It was almost 11 o’clock when they arrived at No. 3 Middle School. The school staff led them to a rest area for a brief break before observing the last class, which was scheduled in their experimental class.

Zhou Tingzhao and Sang Ru were both top-ranking students from the best class in No. 1 Middle School, and their teacher was also from the experimental class. Therefore, this exchange was more accurately described as mutual learning between the elite classes of the two schools, with an implicit sense of comparison.

They were arranged in empty seats in the classroom, while the teachers sat in the last row to observe the class.

Sang Ru sat toward the front, Zhou Tingzhao toward the back. Looking at the back of her head, his mind kept flashing back to the scenes on the bus earlier. The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was off. Zhou Tingzhao turned his gaze to the blackboard, forcing himself to calm down.

She was truly too much to handle.

This math teacher had a different style from Teacher Zheng. He was an older man whose teaching seemed somewhat serious compared to Teacher Zheng’s light and pleasant manner. It was unclear whether the usual classroom atmosphere was also like this, but it was somewhat dull.

But Sang Ru quite liked this teacher, so when he asked if any students had a better solution, she raised her hand.

For a solid geometry problem, Sang Ru’s auxiliary line was more concise than the previous student’s answer, eliminating many convoluted problem-solving steps. The teacher showed an approving expression.

Although it wasn’t her intention, Sang Ru indeed earned face for No. 1 Middle School. Even her temporary deskmate, a good-looking boy with delicate features, stopped her after class and asked: “What’s your name, classmate? I think you’re amazing. Can we get to know each other?”

Sang Ru didn’t think much of it and exchanged names with him. Before they could chat further, someone called her from behind.

She turned around to see Zhou Tingzhao.

“Let’s go.”

His voice and expression were flat. Before Sang Ru could respond, a girl behind him called out to him, asking: “Classmate, what’s your name?”

In the same situation, Sang Ru couldn’t help but laugh.

Lan Ting didn’t know what she was laughing at, only noticing that even her profile looked beautiful when she smiled.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” Sang Ru turned back, her face still bearing a smile that momentarily dazed Lan Ting. She said, “I’ll be going then. Goodbye.”

“Wait,” he somehow called her back. Seeing her stop and quietly wait for him to continue, he said, “Let’s add each other on QQ. It’ll be convenient for us to discuss study questions.”

Sang Ru could see that this boy was somewhat interested in her. However, with the college entrance exam in the distant future and the first mock exam coming soon, having someone to discuss problems with wasn’t a bad idea. So she wrote down the string of numbers she had used for many years and gave it to him.

The note had just been handed over when warmth approached her back, neither too close nor too far, not pressuring but very noticeable.

Zhou Tingzhao came to her side and asked again: “Are we going?”

“Yes,” Sang Ru looked behind him where the girl from before was no longer present, “Are you done?”

Zhou Tingzhao made a sound through his nose as if reluctantly answering.

So Sang Ru turned back to say goodbye to her temporary deskmate: “Goodbye, Lan Ting.”

Lunch was arranged in No. 3 Middle School’s faculty dining hall. They had another class to attend in the afternoon and couldn’t return yet.

The visiting teachers from No. 1 Middle School and the reception staff from No. 3 Middle School sat at a round table, while the students sat together.

A younger female student tried to make conversation: “Senior brothers and sisters, is the third year very hard?”

Sang Ru thought for a moment and said, “It’s okay.”

It was indeed okay—having a handsome boy to date, definitely okay.

Zhou Tingzhao had nothing much to say and echoed: “Mm.”

At this moment, someone whispered, “Why did you bring a mobile phone?”

“My mom was afraid I’d get lost, so she insisted I bring it secretly…”

Seeing the phone, Sang Ru remembered Lan Ting asking for her contact information, and then realized that she and Zhou Tingzhao didn’t even know each other’s phone numbers.

She placed her hand under the table, scratching his thigh a couple of times. Zhou Tingzhao looked at her, thinking she was about to tease him again, and said with difficulty: “There are many people…”

Now it was Sang Ru’s turn to be stunned. Understanding the misinterpretation, she laughed softly: “I wanted to ask you for your phone number and QQ number.”

Zhou Tingzhao’s ear tips reddened as he took out his phone from his pocket, operated it a few times, and handed it to her: “Add yourself.”

Sang Ru hadn’t expected Zhou Tingzhao to be someone who would carry such a device, and expressed surprise: “You brought one too?”

“Yes,” Zhou Tingzhao said, “for self-defense.”

“Self-defense?” Sang Ru repeated his answer, suddenly thinking of something. She leaned closer and said with a smile, “Seems it didn’t work. Did it protect you from me?”

Zhou Tingzhao’s chopstick-holding hand paused. He pressed his lips together and said: “Eat.”

Sang Ru was very pleased and turned her attention back to the phone.

The interface was quite outdated, making Sang Ru somewhat uncomfortable. After sending herself a verification request, she asked him: “Can I log into mine?”

“Sure.”

Sang Ru hadn’t changed her password for many years and quickly logged in. She muted the phone in advance, so the beeping sound didn’t ring out.

She accepted the request, sent Zhou Tingzhao a message, then logged out.

“Check your account. I think there’s a new message,” Sang Ru said as she handed the phone back, her tone serious.

Zhou Tingzhao put it back in his pocket: “Not urgent.”

“Look at it.”

Zhou Tingzhao looked at her, seeming to guess something.

When he opened the message interface—

[Baby’s: The food here is ordinary, not as delicious as yours.]

Zhou Tingzhao closed the screen, silently gritting his back teeth.

Meanwhile, the person who had sent this message looked at him sideways while biting her chopsticks, her expression mischievous, looking pleased with her successful prank.

He sighed almost inaudibly, his heart softening. How could he be angry at her mischief?