Chapter 29: To Help or Not to Help

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Snail Rice Noodle Shop.

In truth, Chu Nan did not like snail rice noodles, but Zhou Xiaonan said she wanted to eat them, so he had no choice but to accompany her.

"Chu Nan, you seemed quite excited when those girls wanted to add you on QQ earlier, didn't you?"

Zhou Xiaonan rested her chin on one hand. Today, she was wearing a loose, warm-colored top that couldn't hide the curves of her chest.

Chu Nan coughed. "Not at all."

"Not at all? If I hadn't shown up, I bet you would have added them one by one. Are you feeling embarrassed because I'm here? It's fine, go ahead and add them; what does it have to do with me?"

Chu Nan was a bit bewildered. "Why do I get the feeling you're a little angry?"

Zhou Xiaonan waved her hand. "Angry? Chu Nan, are you joking? How could I possibly get angry over something like this? You’re overthinking it."

"As long as you're not angry." Chu Nan felt a strange sense of relief. He wasn't sure if it was because he owed her so much money, but he was still a little afraid of this woman.

"Your snail rice noodles are ready. Come and get them."

"I'll go."

"No, no, let me go instead. You defeated Long Junhao and his gang today; that’s quite an accomplishment. I’ll bring the noodles for you." Zhou Xiaonan stood up and left, looking pleased.

Chu Nan felt a secret thrill; if only this woman would bring him noodles every day from now on.

"Alright, eat up."

How could he refuse when a beauty offered? Chu Nan started digging in without a second thought, but after just one bite, his face turned red instantly.

"Cough, cough, cough—no, why is my bowl so spicy!"

Zhou Xiaonan kept a flat expression. "Oh, I thought you liked spicy food, so I told the owner to add a bit more chili."

Chu Nan said, feeling very annoyed, "You're taking revenge on me, aren't you? No, let's switch; I don't eat spicy food."

"Hmph, hmph, hmph! Beg me then!" Zhou Xiaonan covered her bowl immediately.

"Forget it, I'll go ask the owner for another bowl." Chu Nan felt helpless. The reason he disliked snail rice noodles was precisely because they were too spicy. Whether in his past life or this one, he was someone who neither ate spicy food nor drank alcohol.

He felt extremely uncomfortable whenever he touched either, and he would even have allergic reactions if he ate too much spice.

However, he also knew that switching with Zhou Xiaonan wasn't appropriate, as she had already taken a bite.

"You can't switch; you’ve already eaten from it."

"Then what should I do? I can't handle the spice." Chu Nan looked troubled. "How about I buy another bowl?"

Zhou Xiaonan calmly pushed her bowl of noodles toward him. "That would be a waste. Let's switch."

"But... I've already eaten some."

"Slurp—I’ve already had a bite, too. We’re even."

Watching her rosy little mouth, Chu Nan didn't say another word and began to feast.

"Damn, these are the snail rice noodles that Zhou Xiaonan ate from. How many people dream of eating this? And today it’s my turn!" Chu Nan’s thoughts were very "loser-like" and "simp-like," but so what? He wasn't the one losing out.

Isn't this basically an indirect kiss?

Thinking of this, Chu Nan looked up and saw Zhou Xiaonan’s delicate, glistening lips biting into the noodles. His heart started racing. "Um... does this count as an indirect..."

"It doesn't." Chu Nan was interrupted by Zhou Xiaonan before he could finish. "Think about it, have you ever helped others pick up food?"

"I have."

Zhou Xiaonan kept her expression neutral. "Then, when someone eats the saliva off your chopsticks, does that count as an indirect kiss?"

"That... I guess not?"

"There you go. This bowl has been used by who knows how many people. 'Indirect kisses' and such are just self-deception."

"Damn!" The smugness in Chu Nan’s heart vanished instantly.

He didn't notice that as soon as Zhou Xiaonan finished speaking and lowered her head, her earlobes turned deep red...

"By the way, Chu Nan, for your song 'Those Years,' why don't you go with me to Lu Fei’s recording studio to record the post-production? Get the copyright in your own hands first, and then I can help you negotiate a collaboration later. How about that?" After they had eaten their fill, Zhou Xiaonan suggested.

Chu Nan made a bitter face. "But I don't want to be in the spotlight. How about you sing this song? Do whatever you want with it."

"First of all, I’m not asking you to be in the spotlight. Secondly, I could never sing it with your feeling, and it’s clearly more suitable for a guy to sing," Zhou Xiaonan said.

Chu Nan nodded. Zhou Xiaonan was indeed a talented girl from the music class; the song was indeed better suited for a male voice, or rather, it was originally a song for a boy to express his affection to a girl.

"So, who exactly is this song for?" Finally, Zhou Xiaonan asked again.

"Didn't I say? It's for myself and for everyone."

"Oh, I see. I thought it was for me."

Chu Nan laughed. "Isn't giving it to everyone also giving it to you?"

"That's different. Giving it to everyone isn't called 'giving'; it's called a blessing. Giving it to one specific person is what's called 'giving'."

"Fine, then I'll go record the song with you later."

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"..."

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, two days went by. Chu Nan had become a well-known figure throughout the school.

There was no helping it; his performance that afternoon had been too brilliant. The song "Those Years" spoke to the hearts of almost everyone. One could even hear students passing by humming the song.

Of course, these were just snippets; as of now, it seemed no one knew the full lyrics to the song yet.

Because of this song, many girls came to Class 172 to try to add Chu Nan on QQ, all of which Chu Nan refused.

In fact, he was tempted when he saw a pretty girl wanting to add him, but for some reason, he didn't want Jiang Yuwei to see it, and he didn't want her to think he was a flirtatious man.

This feeling was inexplicable. Chu Nan told himself it was just because those girls weren't as pretty as Jiang Yuwei, which was why he refused—after all, he didn't even have Jiang Yuwei’s QQ yet.

During evening self-study, Zhang Liangying stood on the podium and spoke loudly. "There is less than half a month until the college entrance exam. I don't want to say much more; you are all big kids now. I hope you can focus your minds and not waste time on meaningless things. Prepare well for the college entrance exam and the mock exam the day after tomorrow..."

The students in the classroom began whispering. They hadn't expected there to be a mock exam at this time.

"I know what you all want to say. Some of you want more time to review, but this mock exam is different from the usual ones; it is very formal. I will distribute your mock admission tickets in a moment. The day after tomorrow, you will sit according to the numbers on the tickets.

"Additionally, there are signal jammers in the classroom, and there will be dedicated proctors. The school has put a lot of effort into this mock exam to let you experience the atmosphere of the college entrance exam. I hope you take it seriously and follow the rules. Do you understand?!"

"We understand."

"Good. After tonight's study session, flip your desks over, and then you can go back to rest. You are not allowed to stay in the classroom until ten o'clock for the next few days. Do you understand?!" Zhang Liangying emphasized again.

"Understood!"

Yang Jingtian couldn't help but mutter to the side, "So long-winded. How many times has she said this?"

Chu Nan, however, just smiled. "Have you ever thought that you might not be able to hear it even if you wanted to in the future?"

Yang Jingtian was stunned. "Who wants to hear this? I can't wait for the college entrance exam to be over so I can go to university and enjoy life."

Chu Nan just shook his head with a smile.

Perhaps only after getting to university would one realize that high school wasn't as bitter as everyone thought, and university wasn't as relaxing as one expected. Instead, university was filled with intense competition—not in studies, but mentally.

Soon, the homeroom teacher handed out everyone's admission tickets.

"Chu Nan, Chu Nan, which exam hall and seat number are you?"

"Exam Hall 5, Seat 12."

"Damn, I'm in Exam Hall 3, Seat 1. I'm so unlucky."

"How is that unlucky?"

"Duh, that means I have to sit in the front. I don't want to sit in the front."

"What's the difference between the front and the back? You can't cheat anyway."

"It's different! Sitting in the front makes me nervous because the teacher is staring at me!"

"You aren't doing anything wrong, so what are you nervous about?"

"Sigh, Lao Chu, I’ve realized you’ve really changed lately."

"How have I changed?"

"You used to tell me you were nervous, too. You should be able to understand me. How come you’re not on the same wavelength as me anymore?"

"Maybe it's because I've become a top student?"

"You, a top student? Would it kill you not to brag?"

"Wait and see."

"Fine, I'll wait and see. If you score higher than me on this exam, I'll call you Dad."

"Don't do that. I don't have a son older than me."

"You..."

The evening self-study ended, and the sound of desks scraping against the floor echoed throughout the classroom. Chu Nan was also flipping his desk. Flipping the desk was a basic strategy used to prevent students from cheating, otherwise, the desks wouldn't have been designed that way.

"By the way, Lao Chu, why aren't you moving?" Suddenly, Yang Jingtian looked at Chu Nan in surprise.

"Moving what?" Chu Nan looked confused.

Yang Jingtian said with a look of disdain, "Helping He Qianqian and the others move their desks and books, of course. Usually, at this time, you wouldn't even care about your own stuff and would go help them first."

Chu Nan replied speechlessly, "That was in the past. Am I an idiot? What benefit do I get from helping them?"

"Lao Chu, you’ve finally woken up. I’m so happy. You don't know, but the few days you were in the hospital, I asked them to go see you, and they didn't want to. They even said they’d only go if you apologized." Yang Jingtian looked extremely relieved.

Chu Nan was stunned. "Asked me to apologize? Did they really say that?"

"Obviously, I heard it clearly. I mean, we’re all fellow townspeople from the same county. It’s truly chilling that they’d act like this."

Chu Nan said faintly, "Whatever. I need a new life."

"Chu Nan, come over and help us move our desks." Just then, Tian Jiaojiao walked over and ordered Chu Nan around as if it were a matter of course.

Chu Nan smiled upon hearing this. "Tian Jiaojiao, you’ve come at just the right time. I have a few books I want to take back to the dorm. Help me take them back, will you?"

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Tian Jiaojiao’s face changed upon hearing this. "Chu Nan, what—what do you mean? You’re asking a girl to help you carry textbooks? Aren't you ashamed?"

"Yeah, since you feel ashamed, how could you have the face to come ask me for help?"

"What do you mean?"

"Whatever you mean, that’s what I mean."

"Are you going to help or not?"

"Are you going to help or not?!"

"You..."

Before Tian Jiaojiao could finish, He Qianqian walked over. She looked at Chu Nan, biting her lower lip, looking incredibly delicate. "Chu Nan, the table is too heavy. Can you help me lift it?"

"My table is too heavy, too. Can you help me lift it?"

Chu Nan also put on a teary-eyed expression, his voice even becoming incredibly effeminate as he spoke.

Hearing this, He Qianqian couldn't hold it together anymore. "Chu Nan! What exactly do you mean?!"

For a girl, the most infuriating tactic isn't scolding her, but mimicking her tone in that overly feminine way—naturally, accompanied by an eye roll.

Although Chu Nan didn't include the eye roll, the damage was significant because it proved he was mocking He Qianqian's tone of voice.

Girls, especially those who love to perform, cannot stand this.

"Nothing special. I'm not helping. You have hands and feet; it's not like you can't move."

"Fine, you won't help, right? If you don't, there are plenty of others who will. Don't regret it." He Qianqian turned and left after saying this.

Zhang Hao, who was nearby, rushed over upon seeing this. "He Qianqian, if he won't help, I will. I happen to have some free time."

"Fine, then come help me move the desk, and help me take the books to the dormitory building later." As He Qianqian said this, she glanced at Chu Nan from the corner of her eye, only to find him laughing and chatting with Yang Jingtian, not looking at her at all. This made He Qianqian feel both furious and helpless, and even a little bit aggrieved.

"What kind of person is he? It was clearly him who made me angry that day, and yet he wants me to apologize? Chu Nan, I will never forgive you in this lifetime!" He Qianqian secretly swore in her heart.

...

After Chu Nan finished moving his desk, he walked over to Jiang Yuwei. "Jiang Yuwei, do you need help?"

"Damn, Lao Chu said he wouldn't be a simp anymore, but turns out he just switched to simping for someone else?!"

It wasn't just Yang Jingtian who thought so; the others nearby thought the same.

"No need." As expected, Jiang Yuwei refused.

Chu Nan nodded and was about to leave.

"Sigh, great scholar Chu, if you won't help her, you can help me." It was Jiang Yuwei's seatmate, Yang Liuqing, who spoke.

Chu Nan smiled. "I can help you, but let's get one thing straight: I won't help you carry things to the dorm."

"Don't worry, just help me move the books to the corner. We aren't taking the books back yet; it's too much trouble." Yang Liuqing smiled brightly and handed a stack of books to Chu Nan.

"Here, this is mine, and this is Weiwei’s. Put ours together."

Chu Nan glanced at Jiang Yuwei. Seeing she said nothing, he walked to the corner on his own. "Then I'll put them here."

"Okay, okay, no problem."

A moment later, Jiang Yuwei walked over carrying a few books. "Actually, you don't have to help. We can move them ourselves."

Chu Nan chuckled. "I’m not helping you; I’m helping Yang Liuqing."

Jiang Yuwei gave him a cold look. "Then I don't have to say thank you."

"Sigh, no need." Chu Nan was just about to offer a polite remark, but he noticed Jiang Yuwei had already walked away.

Chu Nan’s face twitched. It was clear that Jiang Yuwei was a difficult girl to handle. Chu Nan couldn't imagine who her boyfriend would be in the future...

As Yang Liuqing passed by, she asked again, "Great scholar Chu, which exam hall are you in?!"

"Exam Hall 5."

"Exam Hall 5? What a shame, I'm in Hall 4."

"What's so shameful about that?"

"No... nothing. But Weiwei is also in Exam Hall 5."

...

Chu Nan was stunned upon hearing this. In his past life, he hadn't paid much attention to such things, but now that he thought about it, he had been assigned to the same exam hall as her several times. Perhaps this was a kind of fate.

As for why he remembered it so clearly, it was, of course, because Jiang Yuwei was so beautiful. Even though he liked He Qianqian in his past life, it didn't stop him from appreciating beauty...