A Grown Man at Heart (1)
The midterms and the parent-teacher conference had everyone in a panic, and naturally, the topic of discussion among students shifted in this direction. At the same time, the learning atmosphere of the school had thickened, with students staying after school for self-study.
Shen Wanying kept to her routine of going to the dorm to take a nap for half an hour, before going to the library to do her own studying.
The library was some distance from the school, and most students weren’t willing to waste time walking over to do their studying there, opting instead for their classrooms.
This was just as well because Shen Wanying greatly preferred an empty library. Walking for those few extra minutes every day could count towards some daily exercise, too.
Inside the library, she opened her exercise book, put in her earbuds, and listened to music while she did problems.
A few other students in the library saw her and whispered among themselves. “It’s Lady Shen, she also comes here to study!”
“Yeah! Her results are so good and she’s still so hardworking.”
“She really has an air about her, she looks so elegant even while doing practice questions!”
“I bet she’s listening to Schubert!”
“My money’s on Chopin.”
After a time, someone walked into the space in front of Shen Wanying, and by reflex, she raised her head in response to the movement.
“Huo Cheng?” Taking out one earbud, she whispered, “Are you here to study, too?”
“Mm.” He opened his practice book and took out a pen. “The environment here is better than in the classroom.”
Shen Wanying chuckled. “It is. But it’s also kind of far, so most students don’t want to waste time coming here.”
“We can come together next time,” was Huo Cheng’s reply.
“Okay.” She nodded. “Oh right, I haven’t congratulated you on coming out on top again.”
Huo Cheng felt that pitting him against a bunch of high school students was a little akin to bullying. “Thank you. You also improved this time.”
Smiling, she said, “I’m not sure if it counts as an improvement; my grades always fluctuate within the same range.”
Her mother would only recognise an improvement. A decline was unacceptable.
The group of students who had been secretly observing Shen Wanying saw her chatting with Huo Cheng and became even more excited. “It’s Senior Huo Cheng! The top student in Year 2!”
“Yes, yes! I know about him! He’s so handsome!”
“So handsome and for what? All I know is he’s out of my league.”
“Do you think he and Lady Shen really are——”
“You over there!” The librarian rose from their seat and shouted in the students’ direction. “If you want to chit-chat, go outside. Don’t disrupt other people’s study time.”
Huo Cheng and Shen Wanying looked in the direction of the girls, and they immediately lowered their gaze, covering their faces with their books, afraid that the god and goddess would look upon their lowly human visages.
Seeing that the girls had quieted down, the librarian sat back down and returned to what they were doing.
The library was quieter than before, allowing the sound of a sexy male voice to be heard from Shen Wanying’s earbuds. Her face still showing the perfect mask of ladylike calm, she put them back into her ears.
Huo Cheng pretended to have heard nothing, nonchalantly working on his practice papers. Together, they continued to work in companionable silence.
For a time, the only sounds in the library were the rustling of pages and the scribbling of pens on paper. The time belonged to the teenagers, and all was silent and peaceful.
Shen Wanying and Huo Cheng walked to the library together for the next few days, causing rumours that they were dating to circulate. And although Mr. Song had no doubt that they would behave themselves, as their form teacher, he sat them both down for a talk.
“Mr. Song, we really aren’t dating, we go to the library together every day to study.” She had never imagined these rumours their classmates spread would escalate into something that would concern their teacher. What was next, calling their parents?
If her mother so much as heard that she was dating at this age, who knew what would happen?
Mr. Song nodded and reassured her. “I know, don’t worry. I asked the librarian and she told me that both of you study diligently every afternoon. But it’s not good that the students are spreading these kinds of rumours. Maybe you and Huo Cheng should avoid spending time together for a while.”
Huo Cheng did not hide his disdain. “We always work hard, why must we concede to others’ gossip?”
“There’s no need to worry,” Mr. Song said, hurriedly. “I didn’t mean that you shouldn’t study in the library anymore. After all, it’s an area the school has designated for everyone to use for learning, you have a right to be there.” He felt the sweat beading on his forehead as he explained himself. “What I meant was, next time, bring another classmate with you, don’t let it be just the two of you.”
Huo Cheng didn’t pursue the matter any further. Shen Wanying had no opinion on the arrangement either, and so they thought of who they could take to their next study session. “From tomorrow onwards, we’ll ask Zhao Yimeng to come with us.”
“That sounds good. Your classmates are always going to talk, don’t give them any more nonsense notions to spread,” Mr. Song said.
“Okay. Thank you, Mr. Song,” Shen Wanying replied.
“Don’t worry about it. Now go back to class you two.”
During that day’s Math class, Mr. Song lectured the class soundly on concentrating on their studies, instead of always spreading rumours about their classmates. And, as they had agreed, Shen Wanying asked Zhao Yimeng to go to the library with them.
In truth, Zhao Yimeng didn’t really want to go. After all, who would want to be a third wheel? But she knew that in this case, she had to be there to shield them.
As fate would have it, Fang Yichang also happened to be at the library.
Zhao Yimeng’s eyes nearly fell out of their sockets when she saw him sitting opposite them, immersed in a reference book. “Fang Yichang! So you can study.”
He calmly sat in his chair, twirling his pen. “What? Is studying now reserved just for you top students?”
Zhao Yimeng was silent.
Pigs are flying, reality is falling apart, we’re finished. I just know it.
Fang Yichang glanced at Huo Cheng, directing his next statement at Shen Wanying with a smile. “Heard there were people spreading rumors about you guys. Now that there are so many of us, they can’t say anything anymore.”
Shen Wanying smiled back and replied, “Well, since we’re all here, let’s study hard together.”
“Hell yeah!”
Zhao Yimeng was still sitting quietly.
Only Lady Shen could make Fang Yichang study with a single sentence.
But knowing Fang Yichang, he probably just doesn’t want Lady Shen to be alone with Huo Cheng. And he still managed to make his intentions sound so noble?
Just as she picked up her pen to begin working, another person walked into the library. This time it was Ji Yao.
What the f*ck is going on???
He joined them at the table. “The classroom is too crowded. Gonna nap here instead.”
What kind of excuse is this… If you want to sleep, then go home to sleep! Did the school turn into your home?!
Ji Yao proceeded to put his head on the table and fall asleep.
She felt the atmosphere was getting a little confusing. Thankfully, Shen Wanying could command the room. “Guys, let’s start studying.”
Zhao Yimeng was the first to lower her head into her books.
Huo Cheng looked from Fang Yichang to Ji Yao, before also lowering his gaze to his work.
After that day, the rumours took on a different shape.
♥♥♥
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