Two English classes, plus a ten-minute break in between.
Xia Nuannuan didn't dare to look at Qin Tian, nor did she absorb a single word the English teacher said.
After the lunch break bell rang, she quickly put her belongings into her drawer and prepared to head home. To support her college entrance exams, her parents had bought a school district apartment nearby, and her mother stayed home to look after her. Therefore, she usually went home for lunch.
"Xia Nuannuan, could you come with me for a moment? I have something to tell you." Qin Tian's magnetic voice suddenly rang out from beside her.
Xia Nuannuan's heart skipped a beat. She lowered her head, so nervous she could barely speak, "Wh-what is it? I... I need to go home for lunch."
"It won't take long, it won't delay your lunch," Qin Tian said with a smile.
Xia Nuannuan bit her lower lip, hesitated for a long time, and finally nodded. They left the classroom, a step apart, one following the other.
In the classroom, the students who witnessed this scene immediately became excited.
"Holy crap, is Qin Tian serious?"
"Tsk tsk… he called her out like that, I think he is."
"Really? Does he like that type?"
"What are you guys talking about? I think Xia Nuannuan is pretty good-looking. She's just a bit chubby, it's not like she can't lose weight."
"..."
Several boys gathered and discussed animatedly.
"Hey, do you guys have nothing better to do, gossiping like women?" Zhang Peng frowned and scolded.
At the back of the classroom, Xu Ying and her two best friends were also whispering.
"Does Qin Tian really like her? We sit in the front row, we never noticed before."
"Who cares? They actually make a good pair!" Qiu Man and Cui Ying said, their gazes falling on the gloomy Xu Ying.
"This isn't over. Qin Tian won't get away with this." Xu Ying's eyes were venomous as she gritted her teeth.
...
The small grove behind the teaching building. This was a famous spot for confessions at Si Zhong, where many secret couples had formed.
Xia Nuannuan followed silently, her nervousness increasing as they arrived here. She kept her head down, her palms sweating as she clutched the hem of her clothes.
"Why did he bring me here?"
"Is he really going to confess?"
"Should I agree?"
"Does he really like me…"
Countless questions surfaced in her not-so-clever mind. She felt her heart pounding as if it would leap out of her chest, and her face felt scorching hot.
In reality, Qin Tian didn't have the intention to confess directly yet. He brought her here simply because it was secluded and quiet, and the shade of the trees protected them from the scorching sun. He did have a good impression of Xia Nuannuan. The Xia Nuannuan who returned from abroad in his past life had indeed astounded him. However, in truth, in his past life, he and Xia Nuannuan had not had much interaction after graduating from high school; they hadn't even kept in touch by phone. Therefore, to confess directly would be too abrupt.
Qin Tian glanced around and suddenly stopped. Behind him, Xia Nuannuan, engrossed in her thoughts, hadn't reacted and bumped into his back.
"Ah!" Xia Nuannuan cried out in pain, covering her nose and stumbling back two steps.
"Sorry, sorry, did I hit your nose? Are you okay?" Qin Tian asked with concern.
"I'm fine!" Xia Nuannuan shook her head, her face red.
"That's good…" Qin Tian nodded with a smile. Then, he found himself unsure of how to proceed. A rather awkward silence fell between them.
"So… um, Qin Tian, thank you for today. I, I understand. You… you don't have to take those words to heart… I…" Xia Nuannuan suddenly began to speak incoherently.
Qin Tian was taken aback for a moment before he couldn't help but laugh. Hearing his laughter, Xia Nuannuan looked up at him in surprise.
"I asked you to come here, not to talk about that!" Qin Tian explained with a smile.
"Then… then what is it?" Xia Nuannuan's face turned even redder. While she was relieved, she also felt an indescribable sense of loss and sadness.
"Don't misunderstand me, I wasn't lying before. I'm sincere."
"Ah?" Xia Nuannuan exclaimed, her flushed cheeks seeming as if they could bleed.
"Yes, I genuinely like you as a person, your personality, your cuteness." Qin Tian paused here, then continued sincerely, "So… in the remaining two months of high school, are you willing to work hard with me? Let's exercise together, study together, we can both become better. After the college entrance exams…"
Xia Nuannuan had already mustered the courage to look up, her face as red as a ripe apple in late autumn. Her large, watery eyes gazed into his. In her pupils, reflecting Qin Tian's face, there was surprise, anticipation, and pure admiration.
Qin Tian took a deep breath, then chuckled heartily and continued, "After the college entrance exams, let's apply to the same university. Then, we can have a relationship that others will envy."
The cool spring breeze blew, making the ginkgo trees in the grove rustle. Both of them could faintly hear each other's heartbeats.
"Mmm." After a long pause, the girl's response came, as soft as a mosquito's hum.
...
After sending Xia Nuannuan out of the school gate, Qin Tian turned and headed to the school cafeteria. The food in the high school cafeteria couldn't be particularly delicious. But today, Qin Tian ate with gusto. Around him, classmates cast curious glances his way. Qin Tian paid no attention, shoveling food into his tray with his chopsticks.
At the same time, he opened the Treasure Pavilion in the system interface. High school subjects – science stream: Chinese, Math, English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology – a total of six. He had now mastered Chinese and Math. After hesitating for a moment, he directly redeemed the experience packs for the remaining four subjects. 99 * 4 = 396! Nearly four hundred points were gone in an instant, and Qin Tian felt a pang of heartache. A large amount of knowledge from various subjects flooded into his brain. After this enlightenment, he transformed from a slacker into a super-student.
Glancing at the remaining system points in the top right corner, 560! He gritted his teeth and redeemed another physique enhancement potion. Another 199 points were gone, leaving 361 points! The Treasure Pavilion still held many temptations, but he couldn't buy anymore. After all, there was still the life countdown.
Thinking about it, he redeemed another 261 hours of life! This way, for the next twelve days or so, he wouldn't have to worry about this ticking time bomb. He decided not to use the remaining one hundred points, keeping them as a safety net.
"I need to find a way to earn points," Qin Tian thought, communicating with the system, "System, besides missions, are there any other ways to get points?"
[Host can exchange wealth for points, the ratio is 100:1.]
Hearing the system's response, Qin Tian's mouth twitched. He only had twenty-something yuan left in his pocket; he couldn't even afford a single point.