"Nuan Nuan, my mom asked me to thank you. She really liked the skincare products you sent yesterday. It turns out she used that brand before."
Arriving at the classroom and settling into his seat, Qin Tian was the first to share this good news with Xia Nuan Nuan beside him.
"Really? That's great, hehe..."
A sweet smile bloomed on Xia Nuan Nuan's face.
"You're both happy, and I got lectured."
Qin Tian feigned a wronged expression.
"What happened?"
"What else? She blamed me for letting you spend money while we were out shopping. I said I tried to dissuade you, even dragged you away, but you still couldn't escape this fate."
"Pfft, that's not my fault. I'm going back to studying."
Xia Nuan Nuan playfully stuck out her tongue at him and turned her head to recite English text.
The classroom was filled with the sound of reading. As the countdown to the college entrance examination on the blackboard ticked away day by day, the learning atmosphere in the class grew increasingly intense.
In the past, during morning self-study, many students would lack energy, their recitation voices rising and falling unevenly, creating a light, airy atmosphere in the classroom.
But now, even Zhang Peng was holding a pen, reciting loudly while also practicing spelling English words in his notebook.
Conversely, Qin Tian, who had already transformed into a top student, leaned on one hand, propping his chin, and stared blankly, a little bored.
It couldn't be helped. The knowledge points that needed to be memorized in high school were imprinted in his mind like photographs; he could even recite them backward.
To be honest, the sounds of diligent studying in the high school morning self-study class really had a powerful hypnotic effect.
Qin Tian yawned several times, feeling sleepiness wash over him like a tide. His eyelids began to droop, and his head nodded down, inch by inch.
Beside him, Xia Nuan Nuan caught a glimpse of this scene from the corner of her eye and couldn't help but suppress a chuckle.
At this moment, Qin Tian's head began to lower slowly, and he was about to nod off significantly.
Xia Nuan Nuan's big eyes rolled, and she extended the back of her small hand to place it underneath his chin, preventing his head from hitting the desk.
Qin Tian's head suddenly drooped. Just as it was about to hit her hand, he woke up, then groggily used his hand to support his cheek.
Xia Nuan Nuan breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.
If his head had hit her hand, she felt it would have hurt a lot!
She took her small pillow from her desk and quietly placed it where her hand had been.
After a satisfied, sweet smile, she refocused her attention on reciting the text.
Time seemed to fly by when dozing.
As morning self-study was about to end, Qin Tian suddenly felt a chill down his back, instantly waking him up and straightening his body. His gaze reflexively turned towards the corridor outside the window.
As expected, Teacher Li, like a ghost, was standing by the window, staring at him with a blank expression.
Qin Tian gave a sheepish smile, pretending to pick up a book and act like he was studying. Then he saw the pillow on his desk.
His expression froze, and he looked at Xia Nuan Nuan beside him in astonishment.
Xia Nuan Nuan also noticed their homeroom teacher outside the window and realized the current situation. She shrunk her neck and offered Qin Tian an apologetic smile.
Then, she pretended as if she had done nothing, increased her volume, and recited a classical Chinese text without looking away.
Teacher Li shot Qin Tian a stern glare and walked towards the front door of the classroom.
Qin Tian quickly grabbed the pillow and stuffed it into Xia Nuan Nuan's lap under her desk.
"No need to thank me, just return it after class."
Xia Nuan Nuan actually handed it back to him directly.
Qin Tian looked at Xia Nuan Nuan with astonishment, as if seeing her for the first time.
Xia Nuan Nuan held her Chinese textbook to shield her face, tilted her head, and winked at him, saying, "It's better for one person to die than two."
Qin Tian stood there, dumbfounded.
Teacher Li, with his hands clasped behind his back, strode quickly in front of him and asked with a fake smile, "Did you sleep well?"
"Uh... I slept okay!"
Qin Tian nodded with a dry laugh.
He wished he could argue, but the pillow was right there in his arms; he couldn't wash himself clean even if he jumped into the Yellow River.
"Go, stand at the back!"
Teacher Li instantly dropped his smile, pointed coldly towards the blackboard at the back of the classroom.
He had been tolerating this kid for a while, and he had finally found an opportunity.
Young people tended to get arrogant when they achieved some success. If he didn't give him a stern warning, he was afraid this kid would fly to the heavens.
Qin Tian sighed with a look of helplessness, got up, placed the pillow on the chair, and walked to the back of the classroom to stand against the wall, his head hanging.
It was almost time for class to end anyway, so standing was fine!
The surrounding classmates, while appearing to be diligently studying, were secretly glancing this way.
Seeing Qin Tian in trouble, they were all secretly delighted.
Especially the boys who were jealous and envious of Qin Tian, they felt an immense sense of satisfaction.
Teacher Li glanced at the pillow on the chair, then gave Xia Nuan Nuan a meaningful look. He said nothing and began to pace the corridor in front of the classroom with his hands behind his back.
Xia Nuan Nuan breathed a sigh of relief and quietly turned her head to glance at Qin Tian, who was being punished at the back.
Qin Tian glared at her with annoyance, putting on an expression that said, "I'm very angry, the kind that can't be appeased."
Because of Teacher Li's arrival, the recitation and reading in the classroom became even louder.
Shortly after, the bell rang for the end of class.
"If anyone needs to eat breakfast or use the restroom, hurry up. I have a few brief words to say."
Teacher Li's deep voice boomed.
The students in the classroom realized something and turned their heads to look at Qin Tian at the back of the classroom. They were surprised to find him quietly inching towards the back door of the classroom.
"Teacher, Qin Tian is trying to escape!"
Suddenly, a boy shouted.
"Hmm?"
Teacher Li quickly turned his head and saw Qin Tian standing there with a stiff smile, only two steps away from exiting the classroom.
"Didn't class end? I... I need to go to the restroom urgently!"
Qin Tian hastily found an excuse.
"Hahaha..."
The students in the classroom burst into laughter.
"Go back and stand there. I'll speak first, then you can go."
Teacher Li's tone was unyielding.
Qin Tian pouted and stood back in his original spot with a helpless expression.
"It's mid-April now, less than two months until the college entrance examination. You've all heard plenty of motivational speeches, and I don't want to say more. The learning atmosphere in the class has been quite good recently, and I am very satisfied."
"However, there are a few students who, because they have achieved good academic results, feel they don't need to listen to lectures or memorize material."
"Yes, that's right. Our teachers' abilities are limited; we can't help you score higher than perfect."
"But as long as you are in this classroom for one day, you must abide by classroom discipline for that day. Don't disrupt other students."
"Alright, that's all I have to say. Class dismissed for break."
After speaking, Teacher Li gave Qin Tian a warning glance and left the classroom with his hands behind his back.
As soon as Teacher Li left, the quiet classroom immediately erupted into chaos.
"Brother Tian, you have your moments too!"
Zhang Peng was the first to jump up, laughing heartily and poking fun at Qin Tian.
"Haha..."
The students erupted in laughter again.
Xia Nuan Nuan didn't join in the laughter, lowering her head with a hint of guilt.
"Zhang Peng, you're getting bold, aren't you?"
Qin Tian swept his sharp gaze over him.
Zhang Peng's unrestrained laughter abruptly stopped. He raised his hands in submission, admitting defeat, "Sorry, Brother Tian, I was wrong."
As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed to a boy in front, saying, "I accuse him! It was him who shouted that just now."