Tao Zhi knew Jiang Qihuai was a dog, but she didn’t expect him to be this much of a dog.

Although he said it in a somewhat gentler way, his words basically meant—

You scored this little and still have the nerve to fall in love early?

With grades like yours, I wouldn’t even look at you.

His tone and attitude seemed very serious; he didn’t sound like he was looking down on her—just purely rejecting her, with the reason being that if you can’t even score seven hundred points, then don’t bother with meaningless things.

It was even more hurtful than mockery.

Even someone like Tao Zhi—who lacked empathy and wasn’t exactly kind—felt a pang of heartache for this Consort Li.

Tao Zhi thought that if Jiang Qihuai had said that to her, she might not be able to resist punching him in the head.

Sure enough, Li Sijia lowered her head, staying silent, her shoulders trembling.

Tao Zhi wondered if he’d made the poor girl cry.

After quite a while, Li Sijia lifted her head again, her face flushed red, biting her lip as she said, “I understand. Jiang classmate likes girls who study well, right?”

Jiang Qihuai didn’t answer.

His reaction looked as if he had admitted it. Li Sijia nodded, gathered her courage, and continued, “Then if I can score seven hundred points in this monthly exam, I hope Jiang classmate can consider me.”

She didn’t wait for Jiang Qihuai’s reply and ran off immediately.

When Jiang Qihuai turned around, he saw Tao Zhi squatting nearby, both hands propping up her chin, staring intently ahead without sparing him a single glance.

Before he could speak, Tao Zhi, guilty beyond disguise, said quickly, “I’m watching the first years play basketball.”

On the outdoor court ahead, a boy dribbled the ball past his opponent and sprinted toward the basket. He leaped high, sending the ball cleanly through the hoop.

Tao Zhi clapped her hands. “Nice shot!”

Jiang Qihuai: “……”

He raised his hand and gave her a light tap on the head. “Let’s go.”

Tao Zhi covered her head and stood up. After squatting too long, her legs were numb; she hopped twice in place before skipping to catch up.

She tilted her head, looked up at Jiang Qihuai’s face, and said nothing.

The boy’s jawline was sharp and lean, extending smoothly to his ear. His neck was long, his Adam’s apple prominent, his shoulders broad but slim. The white T-shirt and school jacket half-concealed the outline of his collarbone.

“What are you looking at.” His pale thin lips parted slightly. His voice carried the crystalline edge unique to boys his age, each word clear and cold.

“I was thinking…” Tao Zhi drawled lazily, speaking with honest frankness, “If you ignored your personality and just looked at your face, there really are a few reasons why Consort Li would fall head over heels for you.”

Tao Zhi had seen quite a few handsome guys.

The “aloof flower of the high mountain,” “cold moon above the lotus pond,” “academic genius” types weren’t rare—but Jiang Qihuai didn’t belong in that category.

The edges in his personality were starkly obvious, and he had no intention of hiding that sharp, aggressive nature. His empathy and sense of compassion were poor—he was cutting, and unfeeling.

Tao Zhi thought that if you sliced this person open, he’d definitely be black inside.

But the scene was far too bloody.

She shrank her neck back and withdrew her gaze. “You could at least speak a little more tactfully, leave the poor girl some dignity.”

Jiang Qihuai turned his head slightly. “I thought I was already being tactful.”

Where was that tactful?!

Are you not just showing off?!

Tao Zhi rolled her eyes. “It’s only because our poor Consort Li has a good temper and a soft personality. If it were someone else hearing you say that…”

She trailed off, then grew a little curious. “Your Highness, if Consort Li really scored over 700 next exam, would you consider her?”

Jiang Qihuai lowered his gaze. “If I were you, I’d be worrying about something else right now.”

Tao Zhi froze. “Something else? Like what?”

“For example,” Jiang Qihuai paused, “the reason the homeroom teacher might be looking for you after you skipped a class.”

Tao Zhi: “……”

Tao Zhi’s expression showed faint panic. “Did Old Wang come to the class last period?”

“Mm,” Jiang Qihuai didn’t even blink. “He did.”

Tao Zhi: “……”

The two of them entered the teaching building. Tao Zhi clung reluctantly to the handrail, dragging her feet up the stairs. She stopped in front of Wang Zhezi’s office, quickly running through her options. Raising a hand, she tugged at the corner of her mouth with her fingertips to pull it down into a weak expression, then knocked and pushed the door open. In a wilted tone, she said, “Teacher Wang.”

Wang Zhezi was grading papers. At her voice, he looked up. “You’re here? I was just about to ask you and Jiang Qihuai about the class meeting this week. The semester’s nearly a month in, do you two have any ideas?”

“?”

Tao Zhi lifted her head in confusion. “Class meeting?”

“Next week’s the monthly exam. I was planning to use next week’s class meeting for motivation, but your math teacher just took that period in advance, so it’s been moved up to this week.”

Wang Zhezi spoke while marking papers. “The class leader can handle it. Think of a topic, something positive and uplifting. No problem, right?”

Tao Zhi had come in full of guilt, but when she realized it wasn’t about being caught skipping class, she immediately straightened her back. “No problem!”

Wang Zhezi looked up in surprise. “Usually when I ask you to do anything, you act like it’s a hassle. How come you’re so eager this time?”

Tao Zhi answered with a straight face, “It’s my duty as class leader, after all.”

Beside her, Jiang Qihuai gave a quiet, nasal laugh, mocking in tone.

With her hands behind her back, Tao Zhi secretly pinched his arm.

Wang Zhezi didn’t notice their little exchange. “Alright then, you two can go. Discuss it with the publicity committee member later.”

Tao Zhi responded and was the first to leave the office.

Jiang Qihuai followed, closing the door behind them.

As soon as he stepped out, Tao Zhi said faintly, “Liar.”

Jiang Qihuai kept walking forward.

Tao Zhi said, “Jiang Qihuai is a liar.”

“……”

Tao Zhi continued, “Jiang Qihuai deceives innocent girls.”

Jiang Qihuai: “……”

He turned his head. “Wasn’t that just to give you a little sense of urgency?”

Tao Zhi let out a cold “hmph,” swung her head away, and strode past him. Her high ponytail swayed behind her, the ends brushing lightly against the collar of his school uniform.

Jiang Qihuai raised a hand, fingertips brushing the spot—his neck lowered slightly.

It tickled a little.

Jiang Zhengxun, the publicity committee member, was conducting his fifth self-reflection. He was starting to wonder if he shouldn’t have run for this position back when the class committee elections were held.

Previously, Zhao Mingqi had teased him with careless ease, saying that for someone with such a bold, tough-sounding name, how come he didn’t like gaming or basketball—why did he always enjoy fiddling with things only girls liked?

Jiang Zhengxun thought Zhao Mingqi’s mindset had problems.

So what if he was a boy?

Boys could like drawing, could like editing class newsletters, could like organizing class meetings and activities. What did personal interests have to do with gender? There was no conflict in that at all.

Until Teacher Wang Zhezi told him to collaborate with the class monitor and vice monitor.

Jiang Zhengxun lifted his eyes and glanced at the two people sitting opposite him. Jiang Qihuai was handing over the draft class meeting proposal he had just finished to Tao Zhi. “The publicity committee wrote it.”

Tao Zhi had her chin resting on the back of the chair, eyes still on her phone as she played her game. “I don’t talk to liars.”

Jiang Qihuai: “……”

He pushed the notebook toward her. “Take a look. If it’s fine, we’ll settle it.”

Tao Zhi didn’t even glance at him. “Can’t hear liars either.”

Jiang Qihuai: “……”

It had already been several periods.

Jiang Qihuai’s patience had always been limited. Seeing that both class leaders’ faces were as cold as ice, Jiang Zhengxun cleared his throat, took the notebook carefully from Jiang Qihuai’s hand, and cautiously slid it toward Tao Zhi. In a soft voice, he said, “Um… it might be a little childish, maybe a bit cliché, but I still really like it myself. Class monitor, please take a look.”

He even used ‘you’ respectfully.

Tao Zhi’s fingers paused over her phone. Feeling that it wasn’t fair to vent her temper on others, she stuffed the phone into her jacket pocket and looked up, taking the notebook.

Jiang Zhengxun’s proposed theme was growth and change.

Every person’s life unfolds in stages. No one can stay the same forever. The person you wanted to become as a child may no longer be the person you wish to be when you grow up, and good grades now don’t represent everything.

It was, admittedly, a bit corny—but Tao Zhi liked it.

She tapped the notebook with her finger, raised her head, and looked at Jiang Qihuai. “See that?”

Tao Zhi crossed one leg over the other, enunciating each word: “Having good grades now doesn’t represent everything.”

“……”

Jiang Qihuai couldn’t be bothered to argue with her.

Jiang Zhengxun’s class meeting theme ended with an interactive segment: everyone was to write down their childhood dreams and who they wanted to become now.

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, he quickly asked Tao Zhi, “Class monitor, did you have any dreams when you were little?”

Tao Zhi turned her head, thought for a moment, and said, “When I was little, I wanted to marry the man who killed chickens.”

Jiang Zhengxun didn’t quite process it. “What did you say he did?”

“The man who kills chickens. My family wasn’t doing well back then—I don’t really remember all the details, but anyway, we were happy just to have meat for dinner. And I had this annoying younger brother. I had to share food with him.”

Tao Zhi glanced with disdain toward the other side of the classroom, where Ji Fan was sleeping soundly. She held up three fingers.

“When I was five, I couldn’t beat him. Out of a whole plate of chicken wings, I could only grab three. The rest were snatched away by that pig.”

Jiang Zhengxun: “……”

You still remember the chicken wing battle from when you were five?!

He thought that silently to himself but didn’t dare say it aloud.

“So I wanted to marry the man who kills chickens. Or maybe open a chicken shop myself. That way, I could eat as much as I wanted without fighting my annoying brother for wings.” Tao Zhi continued matter-of-factly.

Jiang Zhengxun thought, so the main reason was just that you hated your brother, huh.

He nodded in agreement. “That’s a very practical dream.”

As they were talking, Li Shuangjiang suddenly popped his head out from behind Jiang Qihuai and Tao Zhi. “Hey, it’s my birthday tonight. Are you guys coming?”

“You already told me this morning,” Jiang Zhengxun said slowly, closing his notebook. “I’m not going.”

Li Shuangjiang was displeased, glaring at him. “If you don’t come, I’ll drag you there.”

Jiang Zhengxun: “Then that’s settled, isn’t it.”

Tao Zhi turned her head. “It’s your birthday today?”

“Yeah,” Li Shuangjiang said. “Didn’t I tell you? I mentioned it in our Justice League group!”

Tao Zhi had muted that group long ago and honestly had no recollection of it.

“I just told Ji Fan when we were playing ball. He’s coming too,” Li Shuangjiang said, leaning lazily against a desk, swaying as he spoke. “Big bro, you coming?”

Tao Zhi had no objection. “Sure.”

Li Shuangjiang then turned to Jiang Qihuai. “Huai-ge, you coming?”

Jiang Qihuai was just about to refuse.

Li Shuangjiang frowned, his face full of seriousness. “Huai-ge, that’s not right. You didn’t come to the last team activity either. Studying’s important, sure—but aren’t extracurricular activities important too? As the member of our Handsome Young—”

Before he could blurt out that idiotic name of their so-called alliance, Jiang Qihuai’s head started to ache. He cut him off: “What time?”

“Right after school!” Li Shuangjiang said excitedly. “Give your fellow alliance members some face. It’s settled!”

After saying that, Li Shuangjiang drifted off again to call Zhao Mingqi.

Tao Zhi glanced at Jiang Qihuai and lowered her voice. “I didn’t check that group. I didn’t prepare a gift for him.”

Jiang Qihuai looked at her. “Do you think I checked it?”

Tao Zhi: “Why didn’t you? I already unmuted it for you.”

After she finished speaking, she fell silent.

Jiang Qihuai looked at her with a meaningful expression.

“What?” Tao Zhi scratched the tip of her nose. “Didn’t you already notice?”

Jiang Qihuai turned slightly to the side. “I did. I just didn’t expect you to admit it so straightforwardly.”

“What’s there not to admit?” Tao Zhi mimicked Li Shuangjiang’s tone. “As a member of our Beautiful Girls’ Justice League, you really should be a bit more sociable.”

Jiang Qihuai: “……”

Tao Zhi raised her hand and patted his shoulder. “Our Highness.”

Jiang Qihuai didn’t respond, unsure what kind of nonsense she was about to pull this time.

Then Tao Zhi deliberately raised her voice. “The leader of the Beautiful Girls’ Justice League!”

Jiang Qihuai: “……”

Li Shuangjiang’s birthday dinner was at a restaurant not far from school, about a ten-minute walk.

Li Shuangjiang was well-liked, loud and sociable, and had called a large group of friends. The boys in front slung arms over each other’s shoulders, chatting about games and basketball, while the girls behind talked about clothes and the latest manga and novels.

Tao Zhi bit into a milk candy as she walked beside Fu Xiling. The large group made their way noisily to the restaurant. Li Shuangjiang had already reserved a private room: a big round table that could seat more than ten people. The boys sat on one side, the girls on the other.

Standing at the door, Tao Zhi called Uncle Gu to let him know where she was, then stepped inside last.

By the time she entered, everyone had already finished ordering. The table was full of chatter. Fu Xiling had saved her a seat—on her right was Jiang Qihuai.

Since they were in a private room, the boys were more at ease. They ordered a whole crate of beer—one bottle for each of them.

Tao Zhi was used to seeing alcohol when she went out with Song Jiang and the others. Sitting near the door where the beer crate was placed, she casually pulled out a bottle, opened it, and slowly poured it into a glass.

No one really noticed, except Li Shuangjiang, who glanced over. “Big bro, you drink?”

Tao Zhi held the bottle, blinking. “What?”

“Nothing, nothing—it’s up to you girls, no pressure,” Li Shuangjiang said quickly. “What’s your tolerance like, big bro?”

Tao Zhi thought for a moment and answered seriously, “Not that great.”

Li Shuangjiang, who always acted rough but was actually quite considerate toward girls, was about to suggest she switch to coconut juice or something.

“But,” Tao Zhi continued, “drinking you guys under the table and leaving you hugging the toilet shouldn’t be a problem.”

“……”

Li Shuangjiang clasped his hands together in a mock salute.

While they were chatting, the waiter came in carrying dishes.

Seventeen-year-old boys, when they lined up for lunch at the cafeteria, would fill their plates with three heaping scoops of rice. Their appetites were enormous, and Li Shuangjiang had ordered enough to cover the whole table. The waiter came in one after another, placing dish after dish down.

Tao Zhi’s seat was near the serving path, so she had to lean to the side each time a plate was set down. Supporting herself lightly on the soft chair cushion, she tilted her head slightly as the waiter placed two plates on the table.

Fu Xiling glanced over and said, “Hey, you brought one extra plate. We only ordered one plate of cola chicken wings.”

The waiter lowered her head and checked the order list. “No, that’s right—two orders of cola chicken wings.” She glanced at Jiang Qihuai. “This young man just came out earlier and added another one.”

Fu Xiling made a small “oh,” then thanked the waiter softly.

The private room was noisy and chaotic; no one was paying attention to them.

Tao Zhi turned her head and glanced at Jiang Qihuai.

He had been quiet the entire time—if someone spoke to him, he would answer; if no one did, he just sat there silently eating peanuts. The contrast between him and the rowdy boys nearby, who were laughing and waving their arms around like a bunch of monkeys, was stark.

Tao Zhi was just about to ask why he’d ordered an extra plate.

Jiang Qihuai suddenly set down his chopsticks and leaned slightly forward. His fingertips pinched the edge of one of the plates of cola chicken wings and pulled it toward her.

Tao Zhi froze for a moment.

The porcelain plate slid across the table, the rim knocking softly against her beer glass with a faint, crisp sound that was drowned out by the chatter and laughter around them.

“Eat,” Jiang Qihuai said lightly. “No one’s competing with you.”