The next day, Su Qing woke up early, had a quick breakfast, and headed to school.
Perhaps because it was so early, the school gate wasn't crowded with students. Thinking about her school bag, Su Qing hurried to the classroom.
Jiang Sui was the only one in the empty classroom.
As she pushed the door open, the young man's eyes instantly fixed on her. No classmates had arrived yet, and Su Qing felt a little uneasy. She sat down on her seat, her school bag already in the drawer.
Unzipping it, she found some snacks, fruit, and other things inside.
Although they were several tables apart, Su Qing could still feel a lingering gaze on the back of her head.
Her thermos, already filled with water, was placed on the table.
A faint warmth flowed through Su Qing's heart.
She thought of the candy she had carelessly put in her pocket that morning and squeezed it. As her classmates arrived, Su Qing still didn't have the courage to take the things out and give them to the boy.
She simply tore open one and placed it in her mouth. It was soft, milky, and sweet.
She'd taste one for him first.
The first class after the study session was physics. Su Qing sat upright, but inevitably the teacher called on her to answer a question.
The question wasn't difficult; Su Qing had seen many of these types before; they were written for her in Jiang Sui's notebook.
Tang Lihui narrowed her eyes, not knowing if she was looking at Su Qing or someone else. Upon hearing Su Qing's answer, such a unique approach to the problem, Tang Lihui was stunned for a moment, but she let Su Qing sit down.
She simply glanced at the seated girl, looked at the students in the classroom, and spoke softly.
"This question is the final question one for applications to Peking University this year. Even Zhang Yihan, our classmate who was recommended for admission, couldn't solve it. But Su Qing is quite capable; she's brave enough to tackle anything."
Su Qing's eyes flashed with surprise, her brows drooping as she flipped through the textbook.
She clearly hadn't expected the question she was solving would be the final question one for Peking University, but Jiang Sui seemed to have taught her this type of question many times.
This showed just how talented the young man was. While Su Qing was a little shocked, she heard a slightly mocking tone from the person on the podium.
"A transfer student can solve it, and you guys aren't working hard?"
"You all should know that Su Qing's physics performance is a major draw. At this rate, she'll surpass you all!"
Almost all eyes were instantly fixed on Su Qing. Even Zhang Yihan looked at her with disbelief, a look of scrutiny.
He wanted to ask Su Qing how she could do it, but because of the incident with her talking in class last time, he subtly suppressed the thought.
Only, jealousy, confusion, bewilderment, and all sorts of other looks surrounded Su Qing.
Tang Lihui stood at the podium, tapping on the blackboard, her voice earnest and sincere, a model of a teacher, diligently teaching her students. Su Qing, surrounded by everyone's gaze, looked unconcerned. She couldn't help but tap the podium a few times with the back of her blackboard eraser.
The sound of "beep, beep, beep" instantly captured the attention of the students in the classroom.
Su Qing's previously invisible pressure suddenly eased, but a moment later, Tang Lihui's voice echoed again from a distance.
"Since my student Su Qing has correctly solved this problem, let's have her come up to the podium and explain the process."
The attention around her, which had completely faded, now focused on her again.
Su Qing was forced to stand. She pinched her fingers as she looked at Tang Lihui, who was holding the chalk to her from the podium. Her body tensed up, and she pursed her lips. She hesitated, but under pressure, she still moved slowly.
She was very resistant, her clear and cold eyes meeting Tang Lihui's mature features. She was wearing a smart business suit at the podium, with a headset in her ears, and the speakerphone began to blare again.
"Su Qing, what's wrong? You don't want to teach everyone?"
Su Qing felt as if a needle had pricked her back, and a thorn in her heart that couldn't be removed.
"Teacher, I have a simpler method. Let me do it."
The deep voice, tinged with obsession, spoke of a young man who had grown into a distinguished and refined person. His school uniform was perfectly dressed today. He even donned his pants, though he usually avoided uniforms, and a pair of white sneakers. Beneath his wispy hair, his elegance was striking, his sharp features tinged with a hint of coldness.
Jiang Sui, usually aloof, actually stood up and walked towards the podium.
In front of such a distinguished man, Su Qing lost her presence; she was instantly overshadowed by the young man's presence.
The boy strolled leisurely, taking a few steps. He didn't reach for the chalk in the teacher's hand, but instead grabbed another one from the podium.
Tang Lihui was also a little stunned, carelessly clenching the chalk in her hand, causing it to shatter to the floor.
The boy, with a strong presence, stood behind her, a tall figure.
On the blackboard, he neatly wrote formulas and steps. Even the boy, who usually seldom spoke, opened his thin lips slightly.
The pleasant, cold voice carried to every corner of the classroom.
How to solve the problem, how to use the formula, what principles were used, all explained in detail and clarity.
Su Qing sat on her seat, somewhat dazed, watching the boy's long, straight legs and tall back, and even the faint exclamations of amazement that drifted through the quiet air.
His problem-solving methods, his personality, were always so unexpected, yet one couldn't help but admire him.
He was helping her out of trouble, Su Qing knew, and her fingers tightened around the pen, meticulously recording the boy's every move.
His handwriting was also beautiful, perfect for blackboard writing.
Su Qing thought, so far, she hadn't seen any flaws in him.
If there was one, it would be his temper, but it seemed that in front of her, he wasn't so bad...
As get out of class neared the end, the complex topic was finally explained.
Applause erupted in the classroom, but the boy's face remained expressionless, his brows smooth and unwrinkled, as if he had just done something perfectly normal.
As the boy passed by her seat, Su Qing could clearly sense a slight downturn in his features.
It was clear he was unhappy.
Even a touch of coldness, perhaps even a hint of anger?