Chapter 26

North Temple Elementary was a public school, and they didn’t sort classes into advanced or regular ones based on grades at this point.

There were four classes in second grade altogether, each with a mix of strong and weak students. Chen Nian wasn’t clear on the exact criteria, but since Fang Zhi had come to their school, she instinctively assumed the girl would end up in her class.

Now that such a perfect deskmate was out of reach, Chen Nian felt like a deflated balloon, utterly wilted.

The teacher finally finished handing out the books and giving her speech. Chen Nian slung her backpack over her shoulder and headed out, only to be stopped by their homeroom teacher as she passed the lectern.

Wen Can said to her, “No class transfers during the semester, okay?”

Chen Nian pouted.

Observing her expression, Wen Can added, “The teacher likes you a lot, and so do your classmates. Don’t worry about it right now. You’ll get resorted into new classes when you move up to third grade.”

“Oh.” Chen Nian let her head droop. “Thank you, Teacher Wen.”

Wen Can asked, “Did your parents talk to you about skipping a grade?”

Chen Nian was firm. “No.”

Wen Can pressed on. “How’d you do on the Math Olympiad?”

Chen Nian scrunched up her face. “Way too hard. I think I’ve just got the brains of an average kid—I can only handle the kinds of test questions regular kids do.”

Wen Can seemed about to say more, but Chen Nian waved her off. “See you, Teacher.”

She was in a hurry to get to Class 1 and find Fang Zhi.

In their teaching building, first grade was on the first floor and second grade on the second. The classes ran from left to right: Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, Class 4.

With the stairwell smack in the middle of the four classrooms, she and Fang Zhi were now separated by a full two classrooms and a staircase. It felt… impossibly far.

Her backpack felt heavier stuffed with the new books. Chen Nian tugged at the straps and quickened her pace.

Someone fell into step beside her, tugging at his own straps too—though his chubby little legs made it a struggle.

“Why are you following me?” Chen Nian asked him.

Lin Tianyi replied, “To see Fang Zhi.”

Chen Nian was furious. She rolled her eyes. “What does Fang Zhi have to do with you?”

Lin Tianyi said, “We ate sausages together. We ate noodles together. I watched her take her exam. We’re friends.”

“…”

“You didn’t even ask if she wants to be friends with you,” Chen Nian pointed out.

Lin Tianyi froze for a moment, then shook his head. “Then I’ll go ask her.”

Just like that, he’d given himself a perfectly reasonable excuse.

The two of them reached Class 1’s territory. The teacher there was still talking, lecture not quite over.

Chen Nian spotted Fang Zhi right away. She sat in the middle row by the aisle, standing out like a sore thumb amid a sea of drab little faces.

Lin Tianyi pointed at her. “Fang Zhi!”

Chen Nian smacked the back of his head. “Why are you yelling? It’s not like I don’t know her.”

Lin Tianyi said, “Her deskmate is Du Tiantian.”

Chen Nian raised an eyebrow. “Oh? You know her too? Quite the social network you’ve got.”

Lin Tianyi didn’t know what “social network” meant, but he could tell it was a compliment, so he bobbed his head proudly. “Du Tiantian’s the Class Monitor for Class 1. She gets great grades, and her family’s loaded.”

Chen Nian teased, “Oh? Little guy’s already checking out family backgrounds?”

Lin Tianyi explained, “Her dad has a car.”

“Oh.”

“A really expensive car.”

Chen Nian waved him off. “I get it, I get it. You’re annoying. It’s not like her car is giving you rides.”

Lin Tianyi shot back, “I have ridden in it! One time after school, her dad came to pick her up, and I got a ride.”

Chen Nian pursed her lips. She thought it sounded childish, but she couldn’t help blurting, “My dad’ll buy a car someday too.”

Lin Tianyi pressed his lips together and glanced at her, but he let the subject drop.

Just like when they’d peeked through the office window before, now they pressed their faces to Class 1’s windows.

A few classmates noticed them, but Fang Zhi was listening intently to the teacher and didn’t turn her way.

Chen Nian slouched in disappointment. She endured until the teacher finally wrapped up—then, just as she was about to jump up and wave frantically at Fang Zhi, the Class 1 kids, who should have been scrambling to pack their bags and bolt, surged toward Fang Zhi instead in a noisy wave.

Chen Nian blinked. “????”

Lin Tianyi gaped. “Whoa, Fang Zhi’s super popular.”

Chen Nian blinked harder. “????”

She really was. At least twenty or thirty kids crowded around Fang Zhi.

The classroom was tiny, packed in layers upon layers until Fang Zhi vanished completely—not even a strand of hair in sight.

Chen Nian slapped the windowsill in frustration. “What are they doing? Isn’t school out?”

Lin Tianyi slapped along with her. “Yeah, yeah! They all wanna be friends with Fang Zhi!”

“…”

Chen Nian muttered, “Maybe they just want a ride in Du Tiantian’s car.”

Lin Tianyi: “…”

The teacher finally left the classroom, and the students poured out in a rush.

Chen Nian bucked the tide, squeezing her way inside. When she looked up, there was still a crowd of kids gathered around Fang Zhi.

She frowned and called out, “Zhizhi! Zhizhi, time to head home!”

Fang Zhi stood up, and Chen Nian could finally get a clear view of her.

She stood a little taller than the other children around her, and when her eyes met Chen Nian’s, their gazes locked perfectly.

That eye contact finally eased the tension in Chen Nian’s chest.

Fang Zhi’s look was still filled with that familiar warmth and affection—something none of the kids clustering around her could match.

Chen Nian waved and bounced over. “Did everyone get their books? Are they heavy?”

Fang Zhi finished packing her bag. Her lips moved, but she didn’t say a word.

Chen Nian pushed through the crowd and hefted Fang Zhi’s backpack with practiced ease. “Whoa, this thing’s heavy. Here, let me carry it for you.”

Fang Zhi finally spoke. “No need.”

She slung the bag over her own shoulder, pulled out her chair, and headed for the door. The other kids finally parted to let her through.

Du Tiantian stood up too. She said to Fang Zhi, “Come with me. My dad can drive you home.”

“Hey…” Chen Nian bristled. “Didn’t you hear? We’re going together.”

Du Tiantian turned to her with generous magnanimity. “Then ride with us in my dad’s car.”

Chen Nian’s face darkened. “No thanks. Like your dad’s the only one with a car.”

She grabbed Fang Zhi’s wrist. Fang Zhi stepped away from her seat and came to Chen Nian’s side.

Chen Nian’s words were blunt, and the other kids got the message loud and clear. Plenty of eyes turned her way. Du Tiantian didn’t seem fazed, though. She lifted her chin high, like a proud little peacock. “Fang Zhi, want a ride?”

This kid was really asking again? Chen Nian glared, ready to fire back.

But Fang Zhi held her back. “No.”

Du Tiantian pressed on. “Then tomorrow. Or the day after. Any day works—my dad picks me up every day.”

Chen Nian had had enough. She spun around and hauled out Lin Tianyi, who had been trailing behind them to watch the show. “Lin Tianyi. You two know each other, right?”

Du Tiantian: “…”

Chen Nian: “You love people riding in your dad’s car so much? Why don’t you drive him home?”

Lin Tianyi: “No way. I want to be friends with Fang Zhi.”

Du Tiantian: “…”

Chen Nian: “…”

She really couldn’t decide which of these kids was more infuriating.

Fang Zhi tugged at Chen Nian’s hand. “Let’s go.”

Chen Nian dropped Lin Tianyi like a hot potato and turned on her heel, striding off with huge steps.

She walked fast, pulling Fang Zhi along at the same pace. They hurried downstairs and out of the school. Chen Nian made a beeline for the bus stop, but Fang Zhi called after her. “Chen Nian, Auntie told us to wait for her.”

Chen Nian halted in her tracks, remembering now.

The wait had dragged on too long earlier, and her mom had other things to handle, so she’d headed back. But they’d made plans for her to pick them up after school.

Today was a special day. Mom had gone out of her way despite everything, and Chen Nian wasn’t about to disappoint her good intentions.

She led Fang Zhi off to the side and sat down on a bench, waiting patiently for Mom to arrive.

Mom wasn’t there yet, but Lin Tianyi showed up first.

He’d been chasing after them the whole time and finally caught up, panting hard. Sweat beaded on his forehead even in the chilly air.

He bent over, hands on his knees, and peered at Chen Nian. “Why didn’t you wait for me?”

Chen Nian: “Wait for you? You planning to crash dinner at my place?”

Lin Tianyi: “I have a question for Fang Zhi.”

Chen Nian scowled. “Keep it to yourself.”

Fang Zhi blinked and glanced at Lin Tianyi. Chen Nian caught the look and swiftly changed the subject. “What were you doing back there anyway, Lin Tianyi? Did Du Tiantian hold you up?”

Lin Tianyi: “She was talking to me.”

Chen Nian: “About what? Inviting you to ride in her dad’s car?”

Lin Tianyi: “She asked what your name is.”

Chen Nian: “Heh.”

Chen Nian: “Did you tell her?”

Lin Tianyi: “Of course. I told her you’re Chen Nian. You’re super awesome—great at school, crazy fast, and even the teachers can’t handle you.”

Chen Nian: “…”

With utter sincerity, Chen Nian asked him, “Lin Tianyi, do you think everyone’s awesome in the whole world?”

Lin Tianyi scrunched up his face, thinking hard. “I’m not.”

Chen Nian gave him a thumbs-up. “Nah, you’re pretty awesome.”

Lin Tianyi broke into a happy grin.

And just like that, the two of them fell into a nonsensical back-and-forth. They chatted so animatedly that Lin Tianyi completely forgot to ask Fang Zhi about being friends.

By the time Little Princess Du Tiantian and her posse of girls emerged from the school gates, a Mercedes had pulled up at the curb. Du Tiantian tilted her head and stared at the three of them for a good long while before climbing into the car.

Chen Nian: “Tch.”

Chen Nian said, “Our family has a car too—a full-skylight, open-top, double-wheeled sports car.”

She nudged Fang Zhi’s arm. “Right?”

Fang Zhi nodded. “Yes.”

They waited a little longer, and finally Mom arrived, pedaling their family’s full-skylight, open-top, double-wheeled sports car.

Chen Nian hopped onto the front bar with practiced ease, while Fang Zhi nimbly jumped onto the back seat. Mom pushed off on the pedals and called out to Lin Tianyi, “Tianyi, hurry home now. No more playing around.”

“Okay!” Lin Tianyi waved goodbye to them.

The wind was fierce on the ride home, whipping Chen Nian’s hair into a wild frenzy.

She clamped her mouth shut tight, determined not to swallow a bellyful of gale.

Dinner was already prepared and keeping warm in the pots.

Dad had gotten home from work too. The four of them gathered around the dinner table, eating and chatting.

Chen Nian finally voiced her burning question. “Dad, what’s going on? How did Fang Zhi end up in Class 1?”

Chen Junjie looked genuinely surprised. “Isn’t Class 1 great?”

Liu Chunhua shot him a look. “…Your daughter’s in Class 3.”

“Oh, right, right—Niannian’s in Class 3.” Chen Junjie let out an awkward chuckle, tilting his head as he thought back. “When I talked to Old Zhao, I didn’t specify which class to put her in.”

Chen Nian pressed on. “So what did you say?”

Chen Junjie shrugged. “Just that if she passed the entrance exam, she could start school.”

Still clutching her chopsticks, Chen Nian turned to her mom, unwilling to let it go. “Mom, did you talk to Director Wu before Fang Zhi took the test?”

Liu Chunhua nodded. “I did. Director Wu said she personally set the questions, at the same difficulty as your final exams. They grabbed a teacher to grade it right away. As long as she passed, that was fine—no record in any files.”

Chen Nian whipped her head toward Fang Zhi. “Zhizhi, how’d you do?”

Fang Zhi replied calmly, “Pretty good.”

“How many points?”

“Double hundred.”

“…”

The pieces were falling into place for Chen Nian. She pulled a miserable face as she stared at Fang Zhi. “Did you see the teacher who graded your paper?”

Fang Zhi nodded. “It was our homeroom teacher.”

“Waaah!” Chen Nian wailed. “How did this happen? Boo hoo hoo… Why wasn’t Teacher Wen more proactive? Why didn’t you and Dad nail down the class? Zhizhi should’ve bombed it…”

Liu Chunhua’s chopstick came down sharply on Chen Nian’s head with a smart thwack.

“Eat your dinner,” she interrupted firmly. “It doesn’t matter which class she’s in. Zhizhi’s scores are so good—the teachers and classmates will all love her.”

And they did like her, quite a bit.

Chen Nian glanced at her parents, then at Fang Zhi, her mind flashing to that circle of little kids. Suddenly, it hit her: she might be the only one who cared that they weren’t in the same class.

Her parents weren’t upset. Fang Zhi wasn’t upset. They ate and chatted away, with Fang Zhi even polishing off an extra half-bowl of rice—more than her usual.

Chen Nian fell quiet. She shoveled rice into her mouth and began reflecting on herself.

After dinner, Liu Chunhua called Chen Nian into the bedroom.

Chen Nian slouched in, head hanging low. “What?”

Liu Chunhua said, “Help me put the duvet cover on.”

Chen Nian squirmed. “Ugh, duvet covers are the worst to wrestle with.”

Liu Chunhua tugged her out to the balcony instead. From past experience, this was the spot where whispers stayed whispers.

“Do you really have to be in the same class as Zhizhi?” she asked bluntly. “Don’t you think you’re clinging to her a bit too much?”

Chen Nian rubbed her chest—it stung right to the heart.

Liu Chunhua went on. “She can’t have just you as her only friend. If she only hangs out with you, she’ll never learn to adapt to new places.”

Chen Nian stared at the floor. “Oh.”

“Zhizhi’s a very smart girl. She’s not some kitten or puppy—she needs to grow up. Mom believes she can handle her own friendships and schoolwork. Don’t you believe in her?”

Chen Nian’s eyes welled up. “I do.”

She believed in her too much.

Someone like Fang Zhi didn’t need to say a word or make a special effort. She just had to stand there, and she shone.

Back at the Welfare Institute, Fang Zhi had been withdrawn and uncommunicative. Even then, plenty of kids had watched her quietly, dying to strike up a conversation. It was just that no one had Chen Nian’s endless patience and brass.

Now, Fang Zhi had bounced back. She answered questions from others, accepted their kindness, and smiled at things that made her happy—dimples so sweet they seemed filled to the brim with honey.

Who wouldn’t like her? Who could resist?

No one understood Fang Zhi’s magnetic charm better than Chen Nian. Back when Fang Zhizhu had skyrocketed to fame, she hadn’t just had rabid fans—she’d built a massive base of casual admirers that even A-list stars envied.

People saw her and were drawn in. They wanted to get close.

The moment Chen Nian loosened her grip, Fang Zhi would have friends galore. They’d come in waves, and sooner or later, some would worm their way into her heart and claim a prime spot.

Chen Nian was well aware of the truths her mother was sharing with her. In fact, she had started mulling over this very issue ever since before the New Year. But truly grasping those principles and battling one’s selfish heart was a challenge that confronted people no matter their age.

“I get it,” Chen Nian said, wiping her face. “I won’t try to stop her from making friends.”

Her mother’s hand came to rest on her head, gently smoothing her tousled hair. “You have to trust Zhizhi, and trust yourself too. You’re a very cute little girl—everyone will like you.”

Chen Nian tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Then does Mom like me?”

Liu Chunhua: “Of course.”

Chen Nian: “Then I want some cake. Mom, buy me cake to eat.”

Liu Chunhua: “Do I look like cake to you?”