Su Cui's interference might change the situation, but it couldn't prevent the fated encounters or the subsequent unknown developments.
However, Christmas Eve also proved that with preparation—like warning Su Baixue about the danger near the trash can, maintaining close ties with neighbors (originally the female lead had no friends and almost no interaction with neighbors, isolating herself when Zhao Pengfei's incident occurred)—help could be provided in emergencies.
Some perverted scumbags were unavoidable.
Su Cui had to plan ahead.
Writing, writing.
Su Cui suddenly froze: "Emmm... I transmigrated into a book, and it feels like preparing for the college entrance exam."
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
Her competitive spirit was ignited!
*
The final exam was imminent.
Even during lunch break, fewer people slept.
Except for a few loitering in the hallway, most students were in their classrooms studying and discussing.
Since her complete fallout with Tian Ling, Su Baixue often spent time alone. Tian Ling would occasionally pull some girls aside to badmouth her, but Su Baixue had no interest in socializing. She was the epitome of a bookworm and didn't care.
The final exam at City A High School would determine placement into the experimental class. Even though Class 1 mostly consisted of top scorers from the middle school entrance exam, no one dared take it lightly.
Tian Ling's grades couldn't match Su Baixue's, and Su Baixue's ability had already been proven in the midterm exam. Despite Tian Ling's wild rumors, many diligent students still came to Su Baixue with questions.
Students who got into City A High School generally valued their studies.
This situation infuriated Tian Ling, but she was helpless.
Tian Ling also had many questions she didn't understand, but she couldn't bring herself to ask Su Baixue. Sun Shumin and Chen Baozhu's grades were only average, so they couldn't help either. She had to turn to Qi Ji.
"Qi Ji, do you have a moment? Could you teach me this problem?" Tian Ling smiled sweetly, sat down in the seat in front of Qi Ji, and turned sideways to ask.
"No." Qi Ji looked up, saw her, and replied bluntly.
"Come on, help me out. I really don't want to ask the math teacher—I'll get scolded for not paying attention in class again." Tian Ling clasped her hands in a pleading gesture. "Or how about lending me your notes for one night? I promise to copy them and return them tomorrow!"
Qi Ji's face tightened. He shot a quick glance at Su Baixue's direction and refused: "I won't help, and I won't lend. I need to study. You're blocking my light. Please move aside."
"How can you have no classmate spirit!" Tian Ling stood up angrily.
You have no classmate spirit either, Qi Ji thought silently, ignoring Tian Ling.
He lowered his head and scribbled problems.
Tian Ling glared at him for a moment before having to leave.
Qi Ji's deskmate had witnessed the whole scene. Amazed, he nudged Qi Ji with his elbow: "Wow, Qi Ji, did Tian Ling offend you? You're usually so thorough—a walking encyclopedia, everyone's go-to helper."
What's gotten into you today?
Qi Ji continued calculating without looking up: "Classmate Tian Ling has no sense of collective honor, no unity or friendliness. She always speaks ill of others. I don't approve of that behavior. And my notes are for my own use right now. Lending them is a favor, not lending is my right..."
Qi Ji's deskmate rubbed his forehead and quickly interrupted: "Stop, stop, stop, man... got it, got it. Next time, just say you don't want to lend them." He lowered his voice. "To be honest, I also think Tian Ling is gossipy."
Qi Ji paused his pen but didn't respond.
Tian Ling failed to borrow Qi Ji's notes. She tried asking a few other top students, but either their handwriting was illegible or their explanations were even more confusing. In the end, she had to go to the math teacher and got chewed out.
When she returned to the classroom and saw Su Baixue calmly writing problems at her desk, she grew even angrier.
It was all Su Baixue's fault for not lending her notes that led to this. So she kicked Su Baixue's stool again.
Su Baixue still didn't react.
Frustrated by such a wooden person, Tian Ling curled her lip and was about to say something when a head poked into the classroom. The person called out excitedly to Su Baixue: "Su Baixue, someone's looking for you."
Someone looking for Su Baixue?
For a moment, the entire class couldn't help but look up and turn toward the door.
At the classroom door stood a slender figure. The cold wind seemed to bother him; he coughed a few times with his fist against his lips. His long, narrow phoenix eyes looked toward Su Baixue inside the classroom—focused and melancholy.
The whole class buzzed.
Chen Baozhu couldn't help standing up, surprised: "Su Yang?"
"He's back at school?"
"So handsome... Does he know Su Baixue?"
The girls around started murmuring.
"What's going on?"
Su Baixue was also stunned. She looked at Su Yang and the classmate who had called her, clenched her fist, closed her exercise book, and hurried to the door.
"Su Yang... are you feeling better?" Su Baixue asked softly, a hint of pleasant surprise in her voice that she hadn't noticed.
Su Yang nodded.
"How about we talk over there?" Su Yang suggested, glancing around.
Su Baixue thought for a moment. She didn't want to go out—after all, she hadn't finished her problems, and the exam was the day after tomorrow. But looking at Su Yang's face made her feel a little dizzy, and since Su Yang had finally come back to school...
"Okay."