Chapter 172: Classroom Rivalries

The next day, starting from morning.

Not only did Lin Zheng Ran notice, but his classmates clearly observed that Fang Meng and Jiang Qian’s relationship was strained.

The two, once inseparable in the classroom, now barely spoke when they met; they exchanged a glance and walked right past each other.

At lunchtime, they even avoided sitting together, insisting on eating separately.

In the afternoon, the study committee member called out to Fang Meng: “Fang Meng, I have something for you to give to the Deputy Class Monitor; it’s hers…”

Fang Meng had already taken it, but then hesitated and handed it back: “You give it to her yourself.”

“Huh? But Jiang Qian isn’t here right now. Didn’t you say before that if she’s not around, you could handle it for her?”

Fang Meng sat at her desk, looking sulky: “That was before. From now on, just give her things directly.”

The student stood there dumbfounded, wondering what was going on.

The same thing happened with Jiang Qian. In the past, if they couldn’t find Fang Meng, people would go to Jiang Qian instead.

But now, Jiang Qian would just say: “Go find her directly; telling me won’t help.”

The classmate asked in confusion: “Aren’t you two best friends? I could tell you, and you could pass it on when you have time.”

Jiang Qian said flatly: “She won’t listen to me.”

Fang Meng walked by and overheard Jiang Qian talking to the person; she glanced at Jiang Qian, seeming furious as she chatted.

Jiang Qian naturally walked away.

Fang Meng half-turned, watching her leave with a cold, distant air, and frowned slightly.

Lin Zheng Ran hadn’t seen all of these odd events, but he figured out that the two had argued—and it was a serious one.

Of course, logically, a fight between girlfriends had nothing to do with Lin Zheng Ran, but sometimes trouble finds you, not the other way around.

During Thursday’s PE class, Lin Zheng Ran sat at the edge of the playground, resting.

After finishing her run, Fang Meng was out of breath and still seemed to be holding in her anger; she spotted Lin Zheng Ran’s jacket tossed aside.

She walked over, sat next to him, and neatly folded his jacket with careful precision.

Lin Zheng Ran was stunned to see Fang Meng suddenly tidying his things: “What are you doing? Why are you folding my stuff when you’re bored?”

Fang Meng admitted bluntly: “You’re right, I am bored. It’s been too long since I tidied up for someone, and my hands were itching. Besides, I’m sort of your childhood betrothed, so folding your things isn’t a big deal.”

Lin Zheng Ran: “.”

He couldn’t fully make sense of what she was saying.

After folding, Fang Meng set the neat jacket aside and asked: “I want to buy some water. Do you need me to get you one too?”

“No, I’m not thirsty.”

“Okay, then I won’t get you one.” With that, Fang Meng got up and left.

But when she came back from the school supermarket with water, she realized she had two bottles in hand.

It was a habit etched into her routine; she always bought one for Jiang Qian too.

With no way around it, since she couldn’t drink both, she decided to give the extra to Lin Zheng Ran.

Little did she know, as Fang Meng headed to the playground with the two bottles to find Lin Zheng Ran,

she got close and saw Jiang Qian approaching from the opposite side, also holding two bottles of water. Jiang Qian had the same habit—if she was thirsty and bought water, she’d get one for Fang Meng.

Now, the two women stood on either side of Lin Zheng Ran’s path, each holding two bottles, and after locking eyes,

they didn’t choose to give the water to their former best friend; instead, they both walked toward Lin Zheng Ran and offered him a bottle each.

In unison: “Here, have this one.”

The classmates resting on the playground were stunned.

Watching this dramatic scene unfold, they whispered and gossiped endlessly.

“Look at that.”

“What’s going on? I heard they’ve been fighting lately.”

“Is it over the Class Monitor?”

Lin Zheng Ran wiped sweat from his forehead: “What are you two doing? This is going to make people think you fought because of me, but it has nothing to do with me. I don’t even know why you two argued.”

As he spoke, he suddenly felt an unhappy gaze from far away; Lin Zheng Ran turned toward the teaching building in the distance.

Sure enough, at a classroom window in the teaching building, a fox-like figure—Han Wenwen—was watching through a small pair of binoculars.

Once she realized Lin Zheng Ran had noticed her stare,

Han Wenwen smiled kindly from the classroom.

But then, the teacher caught her and made her stand up to recite the lesson as punishment.

Lin Zheng Ran on the playground felt even more embarrassed.

On Friday, the homeroom teacher held a short meeting and announced something that made everyone cheer.

If the class did well on next week’s mock exams, they’d sneak in a movie during Chinese class as a reward.

To help ease the pressure of the college entrance exams.

A curious student raised their hand: “Teacher, can we switch seats in class then?”

The homeroom teacher laughed helplessly: “You all are pushing it, aren’t you? Getting to watch a movie in senior year is already a win; don’t ask for seat swaps. You’ll have to keep things in order, and the Class Monitor will handle discipline.”

Everyone cheered.

And promised not to talk or cause trouble.

Groups of friends started discussing who would sit with whom and who would swap seats.

It seemed like next week’s mock exams were already in the bag.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qian and Fang Meng stayed in their own spots, still refusing to talk.

On Saturday this week, since Lin Zheng Ran’s mom, Lin Xiao Li, was sick with a cold, he decided to go home and check on her.

But when he got home with his backpack in the morning, he heard voices from his mom’s bedroom, suggesting someone else was there.

“Aunt, drink slowly.”

“Okay, but I can handle it myself; you don’t need to be so attentive.”

“It’s fine, Aunt; I’m good at this sort of thing.”

“Still, you don’t have to hold it for me to drink. Ha ha…”

Lin Zheng Ran thought it might be his dad at first, but the voice sounded familiar, and he quickly guessed who it was.

He opened the door to his mom’s room and, sure enough, saw Fang Meng with her side ponytail, holding a cup of cold medicine for his mom.

“Fang Meng?”

Fang Meng and Lin Xiao Li both looked toward the door.

Fang Meng said innocently: “You’re back?”

Lin Xiao Li, holding the cup, added: “Ran Ran, you’re home? Xiao Meng came over this week to check on me since I was sick.”

Lin Zheng Ran acknowledged it, wondering what she was up to, and walked over: “Mom, how are you feeling?”

Lin Xiao Li coughed twice: “It’s nothing serious; your dad and I went hiking last week and caught a cold afterward.”

“Hiking?”

Lin Xiao Li chuckled awkwardly: “We didn’t tell you; we planned to sneak off for fun, but now it’s out.”

Lin Zheng Ran was used to his parents’ secret dates; after all these years without another sibling, he was already surprised.

The couple was incredibly close.

Fang Meng said: “I checked her pulse; it’s just a chill, nothing major.”

Lin Xiao Li praised: “I had no idea Xiao Meng could read pulses; she’s really skilled.”

Lin Zheng Ran nodded, eyeing Fang Meng.

Fang Meng eyed him back, and they stared at each other for a moment.

Lin Xiao Li lay down to rest, and Fang Meng followed Lin Zheng Ran to his bedroom, starting to undress for a chat.

They talked.

In the bedroom, Fang Meng asked unexpectedly: “What are you doing undressing?”

Lin Zheng Ran took off his jacket: “Changing clothes. But I’m more curious why you’re in my bedroom?”