Chapter 82: A Mysterious Encounter and a Relationship Dilemma

Immersed in concentration, the first two classes passed by unnoticed.

As the class bell rang, signaling the start of the long break, Zhong Tian tidied his notes, then gently lifted the deeply sleeping Cat Class Monitor, placing them on the nearby windowsill.

The newly awakened Cat Class Monitor stretched on the windowsill, then, with a spring, attempted to leap back onto Zhong Tian.

However, Jiang Nanjin intercepted them.

‘Nice! You did well, Jiang Nanjin!’

Zhong Tian gave her a thumbs-up.

“Don’t cling to Zhong Tian all day, Class Monitor.”

She scooped the Cat Class Monitor into her arms, where, unable to resist, they could only continue to scowl with a disgruntled expression, glaring resentfully at Zhong Tian.

Zhong Tian stepped forward and poked the Cat Class Monitor’s nose, then, just as they prepared to bite his finger, he swiftly withdrew it and lightly flicked their head.

“Meow—!”

‘You always use me as your personal pillow, and now, without your usual high ground, you’re easily pushed around, aren’t you?’

Feeling a surge of satisfaction, Zhong Tian rubbed the Cat Class Monitor’s face one last time before turning to head for Class Four.

****

In front of Class 4, Senior Two, Zhong Tian met with Zheng Qiao and Bai Ruijin.

“Good morning!”

Bai Ruijin was the first to greet him, her mood seemingly bright, her tone noticeably livelier than usual.

“Zhong Tian, listen, I chatted with him on WeChat for half an hour last night!”

“You initiated the conversation?”

“Mhm!”

‘That sounds like good progress!’

Zhong Tian nodded, saying, “I’m also preparing to find out his reason for not wanting a relationship. You should chat with him more… and also, try asking him out.”

“Oh? Just the two of us?”

“Yes.”

Zhong Tian felt that their previous ‘conquest strategy’ had been too conservative; he shouldn’t have resorted to subtle probing and covering for Bai Ruijin just because Li Jianren said he didn’t want a relationship, as that wouldn’t deepen their bond.

‘Bringing them together directly is the best way!’

“I’ll get to the bottom of Li Jianren’s so-called reason within the next couple of days,” Zhong Tian said softly. “You just keep up the good work.”

“Alright, alright!”

Zheng Qiao glanced at Zhong Tian, then at Bai Ruijin, a flicker of unease stirring within her.

At the late summer beach party, Zheng Qiao hadn’t fully immersed herself in the fun; instead, she had been secretly observing Zhong Tian and Li Jianren.

She noticed that whether they were eating, resting, or barbecuing, Li Jianren would always naturally gravitate to sit beside Zhong Tian.

While such behavior might seem normal for childhood friends, what truly struck Zheng Qiao was the distinct look of dejection that crossed Li Jianren’s face whenever Zhong Tian left his side…

For a boy who was usually so cheerful and carefree, to reveal such an expression was truly unexpected.

Zheng Qiao sensed something was amiss—though it could still be explained as mere friendship, she couldn’t shake the feeling that it was more.

This brought to mind a hypothesis she had once formed: that Li Jianren was in love with Zhong Tian, who, oblivious to this, was even helping to set him up with Xiao Bai.

Zheng Qiao feared her hypothesis might prove true, for if it did, all three of them might end up hurt…

“Li Jianren enjoys playing FPS games… first-person shooter games. If you have a computer at home, you could ask him to play with you.”

“If you don’t have a computer at home, or if its specs aren’t good enough, you could also play mobile games with him.”

“Alright… Um, I also wanted to ask about his favorite foods or drinks.”

“Him…” Zhong Tian mused, trying to recall. In his memory, Li Jianren was hardly picky, accepting almost any food offered. If he had to name a single favorite food or drink, Zhong Tian genuinely couldn’t think of one at that moment.

“…He loves anything delicious.”

After much thought, Zhong Tian could only offer Bai Ruijin this rather unhelpful answer.

“Then… does he like cats?”

“He’s a dog person,” Zhong Tian replied, “but he likes cats too.”

“Hmm… alright.”

“I’ll head back to class now. If there’s any progress, I’ll contact you on WeChat.”

“Okay, goodbye!”

“Goodbye.”

The third ‘LJR Conquest Strategy’ meeting concluded, and Zhong Tian returned to Class 3, Senior Two.

From his seat, the Cat Class Monitor, whose face was etched with displeasure, stared at Zhong Tian as he entered, poised for action.

In that instant, Zhong Tian seemed to hear the Cat Class Monitor’s words:

“I’ve returned from hell, Zhong Tian!”

With Jiang Nanjin absent from the classroom, it seemed no one could restrain the Cat Class Monitor…

‘…If I can’t provoke them, can’t I at least wait? Once Jiang Nanjin returns, you’ll get what’s coming to you.’

Zhong Tian stood at the classroom entrance, locking eyes with the Cat Class Monitor.

“Tom.”

A clear voice rang out from outside the classroom. The Cat Class Monitor, who moments ago had worn a disgruntled expression, now lifted his head, leaping like an arrow from the window and darting towards a woman standing in the corridor.

The white-haired woman in the black dress picked up the Cat Class Monitor, allowing him to lavishly indulge in affection within her embrace.

Zhong Tian gazed at the black-and-white figure, momentarily stunned.

What had stunned him was not the woman’s striking beauty, but rather an inexplicable sense of familiarity he felt emanating from her.

‘It was as if he had seen her somewhere before.’

Yet, he simply couldn’t recall where.

“Holy moly, white hair!”

“Right in your sweet spot, huh?”

“She looks like a painting, so ethereal…”

“Indeed, she shouldn’t be a student, right?”

“I don’t know. If she were a student, she probably wouldn’t be allowed to dye her hair.”

“That kind of white hair can’t be dyed, can it?… Maybe it’s a wig…”

The class also noticed the woman outside in the corridor, captivated by her, and began to discuss her amongst themselves.

The woman, holding the Cat Class Monitor whom she called “Tom,” gazed into the classroom with her white eyes.

Zhong Tian still had no clue, only feeling the sense of familiarity with the black-and-white woman intensifying.

‘This must be what they call a “familiar stranger.”‘

A sudden thought to use his mind-reading ability crossed Zhong Tian’s mind as he gazed into her white eyes, caught in a dilemma.

While Zhong Tian was still deliberating, the black-and-white woman, cradling the Cat Class Monitor, turned and departed.

This matter would simply have to remain unresolved.

Although Zhong Tian remained somewhat preoccupied, he nevertheless returned to his seat to prepare for the next class.

****

‘That’s all for today, then.’

Ms. Yan set Tom down at the school gate, then bent over to stroke his head.

“Tom, don’t bother Zhong Tian during class, alright?”

“Meow—!”

“No talking back now, be good.”

“Meow—!”

“Good, glad you understand.” Ms. Yan offered Tom a faint smile. “I’m leaving now.”

“Meow—!”

****

Ring—

At eleven-fifty in the morning, the dismissal bell rang, and as always, countless students burst from the teaching building, sprinting towards the cafeteria. In an instant, the entire school seemed to transform into an athletics track, with ‘athletes’ vying to be the first to rush into the dining hall…

‘Sometimes, Zhong Tian truly couldn’t understand why so many people fought so hard just to eat a meal…’

“Oh, oh! I broke my record!”

“Congratulations, you’ve become the fastest ‘lunch-runner’ in Senior Two.”

‘Wait, was that Li Jianren shouting about breaking a record…’

Zhong Tian couldn’t be sure, nor did he particularly want to be, so he simply took the shortcut back to Li Jianren’s dorm.

‘How should I ask him later?’

Zhong Tian began to carefully consider his words.

Five minutes later, Li Jianren returned to the dorm, carrying two bowls of rice.

“Holy moly, Old Zhong, let me tell you, I broke my record today!”

‘So it really was you…’

“Being the fastest ‘lunch-runner’ in Senior Two is pretty awesome, right?”

“You absolutely have to compete in the school sports meet…”

“Of course.”

Li Jianren set down the two bowls of rice, then retrieved a clean school uniform from the storage box under his bed, tossed his sweat-soaked uniform into the designated laundry hamper, and then burst into the shower room with a flurry of energy.

In less than five minutes, Li Jianren returned from the shower to the dorm.

“Air conditioner! My god!”

“Oh? A new phrase this time?”

“Gotta keep things fresh, right?” He plopped down beside Zhong Tian. “Time to eat!”

“…You actually have an appetite after running like that.”

“Doesn’t affect me at all.”

“…” Zhong Tian chewed on his cabbage, then spoke, feigning casualness. “…Speaking of which, Vice Class Monitor Qin Dong and Vice Class Monitor Chen Chenchen are together now.”

“Huh? When did that happen?” Li Jianren looked genuinely surprised. “How did they suddenly get together? Didn’t that sly Chen Chenchen like you?”

“Hmm…? How did you know Chen Chenchen he…”

“Isn’t that something the whole class knows?” Li Jianren said, shoveling food into his mouth. “I’ve always just watched him for entertainment.”

‘You’re going to lose all your good karma from finding so much joy in it…’

“While he does seem a bit pitiful, honestly, it’s quite funny, I apologize.” Li Jianren pressed his palms together. “Type ‘1’ if you’re laughing along with Buddha and me.”

“…But, think about it, even Chen Chenchen, whom you find so amusing, has found a partner. And you?”

“What’s wrong with being single? Is finding a partner such a big deal?”

“So you’re not envious?”

“I… I am a little envious.”

“Envious? If you’re envious, then why don’t you find someone?”

“Oh, come on, is a partner something you can just find whenever you want?” Li Jianren waved his hand dismissively. “It has to be mutual affection, mutual affection. Right now, there’s not even anyone who likes me, so what’s there to be affectionate about?”

“So you do want to find someone, then.”

“…” Li Jianren paused for a few seconds. “Well… not really. Ugh, let’s just wait until university, we can talk about it then.”

“…”

Zhong Tian could tell Li Jianren was lying.

‘This guy doesn’t actually not want to find someone; it’s probably because of some reason that he can’t.’

Now was the time to try using his mind-reading ability to uncover that so-called reason.

Zhong Tian looked into his eyes, silently activating his mind-reading.