This meal, Liu Xingyan ate unusually quietly. Throughout the entire meal, he only heard Pei Yue and Aunt Zhou chatting, while Shen Xingruo spoke little, occasionally chiming in.
As they were about to finish eating, Pei Yue glanced at Liu Xingyan, a bit puzzled. “What’s wrong, did someone give you a mute potion?”
Liu Xingyan: …
Maybe he had been given a love potion.
Seeing him silent, Pei Yue became even more curious. She asked while picking up food, “Did you get into trouble? You’re unusually quiet today. This isn’t like you. Why am I feeling so uneasy?”
What a freaking mother.
Liu Xingyan was speechless. He quickly finished a few bites, put down his chopsticks, and stood up, saying hastily, “I haven’t fully woken up yet. Alright, I’ll go back to my room first.”
Pei Yue watched his lazy figure with a pensive expression, her chewing slowed down considerably.
Once he disappeared around the corner of the stairs, Pei Yue suddenly put down her chopsticks, leaned forward, and lowered her voice to instruct Shen Xingruo, “Ruo Ruo, Aunt Pei will be out in the afternoon. Stay at home and keep an eye on him for me. If anything happens, call Aunt Pei.”
Shen Xingruo paused for a moment, then nodded.
Pei Yue had already made plans to go shopping and play cards with her friends after lunch. After finishing her meal and a brief makeover, she grabbed her bag and left.
Aunt Zhou cleaned up the dining table and made a shopping list. After Uncle Liu returned Pei Yue home, they went to the supermarket together.
Shen Xingruo originally wanted to go to the supermarket with them, but after receiving Aunt Pei’s “task,” she stayed behind.
The afternoon sun was warm and gentle, not scorching at all. Shen Xingruo, with some leisure time after lunch, watered the flowers in the small garden, as a way to digest her meal.
After watering a patch of unknown white flowers in front, she turned around and happened to glance at the window on the third floor. There was a head peeking out sneakily.
She squinted, sizing up—
It seemed like the head was checking if Uncle Liu’s car had gone far, and once confirmed, it quickly withdrew.
Setting down the watering can, she went back inside.
As Shen Xingruo went upstairs, Liu Xingyan happened to come down from upstairs. One was acting guilty and distracted, while the other was stealthy and silent.
The two collided at the corner of the stairs on the second floor, startling each other.
Shen Xingruo scrutinized Liu Xingyan up and down, seeing him carrying a bamboo basket. She directly asked, “Liu Xingyan, what sneaky business are you up to?”
Liu Xingyan was first taken aback, then awkwardly averted his gaze, subconsciously touched his neck, and his eyes wandered around.
“What sneaky business… Watch your words. I, I came down to wash some clothes.”
He was so nervous he couldn’t even speak properly.
Shen Xingruo’s attention was once again drawn to the bamboo basket. On top was a school uniform jacket, and there seemed to be something else underneath.
Without saying a word, she paused for a moment, then stepped aside to let Liu Xingyan pass.
Liu Xingyan didn’t expect her to be so easygoing. He hesitated for a few seconds before continuing down the stairs.
After a few steps, he turned back. “Why are you following me?”
Shen Xingruo replied calmly, “Who’s following you? Can’t I go downstairs?”
Liu Xingyan: …
Yes, she could.
Ruo-jie can do anything.
As Liu Xingyan descended to the first floor, he kept glancing back while heading towards the washing machine. Shen Xingruo didn’t follow him all the way; instead, she went to the refrigerator to get some milk.
He breathed a sigh of relief and opened the washing machine, throwing in some dirty clothes as a cover-up. Just as he picked up the bedsheets, he had a bad feeling and turned his head—
There was Shen Xingruo, casually drinking milk, standing leisurely less than two meters behind him. There was a bit of milk on her lips.
Thinking of last night’s dream, Liu Xingyan felt completely trapped, and his movements became stiff.
Shen Xingruo glanced at the things under his basket and immediately recognized the bedsheets. They had the same pattern as the ones in her room, just a different color. What was he hiding under bedsheets?
Under Shen Xingruo’s scrutinizing gaze, Liu Xingyan felt like he was under a spotlight.
In reality, only a small area was dirty, and it wouldn’t be noticeable if he just took it out and threw it in the washing machine. He kept trying to convince himself to act casual—
“I… I mean,” Liu Xingyan closed his eyes, feeling defeated, and resigned, “Miss, I beg you, could you stop staring at me?”
Shen Xingruo didn’t say anything and stood there for a while. Suddenly, unexpectedly, she turned and left.
Liu Xingyan was still waiting to be humiliated by her, but she just left like that. He hadn’t recovered from the shock yet.
Through the French window, he saw Shen Xingruo watering the plants. It was then that he hastily stuffed the bedsheets into the washing machine.
But the next moment, he fell silent.
How the hell did he use this thing?
This washing machine was too advanced now. The buttons were more complicated than solving a math equation. He studied it for a while but didn’t know where to start.
Five minutes later, he knocked on the French window.
Shen Xingruo looked up.
Liu Xingyan gestured for her to come in.
She thought for a moment and then entered.
“What’s up?”
Liu Xingyan cleared his throat awkwardly. “Um, can you use the washing machine?”
“…”
Shen Xingruo didn’t say anything. She passed by him and went straight to the washing machine.
Liu Xingyan hadn’t even considered the possibility that she wouldn’t know how to use it; after all, she seemed like she knew everything.
Shen Xingruo stood quietly in front of the washing machine for a moment, then pressed the start button on the touch panel.
Huh?
No response.
Shen Xingruo pondered for a moment, staring at a series of function keys such as soaking, rinsing, washing, strong wash for fabrics, and cotton linen fibers for a long time. Then, unusually, she entered a state of decision paralysis.
Liu Xingyan was somewhat suspicious. “You don’t know either?”
Shen Xingruo glanced at him, her eyes full of a condescending “What nonsense are you talking about?”
She directly pressed the washing button, and the washing machine unceremoniously beeped three times.
Both of them fell silent.
Liu Xingyan remembered something and asked, “Did you forget to add water?”
It seemed so.
Shen Xingruo found the water level button.
Finally, the washing machine started running after adding water!
Both of them breathed a sigh of relief.
Just as Shen Xingruo was about to leave after her mission was accomplished, Liu Xingyan remembered another issue. “Did you forget to add laundry detergent?”
“…”
He knew quite a lot indeed.
Shen Xingruo searched nearby but didn’t find any laundry powder or detergent. Generally, the things needed for washing clothes should be around.
Liu Xingyan also helped search for a while but didn’t find anything.
Shen Xingruo had to study the control panel again. In this process, she discovered that the laundry detergent was built into the detergent compartment, and all she needed to do was select the amount.
…
After sorting out everything, Shen Xingruo felt a sense of achievement akin to solving a complex math problem. But as soon as Liu Xingyan’s incriminating evidence entered the washing machine and started churning, he felt adrift.
Leaning to the side, he teased, “I thought with your high-and-mighty demeanor just now, you must have been quite skilled at washing clothes too.”
“Aren’t they being washed now?” Shen Xingruo replied with a blank expression.
“If I hadn’t reminded you to add water and detergent, it seems like you were planning to dry clean them,” Liu Xingyan joked.
“…,” Shen Xingruo remained expressionless.
“You mock me even when I’m helping you with laundry. What’s the point of competing with each other in these meaningless trivial matters every day? What’s there to be proud of?” he continued.
“Does proving that I can’t do laundry mean you’ll beat me in exams? Or does proving that I can’t do laundry mean you’ll score 400 points?”
“Spending time idly like this, you might as well tackle a couple more proof problems on similar triangles. Childish,” came the retort.
…
For what felt like an eternity, Lu Xingyan couldn’t shake off the comment. How did a harmless jab escalate to wasting life and squandering time? He didn’t feel proud at all. No, no, no! Who the hell wet the bed???
Lu Xingyan snapped back to reality and continued walking, instinctively explaining, “Hey, it’s not— Shen Xingruo!”
Shen Xingruo ignored him and headed straight upstairs.
“Damn it, I didn’t wet the bed!”
Lu Xingyan was still reeling from the shock, utterly baffled at how Shen Xingruo managed to jump to bed-wetting out of nowhere.
But how the hell was he supposed to explain this?!
Caught between the dilemma of being misunderstood as a bed-wetter and revealing the truth, only to be metaphorically put in the washing machine and spun to death by Shen Xingruo, Lu Xingyan ultimately chose to stay silent.
The awkward weekend finally drew to a close amidst mutual silence. On Sunday, the two returned to school.
These past few days, Lu Xingyan hadn’t slept well at all. Every time his head hit the pillow, he couldn’t help but replay that dream from that night. In the dream, Shen Xingruo was entangled with him, letting him have his way, crying softly, tender and delicate. It was so much more adorable than her usual fierce demeanor.
Unable to sleep well at home, Lu Xingyan wondered if he could get better rest at school. But the dormitory was filled with night owls, especially after returning from the weekend, everyone was lively.
Zhao Langming and Li Chengfan shamelessly hid under the covers after lights out to watch “Scientific Development Theory.” Even the most honest one in the dorm, Bian He, who claimed he wouldn’t watch, ended up cozily leaning against Zhao Langming’s bed while watching.
As the three of them watched and shared their viewing experiences, Lu Xingyan couldn’t take it anymore. “Damn it, you guys, are you ever going to sleep?”
“Xingyan, come over here! It’s 1080p HD, cost me sixty bucks for this source!”
Ignoring them, Lu Xingyan pulled the covers over his head and forced himself to sleep.
While he could choose to ignore the lewd discussions, Li Chengfan and the others’ conversation kept streaming into his ears:
“Her chest shape is just perfect!”
“YeAh but her moans sound a bit fake…”
“No way! It’s so exhilarating!”
Damn it.
Every keyword they uttered seamlessly connected Lu Xingyan back to that dream from that night. Before falling asleep, he even had a bold idea that if this dream could continue into tonight, that would be excellent. Then, his rationality kicked back in, and he scorned himself for daring to fantasize about that white peacock. Shameful. No, it was downright blind.
Shen Xingruo had no idea what was going on in the mind of this sensitive virgin. In the new week, she had a lot on her plate. She had to make time every day to practice the violin for an hour in the music room, on top of preparing for next week’s midterms. It was a common courtesy at Mingli for minor exams to be tough and major ones to be easy. After the midterms, there would usually be a parent-teacher conference. Parents would eagerly come, so giving them a score sheet full of failing grades would be disheartening and embarrassing. For most people, having an easy exam was a good thing. But for top students, it wasn’t, because when it’s too easy, it’s hard to stand out. Lately, when Shen Xingruo was practicing problems, she paid more attention to the detailed steps of the solutions. Despite being busy and a bit tired, she found fulfillment in her tasks. Before she knew it, another week had passed, and it was time for the Friday class meeting.
This week’s meeting was about sharing study experiences, starting from the 10th rank and moving forward. They had held several such sharing sessions since the first year, but they usually felt like a formality, with people finding them insipid and forgettable.
It wasn’t until Zhai Jiajing took the stage that the lazy, indifferent atmosphere changed. Because what she said was fresh and somewhat intriguing. Ten minutes later, Zhai Jiajing finished her presentation.
“…That’s all I wanted to share with everyone today. I hope it’s helpful. Thank you.”
Zhai Jiajing’s voice was gentle and warm, and after she finished speaking, she bowed. The audience below gave her a warm round of applause. Shen Xingruo also applauded.
But when He Siyue took the stage, she glanced at her notebook. Unfortunately, a third of what Zhai Jiajing had said about study experiences overlapped with what she had planned to say.
Soon it was Shen Xingruo’s turn to take the stage. She stood up, not bringing any notes with her. Shen Xingruo was quite popular in the class. She was beautiful, had good grades, was friendly, and brought honor to the class. As soon as she stepped onto the stage, there was already enthusiastic applause from the audience below. She adjusted the microphone, pondered for a moment, and said, “Actually, I had prepared to share some study experiences, but a classmate has already covered them, in more detail than I had planned. So I won’t go over them again.” There was a moment of confusion among the audience. Shen Xingruo continued, “I believe that sensitivity to learning is gradually cultivated through immersive learning, requiring accumulation and exploration. It’s not something that happens overnight. It’s like playing a game: you might have the best equipment and the most extensive strategy knowledge, but that doesn’t make you a master.”
“So I think we can try a different approach. You can ask questions, and I’ll do my best to answer them. If my answers don’t suit you, you can point out what’s wrong or unreasonable, and together we can adjust it to a method that suits you better.”
The audience below exchanged puzzled glances. After a moment, someone raised their hand. It was Ruan Wen, who was usually quiet and reserved.
Ruan Wen asked, “Shen Xingruo, I’d like to know how you approach writing English essays. Whenever I see the essay prompts, I always feel confused and don’t know where to start.”
Shen Xingruo pondered for a moment before responding, “When I write English essays, I first identify the keywords in the prompt. For example, in the last monthly exam essay…”
Shen Xingruo’s answer to Ruan Wen’s question was detailed, indeed living up to her promise of answering thoroughly.
After Ruan Wen’s question, several other students raised their hands.
Lu Xingyan noticed Shen Xingruo’s unusually friendly attitude and felt uncomfortable. After she finished discussing with the other students, Lu Xingyan lazily raised his hand and asked directly, “Shen Xingruo, how should we review history? I’ve never passed a history exam.”
Sensing Lu Xingyan’s attempt to liven up the atmosphere with a joke, the audience below chuckled.
Shen Xingruo glanced at him and calmly responded, “Lu Xingyan, I think you don’t need to rush to review. You can start by previewing the material instead.”