25 The Guiding Light

Cheng Yaoyao ignored her aunt’s warning look and kept chattering away. "Sister Jiang Ci is such a wonderful person. Not only is she beautiful, but her grades are excellent, and she’s so gentle too."

"Really?"

"Of course it's true! Auntie, you have to believe me!" Cheng Yaoyao patted her chest in assurance.

Zhang Heyu curled his lips, rose from the sofa, and hoisted Cheng Yaoyao up, his tone slightly annoyed. "Why do you talk so much, Yaoyao? You’ve practically spilled all of Jiang Ci’s background already."

"Auntie, look at Zhang Heyu! He’s bullying me!" Cheng Yaoyao cried out in protest.

Zhang Heyu showed no mercy. "Get upstairs and finish your holiday homework. Stop flapping your gums here."

"You really are a big devil!" Defeated, Cheng Yaoyao could only curse him. "You’re so fierce! Sister Jiang Ci will never like you!"

"That’s not for you to decide."

Having finally shooed her upstairs, he could finally enjoy some peace and quiet.

Turning around, he caught Lu Qing smiling meaningfully, and Zhang Heyu knew nothing good was coming.

"Son, let me tell you, when you like a girl, you must be passionate, sincere, and open. You need to let her feel that you are approaching her with the utmost sincerity."

Zhang Heyu paused, looking down in thought for a moment. "I understand."

"Don't be like you were before." Lu Qing patted his shoulder. "But remember to focus on your studies; that is the most important thing."

Zhang Heyu gave a grunt of acknowledgment and watched Lu Qing head upstairs.

To love someone passionately, openly, and sincerely.

That was the baseline.

Back in his room, Zhang Heyu lay on his bed, suddenly recalling the group photo he had seen at her house.

Why had Jiang Ci reacted so strongly?

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember where he had seen that woman before.

*

The National Day holiday ended. The classroom was rowdy, with students from other classes coming into the experimental class to borrow homework to copy.

Huo Chensi, a member of the experimental class, was also furiously scribbling away in the homework-copying group.

"No way, Huo Chensi, you even dare to copy my homework?" Yu Xijin looked at him in disbelief as he pulled her paper over to copy.

Huo Chensi glanced at the time. "Our teachers are different anyway, so borrowing it to copy won't kill anyone."

"Why don't you copy Zhang Heyu's?" Yu Xijin pointed toward Bian Ze. "Or your deskmate's would work too."

Huo Chensi didn't stop his pen. "Do they look like they've actually done it?"

Yu Xijin looked at the two of them—one was slumped over sleeping, while the other was pondering a physics problem.

"Why don't you ask Ci Ci?" Yu Xijin asked.

Huo Chensi paused and explained, "Sister Ci’s answers are too standard; they’re hard to copy."

Yu Xijin: "..."

Helpless, she could only tell Huo Chensi to return the homework to her class before the big break.

Jiang Ci was busy memorizing words at the moment. Before Yu Xijin left, she called out, "Ci Ci, let’s go eat together at noon!"

"Okay."

During the homeroom period, Mo Bingyou walked into the classroom with a grave expression.

"This chart shows the ranking of our class's monthly exam results before the holiday." Mo Bingyou placed his hands on the podium. "As the top-performing science class, we shouldn't be falling behind other classes. If anyone in this class has dropped out of the top fifty, please reflect on yourself."

With that, Mo Bingyou scrolled down the list.

Undoubtedly, the first place was still Zhang Heyu.

Jiang Ci was in third.

The moment Jiang Ci saw Zhang Heyu's score, she couldn't help but marvel inwardly.

She cast a glance at the person beside her.

Zhang Heyu was resting his face on one hand, his bangs covering his eyes. He was asleep, his breathing steady.

She curled her lips slightly and continued to doodle on her draft paper with her pen, but before she knew it, she had written the name "Zhang Heyu."

Just as she was about to cover the evidence, the person beside her stirred, eyes half-lidded, his voice low and weary. "What are you doing?"

Jiang Ci shook her head, her hand moving to block the name on the paper. "Nothing."

"Hmm." Zhang Heyu massaged his temples and gave a grunt.

Jiang Ci lowered her voice and leaned closer to him. "The monthly exam results are out. You're first."

The scent of osmanthus drifted into his nose and flowed into his heart.

"And you?"

Perhaps because he had just woken up, his voice was a bit hoarse, yet it still carried a hint of a smile.

Jiang Ci pulled at her lips and smiled gently. "Hmm, still third."

"Do you want to take first place?" Zhang Heyu lowered his voice, his eyebrows arched with a trace of temptation.

Jiang Ci suddenly remembered what he had said before.

"Next exam, I'll go easy and let you take first."

She smiled, her dimples shallow, her eyes curving. "Are you going to let me win first place?"

"If you want to, it’s not impossible." Zhang Heyu’s Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily. He lingered on her for a few seconds before pulling his gaze away.

She really looked beautiful when she smiled.

Her lips looked very kissable, too.

The moment that lewd thought popped into his head, Zhang Heyu mentally scolded himself for being a jerk.

Jiang Ci didn't know what he was thinking. She shook her head. "I'll work hard. You don't need to go easy on me."

"Then I'll wait for Student Jiang Ci to take first place."

"Hmm, I will." Jiang Ci nodded, then suddenly remembered something. "Zhang Heyu, which university are you planning to apply to?"

Zhang Heyu thought for a moment and gave a vague answer. "Probably somewhere in the capital."

"The capital..." Jiang Ci murmured, her mind filling with the universities in the capital.

Zhang Heyu turned his head, toying with a pen, and asked nonchalantly, "Why do you ask?"

"I want to make you my goal to strive toward," Jiang Ci said firmly, her expression resolute.

Watching her, Zhang Heyu couldn't help but laugh, but remembering Mo Bingyou was still on the podium, he had to suppress it.

"Alright then, I'll be your guiding star."

Guiding star.

Jiang Ci’s lips curved. "Hmm."

Before the homeroom class ended, Mo Bingyou dropped another bombshell.

"Starting this week, our grade will officially begin evening self-study sessions. Please be prepared. I’m on duty tonight, so keep some discipline."

Just as he finished, the bell rang.

Mo Bingyou suddenly remembered something. "I’ve already notified all your parents in the class group chat, so don't even think about skipping!"

After Mo Bingyou left, the classroom erupted in groans.

The first few days were tough to adjust to, but eventually, Jiang Ci got used to it.

Because of this, she had more time to spend with Zhang Heyu.

With a clear goal in mind, Zhang Heyu took the opportunity to actively tutor Jiang Ci in chemistry every afternoon after school.

The radio station handover had been completed before the holiday, so he had plenty of time. He admitted to himself that he had ulterior motives for offering to tutor her in chemistry.

He just wanted to spend more time with Jiang Ci.

This continued for a month.

Huo Chensi had tried to get Zhang Heyu to play basketball multiple times, only to be rejected repeatedly, so he eventually stopped asking.

Whenever anyone asked, he would only say: "Brother Yu has fallen into the trap of tenderness; he’s truly done for!"

In November, the hottest topics were the school sports meet and the school anniversary.

This year, Nancheng No. 3 High School's anniversary happened to coincide with the sports meet.

Hearing that they would be held together, meaning four days off from classes, many students were thrilled.

After receiving the registration forms, the sports representative, Cui Jingxing, stood on the podium shouting, "Does anyone want to sign up?"

One girl spoke up, "Not signing up, next!"

"Don't do this, my dear lady! I need to meet my quota. Sisters, brothers, please show some support!" Cui Jingxing pleaded with a mournful face.

Jiang Ci sat at her desk, wondering if she should go up and help him recruit people.

Suddenly, a figure walked through the classroom door.

November in Nancheng already carried a chill. The boy was wearing his full blue-and-white uniform, a simple white T-shirt underneath, his jacket draped loosely over his shoulders, exuding a sense of effortless relaxation.

Zhang Heyu walked to his desk with two thermal mugs, not rushing in the slightest. Jiang Ci looked up at him.

Seeing Zhang Heyu enter, Cui Jingxing suddenly remembered that his class had a heavyweight figure with an aura of his own.

Seemingly oblivious to the sports representative’s plans for him, Zhang Heyu had just set his and Jiang Ci's mugs on the table when he was intercepted.

"Zhang Heyu, do you want to..." Cui Jingxing saw Zhang Heyu frowning, sporting a "get lost" expression, and stopped mid-sentence in fear.

Zhang Heyu lifted his eyelids, glanced at the registration form in his hand for a few seconds, and said coldly, "Not participating."

Cui Jingxing tried to persuade him further. "You participated last year! This is the last time; just do it one more time!"

"Find someone else. I don't want to," Zhang Heyu refused.

Cui Jingxing sighed and walked away dejectedly.

He hadn't taken more than two steps before he remembered something, turned back, and directed a pleading gaze at Jiang Ci.

Jiang Ci looked up, blinking hesitantly.

The next second, Cui Jingxing grinned at her. "Class monitor, I have something I want to talk to you about. Could you come out for a second?"

"Hmm, okay." Jiang Ci stood up. She glanced at Zhang Heyu, who tactfully stood up to let her out.

In the corridor.

"Class monitor, there's something I want to discuss with you," Cui Jingxing said. "You know about the sports meet—nobody in our class is signing up..."

Jiang Ci nodded. "I know. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Well, could you help me convince Zhang Heyu to participate?" Cui Jingxing scratched the back of his head. "You know his influence. If he signs up, he'll definitely motivate a lot of others!"

Jiang Ci hesitated.

After all, it was up to him whether he participated or not; she had no right to decide.

Cui Jingxing clasped his hands together, begging, "You and Zhang Heyu are so close. Class monitor, please help me out!"

Helpless, Jiang Ci rubbed her forehead. "Fine, I'll try, but I can't guarantee anything."

"Thank you, class monitor, for saving my life!" Cui Jingxing thanked her, then suddenly thought of something. "Class monitor, do you want to sign up for an event?"

Jiang Ci was stunned for a moment and pointed at herself. "Me?"

"Are you a cheerleader? If you are, you don't need to sign up."

"No." Jiang Ci thought for a moment and picked a simple one. "I'll sign up for the 100-meter dash."

"We have enough people for the 100-meter."

"Then the 200-meter?"

"We have enough for that too."

Jiang Ci: "..."

She just wanted to be a filler.

"Class monitor, we still have the 400m, 800m, 1000m, 1500m..."

Jiang Ci urgently called a halt. "I'll sign up for the 400-meter."

"Got it!" Cui Jingxing gave her a thumbs-up. "I'm counting on you for Zhang Heyu!"

Back at her seat, Jiang Ci didn't know how to bring it up to Zhang Heyu.

For the rest of the day, she thought about how to mention it.

After school, Jiang Ci and Yu Xijin ate at the cafeteria, then Yu Xijin went back to the dorms to shower.

Jiang Ci returned to the classroom alone, and coincidentally, Zhang Heyu was there too.

"You didn't go eat?" Jiang Ci sat back down. Zhang Heyu was busy playing a game on his phone.

Zhang Heyu grunted, his voice sounding lazy. "I already ate. I was waiting for you."

As soon as he finished, Jiang Ci clearly saw the "Victory" screen on his phone.

"Waiting for me?"

Zhang Heyu tapped his finger, turning off the phone screen. "Didn't I say I'd tutor you in chemistry?"

"Hmm, then I’ll have to trouble Teacher Zhang."

Jiang Ci opened her workbook and pointed out a few problems she didn't understand, asking Zhang Heyu to explain them.

There weren't many people left in the classroom, just a few scattered students.

Zhang Heyu always explained things in great detail, breaking down concepts point by point, fearing she wouldn't understand.

"Did you get it?"

Zhang Heyu watched the young girl calculating carefully on her draft paper. Her ponytail was drooping slightly, the ends resting on her shoulders. Her almond-shaped eyes were fixed intently on the paper, looking incredibly earnest.

Jiang Ci nodded. "I got it. So that's how it's calculated."

"You're quite smart, Jiang Ci." Zhang Heyu curled his lips, praising her with a lazy smile.

Jiang Ci blushed and looked away. "Thank you for the compliment."

Zhang Heyu arched an eyebrow and said nothing more.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Ci’s pen paused, and she spoke softly, "Are you really not participating in this year's sports meet?"

"Why?" Zhang Heyu’s gaze wandered over to her, his eyes filled with a lazy smile. "Do you want me to participate?"

Jiang Ci shook her head. "No, it's your choice whether you want to participate or not. I was just asking."