“Zheng Ziyan!”
Wei Lai, having finished the exam early at the Second Exam Room upstairs, hurried to the third floor and saw Zi Yan leaning against the window, looking at the scenery. She called out to him from a distance.
“Hey! You can’t make noise in the hallway after handing in your exam early.”
Unfortunately, Wei Lai was reprimanded by the Grade Three Director of Studies who was proctoring the exam.
“Sorry, sorry.” Wei Lai smiled awkwardly and apologized to the Director. The Director smiled helplessly and nodded, signaling that he understood.
It should be said that a well-behaved principal’s daughter like Wei Lai was already a relief for the school staff.
Otherwise, if it were someone more arrogant and unruly, the staff would have no choice but to complain to the principal, since they had no real power to punish the student.
“I knew you’d finish early again.” Wei Lai jogged over to Zi Yan and whispered.
“Huh?”
Zi Yan was confused. His exam was in the Fifth Exam Room, and Wei Lai was at the Second Exam Room. How did she know he finished early?
“We’re deskmates, aren’t you usually like this when doing questions?” Wei Lai leaned close to Zi Yan’s ear and quietly said, “I have some good news. Want to hear it?”
“What good news?” Zi Yan asked curiously.
After all, Wei Lai was the principal’s daughter of Haizhou No. 3 Middle School. If there was good news about school affairs, she would definitely hear it before other students.
At that moment, Wei Lai bent slightly, whispering in Zi Yan’s ear, her warm breath tickling his earlobe.
Zi Yan shifted a little to the side.
“The exam grader said your comprehensive score is 137.”
“Huh? 137?” Zi Yan was surprised.
The comprehensive exam was out of 140 points, with Physics and Chemistry each out of 70. A 137 was truly something to celebrate.
Because Wei Lai was the principal’s daughter, Zi Yan didn’t doubt the score she told him—unless she was joking.
“Yeah, you’ve become the dark horse of our class this time.” Wei Lai leaned against the windowsill in the hallway, tilting her head as she asked, “Do you have anything to do later?”
“…I don’t think so.” Zi Yan thought about whether his father had told him anything this morning, but no, so he answered.
“Then how about we go shopping together later?” Wei Lai invited, “Buy some snacks and pastries for the sports meet.”
“Snacks and pastries?” Zi Yan didn’t understand. “Why buy those? Are they for the athletes at the meet?”
Even if it was for the athletes, wouldn’t they buy mineral drinks or chocolate—something high-calorie?
“Pft.” Wei Lai burst out laughing.
“What kind of education did you get abroad—” Wei Lai teased, “You’re not just airheaded, you lack basic common sense.”
Common sense?
Although Zi Yan hadn’t gone to school since that incident in Antwerp, he still had a private tutor. The etiquette teacher had taught him basic living knowledge well enough.
For events like the sports meet, for safety and to protect sponsors’ interests, usually spectators aren’t allowed to bring food or drinks, right?
So Zi Yan asked his confusion: “Tomorrow, during the sports meet, won’t there be stands selling food and drinks?”
“Stands?” Wei Lai put a hand to her forehead. “The mini-mart will have some stuff out for sale, but it’s expensive and limited. Who’d want to buy from there?”
“Uh… so you’re saying at our school’s sports meet, we can actually bring our own food and drinks?”
“…” Wei Lai was too tired to argue with this girl who had lived a sheltered life for so many years without much outside contact.
“Good thing we finish the exam at 3:40, and the adults won’t be off work yet. The mall should be pretty empty.” Wei Lai invited Zi Yan, “If you’re free, let’s go buy stuff together.”
“Okay.” Zi Yan thought he had no other plans and nodded.
“Then it’s settled. Let’s head home first, then meet at Wanda Plaza at 4:30?”
“Alright.”
——————
When Zheng Quan heard Zi Yan was going to the mall with classmates to buy snacks for tomorrow’s sports meet, he agreed without hesitation.
In fact, Zi Yan himself vaguely regretted agreeing to Wei Lai’s invitation.
Even if they avoided the adults’ rush hour, the mall probably wouldn’t be any less crowded.
Zi Yan liked quiet, disliked crowds, especially places packed with people chatting endlessly.
Like on Monday afternoons, when Haizhou No. 3 Middle School held staff meetings during the last class period, and some people quietly chatted in Class 3-6’s room, Zi Yan would feel a bit annoyed just staying there.
But no matter what, Wei Lai had been his deskmate for three weeks. Her constant kindness made it hard for Zi Yan to find a reason to refuse.
Interacting with people was troublesome, but when someone genuinely cared, it made him happy.
Zi Yan was truly a contradictory kid.
“Hey, Zheng Ziyan, over here!”
At 4:20, ten minutes earlier than planned, Zi Yan got off the bus at the stop nearest Wanda Plaza. He had barely stopped when Wei Lai, standing on the plaza across the street, waved to him.
“…Sigh.”
It wasn’t just Wei Lai; a few girls who usually hung out with her were there too.
Zi Yan sighed again but secretly felt relieved, as if he had expected this.
Really contradictory.
“Good afternoon.” Zi Yan crossed the street and greeted them.
“Good afternoon~.” Wei Lai and the others smiled back happily.
“Zi Yan, it’s not easy to get you to come out shopping with us.” Wei Lai teased.
“If there’s sunlight, I generally don’t want to go out…” Zi Yan gently shook the umbrella he held, quietly making an excuse for his poor social skills.
“No worries, no sunlight inside the mall.” But Wei Lai didn’t give him a chance to make excuses.
Full of energy, Wei Lai’s group led the way. Zi Yan resigned himself to following behind, dodging wave after wave of people.
Even avoiding adults’ work hours, the underground supermarket at Wanda Plaza still had a crowd.
And it was the kind of crowd that made shy people want to retreat immediately.
“Want to try these cookies? My sister brought them back from Japan before; I didn’t expect to find them in our supermarkets too.”
“Yeah, yeah, come this way! These individually wrapped Soybean Milk Cakes are super tasty.”
“Do you want a marinated chicken leg? The Unicorn Family brand is pretty good.”
So, pushing the cart with everyone, Zi Yan’s bottle of Bottled Buckwheat Tea—put in at the supermarket entrance—was soon surrounded by all the various recommended snacks and treats Wei Lai and the others added.
It wasn’t that Zi Yan lacked his own opinions or didn’t want to refuse.
But the overwhelming crowds and noise had already overwhelmed him, robbing him of basic judgment. He followed like a zombie and mechanically nodded when offered snacks.
Ahhh, when will this end?
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