The weather turned gloomy again in the afternoon. A muggy breeze ruffled Su Jinning's hair. He stared blankly at the clouds outside, which were as unpredictable as his mood.
Suddenly, he began to miss the days in junior high school when he spent all his time reading and writing. He hadn't seen his father cheer for his grades in a long time, and he hadn't felt that sense of urgency—that if he didn't work harder, he would fall behind others—in a very long time.
Is learning really that difficult?
He asked himself.
But the things taught in class are so easy that even if you don't study them, you can understand them by listening to any class you choose.
It's actually not difficult.
Perhaps if he catches up to the level of an average student, he won't need to waste any physical energy. Perhaps with a little effort, he can go from the 10th exam room to the 4th or 5th exam room.
but.
There was a long corridor between exam rooms four and five and exam room one. And the difference between him and Shen Moyu was not just the number of exam rooms.
He wanted to catch up with Shen Moyu, but he didn't know how.
But the desire to shine alongside him grew stronger and stronger.
"What's wrong, Ning-ge? Is there a pretty girl outside the window?" Chen Hang had just finished playing ball and was covered in sweat in the middle of the day, so he pressed his face against Su Jinning's.
Su Jinning was startled and turned around in surprise. Seeing the beads of sweat running down his forehead, she gave him a disdainful look. She didn't scold him, but simply turned back to look out the window.
Seeing that he was still unhappy, Chen Hang, after all, they had been brothers for so long, suddenly felt bad too: "Brother Ning, what's wrong with you lately?"
Su Jinning didn't turn around to look at him, but turned her head slightly: "Have I been acting strangely lately?"
“It’s really strange,” Chen Hang blurted out without thinking.
Su Jinning lowered her eyes and sighed.
At that moment, he suddenly realized that those social media apps that post so-called "truths" and inspirational quotes all day long weren't entirely wrong.
Just like a post he'd seen before. The caption said: When you fall in love with someone, you start wanting to change for them, and that anxious sense of disappointment can drive you crazy.
He dismissed it at the time, even thinking that the person who would inspire him to try to make a change probably hadn't been born yet.
Su Jinning looked away from the clouds outside the window, turned around, and closed her eyes slightly, as if she was making a decision.
"What's wrong?" Chen Hang leaned closer, his voice lowered. He didn't know what had happened, but he felt that Su Jinning looked very uncomfortable, and he should try to comfort her.
Su Jinning looked up and smiled gently: "As expected."
Chen Hang tilted his head, ready to listen to him continue.
"Chen Hang, have you ever liked someone you found hard to win over?"
On that slightly stuffy afternoon, Su Jinning asked him with sparkling eyes. In her gaze, there was not disappointment, but a hint of happiness.
Chen Hang froze, a bead of hot sweat trickling down his temple, tickling his skin. At the same time, it tickled the softest part of his heart.
He smiled slightly, his serious expression a rare sight Su Jinning had never seen before: "Yes."
Su Jinning wasn't surprised. She gently rested her chin on her hand, as if she felt his answer was too slow, and said for him, "Yuanzi?"
Chen Hang looked at him with slight surprise for a moment, then suddenly laughed. Perhaps it was because he was so engrossed in playing ball, but the blush on his face hadn't faded yet. He scratched his head somewhat sheepishly: "You noticed?"
Su Jinning chuckled and nodded slightly: "Who is your brother Ning? Who could possibly fool me?"
"Fine!" Chen Hang relented, relaxing back in his chair and looking at him, trying to save face: "Is it that obvious?"
Su Jinning nodded, pursing her lips: "It's obvious."
Chen Hang laughed again, his eyes glancing occasionally at Chen Yuanyuan, who was diagonally in front of him. Fortunately, she was busy preparing for her midterm exams, diligently practicing her problems, and didn't notice him.
He watched Chen Yuanyuan's retreating figure: "She's a good student, ranking in the top 20 or 30 in the school, while I've always been at the bottom." He paused, head down, as if he didn't have the courage to look at her anymore: "Sometimes I really want to catch up with her, but I don't know how."
Su Jinning's gaze deepened, as if he had found someone in the same situation as himself. He pursed his lips and nodded.
“But I’m determined to catch up with her.” Chen Hang’s voice broke the brief silence, his eyes flashing with excitement.
“You…” Su Jinning clenched her fists, a feeling she had never experienced before welling up inside her.
He couldn't explain it, but perhaps he was affected by Chen Hang's mood.
Chen Hang patted him on the shoulder with a smile, his tone filled with longing: "I think the person Ning-ge likes must be very outstanding, otherwise, you wouldn't suddenly be working so hard."
Su Jinning turned her head away and chuckled softly, as if she was laughing at his sudden sigh.
Chen Hang squeezed his shoulder, his tone shifting: "So, don't feel lost, and don't feel like you don't know how to catch up. Because..."
The school bell rang, taking advantage of the lull, and Chen Hang paused for a moment.
"Because the person you like is the answer."
--------------------
Author's Note:
Have you found your answer yet?
Chapter 49 I'd Really Want to Marry Him
Su Jinning still found it hard to believe that these words could come from Chen Hang's mouth. How could someone who was always so unreliable spout such profound truths?
But I want to come back. It's not strange, though; falling for someone always brings something different. Just like him.
If you have people to follow, you'll naturally have things to follow. Before you know it, you'll make changes without even realizing it.
In the afternoon class, two brothers who used to play games all day in the back row put down their phones, picked up their books and pens, and listened attentively to the lesson.
Their sudden seriousness in studying even caught the attention of the teacher, who couldn't help but glance at them frequently. Besides surprise, the teacher was also pleasantly surprised.
Su Jinning did have some basic knowledge, so she didn't find it too difficult to learn. Even if there were questions she couldn't answer, she could figure them out after thinking about them a few times. She could even answer the teacher's questions almost perfectly.
"Ning-ge! Still writing after school?" Song Wenmiao walked over, dribbling a basketball, and couldn't help but remind Su Jinning, who was engrossed in the sea of knowledge.
Su Jinning was annoyed by the constant bouncing of the ball. Without even looking up, she said coldly, "Stop bouncing, it's so noisy. I'm leaving soon, don't wait for me."
Song Wenmiao obediently put away the basketball and looked at Chen Hang somewhat awkwardly.