In a two-story villa in Zitong City, the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, Jiang Jingshi, sat elegantly on the living room sofa, sipping coffee. She was dressed in a high-heeled dress, exuding grace.
Due to their parents’ excellent genes, both sisters possessed top-tier looks. However, compared to the icy and distant Jiang Qian, Jiang Jingshi had a noticeably gentler temperant, truly embodying the essence of an elder sister.
She sat with her legs neatly together, holding a steaming cup of coffee in one hand while lightly blowing on the surface before taking a sip. “How many days has Qianqian stayed in her room?”
Fang ng, who was also seated on the sofa, poured herself a cup of coffee while answering, “Exactly three days. Since childhood, this is the longest she’s ever shut herself in.”
Jiang Jingshi took another sip of her coffee and pondered.
“This ti, is the opponent really that strong? In the past, even when Qianqian faced soone she couldn’t defeat, she’d only lock herself in for half a day at most before figuring out a solution. But now, three days without eating or drinking… This is a first.”
Fang ng lifted her own cup. “This ti is different. The opponent completely outmatches her in every aspect—looks, physique, academic performance, physical strength, special talents, starting point, even the piano, which Second Miss excels at. I’d say he’s the most talented boy I’ve ever seen.”
Hearing such high praise, Jiang Jingshi was a bit surprised. “That extraordinary? And it’s a boy?”
Fang ng nodded, glancing at Jiang Qian’s room upstairs. “But even against such a formidable opponent, I know her well—she’ll always find a way.”
She recalled many childhood experiences. In her eyes, Jiang Qian might get knocked down, but she would always get back up. She was the kind of person who could never be truly defeated.
Just as they finished speaking, the door to Jiang Qian’s room creaked.
Both Jiang Jingshi and Fang ng turned their heads toward the second floor.
The door slowly swung open.
Out walked Jiang Qian, still in her pajamas, her hair a bit ssy. She was as beautiful as ever, but she looked a little drained.
Jiang Jingshi smiled warmly. “Qianqian, did you figure out a way to counter him?”
Jiang Qian looked down at the two in the living room and replied blankly, “No, I just realized I hadn’t eaten in three days and was starving. Xiao ng, hurry up and get so breakfast before I die of hunger.”
Fang ng stood up imdiately. “Got it, Qianqian. Do you want to eat in your room or co downstairs?”
Jiang Qian remained expressionless. “I’ll eat in the dining room. And bring a glass of milk.”
“Alright.” Fang ng smiled slightly, originally thinking Jiang Qian would continue her seclusion. But judging from her deanor, she must have thought of sothing.
A short while later, Jiang Qian, still in her pajamas, ca downstairs and took a seat at the dining table.
Fang ng brought her breakfast and absentmindedly helped smooth out her ssy hair. Jiang Qian, elegant yet swift, wolfed down her food.
“Another serving,” she demanded.
Fang ng was stunned. “Uh… okay, just a mont.”
She brought over another plate, and once again, Jiang Qian devoured it in seconds.
Her previously empty stomach finally felt so relief, and her complexion improved significantly.
Seeing her sister return to normal, Jiang Jingshi finished her coffee, glanced at the ti, and got up to leave. “Since you’re fine now, I’m heading out. When are you going to school?”
Jiang Qian turned to her sister. “This afternoon.”
Jiang Jingshi encouraged her with a simple, “Good luck,” before leaving.
Fang ng, sitting nearby, leaned forward. “So, how do you feel now?”
“What do you an?” Jiang Qian looked confused.
“I an, about that boy, Lin Zhengran.”
Jiang Qian froze. The mont she heard his na, her face inexplicably flushed, and she stared at the table, saying nothing.
Fang ng was bewildered. Seeing such a shy expression on Jiang Qian’s face was a first.
Of course, Jiang Qian wasn’t in love with Lin Zhengran—at least not yet.
She had simply developed an extre case of curiosity syndro.
During those three days of self-isolation, Jiang Qian hadn’t just been idly sulking. Her brilliant mind had been racing, coming up with thousands of potential strategies to surpass Lin Zhengran.
She considered cramming literature, cutting her sleep down to two hours a night to practice piano, doubling her workout routine, and countless other drastic asures.
But no matter how many simulations she ran in her head, the gap between them still felt like a tiny stream compared to the vast ocean.
Completely insurmountable.
This led her to a burning question—how did soone like Lin Zhengran, with such an ordinary family background, reach this level?
Even if he was a rare genius, a once-in-a-million prodigy, he must have put in imnse effort to be superior in every single aspect.
Thus, her curiosity deepened. It grew from mild interest to intense fascination.
Eventually, after three days of overthinking and starvation-induced delirium, her admiration for Lin Zhengran reached an unprecedented level.
Fang ng suddenly had a terrible realization. She looked at Jiang Qian in horror.
“Qianqian! I’m calling a doctor! You’re sick!”
Jiang Qian saw Fang ng pull out her phone and quickly, albeit with a red face, stopped her. Fortunately, she still had so rationality left.
“No need. I’m just a little… interested in him. It’ll pass in a few days. Really.”
Fang ng had never seen Jiang Qian like this before. “But your expression—fine, whatever. I just hope it really passes.”
At this mont, Fang ng had an ominous feeling… Sothing strange was about to unfold.
—
That morning, Jiang Qian took a nap, then got dressed and freshened up. Feeling rejuvenated, she hopped into the car and headed to school.
Seeing her behave as usual, Fang ng sighed in relief.
But as soon as they arrived, they spotted Lin Zhengran walking from the dormitory to the classroom.
Jiang Qian’s cheeks instantly turned crimson.
Fang ng was dumbfounded.
“Qianqian! Are you really okay?”
Jiang Qian turned her head away, her tone filled with an unfamiliar shyness. “I’m fine.”
“…I really don’t think you are. Are you sure you don’t need to see a doctor?”
Jiang Qian covered her blushing face with one hand. “I said I’m fine.”
Fang ng: “Please stop. You’re scaring .”
—
Once inside the school building, Jiang Qian didn’t go to class but instead sought out the horoom teacher, requesting a seat change.
Her reason was logical, and her expression remained as composed as ever.
“Teacher, I believe that if I sit next to Lin Zhengran, my academic performance will improve. I’d like to request a seat adjustnt.”
Surprisingly, the teacher picked up a newly arranged seating chart from after military training and replied,
“I actually already made that adjustnt. And I’ve also decided on our class monitor and vice monitor. Given how exceptional your scores are, I thought it best to have you two sit together.”
Jiang Qian glanced at the new seating chart and the class appointnts.
At the top, it read:
Class Monitor: Lin ZhengranVice Monitor: Jiang Qian
For the first ti in her life, Jiang Qian had been outranked.
—
That afternoon, the teacher announced the seating adjustnts and the new class leadership roles.
When Lin Zhengran heard Jiang Qian would be his new deskmate, he wasn’t particularly surprised. After all, high school prioritized academics over randomness, and high achievers were often grouped together.
However…
After the seating was rearranged, he noticed Jiang Qian sitting beside him, flipping through a book with a flushed face, her aura still as untouchable as ever.
She looked both hot and cold at the sa ti.
Sothing about her felt… off.
Out of nowhere, she asked, “Class Monitor, how much ti do you usually spend studying?”
Lin Zhengran glanced at her serious expression and answered casually, “It depends. I study whenever I have ti.”
“Sa here. Thanks for the answer.”
Jiang Qian ntally jotted down his routine and continued, “You’ve already started reading advanced textbooks, right? What have you been studying lately?”
Lin Zhengran blinked.
This… felt oddly familiar.
“Research thods and Experintal Design in Ecology.”
Jiang Qian froze.
“…That’s not a high school textbook.”
“No, it’s actually a required course for a master’s in ecology. I’m just reading it for fun.”
Jiang Qian: “……”
She could practically see the bottomless chasm between them.
Reviews
All reviews (0)