Chapter 26

Tao Ran noticed that Qiao Ye was behaving a bit strangely. He kept talking incessantly with Tao Ran, as if searching for something to say, and his gaze felt like it was scraping against Tao Ran's body. Although there was no malicious intent behind it, it still made Tao Ran feel a bit uneasy.

In senior year, there were many exams of varying sizes, and in a couple of days, there would be another monthly exam. Tao Ran continued to struggle with math, so he spent a lot of time each day doing practice problems. Without Li Zekun around, Tao Ran's heart felt like it was missing something, and he often studied until after midnight at home.

During self-study, Qiao Ye didn't disturb Tao Ran. He propped his chin with one hand and looked at Tao Ran with a crooked face, showing a great deal of interest. At first, Tao Ran felt uncomfortable and annoyed, but after a while, he got used to it and ignored everything while focusing on his exercises.

On that day, Tao Ran went about his usual routine, using one of his study periods to solve math problems. He tackled the final problem from the National Exam Papers of the previous year, which was a difficult geometry question that even made Tao Ran's head spin. He furrowed his brows and unconsciously bit the end of his pen, feeling extremely frustrated.

Qiao Ye grabbed a thin exercise booklet and fanned Tao Ran with it, grinning mischievously as he said, "Can't even do this?"

Tao Ran and he were already quite familiar, so even when she was in a bad mood she didn't pay attention to him.

Qiao Ye remained calm and leaned over, saying, "Show me, how difficult of a problem could have caused you to struggle like this?"

Tao Ran lifted his eyelids and narrowed his eyes at him. His long eyelashes curved upwards, slanting as he asked, "Can you do it if I show you?"

"Oh, why are you still looking down on others?"

"You always sleep during class, that's so unfair.", said Tao Ran. Although he said this, he still pushed the test paper toward Qiao Ye.

Qiao Ye did not lean towards the scroll, instead he stretched out his arm and hooked onto the person beside him.

"Class is in session!" Tao Ran whispered in a low voice, "What are you doing?"

Qiao Ye furrowed his thick eyebrows and looked at the question very seriously. In less than half a minute, he let go of his hand that was hooked around Tao Ran's shoulder, and then picked up his pencil to roughly draw two guidelines: "There, isn't it done? Fool."

Tao Ran's face turned red with embarrassment, and he pushed Qiao Ye's arm back, lowered his head, and began to study the problem. Indeed, the train of thought for the entire question became particularly clear because of those two lines.

"How about it, am I impressive?" Qiao Ye grinned and poked Tao Ran's snow-white forearm peeking out from his half-sleeve.

"Um... " Tao Ran let out a sigh in his heart. Comparing oneself with others will only lead to frustration. Is this what they call being intellectually suppressed?

Qiao Ye made an over-the-top request: "To show my gratitude, would you like to go out with me on the Sunday after the monthly exam?"

"I can't go.", Tao Ran said without hesitation.

Qiao Ye tugged at the hem of her half-sleeved Taoran school uniform with a pout and said, "Can't even go on vacation?"

Tao Ran snatched his own hemline from Qiao Ye's grasp and smiled like a little angel: "I don't have a grandpa who sleeps all day and does well in his studies. Of course, during holidays, I have to make up for classes at home."

Qiao Ye's face turned green. Where did this little rabbit learn to be so petty and hold grudges?

Qiao Ye pondered for a while before saying, "That day is my birthday...my parents have never cared about me since I was little, my brother is also too busy with work to come back. Can't you sympathize with me a little?"

Tao Ran can't stand it when people pretend to be weak. He stuttered as he said, "You must have a lot of friends... and don't need me."

Qiao Yemeng turned his head sharply and exclaimed: "Alright, I knew that you actually don't like me!"

"No..."

No one paid him any attention.

"Uncle Qiao?"

Still, no one made a sound.

Tao Ran began to reflect on whether his attitude had hurt Qiao, the fragile-hearted little princess.

"I'll ask my brother if it's okay.", Tao Ran put down his carbon pen and finally decided to take his child out for some fun. After all, it was just after the monthly exam and there was nothing wrong with going out for a day.

Qiao Ye suddenly turned around and planted a kiss on Tao Ran's face, laughing like a young wolf who had just spotted prey run into its hunting range. "Ran Ran, you're the best."

Fortunately, they were in the last corner, otherwise their classmates would have exploded. Also, it's lucky that there were no teachers checking on classes today, otherwise they would have been caught and punished.

"What are you doing?" If Tao Ran were a small animal, all of its fur would stand on end.

"Too happy." Qiao Ye soothed and handed the pen to Tao Ran: "Ran Ran, do your homework."

Taoran didn't think too much about it, maybe it was the environment in his class. The straight guys would get rowdy and play games together, often resting their legs on each other and playing with each other's hair. More importantly, he had never been in a relationship before. His only passive memory of those who looked at him only had malicious and lewd looks. However, when he looked into Qiaoye's eyes, he could only see a warm and bright light. It was a kind of honesty and joy that even Lizekun lacked.

During the usual evening self-study session, Lao Wang was waiting across the street on West Street, as usual, and handed over a thermos of Chinese medicine. Tao Ran wrinkled his nose as he drank it and handed the cup back, saying, "Thank you, Uncle Wang." After a long pause, he casually asked, "Has Mr. Li mentioned to you the exact day he's coming back?"

Mr. Wang chuckled and replied, "You're asking me? Shouldn't you be more aware than me? After all, Mr. Li has more than just me as his driver."

Tao Ran felt a little sad, rising from his heart, realizing that he was no different from a driver. He suddenly remembered that he had promised Qiao Ye something, so he quickly took out his phone from his backpack and turned it on.

When Tao Ran dialed out, he was very nervous and almost hung up directly. However, he didn't expect Li Zekun to answer unexpectedly quickly.

"Ranran?" The voice of Li Zekun came through the speaker, sounding very gentle.

"Mr. Li... Am I not disturbing you?"

"What's up, little thing? You only spent one day with who to talk like this?" Li Zekun's voice carried a hint of amusement, clearly recalling when Taoran was being a little too bold despite having no understanding of the situation.

Tao Ran's ears turned red with embarrassment, and he stuttered out the words: "The day after tomorrow...my...my classmate's birthday... want me to come and play..."

Li Zekun fell silent for a moment. "If you want to go, then go ahead. But you must have Lao Wang pick you up, and you must be home before ten o'clock tonight. I will call you."

Tao Ran quickly responded. For the next few seconds, the only sound coming from the microphone was the sound of two people breathing.

"Brother ... where are you?" Tao Ran still spoke up.

"In Zhuhai, we're heading to Hong Kong tomorrow. What about you, have you made it home?"

"On the car," Tao Ran's tone carried a hint of coquetry as she said, "I just took some medicine and it tastes terrible."

"Good medicine tastes bitter"

Tao Ran replied with a low 'Hmm...' and after a while, asked again, "Brother, who went with you?" He almost bit his tongue, realizing the question sounded a bit abrupt.

Li Zekun naturally also heard it and laughed, "How did I come to exist with a sour smell?"

"There's no way..."

"Alright little one, rest early."

"Ok, bye brother."

"Bye bye." In the last few seconds before hanging up, Li Zekun's voice came through clearly: "I go by myself."

Tao Ran chuckled softly, then opened his phone album and found the side profile photo of Li Zekun. He kissed it several times.