Chapter 8: That Delicate Flower (8)

Qin Xiao’s shell-shocked expression was deeply satisfying.

The school clearly didn’t want anyone enjoying National Day. In the three days before the holiday, they’d scheduled two days of exams and one day for grading. The teachers promised the results would be out before the break.

They’d been told already, but hearing the teacher repeat it—especially that promise—still made half the class groan.

Song Qi was calm. Qin Xiao was calm, too. Over the soundtrack of the class’s wailing, they played games.

He was obviously well-connected. Most teachers left him alone, and he was the only one who dared to take out his phone in broad daylight, despite the strict ban.

“What do you even come to school for?” Song Qi asked Qin Xiao. She couldn’t stand watching young people waste their lives.

He played without much interest. “To kill time. What else?”

Song Qi’s mouth twitched. “You might as well go home and lie down. At least you’d be comfortable.”

“I’d love to, but my dad won’t let me.” Qin Xiao seemed to think of something and gave a derisive laugh.

The system was just about to remind Song Qi that there was a Plot Point here, but she beat it to the punch.

“If you can’t find anywhere to work after graduation, let me know. I’m sure there’s somewhere you can haul bricks.”

Qin Xiao paused his game and turned to look at Song Qi. “No need to worry about me. But if you can’t find a job later, come to me. I can find something for you.”

Then he gave her a friendly smile.

“Well, thank you so much.” Song Qi lowered her head and went back to her book.

“Host, this is a Plot Point. You’re supposed to help the male lead regain his confidence and start studying hard,” the system said. “Spread some positive energy.”

Song Qi: “…”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“Host, if you want to go home, you’d better listen to me,” the system said.

Song Qi gave a couple of cold laughs, then glanced at Qin Xiao and tapped on the desk.

She was usually the sort of person who crushed people’s confidence. Building it back up didn’t seem to fit her style.

Exams were torture, but as soon as they were over, the classroom came alive. After all, they’d be free to go out the day after tomorrow.

“What day did you say we should go out during the holiday?”

“The second,” Song Qi said.

“Just the two of us?”

Song Qi was quiet for a few seconds. “Take a guess.”

Qin Xiao frowned. “That girl isn’t coming too, is she?”

“Mm.”

“Then I’m not going.”

Qin Xiao stared at Song Qi, making his meaning clear.

“Your eyesight is good, I’ll give you that, but I have my reasons.” Song Qi cut him off. “I like hearing her sweet little voice when she begs me. Why don’t you try acting cute, too? Maybe I’ll be nicer to you.”

Qin Xiao stared at Song Qi for a long moment. “Dream on.”

“Mm.” Song Qi shrugged.

The results came out the day before the holiday. The school had thoughtfully printed out everyone’s scores and updated the top hundred list, all at a speed that was almost ridiculous.

As expected, Song Qi had come first in her class and third in the whole school.

She stood under the rankings and stared at the number three for a long time. Then she smiled.

A lifelong disgrace. And she was only one point behind first place, and half a point behind second.

“Xu Yangnuan.”

Song Qi turned toward the girl who’d called her, quickly searching her memory. “Zhong Yi.”

The girl who’d come first.

“Can you beat me next time?” Zhong Yi pushed up her glasses. “I’ve been in first place too long. It’s getting boring.”

Song Qi raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Is that a challenge?”

“Motivation.” Zhong Yi checked the time. “Sorry, I still have a few worksheets to finish. See you.”

“Sure. See you.” Song Qi watched Zhong Yi walk away and rubbed her fingers together.

Gu Si immediately came over. “Yangnuan, I know you can do it.”

“Mm.” Song Qi reached out and pinched Gu Si’s cheek. “What did you get?”

Gu Si’s smile instantly collapsed. “I didn’t do well. Three hundred and forty. I barely made the cutoff for the top-tier universities.”

“If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask me.” Song Qi pinched her cheek again. One hand wasn’t enough, so she used both. Gu Si’s face was so soft. It was nice to squeeze.

Gu Si looked at Song Qi and tapped at her hands. It didn’t hurt, but the words came out a little muffled. “Let go.”

Song Qi didn’t say anything. She tugged Gu Si’s cheeks gently to either side, then let go.

“Come on.”

Gu Si glared at Song Qi and huffed. She reached up to pinch Song Qi back, but Song Qi was too quick. Gu Si couldn’t even get a hand on her. In the end, she caught Song Qi by the wrists and pinned her against the wall.

The two of them were very close.

“Don’t mess around.”

Gu Si had meant to say something else. But with Song Qi’s face right there, she shamefully felt her own cheeks heating up.

After a long moment, Gu Si’s voice turned tearful and aggrieved. Her eyes reddened a little. “That hurts.”

Song Qi let go and rubbed Gu Si’s wrist. “Be good. Come on. Class is about to start.”

She took Gu Si’s hand and led her upstairs. They parted at the classroom door.

As expected, Qin Xiao had come last in his class—and last in the whole school.

When Song Qi returned to the classroom, she saw him angrily crumpling his report and stuffing it into his desk.

He noticed her looking and turned his face away.

“Impressive.”

Qin Xiao turned back toward her. “Do you really have to make fun of me?”

“Sorry. Did I hurt your fragile little heart?” Song Qi smiled, her tone casual. “So, is there anything you’re good at?”

“I—”

“Oh, right. Someone who plans to lie around forever doesn’t really need to be good at anything.” Song Qi’s smile deepened, the contempt in her eyes unmistakable.

Qin Xiao took a deep breath and stared at Song Qi for a long time. Finally, he stood up and kicked his chair out of the way before leaving.

The system went, “…”

“Host!”

“What, were you expecting me to feed him some inspirational speech? Sorry. This is what I do. If he has any self-respect, he’ll pull himself together. If he really just wants to lie around… what makes someone like that worthy of being the male lead?”

The system sounded like it might cry. “He went through something terrible. You can’t just—”

Song Qi scoffed. “I’m Song Qi. So I’m sorry, but I can’t understand it, and I don’t want to.”