The exam results were graded by Zhan Jingrui on the spot.
He Yao had grasped about forty to fifty percent of the material over the past week, while her deskmate hadn't even grasped twenty percent.
Considering He Yao's baseline, her performance was quite good. Zhan Jingrui didn't have high expectations for her deskmate either, so that was that.
Satisfied with the results, he packed up his things to go home. Before he left, his deskmate called out to him.
"The doctor said I can be discharged tomorrow. I can recuperate at home or attend classes at school, as long as I don't bump this arm, it's not a big problem."
"Tomorrow, I'll have the driver pick up He Yao and bring her home. I'll also treat you to a meal. What do you want to eat?"
He hadn't expected to be discharged so soon. Zhan Jingrui's first thought was, should he continue tutoring them?
However, since neither of them mentioned it, he was too lazy to bring it up.
"No need, I don't want to eat anything."
His deskmate sincerely persuaded him, "Don't be like this. We've been deskmates for so long, and I haven't treated you to a meal yet. Give me some face."
"Don't I give you enough face?"
He detested hearing such pleas. Zhan Jingrui grabbed his schoolbag and left.
As usual, he spent the weekend at home.
On Monday, he went to class, and his deskmate was beaming.
"He Yao is also attending class today. I ran into her at the school gate just now. Her stepfather drove her here."
"Not to mention, he's quite young. No wonder her mother always dresses so beautifully. I heard she's a university professor..."
Did it have anything to do with him?
Zhan Jingrui glanced at him indifferently.
His deskmate knew he didn't want to hear it and wisely shut his mouth.
Zhan Jingrui waited all day, but no one mentioned the tutoring again.
It felt uncomfortable, like a habit that had been suddenly interrupted.
Before school ended, he felt restless. His deskmate's every word and action irritated him.
During the last self-study period, his deskmate was constantly fiddling with his phone.
Someone kept sending him messages, and the phone vibrated incessantly. Zhan Jingrui, unable to stand it any longer, curled his right middle finger and tapped on the desk in front of him.
His deskmate looked up, met his impatient gaze, and quickly explained.
"Sorry if I disturbed you... He Yao just messaged me."
He Yao messaged him?
He Yao was also playing on her phone?
After being hit by a basketball, had these two really forged a revolutionary friendship?
Hmph.
Zhan Jingrui frowned, waiting for him to continue.
His deskmate brought his phone closer.
"Your Chinese is good, and you can get full marks on reading comprehension. Help me analyze what she means by this. Do you think she might like me a little?"
As he said this, he pushed his phone towards Zhan Jingrui.
In the WeChat chat window, a dark avatar had sent him two messages.
First message: I am He Yao.
Second message: My mother can't conveniently pick me up and drop me off at school. Can I go with you tomorrow?
An indescribable emotion welled up in Zhan Jingrui's heart. He reread the message again and again, then irritably told his deskmate.
"Scram."
His deskmate took his phone back, turned off the vibration, and sensibly moved aside.
After school, Zhan Jingrui, as usual, waited until most people had left before getting up.
His deskmate, who had apparently agreed to escort He Yao, also stayed until the end.
Zhan Jingrui walked ahead, while his deskmate walked alongside He Yao, a few steps behind him.
He could hear his deskmate chatting with her.
"I saw your uncle when I came this morning. Couldn't he pick you up? I don't mean anything by it, just asking. Your injury was caused by me, and I'm happy to pick you up and drop you off at school. I'm just curious."
He Yao's voice was faint.
"Our schedules don't match, and I don't want to trouble him every day."
"Oh. Your mother doesn't drive, right?"
"She does. But she's pregnant now and can't get up too early in the morning."
"That's true. It's okay, from now on, I'll handle your school commute. I guarantee you won't be late. It will be a bit of a hardship for you, though, as you'll have to ride a bicycle with me. I didn't dare tell my mother that I injured you, so I can't ask the driver to take you."
"It's alright. This is already very good. Thank you."
"Pfft..."
Unwanted words kept drilling into his ears.
Zhan Jingrui, feeling agitated, took out his earphones from his bag and put them on.
He rode his bike the whole way, not looking left or right, and didn't notice that his deskmate had been following him all along.
It wasn't until they stopped at a long red light that his deskmate, panting, caught up to him and enthusiastically patted his shoulder, that he realized He Yao lived on the same street.
"I've been calling you for a while, but you didn't react. So you were listening to music."
A sliver of the setting sun's glow fell on Xu Zheng's face, making his young and vibrant features shine.
With his clear voice and lively personality, coupled with his tall and slender build, although his features weren't conventionally sharp, he still possessed considerable personal charm.
"I've been behind you the whole way. It seems we're going in the same direction. Where do you live?"
Recalling seeing He Yao outside the villa last time, Zhan Jingrui thought, could it be such a coincidence?
"Seven Mansion."
"What a coincidence. He Yao does too. You're both quite discreet, living in such a good area. Which number are you? He Yao lives at number 23."
It was indeed a coincidence. Zhan Jingrui lived at number 18, making them neighbors across the street.
Upon hearing that he lived at number 18, He Yao was also somewhat surprised.
She hadn't expected her home to be so close to Zhan Jingrui's.
The green light turned on, and his deskmate and Zhan Jingrui started at the same time. He kept pace with Zhan Jingrui, not too close, not too far, and started chatting about the history of Seven Mansion.
He Yao had just moved in and didn't know the origin of the street, so she asked a few more questions, appearing quite interested. His deskmate became more animated as he spoke, and the three of them proceeded down the street.
In the autumn of early October, the leaves of the towering plane trees lining the road began to turn yellow, with fallen leaves carpeting the ground.
Combined with the white-walled, black-roofed villa clusters hidden behind the trees, the street had a certain artistic flair.
To get to Zhan Jingrui's house, they had to pass by He Yao's door. His deskmate stopped his bicycle and called out to Zhan Jingrui.
"Since your houses are so close, why don't you visit and say hello? As the saying goes, a near neighbor is better than a distant relative. It'll be easier to help each other out if anything comes up."
"Besides, Mrs. He has invited us over so many times to try her delicious cooking. Don't be so cold."
As he spoke, he rang the doorbell. Before Zhan Jingrui could refuse, a middle-aged woman's voice came from inside the house.
He Yao said she was back, and the middle-aged woman hurried to open the door.
"Yao Yao, you're back. Who are these two?"
"My classmates."
"Oh, please come in. Sir, you're back too. Madam said she's making homemade pies for you tonight. Perfect, come and try some."
His deskmate winked at Zhan Jingrui, grabbed the handlebars of his mountain bike, and pulled him into the courtyard.
Upon hearing that He Yao's classmates had arrived, Mrs. He warmly welcomed them out.
Seeing the two of them, she became even happier.
She said they should have dinner there tonight, to greet the family and try Auntie's cooking.