Qin Jiao had guessed correctly. Though Lin Nian and Chen Feng had left school at different times, they ended up walking together.

The last time Li Xiaomei had come to the school, Chen Feng ended up taking all the blame. He even went home and told his mother that he had been overwhelmed by desire and done *that*.

Li Xiaomei was stunned. Afterward, she started to feel that the young girl, Lin Nian, was quite pitiful. Besides, Lin Nian knew the plot of the novel and understood Li Xiaomei’s personality, so she was exceptionally good at winning her over.

So, in the end, the whole incident turned out to be much ado about nothing.

Li Xiaomei didn’t want her son to be with such an ordinary, unremarkable girl. But Lin Nian promised she would get into the same university as Chen Feng in the future and acted as if she were completely devoted to him.

Coupled with her sweet-talking, Li Xiaomei eventually gave her tacit approval for them to be together.

Li Xiaomei’s reasoning was that no matter how she looked at it, her son wouldn’t be on the losing end of this deal.

So now, Lin Nian was often with Chen Feng after school.

Lin Nian remarked casually, "Qin Jiao’s grades used to be really unbalanced. We were classmates our freshman and sophomore years, so for her to suddenly shoot up like this in our senior year is just too weird."

Chen Feng didn’t argue with her, only saying, "Taking shortcuts won’t get you anywhere. Let’s just hope she’s relying on her own abilities."

"Who knows. But that Shen Yi also improved a lot this time. I’m starting to suspect those two are up to something behind the scenes."

"Up to what? They weren’t even in the same exam hall."

Lin Nian smiled. "Who’s to say? But I’ll be in the same exam hall as Qin Jiao next time. I’m dying to see how she got so good, with her grades soaring like that. Anyway, Ah Feng, let’s not talk about her. How about we go see a movie this weekend? I heard that new theater they opened is really nice."

"It wouldn’t be good if our classmates saw us."

Chen Feng was still a bit old-fashioned. Even though they had become very close, he still didn’t want his classmates to find out about them.

Lin Nian gave a faint smile. "That’s not a problem. We can just have your mom come with us. If the three of us go together, there won’t be an issue, right? Besides, Ah Feng, I want to try my best to get your mom to like me even more."

Hearing her say that, Chen Feng’s heart softened. He smiled and said, "Alright, then. It’s a deal."

"Ah Feng, you’re the best!"

In the darkness of the night, the corners of Lin Nian’s mouth curved up slightly.

’So what if your grades have improved, Qin Jiao?’

’I have Chen Feng wrapped around my little finger, and now I’ve even won over his mom. You don’t stand a chance, Qin Jiao!’

Meanwhile, Qin Jiao and Shen Yi were riding their bikes home together. Qin Jiao said earnestly, "You’ve improved a lot this time, but this weekend, let’s get together and review the questions we got wrong. We can see where we still need to improve."

"Okay."

Shen Yi had heard that a movie theater had opened in town and was planning to ask Qin Jiao to go with him. The weekend was the only time they had free, but she wanted to spend it reviewing their exams.

’Well, reviewing exams it is, then.’

’As long as I’m with Qin Jiao, I’ll do anything.’

Qin Jiao tilted her head back, letting the night wind lift her bangs. She said, "Shen Yi, let’s keep up the hard work. We have to meet up in the same exam hall during the last monthly test before the college entrance exams, okay?"

Shen Yi glanced at her and nodded firmly. "Okay."

The atmosphere was pleasant. Even without exchanging many words, a gentle warmth flowed between them.

But just as they reached the front door of their home, they saw someone standing there, and both of them froze.

The man standing at the door was none other than Shen Yi’s biological father, Shen Zhengfeng.