The Slacker Academic Always Gets Caught (SLACKER)
Chi Ning happily swung his feet.
Provoking Sun Boxing was meant to make him act rashly and reveal his true intentions. But Sun Boxing rushing straight to Shen Minyi was beyond his expectations.
Chi Ning picked up a small bowl of strawberries and, while eating, said to Gu Zhe, “Being a love brain is not advisable.”
Gu Zhe: ?
You just said you couldn’t give the person you like what they wanted, and now you’re saying being a love brain is bad?
Changing your stance so fast? Even more fickle than me.
He didn’t quite understand but found sitting around boring, so he took out his phone and tapped a few times. “What’s your number? Let’s exchange contacts?”
Chi Ning chewed on a strawberry, studying Gu Zhe carefully for a moment. After confirming there was no hint of ambiguous feelings, he replied, “Sure.”
Overly intense emotions were a burden. If he could avoid socializing, he could easily hole up in the Laboratory or his own room for at least a month.
As long as there was internet.
While thinking this, Chi Ning subtly observed the people at the party.
The event was winding down, with the younger generation gathering in small groups, chatting and nibbling on the remaining snacks.
After scanning the room, he didn’t spot Jiang Shijie anywhere.
The Jiang family probably wasn’t expanding their business in Yangcheng City anymore, but all of Jiang Shijie’s old troublemaker friends were still present.
They seemed a bit aimless, huddled in an inconspicuous corner playing cards.
Chi Ning watched them for a while but didn’t pick up on anything noteworthy.
By the time he finished the strawberries, Sun Boxing had made a move. He didn’t seem too upset—Shen Minyi probably hadn’t scolded him.
“Hmph.” Chi Ning scoffed quietly. “Now he’s suddenly emotionally stable.”
He reached for some Savory Meat Granules, but just as his fingers brushed the porcelain dish, his wrist was caught.
Chi Ning followed the hand up and locked eyes with Qin Heng.
It was hard to describe the look in those eyes.
Deep, sharp, dark as ink. Normally, when those eyes looked at him, they carried a hint of playful amusement. If that amusement ever reached their depths, that face would surely make many people flock to him.
But now, those eyes were still as an ancient well, like a deep, unfathomable pool. Not intimidating enough to chill the bones, but undeniably domineering—and strangely… familiar.
Chi Ning instinctively pulled his hand back.
Gu Zhe’s eyes immediately sharpened. “Qin Heng, what are you doing? Keep your hands to yourself.”
Qin Heng released his grip and casually moved the stack of Beef Granules further away. "This dish uses lemon juice—it's both sour and salty. You just had strawberries; eating this now could easily upset your stomach."
Chi Ning froze. "How did you know I have stomach problems?"
This shouldn't be possible. It was too strange.
The one with stomach problems had been Chi Ning in his past life. In this life, he'd abandoned unhealthy habits early, eaten on time, and focused on nourishing his stomach, nipping any potential issues in the bud before they could develop.
Qin Heng shouldn't know about this.
A wild guess suddenly occurred to Chi Ning.
He reached out and grabbed Qin Heng's wrist, pressing his thumb against the other's pulse point. The blood throbbed rhythmically against his fingertip.
He asked, "You knew from our first meeting that I don't like using bottles others have used. Why?"
Qin Heng looked momentarily bewildered. "I didn't know."
He'd just instinctively felt that Chi Ning would absolutely dislike using someone else's bottle—that he had slight germaphobia and a delicate stomach that needed careful tending.
The pulse beneath his fingers remained steady throughout, not speeding up in the slightest.
It wasn't an act. Qin Heng genuinely seemed not to know why.
Chi Ning withdrew his hand and avoided Qin Heng's confused gaze as he bit down on the soft flesh inside his cheek.
Gu Zhe glanced between Chi Ning and Qin Heng before quietly edging himself into the corner of the sofa.
Though neither had done anything particularly remarkable, the atmosphere that had erupted between them in that instant had been so intense it felt suffocating—enough to make one's face burn with inexplicable heat.
How strange. Suddenly he felt just a little bit superfluous.
Why had Qin Heng looked at Chi Ning like that? With such intensity, tinged with restraint and something akin to desire.
Gu Zhe swallowed hard before abruptly remembering his original mission to annoy Qin Heng. He threw his arms around Chi Ning's arm and pointed at the Beef Granules. "I want some! My stomach's ironclad!"
The frozen atmosphere abruptly thawed.
Qin Heng's eyebrow twitched.
Chi Ning unconsciously pressed his lips together and handed the Beef Granules to Gu Zhe. "Go ahead."
He paused, then added quietly, "Save one for me."
After speaking, Chi Ning shot a quick glance at Qin Heng. Seeing the other wasn't paying attention, he exhaled in relief.
Suddenly, he recalled an incident from early in his previous life's acquaintance with Qin Heng.
Back then, he'd just started university—his stomach problems were severe, compounded by low blood sugar. While getting an IV in the hospital lobby, he'd met Qin Heng, who was accompanying a friend.
His IV drip lasted longer, and he'd fallen asleep in the chair. It was Qin Heng who'd called the nurse to change his bag... who'd even bought an extra serving of congee when getting some for his friend.
The very picture of a good Samaritan.
Had it not been for that, he'd never have believed Qin Heng's claim of being a model citizen so readily.
For a while after that, Qin Heng began appearing frequently in his line of sight.
Chi Ning zoned out for a moment before feeling something cool press against his lips—a piece of beef was forcefully shoved into his mouth.
He turned his head and saw Gu Zhe’s sly grin.
Gu Zhe curled his lips and gestured, “The biggest piece.”
Under Qin Heng’s intense gaze, Chi Ning’s eyes darted around.
This is ridiculous…
How can eating beef feel like sneaking around?
Chi Ning’s mind was elsewhere.
Why does this beef taste so bland?
Qin Heng’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he shot a cold glance at Gu Zhe.
Now that Gu Zhe only saw Chi Ning as a friend, he wasn’t the least bit intimidated. He even planted his hands on his hips and glared back, brimming with confidence.
Flaunting his victory, he mouthed: I told you before—just you wait.
Chi Ning finished the beef, savoring the fleeting sweetness, before his vacant gaze gradually sharpened.
The banquet was nearing its end. Though they hadn’t found the person who wanted to harm his elder brother, the one trying to steal the Chi family’s patents had revealed their true colors.
Not a bad haul.
He stood up, stretching lazily with his arms extended. “I’m going to see the guests off. You two do as you please.”
Time to go home.
By the time Chi Ning finished bidding farewell to the guests and arrived home while rubbing his stiff cheeks from forced smiles, it was nearly midnight.
He was so exhausted his head felt detached from his body.
After a quick shower, he collapsed into bed and was still groggy the next morning.
Socializing was truly draining.
Yawning repeatedly, Chi Ning finished breakfast and headed out, his attention still scattered. Yet he couldn’t miss the rapid clicks of camera shutters.
The paparazzi lurking outside his home seemed to have multiplied.
Strange. Shouldn’t they be targeting the newly appointed young President Chi, who had just inherited the family business, rather than him—a high school student who clearly had no ambitions?
What was there to photograph about him?
Chi Ning got into the car and dozed off again on the way.
The dark green Bentley came to a smooth stop at a fork in the road not far from the school gate.
Uncle Chen, the driver, frowned as he glanced at the swarm of paparazzi crowding the school entrance. “Second Young Master, these people seem to be here for you. What should we do?”
Chi Ning’s scalp prickled at the sight of at least fifty sets of long and short cameras. “D-detour. Go around to the back wall of the school.”
Uncle Chen immediately turned the steering wheel, silently reversing and slipping away from the hornet’s nest that was the school gate.
Chi Ning patted the Bentley’s leather seat in relief.
Thankfully, Uncle Chen had driven the dark green one today. If it had been the usual silver or red cars, even stopping at the fork wouldn’t have helped.
Carrying his backpack, Chi Ning found the spot where he had scaled the wall last time. He tossed his bag over first, then flashed Uncle Chen an “okay” sign.
Uncle Chen: ?
I thought you came to the back because there’s a rear gate here. Turns out you’re here to climb the wall?
But… isn’t this wall a bit too high?
The young master is so much shorter than the elder one—can he even make it over?
The elder master probably could—after all, he’s 190 cm tall. But how tall is the young master? At most 174 cm, right?
The moment this thought crossed his mind, Chi Ning—without even taking off his shoes—stepped onto the Bentley’s hood with a thud, then leaped toward the top of the wall, barely managing to cling to the edge.
When Uncle Chen saw Chi Ning stepping on the Bentley, his mind instantly conjured Munch’s famous painting The Scream.
The Bentley’s red emblem—ahhh! 10 million!
By the time Chi Ning jumped, The Scream had turned into a GIF in Uncle Chen’s mind.
Young Master—ahhh! Don’t fall!
As the person straddled the wall, Uncle Chen broke into a sweat, muttering under his breath, "Mother of mercy..." He really wanted to quit his job.
Chi Ning sat astride the wall and waved at the driver outside. "Bye, no need to pick me up tonight. I'll get back on my own."
Uncle Chen: "Alright, alright."
He grabbed the Buddhist prayer beads on his wrist and began rapidly rolling them between his fingers with his right hand while waving his left at Chi Ning. "Goodbye, Young Master."
Chi Ning nodded and leaped off the wall.
The joy of evading the paparazzi made him forget to check the situation below.
Chi Ning never expected anyone to be in this usually deserted spot.
Seven people, no less!
Right beneath his landing point stood Yue Yaozong from Class 18, and directly opposite Yue Yaozong was Qin Heng, who had already raised his fist and was gripping Yue Yaozong's collar mid-swing.
They were in the middle of a brawl!
"Move!" Chi Ning shouted sharply.
Qin Heng froze and reflexively released the person he was holding.
Yue Yaozong lost his balance and face-planted into the ground, getting a mouthful of bamboo leaves. He rolled away in a panic.
Just as he turned, Chi Ning's foot landed on his calf.
"OW!" Yue Yaozong howled in pain.
The impact from the wall wasn't light. To avoid breaking his schoolmate's leg, Chi Ning didn't step down fully but instead bent his knees to absorb the momentum.
A full kneel would've hurt.
Qin Heng quickly reached out, stepping forward to catch Chi Ning.
The motion was rushed, and neither of them was prepared.
Chi Ning's waist was encircled, but Qin Heng's arm might as well have been a sieve—the downward force sent Chi Ning sliding uncontrollably. Though he slipped down...
His uniform, caught by friction, rode up Qin Heng's arm with a "shhhhk," revealing a glimpse of Chi Ning's pale waist.
Qin Heng hastily grabbed his arm and clumsily hauled him upright before yanking the oversized uniform shirt—now bunched near his chest—back down to cover his rounded navel.
The moment his fingertips brushed Chi Ning's skin, Qin Heng's mind blanked.
Damn. How could even someone's navel be this pretty? A neat, vertically oval indentation with a hint of cinnamon hue, framed by faintly visible muscle.
Such a slender waist—not the fragile kind, but the kind that was delicate yet resilient, beautiful yet strong.
Probably... about 60 cm.
Suppressing the bizarre urge to measure it with his hands, Qin Heng asked with forced calm, "You okay?"
"Yeah." Chi Ning's heart nearly stopped from the scare.
His shirt had almost been pulled up to his chest!
Straightening his clothes, he glanced at the disheveled Yue Yaozong and Zhang Qiuwen—whose lip was slightly bruised—before settling his gaze on the only unscathed one, Qin Heng.
"Why the fight?"
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