CHAPTER 497: CHAPTER 410: NO MORE LEG GROPING

"Can’t find it, Brother Nian."

Luo Yong sighed and sat on a big green stone outside the basketball court wire mesh.

"Keep looking, have the patience you show when watching movies for two or three hours." Jiang Nian said casually, glancing around.

"How do you know I..." Luo Yong gasped.

"That place over there looks like no one’s there." Without debating, Jiang Nian pointed to a storeroom at the entrance.

"That one...?" Luo Yong squinted, "But there’s no rental sign outside."

"Just ask. They’ve installed new security doors, so it should be for rent." Jiang Nian walked over, turning back to find Luo Yong still standing there.

"What are you doing?"

"It’s a teacher’s place, brother." Luo Yong hesitated.

"So what if it’s a teacher’s?" Jiang Nian was speechless, thinking how someone could be so timid, "I’m the Motivational Star who improved by 200 points?"

"That’s different, isn’t it?"

"Why not? If I improve by 300 points, even the principal will serve me tea." Jiang Nian scoffed and went upstairs to knock on the door.

Luo Yong was still hesitant and followed Jiang Nian upstairs.

"Come on, brother, you can do it."

Jiang Nian glanced at him and nodded.

After three knocks, the door opened.

"Who are you looking for?" A middle-aged woman, probably in her thirties or forties, opened the door and appeared to be a teacher.

Jiang Nian explained their purpose and learned that she was indeed interested in renting. She found the key and took them downstairs to see.

However, the price was quite high.

"240?" Luo Yong frowned slightly, responding instinctively, "But there’s only one table, and the bed is pretty worn out."

Jiang Nian didn’t quite understand and kept silent.

Though Luo Yong wasn’t reliable at basketball and was timid, everyone has their strengths, right?

The middle-aged teacher initially suggested switching the bed, but sighed when Luo Yong asked when it could be replaced.

"Forget it, you change the bed yourself. I’ll give you a discount, 200."

"But you can’t buy a decent bed for over 200?" Luo Yong stammered, "And this bed is hard to dismantle, taking up space."

The middle-aged teacher rubbed her forehead, glanced at the wooden bed helplessly.

"180, can’t go any lower."

Jiang Nian’s eyelids twitched, thinking how you shouldn’t underestimate anyone.

If it were him, seeing that the place met the requirements and the other party was a female teacher, he’d probably agree at 240.

Renting for six months, Luo Yong’s bargaining directly saved them 360.

Impressive.

"Could you go a bit lower, I’ll pay immediately." Luo Yong kept negotiating, took out his phone and opened the calculator, beginning to tap.

The middle-aged teacher: "...."

Jiang Nian: "..."

Dude, do you really need a calculator for this?

The middle-aged teacher couldn’t hold it back, turning to the more handsome Jiang Nian.

"Which class are you guys from?"

With a thud, Luo Yong’s phone slipped and hit the ground.

"Slipped, hand... slipped."

"Class three of the Olympic competition, Teacher Liu’s class." Jiang Nian spoke plainly, since he wasn’t going to throw a party in the room anyway.

Shenzhen doesn’t fear...

"Oh, Teacher Liu, right?" The middle-aged teacher realized, "That meticulous... teacher."

Luo Yong: "?"

"You look a bit familiar, student." The middle-aged teacher gasped slightly, "Where have I seen you?"

"Motivational Star?" Jiang Nian asked tentatively.

Luo Yong nearly burst out laughing at this.

No way, brother.

You’re really flaunting that ridiculous title? Outside school, teachers are just people, how could they recognize you as the studying star?

Trying to get close isn’t done like this. If it works, I’ll eat...

"Yes, the Motivational Star." The middle-aged teacher smiled, "You’re that student who improved by 200 points?"

"Yeah, renting for convenience during naps." Jiang Nian said sweetly, "I’m too lazy to look elsewhere, if you could lower the price it’d be great."

"Alright, 150, for convenience." The middle-aged teacher waved her hand, "It’s not like this is for making money anyway."

Luo Yong looked incredulous, internally screaming.

[Ah! What a ridiculous title, Motivational Star. Can it really work outside school? This is too unbelievable!]

He’d sensed it would be hard to haggle below 180. No matter how he nitpicked, he thought 170 would be the limit.

Yet when Jiang Nian casually mentioned Motivational Star, no one cared, but it turned out to be useful after all.

What the hell.

"Great, thanks, teacher." Jiang Nian readied to scan and pay.

........

On Teacher’s Apartment Road, near the exit.

Senior Sister Cat strolled out from the corner, spotting Luo Yong taking her spot, and looked dumbfounded.

Meowing several times, she seemed to be cursing.

"This little cat is quite cute." Luo Yong said, without moving from the stone, "Who knew the Motivational Star would actually work!"

"Absolutely, that’s the point of studying," Jiang Nian said, effortlessly showing off. "Let’s go, I’ll treat you to lunch."

As it was approaching lunchtime, only at the North Gate could they find food.

Jiang Nian led Luo Yong around to outside the North Gate and found a restaurant where they ordered a few dishes. When they were almost done eating, he noticed Luo Yong seemed to have something on his mind.

"What’s up?"

"Well... there is something, brother Nian," Luo Yong fidgeted a bit. "About starting in the match, I really want to play."

"Next time you’ll start, and if you get tired, swap with Yang Qiming," Jiang Nian said. "Yang Qiming doesn’t have as much stamina as you do."

"Really?" Luo Yong brightened up instantly.

He hadn’t expected Jiang Nian to be so decisive, but when he thought about how he had been benched just as decisively, he didn’t feel as excited anymore.

"Don’t worry, I’ll play my best!"

"Yeah, our class will definitely win the championship," Jiang Nian said casually, as if it were a small matter, "and then we’ll split the bonus."

Hearing this, Luo Yong got excited again.

The championship not only brings honor and a trophy photo, but also tangible benefits—substantial bonuses.

If it had been a few days ago, even if he didn’t say it out loud, he would have sneered at the idea of winning the championship that Jiang Nian mentioned.

But after Monday’s match, Luo Yong was completely convinced.

The championship, they will win!

"You’re kidding, right, brother?" Luo Yong followed Jiang Nian to the outside of the fence after the meal and looked up at him. "We’re really climbing over this wall?"

"Are you going over or not? If not, I’m leaving," Jiang Nian sat on top of the wall, a bit speechless.

"Going over!"

....

Lunch break.

Jiang Nian quietly and gently returned to the classroom and prepared to start on his paper.

Chen Yunyun was asleep at her desk when he came in, her hair down, and looked up at him blearily.

She looked dazed, got up unsteadily, and walked over to Jiang Nian.

"Where did you go?"

"Just had something to do," Jiang Nian didn’t mention anything about the house, planning to take them there in the afternoon, "What’s wrong with you?"

"Nothing, just a bit dizzy," Chen Yunyun rubbed her temples, "maybe because my hair’s not dry, I accidentally fell asleep."

At her words, Jiang Nian couldn’t help but glance at her again, his heart stirred.

Could she be waiting for me?

"Did you take any medicine?" Jiang Nian asked.

"No, I’ll be fine in a bit."

"Wait a minute, I remember Li Hua has Xiaochaihu granules." Jiang Nian lowered his voice, then began fiddling around.

Before long, Jiang Nian mixed a cup of cold medicine with hot water from his thermos.

As for the container, he used the lid of the thermos; he usually used a small glass cup that Zhizhi had given him instead of the lid for drinking water.

Chen Yunyun’s condition was worse than she admitted; her head felt as heavy as lead. Her breath was hot, and her throat a little dry.

When she got up from her desk, she already felt quite uncomfortable.

She managed to stay awake while talking to Jiang Nian, but once it got quiet around her, her eyelids started feeling heavy.

Suddenly, a cup of cold medicine was placed in front of her.

Wisps of white steam rose up, warming her face.

Chen Yunyun’s eyes slowly widened, glancing at the cup lid, then looked up at Jiang Nian, blinking.

"Hmm?"

"Drink it, afraid I’m poisoning you?" Jiang Nian’s voice was soft, considering it was already after the lunch break.

"Oh." Holding the washed cup lid with both hands, Chen Yunyun took tiny sips, feeling warmth spread from her chest to her stomach.

She seemed to be feeling a bit better, not as uncomfortable anymore.

After lunch break.

Li Hua came to the classroom and reached into his drawer.

"Where’s my medicine?"

Jiang Nian was working on his paper, not even lifting his head as he replied,

"I didn’t have anything to drink at noon, so I just used it. Why?"

"Oh, you drank my medicine like a beverage?" Li Hua felt a bit at a loss for words, even Chi Shi couldn’t say anything.

After all, those two sophomore girls, even if they weren’t as pretty as the sophomore girls Jiang Nian hung out with, were fresh and young.

Unlike some senior girls who could be quite crude when they spoke.

"Finished?" Zhizhi walked in from the door and handed Jiang Nian a can of Wangzai milk, "Let me have a look."

"Almost done." Jiang Nian leaned over for a few minutes, finishing the final organic problem, then handed it to Zhang Ningzhi for correction.

Just then, the class bell rang.

"Class is starting, I’ll grade it for you later." Zhizhi pursed her lips and sat up straight, preparing to fend off any mischievous hands.

However, the little rascal didn’t make a move.

"Alright," Jiang Nian took out his Chinese second-round review material, covering up the chemistry paper, "Are we going over classical Chinese today?"

Zhang Ningzhi looked puzzled, staring at him for a few moments.

Hmm?

"What is it?" Jiang Nian looked equally confused at her.

"Nothing... nothing." Zhang Ningzhi turned her head, unconsciously furrowing her brows, "Reviewing... I forgot what we were reviewing."

Her mind was a bit chaotic, thinking it didn’t matter if he didn’t make a move.

After all, she wasn’t going to get harassed by a bold wolf anyway.