Damn it, I'm surrounded by childhood sweethearts

Today's evening self-study session was noisy like a vegetable market all night, as the teacher had no homework to assign and was busy grading papers and calculating scores.

"Damn it, Brother Fan, did you sneak home to study or something? I've never seen you study seriously before!"

"It was you who told us to take a break, and now you're the one scoring full marks in everything. After all is said and done, you're the real genius here, and we're the ones who are really struggling!"

After the scores came out, Wu Shichong and Lai Chenglang felt the most helpless.

Both of them had followed Xu Qingfan's example of doing other homework during humanities classes. As a result, not one of their scores in history, geography, and biology exams was over fifty out of a hundred.

"Pff... stop slandering me. When have I ever secretly studied at home? Ask Ruan Wen if you don't believe me." Xu Qingfan couldn't help but laugh when he saw Wu Shichong's thirty-eight in history.

The concerns of a sixteen-year-old girl like Xiao Ruawen were hidden for the time being, as the test papers had been handed out. She added back her own missed points and calculated her total score, finding it more interesting than any shallow love affair.

"Don't believe him; that Brother Fan is really bad, tricking you all not to study. In fact, every night, he uses a flashlight under the covers to secretly review!"

While saying this, Xiao Ruawen also mimed the action of reading with a flashlight, as if she were really there.

"I knew it, Brother Fan, so this is your true face!"

"Damn it, fooled by Brother Fan again!"

Wu Shichong and Lai Chenglang angrily slammed the tables, pretending to be filled with righteous indignation.

"Just pretend that what you're thinking is true," Xu Qingfan shook his head, not bothering to continue engaging with them.

Their group of six was also chatting away at this moment.

Xiao Ruawen first sent her and Xu Qingfan's scores for every subject to the group, followed by the other girls, who left messages upon seeing the scores.

Temporarily leading in scores was Wu Lingyu, mainly because she had scored a high 95 in moral education.

Following her by two points was Xu Qingfan, with Xia Xiaoxiao in third, trailing him and Yu by over ten points.

Since the geography and chemistry scores hadn't come out yet, it was still premature to declare these as final rankings.

[Xiao Ruawen: Brother Fan forgot to fill in the answer sheet for chemistry, scoring zero, making him the last place in our group, over!]

[Xu Qingfan: To be honest, I think I really forgot to fill it out.]

[Everyone: Hahahaha!]

...

The following afternoon, the last two exams, geography and chemistry, had been graded.

As expected, Xu Qingfan had filled in his answer sheet. He, Xia Xiaoxiao, and Wu Lingyu all scored full marks in these two subjects, making it seven full scores in nine subjects besides language and politics for the three of them.

With such an extreme four-digit total score, one couldn't find a student from over a dozen past cohorts to match this.

In fourth place for the grade was Zhang Yiyi, with a total score of 952.

When it came time for Xiao Ruawen and Lin Wanning, their rankings slipped to after the thirtieth position.

If it weren't for the fact they hung out with Xu Qingfan and the others, Lin Wanning and Xiao Ruawen could actually be considered two big academic powerhouses.

Licheng Middle School always had the tradition of posting the top three hundred names on the honor roll. Once the honor roll was posted, their group of six would become even more famous at school.

...

Friday afternoon.

"Next week will be the school sports meet. Athletes who have signed up, remember to take the parental consent forms home for your parents to sign. If you have any discomfort, make sure to inform the teacher or class representative in advance, and take good care of your bodies."

"Oh, and another thing, class president, use some of the class funds to buy things like Yunnan Baiyao to keep on hand for next week, and also arrange to have a few boxes of bottled water delivered to our base camp. That's the first item."

The homeroom teacher moved from one point to another, speaking whatever came to mind from the podium, "The second item, there will be a parent-teacher conference in the school auditorium Sunday evening. The notice for class president should have already been sent out, right?"

"It's been sent!"

"The teacher sent it!"

A rustling chorus of affirmations came from the class.

After receiving feedback, Guo Youcai continued, "High school is different from elementary and junior high. During the three years of high school, the school will only hold two parent-teacher conferences. One is after the midterm of the first semester of freshman year, and the other is before the college entrance examination in senior year, to prepare parents mentally. So, students, please remind your parents not to miss it when you go home!"

"School's out!"

After the homeroom teacher announced dismissal, the classroom immediately exploded into a hubbub.

"Hurry it up, Yu's going home today." Xu Qingfan tugged at the girl who was still packing her school bag.

"Oh, right, right, I'm almost done." Xiao Ruawen, who was packing at a leisurely pace, immediately sped up after hearing that.

Xiao Ruawen quickly slung her backpack over her shoulder and ran out of the classroom with Xu Qingfan.

It had been almost a month since Wu Lingyu last went home, and the timing was perfect with the week's exams wrapping up.

The group of six gathered downstairs and had already switched their topic of discussion from the midterms to the upcoming sports meet.

"Hehe, Brother Qingfan, our broadcasting station will be responsible for reading the drafts during the event; I'll cheer for you then!" Lin Wanning squinted her eyes and looped her arm through Xu Qingfan's.

"Yeah, you can just yell into the microphone, 'I, Lin Wanning, I swear to the sky, to the rainbow, to the wind, to the clouds...'"

Before Xu Qingfan could finish, Lin Wanning chimed in, raising her right hand and shouting, "I will love only Brother Qingfan for the rest of my life!"

Xiao Ruawen, holding Xia Xiaoxiao's hand, secretly observed her best friend's expression at this moment.

But whether Xia Xiaoxiao had grown accustomed to it or not, the girl's face showed no ripples, and Xiao Ruawen could see no change at all.

Falling a few steps behind on purpose, Xiao Ruawen whispered into her friend's ear as the girl looked at her quizzically, "Yu won't be at Brother Fan's house this week, Xiao Xiao?"

Hearing this, Xia Xiaoxiao glanced at the blissful man leading Lin Wanning and Wu Lingyu by the hands, so very pleased with himself.

"We'll see," Xia Xiaoxiao pursed her lips, and any look of annoyance was fleeting.

Xiao Ruawen similarly looked at Brother Chou Fan with disdain and thought, "Still talking about continuously trying to correct your behavior, I think you're actually enjoying it more like!"

"Didn't you say you were going to reward him last week? Why is there no follow-up?" Xiao Ruawen asked in a lowered voice.

Xia Xiaoxiao avoided eye contact and said proudly, "Not hitting him is already rewarding him."

"Alright, alright, Brother Fan really does deserve a beating!" Xiao Ruawen agreed wholeheartedly, looking maliciously at Brother Chou Fan walking ahead.

She still remembered the threat Brother Chou Fan made to her last time. The last time they walked on Love Avenue, they were mistaken for thieves by the dorm supervisor, and ended up being cornered in the laboratory building, nearly being forcibly kissed by Brother Chou Fan!

What did the jerk say the next day? "Xiao Ruawen, you don't want Xia Xiaoxiao to find out about us, do you?"

[Brother Chou Fan, I'll keep your secret for a lifetime!]

Leading the way, Xu Qingfan suddenly felt a chill down his spine and turned around, only to find that Xiao Ruawen and Xia Xiaoxiao had unknowingly fallen so far behind.

"Why are you two walking so slowly? Hurry up and catch up!" he shouted at them.

Xia Xiaoxiao was about to say something when Xiao Ruawen glared at him, "Just catch up, what are you yelling for!"

"Fine, fine, my fault, my fault." With his pigtail still in Xiao Ruawen's grip, Xu Qingfan could only obediently admit his mistake.

"Humph~ that's more like it!" Xiao Ruawen quickened her pace.

Xia Xiaoxiao looked at Xu Qingfan with confusion, then at Xiao Ruawen, deep in thought.

When the six reached the school gate, the car to pick up Wu Lingyu had already pulled up outside.

"See you all on Sunday!" Wu Lingyu waved goodbye before getting into the car.

"Bye Yu!"

"Yu, remember to log on tonight!"

"Let us know when you get home safe."

Xu Qingfan lastly went up to ruffle Wu Lingyu's hair, the five watching as Yu got into the car, which eventually drove away.

"Let's go, we'll head home to close the doors and windows, then go back to our own homes," Xu Qingfan motioned with his hand.

"Okay!"

...

Since they were one Yu short this week, the five of them took the bus and headed home separately.

As evening approached five o'clock, the driver finally dropped off Xu Qingfan and Xia Xiaoxiao at Donghui City.

Xia Xiaoxiao, without saying a word, dragged him straight to the convenience store as soon as they got off.

Once inside, still without a word, she left him at the cashier and went to fetch two bottles of Sprite.

When Xia Xiaoxiao returned, the female cashier and Xu Qingfan were still staring at each other.

"What are you spacing out for, pay up," Xia Xiaoxiao nudged him with her elbow.

"Ah... oh, oh, oh."

"Ah... right, right!"

Both snapped back to attention, one fumbling for his wallet, the other fumbling to scan the code.

After Xu Qingfan and Xia Xiaoxiao walked away, the female cashier cursed at the air, "I quit, I'm quitting tomorrow!"

"Here." Xu Qingfan handed one of the open Sprites to the girl, taking from her hand the other bottle.

"Happy now?" Xia Xiaoxiao gave him a glance, taking a small sip from the Sprite, clearly referring to his habit of going to the convenience store every week after school.

Xu Qingfan had no response and simply said, "It's not good to drink Sprite when it's getting cold, and your birthday is coming up. Have you thought about what gift you want?"

"My birthday is still two months away." Xia Xiaoxiao looked at him sharply.

"It's already November, isn't December right around the corner? If you haven't thought about it, never mind, I'll think of something myself." Xu Qingfan wiped his sweat stealthily, because he had indeed gotten confused.

November was Zhang Chunxue's birthday and he had mistakenly remembered it as Xia Xiaoxiao's.

Xia Xiaoxiao looked at him with disdain and said lightly, "Let's go home."

"Okay!" The jerk reached for her hand, but Xia Xiaoxiao shook it off.

He reached again, she shook it off again.

In the end, her hand was still caught by his.

Just as Xu Qingfan was starting to feel smug, a voice like a vengeful ghost suddenly rang in the jerk's ear.

"Xu Qingfan, holding my hand in public like this, what does that make us?" Xia Xiaoxiao's voice drifted over.

"Ahaha... what did you say?" Xu Qingfan had just started to let go when Xia Xiaoxiao grabbed his hand.

"What does this make us?" Xia Xiaoxiao lifted their linked hands in front of them.

"What does it make us?" Xu Qingfan blinked, confused.

"Uhm… does it make us a couple?" Xu Qingfan asked back.

Xia Xiaoxiao's pupils suddenly dilated.

[A couple? A couple!]

....