Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  After Qiao Nan left, Tang Mengran leaned against Zheng Lingling and asked, “Zheng Lingling, don’t you think that the way Shi Qing looked at us was as if we had snatched something away from her? What did we snatch away from her?” She was sullen as she could not understand why.

  Fang Fang adjusted her glasses. “If my eyes did not fail me, today, Shi Qing and Qiao Nan came to school together.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “What I mean is that the two of them have become friends.” Fang Fang smiled. “Disclaimer. That is, if my understanding is not wrong.”

  “Impossible. Previously, wasn’t Qiao Nan her target? Didn’t she want to compete with Qiao Nan for the top scorer position? Nan Nan will be in a different class from her. If she’s angry, she should be targeting Nan Nan. Opponents turned friends. Is this an act from a drama script?” Tang Mengran did not believe it. During the last semester, although Shi Qing was only in the class for a month, she was fearsome and menacing.

  Only one and a half months had passed and the two of them had turned from foes to friends. Why did she feel that this sounded very ridiculous?

  “Don’t you feel ashamed saying this?” He Yun moved a step forward. “When the six of us first came together as dormitory mates, the five of us were also quite unfriendly toward Nan Nan. It’s so different from now. We’ve progressed to the second year and have been streamed to humanities and science classes, but the five of us still hope to be in the same class as Nan Nan. Tang Mengran, you have to admit that our dormitory group is now revolving around Nan Nan.” Nan Nan was the center party of their group.

  “That was something that happened a year ago. Don’t bring it up anymore. Take it that I didn’t say anything.” Tang Mengran leaned on Tao Zhenqin’s back and pretended to be dead. She hoped to forget her once foolish self.

  So what if Nan Nan came in top in the final term examination? There would always be differences between humans.

  Even if she guarded against Nan Nan, it would not change the fact of Nan Nan hoarding the position of the top scorer in the cohort.

  “I’m glad you know.” He Yun gave Tang Mengran a poke on the head with her finger. It was now their turn to pay the tuition fees.

  To the second-year senior high school students, attending summer classes was no different from the commencement of the formal school term. After the ten days of summer classes, it would be Thursday afternoon. They would then take a break and report to school again in the afternoon of that weekend to commence the classes for the new semester.

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  “Qiao Nan, tell you something.”

  Qiao Nan had just moved over her blanket and stuff to the new dormitory. Tang Mengran and the group had also paid the tuition fees and came over. “What’s the matter?”

  “I can only say that everything is fated!” Tang Mengran laughed with extreme arrogance. Her laughter made Zheng Lingling and the rest feel like punching her.

  It was fine to tell. Why did she have to imitate the strange laughter in the television shows? She was laughing like a witch.

  “What is fated?” Qiao Nan had finished putting on her mattress cover. She was wiping away the sweat on her face. A summer without an air conditioner was truly terrible. “Quickly turn on the fan. I feel like an ice cream that’s taken out from the refrigerator. I’m melting under the heat.”

  The dormitories in the school were stuffier than those in the army. The wind was unlike the wind from the hills in the army, which was more cooling.

  “I’ve turned it on.” Fang Fang turned on the fan with the sound of a click. “What a weather. Luckily, we don’t have to participate in military training anymore. Otherwise, we’ll die of heatstroke.”

  The sound of the fan blowing could be heard as the blades circled. Qiao Nan then felt a little better. “What did you all want to tell me just now? What did you mean by everything is fated? Tang Mengran, do you have a boyfriend now?”

  “Crap! Who dares to be involved in a romantic relationship at this juncture?” Tang Mengran was choking on her saliva. “I was not talking about myself. I was not referring to anyone who’s in puppy love either. It’s Zhu Baoguo and Shi Qing. I keep feeling that the two of them are at loggerheads with each other. Each time they meet each other, their eyes will form the shape of a triangle. Unexpectedly, they’re actually going to be in the same class this semester. Nan Nan, don’t you think this is fate?”

  Tang Mengran laughed and slapped the bed. “I can fully imagine. When they are in the same class, and without Nan Nan looking over Zhu Baoguo, the two of them will definitely be cross-eyed.”

  Given this situation, were Zhu Baoguo and Shi Qing still prepared to study properly?

  Fang Fang was amused too. “Certainly. I can imagine how interesting it will be for them in the future.”

  “I feel that our upcoming lives will be very interesting. Take a look at the timetable. It’s terrible.” Zheng Lingling lay on her bed. It was the second year of senior high school and the homework was really much more than that in the first year. It would really drive someone to the grave.

  “Oh dear, isn’t that so……”

  “Terrible.”

  When the few ladies saw this semester’s timetable, all of them were frightened badly. They were crying and screaming to heaven.

  Qiao Nan was the only one who seemed extraordinarily silent.

  She was in her second year of senior high school studies. That meant Qiao Zijin was in her third year.

  Before the college entrance examination ended, Qiao Zijin would definitely concentrate on her studies and not distract herself because of Qiao Nan.

  In other words, she would have about a year left to study in peace.

  When Qiao Zijin completed her college entrance examination and the grades were final, she would have to guard against Qiao Zijin’s numerous tricks. Qiao Nan would be in her third year of senior high school studies then.

  The weather was so hot but the students could not have a break in their studies.

  The cicada on the tree outside chirped continuously. The teachers at the stage podium taught enthusiastically. Some of the students conscientiously listened to the lectures while many nearly dozed off under the torture of such warm weather.

  “Ah, I’m finally done with these ten days.” Tang Mengran stretched herself. “This won’t do. When I’m home, I have to ask my parents to give me some supplement. I wish to eat ice pops now.”

  “Little Fat Tang, eat more and become Big Fat Tang two days later when you’re back.” Zheng Lingling glanced coldly at Tang Mengran’s tummy, which had obviously grown much during the summer vacation, and hinted without any reservation.

  “You don’t hit a person in his face, and neither do you expose a person’s shortcomings. Zheng Lingling, you don’t have empathy and love for your classmates.” At the thought of her flabby tummy, Tang Mengran lost all her appetite. She did not eat much during the summer vacation. Why had she grown so fat? She was now fearful of the medical examination when school reopened and dared not stand on the weighing machine anymore.

  “You won’t be fat if you eat less and exercise more. Alright, quickly go home.” Qiao Nan was not in a mood to chit chat.

  She had been in school for ten days. In other words, this was the tenth day of Brother Zhai’s mission. She did not know about his situation this time and whether he was back.

  It was not convenient in the school. Qiao Nan had to hide even when she was making phone calls.

  In order to make herself focus, Qiao Nan endured these ten days and did not make any call to the army camp. Today, she really could not take it anymore. “I’ve something on and have to go back first. You all take your time to chat.”

  Qiao Nan carried her schoolbag and dashed out of the school with a hundred-meter relay speed.

  Shi Qing, who had been waiting at the entrance of the school, was amused when she saw this. She was already expecting it. “Why? You’re worried and scared now?”