The Slacker Academic Always Gets Caught (SLACKER)
Qin Heng paused for a moment before looking away, his tone indifferent. "You take the bed. I’ll sleep on the floor."
Chi Ning was taken aback.
Judging by how Qin Heng had prepared clean clothes and toiletries, it was clear he had anticipated having a guest stay over.
Yet, despite foreseeing the possibility of an overnight visitor, he had sold all the furniture that could be used for sleeping—leaving only one bed...
Such contradictory actions seemed to have no explanation other than wanting to share the bed with the guest.
But now, Qin Heng was volunteering to sleep on the floor, making Chi Ning feel like he had misjudged him with petty suspicions.
Chi Ning stared at Qin Heng. "Then... I should be the one sleeping on the floor."
Qin Heng turned to look at him, studying him carefully.
Over the summer, the delicate, youthful fragility that once defined Chi Ning had faded slightly. Thin layers of muscle now lined his arms and torso, exuding a vibrant, unique vitality. He was beginning to grow up.
The thin white shirt draped over him made him look like a delicate, juicy soup dumpling—one tug, and savory broth would spill out.
Qin Heng’s thoughts were anything but pure.
Lowering his head, his voice came out slightly rushed. "The floor’s uncomfortable. You wouldn’t be used to it."
Chi Ning blinked. "And you would be?"
Qin Heng hummed in agreement. "I slept on the floor all the time as a kid."
His tone was steady, as if he were stating the most ordinary fact, but it made Chi Ning’s heart clench.
Chi Ning spoke faster than he could think, "How about we just share the bed? You have new bedding anyway—we can sleep in separate covers. Just turn the AC down a bit."
Qin Heng gave a noncommittal "Hmm."
At this point, refusing would just be pretentious.
The two gathered the discarded cardboard and bubble wrap from the first floor before heading upstairs to wash up and sleep.
A little past 1 a.m., Chi Ning was so drowsy he could barely function. He rushed through his shower and just slathering thesoap haphazardly, only realizing when changing clothes that Qin Heng's clothes were completely the wrong size for him.
The oversized T-shirt was manageable, but the pants kept sliding down no matter how many times he hitched them up. In the end, he had to knot the waistband's elastic to barely keep them hanging on his hips.
He stumbled out and immediately burrowing into the covers with half-lidded eyes. "I'm done."
Qin Heng glanced at his damp hair and frowned. "Sit up. Dry your hair before sleeping."
Chi Ning was too exhausted to move. He mumbled an acknowledgment but immediately shut his eyes—a perfect example of feigned compliance.
Qin Heng stood by the bed, watching him, then suddenly began questioning himself.
He'd once pondered what kind of person he'd like.
Looks were secondary because the most important is they had to be low-maintenance and someone who could endure hardships with him.
Physical labor skills didn't matter; he could handle that. But they couldn't be spoiled—no pampered young masters or princesses.
Mutual support would be ideal, but not mandatory.
And the one non-negotiable? Never going to bed with wet hair, lest the pillows and bedding get damp and dirty.
Thinking about it now, Chi Ning didn't meet a single criterion.
Yet here he was, thinking...
"Chi Ning, get up and dry your hair. You'll catch a cold with the AC this low."
Endure hardships? As if he could bear to let him.
Qin Heng gritted his teeth and grabbed the hairdryer before pulling Chi Ning out from under the blankets.
Chi Ning sat on the edge of the bed as the hairdryer roared to life, the noise making his head spin and chasing away some of the sleep bugs.
He thought about Qin Heng’s harsh tone earlier and felt an inexplicable pang of grievance amidst his drowsiness.
In their past life, Qin Heng hadn’t even been this fierce when forcing him to eat carrots—yet now, he was barely suppressing his anger just to blow-dry his hair.
Tch. Men.
The hot air weaved through his hair as Chi Ning felt Qin Heng’s fingers slide into his strands and glided gently from the roots to the ends before pressing lightly against the nape of his neck with deliberate pressure.
This method was somewhat similar to how hairdressers dried hair—they’d also give a few massaging presses, but usually, they focused on the scalp rather than the neck.
And when hairdressers combed through his hair, they never took care to softly knead the roots with their fingertips like this.
It was as if some boundary had been crossed through these repeated touches. A vague, indistinct emotion wrapped itself within the warm air, like a fine net ensnaring him completely.
“Done.” Qin Heng finally smoothed out Chi Ning’s dry, soft, and silky hair before saying, “Go to sleep.”
Chi Ning curled up under the blankets, but now, sleep eluded him.
How could this guy be both harsh and tender at the same time?
It was utterly chaotic and absurd.
Why?
People who excelled in research were naturally curious and persistent, always digging to the root of things—Chi Ning knew he was no exception.
After tossing and turning for a while, he suddenly felt the mattress dip beside him. The sheets rustled slightly, carrying a hint of damp warmth.
Qin Heng had also laid down.
Chi Ning’s already dwindling drowsiness vanished entirely. He shifted uncomfortably toward the edge.
Qin Heng paused. “Did I wake you?”
“No.” Chi Ning hesitated before blurting out, “Do you blow-dry Zhang Qiuwen’s hair too?”
Qin Heng froze as just the mere thought of that scenario gave him a headache.
Chi Ning waited but received no answer, and took it as confirmation.
He sighed in relief, reasoning that since Zhang Qiuwen had fought life-and-death battles alongside Qin Heng, he suppressed the inexplicable irritation in his chest. “I get it. If you’re brothers, you can blow-dry each other’s hair.”
Qin Heng: “…”
Brothers?
He turned over, catching a glimpse of Chi Ning’s slightly tousled hair under the faint moonlight—like a little turtle hiding its head but not its tail.
What he wanted wasn’t to be brothers.
Qin Heng replied ambiguously, “You’re not my brother.”
Chi Ning let out an “oh,” and the irritation he’d suppressed earlier resurfaced a little.
Not brothers—so their relationship wasn’t as close as Qin Heng’s with Zhang Qiuwen?
Then they were just ordinary friends. No wonder Qin Heng was so inconsistent—harsh one moment and tender the next.
Because their relationship wasn’t stable yet, not even at the level of brothers, let alone best friends. That explained Qin Heng’s fluctuating emotions.
Problem solved.
Chi Ning closed his eyes and promptly fell into the deepest sleep of them all.
Meanwhile, Qin Heng lay on the other side, his nose filled with Chi Ning’s scent.
Logically, Chi Ning had showered at his place, used his soap, and worn his clothes—there shouldn’t be any lingering fragrance. Yet now, it was even more pronounced, mingled with a hint of something unfamiliar, drifting into his senses in waves.
Qin Heng’s eyes were wide open, not a trace of sleepiness in sight. He lay stiff as a board—in another setting, he could’ve been mistaken for a corpse ready for burial.
Chi Ning woke up halfway through his sleep, feeling too hot under the covers. Restlessly stretching out his limbs, he drowsily kicked the blanket away.
Qin Heng stared at that fair, slender calf that could practically overwhelm him before gritting his teeth as he rolled off the bed. He spread the blanket on the floor and lay down.
When he had schemed to sell the sofa, he never imagined he’d end up willingly sleeping on the ground.
In his imagination, he should have been holding Chi Ning, waking up in the morning and lying to him, then claiming he had rolled over on his own.
The more Qin Heng thought about it, the more frustrated he became. He turned over roughly, inexplicably feeling a little aggrieved.
Since childhood, he’d had to fight for almost everything he wanted. As he grew older, fighting alone wasn’t enough—he had to scheme, deceive, and learn to navigate social intricacies.
Yet now, he couldn’t even bring himself to lie to Chi Ning. Every trick he knew felt unusable, leaving him utterly helpless.
Like now—he was so close to Chi Ning, yet it was like scratching an itch through a boot, never reaching the spot that truly ached. He could only stare blankly at the moon and just finally fall asleep as dawn approached.
The next day.
Chi Ning was jolted awake by his vibrating phone. Groggily, he fumbled for the device by his pillow, not bothering to check the caller ID before flipping it open and pressing it to his ear. "Hello?"
"Ningning?" A woman’s voice rang in his ear, instantly snapping him awake. He pulled the phone away and saw the contact name: Mom.
Dazed, he pressed the phone back to his ear. "Mom?"
"Mn." Chen Mingxian’s voice carried a hint of laughter. "Just woke up? You sound so out of it."
Chi Ning clutched the blanket and glanced toward where Qin Heng had been sleeping, only to find him sprawled on the floor. Embarrassment and guilt washed over him. "Yeah…"
Had he kicked Qin Heng off the bed in his sleep? How could he sleep so soundly on the floor?
Chen Mingxian continued, "Your dad said you went to celebrate your classmate’s gold medal? How was it?"
"It was alright," Chi Ning mumbled vaguely.
"You should enjoy yourself more." Chen Mingxian glanced at Chi Baichuan, who was frantically signaling at her, and reluctantly added, "When are you coming home?"
Chi Ning: "I’ll take a cab back soon."
In his past life, he hadn’t even gotten to see his parents one last time. His mother’s face in his memories had long blurred.
Chen Mingxian was a workaholic. Afraid he’d miss her if he returned too late, he didn’t bother being discreet—since Qin Heng was still asleep, he quickly stripped off the T-shirt and shorts he’d only worn for one night and changed into his own clothes.
Without a moment’s delay, he bolted downstairs and hailed a cab in one smooth motion.
By the time he reached home, barely over ten minutes after hanging up, lunch was already laid out on the table.
Chi Baichuan looked at Chi Ning meaningfully. "This classmate of yours lives pretty close to us, huh?"
Just as he was about to launch into a full interrogation, Chen Mingxian smacked his thigh. "Less meddling, more eating."
Chi Baichuan swallowed his words, then grabbed his wife’s hand and pressed it firmly against his leg. "How long are you staying in the country this time?"
Chen Mingxian replied, "Depends on your performance."
Watching his parents’ affectionate bickering, Chi Ning couldn’t help but smile. He grabbed a pineapple cake from the table, wrapped it in baking paper, and headed upstairs while teasing, "Dad, better put on a good show then. I’m heading up."
Chi Baichuan waved him off. "Go ahead."
The moment their son disappeared upstairs, Chen Mingxian pulled out her laptop. "Hurry up. Madam Shen’s blundering has pushed our plan to the brink. Time to reel it in."
Chi Baichuan’s expression turned serious. "Got it."
Chi Ning thought his parents were being sweet downstairs, so he happily hummed a tune while lounging on the small rocking chair and munching on a pineapple cake and flipping through a tabloid.
Ever since he discovered his brother was deliberately putting on an act, he had subscribed to this newspaper himself. This particular tabloid specialized in exposing secrets of wealthy families and entertainment gossip, with a special focus on the Shen and Chi families.
By reading what was written here, he could always tell what act his brother had been putting on recently.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he spread open the newspaper, instead of news about his elder brother, Chi Ning was greeted with a full-page photo on the front page.
In the photo, Qin Heng was looking down at him, while he held a gold medal and biting one corner with his canine tooth. In the blurred background, Shen Minyi's figure could faintly be seen.
Chi Ning abruptly sat up straight.
Holding the newspaper closer, he scrutinized the photo carefully. The edges had some gray borders that looked very much like the edges of a PVC partition curtain at an entrance.
Xu Jiahao's shop was located in the safest district in the southern part of the harbor. Moreover, with Boss Xu's deliberate efforts to maintain privacy, despite going there so many times, he had never been photographed even once.
Yet the moment Shen Minyi showed up, they got caught on camera!
The tabloid's sensational headline was even more absurd: "Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl? The Second Young Master Chi Wins Two Gold Medals Without Participating in Any Competition."
Frowning, Chi Ning skimmed through the article at lightning speed.
The paparazzi had solemnly portrayed him as a promiscuous, useless young master who was playing two men against each other.
Compared to the previous article published in another newspaper, which wrote about his victory over Jiang Shijie, this one was far more explicit in tone—it could practically be called slander.
The writer of this article clearly had some knowledge of his past life. They even took the time to elaborate on how he had given up the Olympiad for a man, how he willingly wallowed in depravity, frequenting billiards halls to seduce men, and how he dressed up to bewitch others into a daze.
The logic was clear and coherent.
Fabricated to look just like the truth.
Flipping the page, there were some interviews with random passersby.
Entertainment tabloids always knew exactly what the public loved to see.
Q: What do you think about this incident?
A: Elderly man at the market: "Young men these days have no sense of shame, engaging in same-sex relationships. It's a problem with their mindset. What's the use of having money if you just end up raising mentally ill children?"
Q: What do you think about Second Young Master Chi seducing the Shen family heir?
A: Middle-aged female investor: "That Shen Minyi, I know him—wasn’t he in the papers recently? Some national competition champion... Anyway, he’s guaranteed admission to S University. A kid like that shouldn’t be led astray by shady people. Honestly, the Chi family really is a case of 'fine bamboo producing bad shoots.' Chen Tai’s two sons are both no good. President Chi should hurry up and find a concubine to bear him a proper heir while he’s still young."
Q: How would you evaluate Second Young Master Chi as a person?
A: Taxi driver: "It’s people like him who make Yangcheng City a cesspool. Too bad debauchery isn’t a crime—otherwise, he should be locked up."
...
There were more vulgar comments that followed, but Chi Ning didn’t finish reading them. This tabloid had a wide circulation and massive sales. The impact this report would have on him and his family was no small matter.
The Chi family’s reputation would plummet alongside their stocks.
The only apparent beneficiary in this scenario was the Shen family.
Could Shen Minyi have been behind this?
Chi Ning stared thoughtfully at the empty vase on the windowsill. The yellow roses inside had long withered, leaving the vase completely bare.
Probably not.
Shen Minyi's act of presenting the gold medal was somewhat unconventional. Given the grand entourage that typically accompanies President Shen, the absence of bodyguards around his son basically indicated he had come secretly.
So it must have been President Shen or Mrs. Shen who did it.
Did Mrs. Shen really think he had seduced Shen Minyi and decided to warn him this way?
For a moment, Chi Ning’s expression went blank.
Compared to the Chi family’s upright reputation, the Shen family’s history was downright absurd.
First of all, President Shen had five wives. Shen Minyi was the eldest son born to the first wife, with eight other siblings beside him—his inheritance rights were far from secure.
In such circumstances, Shen Minyi could like men, but he could never actually marry one.
Chi Ning took a deep breath. "Wow."
He turned on the desktop computer in his room, navigated to the stock market webpage, and pulled up Chongning Group’s stock details. Watching the plummeting curve, all red, he exhaled heavily.
"Brilliant."
He hadn’t even done anything yet, and yet, with just one gossip tabloid article, Mrs. Shen had accomplished what his father and brother had failed to achieve in three years of scheming.
The Chi family’s stocks had hit the limit-down.
Some of it might have been due to the gossip tabloids and retail investors, but most of it was because Mrs. Shen had bribed the Chi family’s shareholders to sell off their shares, intending to teach them a lesson.
Chi Ning: "..."
What a cheap lesson. The Chi family’s tight cash flow suddenly loosened up.
No wonder his mother had suddenly come home—she must have been preparing to close the net.
He folded the newspaper, lay down on the bed fully clothed, and lifted one leg to swing it lazily. "Another bargain for me~"
Originally, he had planned to file some patents early, squeeze the Shen family’s market share, and play along with his father and brother’s act—waiting until they slowly reclaimed their shares before making a move.
But now, one thing after another—first the Shen family’s partners self-destructing, then President Shen’s wife handing them an advantage.
The thrill of getting something for nothing was intoxicating.
It would be even better if he could see the looks on Shen Minyi, President Shen, and Madam Shen’s faces when they realized everything.
Chi Ning rolled halfway across the bed, reached for a random book he’d swiped from his older brother, and had just flipped to the first page when his phone buzzed frantically.
"Hello? Who is it?"
Qin Heng took a deep breath. "Me."
He had just woken up with his head splitting from lack of sleep the night before. "Zhang Qiuwen called me about the newspaper. I’m sorry—when I gave you the gold medal, I didn’t notice the paparazzi nearby."
"Oh, it’s fine. The article was actually pretty good." Chi Ning’s praise was genuine.
Qin Heng thought he must be furious. "Did you get home safely?"
"Yeah." Chi Ning paused, then added, "The photo of you was pretty clear, and the wording was pretty explicit—they even said you were mixed up with the underworld. Are you okay?"
Qin Heng was taken aback. "I’m fine."
Chi Ning’s temper was really too good. His first reaction after being slandered wasn’t to defend himself or get angry, but to worry about how the other person was doing.
When he first met Chi Ning, he’d thought Chi Ning had a crush on him. Later, he realized Chi Ning was just kind to a lot of people. And then… he realized it was his own feelings for Chi Ning that weren’t pure—Chi Ning seemed to only want to be brothers.
But today?
Chi Ning had comforted him instead and didn’t seem to mind being linked to him in the papers. Did that mean he might feel something too?
Qin Heng’s mind, sharp for all of his eighteen years, raced wildly. "I don’t care what they write, but I can ask my godfather to handle it. His methods—"
"No!" Chi Ning sat up abruptly. "Absolutely not!"
The wider this spread, the better—it wasn’t like any of it was true anyway.
Qin Heng raised an eyebrow, leaning against the window as he admired the beautiful osmanthus blossoms in the villa's courtyard. The scent Chi Ning had left in the room filled his nostrils. "Why not handle it?"
Was it because he wanted to create a scandal with him?
Qin Heng spoke leisurely, "It's very simple. Godfather likes you a lot. He just needs to make a phone call. How about it?"
How about it?
Not a chance!
Chi Ning couldn't immediately think of a reason to stop Qin Heng from interfering. After all, the photos had clearly captured Qin Heng too—he was one of the victims as well...
He lowered his gaze to the book in his hands—a guide for his brother's playboy-rich-heir act that was filled with exaggerated stories. Normally, even using it to pass the time felt like a waste of emotion.
But with just a glance, his eyes landed on a dialogue between the playboy second male lead and the aloof female lead who fell for a poor scholar.
[The second male lead looked sorrowful: "Just because I have some filthy money, you refuse to have anything to do with me?"]
Chi Ning: ?
What kind of acting material was his brother even reading?
Looking at the line, Chi Ning thought it could be adapted—it wasn't entirely unusable.
But even adapted, it was still a bit embarrassing. Stuttering slightly, he said to Qin Heng, "D-do you not want to be associated with me?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the room fell into abrupt silence.
Qin Heng felt the scent Chi Ning had left in the room grow thicker, almost suffocatingly enveloping him. After a pause, he slowly shook his head. "That's not what I meant."
Chi Ning: ...
He glanced at the female lead's response in the "reference book."
[The female lead with exhaustion written across her features, said to the playboy: "It's not about the money. That's not what I meant."]
Chi Ning leaned back abruptly.
Damn, this book actually had some substance!
He flipped further and saw the persistent playboy second male lead press on:
"Then what did you mean?"
Qin Heng hadn't expected Chi Ning to follow up with that question. He even felt that if he just pierced through the window paper now, they could be together.
Did Chi Ning like him that much?
Enough to want a scandal with him?
Qin Heng couldn't help but smile briefly before pressing his lips into a straight line.
He felt split in two, utterly conflicted.
He was an adult, but Chi Ning wasn't—only sixteen.
Did Chi Ning truly understand what a relationship between two men entailed? No security, no descendants, being pointed at and called sick, gossiped about. No one knew what the future held—whether society would ever accept love between men.
If they really got together, this relationship might even become a stain on Chi Ning's life.
Could Chi Ning endure that kind of hardship for him?
Qin Heng watched the osmanthus tree sway in the late summer breeze and answered softly, "Nothing much."
Beep.
The phone powered off.
Chi Ning instinctively pressed the power button twice before remembering his flip phone hadn't been charged since yesterday.
He stared blankly at the empty glass bottle on the windowsill, blinking twice.
Strange, why did his throat feel tight?
Was it because there were no flowers in the vase?
Setting the book aside, Chi Ning grabbed scissors, rushed into the garden, snipped two small roses, and placed them in the vase. Satisfied, he nodded.
Sure enough, his mood improved instantly.
Then in the end, Chi Ning plugged in his phone but didn't turn it on yet.
Meanwhile, Qin Heng stared blankly at the disconnected call screen. His words had been quite tactful—he hadn't even laid things out directly. How had Chi Ning just hung up on him like that?
He called back, but the Personal Handy-phone System prompted: "The number you dialed is powered off."
Qin Heng threw his phone aside in frustration and slapped the bedroom window frame twice.
Buzz.
The phone vibrated twice. Without even looking, Qin Heng immediately answered, "Chi Ning?"
Xu Jiahao was silent for a long moment before clearing his throat awkwardly. "Is this... a bad time?"
Qin Heng paused briefly. "No, Chi Ning got angry and hung up on me."
Xu Jiahao clicked his tongue. "He's got such a good temper. You must have done something wrong."
Qin Heng: "Yeah."
Xu Jiahao flipped through the newspaper his subordinates had brought over. "Is it about the newspaper? Need me to handle it?"
Qin Heng thought of Chi Ning's trembling voice when he had proposed this solution: Do you not want to be associated with me?
He could picture Chi Ning's expression when asking that—eyes reddened and on the verge of tears, looking utterly pitiful.
How could anyone with a heart refuse him?
With a sigh, Qin Heng said, "Forget it. Chi Ning said not to retract it. Let it be."
Xu Jiahao's eyes darted around twice before he broke into a knowing smile.
Good kid. Just as I expected from the godson I took a liking to. There's hope here!
"Alright, I'll hang up then. Let me know if you need anything."
The last two days of summer vacation passed amid the uproar of gossip in Yangcheng City.
On the first day of school registration,
Chi Ning stuffed the textbooks he had received into his desk drawer, not even bothering to write his name on them.
Wang Quan noticed and rapped his knuckles against Chi Ning's desk. "Come with me for a moment."
Li Qiuhe looked worried. Adjusting his glasses, which seemed thicker after the summer break, he asked nervously, "Is Teacher Wang going to give you trouble? The malicious rumors about you in the newspaper have been circulating for so long. Why didn’t you get a lawyer to help? Do you need me to assist? My family runs a law firm."
"No need." Chi Ning patted the vice class monitor's shoulder. "Just focus on your studies."
He walked out of the classroom and stood before Wang Quan, obediently saying, "Teacher Wang."
Wang Quan thought to himself, Look at this well-behaved demeanor. Anyone who believes the newspaper is an idiot.
"Chi Ning, tomorrow marks the official start of the school year. There's a motivational speech to be given by an outstanding student representative for the senior class. Would you like to do it? If so, prepare a draft."
Chi Ning was taken aback. Before coming out, he had thought Wang Quan was going to reprimand him. Instead, Teacher Wang wanted him to be the student representative?
He appreciated the gesture, but given his current situation, it wasn’t exactly appropriate.
Chi Ning replied, "I’ll pass. The rumors outside are too rampant. Me speaking up there wouldn’t reflect well on the class. You could ask Ye Xinran instead. He won an award in an international tech competition this summer and is also a hardworking student in the work-study program. He’s a much better example of all-rounded excellence than I am."
Wang Quan: "..."
His bald head felt balder.
How had Chi Ning become so articulate over the summer?
He used to be so easy to fool...
Back then, if you asked him to give a speech on the flag-raising platform, he’d go without hesitation. Well, if reason didn’t work, emotions would have to do.
Wang Quan waved behind him. "Ye Xinran, come explain why you don’t want to do it."
Ye Xinran emerged from the stairwell corner. His brows and eyes were relaxed, the shadows in his expression much lighter. Perhaps the possibility of clearing his family’s debts and the newfound hope in life had left him looking radiant.
He stood before Chi Ning. "Long time no see."
Chi Ning gave a noncommittal hum.
"How did you know I won an award?" Ye Xinran smiled. "I wanted to give the medal to you, but it’s just crystal, not pure gold. Feels a bit too shabby now."
Chi Ning said, "Keep it for yourself."
Wang Quan: "..."
Ye Xinran: "..."
How could someone this oblivious be twisted into such a scandal by the paparazzi?
Wang Quan cleared his throat. "Get to the point."
Ye Xinran wasn’t bothered. "I’ve always been second in our grade, my grades inferior to yours. You helped me resolve my family’s troubles, even lent me your scholarship despite our past conflicts, and found me a sponsor. All things considered... you’ve won far more awards than I have in competitions. You just didn’t participate this time."
He paused, delivering the final blow. "In terms of qualifications, no one is more suitable than you. You’re the true embodiment of academic excellence and moral integrity."
Chi Ning: "..."
Since when did we have past conflicts to overlook?
There were never any conflicts to begin with!
Wait, why are you making things up?
Wang Quan had thought Chi Ning’s eloquence had skyrocketed over the summer, but standing next to Ye Xinran, he still paled in comparison.
Maybe this was the difference between improving from 0 to 60 versus 90 to 91.
Wang Quan patted Chi Ning’s shoulder. "I know the paparazzi’s baseless rumors have been hard on you, but that’s exactly why I think you should be the representative. Let those in school who don’t know you see your true character! We’ll dispel the rumors."
Chi Ning: "..." He was numb.
He really didn’t want to write a cliché speech!
"Ah..." Chi Ning sighed heavily.
Ye Xinran watched his puffed-up cheeks and found it endearing. "You really don’t want to do it?"
Chi Ning, already resigned to defeat, replied weakly, "Yeah. I don’t care what others think of me."
Ye Xinran thought: I care quite a bit, though.
As soon as he returned to the country, he’d seen the rumors about Chi Ning. He’d hacked several tabloids’ systems in retaliation, traced the source back to the Shen Family, and only then let it go.
"Do you know the rumors were orchestrated by the Shen Family?"
"I know."
Ye Xinran pressed on, "Then why aren’t you fighting back?"
Chi Ning glanced up at him a couple of times. "It's fine, keep it for later use."
Ye Xinran pondered for a long moment before suddenly halting his steps. His lips trembled slightly as a look of shock crossed his face. "Stocks? Could your brother be—"
"Shh." Chi Ning raised a hand to cover Ye Xinran's mouth briefly before letting go just as quickly.
Ye Xinran muttered, "I won't say anything."
He quickened his pace to walk beside Chi Ning, standing shoulder to shoulder. "So the reason you're not participating in that... is also because you're afraid that if you win first place—"
Chi Ning turned to look at him, and Ye Xinran immediately fell silent. "Not saying another word."
Ye Xinran wasn't much of a talker. He escorted Chi Ning to the school gate and watched until the other had boarded a private car before finally looking away.
Turning around, he locked eyes with Qin Heng.
Their gazes met for just a moment before quickly shifting away, with both thinking the same thing:
What rotten luck.
Qin Heng felt so sour about this bad luck that he even wished he could be in the same class as Chi Ning, or at least in Class Two.
Class One and Class Two were on the same floor. That way, when he wanted to see someone, he wouldn't have to climb from the first floor all the way to the top.
There was a minor class reassignment exam in the second half of their senior year. If he worked hard and started studying properly now, was there a chance he could make it to Chi Ning's side?
Once this thought emerged, it circled relentlessly in his mind.
Until the next day's opening ceremony, when Qin Heng stood in the formation of Class Eighteen and saw Chi Ning standing on the flag-raising platform delivering an inspirational speech.
The young man wore his school uniform shirt neatly tucked into dress pants with his short hair soft and tidy, exuding a clean and refreshing aura. Qin Heng knew exactly how that hair felt when grasped in his hand—just as soft as Chi Ning himself.
His clear voice carried across the playground through the microphone, eliciting some response and drowning out the scattered murmurs of doubt and discussion.
Class Eighteen, due to their ranking, stood at the very edge of the playground, with only Class Seventeen beside them. Yet Qin Heng still noticed many people glancing his way the moment Chi Ning took the stage.
Including Yue Yaozong, whose front tooth he had knocked out.
Yue Yaozong wore a leering grin. "Heard you two checked into a hotel? How did the Young Master taste? Sweet and fragrant all over, wasn't he?"
Qin Heng gave him a cold once-over. "How many beatings do you think your remaining teeth can take?"
Yue Yaozong shut his mouth. His eyes darted around before settling on Chi Ning on the stage.
Qin Heng was someone he couldn't beat, but Chi Ning looked weak enough.
Zhang Qiuwen clicked his tongue. "Chi Ning usually seems so quiet and well-behaved. Who knew he could spout such pretty words to motivate people to study? He wasn't like this before, was he?"
A girl in front of Qin Heng turned to Zhang Qiuwen. "Right? Before, whenever it was his turn to speak, he'd always keep it short. We girls never got a chance to look at him longer."
A girl with pink nail polish tsked. "The power of his eloquence is really something. Even I feel like studying after hearing that."
Hearing Chi Ning being praised, Qin Heng inexplicably felt a sense of pride.
The little wolf in his mind began howling again. [You just thought about testing into his class, and now he's giving this serious motivational speech. He must have you in his heart—this was definitely aimed at you.]
Just as this thought crossed his mind, Chi Ning on the flag-raising platform said, "Senior year—every second counts. I hope everyone remains humble in victory and undiscouraged in defeat. For those who didn't work hard in their first and second years, seize this final opportunity..."
Qin Heng couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from lifting. Those who didn't work hard in their first and second years—wasn't that exactly him?
Chi Ning continued, "I once heard students from Gangnan International next door say that No. 1 High School is just a public school after all, and its college admission rate can never compare to private institutions. No matter how well you study, you'll only end up working for others."
This statement took everyone by surprise. Wang Quan hadn't expected Chi Ning to be so bold, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Chi Ning lowered his eyelids. While he hadn't wanted to give this motivational speech, keeping private reservations was one thing—now that he was standing here, he needed to complete his task properly.
He certainly couldn't say something like "Actually, I didn't want to give this speech either, but Teacher Wang kept insisting." That would completely undermine everyone's morale. Worse still, people might think he'd secured this speaking opportunity through special privileges.
That wouldn't reflect well on Teacher Wang, nor on Class 1.
Gripping the microphone, Chi Ning spoke with firm, resonant determination: "What I want to tell everyone is that this isn't true. Gangnan International will pay for their arrogance next year. The coming era belongs to the majority."
"With economic growth creating opportunities everywhere, the best prospects are right before us. Wealth doesn't appear from nowhere—if you can't be an inheritor, then become a pioneer."
"The college entrance exam is your greatest opportunity. Use it—use this test—to break free from the framework and platform you've grown up in and see the world."
Chi Ning paused briefly before adding softly, "The opportunity is in your hands."
The audience fell silent for a moment before erupting into thunderous applause.
Wang Quan muttered, "Holy shit."
This was way more impactful than some cliché about spring arriving and school starting again.
The nearby dean patted Wang Quan's shoulder with his belly protruding, "That was quite a speech. Did you write it for him?"
Wang Quan frowned slightly and waved his hand, "You must be joking—could I have written something like that? He prepared it himself."
The dean smirked, "The content was good, but I wonder what score he'll get on the placement test. This summer... heh, the gossip tabloids were full of his escapades."
The dean lingered over the word "escapades" with a mocking, suggestive expression, "Rather improper behavior. Probably shouldn't have let him speak."
Wang Quan's brows furrowed deeper, "As someone addressed respectfully as 'teacher' by students, you should understand professional ethics! How can you gossip about students behind their backs? If this affects students' mental state, can you take responsibility?"
The dean's face darkened.
In all his years at the school, this was the first time a colleague had dared disrespect him like this. With the principal being his uncle, which teacher at No. 1 High School would normally dare oppose him?
He scoffed, "Well then, we'll just see his test results... Or you could simply ask him about his relationship with that student from Class 18?"
The dean spoke with deliberate ambiguity, "Recommendation placements can be revoked. If his conduct is improper, I can absolutely report it to the target universities and have his spot canceled."
Wang Quan was practically steaming with anger.
Somewhat mollified, the dean jerked his chin toward Chi Ning, who was walking back to his class, "There he is. Why don't you ask him if he really wrote that speech himself?"
Rolling his eyes, Wang Quan waved Chi Ning over, "Chi Ning, come here."
"What is it, Teacher Wang?"
Wang Quan reached for the stack of papers in Chi Ning's hand, "Let me see your original draft. Did you write this yourself? It's brilliant!"
Chi Ning rubbed his nose, "No."
The eavesdropping students nearby immediately grew restless, some even feeling a sense of betrayal.
We were genuinely moved and thought what you said was so sincere it must be true, but now you're telling us you didn't write the draft?
The dean chuckled, "I told you, something of this caliber couldn't have been written by Chi Ning."
Wang Quan was also stunned, "Really? It wasn't you?"
As he spoke, he unfolded the stacked A4 papers.
The snow-white paper reflected the sunlight, blank without a single word.
The first sheet was blank.
The second sheet was blank.
The third sheet was also blank.
Wang Quan: Huh?
Chi Ning cleared his throat. "You insisted I go up there and speak, didn’t you?"
He paused. "I wouldn’t say I wrote anything—mainly because I didn’t. I just thought of a rough outline in my head and spoke off the cuff while trying to make it sound decent."
Wang Quan: …Speechless.
The classmates nearby who had been watching this exchange were also stunned.
Why is God Chi a god?
Truly extraordinary.
The dean’s face flushed red. He had just spent so much time mocking Wang Quan, and now those words seemed to slap him in the face.
He was an administrative staff member, not a teacher, but that didn’t mean he had no shame.
Desperate to regain some dignity, he asked in a low voice, "Do you know that Qin Heng from Class 18?"
Chi Ning raised an eyebrow and glanced at him, thinking for a long moment but failing to recall who that was. He turned to Wang Quan.
Wang Quan said, "It’s fine, just tell the truth. The teacher has your back."
As Chi Ning stepped down, students on the field began dispersing.
Qin Heng happened to pass by Class 1’s formation just as the dean’s words reached his ears, and his footsteps halted instantly.
He looked at Chi Ning, ears perked up.
"We’ve met," Chi Ning said. "What’s the point of asking? Do you want me to stop associating with them?"
The dean stammered, "That’s not it."
Qin Heng’s shoulders relaxed slightly.
Then the dean, puffing out his greasy belly, pressed aggressively, "The newspapers said the two of you were dating and even rented a room together. Is that true?"
Chi Ning: …
Beside him, the Class 1 students surrounding Chi Ning grew visibly displeased.
"How can you even ask something like that?"
"Obviously, it’s all made up."
"Yeah, exactly."
"Seems like you’ve got a problem with our Chi Ning, huh?"
Chi Ning raised a hand slightly, glanced at the dean’s face, and chuckled.
The day he lived with Qin Heng, the guy had outright said they weren’t just brothers.
The next day, during a phone call, he’d added, "It doesn’t mean anything."
He had originally thought that pretending to date to fool the paparazzi might work, but now he figured—forget it.
Qin Heng definitely wouldn’t agree.
Chi Ning’s tone was utterly calm. "We’re not dating, and our relationship is nothing special. As for renting a room together? That’s even more impossible."
Qin Heng: ?
Nothing special?
Chi Ning ate his iced bayberries, accepted his gold medal, slept in his bed, and even wore the red string he braided for him!
They had worked together until dawn, shared a bathroom, and worn each other’s clothes!
Even the apartment Chi Ning rented was under his name!
Just two days ago, he had pestered him over the phone, asking about their relationship and what it all meant.
And now, out of nowhere, it’s "nothing special"?
Not even friends anymore?
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