There was an unwritten rule at this school: students with good academic performance could freely choose their seats and deskmates during seating arrangements.
Coincidentally, Zhan Jingrui had known Xu Zheng since middle school.
When they first entered high school, not knowing anyone, Zhan Jingrui saw Xu Zheng waving enthusiastically at him and chose him as his deskmate.
That choice lasted for three years.
Over those three years, although Zhan Jingrui was not talkative and his friendship with Xu Zheng was shallow, Xu Zheng considered himself to understand him quite well.
Not bothered by the rejection, he grinned and pushed something from his desk towards Zhan Jingrui.
"Hey, don't be so quick to refuse, take a look first."
"I know you don't live with your parents, so you have more freedom. Your grades are good, and I'm not asking for much, just a small favor."
"He Yao can't come to school these days. Can you accompany me to tutor her after school?"
This was an outright joke.
He hadn't even gone to accompany the Tang mother who had practically raised him when she was hospitalized, and now he was being asked to tutor a stranger he had no connection with every day?
Zhan Jingrui didn't even glance at the item and pushed it back to his deskmate with a "swish."
His deskmate hurriedly took out a few more items from his desk and pushed them towards him again.
"Please, please. It's not that I'm incapable myself; I'm only asking you because I have no other choice."
"I know your time is precious, but I'm also very sincere. This is something I recently had someone bring back from Dan country. It's fresh, you should at least take a look."
Influenced by Jiang Nan Fang, Zhan Jingrui had liked comics since he was young, so he was interested in comic characters and figurines.
Dan country's achievements in this area were globally renowned, with many exquisite anime characters and figurines originating from there.
He had been following an anime for many years and hadn't managed to collect all the characters. He hadn't expected Xu Zheng to have secretly collected even more than him.
Seeing his gaze linger on the figurines for more than three seconds, his deskmate knew the matter was likely to be settled and quickly pressed his advantage.
"Actually, He Yao is quite pitiful. From what I heard yesterday, it seems she doesn't have her own biological father. The person who brought her to this school is her stepfather."
"Her mother just got pregnant and was quite afraid of her stepfather. She thought she had caused trouble for him again by ending up in the hospital, and without a word, she scolded her."
"It was I who apologized repeatedly and assured her that it wouldn't affect her studies and that the medical expenses would be covered. Only then did her mother stop saying much."
"Alas, it was my fault for getting her into trouble. But I haven't told my family. If my mother finds out I've caused such a big mess, she'll surely skin me alive. All my living expenses recently have gone to the hospital, and I really don't have the means to hire a tutor for her. So, Brother Zhan, you absolutely must help me this time."
"Considering we'll be deskmates for the next three years, and might never meet again, please, please help me."
He rambled on for a long time, but Zhan Jingrui selectively listened to a few parts. In the end, for the sake of the figurines, he agreed.
However, he had conditions.
He had to go home and settle his cousin first, and the tutoring time each day couldn't exceed two hours.
His deskmate thanked him profusely, "Whatever you say, Brother Zhan, you've helped me immensely. Don't worry, if there are any more figurines in the future, I'll save the first one for you. You're truly my good buddy, Brother Zhan."
"Alright, stop talking, you're too noisy," Zhan Jingrui put the items into his desk, lazily interrupting him.
After school, Zhan Jingrui rode his bike home to settle his cousin, ensuring he had takeout, and then drove to the hospital.
He found the ward according to the address his deskmate had given. When he entered, He Yao's mother was also there.
Although she was pregnant, she was dressed very fashionably and wore exquisite makeup, just like last time.
Anyone who didn't know would have thought she was He Yao's older sister.
His deskmate had bought food, and He Yao's mother was feeding He Yao while chatting with his deskmate. The small ward was lively with the two of them.
Zhan Jingrui knocked on the door. His deskmate immediately turned around, beaming, and beckoned him over, introducing to He Yao's mother how capable he was.
He Yao's mother, with her sharp eyes, saw that Zhan Jingrui was tall with long legs, had handsome features, was dressed in understated designer brands from head to toe, and had excellent academic performance. She immediately guessed that his family was not ordinary and felt completely at ease entrusting her daughter to him.
"Then we'll have to trouble you a lot, classmate Zhan. I'm newly pregnant and have many things to handle at home. Thank you for your hard work, you two."
His deskmate replied that it was no trouble, it was their duty.
He Yao had also finished eating, and He Yao's mother got up.
"I have some matters to attend to at home. I'll come back later. You two continue with your tutoring, and Auntie will bring you some delicious food when she comes."
"Yao Yao, get along well with your classmates and put away your usual temper."
Zhan Jingrui disliked people who talked too much or were overly enthusiastic. He hadn't said a word from beginning to end.
After He Yao's mother left, he directly opened his textbook, flipped to the lessons He Yao had missed that day, and mechanically began to teach.
He had never tutored anyone before and didn't know how people with lower intelligence generally learned, so he just taught according to his own thought process.
Five minutes later, his deskmate couldn't help but interrupt him.
"Can you explain it properly and in more detail? It's like listening to heavenly scriptures to me; I didn't understand a single word. He Yao, did you understand?"
He Yao was similar to Zhan Jingrui, showing little emotion and having a blank expression. She hadn't said a word since entering the ward.
Only now did she shake her head with a wooden face.
So, neither of them understood, and they were only saying it now.
Zhan Jingrui was a little displeased.
"If you can't teach, and you think my explanation is poor, find someone else."
Saying that, he stood up, and his deskmate quickly grabbed him.
"That's not what I meant. I mean, we're both unlearned and can't keep up with your pace. Can you slow down a bit, just a little bit~"
Zhan Jingrui sat back down and glanced at his deskmate.
"What do you mean by 'a little bit'?"
His deskmate thought for a long time but couldn't figure out how to explain it, so he asked He Yao.
"How does he explain it so you can understand? You tell him."
He Yao finally lifted her eyelids and glanced at Zhan Jingrui.
It was just a fleeting glance before she lowered her eyelids again and truthfully said.
"That's fine, you don't need to explain anymore. It's okay like this. My foundation is weak. I haven't understood anything since the first lesson."
"Pfft!" His deskmate couldn't help but laugh.
"So that's how it is. Your situation is similar to mine. But we can't just give up like this. From what your mother said, she's counting on you to get into university. If not a prestigious university, at least a regular undergraduate program. If you don't get in, he'll blame me later."
"They say a good teacher produces good students. Brother Zhan, since you're so capable, can you find a way to save her?"
If she hadn't understood anything since the first lesson, what was there to save?
Zhan Jingrui didn't want to discourage them.
Undergraduate? It would be good if she could get into a junior college.
But he didn't say that. He lifted his eyelids and lazily glanced at He Yao.
"Do you have a dream school?"