thought you weren't studying," Xu Yi replied without looking up.
"I..." Qiao Rui helplessly compromised. "Never mind, never mind. Just remember to cover for me next time."
Xu Yi was organizing her notes, still not lifting her head. "I'll try my best."
"...Try your best?"
She gave him a pure and harmless look. "Sorry, but when I'm studying, I don't like being disturbed by other things. So, I can only try my best."
Qiao Rui: ?
He chuckled in frustration. "Is this how you treat someone who helped you?"
Xu Yi didn't respond to him but maintained her politeness. "If you have something to say, let's talk after class, okay?"
...
Yu Na returned to the podium and placed a comic on the desk. "I have some bad news and even worse news. Which one do you want to hear first?"
The students in the audience replied, "We don't want to hear either..."
"Then let's start with the bad news," Yu Na said slowly. "The bad news is that starting next week, every day at 5 p.m., the school will organize a running session, three laps around the playground."
The students in the audience exclaimed, "Ah?!"
Yu Na continued, "Everyone is required to participate. If you have special circumstances and can't run, find the sports committee member to request a leave."
As soon as Qiao Rui heard the words "running," he suddenly noticed Xu Yi's expression change. It was clear that she wasn't eager to run.
This revenge opportunity came too quickly. He thought it was brilliant!
He leaned closer to Xu Yi. "Do you know who the sports committee member is?"
Xu Yi: "Who?"
Qiao Rui leaned back on the chair, "It's me."
Xu Yi: "Huh?"
She suddenly had a bad feeling.
Qiao Rui smirked triumphantly, adopting a lazy posture. "And you, starting from today, make me happy. If I'm pleased, there's a chance I might spare you from the agony of running."
Xu Yi: "..."
Yu Na continued talking from the podium, addressing the second matter. "And here's some worse news. Starting next week, we will have weekly tests on Thursdays during our self-study sessions."
Audience: "...???"
Yu Na calmly added, "I will send the exam scores to the parents' group."
The classroom instantly filled with complaints.
"We already have enough study pressure..."
"Why do we still have to take exams..."
"Teacher, please have mercy and don't send the scores to the group..."
"..."
Ignoring their grievances, Yu Na said, "We're already in our final year of high school. Stop fooling around every day and start focusing. Alright, get back to studying."
Qiao Rui slumped on the desk, feeling hopeless. "Damn, one test per week? What kind of twisted pattern is this..."
Xu Yi's lips curled slightly, rare for her to initiate a conversation during self-study. She imitated his annoying tone, "If you make me happy, I can help you with your studies."
Qiao Rui looked at her with interest, "How do you know your grades are better than mine?"
Confidently, Xu Yi didn't give him any face, "You probably won't score better than me."
Qiao Rui: ?