Chapter 64: How Could You Baselessly Sully My Good Name
Chapter 64: Chapter 64: How Could You Baselessly Sully My Good Name
After the evening study hall on June 3rd, the homeroom teacher stood on the podium and delivered a heartfelt speech, wishing everyone well on their upcoming exams. This marked the official end of their three years of high school. It was anyone’s guess when they would all be together again.
Many of the students cried silently, and Jiang Xia’s eyes reddened as well. He had now experienced this same scene twice. Although he’d been busy with his business after being reborn and rarely interacted with his classmates, they had been students and teachers together, after all.
The homeroom teacher droned on, repeating the same reminders for the college entrance exams they had heard countless times and offering his best wishes to every student. Finally, with flamboyant strokes, he wrote a two-line couplet on the blackboard:
Upper Scroll: On the mountain of knowledge, we compete with valor; watch as our No. 2 High students reach the peak and seize the laurel.
Lower Scroll: In the sea of learning, we contend with grace; see my Class Six classmates cleave the waves and take the crown.
Banner: Success on the Golden List
The classroom immediately erupted in thunderous applause.
After the teacher left, the students, who had just been overcome with emotion, erupted into wild cheers. After three years of painstaking study, they were finally free.
Some threw their books, others shouted at the top of their lungs—everyone did whatever they felt like to blow off steam.
Jiang Xia quietly packed up his desk. He watched Wang Ming furiously tearing up textbooks and test papers, but he himself was completely unfazed.
In his past life, he had been one of those students making a scene. But he was a mature adult now, and he couldn’t be bothered with such childish antics.
"Well, deskmate, thanks for everything these past two years," Jiang Xia said, a sudden wave of sentiment washing over him.
"You should be thanking your girlfriend, not me," Chen Yao said nonchalantly. "I explained so many problems to you, but nothing helped you improve as much as falling in love with her did."
Jiang Xia chuckled. Although the improvement in his grades had nothing to do with his relationship, from everyone else’s perspective, his scores only started to skyrocket after he got together with the top student in their year.
He was now consistently ranked in the school’s top fifteen and could even occasionally break into the top ten.
"Credit where it’s due. Honestly, being your deskmate has been a real pleasure."
The corners of Chen Yao’s mouth lifted into a slight smile, making the faint freckles beside her nose seem playful and cute.
"Mm... Well, I’m also deeply honored to have been deskmates with Boss Jiang," she said in a serious tone. "In the future, can I go out and brag that a certain big-shot, Boss Jiang, used to be my deskmate?"
Jiang Xia couldn’t help but chuckle.
"I’ll take that as a blessing."
"Well then, goodbye, deskmate. Good luck on the exams. Oh, right, with your grades as they are now, the chances of you doing poorly are practically zero."
She finished packing her desk and glanced toward the classroom door, where she saw Lin Yanwan standing with her backpack on.
"Your girlfriend is here."
She said it nonchalantly, then headed for the girls’ dorm without a moment’s pause.
Jiang Xia smiled. He was about to give her a hint about her future based on his past life, but then he reconsidered. ’Better wait for another opportunity.’
Lin Yanwan swaggered into the classroom. It was a common sight, so no one was surprised. Someone even called out jokingly, "Hey, sis! Here for Jiang Xia again?"
"Who else would she be here for, you guys?" Jiang Xia shot back with a laugh, and Lin Yanwan blushed.
Then he gave Old Wang a shout, slung on his backpack, and walked over to his girlfriend.
"When did you guys finish?"
"Just now," Lin Yanwan said. "But Teacher Ding told everyone not to go wild. He said celebrating prematurely can lead to trouble, and we should wait until the college entrance exam results are out. That’s what it means to have the last laugh."
Jiang Xia gave a thumbs-up in approval. "Teacher Ding is a wise man."
Then, her tone shifted. "I was watching from the doorway for a while. You two seemed to be having quite the happy chat."
"High school’s over, so we were just being polite and saying goodbye," Jiang Xia explained.
She wrinkled her nose. "Hmph. As if I’m interested in what you two were talking about."
"Boss Lady, I can vouch for that," Wang Ming chimed in loyally. "The boss is completely devoted to you. He never flirts with other girls."
"You two are thick as thieves. I don’t believe a single word you say," Lin Yanwan huffed softly. Then, with a sly grin, she added, "Wang Ming, from now on, I’ll be the one paying your monthly salary. You know what that means, right?"
The corner of Jiang Xia’s mouth twitched. ’What a ruthless woman,’ he thought. ’She’s already this strict and we’re not even married. What’s next, a fifty-buck monthly allowance once we tie the knot?’
"Boss Lady, the boss never flirts with other girls... except for Chen Yao," Wang Ming said, quick to read the room.
Lin Yanwan shot him a dark look.
Jiang Xia: "???"
"Old Wang, you’re supposed to be an honest man! How can you slander me out of thin air!"
Lin Yanwan’s gaze swept over them both. "Wang Ming," she said airily, "lie again, and I’m docking your pay!"
"Brilliant, baby!" Jiang Xia exclaimed, overjoyed. He shot his best bro a gloating look.
Now it was Wang Ming’s turn to be dumbfounded. His attempt to curry favor had backfired spectacularly. He instantly realized that he had blundered into the middle of the couple’s flirting—basically just offering up his face to be slapped.
The three of them walked out of the classroom. Wang Ming looked around, but he couldn’t spot the familiar figure he was looking for.
He hesitated before asking, "Sis, how come I don’t see Shen Ying?"
"Her dad came to pick her up. She left a while ago."
"Oh, okay." Wang Ming was suddenly disappointed; he had prepared a lot of things he wanted to say to her tonight.
Lin Yanwan sighed. "Just focus on the exams for now. Don’t get distracted by other things."
"Yeah, okay."
Just then, Jiang Xia took out his exam permit. "Where are you guys taking your exams?"
"I’m at our school," Lin Yanwan said.
"What a coincidence, me too." Jiang Xia took a look at his girlfriend’s permit. "Too bad we’re not in the same exam hall."
Wang Ming immediately wailed, "Damn it, why are you two at our school while I’m the only one at the affiliated high school?"
Jiang Xia chuckled. Remembering that Wang Ming had gotten into the Central Academy of Fine Arts in his previous life, he said, "Don’t worry. You’re guaranteed to do exceptionally well on this exam."
"If that’s really the case, I’ll work for you for a month for free," Wang Ming said with a sigh.
Clearly, even he didn’t believe his own words. He wasn’t banking on a small miracle like performing exceptionally well; he would be happy just to do as well as he normally did.
"You’ve got a deal," Jiang Xia said, beaming.
Lin Yanwan couldn’t help but shoot Wang Ming a pitying look. She was one of only two people who knew the truth. ’This poor guy is about to lose a month’s salary,’ she thought.
"Old Wang, just focus on studying for the next three days," Jiang Xia said. "Put the concept art on the back burner for now."
Wang Ming’s eyebrows shot up. "A boss who tells his employee not to work just so he won’t have to pay him? You truly are a capitalist, squeezing every last penny you can."
"You saw right through me, huh?" Jiang Xia retorted with a laugh. "Get ready to work for me for free for a month."
The three of them slowly walked out of the school gates. Jiang Wende, who had been waiting by the roadside for some time, gave a light honk on the horn.
...
(Sorry, I was busy moving all day, so there’s only one Chapter for today. I’ll be sure to make it up with an update tomorrow.)