Chapter 74: Chapter 73: “You Noticed Again?

That afternoon, Xu Su went over on her own without waiting for Zhou Mochen to come knocking.

It was just a change of scenery for doing homework. As long as he didn’t try anything, it wasn’t a big deal to Xu Su.

On the last day of winter break, Xu Su and Zhou Mochen spent the entire day alone together.

Early in the morning on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, Xu Su left the house, carrying her packed luggage and the tuition money Chen Shulan had given her the night before.

She didn’t need her parents to accompany her to register this time. Even as a new boarding student, she could handle everything on her own.

Zhou Mochen’s car was parked far away, as usual. When he saw the girl struggling toward him with her luggage, he couldn’t help but get out. He strode over, took the luggage from her, and put it in the trunk.

Once she was in the car, he didn’t start the engine right away. He asked, “Have you had breakfast?”

Xu Su nodded. “My mom made congee. I already ate.”

Zhou Mochen reached out and squeezed her hand. Before she could pull away, he let go and started the car.

As he drove, he asked, “Your luggage looks heavy. Let me walk you to your dorm later, okay?”

Her dorm room hadn’t been assigned yet, so Xu Su was planning to leave her things with Qian Jia first. Then she would report to the classroom and ask Teacher Wu about it.

Hearing Zhou Mochen’s offer, Xu Su said, “No, that’s okay, I can manage. Just drop me off at the school gate.”

Zhou Mochen was silent for the rest of the drive. It wasn’t until the car stopped that he spoke again. “Xu Su, once you’re living at the dorm, remember to text me back every day.”

“…” Xu Su paused for a few seconds before nodding. “I know.”

Just as she was about to get out, the man beside her leaned over and pulled her into a hug. It was much lighter than the last time.

“Xu Su, if I miss you, can you come out to see me?”

’What a thing to say,’ Xu Su thought, speechless.

’It’s not like I’m never coming home. Don’t I still need him to drive me to and from home every weekend?’

Xu Su pushed him away and said sternly, “Zhou Mochen, don’t interfere with my studies.”

Zhou Mochen chuckled, let go, and got out of the car.

He opened the trunk and took out Xu Su’s luggage, his eyes following her as she struggled with her things and walked away.

Step by step, she grew more distant.

Zhou Mochen watched, his face impassive, until Xu Su was completely out of sight.

The school was bustling with activity on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.

The first-years were the last to return; the second and third-years had already started classes. Xu Su struggled across campus with her bags.

Suddenly, the weight in her hand vanished. Someone had taken her luggage.

Xi Zirong had appeared from out of nowhere. He now stood to the side, holding her luggage and watching her in silence.

Xu Su remembered the phone call and text message from the New Year holiday, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to say.

She reached out, attempting to take her luggage back.

Xi Zirong sidestepped, avoiding her hand. “I’ll carry it to your dorm for you,” he said.

Xu Su didn’t move, just looked at him. “Thank you, but I can carry it myself.”

There were many other returning students around, and even those who had walked some distance away kept turning back to look at them.

Xi Zirong said, “We’re classmates and good friends. I’m heading to the dorms anyway, so helping you with your bag is no trouble at all. Xu Su, don’t say no.”

Only then did Xu Su notice the bulging backpack he was wearing. It was obviously his own luggage.

Her eyes widened in surprise. “You’re boarding, too?” she asked.

Xi Zirong nodded and started walking toward the dormitories, glancing back at her. “Commuting is too inconvenient. I decided to start boarding this semester, too.”

Commuting really was inconvenient; Xu Su had to agree. You had to wake up at the crack of dawn and go to bed late. Boarding would grant you at least an extra half hour of sleep. Even Huang Feng had decided to board this year.

Xu Su followed behind him. Seeing him carrying his own pack while also carrying her bag made her feel bad. She reached out. “Let’s carry it together?”

Again, Xi Zirong sidestepped her. “Just keep up.”

“…” ’He looks so tall and skinny, but he’s surprisingly strong.’

When they reached the dormitory building, Xu Su took back her luggage. After thanking Xi Zirong, she carried it up to the second floor herself.

Huang Feng had arrived earlier than her. Qian Jia had come the day before.

Most of the students from the county seat returned to school early.

Seeing Xu Su arrive, the girls launched into an enthusiastic chat, catching up after several days apart.

Afterward, the three of them headed to the classroom to check in. On the way, Qian Jia said, “I hope you both get assigned to my room. There are exactly two empty beds, one for each of you. Then the three of us can be roommates again!”

This brought back memories of their time during military training.

Huang Feng was thinking the same thing. “I’ll ask Teacher Wu about it later. I just don’t know if he handles minor things like dorm assignments.”

“Even if he doesn’t, a word from Old Wu still carries weight. But I don’t think it’ll work if you ask. We need our math class representative to say something to get Old Wu to step in.”

Xu Su, who had just been called out, deadpanned, “Aren’t we all Teacher Wu’s students?”

Qian Jia said, “It’s different, it’s different! In our class, Teacher Wu treats you the best. I’m serious.”

“Oh, you figured that out, did you?”

“Of course! If any other girl were caught up in dating rumors with God Xi, there’s no way Teacher Wu would be so nice about it.”

The conversation was getting more and more out of hand. Huang Feng tugged on Qian Jia’s arm, motioning for her to look ahead.

About twenty meters ahead, Xi Zirong was walking with two other boys from their class. It was impossible to know if they had overheard their conversation.

Qian Jia fell silent instantly, a flush of embarrassment on her face.

Thankfully, the three boys up ahead didn’t stop walking, and all six of them arrived at the classroom one after the other.

Xu Su was just about to pay her tuition when Teacher Wu called her into his office.

As soon as she sat down, he turned the key to his desk drawer and took out an envelope. “This is your scholarship from last semester. I went ahead and applied for it for you. The total for room and board and tuition is six hundred fifteen yuan, which has already been deducted. This is the remainder, eight hundred eighty-five yuan. Please check it.”

He was very considerate of a teenager’s pride, choosing not to do this in the classroom in front of her classmates.

A warmth spread through Xu Su’s heart, mixed with a pleasant surprise. ’Eight hundred eighty-five yuan…’ She looked up at her teacher. “Did I place in the top three of our grade on the final exams?”

Teacher Wu smiled. “Yes, you placed third. Second place was Gu Yu from Class 16.”

’Third place, huh?’ After a brief pause, she immediately brightened up. ’Third place is great, too. The prize money is the same anyway.’

Xu Su thanked Teacher Wu, but he just waved his hand. “All of you studying hard is the best reward for me. By the way, since you’re boarding now, is there a specific dorm room you’d like? I can get you a form right here to fill out.”

In Xu Su’s mind, Teacher Wu had always been the stern, impartial type. To see him being so considerate about something as minor as a student’s dorm preference…

Xu Su was stunned for a moment. Then, remembering what Qian Jia had said on the way here, she thought, ’Teacher Wu really is a rare and wonderful teacher.’

When she stepped out of the office, she saw Xi Zirong standing outside, waiting.

“…” Xu Su froze for a second, then continued downstairs, pretending she hadn’t seen him.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep