Chapter 42 - What Should I Do if My Younger Brother’s Crush Has Taken a Liking to Me?

Chapter 42 Not long after the monthly exams, it was time for the joint exams from several schools. Tian Jiabao was on the stage discussing the exam arrangements. The time was set for the week after the sports meet. The classroom immediately buzzed with sighs and murmurs. "We just finished the exams, and now this? Will our value only be defined by our grades?" A soft protest echoed from below. Tian Jiabao perked up at the comment. He decisively placed his thermos mug heavily on the table. "I don't know how to measure your value, but if your academic grades are not good during this learning phase, you'll have a hard time realizing your worth in the future." The dissent quieted down and Tian Jiabao continued, "The schools participating in this joint exam are all key schools in the city. You need to take this seriously. When the rankings are announced, you'll see where you stand compared to the entire city. Especially for some students, it's crucial to adjust your attitude!" He glanced purposefully towards the back and then softened his tone, "Wouldn't it be exhilarating if you could achieve a top position in the city?" The classroom, just recovering from the commotion, burst into laughter. "Tian Jiabao is getting excited. He might as well just register using Xi Xi's student ID." A curly-haired student at the front chuckled turn and winked at Xi Ning, "She always complains about hand cramps and doesn't bother writing if she scores enough in the regular exams. She has been criticized by Tian Jiabao a lot, so Student Ace, don't follow her. This is the first joint exam in the second year. You'd better excel. As the top student in the city, I can also share some of your glory." His tone was exaggerated, but Xi Ning paid no attention, focusing on her student ID for a few moments. She rarely lost things, and she distinctly remembered placing it temporarily in her shirt pocket. How could it have gone missing? As she recalled the incident in the medical room, she couldn't think of any carelessness, but dimly, she recalled the restless image of Kong Nianxi while she was carrying her. She was asking for a comfortable position and fidgeting around. Xi Ning, biting her lip, flipped her student card with her fingers and unexpectedly found a small blue sticker at the bottom corner. As she examined it, it turned out to be a cute little hand-drawn cat sticker. The adorable mini sticker did not obstruct the card. The originally plain student ID now had a touch of girlishness. But she... had never stuck anything like this before? She bit her lip, covered the sticker with her fingertip, and glanced back at the seats. "Oh right, some students, don't try to challenge the authority of the teacher. The seating arrangement should be followed according to the seating chart. You should not randomly change or occupy seats." Tian Jiabao leaned on the lectern, looking over the classroom with a serious look on his round chubby face. He cleared his throat only when the bell rang, "Open your textbooks..." There was only one student who had moved seats recently. Xi Ning was in the middle of the third row, and there was an empty desk next to her. It was quite noticeable, and for a while, most of the class's attention was focused on her. But Xi Ning sat calmly, her expression as cold and aloof as ever, showing no signs of concern. The curiosity of the onlookers withered instantly. --- The two-day sports meet was lively and bustling, and the school field became the most boisterous place in the entire school. Tents were pitched as resting bases for students from every class on the empty ground. The grassy lawn was packed with people, and the big speakers on the stage played music non-stop and the cheers of the cheerleading team drowned everything else. Tu Xiaoyuan, standing by the track, was cheering for Su Yuqi’s group event. She finished the last drop of her bottled water and pouted, "Ah, it's gone. My throat is almost on fire from cheering so much..." She then eyed the unopened bottle of water in Xi Ning's hand. "I'm going to the restroom and I'll bring a few bottles back from the main base." Xi Ning handed her the bottle and walked away from the crowd. There was a standalone restroom near the field with pink walls and red tiles. It didn't look like a typical public restroom, and it wasn't frequently used, only gaining attention during the sports meet. The sunlight was glaring as Xi Ning crossed a small pathway. She passed by a flowerbed and coincidentally met Kong Nianxi standing in the shade of a tree. Nianxi was standing with a group of giggling girls, holding a lipstick in her hand and focusing on applying it with a small mirror. Her eyes were slightly upturned as she smiled while listening to the conversation. The restroom was only accessible through this path, and amidst the chatter, Xi Ning slowed her pace, her gaze skimming over Kong Nianxi for a few seconds. Then she lowered her head and quickly walked past the group. As she passed by, Nianxi raised her head, and her gaze followed Xi Ning's retreating figure. After a while, she blinked, the corner of her lips tugging into a playful smile. "Ah... the sports meet is tiring and boring. By the way, your leg injury seemed quite timely. It made you exempt from the sports events, and here I am about to run under the blazing sun for the long-distance race..." The girl next to her complained for a bit and then curiously followed Nianxi's gaze, "Hey? What are you looking at?" Kong Nianxi retracted her gaze and smiled, "Nothing." --- At the end of the first day of the sports meet, the intense events concluded during the day, and knowing that no one was in the mood for studying during evening self-study hours, Tian Jiabao brought a laptop to the classroom to play a movie. "I'm going to make a purchase. Who wants some sunflower seeds, cola, or popcorn?" "Give me a whole pack of spicy strips." "I want sunflower seeds, especially the vinegary ones." "... " The classroom was bustling from all sides, but Xi Ning sat with indifference, pinching the pen, with practice papers spread on the desk. A hand pushed away the test paper in front of her and replaced it with a large tub of popcorn. Tu Xiaoyuan squeezed herself into the empty seat beside her, "Ning Ning, stop studying. They're going to turn off the lights soon. Relax a little. Do you want a can of cola?" Xi Ning's seat was the best spot for watching the movie, and Tu Xiaoyuan had already made up her mind. So, when Tian Jiabao brought in the laptop, she quickly raced over and occupied the seat. Setting down her pen and collecting her books from the desk, Xi Ning politely refused the snack offered by Tu Xiaoyuan, "No, you enjoy it." Tu Xiaoyuan gave a discontented click of her tongue, popped a kernel of popcorn into her mouth, and said while chewing, "Why do you look so down today? This popcorn is so sweet. Do you want to try some?" Afterwards, she offered another piece to her. Xi Ning moved aside and said, "No, please have it yourself." Tu Xiaoyuan became persistent and pulled at her, coquettishly saying, "Come on, try it. It's really sweet. Eating sweets can improve your mood." Knowing that Xi Ning didn't like to be fed by others, but Tu Xiaoyuan liked to tease her occasionally. She clung to Xi Ning like an octopus, pretending to squeeze her cheeks playfully. When she was having fun, a voice came from above. "Can I sit here?" Looking up, she saw Kong Nianxi standing at the table, holding a stool and smiling at them. Tu Xiaoyuan was taken aback. She felt a sudden chill, so she quickly released her grip on Xi Ning and stood up with a smile, "Nianxi, do you want your seat back? I'll leave right away!" After all, this was Kong Nianxi's seat. If the original owner came back, naturally they would make way for her. Kong Nianxi smiled unconcernedly, "It's okay, I just want to watch the movie. Three of us can squeeze in." She placed the stool, sat next to Xi Ning, and placed the snacks in the middle. She also invited Tu Xiaoyuan to join them. Seeing that Kong Nianxi didn't mind and sharing snacks were offered, Tu Xiaoyuan happily sat down. The classroom lights were turned off with no warning, and when Xi Ning returned to her senses, she found two additional people around her. Her desk that was originally meant for one person had now become a temporary space for three people to share. After the darkness enveloped everything, the movie projection lit up, and it was a film personally selected by Tian Jiabao. It was an adventure action blockbuster, and it started with the sound of gunfire, completely eclipsing the sounds of eating and whispering around. Kong Nianxi was sitting too close to her, their shoulders touching, and through the thin fabric, she could feel the warmth of the other person's body. Xi Ning pulled her stool slightly apart, creating some distance. "Boom—" The movie reached an intense scene of a car chase, and the sudden bright light was somewhat glaring. Xi Ning narrowed her eyes and heard someone passing through the aisle behind her. —"Everyone, please pass this along." To get a better view, many students in the back chose to sit on chairs in the front row. Every time someone passed by, the sound of chairs scraping against the floor echoed. Xi Ning noticed that Kong Nianxi was also sitting in the aisle. She instinctively turned her head, but unexpectedly met the gaze of the other party. The fluorescent glow illuminated XI Ning's face, flickering and couldn't hide the delicacy of her facial features. "Can you pass this along?" The voice reached her ears, and Xi Ning turned away while moving her stool a little further. Kong Nianxi brought the stool closer, and the two of them ended squeezed together at the same table. The desk space was limited, and two people squeezing in naturally got very close. Their legs under the table looked as if they were fighting; with a little movement, they could touch each other. The surrounding air anomalously escalated rapidly, and Xi Ning inexplicably felt a bit hot and stuffy. She wanted to pull her chair a little towards Tu Xiaoyuan's side for some space. But as she started to get up, Kong Nianxi embraced her waist and pressed her down. "..." The intimacy of this posture felt a bit excessive and ambiguous. A familiar fragrance filled the air as Xi Ning uneasily fidgeted. Suddenly, a soft voice whispered near her ear, "Are you angry?" The warm breath sprayed against her ear, and the scorching sensation quickly spread to her cheeks. Xi Ning was dazed for a moment and responded perplexedly, "What?" "Then, why did you ignore me outside the sports field this afternoon?" Kong Nianxi continued to bite her ear and, somewhat angrily, nonchalantly blew a breath next to her ear. Xi Ning suddenly shifted to the side, and the chair made a slight noise, attracting the attention of Tu Xiaoyuan sitting nearby, "What's wrong?" Xi Ning sat upright and whispered, "...nothing." Tu Xiaoyuan grabbed some popcorn and was immediately engrossed in the movie. As the incident with Nianxi calmed down, Xi Ning sat up straight, completely unaware of the movie playing on the screen anymore. …Ignore? Rather than framing it that way, it was more like deliberate avoidance. What kind of person are you, really? "Come out for a moment." With more than half the class already over, her clothes were tugged. Xi Ning hesitated for a few seconds, then followed Kong Nianxi out of the classroom. The entire second-year classroom was basically not conducting any lessons this evening. The neighboring class was playing the same movie as theirs. The classroom lights were off, and the corridor was slightly dim, with only the sound-controlled lights flickering on and off. Xi Ning snuck out of the front door quietly and saw Kong Nianxi standing at the door, waiting for her. "It's not time for class yet. Where... are we going?" Although the movie was going to play for the whole evening during self-study hours, it was still class time. Xi Ning, who had never been late or left early, felt a bit uneasy about the deserted corridor. Kong Nianxi did not answer and just smiled at her before walking ahead on her own, "Follow me." Xi Ning hesitated for a moment and then followed her. Following Kong Nianxi, they walked to the end of the corridor and reached the restroom. Opening the door to the inner compartment, Kong Nianxi motioned to her with her eyes. "..." Xi Ning faltered, "There's no need to go in when there's no one outside, is there?" Kong Nianxi chuckled, "Who said I'm going in there to chat with you?" Xi Ning frowned in confusion, "Then...?" She didn't finish her sentence before she was pulled by Kong Nianxi's sleeve into the compartment, "I'll tell you once you come in~" The door latch clicked shut with a bang, and Xi Ning watched as Kong Nianxi turned the key and then turned to face her. In the narrow space, she felt a bit uncomfortable. After a while, staring at her with some unease, Xi Ning was about to speak when Kong Nianxi suddenly lifted the hem of her top. Her gaze shifted across a small section of the pristine and fair skin on her waist. Shocked, Xi Ning instinctively turned her head and grabbed her hand, exclaiming, "What are you doing?!" Despite the clear, crisp laughter, Kong Nianxi spoke in a calm tone, "It seems that the button on my bra is loose. I want you to help me fasten it." "..." When Xi Ning turned her head, she saw Kong Nianxi looking at her. Her eyes held a hint of sly amusement, and her brows were furrowed, suppressing the heat in her cheeks, "Why didn't you say so earlier?" "It's not quite polite to bring it up in a place with many people, and I was going to say it anyway. I didn't expect you to be so nervous and press down on my hand first." The palm was lightly scratched, and Xi Ning only then realized her hand was still pressing against Kong Nianxi's waist. Hastily, she withdrew her hand. "So, why are you so nervous?" Kong Nianxi took a step closer, "After all, we're both girls. Even if we expose each other, there's nothing wrong, right?" "..." Xi Ning stood still. The small single-use room was almost empty and used for storing miscellaneous items. It was usually cleaned by the janitor, but Xi Ning, with a slight touch of cleanliness, did not want to get close to any wall inside. At that moment, footsteps grew nearer from outside as other people entered the restroom. "Why are you silent? Could it be that you're..." "Shh." Hearing the girls' chatter from outside, Xi Ning inexplicably became tense and gestured to Kong Nianxi to keep quiet by placing her index finger over her own lips. However, Kong Nianxi grabbed her hand and pressed it down on her, her mouth curved with an irresistible smile, "What's wrong? We're here for something serious. With that guilty look on your face, it's like we are having an affair out here." Her eyes widened at the shock of those words, clearly audible to the girls chattering outside. Xi Ning's pupils slightly dilated, flashing a trace of panic. Kong Nianxi stared into her eyes, raising the corners of her lips with a hint of mischief, even slightly raising her voice, "Your reaction is really something." Unable to bear any more, Xi Ning raised her hand to press against her lips. Kong Nianxi took a step back, and Xi Ning subconsciously used her other hand to circle her waist, preventing her from breaking free. "Mm..." Kong Nianxi struggled for a moment, her gaze shifting and then changing to a begging expression, looking at her. Xi Ning tilted her head slightly. She rarely forced others, feeling a bit guilty; she was just about to let go when she unexpectedly heard some quiet murmurs from outside. "It sounds like there's someone inside. But why does it sound a bit strange?" "Should we go check it out?" "Forget it, maybe they're just making a call?" "Maybe..." "..." Xi Ning's heart raced for a few moments. She furrowed her brow, indicating to the person in front of her to behave more normally. But in those narrow, coquettishly alluring eyes, she caught a trace of smug playfulness. She bit her lip, her eyes seemed slightly indignant, and her hand around the waist tightened a bit more firmly. Kong Nianxi gently wriggled a couple of times but quickly gave up. Fluttering her long eyelashes, she amusingly aimed a pinch at Xi Ning's fair cheek. The feel of the hand was better than expected, and she pinched a few more times. When Xi Ning gave her a glare, Kong Nianxi narrowed her eyes and mischievously continued.