The exam results were graded on the spot by Zhan Jingrui.
He Yao had grasped about forty to fifty percent of the material over the past week, while her deskmate hadn't even managed twenty percent.
Considering He Yao's foundation, her performance was quite good. Zhan Jingrui didn't have high expectations for her deskmate, so it was as it was.
Satisfied with the results, he packed his things to go home. Before he left, her deskmate called out to him.
"The doctor said I can be discharged tomorrow. It's okay to recuperate at home or go to school, as long as I don't bump this arm, there's no major problem."
"Tomorrow I'll have the driver bring the car to pick up He Yao and take her home. I'll treat you to a meal too. What do you want to eat?"
He hadn't expected to be discharged so soon. Zhan Jingrui's first thought was, will I still need to tutor her?
However, since neither of them brought it up, he was too lazy to do so.
"No need, I don't want to eat anything."
Her deskmate earnestly persuaded him, "Don't be like this. We've been deskmates for so long, and I haven't treated you to a meal yet. Do me this favor."
"Don't I give you enough favors?"
He detested being told to "give face." Zhan Jingrui then took his schoolbag and left.
As usual, he spent the weekend at home.
On Monday, he went to class, and his deskmate was beaming.
"He Yao is also coming to class today. I ran into her at the school gate just now. Her stepfather drove her here."
"I must say, he's quite young. No wonder her mother always dresses so beautifully. I heard she's a university professor..."
What does that have to do with me?
Zhan Jingrui cast a indifferent glance at him.
Her deskmate knew he didn't want to listen and wisely shut up.
Zhan Jingrui waited for a day, but no one mentioned tutoring again.
It felt uncomfortable, like a habit suddenly interrupted.
Before school ended, he felt restless, and everything her deskmate said and did irked him.
During the last self-study period, her deskmate was constantly fiddling with his phone.
Someone kept sending him messages, and the phone vibrated back and forth. Zhan Jingrui, unable to stand it, curled his right middle finger and tapped on the desk in front of him.
Her deskmate looked up, met his impatient gaze, and quickly explained.
"Sorry if I disturbed you... He Yao just messaged me."
He Yao messaged him?
He Yao was also playing on her phone?
After being hit by a basketball, did these two really develop a revolutionary friendship?
Hmph.
Zhan Jingrui frowned, waiting for him to continue.
Her deskmate brought his phone closer.
"You're good at Chinese, and you get full marks on reading comprehension. Help me analyze what she meant by this. Could it be that she also likes me a little?"
Saying that, he pushed his phone towards Zhan Jingrui.
In the WeChat chat window, a dark avatar had sent him two messages.
First message: I am He Yao.
Second message: It's inconvenient for my mom to pick me up and drop me off. Can I go with you tomorrow?
An indescribable emotion welled up in Zhan Jingrui's heart. He read the message over and over again, then said to her deskmate impatiently.
"Scram."
Her deskmate took back his phone, turned off the vibration, and wisely moved aside.
After school, Zhan Jingrui, as usual, waited until most people had left before getting up.
Her deskmate had apparently agreed to escort He Yao and also stayed until the end.
Zhan Jingrui walked ahead, while her deskmate walked alongside He Yao, a few steps behind him.
He could hear her deskmate chatting with her.
"I saw your uncle when I came this morning. Couldn't he pick you up? I don't mean anything else, I just asked casually. Your injury was caused by me, and I'm happy to escort you to and from school. I'm just curious."
He Yao's voice was faint.
"Our schedules don't match, and I don't want to trouble him every day."
"Oh. Your mother doesn't drive?"
"She does. But she's pregnant now and can't get up too early in the morning."
"That's true. It's okay, I'll take care of your commute from now on. I promise not to let you be late. It might be a bit inconvenient for you, as you'll have to ride my bike. I didn't dare tell my mom about injuring you, so I couldn't ask the driver to take you."
"It's fine. This is already very good, thank you."
"Tsk..."
Words he didn't want to hear kept drilling into his ears.
Zhan Jingrui, feeling restless, took out his earphones from his bag and put them on.
He only focused on riding his bike, not looking sideways. He didn't notice that her deskmate had been following him on the same road, always behind him.
It wasn't until they stopped at a long red light that her deskmate, panting, caught up with him and enthusiastically patted his shoulder. Only then did he realize that He Yao lived on the same street.
"I called out to you for a while, but you didn't react. Turns out you were listening to music."
The last rays of the setting sun cast a glow on Xu Zheng's face, making his youthful and vibrant features shine.
With his clear voice and lively personality, coupled with his tall and slender build, although his features weren't conventionally three-dimensional, he still possessed considerable personal charm.
"I was behind you the whole way. It seems we're going in the same direction. Where do you live?"
Recalling seeing He Yao outside the villa last time, Zhan Jingrui wondered if it was such a coincidence.
"No. 7 Mansion."
"What a coincidence. He Yao does too. You're both quite low-key, living in such a good area. Which number are you? He Yao lives at No. 23."
It was indeed a coincidence. Zhan Jingrui lived at No. 18, directly opposite her.
Upon hearing that he lived at No. 18, He Yao was also a bit surprised.
She hadn't expected her and Zhan Jingrui's homes to be so close.
The green light turned on, and her deskmate and Zhan Jingrui started at the same time. He kept pace with Zhan Jingrui, not too close nor too far, and began to tell him about the history of No. 7 Mansion.
He Yao had just moved in and didn't know the origin of the street, so she asked a few more questions, appearing quite interested. As her deskmate spoke with enthusiasm, the three of them arrived on the street.
In the autumn of early October, the leaves of the towering plane trees lining the road began to turn yellow, and fallen leaves dotted the ground.
Paired with the white-walled, black-roofed villa clusters hidden behind the trees, the street had a certain artistic charm.
To get to Zhan Jingrui's house, they had to pass by He Yao's house. Her deskmate stopped his bike and called out to Zhan Jingrui.
"Your houses are so close, why don't you ever visit each other? As the saying goes, a near neighbor is better than a distant relative. It'll be easier to help each other out if anything comes up."
"Besides, Mrs. He has invited us over so many times to try her delicious cooking. Don't be so cold."
As he spoke, he rang the doorbell. Before Zhan Jingrui could refuse, a middle-aged woman's voice came from inside the house.
He Yao said she was back, and the middle-aged woman quickly came to open the door.
"Yao Yao is back. And who are these two gentlemen?"
"My classmates."
"Oh, please come in. Sir has also returned. Madam said she's making homemade pies for you tonight. Perfect, everyone come and try them."
Her deskmate winked at Zhan Jingrui, grabbed the handlebars of his mountain bike, and pulled him into the courtyard.
Upon hearing that He Yao's classmates had arrived, Mrs. He warmly welcomed them out.
Seeing it was the two of them, she became even happier.
She said they would have dinner there tonight, to inform their families, and taste Auntie's cooking.