The school had an unwritten rule: students with good grades could freely choose their seats and deskmates.
Coincidentally, Zhan Jingrui had known Xu Zheng since junior high.
When they first entered high school, Zhan Jingrui knew no one. Seeing Xu Zheng enthusiastically wave at him, he chose him as his deskmate.
That choice lasted for three years.
Over the three years, though Zhan Jingrui was not talkative and his friendship with Xu Zheng was shallow, Xu Zheng considered himself to know Zhan Jingrui quite well.
Not embarrassed by the rejection, he grinned sheepishly and pushed something out from his desk towards Zhan Jingrui.
“Hey, don't be so quick to refuse. Just take a look first.”
“I know you don't live with your parents, so you have more freedom. Your grades are excellent, and I'm not asking for much, just a little favor.”
“He Yao can't come to school these few days. Can you accompany me after school to tutor her?”
This was an absurd request.
He hadn’t even accompanied his foster mother, Mama Tang, who had practically raised him, when she was hospitalized. Now, he was being asked to tutor a complete stranger every day?
Zhan Jingrui didn't even look at the item and pushed it back to his deskmate with a swish.
His deskmate hurriedly pulled out a few more items from his desk and pushed them towards him again.
“Please, please. It’s not that I can’t do it myself, I’m just out of options, that’s why I’m begging you.”
“I know your time is precious, but I’m also very sincere. This is something I recently had someone bring back from Dan country. It’s fresh, so please, at least take a look.”
Influenced by Jiang Nan Fang, Zhan Jingrui had liked comics since he was a child, and was therefore interested in comic characters and figurines.
Dan country's achievements in this field were globally recognized, with many exquisite anime characters and figurines originating from there.
He had been following an anime for many years and hadn't managed to collect all the characters. He hadn’t expected his deskmate, Xu Zheng, to have secretly collected even more than him.
Seeing his gaze linger on the figurine for more than three seconds, his deskmate knew the matter could likely be settled and quickly pressed his advantage.
“Actually, He Yao is quite pitiful. From what I heard yesterday, she doesn’t seem to have her own biological father. The person who brought her to this school is her stepfather.”
“Her mother is pregnant and quite afraid of her stepfather. She thought she had caused him trouble again by getting hospitalized, so she scolded her without a second word.”
“It was I who apologized repeatedly and assured her that it wouldn't affect her studies and that the medical fees would be covered. Only then did her mother stop saying much.”
“Alas, it’s all my fault for getting her into this. But I haven't told my family. If my mother finds out I’ve caused such a big mess, she’ll skin me alive. All my living expenses recently have gone to the hospital, and I’m really unable to afford a tutor for her. So, Brother Rui, you absolutely have to help me this time.”
“Considering we’ll be deskmates for the next three years, and we might never meet again after this, please, please help me.”
After he rambled on, Zhan Jingrui selectively listened to a few sentences and finally agreed, swayed by the figurines.
However, he had conditions.
He had to go home and settle his cousin first, and the tutoring time couldn't exceed two hours each day.
His deskmate expressed his immense gratitude, “I’ll do as you say, as you say. You’ve really helped me a lot this time, Brother Rui. Don’t worry, if there are any more figurines, I’ll save the first one for you. You’re truly my good buddy, Brother Rui.”
“Alright, less talk, it’s too noisy,” Zhan Jingrui put the items into his desk and lazily interrupted him.
After school, Zhan Jingrui rode his bike home to settle his cousin. After ensuring his cousin had takeout, he drove to the hospital.
He found the ward at the address his deskmate had given. When he entered, He Yao’s mother was also there.
Although she was pregnant, she was dressed very fashionably and had exquisite makeup, just like last time.
One would have thought she was He Yao’s older sister.
His deskmate had bought food, and He Yao’s mother was feeding He Yao while chatting with his deskmate. The small ward was filled with their lively conversation.
Zhan Jingrui knocked on the door. His deskmate immediately turned around, his face beaming, and ushered him over, introducing to He Yao’s mother how capable he was.
He Yao’s mother, with her sharp eyes, saw that Zhan Jingrui was tall with long legs, had handsome features, wore understated designer brands from head to toe, and had excellent academic performance. She immediately guessed his family was extraordinary and felt completely at ease entrusting her daughter to him.
“Then we’ll have to trouble you a lot, classmate Zhan. I’m newly pregnant and still have many things to deal with at home. Thank you both for your hard work.”
His deskmate replied that it wasn't trouble, and it was their duty.
Just as He Yao finished eating, He Yao’s mother got up.
“I have some matters to attend to at home. I’ll come back later. You two continue with your tutoring, and Auntie will bring you some delicious food when she comes, okay?”
“Yao Yao, get along well with your classmate and put away your usual little temper.”
Zhan Jingrui disliked people who talked too much or were overly enthusiastic. He hadn’t said a word from beginning to end.
After He Yao’s mother left, he directly took out the textbook, turned to the lesson He Yao had missed that day, and mechanically began to explain.
He had never tutored anyone before and didn’t know how people with lower intelligence typically learned. He only explained according to his own train of thought.
Five minutes passed, and his deskmate couldn’t help but interrupt him.
“Can you explain it properly and in more detail? It’s like I’m listening to gibberish; I didn’t understand a single word. He Yao, did you understand?”
He Yao, much like Zhan Jingrui, rarely showed her emotions. She had a rather expressionless face and hadn’t said a word since entering the ward.
Only now, with a blank expression, did she shake her head.
So, neither of them understood, and they were only saying this now.
Zhan Jingrui was slightly displeased.
“If you can’t teach, and you think my explanations are not good, find someone else.”
As he spoke, he prepared to stand up, but his deskmate quickly grabbed him.
“That’s not what I meant. I mean, we’re both uneducated and can’t keep up with your pace. Could you just slow down a little, just a little bit~”
Zhan Jingrui sat back down and glanced at his deskmate.
“What do you mean by ‘a little bit’?”
His deskmate thought for a long time but couldn’t come up with a way to explain it, so he asked He Yao.
“How does he explain it so you can understand? You tell him.”
Only then did He Yao lift her eyelids and glance at Zhan Jingrui.
It was just a fleeting glance, and she lowered her eyes again, stating truthfully.
“It’s fine. No need to explain anymore. It’s okay like this. My foundation is weak. I haven’t understood anything since the very first lesson.”
“Pfft!” His deskmate couldn’t help but laugh.
“So that’s how it is! Your situation is similar to mine. But we can’t just let it go like this. From what your mother said, she’s counting on you to get into college. Not necessarily a top university, but at least a regular undergraduate program. If you don’t get in, he’ll blame me later.”
“They say a good teacher produces a good student. Brother Rui, since you’re so brilliant, can you find a way to save her?”
Having not understood anything since the very first lesson, what hope was there?
Zhan Jingrui didn’t want to discourage them.
A regular undergraduate program was unlikely; a junior college would be good.
But he didn’t say that. He lazily lifted his eyelids and looked at He Yao.
“Do you have a target school?”