Chapter 23: The Couple Fishing in Troubled Waters
Mathematics teacher Liu Zhiwei walked around the classroom a couple of times before finally stopping at a spot behind Qin Mo to listen to him explain the problems, his gaze warm and kind.
Qin Mo was aware of his presence but remained calm, continuing to carefully explain the questions to Wen Xia.
Jiang Yan and Liu An’an had a hard time; they didn’t dare to make a sound, pretending to struggle with their math exercises.
As the class was about to end, Liu Zhiwei left. Not long after, the bell rang, and the classroom became lively.
Wen Xia saw Qin Mo’s Adam’s apple move slightly as he took out his empty water cup. “Do you want some water? I’ll go get it.”
“Mm, I’ll go,” Qin Mo said.
He reached out, took the cup, and stood up to get water. Standing at about 1.7 meters tall, he bent slightly at the waist to fill the cup, the curve of his jawline becoming visible.
“Xia Xia, I think cousin’s voice is so soothing. When he talks about math problems, I don’t feel dizzy at all. It’s more like I’m falling for him,” Liu An’an said, glancing at Qin Mo while her eyes sparkled with heart-shaped symbols.
Wen Xia pinched her cheek and smiled. “Wake up.” She glanced around the classroom, noticing that most of the students were focused on Qin Mo.
Hmph, whether they were girls or boys, none of them stood a chance.
Suddenly, a loud “thud” brought her attention back. She looked at Qi Yu, then at the rainbow-colored candy on the desk, and asked curiously, “What’s this for?”
“Heh, two weeks ago you helped me with cleaning, so I’m giving this to thank you,” Qi Yu said, with one hand in his pocket and a raised eyebrow.
Every week, a group was assigned to clean, and each group formed a vertical line. Wen Xia was the group’s cleaning leader.
Two weeks ago, it was their group’s turn to sweep the floor, but Qi Yu wasn’t there, so the task of taking out the trash fell to her.
At that moment, Qin Mo returned with the water and walked over. Qi Yu glanced at him, then walked away with his hands still in his pockets.
After Qin Mo sat down, he glanced at the rainbow candy and, in a voice that wasn’t too loud or too soft, said, “Don’t you have bad teeth? Why are you eating candy?”
Wen Xia: “…”
Before Wen Xia could say anything, Qin Mo picked up the box of candy and handed it to Jiang Yan and Liu An’an behind him. “Xia Xia has bad teeth, so she shouldn’t eat candy.”
Wen Xia: “…”
She silently accepted it.
Jiang Yan and Liu An’an both looked at Wen Xia, then exchanged glances after a few seconds.
It felt like their handsome cousin was getting jealous.
After dealing with the “rival,” Qin Mo finally took a few sips of water and softly said, “Xia Xia, continue.”
He moved his chair a bit closer to Wen Xia.
The evening self-study session ended.
Wen Xia asked Jiang Yan and Liu An’an to take their things back to the dormitory while she walked Qin Mo to the school gate.
The road near the teaching building had been broken for the past week, and it was pitch dark.
Suddenly, her hand was taken by a large one. She looked to her side, unable to see the person, and her heart inexplicably beat faster.
A bright light suddenly swept across, followed by a loud shout, “What are you two doing?!”
Wen Xia jumped in surprise, and even Qin Mo was startled, quickly letting go of her hand.
From a distance, another voice shouted, “Which class are you two from? Come with me to the academic affairs office.”
They turned around and saw another couple from the school being caught by the discipline director. Both of them immediately relaxed.
There were other “couples fishing in troubled waters,” and they quickly distanced themselves by a meter.
As they walked out of the dark path, Qin Mo suddenly chuckled softly, “I was more nervous just now than I would be at my own wedding.”
“I got scared,” Wen Xia said, feeling a bit of lingering fear. If the discipline director had caught them, she would’ve had to write a 3,000-word reflection.
…
By the time they returned to the dormitory, there were only a few minutes left for washing up.
Wen Xia quickly grabbed a basin of water and started brushing her teeth.
Jiang Yan and Liu An’an gathered around her, with Liu An’an gossiping, “Xia Xia, I heard someone say that a couple from the class next door got caught by the discipline director. Did you see it?”
Wen Xia nodded.
“Come on, tell us,” Jiang Yan eagerly urged.
Wen Xia spit out the foam in her mouth and briefly told them what had happened.
Liu An’an clicked her tongue a few times. “Well, if you think about it, you’d know that the discipline director wouldn’t just let that path slide. My brother was telling me that it’s one of the areas the school monitors closely on weekends.”
Why didn’t she say this earlier?
Wen Xia held back the question in her mind.
…
The sports meet meant they didn’t have morning self-study, so Wen Xia and the others managed to sleep a little longer. When they went to the cafeteria with their lunchboxes, the food was already gone.
The three of them headed to the small convenience store, buying bread and milk before returning to the classroom to nibble on their breakfast.
As it neared 8:30, Cao Jun entered the classroom and called for the students to settle down. “I have a few things to announce. The class monitor should have a few boys take down some desks and also move the water dispenser. We need to make a mark for Class 8.”
“The chairs you take down need to be carefully watched. We don’t want anyone standing during class after the sports meet ends.”
His words made the whole class laugh.
Cao Jun continued, “Safety comes first, then the sports. If anyone participating in the sports meet feels unwell, please speak up right away…”
He spoke for a few more minutes before leaving the classroom, and the students began moving the chairs.
Liu An’an shook a bottle of correction fluid and wrote her name under one of the chairs. “Xia Xia, Yan Yan, give me your chairs, I’ll write your names on them so it’ll be easier to find later.”
Once they had written their names, the three girls were about to pick up their chairs and take them downstairs when Jiang Xu walked over, grabbed their chairs, and grinned. “Hehe, I’ll carry them for you. You girls go ahead.”
Qi Yu passed by, carrying a chair, and clicked his tongue mockingly.
…
Class 8’s area was on the left side, near the sports field. Wen Xia and her friends sat in the second row, with the boys from their class in the third row.
By chance, Jiang Xu ended up sitting right behind Wen Xia.
Jiang Yan and Liu An’an exchanged mischievous looks with Wen Xia, who gave them a warning glance.
“I bought too many, here, have one,” Jiang Xu suddenly handed three bottles of sports drink to Wen Xia.
Immediately, the boys behind them started teasing. “Jiang Xu, why aren’t you giving us any?” It was Su Bo who spoke first.
“Yeah, why not share with us, Jiang Xu?” Li Zhuo chimed in, since he and Jiang Xu usually got along well.
Jiang Xu kicked him lightly. “I’ll buy you guys some later.”
“Quiet down, what are you making all that noise for?” Cao Jun, who had appeared next to them, scolded them sternly before standing there, keeping watch.
This gave Wen Xia no chance to return the drinks to Jiang Xu.
After the principal finished his speech, the sports meet officially began, and the cheerleading team took the stage to warm up the crowd.
Many of the boys watched the cheerleaders, whistling as their short skirts swirled in the air, while discussing which girl looked the best.
With Cao Jun no longer around, Wen Xia returned the drink to Jiang Xu, her tone still polite. “Thanks, but we’re good. We don’t need any.”
Jiang Xu was momentarily stunned, scratched his head, and then tried to please her. “Do you not like this? How about I get you some milk tea? I’ll go buy it.”
“We’re fine, we don’t need any. If I drink too much, I’ll have to go to the bathroom,” Wen Xia replied, refusing politely as the classmates around them watched.
Jiang Xu, sensing that she might be feeling awkward, didn’t press the issue further.
The first event of the sports meet was the second-year girls’ 3000-meter run, and unfortunately, Jiang Yan was assigned to the first race—number 8.
Wen Xia and Liu An’an stood by the starting line, waving colorful pom-poms enthusiastically. “Yan Yan, you’ve got this!”
“Yan Yan, go for it!!!! Yan Yan, you will win!!!!”
Jiang Yan shot them a resentful look, glaring at the two of them.
Zhou Qing, dressed in the school’s yellow referee jacket, wearing a whistle around his neck and holding a small flag, was the judge for the 3000-meter race.
He walked along the starting line, checking that each runner’s competition number was properly secured. When he reached Jiang Yan, he adjusted her number for her and said with a smile, “Jiang Yan, good luck.”
Jiang Yan immediately felt her face turn as red as her neck.
